My how you've grown

The first picture is of Lily at 7 months old. It is my favorite photo of our time together last summer. I decided to do a progression to see how different she looks each summer. This year we don't want to wear glasses so I had to get the shot of her before she ripped the glasses from her face. As you can see she wears them so often I didn't even remove the sticker :)

SUMMER FUN

Our family went to Pismo beach to enjoy our 5 year wedding anniversary. It has been five wonderful adventureous years filled with love and now family. I love my husband a little more with each year and absolutely adore seeing him with Lily. He is a wonderful father and an amazing husband. So now enough of the sap and on to our vacation. Pismo beach is normally cool and foggy this time of year, but for us the powers that be, brought the sun. We didn't even have coastal morning fog. It was wonderful! We shopped, and ate yummy food, and Lily ate some sand :) (a whole handful I might add), and we stayed at an Inn overlooking the ocean. Our back door opened up to a garden patio which was perfect for our little explorer and beyond the patio was an amazing view of the ocean and the perfect spot to watch the sun set.

Lily and I enjoying the pier.

Lily's first time in the ocean. She clung on to me for dear life but our brave little girl didn't cry and even let out a giggle when a wave went past her legs, but when I asked her if she wanted up she shook her head yes with vigor and pointed the way of the beach.
Lily sitting with Daddy right after trying a mouthful of sand. Peter got a nasty sunburn that is now blistering. someday our family will learn to wear sunblock.
Happy family getting ready to head home. A wonderful end to a fantastic vacation!
Sunset view from our patio.

5 days and counting

oooohhhhhhhhhhh! A sweet sigh of relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have 5 days of work left until a long awaited summer vacation. A feeling of calm washes over me as I realize that I get to be a mommy. This is why I became a teacher. So that I could spend lazy summers with the children I knew I would one day have. So here we are. This past year has been wonderful and rosie and full of firsts, but alas a road worth traveling does not come without its bumps and there, I must say, have been bumps. I have not been stellar at sharing my daughter with others. It is hard to see your little one bonding with another. I dreamed that my mom and Lily would be close and that they would have a special kinship. I just didn't know it would leave me feeling empty and alone in my own family at times. I am so grateful and lucky to have a mom who loves and wants to spend the days with Lily and I wish that that evil little guy called jealousy would not rear his ugly head. But alas I am not perfect and I am good at hiding my emotions from everyone except my family. So hee hee sorry guys :) And then there is the fact that Lily did not come from my womb. Did not spend the first 6 months of her life smelling my scent and hearing my voice so there is always the thought that perhaps she has not bonded to me and is that an adoption issue or a kid issue. Truth be told it is probably a little of both and will always be a little of both. Hence the reason for my relief! We will work on mommy daughter bond over the summer and then ride this roller coaster of emotion again when the time comes. My mom told me parenting would be hard, the adoption agency warned me there would be work, and the reward is everyday when she puckers her little lips to give me a kiss and gives me the I love you sign. Yes dear sweet Lily mama loves you!

Stuart

Meet Stuart (aka Stuey) the newest member of our family. He is a designer dog formerly known as a mutt :) He is 1/2 Yorkshire Terrier and 1/2 Jack Russell Terrier. This is the position we most often find him in. He is a good boy and plays well with Lily most of the time. Lily's feet are often chew toys so we have to watch them closely.

What a pair. I suppose I was done with that magazine guys.

Mothers Day and more

Lily got her very first haircut on the 12th of May. I was so worried that she would throw a huge tantrum because the girl does not like her head touched. I was also worried that it would take away from her babyness. She does look older but the cut is adorable and she did pretty well considering she was not the least bit happy about the situation.

The calm before the storm.

What Lily really thought about her haircut. The lady who cut her hair was super patient.

And the finished product, a short and stylish bob.

Mothers Day was wonderful. We went back to the duck pond. Lily loves the animals she sees and the freedom she has to walk around. We took sandwiches and snacks and just hung out for hours. My kind of relaxation. Auntie Jessica included Lily in a game of ring around the rosie. I wish you could have heard it. Lily's giggle is infectious.
Lily and Ava giving each other bonks.
Troy and Ava fishing in the duck pond. We didn't have the patience to catch a fish but she did lure a stick her way. Last time we were at the duck pond she saw someone catch a fish. We asked her what she thought and she said it was terrible. Perhaps it is good we only caught a stick.Is this not the cutest picture you've seen. Perhaps I'm biased but com' on.

Lily in her new bikini. I wanted to capture her in it before she outgrows it but she doesn't have time to pose. You will just have to trust me that it is adorable.

Cinco de Mayo

FOREVER FAMILY CELEBRATION

CINCO DE MAYO

THIS IS MY LITTLE DARLING ALL DRESSED UP FOR HER CELEBRATION. I can not believe how much she has grown and changed in one years time. Oh, how one wonderful being can change everything. She is absolutely amazing. To think back on the little sweet soul that entered our lives with the easy smile and quiet ways. When she first came to us she slept all the time. I think she kept going to sleep in hopes that when she awoke she would see something familiar. To her dismay we kept appearing at her bedside. I can not imagine my world changing so much in a day. Lily is a prime example that children are truly resilient.
We invited Nonnie and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa to help us celebrate and honor our forever family. Lily showed off quite a bit and decided food was not for eating but for playing. We left our waiter a hefty tip and Lily left a giant mess. We must explore everything!
And here is the true face of Lily. Sugar and SPICE mixed in with a whole lot of silliness. I just love it!
She is getting one of her molars. OWEE. That finger is almost permanently in her mouth.

Can you tell it's time to go? She didn't even want to try the ice cream. Yes to all of you out there who have thought us mean and torturous to not feed our darling the sweet stuff. We have decided to let her try her hand at an occasional sugary snack. so far our efforts have been thwarted and sweets have been rejected. I assume that it is only a temporary dislike.

Festival de la familia

Lily has been very anti-spoon lately. We only eat finger foods and when she is presented with a spoon she turns her head in disgust. So as you can see we have reached a new day. She recently turned 18 months and decided she could handle the spoon and no siree I do not need any help thank you very much.

Aren't they cute. I went to make Lily her breakfast and came upon this cuddly pair. Can you see why I'm in love? Who could resist.

Festival de la familia

Today we went to Cal Expo and joined a celebration of Latin American culture. My mom went hog wild with the shopping and Lily did some dancing and walked all over the place. She did not take a nap and I am so surprised that she was as agreeable as could be. I love this shot of Papa and Lily they are such a cute pair. She teases him and plays hard to get, but in the end loves him immensely.

Lily has discovered she can move really fast and going down hill it is almost a run. Sometimes she surprises herself she gets going so good.

Ooh and mommy won 4 free tickets to Monterey Bay Aquarium. I am so excited I love Monterey. So I suppose we will have to take a summer trip now. Isn't that just too bad?