Christmas Portrait

I think that this is the last of the Christmas portraits that haven't been revealed yet. I have been trying to post more of my Christmas photos, but between the new camera taking pictures that are bigger files and the blog upload process being REALLY slow these last few days ( I think EVERYONE is trying to post Christmas pictures) it just hasn't happened. So here is a great shot of Lydia smiling for the camera.

Things we have learned this Christmas...

We have WAY too many stockings considering only 3 people live here.

Things we have learned this Christmas.....

Lydia likes presents.

Now that she can roll over, Lydia doesn't mind being on her stomach.

Santa Clause is coming to town!

We did it! In the midst of all the holiday hubub, we managed to get Lydia to the mall to see Santa. Hmmm... realistically, we got Lydia to the mall so WE could see HER with Santa. Either way, mission accomplished and with no tears shed! Jen and I snapped pictures while mom placed Lydia on Santa's lap. I love that first shot where it looks like Lydia is looking up at St. Nick as if to say, "Really, Santa! I'm waiting for my PONY!"

Saturday Silliness

PJ went Christmas shopping and came back with antlers for the dog that also happen to fit Lydia. They have a piece of mistletoe hanging from them and say "Kiss Me!" As if we didn't already have THAT idea!

It's my birthday!

It's my birthday, so here is one more picture with the presents. This is one of the two good family photos that we recently took at JC Pennies. I think the best gift for today is that at exactly 2:50pm Eastern Standard time, I begin a much needed 2 week vacation. Posts may slow for a while as I avoid averaging the last few midterm grades, but I promise to reveal the remaining Christmas pictures soon.

My Best Gift Ever!

I think PJ is realizing that my handmade Christmas cards may take a lot more time to finish and send out, so the moratorium on showing the Christmas photos has been lifted. One set of grandparents already got their pictures and my mom will be in town soon to get hers. So here are some of the pictures that we ordered from J C Pennies. I got the idea to put Lydia in a gift box from searching Christmas photographs online. Lydia is still working on sitting, so we needed a box that was big enough to also hold her bumpo seat. I wrapped the boxes to match the pedal car because it originally did not have wheels and I thought we would need to hide selective parts with packages. The car ended up looking so good that we used it by itself and just did a series of package pictures and a series of car pictures. So here is Lydia, the best gift this year! I can’t decide if I like the smiling one best. There is just something poetic to me about her sitting by herself, looking a little lost, and trying to figure out what her crazy mommy is up to!

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

This is one of the first shots with my new camera. I'm still learning some of the settings, but it has lots of them and seems to do well even without the flash, which I prefer for pictures of Lydia. Here she entertaining herself with her feet after a bath. We also got some cute video of bath time with the new camera as well. It does BOTH still pictures and video, COOL! I need to see if there is a way to link video to the blog so I can show you all the stuff she is able to do now, like sqeeling at the top of her lungs! Hmmmm, just one more similarity to her mom. This girl is LOUD!

Uh Oh!

Uh Oh!  I've been caught!  The jig is up!  My mom emailed to say how much she liked the "Christmas" pictures and to be sure to tell PJ that the car looks great.  It went in my brain and out my mouth without me stopping to remember that as far as PJ knows the Christmas pictures were not going on the blog yet.  OOooops!  I've been caught playing my silly game, trying to give you a sneak peak at of pictures.  Oh well!  My new camera is up and running, so for now I will switch to posting those pictures and I will have to show you the rest of these later.

Still NOT a christmas picture.

Can you tell that it is driving me CRAZY not being able to post all of our wonderful Christmas pictures. Hmmmm. Good incentive to get those cards written, I guesse! This is still officially NOT a Christmas picture. This is also one that we did not order, so no one will get it in there Christmas chard, so here it is for you to enjoy early! Now that Lydia is awake in the pictures, it suddenly mattered where everyone is looking. We do have some where she is looking at teh camera AND smiling, but only a few and I suppose you will have to wait to see those!

These are NOT our Christmas pictures

PJ doesn't want me to show our Christmas pictures until they are sent out in our Christmas cards. However, this is NOT one of our Christmas pictures. It was taken at the same time as our Christmas pictures, but this is not one that we ordered, so no secrets ruined here. No SIR! What we do have here are Lydia and PJ checking out the pedal car that PJ painted for Lydia. CUTE!

All creatures great and small.

Can you believe how SMALL she was? This is Lydia at a few days old. We had just come home from the hospital and she was probably at her all time low weight of 4.5 pounds. Its a little fightening to see now. Thankfully she is now all caught up.

Good Pictures Coming Soon

I have a little more research to do reading the instructions on my new camera. Until then, I just can't get all that excited about taking pictures with the old one. But I promise, once I have a memory card in hand and have glanced at the directions, be prepared for a barrage of pictures of everything and anything.

Also, we took family Christmas pictures at J C Pennies on Friday. It was SO crowded with lots of cranky kids and aggravated parents. The waiting area was full and then we arrived.... 3 adults each carrying an arm load of props and a baby in her car seat with her own bag of stuff. We actually brought a neon colored pedal car into a waiting area full of kids who were starved for something fun to play with. We showed up early because I was hoping they might get us in faster. What were we thinking! So Jen, PJ and I took turns guarding the pedal car from the legions of kids trying to climb on it and waited the hour until or appointment time and then about an hour more because they were behind. It was all worth it, though. The pictures look great and I can't wait to share them when they arrive. Until then, here is a picture of Lydia and my mom at the Fantasy of Trees over Thanksgiving.

What's for dinner?

I have neglected to mention the results of our doctor's visit last week.  It seems fairly certain that Lydia is allergic to cows milk.  Her protein levels were up in the 200's and have FINALLY, after 2 months on special formula, returned to an almost normal 50 something.  Her doctor wants to see her levels stay normal for another few months, so no reprieve from the expensive formula for a while.  But, we can start solid foods at 6 months!  I am so excited that at Christmas we can begin rice cereal, then slowly move to yellow vegetables.  Until then, the only thing in Lydia's mouth will be her stuffed pig.

Look at all the pretty lights!

Lydia is very into lights right now.  My mom is very into doing anything with Lydia.  After visiting so many times for testing, I am very into helping Children's Hospital right now.  So even though it was a dreary day, the "Fantasy of Trees" was a perfect fit for all three of us.  It's a fundraiser for the hospital where organizations decorate christmas trees and they sell tickets to see them and to do lots of fun activities.  Lydia was too young for the kid's stuff, but she really enjoyed the lights.  Hopefully you will enjoy seeing this picture of her enjoying the lights......and her hand....she is always enjoying her hand these days too!

Happy 5 months to Lydia

Miss Lydia is now exactly 5 months old!  To celebrate we took another picture of her next to her doll.  A little bigger than dolly, I think.  We have a check up with the Gastro-intestinal doctor today.  I'm hoping that no news from the last poop sample means good news and not just slow lab work.  Hopefully we can get a time table for getting off of the most expensive formula known to man and eventually into solid foods.  Regardless, Lydia will not enjoy any food from the FOUR Thanksgiving meals we will attend tommorrow.  I suppose I will have to eat her share!

Look what I can do!

Lydia is loving her doorway bouncy seat.  She can't actually make it bounce yet, but it allows her to stand upright and she can spin around.  At daycare she can stand in the doorway to the room where the bigger kids play and be a part of the insanity.  Go baby go!

Comedy and Tragedy

I think the first picture is very sweet, but maybe a little too sad looking. So I am including proof that Lydia can and does smile. This is also proof that she can sit it if not on our slippery leather couches. But she would much rather be standing in her doorway bouncer. (Pictures of that coming soon) Really she would rather probably be running, jumping, singing.... For now she will make do with dreaming of those things and waking up at 4am to coo about it!

Grrrrr Baby, Very Grrrrr!

Lydia has a fuzzy bear suit to wear when its cold.  Sunday she just wore one part, but there are also pants with bear feet.  Seeing as we will only have a high in the 30's tomorrow, it may be a perfect time to dress like a bear.  Heck why not snuggle up and hibernate for a while while we are at it?

This time last year.....

I was in Nashville this time last year, painting a picture of a tree with a nest with an egg, buying a handmade apron because it was so cute and I just knew that I would have a daughter some day, and talking with a co-worker about how much she loved having a midwife deliver her child. Lydia was already on the way, but it would be another week before I was let in on the secret.  Strange how so many things were already echoing something my body knew but my head did not.

Daddy's Home!

After more than a week away, PJ returned from the SEMA car show in Las Vegas.  They drove 30 hours non-stop to the show and another 30 non-stop to get home.  He returned home just in time for Lydia's strange new fussy mood.  I suspect teeth may be involved as she was up screaming every few hours last night.  So much for a well deserved rest!

4 Month Checkup

I took off from work today to recover from watching the election results and to take Lydia to the doctor for a routine checkup.  She is now FOURTEEN pounds and 24 inches tall, putting her in the 50th percentile for her age!  She started life at 5 pounds, 19 inches and the 3rd percentile.  50% is PERFECT, above 50 is bigger than average and below is smaller than average, but my baby is JUST RIGHT (at least at the moment)  The doctor said she is doing great, she is proportionate for her height and weight and we don't have to come back for two more months.  

I, on the other hand needed an entire day and two naps to recover from staying up watching the election results.  Of course all those Obama Mamas (Bahama Mama only made with blue liquor) contributed to my need to recover.  Either way, congratulations on your victory President Elect Obama!  Congratulations on your 14 pounds Lydia!  Congratulations on staying up past 8:30 pm to me!  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Wishing you the Happiest Halloween from our little mermaid! I had to start making mermaid costumes MONTHS ago in order to get them finished by October, but it was worth it! I am so happy with these pictures. JC Pennies came through for us again. I wish Lydia weren't asleeep, but a sleeping baby was better than a screaming one.

4 Months Old

Lydia is now four months old, so here is the celebratory portrait with her doll. She is now as big as the doll, but the doll is able to ride the rocking horse/tiger and Lydia must sit and watch.

More Beach Babies

Here are two more pictures from the beach. One was referenced in the previous post, Kelly’s girls freezing in the cold weather. The other shows Lydia and her new stuffed animal that may or may not be a dog toy. I saw it in two places in the Old Navy Store, one with dog toys, the other with baby stuff. Technically the one she has was picked up in the baby stuff area, but I saw it and liked it for Lydia when it was originally with the dog stuff. It’s just so cute and I knew it would be the right size for her little fingers and arms to grab without too much trouble. So here she is holding her new toy that may or may not be shared with Buckley at some point.

At the Beach

We arrived in Gulf Shores Alabama on Wednesday and with our arrival came the rain clouds. We tried braving the beach on Thursday, but it was so cold and windy and the rain was approaching. We joked that Jennifer was the one who thought it wasn’t too bad. She lugged the huge cooler all the way down to the beach; assuming we would stay long enough to need snacks AND that it was actually warm enough outside to need a cooler to keep food cold! HA! She was crocheting a blanket and had it over her to keep her warm while the rest of us huddled together for warmth (see the sad picture of Kelly’s kids turning into popsicles!)

Sunflowers!

One more shot from the sunflower garden at the pumpkin patch.  We are currently at the beach, but the internet connection is a little slow, so I will post the pictures later.  Too much going on this week.  Jennifer, Lydia and I took Halloween pictures at JC Penny's and they are STUNNING!  I am so excited and can't wait to show them off.

Pumpkin Patch!

Mom, Jen and I took Lydia to the pumpkin patch on Monday.  It was a field trip with her daycare (AKA Miss Nancy)  So cute and so fun.  So here is my cute girl having fun amongst the pumpkins.  OK, OK, it was cold and wettish and Jen had to take about 30 shots to catch this smile, but still lots of fun and still really cute.

Un-official Baptism photos

PJ with Lydia on Sunday.

Baptism Portraits

Here is the "official" photo of Lydia in her christening gown. She was perfect on Sunday, awake just before the service, asleep during the entire thing (including the sprinkling with water), and awake at the end of the service to greet everyone. The joke is that if they don't cry during the baptism, you haven't gotten all the devil out. Seeing as she is screaming her head off this evening for no obvious reason, the theory may be true.

Double Post Friday!

Special bonus feature! I have been delinquent in posting this week. TOO much going on and too much to do to get ready for all the stuff that is about to be going on. We have had or will have soon: a baptism, a wedding, several baccalaureates, grandparents in town, a grading period ending, a car show approaching, a pumpkin patch to visit, and a beach to collapse on when its all finished. In the mean time, its raining and turning cold in Knoxville. Lydia decided to cheer everyone up by wearing her tutu today. Not just CUTIE, but SUPER CUTIE if you asked me!

Oh Brother!

Lydia has this great shirt from Yee Haw Industries. I love everything about Yee Haw and think this color combination is super cute. Unfortunately, while wearing her trendy blue and brown, she gets asked if she is a boy... A LOT! My favorite was the little old lady who admired my adorable "boy." After hearing that she was a girl, the lady remarked..."She must have an older brother!"

Hands, meet your face. Face meet your hands.

We are still working on the hand thing. The ALMOST fit into that mouth. We are also still working on the sleep thing. She ALMOST sleeps through the night. I recognize that waking up at 5 am when I do seems like middle of the night to you day-walkers with your 9-5 jobs. However, recently the 1am feeding is shifting to a 4am feeding. A good sign in general for eventually sleeping until I get up, but it is a rough day when I have to feed her at 4 and be up for work at 5. Anyway, here she is trying to eat her hands.

Renal Reflux Diagnosed

Lydia's tests came back positive for renal reflux in her left kidney. According to the Pediatric Urology website I found "The condition is more prevalent in females and in children who have red hair." Darn! Just one more place where red heads are weird."

Apparently reflux is caused by a blockage that prevents urine from flowing normally, so it backs up into thekidneys. It can be caused by a UTI or there can be an anomoly in the eureter that is often genetic. Seeing as her cousin Gracie had this, my bet is it runs in the family. Either way, the result is that you get UTIs, so the idea that i get is that she has probably been uncomfortable for a while.

She is being put on an antibiotic until we can meet with a specialist. Her cousin just had to be on antibiotics for a year and then outgrew it. Hmmm. I wonder if they miss out on being sick during cold season because they are already on anti-biotics? We should know more soon.

Fun in the Sun

Just a few hours after her kidney ultrasound and catheterizing at Children's Hospital, Lydia was playing like a champ at home and at Miss Nancy's. Notice the sundress. It hit the mid-eighties in TN today, so Lydia got one more chance at some of the cute summer stuff that just started fitting her correctly. Also notice the hands. Lydia has discovered her hands. She still doesn't have complete control, but she tries to get them to do her bidding and they are beginning to comply. Also notice the belly button. If you haven't seen it in person, that is the herniated umbilical chord that has been with us for almost two months now. Seeing as it may be with us for several more months (it should go away as her stomach muscles strengthen) I think it deserves its own name. That way when people ask... "WHAT is that THING?!?" We can nonchalantly say, "Oh, that's Fred, or Harold, or Henri (the Hernia)" Any suggestions?

The Return of Giraffe Girl (The Sweater Strikes Back!)

I kept getting weird error messages yesterday and thought the blog post never uploaded, so I stopped writ ting yesterday's post mid-thought. Here goes attempt part deux. I spent yesterday putting away Lydia's summer cloths. It was bittersweet seeing as her summer outfits were the first she ever wore and we waited so long for those to fit. But now she is three months old and we are relieved to see that her 3-6 month fall and winter attire look like they will fit fine. It is fun to see Lydia in some of the outfits that I bought when I first found out I was pregnant. I didn't know yet what we were having, but Gymboree was having a sale...dangerous territory for the newly hormonal! So here is Lydia in her Gymboree Giraffe sweater. No, this isn't her Halloween costume. This is everyday dressing in my house.

Giraffe Girl

Lydia is wearing a giraffe sweater that was one of the first outfits that I bought for her. It came from Gymboree last fall.

8 is GREAT!

Last night Lydia fell asleep without taking her 9pm feeding, which usually means she will wake up 3 hours after her last full feeding and continue the pattern all night. Instead I woke up at 3am, not because Lydia was crying, but because the dog had done something vile and smelly that needed to be addressed even at 3am. My shock over what the dog did, was soon replaced by shock over the fact that Lydia didn't wake me up. So after checking to see that she was still breathing, dealing with the dog, and moving to the guest bedroom, I settled into bed a few minutes before Lydia woke for a bottle at 4am, which only left a short time before my alarm went off at 5am. So add it all up and Lydia went about 8 hours last night. I, on the other hand got to be awake from about 3am on, but whose counting.

3 Months Old

As of the 25th, Lydia is now three months old and over 10 pounds big. While I have been back at work this week, Lydia has been having her own adventures at Miss Nancy's. Well, when she wasn't at doctor's visits she was at Miss Nancy's. This week was the follow-up with the GI doctor. Then a nasty virus sent us to the pediatrician three times to check on a high fever. Once the fever broke, we were called back to the pediatrician to treat the UTI that showed up on her lab work. So more tests are scheduled at Children's Hospital to diagnose why Lydia has a UTI. The good news is, other than sleeping extra, she hasn't seemed to be in pain. Lydia is now about the same size as the doll we are measuring her against every month and she is now big enouh and strong enough to grab on to the doll's hair. She pulled and the doll moved closer. I don't think it was intentional, but cute nonetheless.