Well, believe it or not, the final installment has arrived. Today is Lia's last monthly write-up that I will ever produce for "In the Hartland." It's time to take a break and move on to a quarterly review or something a little less high maintenance. Amen.
Although we held Lia's official birthday party last night with the masses, we honored her day today with a dinner in the dining room, a few more presents from just the two of us, and some homemade strawberry shortcake (which was actually what I used to request every year for my birthday dessert). It was a nice and simple evening. Here are a few pics from the night...
Although we held Lia's official birthday party last night with the masses, we honored her day today with a dinner in the dining room, a few more presents from just the two of us, and some homemade strawberry shortcake (which was actually what I used to request every year for my birthday dessert). It was a nice and simple evening. Here are a few pics from the night...
Lia sampling the shortcake before even blowing out the candles! A little anxious are we?
Lia striking a very funny pose before opening her first gift.
Inspecting a new book for the first time with papa looking over her shoulder.
This is serious business. Please note that the fairy skirt is still on!
Breaking in one of her birthday gifts: bathtub crayons! If you look close enough you can see Lia's graffiti and Ron's labeling of various bathroom parts.And, now it's time to get on to the purpose of this post: Lia's latest top 10 developments for her 24th month!
1. Although she is speaking in simple sentences all the time, my favorite phrase that Lia picked up this past month is "So dark." Lia always says it in this serious, hushed voice and she loves to say it anytime we walk into a dark room or when it starts to get dark outside. It's quite funny!
2. When she is in the mood, Lia can recite her entire ABC's and count to ten all on her own without any prompting. I like to think it's very impressive, but what do I know?
3. A few months ago, Lia fell in love with dancing. We can be found dancing to the music on the radio/CD player, or from a stuffed, musical dog, or to our singing voices. She has particularly taken to holding these dance parties in her bedroom where we throw her stuffed animals around and get wild! However, what she has started doing this month that absolutely cracks me up is throwing her pacifier in her crib at the beginning of these dance sessions. It's like she knows how much of a sweat she's going to work up and removes her paci for optimal breathing.
4. Although she is doing pretty decent in the eating department, she has taken to a very strange, yet favorite, snack: graham crackers with butter spread on top. What a refined palate she's developing.
5. This has been a tragic development for Nemo and his friends this past month as they've been passed up for Grover and the rest of the Sesame Street gang. The two Sesame Street DVDs we gave Lia for Christmas are now part of our every day existence and all three of us can be found breaking out into a jingle about counting or cookies or being green without a moment's notice!
6. Lia has learned quite a few lines from several songs and nursery rhymes and will sing them or request that I sing them all the time. Apparently we have a little song bird on our hands.
7. She has also become quite proficient at putting together puzzles with little or no help from us. She can even do most of the United States puzzle on her own. I just love it when she picks up the Texas piece and shouts "Texas!" Yes, she is her grandfather's granddaughter.
8. This has got to be Ron's and my absolute favorite from this past month! Lia can be found faithful folding her arms during the dinner prayer while picking up food and feeding herself at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking at a young age!
9. This is the definite low light of the month. The fact that Ron is barely ever around this school year has started to take its toll on Lia. She is now preferring me over him on a daily basis and will even scream and cry sometimes when she is in his arms because she just wants to be with "mama." So sad.
10. My mother recently pointed out to me how entertaining it is to watch Lia run as she doesn't really run in the traditional sort of way. Instead, she kind of flits and skips and dances and hops as she runs from point A to point B. It really is one the cutest things she does at the current moment. Oh, to be that carefree....
Well, that's it folks! Thanks for following the past 12 months! *Until the next child...
*And, NO, that is not an announcement.
1. Although she is speaking in simple sentences all the time, my favorite phrase that Lia picked up this past month is "So dark." Lia always says it in this serious, hushed voice and she loves to say it anytime we walk into a dark room or when it starts to get dark outside. It's quite funny!
2. When she is in the mood, Lia can recite her entire ABC's and count to ten all on her own without any prompting. I like to think it's very impressive, but what do I know?
3. A few months ago, Lia fell in love with dancing. We can be found dancing to the music on the radio/CD player, or from a stuffed, musical dog, or to our singing voices. She has particularly taken to holding these dance parties in her bedroom where we throw her stuffed animals around and get wild! However, what she has started doing this month that absolutely cracks me up is throwing her pacifier in her crib at the beginning of these dance sessions. It's like she knows how much of a sweat she's going to work up and removes her paci for optimal breathing.
4. Although she is doing pretty decent in the eating department, she has taken to a very strange, yet favorite, snack: graham crackers with butter spread on top. What a refined palate she's developing.
5. This has been a tragic development for Nemo and his friends this past month as they've been passed up for Grover and the rest of the Sesame Street gang. The two Sesame Street DVDs we gave Lia for Christmas are now part of our every day existence and all three of us can be found breaking out into a jingle about counting or cookies or being green without a moment's notice!
6. Lia has learned quite a few lines from several songs and nursery rhymes and will sing them or request that I sing them all the time. Apparently we have a little song bird on our hands.
7. She has also become quite proficient at putting together puzzles with little or no help from us. She can even do most of the United States puzzle on her own. I just love it when she picks up the Texas piece and shouts "Texas!" Yes, she is her grandfather's granddaughter.
8. This has got to be Ron's and my absolute favorite from this past month! Lia can be found faithful folding her arms during the dinner prayer while picking up food and feeding herself at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking at a young age!
9. This is the definite low light of the month. The fact that Ron is barely ever around this school year has started to take its toll on Lia. She is now preferring me over him on a daily basis and will even scream and cry sometimes when she is in his arms because she just wants to be with "mama." So sad.
10. My mother recently pointed out to me how entertaining it is to watch Lia run as she doesn't really run in the traditional sort of way. Instead, she kind of flits and skips and dances and hops as she runs from point A to point B. It really is one the cutest things she does at the current moment. Oh, to be that carefree....
Well, that's it folks! Thanks for following the past 12 months! *Until the next child...
*And, NO, that is not an announcement.
Very sweet. I can't wait for tomorrows post regarding the pacifier (or lack there of). :-) Good luck! Happy Birthday Li Li.
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