Lovely Lulu

I'm an aunt! I can finally say that and I love the way it sounds. Here she is, my beautiful niece Lulu Sara Greene.

Now let's go back to the beginning and see what I can remember about this day. Because, to be honest, I'm writing this 6 months later and things can so easily get hazy.  Jeff had planned a work trip to San Francisco the week Rhea was due. Admittedly not the best timing, but we were all convinced she would deliver late.  So onto the plane he went. Then Ayla got sick. Not just your typical "mom, my throat hurts" type of sick, but the stomach flu variety. Skip ahead a few days to March 19 and I get a text saying Rhea and Jonathan were in the hospital and the baby was on her? his? way. At this point Ayla was recovering, but was in no shape to sit in a waiting room. Plus, giving all those possible germs to an infant? Forget about it. So the search went out for someone to help. Our babysitter pulled through and I got to visit Rhea.

As I walked up to the front desk to ask for her room number, they glanced at my growing belly and assumed I was there to have a baby of my own. Really? I'm dressed (semi) nice... and CLEARLY not in labor. But I digress. So I walk into Rhea's room and there she is. Smiling. There's music playing. The vibe in that room was so chill. Oh epidural, let's count the ways we love you.

Then there was some waiting, a tasty lunch, a babysitter rotation at home and more waiting. Folks, they don't call it a 'waiting room' for nothing. Every time one of our phones beeped or buzzed all eyes went to the owner. Was it news? Jonathan had taken to texting me so I got a lot of hopeful looks directed my way. Then came the sweet lullaby tinkle played across the maternity wing. It had to be! Something was different about this lullaby. (The hospital would play it each time a baby was born.) Sure enough, Jonathan came walking out with the biggest grin on his face. With a tear in his eye (or maybe more) he announced they had a daughter. A precious girl! A whoop went up and hugs were handed out. We waited a bit more to meet the newest family member, but it was oh, so worth the wait.

Even Dad/Papi got in on the action. Lulu was named after him and although he didn't say it out loud, I could tell he was very touched.

She was wide awake, just taking it all in. Happy to be out in this new world. Then the nurse took her footprints and gave her a bath. She.was.not.happy. And let me just tell you, when Lulu isn't happy, she lets you know.

But then she was wrapped back up- a perfect little package, complete with a bow on top. She fell asleep immediately and we got another peek at the adorableness. I mean, just look at those cheeks!

Three days later we got to visit again. I think she's the perfect mix of Rhea and Jonathan. Lovely Lulu...I heart you.

As I write this, Lulu is already 6 months old!  I'm trying to go in chronological order so I won't add any current pictures but there are lots more to come!

Ayla Says...

Here are the most recent sayings in my continued collection!

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Ayla: "I'm magic like Elsa. And I'm pretty powerful. More powerful than a fire hose."

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As Jeff is reprimanding Lincoln for spitting food.
Ayla: (yelling from the bathroom) "Lincoln! Listen to your father!"


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After seeing a heart I drew.
Ayla: "Oh it's so cute I might just cry!"


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Confusing thoughts
Ayla: "I'm never going to smoke when I'm an adult because I don't want to die..." (thinking) "Is dying bad for you? It's not good luck right? But it is good because you get to see God."

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Going outside

Ayla: "Come on Lincoln. Scoot your patoot."


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At the dinner table
Ayla: "Let's call Netta."
Mommy: "What do you want to talk about?"
Ayla: "I need to talk to her about this house. And God. And love and peace."

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Looking at Calvin
Ayla: "My favorite part of Calvin is his head. And the smallest part of him are his little nipples."


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The day after Easter
Ayla: "Hey Mom, did you hear God last night?"
Mommy: "I didn't. Did you?"
Ayla: "Yes! He said 'I love you'. And it was Easter. Wasn't that a good Easter present?!"


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To Daddy after he worked out
Ayla: "EWWW Daddy! Your stinky. You need a shower young man."


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Playing upstairs before bed.
Ayla: "What's that noise? Is it a monster?"
Mommy: "I think Daddy is home." (Starting to go downstairs)
Ayla: "But Mom! You can't just go downstairs all willy-nilly. It might be a scary monster!"


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Winter Snow 2013

I wanted to post a few pictures of our winter (still in my effort to catch up). It was a very cold winter across the country this year and Charlotte was no exception (although all those Ohio folks got it WAY worse than us.) The first snow of the season started on January 28 right when it began to get dark. Ayla was so excited to see snow there was no way we were going to convince her to wait until morning, so we bundled up the two kids and out they went.

Lincoln didn't quite know what to make of it.  All he knew was that if Ayla was outside, he needed to be also.

He refused to keep his gloves on and paid the price pretty quickly. You can see one is missing in this picture. It's like he couldn't figure out which was worse- wearing these silly things on his hands or feeling his fingers slowly turn to ice.

Ayla thought it would be fun to go on the playset so I was able to snap a few photos before Lincoln decided he'd had enough. The snow turned the slide into a icy human luge.

 

Linc definitely has that "get me off this swing and into the warm house" look on his face. 

When it snowed again in February, we made another trip outside- this one was more of a quick visit, hence the no gloves and hat look.  I knew Jeff would take Ayla out again once the snow accumulated a little more. (They were predicting several inches. It ended up being more than just several inches and we enjoyed a nice city wide snow day!)

All in all it was a very fun winter snow season for Ayla. She and Jeff spent hours outside sledding and stomping around. She and I made a somewhat sideways snowgirl in the front yard, (She insisted it be a girl, not a snowman.) and made countless snow angels together. Lincoln enjoyed endured the ten minutes he spent outside throwing his gloves on the ground. I think he might have more fun next year when he has a better understanding of snow gear :)

Lincoln: 18 months

I'm overdue for a Lincoln check in and as I'm writing this, he is much past 18 months but I needed to post some pictures and jot down some of his oh-so-adorable quirks. The main reason I'm doing this blog is to be able to look back and remember as much as I can. I really think it's impossible for them to grow any faster than they already are!

At 18 months, Lincoln has become Mr. Independent. He loves to stomp off on his own and figure things out.

Sometimes that involves dragging a pink Barbie suitcase around. I have no idea why he deems this a super fun activity...maybe he just likes having something follow HIM around, since he is usually doing the following.  (It's completely empty by the way)  He's taken Barbie in just about every room of our house and corner of the yard.

He has also found his voice- namely when he wants something. Or wants someone to get out of his swing, like in this picture....

Every once in a while, Lincoln will be the one to come up with an idea and Ayla is the one to follow. As I was cooking dinner one night, he pulled every single cookiesheet, cutting board, placemat and cupcake tin out of the cupboard. (It was just one of those battles I wasn't willing to fight.) Then he climbed in and made himself at home. (Ayla then swooped in and added a feminine touch with pillows and blankets.) Leave it up to the girl to cozy up the joint.

Another quirk of my dear, sweet boy is to drink his milk like this.

 

As soon as milk is handed to him, he plops himself on the floor, lays back, and takes it to the face. Daddy originally showed him how to do this when he continued to forgot to tip the cup in order to drink. I guess it made an impression on him, because now he assumes this position for EVERY cup of milk no matter how cold or uncomfortable the floor might be. 

One last toddler quirk, and this is something Ayla did as well. When Lincoln sees Jeff doing push ups, he runs over and jumps on his back.  Jeff, amazingly takes it in stride and continues on- but Linc did it to me the other day and I just about smashed my face on the concrete. Pushups are hard enough without 25 extra pounds!

 This little 18 month old boy has my heart!

We waited a long time to hear Lincoln talk. He still doesn't say much, but here's what he was saying at a year and a half.

Momma
Dadda
Wa-wa (water)
Hot (anything with the slightest temperature is labeled "hot!")
Car

Ayla Says...

Same idea, different title! Just as before, I love writing down the things that come out of Ayla's mouth.  As she gets older, she is coming up with evan more clever ideas, deep questions and just plain funny sentences.

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Ayla: "It's such a nice day! Can we leave the door open a little bit so the nice can get inside?"

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After getting upset with her
Ayla: "Awkward! Umm... Mom? Can you just smile for me?"

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After playing outside
Ayla: "Ugg....I'm so puckered out from working so hard."

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Coming in from preschool
Ayla: "Well, I have good news and bad news. What do you want me to tell you first?"
Mommy: "The good news."
Ayla: "I learned how to eat cereal in the living room without spilling it! And now for the bad news. Elizabeth (a friend at school) bumped her head really really hard. She tripped over a chair that somebody forgot to push in."

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Eating applesauce
Ayla: "The cinnamon in this is so good I can't even stand it!"

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Tucking her in
Mommy: "Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite." (Turning to leave)
Ayla: "But wait Mom....bed bugs make me a little bit nervous."

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Random
Ayla: "Hey mom? I think when I'm 46 I'll put my face under water and swim without my swimmies on."

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Playing hide and seek. I was hiding under a blanket.
Ayla: "I see a big tooshie!"
Mommy: "Hey! Don't say that!"
Ayla: "Why?"
Mommy: "Because no one wants to hear they have a big butt."
Ayla: "But Mommy, you DO have a big tooshie!"

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In the car
Mommy: "Father's Day is coming. Do you know who you father is?"
Ayla: "Yes! God! I even know a song about it. (Starts to sing) God our Father, God our Father, Once Again..."

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Random
Ayla: "When the baby is here the Skipper family will have 5 people! Me and Mommy, Daddy, Lincoln and the baby. We will fill up the whole car!

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Eating ice cream
Ayla: "This treat is so good it makes me want to wag my tail and slap my face!"

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