Halloween Costume Preview

Fun with clay!

Today Lillian and I made some clay creations! She wanted to make Cookie Monster, a blue one and then a pink one. 

This was the aftermath:

Lillian's Zoo Class on Thursdays

On Thursdays Lillian and Jessie go to a class at the zoo. They have activity tables and see/learn about animals.  Here are some pictures from the most recent class.

Videos of Lillian

Birthday Photo Reshoot

It was so busy during Lillian's birthday that I forgot to get a picture of her in her lei and grass skirt in front of her Happy Birthday Sign. I asked her very nicely on Tuesday to PLEASE put back on her outfit and stand still so I could take a picture. She considered, stood for 2 pictures, sat for two pictures and then ran away laughing hysterically while I took blurry pictures of her running. She did both what I asked and had so much fun too. So happy how she is growing. 

Notice Digit in her Lei too.

Notice Baby in her Lei

Blurry happy girl.

Dashing away!

Dashing away again!

October Pictures from Simon's Pre-K

Some pictures from Simon's Pre-K classroom from this month. In 75% of the pictures he is wearing his Iron Man sweater. He got it from Auntie Lisa and Mike and he wears it Every .. Single .. Day unless we want to fight about leaving it at home (which we did for picture day).

For one of the kids birthdays they did a fashion show (her mom is a photographer).
Kids dressed up and went down the runway.

 More after the jump:

Lillian's Actual birthday

On Lillian's birthday she opened her gift from us and Gaga+Papa: A baby doll, a baby stroller, a baby high-chair and a couple little baby bottles. SHE LOVES THEM!!

This is a happy girl.

Zoom!

Lillian's 2nd Birthday Photo Shoot

Note Digit and Baby are both wearing Leis as well.

Lillian is TWO YEARS OLD!

Our joyful, vivacious little girl is two years old. This past year in particular has been a really great one for Lillian. She went from saying only a couple words and toddling around a year ago to being a remarkably well spoken, thoughtful and speedy two year old. She pays attention to everything, answers questions and makes her opinions clearly known. She loves people, loves talking, loves singing and loves dolls (aka 'babies'). 

1. Lillian is a social, happy girl who loves talking to everyone. She may take a few minutes to warm up when she is put on the spot, but when she's left to herself she often walks right up to new people and talks with them about whatever she is currently interested in.
2. She narrates her life in an adorable way, which often frustrates Simon. Ex: "Simon is mad. He is punching. Simon is yelling." "I see lady. Lady is walking. Lady said good morning. Bye Lady!" "I am running. I run fast!"
3. She loves to sing. Right now her favorite songs are Baa Baa Black Sheep and You are my Sunshine. She will scream "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, YOU MAKE ME HAPPY, SKIES GRAY!" Very sweet and also very, very loud. 
4. She gets very excited about sirens and helicopters right now - screaming with joy when she sees one. All airplanes are helicopters in Lillian's world.
5. Usually plays very well with Simon and loves being around him. She is delighted every day that he comes home from school and she gets to see him. 
6. She draws often with Jessie and can draw a circle pretty well all on her own. 
7. She also plays avengers with Simon often. Her alone games revolve around caring for her 'baby' and running/pushing a cart or stroller. 
8. She often reads by herself and will back up across the room into your lap so you can read to her. Her favorite books are Go Dog Go, Inside Outside Upside down, Hop on Pop, and anything Simon might have recently held.
9. She no longer uses a pacifier (which she adorably called a Fire). She threw it away at the beginning of August. She asked for it casually a couple nights after it was tossed and she needed to be reminded it was thrown away but no tears and never really asked again.
10. She also switched from a high chair to a booster chair in August (at 21 months). She loves the booster! Sitting at the table with everyone and being a big kid like Simon. She climbs into it easily on her own and will buckle herself in.
11. She has recently started refusing a bib, but if you insist she'll wear it.
12. She will eat just about anything - and will try everything that you offer to her. 
13. She loves Simon but doesn't let him push her around - emotionally or figuratively. She will pinch him if he tries to push her. And she will also pinch him if he's ignoring her and she wants to play. She chases him about as often as he chases her. 
14. She has always been very verbal. She started telling stories at around 22 months - about things that happened in her day. She sings songs and plays make believe with her toys and with Simon.
15. She has started putting on and taking off her own clothes. She is still figuring it out, often two Lillian legs go into one pant leg hole, but she can get ankle socks on by herself.  
16. She is unfortunately really good at taking OFF her clothes, especially her diaper. Magically she can take off her diaper while her pants are still on.
17. She has started being interested in the potty, going by herself and watching other people go. We are going to potty train soon. (Maybe mid November?)
18. Unfortunately, she has picked up from Simon how to act when she is frustrated. When you go to change her diaper she yells at you and puts up her hand and says "Do not talk to me!" or "Go downstairs, Mama!" or "Go Away Daddy!" She will punch the air or make an exaggerated angry face just like Simon. It is really sad since I don't think she would naturally have expressed her anger that way. 
19. She goes to bed around 5:30pm or 6, wakes up around 6am. Naps from 12:30-3ish. She lays quietly in her crib when she wakes up from nap - hiding under her covers, so it's hard to see if she's actually awake. In the mornings she tends to sing when she wakes up. She almost never cries in her crib, only occasionally after we leave and she wants more songs. 
20. Lillian spends her days with Jessie, the nanny. She goes to zoo class on Thursdays. She doesn't really have a regular play date going with friends right now.
21. Lillian's 2 Year Old Stats: 
    Height: 33.75 inches (2.8 feet)  
    Weight: 24 Pounds 4 ounces 

Lillian after her shots and blood draw
at her 2 year well visit (Oct 23, 2015)

One year old Lillian.

Lillian's Second Year

Last year I made a time-lapse video of Lillian's first year to show how she grew from a newborn to a happy one year old.  It was really fun to watch her change like that, so I took pictures throughout this past year to create a new video for her second year.

The physical changes aren't quite as drastic as her first year (and it got MUCH tougher to take close up non-blurry pictures of her), but you can really see her intelligence and personality start to take shape.

Looking forward to Year Three.  Happy Birthday, Lillian!

Making Lillian a Birthday cake

I made a cake for Lillian on Tuesday and then Simon decorated it on Wednesday. Simon chose the colors, mixed food coloring in four different bowls and then he decorated the cake. He did a great job for his special sister!

Lillian is Almost 2

Grandpa Bart Visit - October 14-19

Grandpa Bart came into town to walk in Simon's walkathon with him. It was a great visit filled with walking, relaxing and some fun at the Lincoln Park Zoo's Fall Fest.

Playing!

Opening Her Frist Birthday Present - From Kathy

Lillian got her first birthday present in the mail and we went ahead and let her open it. She loved the tissue wrapping in its own right - and was totally thrilled with the vet kit that included a puppy.