Stand up, Bug!

Lily,

You have recently started doing some very interesting and amusing things. You can blow raspberries, create big bubbles with your mouth, and STANDING UP on your own! You can cruise around, walking and holding onto the edges of furniture, and you crawl so fast now. It's amazing, seeing the difference a few weeks makes. You couldn't even crawl in the beginning of June! Just sitting back and watching you learn, practically hearing the wheels turn in your beautiful head is amazing. I am excited and dreading the moment you start walking (running!) because I know I will never have a peaceful moment EVER AGAIN. It's great!

Daddy got to take care of you overnight one day last week because I was in the hospital. It was hard to be away from both of you, because I love you both so much. He is more than capable of taking care of you, and you both came out alive- if not a little bit more tired than normal. He also took you to your 9 month appointment, where you were measured again. Just shy of 20 lbs, and 27" tall! So big. I am sure I will blink and you will be taller than me. Already my nephews are pretty much taller than me, which is a little freaky. Time flies! And your mama is short. What else is new??

I love my little Lady Bug!!

Little Bug, Standing Tall

Lily!
You are growing too fast. You can stand up for short periods of time now without really leaning on anything, and you got up to a standing position yesterday with no help from us or furniture or the dog or anything! It was great. I am so proud of my standing-up baby. I am sure you will be walking in no time.

Speaking of standing...
You are getting big and strong. Soon, we will be able to talk to each other, rather than at each other. You blather on in your baby syllables now, occasionally getting a recognizable word out (dada, mama, up) and I will chatter back at you about my day, and how pretty and smart and strong you are getting. I can't wait to be able to talk with you, and for us both to understand and listen, because I have some things I want to teach you. Somewhere down on that list is how to STAND UP. Specifically, stand up for what you believe in. Stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. This can mean many things- don't bully, protect the weak, always tell the truth... it's such a vague concept, so I know I will be trying to teach it to you for the rest of my life. And I know, one day you will get it, and you will think, 'Thanks, Mom.' Well, I sure hope that's how it goes. I want to be the best possible influence I can be on you. The world doesn't have enough good people in it, so I want you to be one- a good, strong person who stands up for her beliefs, whatever they may  be.

I love you little girl,

Mama!

Teeth time in Ladybug-Ville!

Lily:
I was waiting to write this post until I could get a good picture, but you are not complying. So, I guess we'll do this post picture-less. You are finally getting your first tooth!! It's your bottom left one, and it's SHARP! Grammy Nancy and I were wandering around Wal-Mart, and you were chewing on her purse strap. I mentioned how you were probably going to leave teeth-marks all over the purse, even though you had no teeth. A few minutes later, you grabbed my finger and started chewing on it... TOOTH! A TOOTH! We were in the cake-decorating section, discussing what to do for your 1st birthday. Grammy felt it too! She was very excited that you cut your first tooth on her purse. It's still just barely out of the gum, but still there. Everyone is very excited for you!

I'm so excited to see you grow! One tooth now, a whole mouthful eventually! Also, I had a dream last night that you got up and started walking. So there is that, too!!

I love my little girl!!