Today's Lesson.

This will be short.

I was making lunch; dave was eating his sandwich.

Lila was walking around the kitchen doing her thing.

Next thing I know dave asks, "les, what is lila eating?"..(I wanted to say "i don't know dave, you're sitting there and I am busy" however, I like that he thinks I know everything :D )

Lila is over at the trashcan, and took a huge bite of something big and brown. At first I thought it was roast beef (what we were eating).

 I ran over to grab whatever it was out of her mouth. 

She had taken a huge bite out of a teabag. Yes, a tea bag. All of the grainy herbs all in her mouth. 

Lila didn't seem to mind. 

Watch your kids, people. 

We only keep her around because she is cute. 

                               -LS

Shit Happens

As I look out the window, I want to kick snow in the face. STOP SNOWING. We woke up to it snowing, yet again, and of course no delay for David. Towson University will never allow their students to be happy-haha. Either way, no delay for Lila or mommy. We started off the day with our normal routine and..snow. BUT it was not just a normal day for us! We found out Oma was coming for a visit and to take us to lunch! We talked while Lila traveled throughout the house and coming over every so often for a hug or a laugh. Eventually we left to go to Sunshine Grill (a little Cafe type of place near our house)! Lila ate up every bite of her fish sticks! We also got to color which is always fun!

Oma and Lila

Not only did Oma come for a visit, but Mimi and Pops came over to visit before they went away for the weekend. Lila was one spoiled little girl. Her grandparents love her! 

Mimi and Lila

For the title of my blog this week. Yes. Shit does happen. While my mom was visiting, Lila was snacking on raisins. Well we were talking and I really was not paying attention to how many she was eating consuming devouring. I guess she ate most of the box because during her bath that night...WOW. I do not even want to describe it. I am sure most of you can imagine what I had to clean up. Lila's face looked just as shocked as mine. Poor baby. Nothing like getting ready to take her out of the bath, clean...yeah. I am just gonna stop there. 

Onto more exciting news. 

Now..remember when I said I had "walking baby radar"? Well...Mama knows best. Last night after everyone was finished visiting and we were over at my best friends house/next door watching TV, Lila took two steps toward me! I will never forget that. Lila has never been in need of anyone. She is very independent. So when she had her arms out toward me and walking to me, it was great! I totally needed that. I did not get a picture or video but I will always remember it. I have been replaying it in my mind for a whole day now. 

This was all yesterday.

Now for today. We had story time again at the library! I really believe going to story time has helped Lila with walking. She stares at all of the kids walking/talking. We went to the mall again after with Brielle and Sarah. I am so excited to see these girls walk and talk one day. I think its going to be a hoot!! We were also able to get Lila a couple spring/summer clothes today. Not near finished but its a start. No one tells you how much money everything will cost for a baby. Even though I LOVE shopping for Lila...I hate it because everything is soooo overpriced. Maybe I can write a book for high school students. Here is how much money you need. Do not get pregnant. You will be broke. The end. Your welcome. Bye. 

Thank God for coupons.

Thank God for sales. 

Thank God for friends and family. 

Now...a couple weeks ago David and I were at Target looking around. I found this little pink tutu bikini that was screaming Lila's name. I had to have it. After 500 "no's" from David I finally gave up and left the store very sad. Well when David said I could get some things for summer, that bikini was one of the first things on my list. Yes, its a bathing suit. Why would she need that before clothes? Our neighbor/best friend have a pool and I think we will probably be in bathing suits more than normal clothes this summer.  So yes, I wanted her to have it. 

So naturally we went home and tried on her summer bikini. 

Oh, and the flip flops.

Not only is there a tutu, but it comes off and on so that there are only the swimming bottoms. Good job, target. We are ready for summer. 

-LS

what you put me through..

Dear Lila, 

This is a little letter from me to you. Tonight has been rather difficult. Along with your new goofy personality (and squeal) you have a new bedtime routine..it seems. GO TO BED, LILA! You do not want to sleep. Usually you are simple. Read books, drink some milk, rock until calm (usually I make you laugh by tickling you first) and I put you down in your crib and you eventually fall asleep. I put you to bed at 7 tonight. yes, a little early, but you had a big day today with very little sleep. It is now 9:40pm and after switching off and on..Daddy finally got you to sleep. Praise God! 

Anyway, the main point of this post is to share your new habbit. You started it this week. We first play our usual "pass the binky" where you take the binky out of your mouth and give it to me, then you take it back. Cute game we have been playing for months. Then...I tickle you. Right under your chin is the spot! Gets you every time. Now....a new game. You poke my eyes. You literally stare at me with so much determination...and I am a little nervous to what the point of the game is.. you poke pretty hard and rub all around. It is quite annoying, but I laugh because it is weird. Then after being unable to keep my eyes open at all, you try to pry my eyelids open with your finger. AND YOU DON'T LET UP. I try to swat you away, but like I said, you are determined. I am now wondering maybe you keep making more games so you go to bed later and later. You can't fool me! Or have you already? Either way. You are asleep now, so I win. 

I just wanted to let you know what you put me through.. 

Sweet Dreams my Lila Bean :)

love, 

mommy

P.S. I am not a mom to a walker yet...however she learned how to stand on the table without holding on. We like to live life on the edge..

So close!

Lila is soooo close to walking... Or just taking her first step. She is THERE, she just doesn't know what to do next!!! I just want the first step to come because I am ready! I am ready to take a mental video in my mind. I am on "walking baby alert" at all times now. 

Gotta go! Daddy is home and we can have family time! Woo! 

So long! Next time you see me I might be a mother to a walking baby ;) 

                              -LS

Giggles and Kisses

A little over 13 months and Lila is starting to make me laugh. I mean..I have always laughed at things she did, but now she is doing funny things on purpose..sorta.

"I'm always funny, mom"

Forgot to mention...we are still stuck inside. Go away snow!

So Lila has a little baby doll that talks when you squeeze her belly. I always make her talk for Lila, and I also show her how to kiss the baby. Well just recently I realized that Lila is squeezing her belly to make her talk! Yay Lila! I was watching her squeeze the belly, and she could not get her to talk. All of a sudden Lila start licking her face. She would do it over and over again. I couldn't stop laughing because I think she thought that since I kiss the baby and she talks, that Lila could kiss the baby and she would talk. By the end, the baby's face was covered in slobber, and mommy had a good laugh. Poor baby. 

It was a normal day yesterday, but it felt very different. Lila was doing so much more! She was mimicking me all day (her usual words) and laughing how I laughed. I would squeal, she would squeal. Its so much fun! We did it over and over for at least 5 minutes. It usually ends with both of us laughing. She is getting so giggly and its fun to see her mouth open so I can see her teeth! They are so big. 

The other funny story that happened last night was during dinner. I was in no mood to make a fancy dinner so I decided to make grilled cheese and tomato soup. Grilled cheese is boring, so I added anything I could find to spice it up a little bit. I think I put cheese, tomato, spinach, onion, and spices. 

It was good! Even Lila ate all of hers up. Her tray was empty and she was digging down her vest...I opened it up for her because she dropped a piece of the grilled cheese down there. I went about cleaning up and realized that she started digging down her shirt. I kept watching her (thinking she dropped another piece) because she would pull it over her head. She eventually pulled it down and started poking her belly. It was huge! I was laughing so hard. 

I also want to share my dinner from a couple nights ago. If anyone likes Chicken Piccata, you gotta try this! Its amazing. My hubby LOVES everything with lemon now, so I like finding recipes with lemon. When I started making dinners for us, I would put lemon on broccoli (just like my mom always did) and he loved it. More lemon the better! So I found this and thought of him. I found this on pinterest! Enjoy!

Lemon Chicken Piccata

2 skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise

salt and pepper to taste

all purpose flour

4tbsp butter

2tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup chicken stock or dry white wine

1/4 cup brined capers

1/3 cup parsley

season chicken with salt/pepper. dredge in flour and shake off excess

in large skillet melt 2 tbsp of butter with the olive oil, over medium to high heat

add chicken pieces to skillet and cook for about 3-4 min per side until browned. When chicken is cooked, remove chicken from skillet

remove skillet from heat. add lemon juice, chick stock or wine, capers and scrape up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. return skillet to heat and bring to boil. taste sauce and season with additional salt/pepper

add chicken back to skillet and let simmer for 5 min. remove chicken to a platter and add remaining butter and whisk for about a min. sauce will thicken a bit. 

add sauce to chicken and garnish with parsley. 

I also was able to take some pics of my sis-in-law and her boyfriend on sunday. They are super cute and funny. They had me laughing alot!

I have a lot of fun doing these photos! Definitely a fun new hobby for me! 

Good Day!
-LS

Can't catch a breath!

Life with Lila has been pretty exhausting. I love it, but sometimes I wish that I could have a pause button. She is fast. I look away for a moment and she is gone heading towards anything that screams "do not touch me". Then there are moments when she is quiet and she is still for several minutes. 

Today I was able to take some photos of a high school friend and her 3 month old baby, Kinsley! She drove back home from New York (where she lives currently). I was so excited when she texted me a few days ago. I LOVE taking photos. I have a long way to go, but I feel like this is good practice. I love capturing special moments, and being able to give that to someone in a photo. So here is Kinsley and her mama :)

These pictures are from a couple of days ago. Lila has really been starting to grow into her personality recently. She loves her books. We read several times a day and she usually walks around with a book in her hand throughout the day. Even when I am not next to her to read, she will flip the pages to look at the pictures. I am in love with this photo of Lila and her "Hello Baby" book. For weeks now, she will pick it up, hand it to me or David and basically tell us to read it to her. 

 One more thing that has been in our daily routine is Lila finding my makeup and playing. It is becoming my favorite time of day! I get my bag out and she quickly crawls and follows. She sits on my lap and I hand her something to keep her entertained while I do my makeup. The sweetest thing is when she looks up at me and watches me apply the makeup. I cant wait to one day dress her up and let her try on some makeup! 

Now..I have been trying a ton of new recipes lately.. For the most part they have all turned out great. Tonight I had pork chops defrosted and I needed to use up a bunch of veggies.

Most of the time when I make pork chops, I end up finding sweet and spicy recipes, but I wanted to try something different. Well..I did!

Pork Chops 

4 pork chops

1 tbsp olive oil

5 cloves garlic, diced

1.5 cup diced tomatoes

1 large onion diced

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp sage

1 tsp basil

heat large, heavy pan on high until warm

add oil & heat until shimmery

brown chops on each side (1 min each)

reduce heat medium low & add onions

stir onion & flip chops after 2 min each side

add tomato, garlic & spices

simmer until tomatoes are soft (5-8 min)

zucchini, squash, potato, tomato side (??)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion

2 clove garlic

1 zucchini

1 yellow squash

1 potato

1 tomato

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp rosemary

salt&pepper to taste

1 cup shredded italian cheese

preheat oven 400

spray bottom of 8x8 dish

saute onion and garlic & put at bottom of baking dish

thinly slice veggies

place veggies vertically in baking dish 

sprinkle spices

cover dish with foil & bake for 30 min

remove foil, top with cheese & bake for 15-20 min

Here is a picture of what the veggies should look like before going into the oven. I forgot to take a photo. 

Here is how mine turned out :)

Off to bed. Today was exhausting. 

-LS