Outside, Outside, Outside!

Lily learned a new word during our recent warm weather: outside. We spent many hours in the yard, playing with her sand table that we set up and riding in the wagon. But we couldn't spend EVERY hour outside, much to Lily's disappointment. Every time we brought her inside, she would go to the front door and say, "Outside...outside...OUTSIDE!!" One time, she even got her shoes and sat by the door with them saying, "Outside" over and over. Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time in the yard this summer!

Our New Dog, Dijon

OK, so we really don't have a new dog. Just the same old pooch, Dixon. But when Lily says the dog's name, it comes out DIJON, like the mustard. I have to admit, Ethan and I have started calling him Dijon as well. Poor dog is probably wondering who this Dijon person is...

Daycare Hair

Lily's hair is starting to get longer and longer, but it's not THAT long yet. It can get a little messy sometimes, especially in the back where it often turns into a curly/frizzy ball that no amount of conditioner can tame. We just try to brush it down as best we can.

Lately, when I pick Lily up from daycare, her teachers have "styled" her hair, meaning she has little barrettes in her hair, or it's been put up in a ponytail on top of her head a la Pebbles Flintstone. I think they're trying to tell me something...

Digital Baby Book

Photo by Carrie N.

I feel like this blog doubles as Lily's baby book. Yes, I have one of those fill-in-the-blank books for her first year milestones, but there's not a lot of space to write about all of the cute things she does or says on a daily basis, and trust me, there are a lot of them!

Here's the latest update on the life of Lily at 16 months:

Lily is adding words to her vocabulary every day. She can say, Mama, Dada, Dixon (our dog), apple, toes, nose, chin, eyes, ah-choo (after anyone sneezes or coughs), alright, oh-no, bye bye, no, yes and up--those are just the ones I can remember.

Lily can also tell us what a number of animals "say:" dog, cow, cat, monkey and sheep. She can also point to her eyes, nose, ears, head, mouth, chin, toes and belly.

Speaking of belly, she has a round one. We call it her Buddha belly. Lately, she likes to walk around with her shirt pulled up, showing it off while patting it.

Lily is an incredibly loving little girl, who loves to give hugs to everyone. She not only will give you a hug, but she'll also give you an encouraging pat on the back while she's at it! :)

Three weeks ago, Lily made the big move from the infant room to the toddler room at daycare. It was not a very smooth transition, to say the least. She loved her infant teachers and the combination of new teachers and a little separation anxiety led to a week of tearful morning drop-offs. It was hard to leave her, but I knew she was in good hands. It took a little more than a week for her to adjust and now when I drop her off in the mornings, she walks right into her classroom without even looking back. When I pick her up, she still cries a bit when she first sees me. I don't know if it's relief that I came back or what. My mom says I did the exact same thing when I was a kid. Maybe she inherited it from me!

She is such a good natured sweetheart and we are having such a good time watching her grow up!