True Lovey

Today's story is a real life love story.
Love at first sight even.
I don't know if you believe in that kind of thing, but I'm here to tell you it's real.

(Lily+Lovey= Love Forever)

Last June we threw a big fun circus birthday bash to celebrate Lily's 1st birthday.
When it came time to open presents she tentatively tore at the paper, gladly handed shiny new toys over to her older & wiser buddy (he's 3 & definitely knows how to fully appreciate a plastic drum set) and squealed with delight at cardboard boxes.
But there was one particular present that stole miss Lily's heart that day.
We gently coaxed her to the bottom of a pretty gift bag where she found her soul mate.



Lovey is his name. Snuggling's his game.
I promise this is honestly the very first thing she did when she saw him.
In fact, this is still how she falls asleep every night (5 months later).
We recently forgot Lovey at MorMor & PaPa's for a day and life did not go on.
The girl honestly refused to sleep all day & wailed for nearly an hour before collapsing with exhaustion at bedtime!

These are the stories I want to remember forever & the pictures I want to come back to someday.
These past 17 months have flown and I'm so thankful for every little snuggle, smoochie & sweet sweet smile.
Happy 17 month birthday Lil & happy 5 month anniversary to you & your true lovey ;)

(Linking up with From Awkward to Art for Mommy Brain Mixer.)

I'm thankful for...

This girl still looking to her mama for help every once in awhile :)
Sometimes it feels like she's getting more independent by the day which is amazing & so fun to watch!
But when she's a little afraid to go check out the big inflated pumpkin patch snowman without holding mama's hand it's ok to be a little happy right?

 

Warm, fabulous, sunny weather this fall.
I hate to admit it but I sometimes complain about fall in these parts because it can skip right into winter some years.
Well, not this year. Thanksgiving is in 2 days and they're still saying we've got 70 degrees and sunshine to look forward too :)



Exactly where we're at... even though it's not my favorite place.
I've spent a lot of time lately being stressed about where we are in life & just praying for May to get here soon so Hunter can graduate & we can move on with our lives.
Even though I do still long for that change, and hope for a chance to be a stay at home mama again soon, I'm thankful for right now.
We're figuring it out & learning how to trust in Jesus in a way that we probably wouldn't be without a little struggle & sacrifice.



(I'm adding this colored version of this print to the shop today & both will still give 50% to Hurricane Sandy relief.)

(Also linked with Erin at Art Social.) 

15 month photo dump

It's hard to believe little miss thang is 15 months already!!
I haven't done a photo update in awhile so this one is picture heavy... you're welcome mom ;)

These days the girl is super into cleaning. True story.
I don't even know where she comes up with this stuff :)
She had a grand ol' time helping me clean up this treasure of a desk we found at Goodwill.


























Here's what happens when I turn my back for one second...
(This picture makes me laugh out loud every single time.)



She still LOVES to be nekkid.
All time favorite time of the day (for all of us): 20 minutes before bedtime!
After dinner she goes straight to the bath for a splash & squeal party.
Immediately followed by running around the whole house naked in a permanent state of giggles.
We just chase her and let her get it all out... until we're really nervous that she'll pee on the carpet ;)



She's developed more than her fair share of personality, and she's a total goober sometimes!
(See examples below.)



She's also a total doll baby. She loves loves going on walks around the neighborhood.

Milo and Lily totally team up on me too.
Sometimes she goes and gets his leash and starts walking around with it and he gets all excited for a walk.
How am I supposed to say no to BOTH of these faces?

Oh ya know, just chillin' in their fort.



LOVING some raspberries.
And when I say some I mean a whole entire container!



Daddy taught her to smell flowers so now everytime we see a plant she has to stop to sniff, wrinkle her now and say "aaaah"!
I love life at the pace of a toddler.



These pictures are terrible fuzzy and out of focus but they're still some of my favorites!
Such a sweet, happy, sleepy baby.

 

Here's a good shot of her melodramatic side ;)
So thrilled to be riding on daddy's shoulders can't you tell? haha
They're so emo.



She's also developing an amazing ability to keep a straight face until the second my flash goes off and then break into a huge grin.
I have tons of sequences like this one:



We're still all about the dance parties.
I wish I had video of this one :)



This makes me nervous for 14 years from now.
Me: Lily! I love hanging out with you so much!"
Lily: Ugh. Mom, seriously?



Goofy girl "singing along" to an old Winnie the Pooh birthday card. So funny :)



And now a trip down attitude lane.
With your tour guide, Lily (my middle name is EXPRESSIVE) Greeno.

Letter to Lily

To my sweet & lovely girl,

You do not have a mama who is on top of it enough to create a fabulous scrapbook.
In fact, you do not have a mama who even owns a baby book...
BUT you do have a mama with a blog!
It's here that most of your big exciting accomplishments will be recorded.
Eventually I hope to have it printed.
So that years down the road, when you ask how old you were when you started walking, I can look back and show you that you were 13 months.

You took your sweet time and waited until you were good and ready.
You could have walked months ago.
Those little legs are so strong and they've been carrying you all around for awhile now... just never without a little support from the couch, or my leg, or your beloved pink shopping cart :)
But you waited.
(You're like your daddy like that. No rush, enjoying where you're at. I love that about you both.)

You resisted our attempts to entice you into walking.
Straight up fought it even.
Then, when you were good and ready, and no one was paying attention to you:
You walked!
August 8, 2010 is a day to be remembered my love.
Becuase you may think you're tricky but guess what?
Mama was paying attention!
Thank you sweet baby, for walking when I was home.
I was so afraid you would discover this incredible new freedom when I was at work and I would miss the wonder of your first steps.
Thank you for taking those first cautious, shaky steps straight into my arms.
By the next day you were already covering the entire living room in one trip, so I am thrilled to have caught your first couple tiny steps.



You will never know the depth of my love for you precious girl.
Actually, that's not completely true.
I think you'll get it someday when your own tiny baby is placed in your arms for the first time.
Until then, be patient with me?
I know that you will soon lose your patience with my tears.
I wish I could help it but I can't!
Your every move is an incredible miracle to me and I can't always ever seem to contain my emotions.
You are a beautiful, walkin' machine Lily Belle & your daddy and I are completely captivated by you and your new talent.      
Love you forever, Mama