Christmas Eve!

Wow I can't beleive its Christmas all ready! Where did the time go? Well this year I decided that I was going to host Christmas dinner. No idea really why I decided this but it did. It was a small gathering since Carter and Becca couldn't join us but it was fun. For dinner, we had pork chops with apples and stuffing, green beans and carrots, potatoes au gratin, and bread. Lilly naturally didn't want to have anything to do with dinner so I made her a hot dog. Just a few pics from dinner and Lilly going to bed before Santa arrives!

Here is the table. I think my mom would be proud. I even used my silver!

The spread. Ok so we don't have enough hot pads to we used the oven mitts! My mom might be so pleased with that one, but hey we thought we were resourceful.

Ben reading to Lilly one last time before Santa comes.

Telling Grandpa good night!

The Night Before Christmas

Every night Ben and Lilly read The Night Before Christmas pop up book and did all the advent calendars in the house. It was such a great thing that they did together. I hope to make this a new tradition. It was also so great to see Lilly's eye light up when Ben would say, hey Lil guess what time it is, or Do you want to do calendars. I don't know how many times Ben read her this book, but she loved it every time!

Lilly loving daddy read her this book!

Even Alex got a chance to listen to the book!

First Snow!

Baltimore had a big snow storm! We got and when I say we, at home in Ednor Gardens got 14 inches. It was so fun to watch it come down. I actually didn't believe it was going to snow so much like the weather forecasters predicted but it did! Yay for all the snow. Naturally it shut down everything the weekend before Christmas. All the malls shut down, schools closed, it was crazy. Which made last minute Christmas shopping not doable for us!

Since we couldn't go out we hung out at home. We made cookies, wrapped presents, and even had a playdate with out neighbor Sarah and her daughter Kiri. Her husband works for the Highway maintenance so he was busy plowing 95 the whole time so we kept them busy while he was out.

On Saturday while it was snowing we went out. Lilly wasn't to much of a fan. I had to bribe her to put the snow pants with a her paci. Then when I finally got everything on, she didn't want to give up her paci and then was miserable in the snow. Honestly it was miserable outside, the wind was blowing and it was cold.

Later after her nap, Kiri and Sarah came over for dinner. It was nice to have some friends over and Lilly enjoyed playing with Kiri. We are also proud of Miss Kiri. She is learning to stand on her own and did so well!

Here are some pictures of day 1!

Watching the snow come down.

All dressed and ready to go!

Ok, not ready to go, PACI!! is pretty much was she was screaming for, oh the dreaded paci!

Me and Lilly Bean in the snow.

Ben and Lilly at the end of our street.

Here is the night measurement Ben took. It continued to snow for a couple more hours after Ben took this but it didn't amount to much. So this is our official reading :)

Day two!!

Day two went much better. Lilly put on her snow pants and boots with no fight, yay! She really wanted to go outside and couldn't wait to get out. While Ben shoveled Lilly and I played in the snow, took a walk and even got some playtime in with Kiri!

Getting ready for the snow. Lilly also loves to play with my iphone. Really I can't blame her I love it too!

Yay, out in the snow, and man was it bright out!

She got some snow in her gloves.

So we put her in the snow, it was almost up to her waist, there for she couldn't move so didn't like it at all. She wasn't thrilled I did this what I wanted it to show how deep the snow was! Sorry Lilly Bean.

Me and Lilly in the snow. This is right after I put her in the deep snow.

Lilly and Kiri. Lilly and Kiri are almost a year apart and well my daughter is a peanut! Not surprising that Kiri is a big girl, her mom is super tall and her dad is a big guy too. However she is as cute as can be!

Kiri was also not a fan on being left in the snow.

Lilly walking. She pointed out every car. She loved walking in the snow!

Me and my girl! I love her!!

Santa!

So tonight we took Lilly to see Santa! I was really hoping that it would go great but it just didn't. We went to Kenilworth Mall and we first looked at the nice train garden they have set up. Lilly seemed to really enjoy it. Next thing you know she is running all over the place. Once she is comfortable there is no stopping her. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. Anyway Ben was so nice to stand in the Santa line while Lilly and I played in Learning How. Lilly loved the Calico Critters they had out and spent sometime at train table. After about a 40 minute wait it was our turn. Pretty much immediately she started crying. She was hanging on to me but I let go and put her in Santa's lap. Lilly was not amused. She screamed and cried. They took her picture I got one with my camera and that was it. The pictures that the santa people took wasn't good at all so we opted not to buy it.

So this year, Santa was not our friend. I am hoping next year goes better!

Gingerbread House Making Playdate

For my mom's group Lilly and I hosted a gingerbread house making playdate and it was a ton of fun. I provided mini milk cartons, graham crackers, icing and cones and asked the other mommies who came to bring things to decorate with. This was such an easy cooking/ craft idea I think I am going to do it next year as well.

Lilly loved the icing and all the candy that was involved!

Our friends Audrey and Alex decorating their houses! With mommies help of course!

My princess and Holly helping Adam.

Anne totally amused by Evan eating all the icing off his tree! Caelan and Elaine, busy working on their tree!

The final products. I think they turned out great!

After the houses we had some playtime!

Potty Talk

So last week, I bought a potty of a mom in my moms group. Lilly recently has been very interested in what its all about. She pretty much can't leave me alone while I need to go! I know, so pleasant.

I now know why my mom would say " I can't even go to the bathroom in peace!" I hear ya mom.

OK back to the story, so it was a Tuesday I bought the potty and then Thursday at daycare Lilly actually peed on the potty! Not a lot but some. Miss Robin, her teacher had taken another student to get changed naturally Lilly followed her into the bathroom, and started messing with the toilet. So Miss Robin told her she couldn't play with it but could sit on it. Lilly's diaper was already wet but did manage to get some pee in the potty. GO Bean! Needless to say I was very excited.

At home its a different story. Lilly will not sit on the potty. The first time I mentioned it, she said NOOO and turned an ran the other way! Haha!

Oh well, we are not there yet, but will keep you all posted!

The Big Boo Boo

Lilly too her first spill at daycare on Nov. 16th I'm trying to catch up so I am posting this late but better late then never right??

Anyway I got a phone call how Lilly has taken a spill on the playground and looked kinda bad. Usually when I pick up daycare Miss Robin isn't there, she leaves before I can get Lilly, so she just wanted to warn me it looks kind of bad. I was totally thinking the worse when it happened. They actually had to take her to the school nurse, it was bleeding so much. So I was worried all day, well it looked bad. Poor baby, looked like she was in a fight and lost!

Here are a few pictures of what she looked like.

This is one of my favorite. I think she is so cute, even all banged up!

I don't think the pictures ever did it justice but as you can see Miss Lilly still was as happy as she could be. I think it made her just a little bit tougher too!

Ok so seriously I haven't been the best blogger at all. I will really try and keep this up now!

I feel like so much has happened since that last time I updated, duh you say, its been 8 months!

The summer came and went and Ben, Bean and I headed to the beach twice. Once to Corolla, NC with some friend for a week. It was one the best vacations I have been on! Then we headed to OC to spend sometimes with The Scheollkopf's. Lilly and Jack always seem to have a good time together!

Lilly and Ben did enjoy some quality time together. They spent many days at the Zoo.

August is when Lilly started back to daycare and Ben went back to work. It’s been a busy fall with a trip to Ohio, some fun Halloween activities and just recently Thanksgiving. We are now kicking off the Christmas season.

Today we went to Kennedy Krieger's Festival of Trees! It was so much fun. Lilly loved it and walked all over the place. She also took her first ride on a carousel, I know she is almost two and this is the first time! She loved it. A little impatient waiting for it to start, she tried out several horses before she committed to one!

Here are a few pics of what happened since June.

Me and Lilly Bean at the beginning of summer!

Me and Lilly Bean in the awesome pool we had at the beach.

Al and Lilly chillin in a chair after a dip in the pool!

Happy Birthday to Soup! Lilly liked sporting the birthday tiara!

The morning we left the beach, it only took us 9 hours to get home! We had a great time and can't wait to go on vacation with the Harris' again!

Lilly and Jack at the Merritt's.

Lilly and Jack at the beach in OC. It was a great weekend.

Our trip to Ohio for OWU homecoming.

Lilly loved Papa's greenhouse.

Alex and Lilly my little bee at the 2nd annual BaltimoreMommies Trunk or Treat!

My buzzy bee!

Trick or Treating at Kenilworth Mall. She was a pro at trick or treating. I was so proud!

Trick or treating around my dad's neighborhood. Still did an amazing job!

Yikes!!! Its been a long time since I posted about Lilly! I need to update this, we have had a great summer, and I can't believe its almost over! 

I swear I will add pictures from this summer! Two beach trips and hanging out with friend, it was a great summer!

Weekend Playdates

The past two weekends have been busy with playdates! Anne and Evan like to come over since they are in the midst of redoing their kitchen. Last weekend we started off by walking by Lake Montebello. It was nice and warm and I thought it would be a great way to get some exercise. However, it ended with Bean screaming in her stroller and I had to break down and give her the paci. Once we got back home...all was well. Here are few pics of Lilly and Evan. 

Evan is all smiles! execerise

Lilly hugging Evan, he is not all that thrilled about it. 

Lilly showing off her drinking while crawling skills.

This weekend we hosted the monthly breakfast playdate. Ok, we just decided this was going to occur every month but it was a lot of fun for everyone. Jessica and David( big and little) and Anne and Evan came over. Jessi made some fabulous pancakes, Anne brought some fruit which Lilly couldn't get enough of, and I supplied the cooking area and the bacon.  I didn't get any pictures of the meal but I got plenty of playing. There are a ton, this only a sample. If you have Facebook, you can check out the rest there. 

 Evan getting some lovin' from his momma. 

He is one the move...watch out ladies he is a cutie!

Handsome guy David.  He loved the chair! 

Lilly and David playing, ok David playing and Lilly picking her nose. Not very lady like at all. 

This is the mayhem that occurred! I do believe all the toys are are out...at least its colorful :D

After a nap and a snack here is Bean, isn't she the cutest!