No excuses

It has been way too long now since I last updated my blog!!! Life with a toddler is very busy, so I apologize that it has taken forever to see new pictures of our lives. Here are some random pictures over the last few months...Enjoy!

Bad Blogger

Well, I have been finding myself quite lazy lately, by not updating my blog. But, I admit, mostly it is because we didn't take a lot of good pictures during the holidays, which I am kicking myself about now. Another reason I have been failing to keep up this blog, is because I am writing articles once a month for Lola's Toddler class. There is a newsletter put out each month and I have been contributing as part of my duties at her school. It has been so much fun to write, and I hope to continue this in her class next year.
A lot has happened in Lola Belle's life over the last few months. As some friends and family would say, she is a different child completely! She is growing every day and making such amazing progress, really 'coming into her own'. She isn't nearly as shy and cautious as she used to be. She is waving and clapping, as well as giving high fives. She also uses sign language, saying 'more' and 'all done' at the dinner table. We couldn't be more proud of her and am confident that she will only become more social over the coming months.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were both shared with lots of family in Seattle, which was such a nice treat. Already the challenges are arising with traveling out of town for the holidays and wanting to start our own traditions at our own house. This Christmas, a few traditions were started. Lola's Grandma sent her a gingerbread house in the mail, that will arrive every year around Christmas time. I bought her the movie "The Small One" in hopes that every year we can watch it as a family. It is a story of a boy and his donkey and how he has to sell him because the donkey is old. Long story short, he ends up selling him to Joseph and Mary, so the donkey can carry Mary to Bethlehem so she can give birth to baby Jesus. I have fond memories of watching this when I was a child.
Here are some pictures from over the last few months, I tried to just pick out ones that I really liked. My favorite one is where Lola is sleeping on her bumper pad in her crib. She just slid down after standing and crying for a while. Such a funny child!

Boise Bound

Lola and I went to Boise for a week and had so much fun with grandma and grandpa. They were so happy to see her, but we hadn't even left the airport and she was fast asleep in her carseat, because she had to get up at 4:30am that morning!



Here is grandpa reading to her. He was using a funny high pitched voice that was making me laugh. Lola was just sitting there so content.



While we were in Boise, we got to see an old family friend and her baby Payton as well as Debi, Jason and their son Archie. It is always good to see old friends, and especially see their little ones and how much they have grown since the last time we saw them.
It seemed Lola liked to follow grandma wherever she went, especially when grandma would have food with her in her lap. Lola would crawl to where she was at, and pull herself up to the chair, and grandma would feed her like a little birdie. It was so sweet!



Grandma had a rocking horse that she is giving Lola for Christmas this year, so I let Lola get a sneak preview beforehand. I know, what a bad mommy! Don't worry, I won't do this when she is old enough to remember it.





We went to visit Uncle Cheko, who had a stroke months ago. He is recovered, but still can't walk, so he has to use a wheelchair. We just love visiting him everytime we are in Boise and he suggested I take Lola for a ride around the house in his wheelchair.



We also got to visit cousin Linda in Pocatello, Idaho. It was a four hour drive each way, so I was a little nervous going there for only one night. But, Lola was an absolute gem the whole way, I think it was because mommy drove both ways, and guess who entertained her the whole time? Yep, grandma! They were quite the little match.
I put a little red bag on Lola's head that my mom had given her to play with and she looked just like a Shriner. She didn't care that it was on her for at least a few minutes, and then once she took it off her head, she would try to put it back on and we would all laugh. She loves to get a good laugh.



We celebrated grandpa's birthday at our favorite old standby, The Brick Oven Bistro. I have been going there since I was a young kid, and it hasn't changed a bit. The food is fantastic. I managed to get a picture of grandma and Lola in the parking lot, but it was grandma's bad side. She just had some basal cell carcinoma removed from her nose. Sorry grandma, hope you aren't too mad I included this picture, but it was so darn cute.




We wished we would have had more time with Lola's cousins, but the time we did spend with them, we enjoyed it thoroughly. It is so hard living so far away from family.

Halloween at U-Village and Ballard

Next stop, Ballard, to see a few of Lola's other friends and do a little trick-or-treating in their neighborhood. Lola started off a little fussy, being in a new house with a few kids she didn't know very well. She did great when we went out to the houses for treats, but around 7pm, she had a total meltdown. A man dressed as the devil (not intimidating at all, honestly) looked at her too closely, and she lost it. Crying, choking, gasping, the whole nine yards...talk about a scary Halloween. I felt so bad for the guy that was dressed up, he couldn't believe the way she was crying because of him. Lola is just so sensitive, but I am learning that it is just her personality and I am trying to embrace it the best I can. I just feel sad that she gets so worked up over things, especially the choking and coughing. She is my little drama queen! Oh the high school years might be quite interesting...Unfortunately, the only picture I have is of her crying and after her costume was off, in her carseat on the way home. I have added a picture of Owen the turtle too.





Our family went to U-Village on Halloween to see the Pepsters and their families dressed up and get a little candy for mom and dad. It was pretty crowded and we couldn't stay long, but I wanted Chuck to see the Lola's friends all dressed up. It was really fun to see all the other trick-or-treater costumes too, so cute. Here are some photos of Maddie the turtle and her mom, Miranda the clown. Hayden the piggy (mom Heidi) and Kai the monster (mom Elizabeth). Great job Miranda for dressing up!

Lola sitting in up in crib (finally)

I found Lola sitting up in her crib a few days ago, and I was so proud of her. This means she was not crying (I would of heard it on the monitor) while she was rolling over to then come to a sitting position. Which in turn means she can do it by herself, contrary to her actions when we are around, as she screams for us to help her. I knew she was working us over, and now I have proof! The other funny thing is the pee stain in the background on her mattress pad. I didn't want to post this picture originally, because I didn't want anyone to think I was a bad mommy. I promise I do laundry on a regular basis (almost too regularly), and wouldn't have even seen this spot in regular lighting, if not for the picture I took. Rest assured, I immediately took it downstairs to be washed, and she is now sleeping soundly on a clean mattress pad.

Halloween with the Pepsters

To recreate last year the Peps had what I hope will be an annual Halloween gathering to see the kids in their costumes and of course for the parents to socialize. It was fun to see what the kids were wearing as well as see who would keep their costume parts on, mostly the hats. Poor Hayden wasn't having the piggy hat, so one of the pictures I took had Heidi in it, she was trying to duck right after she put the hat on, hoping that Hayden would keep it on long enough for the picture to be taken. So funny, the tricks we try. And poor Magnus wasn't very happy in this picture but he was still adorable, and posed nicely for other pictures. Lola and Kai seem to be looking his way, wondering what was going on, while Olivia appeared to be ready for it to be over. They are all such cutie pies, and I have really enjoyed the kids coming over to snuggle once in awhile, I can't believe they know me so well now that they feel that comfortable. It makes me feel proud to be a part of their lives!

Pumpkin Patch and just hanging around the house

After our family was sick for a week, we finally managed to get out of the house and visit a pumpkin patch! Lola was a little scared of the pumpkin when she had to stand and hold on to one, but we did get a couple of fun pictures of her. She is so excited for Halloween, and can't wait to dress up. Her costume is so adorable, we just had to borrow it from her cousin who wore it last year.