To Everything There is a Season

The first song title post in a long time!!

As I sat looking at the baby clothes I was packing away today, I couldn't help but wonder:  will I pull these out again some day?  Or will I pass them on to someone else with a baby girl without ever using them again? 

Either way, they will never again be worn by my Lynnaea.

And I know this is the way of life.  But a part of me is still sad and feels the bittersweetness of the moment.

My little girl is a baby no longer.  She is a toddler.

I am grateful.  Grateful she is healthy and growing.  Grateful she is mine.

At the same time, though, I cannot believe nearly a year has passed.  That she has gotten so big.  Imperceptibly, when looked at day by day.  Yet over 11 months...  She is practically walking!  And so tall (almost 29 inches). 

But, there is a time for everything.  And today, it was time to pack away almost all of her baby clothes.  Because her season of infancy is over.  And while it may break my heart in a way that I cannot describe, I rejoice as well that I am a part of this precious baby's life.  I am awed by her every single day.  Amazed at the love I feel for her.  And how I cannot imagine life without her now, even though I spent 32 years of my life without her.

What a beautiful thing to be a mother.  What a blessing.  Even when it's bittersweet.

Lynnaea's first Easter.  We put some raisins, cheerios, and yogurt melts into eggs; along with pictures of the Savior.  She found them -- with a little help ;).

Her Easter dress.  She's ready for church.

In her new big-girl car seat!! On our way to Monday Meals at Lea's!  She loves this car seat because she can look out the windows.  She almost never falls asleep in the car anymore.

The newest member of 3M chowing down on some deliciousness!  She enjoyed the linguine and rolls along with us.  We'll wait a little longer on the ricotta meatballs and the warm winter lemon cake, though ;).

This is how she sleeps now.  I love it. 

 

My toddler today.  It's getting close to nap-time.  But I figured an up-to-date picture was in order ;).  I love this baby.  So very much.

11 Months

Dear Lynnaea,

How is it possible we are now only one month away from your first birthday?  The time has gone so fast.  It actually astonishes me how quickly each day passes.  And those days keep adding up to weeks, months, and soon... a year.

It doesn't seem right, you know.  I marvel -- and exclaim to Daddy often, "Can you believe this is the same baby we brought home from the hospital!?!"  Because as you stand before us while we're sitting on the couch... It's hard for me to believe you are the same baby.  Even though I know you are :).  You came home so tiny -- so dependent on us -- so unable to do anything but sleep, cry, eat, and fill your diapers.  But all of that has changed.

Yes, you still need us.  But you have grown and developed so much!  We stand in amazement daily at your abilities, your growth.  And here's what you've done lately:

You stand on your own indefinitely.  You're great at balancing yourself and staying standing while clapping, holding objects, and squatting down to pick objects up (sometimes you steady yourself during this, though). 

You've recently started sticking your tongue out and running it across your upper lip while saying "lalalala."  You think it's funny when you do it, too.

You pretty much eat what Daddy and I eat.  Not with all the same spices, of course.  But other than the rice cereal we still have, you aren't eating any "baby food" anymore.  You started enjoying chicken breast this month (you enjoy it a lot), and you've decided you like potatoes after all!  (I think before, you just didn't care for the texture).  You've had them boiled, mashed, and roasted -- as well as in the form of gnocchi!  You still love pasta and celery and carrots when I pull them out of soups for you.  And you've been getting some ritz crackers.  You're well on your way to being an official member of Marvelous Monday Meals.  At this past Meal, you enjoyed the linguine (with some marinara sauce still on it) and pieces of homemade bread.  We left out the meatballs, but don't worry:  you'll be along for that soon.  We've also tried to avoid giving you desserts as well.  Just to keep you from being over-sugared too soon.

You laugh at so much, sweet girl.  It's like music to my ears. 

Oh and you know when you're into something you're not supposed to be!  (Not necessarily a time-out item, but something Mommy has told you is yucky.)  I don't know why, but you have an obsession with feet, socks, and shoes.  And Mommy tends to leave her shoes in the hallway after coming in the door...  I know when you've crawled down the hallway and gotten quiet, you're probably chewing on shoes.  So I head that way and as I round the corner, I spot you throwing the shoe down and crawling with great haste toward the door (though why you go that direction, I don't know).  It makes me laugh.  You don't get in trouble, but I always pick you up and tell you -- again -- that it's yucky.  And we both laugh a little on the way back to the living room. 

Oh... you discovered toilets have water in them this month too.  Yuck!  We now keep the toilet lid down (or at least we try to remember to).

And my favorite:  you know how to give hugs.  It started last week.  After your morning bottle, I sat you facing me and said, "Can Mommy have a hug?"  And you looked at me -- and laid your head on my shoulder and let me wrap my arms around you and snuggle you.  Oh sweet baby...  How I almost melted!  I tested it a couple more times just to make sure.  Yep... you know how to give hugs!  And you understand the word!

Makes me wonder what other words you understand.

Yes, Lynnaea, it's been a full month.  You grow and learn and amaze me on a daily basis.  I am continually humbled that Heavenly Father sent you to me.  That He blessed me with your wonderful presence.  That He blessed me to be your mommy.  I am so grateful to Him for that.  And so grateful to you, too.  You make life so happy.  So very happy.

I love you always.

Love Always,

Mommy

Enjoying Spring

Last week we had a totally beautiful week weather-wise.  So Jeremy and I took advantage of it -- and so did Lynnaea!  Also, for some weird reason, I was feeling in a funk on Saturday.  So we just decided we needed to get out and enjoy the day and do something different.  Oh, I just remembered why I was in a funk...  So I'd walked over to a park where our Ward was having an Easter Egg hunt for a Ward Activity.  Lynnaea couldn't care less about hunting for eggs at this point, but she likes to get out and do new things.  And she loves to be around other kids.  And I figured it was a good time to give her something to do.  So we went.  On the way there, I saw this house for sale.  Right down the street from us.  We've been looking to buy a house in the area for quite some time now, but nothing ever pans out.  It's incredibly frustrating.  But I saw this and thought, "Hey!  This looks perfect -- sort of.  Not enough property, but this is doable...  and it must be recently listed, because I haven't seen it on the MLS sight I check daily."  So on the way home, Lynnaea and I looked around it.  It's empty.  It was lived in not long ago by an elderly couple... I saw them one day while I was out with Lynnaea.  Anyway, it's practically perfect (aside from the lack of property size we want, but probably will be hard-pressed to find within walking distance of Jeremy's job).  So I get all excited.  I get home to look up the price.  And when I finally find it...  Yeah.  Listed 4 days previous and already pending sale.  Oh, and by the way...  The price was a total wowzers.  Like in-my-dreams impossible.  In the good way that got me all excited.  Another door shut.  And while, honestly, I appreciate when Heavenly Father shuts doors we aren't meant to go through...  It's frustrating when I don't know where a door will open and when.  I'm sort of impatient like that...  Sigh.  So, that was that. 

Anyway...

So we went to a park and enjoyed some Jimmy John's (still no sprouts up in our neck of the woods... they said they had to wait for a Corporate visit or something.  Total bummer, but oh well).

So, without further ado...  Here are the pictures.  Plus a bonus one of my sweet girl's newest trick.

This was before we headed over to the park for the egg hunt.  She looks way excited, no?  Like the duck barrette? 

Not one of her more flattering pictures... It was chillier than I had anticipated.  And she still wasn't sure about the grass.  This was at the egg hunt.

This is what she does best:  chew on paper.  This was in the afternoon at the other park we drove to.

Definitely one of my favorite pictures ever.  I love her little butterfly bum. 

She and Jeremy did a whole lot of walking around.  And adventuring. 

Then she'd toddle on back to Mommy.  And give me a grin. 

She is the sweetest baby, seriously. 

She didn't like walking on this log.  She tolerated it long enough for a picture. 

We got a guy to snap a family shot for us.  Not the greatest picture ever, but it'll do. 

She put her little toes in the water with Jeremy's help.  And then touched the green algae.  And grabbed some and tried to eat it.  And that was the end of that adventure.  Mommy came to the rescue with a wipe. 

She got a beautiful new dress made by her Aunt Michele!  She wore it to church on Sunday and even managed to keep her little hair flair in!  Can you tell she has pretty much outgrown her car seat?  We went and bought a new one today... 

Her new trick!   Not the clapping...  She's been doing that for about 3 months.  But the standing long enough to clap...  Now that's new.  She's doing it more and more.  And longer and longer. 

I hate when my pictures load sideways.  But you get the gist.  She was standing holding my phone and pointing.  Big girl.  It's only a matter of time until she gets brave enough to take a step or two.  Where did my baby go?

True to Nilla Form... It's a Picture Dump!

Because I seem to have time for little else as I go down my list, crossing stuff off :).

Sue from the funeral home made Lynnaea a little bunny Easter basket.  So cute!

This cheesey girl is pretty much eating regular food now.  Little bits of chicken breast, potatoes, carrots, peas, macaroni...  Pretty much most of the stuff we eat....  Just without all the awesome flavors.  Although I think she likes it best when I pull stuff out of our home-made soups.  Because they then get the delicious broth flavor!  She can definitely put away some macaroni and veggies from that!

Conference weekend...  Lots of fun at our house!  Her new favorite thing is to hold Daddy's hands and walk.  She gets so excited!

 

Yesterday was a nicer day -- warmer too -- but I didn't leave the house yesterday.  So we went to the park today!  We found one with a baby swing!  Honestly, she wasn't too sure of it.  This was the only partial smile I got.  I'm sure she'll come to love it though ;).

 

Then we sat in the grass so she could feel what that feels like.  She wasn't too sure about that either!  She pretty much sat there like this the whole time...not touching it with her hands. 

 

Then I stood her up on it and held her.  Love the facial expression!  It was getting windy by this point. 

So we left and went to Baby Story Time.  The end. :)