Random Lila Photos

I know I need to update this blog and have had ideas of posts for a long time.

Like, mom vs. the baby food, in which baby food is the clear winner. The deciding factor was when lila leaned over the side of her Bumbo which was perched (safely and fully) on the corner of the tub in which I was bathing and spit up most of her sweet potatoes into the water. Yes, I was still in it. No pictures were taken of this occurance but plenty of pictures of Lila covered in food are stored for her wedding video.

Instead I have cute random pictures of Lila which I can't seem to stop taking.

I'm afraid I have created a monster in that every time I change Lila she thinks afterwards she has to stand up and play in her basket with all her supplies. Even when she is in a bad mood this makes her happy.

I went shopping with a couple friends last weekend and Lila was spoiled by them. They are both baby lovers and were more than happy to hold her. I love this sweet face!

Good thing we all were willing to hold Lila because her stroller was needed for another use. Yes, my stroller is under all that stuff- which I'm proud to say most of is not mine.

Can you tell Lila loves her binkies? I didn't even realize she had that many of them on her play mat but she managed to gather them all together. I promise I didn't do it. My little hoarder. :)

Lila on Valentine's Day. She had 2 cute red outfits because one got spit up on of course! Luckily Mammie (Chris's mom) got her this red hooded coat and leggings which were so cozy and cute on her.

Lila is trying to pull her knees up already. I'm not ready for her to crawl yet!

Camie and I tried to get a cousin picture in their red Valentine's clothes at her house but it was rather difficult. (Lila's shirt says "kiss me" so cute!)

As good as it gets.

Lila in leg warmers is my new obsession. Here is just one pair, but my sister sent me others that I have been putting on her with dresses. Love it!

Lila with our friend's baby Luke. From the look on her face I don't think she's going to be a good sharer.

Maybe she's just jealous of all his hair.

Ta Da. Here are the hair saga results. Bear in mind please that some make-up got washed off during rinsing in the sink plus this picture was taken at 11:30 pm! I got there at 5:15pm and left at 11:30! She was coloring and cutting both my friend and I, but I was not planning on being there so late.

I still can't decide. Right after she finished I LOVED it. I was shocked how short it was and how little hair I seem to have but she cut exactly how I described and it was such a fun change. Now I have been trying to decide if it looks good. I thought I would be a little blonder and longer but I like that it looks natural and it's still is quite a bit lighter than it used to be. I got home and Chris didn't like it. That was kind of a bummer...him being my husband and all!

It actually looks longer and redder in the picture to me than in person. There are tons of choppy layers but now I feel like it looks like Jennifer Aniston's "Friends" haircut (more so today now that I slept on it and it bounced up a little more).

Jury is still out.

Some from today taken by yours truly.

Here is the pony originally cut off so you can see color difference.

Bright Idea?

Recently Lila and I had a little outing at a mall in Tampa. We had a fun day browsing and buying outfits for a friend having twins (yay Jenna!) I made a pit stop in the mother's lounge to feed and change Lila. Now I don't claim to be a brainiac by any means, but seriously?! Who puts a motion activated paper towel dispenser directly above the changing table? Really?

Lila thought it was the greatest thing since...well she doesn't know about sliced bread yet but she thought it was pretty fun. I couldn't help thinking of all the wasted paper towels over time. Just in the time it took me to change her diaper I threw away two arm loads of paper towels. Every time Lila kicked her little legs or waved her frantic arms more towels fluttered into her awaiting arms. Every time I moved, same result. Whose bright idea was that?!

Now, this really was a bright idea if I do say so myself.

Lila has issues with riding in the car. They have improved but it is still no fun being in the car with this girl. She hates being strapped into things and hates when she isn't moving. This makes traffic and red lights torture as I have mentioned in previous posts. My mom got Lila this awesome piano toy for Christmas. It is supposed to be tied to the crib or somewhere where the baby can kick it to make the notes and animal sounds play and little characters light up. It also has a mode to play songs continuously that change when different keys are kicked. I have been using it on the floor for her to push with her hands but it occurred to me that she could kick it in the car. It has helped tremendously! Thanks mom!

Finally, I am hoping that changing my hair is still a bright idea.

Most of my family and especially Chris are not so thrilled about the idea but after dragging my feet about who to go to and if I should really do it, I have a consultation scheduled for Friday. There is a consultation first because the girl cutting my hair is a friend of a friend and doing it for cheaper out of her house than in her salon so she needs to see my hair to know what dyes etc to use. I am hoping it goes well because I have heard red hair is hard to dye. I think the fact she wants a consult first is a good omen. We will see...

Some Firsts for Lila

Lila is now eating rice cereal and it is hilarious! She absolutely loves it and gets angry if you don't feed her fast enough. She also likes to "help" guide the spoon into her mouth which makes for a fun mess. We tried oatmeal cereal first but her face got a rash on it so we will hold off for a bit longer on that one. The video below of her first cereal is long so you don't have to watch it all...or any of it. Also, please ignore my "mommy voice." It's kind of annoying.

Lila has also learned to roll over from back to tummy. She has been doing tummy to back for a while now but just started the other way a week or so ago. I used to put her under her play gym but she gets stuck in the netting because she only rolls to her right. I also had to stop putting her under there because she can roll onto the wood floor. Now Lila only rolls in bedrooms where she can go to her hearts content...except when I have to save her from the furniture. She likes to look up every so often to get approval, ie cheering and clapping. She smiles and laughs then continues on her merry way. It's too much fun to watch!

We also got Lila an excersaucer today since she likes to sit up and move around more now. I thought she would love it because it bounces and spins around. Problem is she is not quite big enough for it yet so her feet don't touch making it a little hard to bounce or spin. Oh well, she likes to grab onto the toys surrounding it.

(It's obvious from this video and my massive bun that I haven't gotten around to the cut or dye yet. I hear red hair doesn't take hair dye well and am a little discouraged!)

There are a couple old videos of Lila-one of her rolling from tummy to back and one of her laughing (1.5 mins into the video) posted Dec. 11th because I thought they weren't working and just figured out they don't play until you publish the post. You have to scroll down a ways to see them if you want.

A Hairy Situation

One can't help but take notice that after giving birth, many women change their hair. This almost never turns out well. I have never understood why women hack off perfectly good locks. Now however, I understand completely.

My body is not doing what I want it to do. So much so that for the first time I can remember, I have zero desire to buy clothing for myself. Sad, I know. So, I'm going to do what any wise woman would do. Work out? Diet? No. I am going to dye and cut my hair. I need something to look different. Some of you may wonder why this is blog worthy (I'm still not sure that it is but it's 1am and I'm letting Lila "cry it out" so I can't sleep and what better to do?) Anyway, I have had basically the same hair my whole life. I chopped it off up to my shoulders once in high school and it looked horrendous so I promptly grew it right back out. I highlighted it once before I got married in the home of a lady I worked for and it was barely noticeable. That is the extent of my hair adventures. I'm always jealous of the people who dye their hair all the time and change their look. I have never been brave enough and maybe I was too cheap for it.

I want to go blond. I know it is winter and most people go darker, but my hair hasn't seen the sun much in a year due to bed rest and Lila's white newborn skin, and it is already too dark for my taste. So, blond it is. I don't think I will go completely blond because that would just make me look kind of weird but I want to be more blond than red. As for the cut, I can't cut too much off due to my round face and Chris's threat to come home with a dog if I do. (Sorry dog lovers.) I think I will go with a swooped bang, a few inches off the bottom, more layers and maybe a little thinned out. I've been watching all the different make over shows on TV and they all seem to think long hair is not that flattering. Guess I've been out of the loop on that one for a really long time. Bummer.

Now I just need to find someone to do it who won't make me cry when it's over- whether it's when I look in the mirror or pay the bill. I hope I don't end up being one of the many who should have just left their hair alone. At least Lila is too young to be embarrassed by me just yet!

Christmas 2011

Our Christmas was fabulous! It was so fun to spend the best time of the year with family and our baby girl! We celebrated before Christmas with Chris's family first, then flew to San Diego to spend 9 days with my family.

This is the week before Christmas at the Harris's. We had a great time and were very spoiled.

Lila looks so cute in her new chair!

Calla was so excited to see what everyone got.

We wore her out!

Here is our traveling champ! Lila slept almost the whole time cross country both ways. I seriously couldn't have asked for more.

Chilling at Grandma and Grandpa Rose's in her new outfit from Grandma.

We spent a fun day at the crowded zoo where Lila found a little friend to take home.

The cute little face I got to look into all day thanks to the Baby Bijorn.

We went to my favorite place, the tidepools where my mom found a six-legged star fish and a sea slug. I love those things!!! Here's my brother Dave.

The tide was really far out. This little cave thing is usually under water.

Lila's first time at the beach! Let it be noted (Chris) that her first trip was to the PACIFIC Ocean which must mean it will forever be her favorite. It was quite chilly if you couldn't tell. She looks a little Jabba the Hut from Star Wars but it was all for the sake of warmth!

Grandpa showing Lila sea anemones.

At a yummy pizza place downtown. The guys there were truly Italian and I now have another food place I wish we had here in Florida.

In Coronado at their huge tree. It's a tradition to go to the Hotel Del and see what theme they decorated the tree in.
Lila missed the whole thing.
They always do a smaller ocean themed tree that I covet every year.

On Christmas eve we let my sister, Audra's, kids get some energy out at Pump it Up. It was hilarious to watch them bounce around. Even Chloe, her 1 year old, was adventurous and played with the bigger kids. She kept pushing away any helping hands and wanted to bounce on her own.
Christmas eve at my parents. We always have a huge meal, sing carols and play chimes. Ethan was our resident Christmas King and led us in the chimes.

I LOVE her pj's.

This was the big hit of Christmas. Ethan and Luke got a John Deer tractor. Their faces were priceless. Good job Grandma and Grandpa.

Chloe got a car of her own. :)




I'm always sad when Christmas is over but I don't have much to be sad about. I have wonderful friends and family and a beautiful baby. 2010 was an amazing year and I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us.