Adventures in Parenthood

Wow, a long time sure has passed since Daddy last posted on this blog. Between moving to a new house and enjoying summer we have been pretty busy these last few months but it is still no excuse for not posting Lila updates, right? Where to begin?

Lila the Movie Star

Hangin’ with Olivia

We now live in the house that Lila will grow up in because after all the hassle of moving we have vowed to stay put for a while. Which means Lila is a half-mile away from her future Elementary school (in a great school district) and there are plenty of neighborhood kids to play with. We have a great fenced in yard which we haven’t really been able to enjoy so much because of the hot weather we have been having all summer. Lila has her own room that she still does not sleep in because of the “family bed” situation. Most resources suggest that a “family bed” situation can be good or bad depending on how you look at. All we know is that it works for us and that mommy and daddy can semi-peacefully enjoy sleeping through the night. Having a restless toddler who tosses and turns all night in her sleep sure makes our bed seem uncomfortable. And of course nothing says GOOD MORNING like a bright eyed little one hovering over you at 5:30 AM with her finger up your nose.

More Pictures Dad?

No More Pictures Dad!!!

In July we took a week long family vacation at the lake and it turned out to not be much of a vacation because Lila ended up getting another double ear infection. Lila did not feel very good at all and we ended up going to Urgent Care for some relief. We did get to spend time doing a few fun things like playing in the sand and spending time swimming in the lake. Lila and I had a great bonding moment when I took her into the water for the first time and assured her that she was safe in my arms. It was a a wonderful fatherhood experience.

Fun with Mommy

At the Lake

Lila also graduated from the baby to the toddler room at the Montessori that she attends which basically means she comes home all dirty and worn out from playing all day long. Everyday she seems to learn something new and it is a wonderful thing to watch. Every morning I bring her to school and she always sits right down at the table with the other kids and I dish up her breakfast that she feeds herself with plastic silverware. With a hug and a kiss we go our separate ways until Mommy or Daddy picks her up in the evening. Despite having all sorts of toys to play with her favorite activity is taking things out of the kitchen drawers and throwing them on the floor. Note to 1st time parents: There is NO need to buy lots of toys for your child as common items like drink coasters, oven mitts and paper towel rolls get more attention.

Princess Lila

Dinner Time

Yesterday, Lila had tubes put in her ears because she has had so many ear infections this year. The entire procedure, including checking in, took all of about 15 minutes and was really nothing to worry about. Thankfully, she was old enough that we didn’t have to hold her as they put her under. She woke up really rough and cried off and on for the first four hours but was soon back to normal. I took her to Target later that night and bought her a pretty-in-pink Barbie tri-cycle which is a little big for her. I am sure in a few week she will be zipping around the house on it terrorizing Skippy even more.

Full of Laughs

Beautiful Blue Eyes

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I will try to post more pictures for everyone to see. It is Daddy’s (Me) 35th birthday Friday (Aug. 31) and I am taking the day off work to take Lila to the Zoo. It will be Lila’s first time to the Minnesota Zoo and hopefully I will get some good pictures. Bye for now!

Lila, the Bruiser

Daddy has decided to create a new category of postings called “Life Moments” which will be about all those things we will remember forever. Like the time we told you not to play on the stairs… OVER and OVER again. Kid, you never listen to your parents do ya?

This event is the first semi-major trauma that you have caused yourself so far as of this date. Not bad considering your are now 14-months old. To say that Mommy and Daddy have been overly cautious parents would be an understatement. Today we made a family trip to Babies ‘R Us to buy a second car seat for Mommy’s car so that Daddy doesn’t have to drop you off and pick you up EVERYDAY. Now Mommy can enjoy the fun of pulling a screaming toddler away from her outdoor freedom of life at daycare. All we do is bring you home to sit in the house all night. Once we have a huge backyard in a less than a month you can play outside all you want, but Daddy doesn’t trust the small yard we have now to confine you.

Maybe someday Daddy can make up a story about some crazy daycare brawl with another snot nosed punk who refused to share the toys at school. I could explain to others that you should see the other kid, cause my princess is a KO champ!

Dear Lila,

Sorry that Daddy has not kept this thing up to date like he should have but things have been hectic around our house. Two months ago or so Mommy and Daddy started to look for a new place for us to call home. After only 55 days we sold our house and spent the time since looking for our new home. Thankfully, we found the perfect house that will soon be all ours. We made sure that our new home would have enough room in case you have a little brother or sister within the next few years. Daddy is so happy that we found a great house in quiet neighborhood. Our new home even has a fenced in yard that you and Skippy can run around in.

We celebrated your 1st birthday in March and you seemed to have a good time despite having the tail end of pink eye. You didn’t seem very interested in the birthday presents but had a good time destroying your birthday cake. Mommy thought things through ahead of time and decided to get your very own cake to destroy… er enjoy. Thankfully, we found out that frosting washes out of just about everything. Daddy really wanted to throw you a “Princess” birthday party but Mommy decided that a Elmo theme seemed more fitting but personally I think she is a little anti-princess.

Right after your 1st birthday Mommy and Daddy went to California for a little business trip/mini vacation while you stayed with Grandma and Grandpa L. When we came home you really developed a strong issue with separation anxiety and screamed every time that Mommy or Daddy walked more than twelve inches away from you. We could no longer depend on a Elmo DVD occupying your time for at least 30 minutes. Which means that Mommy and Daddy can no longer enjoy a dinner without a little beggar asking for food. After a few weeks the anxiety calmed down but you still have not yet been able to sit through a Elmo DVD without sitting on our laps.

Everyday is a new learning experience for Mommy and Daddy as you grow through various stages of development. We really have to watch what we say these days because you are starting to pick things up. Right now your favorite word to yell all the time is “Lila” since all the kids at school have learned how to say your name. You are also starting to copy behaviors of things you see, so if Daddy makes a silly face you will usually copy. This gives Daddy plenty of time to act like a kid again.

The greatest thing about everyday is holding you in my arms and feeling your hugs as lay your head on my shoulder. At night you usually fall asleep in Mommy’s lap until Daddy takes you upstairs for bed around ten o’clock. Sleeping is still an issue with us since you tend to wake up several times throughout the night which makes for a rough night of rest. For the most part you are enjoying spending your days at day care but things may change if we have to switch to a different school when we move.

I would like to thank Peggy at Jax Design Studios for the new WordPress Theme. Hopefully it will motivate Daddy to blog more often and add pictures for everyone to see. If you would like a personalized highly-creative design for your blog I would greatly suggest using Jax Design Studios.