Last post of 2010, unless I can upload more pictures before NYE!

Okay so I know it has been a really long time since my last post, but what can I say... we've been really busy. Since Halloween, we've had a LOT going on with the holidays and time has just flown by without even a passing wave. Lily is now 8 months old! We've had her first Thanksgiving, and as of last week, her first Christmas. So catching up...

My little Princess

First was Thanksgiving, Lily had her first taste of cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Apparently she also had her first taste of chocolate pie (thanks Pawpaw), but I was not aware of that. Needless to say, she enjoyed it all very much. We started off the day going to my Dad's (Pawpaw's) house for a lunch. While we were there, Lily decided to get REALLY tired (probably from all of the new foods that she had tried) and took about an hour nap in Pawpaw's lap. I just know that made that old man MELT. I know what power I used to have on him as a little girl, and Lily is 100x worse. She also entertained us by choosing to chew on her sock when she thought no one was looking (picture below).

 Crazy little girl! After their house, we drove out to my mom's house for a dinner. By this time though, she was extremely fussy because she was really tired and had been riding in the car for a lot of the day.
She was still able to chow down a bit on some more Thanksgiving treats though.

loving cousins

That weekend we drove down to Houston to visit Mark's side of the family. We really love going down there because we want to spend as much time since we don't see them as often as we wish. I know for a fact Lily feels the same way too as evidenced by her infatuation with her cousins. We had fun and even got some early Christmas gifts while we were there (okay...Lily did.) Ha ha.

That brings us to December! Christmas shopping, lots of holiday decorations, colder weather, seasonal music...ahh... I love it! Especially Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice Latte. :) Shopping with and for Lily for Christmas was both exciting and stressful. Exciting because it is her first Christmas and stressful, because it is her FIRST Christmas. Being me, I wanted to find the perfect first Christmas present(s) so naturally that caused a little bit of agony for my family. However, I did manage to find what I was looking for... Not counting her toys that she got, I found a little girl's "first" hand mirror, jewelry box, and necklace holder. All of which are ordained in this light pink silk, with sparkly embroidery, sequins and tassels. The necklace holder is in the shape of a ballerina body (complete with outfit) and matches the mirror and jewelry box. So, I know she won't use it now, or even know what it is, but these are the types of things that I want her to have right now... and grow up with. When I was really young, my mother gave me a piggy bank that she made herself, and a few pieces of jewelry that I had when I was a baby. I look back on some of the other items that I have and really hope that one day Lily will feel the same way about things I give to her. Anyway... on to more Christmas festivities.

In my Christmas Dress

Is this for me?!

I liked Santa. We matched!

For the actual day, we traveled to Houston and this was the first time since Mark and I have been together that we were in Houston on the ACTUAL DAY. We got there on Christmas Eve and attended church service at his sister Pam's church. We listened to Tomas read a scripture during their children's performance and that was so special. After the service, we all went back to their house to have some yummy stew (which was great because it was a freezing monsoon outside) and just enjoy each other's company. LOVED IT! Lily learned also that she can kiss Tomas without mistletoe being present. :) Tomas was such a good sport about it too! The next morning we went over to Mark's mom's and had brunch with the family and proceeded to open a ton of presents. Lily got a lot of things, but I think her favorites right now are a toss up between her cool blocks and her piano. Mainly because she can chew on the blocks and the piano makes a lot of noise. LOL. We spent the rest of the day just talking and relaxing, letting Grandma Sammie and Lily soak each other up. We still have one more Christmas to go though... that will be on New Year's Day out at my mom's. Really looking forward to that as well!!!**More pictures will be coming as soon as I can upload them!

So, for some big milestones from Miss Lilypop.
1. She loves to talk and says "momma", "dada", "baba" and "wabawab". Not sure what the last one is for but she repeats it so I'm sure we will figure it out sooner or later.
2. She is now on to snacks (cereal pops and yogurt pieces).
3. She is pulling up a lot on everything. She hasn't quite mastered crawling yet, but according to her daycare teachers..."She doesn't have to." LOL, Apparently she is carried wherever she wants to go.
And for my favorite:
4. SHE GIVES HUGS AND KISSES WHEN ASKED. OH this melts my heart!

So, here are some pictures from the last two months, I hope you enjoy and I promise I will try to write sooner again.

Much love.