Smitten

I was trying to decide how to describe how we feel about little Lucy. I think I've got it...smitten. It's defined as "very much in love". Yep, I'd say that pretty much sums it up...our entire family is smitten.

And of course, we have been overjoyed to welcome each one of our children into our lives. We have been "smitten" with each of them. But Lucy...she is the first baby we have had that the other kids have really participated in loving on her, and recognize just how darned precious she is to have around. When Lily was born, Landen was 22 months...yeah, he didn't care so much that she came home to live with us. Then when Lawson was born, Lily was 2 years 10 months, and Landen was 4.5 years. They were excited about him, and gave him kisses and all, but still didn't really "get it". When Lucy was born, Landen was almost 8, Lily was 6, and Lawson had just turned 3 (but acted like he was 6!). And from day 1, they have all been smitten with her. I mean, really, how could you not be? When we went to Colorado, recently, and Lucy stayed with my parents, we couldn't get the vehicle in park and our seat belts off, fast enough, to all run inside and see her. Yep, smitten. :)

So, today is Lucy's last day of her 9th month. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??? Golly, I can't believe she will be 10 months old tomorrow. We picked a beautiful, sunny, but windy, day to take her 9 month pictures.

This is Lucy's new pat-a-cake trick. I don't care how many kids you have, when you see your baby do this for the first time, your heart melts all over again, just like it was your first.

Smitten.

Cheerios...Lucy likes

Lucy officially has enough teeth in her mouth that she can grind them together, so why not try some Cheerios on for size? First, her current face of satisfaction...the piggy snort. She doesn't so much have the pincer grasp down...it's more of a handful, but it gets the job done.

She approved with a chew of the sippy cup...of course, sucking on the sippy cup would be too normal.

More cheerios.

Some more...yep, I do believe she likes them.

An approving smile.

Just a couple more.

One more approving smile.

Another milestone achieved...mom says, sniffle.

Our 6 month old Lucy

Well, actually 7 months and 8 days...these pictures were a long time coming! We cancelled once because I was sick, once because Lucy was sick, at least twice for bad weather, and once because my friend was having a baby, and I was there with her. But, that's the beauty of doing business with a friend...she's forgiving and accommodating, and will fly to the moon and back for a plate of peanut butter cookies as a tip. :) Okay, the moon may be a bit of an exaggeration, but she was so kind to reschedule us many, many times.

And wow, I'm tickled pink with the outcome. As always, Willow Brandt Photography did an amazing job, capturing our beautiful Lucy. Our Lucy...growing up so big and so fast.

Lucy's hangout

Lucy does enjoy the exersaucer...perhaps, more than any of the four kidlets ever have. You know something else she loves? Chewing. Chewing on anything. In these pictures, the preferred chewee is a plush, stuffed seal.

She's growing up before our very eyes.

Happy 6 1/2 birthday Lil'!

Lily is one of those lucky kiddos who has a summer birthday. Not only does her birthday land smack dab in the middle of summer, but her half birthday happens during Christmas break! POOR LIL'! We didn't let that stop us, though. We didn't even let the two snow days at the beginning of the week stop us. We preserved Barbie Mermaid and her ocean paradise...1st graders don't care so long as frosting is involved.

This is what the cake looked like before the kids dug in. And this is what was left to share with her brothers, complete with candles. In the spirit of halves, we only used three candles...and uh, that's all we could find, anyway.

She liiiiikes it, Lucy liiiiikes it!

Aaaaaah, the fourth child...just when you think you've seen, heard, and done it all, the fourth little baby does something to prove you wrong. That's our little Lucy.

So, I had this big idea of skipping baby food altogether. None of my kids loved it, and Lily particularly hated it. It's a mess, it's a hassle, and I just didn't want to mess with it. All of my kids have gotten teeth at a decently early age, so I thought, I'll nurse her until she can handle little bits of soft things and we'll just go with that. Right on schedule, she got her first tooth six days shy of her six month birthday.

Long about five months, little miss decided she might not be satisfied with just nursing. She acted like she wasn't satisfied at night. In hind sight - 20/20, right? - I truly believe it was her teeth, but at the time, I was panicking a little on the inside. What about my grand plan, little girl?

So, begrudgingly, I whipped up some rice cereal the day after she turned six months. I KNOW she's going to hate it, just like the other three...this is so messy, and why would I want to ruin perfectly good breastmilk with such nastiness?? Blech. But, here we go...

She got all bibbed up, stating the obvious...
First bite, out it comes. Yeah, I KNEW you wouldn't like it.Oh, wait...what is that? Is that, a...a smile?

Oh, now the hands are involved...you know she's all warm and fuzzy inside when the hands go in her mouth. I mean, it's her favorite past time.

Who can argue with those big, beautiful, uh, whatever colored eyes she has? They change so often, I can't keep up!

Heh, guess what? She liked it. She snarfed every last lick of the pasty stuff, and the next night, she begged for more. Yeah, I know what they say about best laid plans. I'll never make one again, where this precious, stinker-of-a-Lucy, is involved.

Christmas

Merry Christmas, on January 12! Yeah, I'm a little behind, but it could be worse. I've got bigger troubles...I had to double check the date, and in fact had to correct it. Oopsie. :)

Actually had a request to update my blog...warms my heart that somebody actually reads it. :)

Per usual, I forgot how blogger demands you upload your photos in reverse order, so, what I intended to be first is last. Oopsie again.

Lawson posed for a split second before ripping into his package. Landen made quick work of his gifts, then this is what we saw for much of the remainder of the day. Super Mario for the DS was a huge hit...for the entire family...mommy and daddy might be included in that statement.

Lucy Lu...sitting up so big with her bath seat and stocking. I think she looks like she belongs in that chair. And of course, Santa knew just what that fourth Hay kid needed!

Lily loved her squinkies, or whatever they're called. All 16 of those microscopic little buggers...

Christmas Eve...good looking bunch o' Hays in their Christmas jammers.

Hope everybody had a great Christmas and awesome New Year!