Lila Meets Her Cousins!

There were only two left for her to meet. We flew all the way out to the east coast to do it, too! Reagan was very excited to meet Lila, and immediately played with her and was excited to have her around. Lila isn't used to having other kids around, so she was a little confused at first. But now I think she loves to see Reagan and Jensen and wants to play with them. It's funny because Reagan gets excited and wants to play with Lila, but Lila gets excited and wants to play with Jensen. Although Jensen is only 5 months younger than Lila, their young age still puts them at pretty different developmental levels. So Jensen isn't as excited to play with Lila as she is to play with him. Once he was standing, walking a little (has has been learning since we got out here), and she walked behind him and just gave him about 4 hugs in a row. With a big smile on her face. It was so cute! I'm so glad she will have some time with them this summer. We have already done some really fun things!

Here are some pictures from when they all first met. Todd and I came over to Rob and Stephanie's place the day after I got in to Philly. 

For memorial day, we all went swimming at the G-parent's Itri pool. Lila loves to swim! Even with her 50 spf sunscreen, she is still already MUCH tanner than her mommy who only wore 15 spf. Unfair, I know, but I am sure glad my little baby doesn't BURN like her mama! We all had a good time outside, it was really warm so the pool felt nice and we had a lot of good food. And later, we got so Skype with the rest of the Itri Cousins. It was a great day!

Stephanie has also taken us to a couple of fun parks, one with some animals you can look at (Lila LOVES live animals), and we went with a playgroup to "pick your own strawberries" at a local farm, complete with a hay ride. Lila actually did pretty well with that, I was surprised and impressed. If I showed her a strawberry and helped her reach it, she would pick it and (with prodding), drop it in our bucket. If I left out the prodding she would eat it instead of put it in the bucket, most of the time spitting it out after, and if I didn't help her pull it off the vine she would squish it in her fingers. But for a 16 month old? Pretty good! We have also spent some time with Reagan, Jensen and Stephanie at the library, but I don't think I have any pictures of that. Anyway, we sure have had a ton of fun with them so far and look forward to many more weeks of fun!

I've Never Gotten a C

That is actually not true, I did get a C once in microbiology. But that is not what this story is about.

Saturday night Todd and I drove up to New York to see Wicked on Broadway with some of my family. We went out to dinner first, then walked around to find dessert. We found this store that had a window where you could order the gelato right from the street, even though it was actually a real store (not a street vendor). While we were standing there, choosing our flavors, Todd pointed out the sign in the window that had a big C on it. Upon closer investigation, we read that this indicated the rating given to the store for their sanitation. We were a little worried about that, but hoped that having to hang the rating in the window had motivated them to start cleaning things up.

We each got our flavors and started munching. Nikenzie had gotten lemon flavor, but when she started eating it found that she actually had coconut. A few of us tried it to make sure she wasn't crazy, and I definitely chewed on a coconut flake. So she went and told the lady that her lemon gelato was actually coconut. The lady told her it must be a mistake in the labeling, and since that batch was actually coconut, they didn't have lemon. She asked if Nikenzie would be like to keep the coconut, but she didn't want it. So she chose another flavor, and handed over her coconut gelato. Before scooping the new gelato into Kenzie's used cup, she scooped out Nikenzie's USED gelato BACK INTO THE SERVING BIN. Yup.

About Me

Well, I spend a lot of time on Lila, so I thought I would say a little something about me. Unfortunately I don't really know what to say. Life is really good right now. I am enjoying work a lot, and have recently been lucky enough to grow some really good relationships with people I work with. It feels good to make new friends. I tend to have a hard time doing that most of the time, so whenever I feel like someone else actually wants to be my friend and enjoys being with me it makes me really happy. In fact, all of us ladies that work the night shift are planning a girls night out! We are going to start it late, like 11 or 12 since we are used to being up all night anyway, and that will let the mommies come because we can all put our little babies to bed then come out to play. It isn't really planned yet, just the date (we picked a night where pretty much only boys are working so we can all come!) but I think just getting together will be a lot of fun.

I am about to be a short-term single woman. Todd is heading out for Philadelphia on Sunday, and I am not leaving to meet him until the 18th. My awesome sister Shelly is going to be my nanny for the nights that I work that he is gone. It is really a bittersweet thing for me. Hopefully most of you married ladies will understand when I say that I am so excited to have all my time and my house to myself. For a while I'll only have to clean up after myself, do my own laundry, and I can pick whatever I want to eat for dinner. Of course it also means I don't have someone else to clean up after me or make dinner for me sometimes. And I might get a little lonely. And I get scared in my house at night. But I will try to make the most of it. And maybe absence will make our hearts grow even fonder and we will be even happier when we start our summer in Philadelphia together.

With my being gone for longer than a normal vacation, I am in a bit of a frenzy. I have a million things to do, and so I spend most of my time thinking about those million things rather than making a dent in the list. Todd has been trying to help as much as he can, but my brain is so jumbled I am having a hard time even giving him things that he can help me with. I want my house to be in order before I go, and there are all sorts of other things that I know exist but I don't even know what they are (aren't I supposed to turn off water to the toilets or something? plus a million other things to make my home safe while I'm away?) I need to talk to neighbors to help look after my home and make sure all is well, and besides all the stuff to get ready to go, I want to start planning all the things we will do while we're there so we don't waste any time! It will be so short I know the time we have there will be precious and we will want to make the most of it.

Well that's all for now. I'll try to keep you all updated on more than just Lila! (but she is the most interesting and the cutest on camera!)

Lila Grows

I feel like the last few months have brought so many changes to my beautiful baby. I think she isn't really so much a baby anymore. Really sad. But also really happy to have such an active toddler who loves me! She has realized what's happening when I get ready for work and latches on to me long before it's time to go. And she cries any time I hand her to Todd. I don't want her to be sad but I'm so glad she likes me even though I work. Anyway. Here are some of the things she does:

She play's at the mall with her cousins:

 She and her mommy play with her aunts:

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She drinks out of her sippy cup:

She sometimes dresses as a baby rapper:

She cuddles with "Mr. Moose":

She thinks it's silly to play with her old stuff:

She plays dress up with mommy's clothes:

She gets presents from her grandma's- These ones are for easter from gramma Faber and gramma Lila. The little ball lights up and she figured out real quick how to hit it to make it light up. She still likes to hit it and make it bounce. The ducky stuffed animal she also loves and cuddles with all the time. Unfortunately I had to eat most of the candy in her box for her. 

She also got a pretty easter dress, courtesy of gramma Faber. She looked so pretty easter Sunday! She even got to help us look for some easter eggs. I think she'll enjoy that a lot more next year though.

She loves to play in laundry baskets:

 And she's just plain cute. I sure love her! Some other things about her: she walks all over the place, but once I helped her down the stairs by lifting her and now she is scared to step down them herself with just holding my hand. Apparently she walks just like Todd used to- always with both her hands up in the air or straight out in front of her. Describing it she sounds like Frankenstein... but she doesn't actually look like that! She still loves to play with cell phones and get into the dishwasher. She is getting better at talking to us with her hands. She can say outside, more, eat, milk, banana, apple, finished, shoes, and please, plus she folds her arms when we say prayer, then again right when we say amen. (smart kid has figured out the adults have their eyes closed in between). She actually says ball really well, and says dad really well too. She used to say mama, but for some reason she is shy about it now. I just love it when she is playing with a ball and just says "ball, ball" over and over. She even enunciates the L. 

She also has a molar! And her hair is crazy out of control. I'm not sure if there is really anything I can do to it to look cute, but I am afraid to trim it and make it worse. I guess I should make a decision soon. Really all we can get her to eat consistently are bananas, pizza, pasta, PB&J, and her baby oatmeal. Then sometimes she also drinks her milk. Depending on her mood she will take a few sips or chug the whole sippy cup. She also loves sweets (ice cream, cake, frosting, chocolate). She somehow already knows what's inside a candy wrapper and wants to eat it. Don't worry, we really don't give her treats very often. She's getting to be her own cute little person. I love her!

Dear Grandma

Hi Grandma! I have been thinking about you lately. Mostly because I finally had a chance to read The Help. Remember how you bought that for me a while back? Well I read it. Thank you so much for such a nice gift. Also I have been thinking about you because I haven't seen you in a while. I don't know if it makes me weird, but I sure like going on double dates with my grandparents. Todd and I always have an enjoyable evening with you and Grandpa, even if Grandpa is an old kermudjin.

I just want to tell you how great you are. I know that you check my blog religiously. Every single post I make will be read within a day because you will keep checking. And if I ever needed you I know you would try to help out in any way you could. Thanks for helping me a few years ago with Todd's birthday surprise. And for helping me with his birthday again a few years before that. And for the many dinners you have taken us out to. And the fun games we play. And the great trips you take us on. And thanks for visiting me when I was alone in college in Salt Lake before you went on mission #3. That meant a lot to me that you guys cared about me and remembered me up there. And thanks for always remembering our birthdays. Thank you for gifts at birthdays and Christmas, but mostly thanks for remembering us during those times.

I'm glad we have a daughter named after you. You are an example of love, strength, and perseverance. I hope that Lila will be able to see that part of you as she grows up. It will help me to always remember to be an example to her as well. Hopefully I can teach her the things she knows to have the strength that you have. I love you!

Mad Skills

Lila has been taking a few steps. This is the best she's done so far! What a star

Crazy Lila Lips

Lila does lots of funny things with her lips. Here is just one example of her many cute lip tricks:

Pictures from Lila's Birthday

Lila is scared of cake when she first sees it. She doesn't want to touch it. And her first taste she always makes a face as if she doesn't like it. But never fear! By then end she gets angry when you take it away from her. Just like a kid should be.

We went to my parents house the day after her birthday so we could do cake all over again. Yeah we're awesome.

The Birthday

I have been emotional for over a week about this. This is the first time one of my kids has had a birthday. I assume I will have many more in the future, for Lila and hopefully a couple more. But this is the first time. My baby is turning 1! What an amazing year we have had with her. I can't believe how much we love her. She has grown so much:

likes chatting away in baby language. seems to learn then forget her words (has said "more" and "all done" in sign language, and has said "bye", "mama" and "dad"). still loves baby cheetos.mostly wants to crawl but sometimes lets mommy and daddy hold her hands while she walks around. is weaned but still won't drink much from her sippy cup and mommy and daddy are worried about her fluids. will eat her applesauce cold now. likes to play with her duplo blocks. still loves to go outside, even when it's cold. likes to hand things to you then have you give it back. over and over and over. likes to feed mommy and daddy her cheese puffs. loves going up the stairs and having mommy or daddy chase after her. laughs and claps with people around her or people on TV. favorite toy is still the dishwasher. likes music and sometimes dances to it. sometimes would rather sit with daddy than with mommy. doesn't cry when mommy leaves for work. hates baths, but likes being wrapped in her towel when it's done. once she sets her mind on something it's hard to get her to forget about it. likes balls does this adorable thing with her lips. sorry, can't explain it, but it's cute. still not much hair. loves her grandma, sometimes prefers grandma over mommy. mommy is starting to get jealous that she likes daddy and grandma better sometimes. luckily mommy is still usually the favorite. usually is ok with being in her carseat, but when she doesn't want it, she really doesn't want it. although her hair isn't growing very fast, she is still growing more beautiful every single day!

Best Friends

I have a best friend. I suppose I have more than one, but not very many. One of these best friends is skipping town. It is very depressing. She is wonderful and has been there for me even when I didn't deserve her friendship. Truthfully we didn't ever really hang out frequently, but we have been consistent friends and she has meant so much to me over the years. She even surprised me when I was living in Philadelphia and just showed up there one day so we could hang out. That was one of the awesomest weeks ever.

Our daughters are destined to be friends too. Lila was born 2/11/11, and Brooklyn was born 11/2/11. Ha ha! Just a little transposition there. When we went to see Brooklyn in the hospital, we had a little dejavu because these two kids were born in the same room! A few little freaky coincidences if you ask me. Unfortunately, this wonderful friend and her lovely little girl are moving far far away. Really just to Arizona, but a 12 hour drive isn't really something that I think either one of us will make just for the weekend. Lukily her family is here in Utah still so she should come up to visit sometimes. I'll sure miss having her close by.

I love you Puddle! We will always be best friends.

The two turds:

And their pretty mommies:

As a side note for anyone who doesn't know, her name is Puddle. Just to clear up any confusion.

"More"

Lila's First word!!

Compare her technique Here