My first visit to Cedarville

As promised, my recent trip was quite an adventure.  Mommy and Daddy took me to visit Gram and Gramps in Cedarville.  It has been hard readjusting to a normal schedule now that we are home and this is the first chance I have had to sit down and tell you all about my trip.  The trip started with another plane ride to Reno.  This was the first time Mommy and Daddy haven't brought my car seat on the plane with us and I got to crawl back and forth and play with all the magazines from the seat pocket in front of me.  I did take a small nap on Daddy's shoulder but it wasn't very comfortable so I wasn't out for very long.  When we landed we picked up a rental car (and rental car seat) and headed to a place called Graeagle.  I didn't like the car seat at all.  It sat upright and I didn't have a good place to lay my head so I cried the whole way from the airport to Graeagle.  Luckily it was only an hour drive for Mommy and Daddy because I can be very persistent when I want out!  When we got there we were greeted by a whole bunch of family that I was meeting for the first time.  It was Gramp's side of the family (his aunt, cousins, and a few of their kids).  Gram was cooking spaghetti dinner for everybody.  I was tired but managed to hang in there and visit with everybody through dinner.  That night I did not sleep well, not only was it a new place and new bed, but I also had a lot of pain in my mouth, and I had one of my front teeth poke through my gums.  That night set the tune for the rest of the nights on the trip.  Teething on vacation is not something I recommend.  

The next morning was cool. Daddy put pants and socks on me and I wasn't sure what to think about that.  It felt weird and I had to give my legs a few good shakes to see if they would come off.  Daddy went off golfing and Mommy, Gram, Meg, the dogs, and I all went for a long walk in the forest.  It was very interesting there.  I loved to look at all the trees and streams, and watch the dogs run through the brush.   I got to practice my favorite word a lot - DOG!  Once we got home we all took naps and then headed over to the other house for the family reunion dinner.  It was fun to meet everybody.  I had a lot of fun with all my cousins, especially Kelly and Lindsey.  They liked to play on the ground with me.  I am the first baby in the next generation and everybody thought it was very fitting to have me there.  Here are some pictures from the evening and our group picture:

The next morning we got up and packed up the cars.  Then we headed down and had lunch at a little bakery in Graeagle, although I just got my standard baby food and some crackers.  After a quick visit at the other house we headed out to Cedarville.  It was just Gram, Mommy and I in the car with Brinkley.  Daddy took the rental car and left for Lodi/Stockton so he could do a day of work.  The drive was terrible.  My mouth hurt, I hated the car seat, and I just decided to cry the whole way home.  Gram even pulled over at one point to make sure I was ok, but I was fine, I just didn't want to be strapped into that thing.  Finally after about 3 hours of screaming I finally fell asleep for the last 40 minutes of the drive.  When we got to Cedarville it was raining.  They were having a big thunderstorm with rain and wind.  It was really cool and very nice there.  We played a little bit, then it was dinner time, bath time, and bed.  Once again I had a rough night and Mommy ended up taking me into bed with her so that I would quiet down and we could both get some sleep.

The next few days were much the same.  We went for a walk every morning with the dogs.   The first morning it was Mommy and Gram and I with me in the stroller.  It seemed like it was a good workout for Mommy, she was out of breath a lot.  The next morning it was just Daddy and Mommy, and the next morning it was Gram, Mommy, and Daddy and me.  Gram bought Daddy a nice backpack to carry me in.   Unfortunately they didn't get a picture of me in it, but I really enjoyed checking out the world from Daddy's back.  The afternoons were spent playing inside in the kitchen with pots, and spoons, and toys or in the living room with blocks and a tent.  We also spent a lot of time outside on the lawn with the dogs and exploring. 
I loved it! 

Mommy and me in the kitchen

Mommy building towers and me knocking them down.

Playing in the tent.

 Spruce cones were so interesting to look at!

 I wasn't too sure about Awk - she scared me a little bit.

Crawling through the grass

Outside with Tucker, Brinkley, and Auntie Meg (Tucker was my buddy!)

Brinkley wasn't too sure what to think of me and hid a lot

I loved spending time with Gram and Gramps.  Here is Gramps letting me help him on the computer.

 Gramps tried on my hat and I am learning he likes to do lots of silly stuff like that. 

Gram feed me breakfast a couple of times.  I promise I loved it.  Gram picked me a lot of fresh veggies from her garden including zucchini, yellow squash, and cherry tomatoes. 

I also got to see a bunch of other veggies including these cucumbers which I thought were pretty fun to play with.

One morning Mommy's friends Rikki and Joe brought their little girls over to meet me.  Their names are Taylor and Madison.  It was nice to have somebody to play with for a little while.  That is until Madison tried to grab my face and I got a little grumpy. 

 Here are some more pictures of us hanging around outside. 

Gram even let me help her make frozen yogurt.

On our last full day in Cedarville I was grumpy.  My teeth were bothering me and I hadn't slept well, but Mommy and Daddy packed me up anyway and we headed to the Modoc County Fair.  This is THE event for everybody who lives there and Mommy got to see lots of people she knew.  Mommy and Daddy decided to enter me into the Diaper Derby, a crawling contest for babies. 

Pre-competition strategy talks with Daddy

At the starting line (I wasn't too sure what to think of that clown behind me)

I put my head down and went for it (the guy in blue was the announcer and he was giving the play by play for the fans)

 Almost to the finish line - way ahead of the competition

Daddy giving me the High 5 for the win!

They made sure everybody finished

Me getting crowned - Queen!

Mommy and Daddy were proud of me and my big plaque (it is now hanging on my wall in my room)

The King and Queen of Diaper Derby

After the excitement of the Diaper Derby we wandered up to the livestock area of the fair.  It was awesome but a little overwhelming.  Besides dogs (and one cat from earlier in the week) I had never gotten to see so many animals up close before.  We saw sheep, pigs, goats, cows, horses, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and even some reptiles.  I liked to shout "DOG!" at all the animals but Mommy, Daddy, Gramps and Gram corrected me with the names of all the animals.

Duck

Rabbits

Ducks

Horse

After seeing all those animals I took a nap in my stroller for awhile.  When I woke up we headed back to the kids area to play and meet some more kids.

I like driving the cars!

Our last adventure for the day was to go see Uncle Danny participate in a rodeo event called "team doctoring."  Basically the cowboys had to separate a cow with the correct number from the herd, rope it, tie it and put a mark on it's forehead.  I had a great time in the stands watching the activity and playing with Gram and Gramps.

Cowboys receiving their instructions

Auntie Meg took me over to check out the cowboys

Danny is getting ready to go.

Auntie Meg took this great shot of Christian (Danny's brother) - he is in the blue

Here's Danny trying to rope the calf.

Unfortunately the cow won that round and they didn't get to move on to the next round.  Here he is trying to rope the calf and get his first rope back.

After an exhausting but very fun day at the fair, we headed home for dinner, bath, and bed.  The next morning we got up and hit the road to head back home.  I started crying again as soon as we got in the car and Mommy ended up coming into the back seat with me.  She held my head up so that I could take a nap.  We made it finally to the Reno airport, and then on to another plane.  This time the plane was full so we had a lady sitting next to us.  I fell asleep for a little while and spent the other part of the trip playing with the kids that were on the plane with us.  Boy was I glad when we finally made it home and I could crawl around!  Overall it was a wonderful trip and if it wasn't for teething, it would have been perfect. 

Getting out of the heat!

July, and the brunt of summer in Arizona, hit and I have never been so bored.  Except for Stroller Strides, Mommy and I are stuck in the house.  We tried going out a couple of times, but even if it was before noon, the car would be so hot from sitting in parking lots that we were drenched by the time we got home.  So Mommy called Grandma Miaja and asked her if she would come rescue us.  On Friday, July 23rd Grandma Miaja left early to head to Phoenix.  Although she had rough patch in the trip with a flat tire, she made it to our house safe and sound.  I have been so unsure about strangers lately that I was a little hesitant to go to to her right at first, but it didn't take me too long to remember how much fun it is when she comes. 

Grandma Miaja and I playing

On Sunday morning, as soon as I had breakfast, Grandma and Mommy loaded me up in the car and we were off.  I couldn't see anything out the windows when I was in Grandma's car so I threw a bit of a fit as we left and after the first stop, but I cried myself to sleep both times.  We stopped the third time for lunch, I ate a big meal, and then fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.  But after the third stop I was tired of being in the car.  Mommy tried to bribe me with toys, cereal, and crackers, but they would only appease me for a few minutes before I would start screaming again.  Luckily for Mommy and Grandma, it was only for the last 45 min of the drive.  They said that it only took 9.5 hours, but I thought it took way way too long.   I can only sleep in that car seat for so long!

When we arrived I was swarmed.  Papa Kelly, Aunt Danielle and Rylee, Papa Delbert and Grandma Jeri, Aunt Michelle and Peyton all came to say hello.  I decided right then that it would just be safer to stick close to Mommy.  The next few days were all very similar but great.  I spent the days going for walks with Mommy and playing with my cousins Peyton and Rylee.  Then Grandma Miaja would get home from work and we would have big family dinners with everybody.  Then I would take my bath and sometimes we would go out for a walk after bath with Peyton.  It was so nice to get outside in the cooler weather!  Here are some pictures from my time in Visalia. 

My beautiful cousin Peyton

Me having fun with all the "new" toys

Peyton and I played a lot!

Rylee, Peyton and I (notice Peyton and I are the same height)

Grandma Jeri helping me eat lunch

Rylee reading to me

The cousins 

My mood during the photoshoot and Auntie Danielle trying to comfort me

Grandma and Auntie saying goodbye on the morning we left

On Thursday Grandma Jeri loaded all our stuff and us into her car and we left Visalia.  After a quick stop to have lunch and go meet all of Grandma Miaja's coworkers, we headed to Modesto.

When we got to Modesto we went to Grandpa Browder's house.  It was much quieter at his house but I still wasn't sure that I wanted to be with anybody else but Mommy.  Mommy and I took some more big walks and had fun reading books and playing on the floor.  But I had a couple of cranky days while visiting Grandpa.  My gums hurt and Mommy thinks I am about to get my top teeth soon.  Gram came on Saturday and I was glad to see her.  The excitement of the next couple of days was going over to Grandpa's neighbor's house and play with their dogs.  Grandpa brought the dogs to his house one day and I loved to talk to them through the glass door.  On the last day we were there I even let Grandpa hold me for a few minutes.

Taking a stroll around the backyard

Rosie and I 

Gram and I reading one night before bed

Grandpa Browder reading to me

The grass sure was different in California

Sunday was an exciting day.  Mommy's friends came to visit her.  She got to spend time visiting with Hilary and her baby Tegan, and Crystal and Travis.  I enjoyed meeting Tegan and think we will be good friends.  I liked to give him "love taps" and use his head to help me stand up.  We were the best of buddies.   Here is a picture of Tegan.

And of course, this blog wouldn't be complete without a picture of me making a funny face.

I enjoyed my time in California, but I missed Daddy a lot.  After a quick and uneventful flight home, Daddy was there to meet us at the airport and we were back in the heat.  Oh well, Mommy tells me we have another trip in a week.  I can't wait to see where they are taking me now...

Standing On My Own Two Feet

Mommy caught me on camera standing up.   I was so busy doing my favorite activity (flipping pages) that I didn't realize I was standing all on my own.   I think I still need a little more practice before I try to take a step though. 

Just call me Little Lilah...

Today was my 9 month checkup with Dr. Irwin.  Once again I got a clean bill of health.  I also got a TB test, one shot, and a prick on my big toe so they could test my iron levels.  Here are my stats from this visit:
Weight: 16.9 lbs  - 13%
Height:  27.5 in  - 47%
Head Circumference: 44.5 cm  - 65%

As you can see I am maintaining my dainty stature.  But that doesn't mean that I am not active.  I am crawling all over the place,  testing my limits and mom's patience, everyday.  I am pulling myself up to standing on anything and everything, and can even stand up all by myself in the middle of the room.  I am currently surfing the furniture and will stay on my feet to get from the ottoman to the couch and back.  Mommy thinks it won't be long before I am walking, and I can't wait.  A current picture of me:

The yard....nearly done!

As promised, I needed to post the pictures of the yard in completed form.  If you need a refresher, this is what it looked like just a few short months ago after Daddy destroyed it.

It can only get better from here post



These pictures are from a few months ago because if I took pictures today it would not look as good.  The summer is taking its toll on all the plants and grass, but come fall when it cools down again I am sure it will be beautiful.

The first step was to get the new trees planted.  Mommy and Daddy picked citrus trees - a lime tree and a tangerine tree.  Once those were planted Daddy got busy putting in a raised planter along the back wall. 

Then Daddy put edgers around the trees so that the grass doesn't spread and it looks pretty.  I am learning he always finds a reason to be able to use a power tool!

As soon as the planter was in Mommy and I went to the nursery to pick out some plants for a garden.  We bought tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, jalapenos, cilantro and basil.  We spent one evening outside planting.  It was a lot of fun because Daddy let me play in the dirt.  Well, until I put a handful in my mouth.  The next step would be planting grass.

Next the pool fence went in.

Here are some of the finished pictures.  As you can see the grass will need to be seeded one more time to get ready for me to play on it, but that will have to wait until it cools down in October.  I can't wait!

My first 4th of July

Last weekend was the 4th of July.  I thought I would tell everybody about it because it seemed to be such a big deal for Mommy and Daddy.  We were much more busy than we usually are.  But mainly I just wanted to show everybody all the cute outfits I got to wear.  My first indication of a holiday approaching was Mommy got us dressed in my first special outfit for Stroller Strides.  All the babies were dressed in cute red, white, and blue onesies and even some of the mommies participated.  It was a funny class because Mommy had to pretend to be fireworks as she worked out and we listened to lots of music about USA.  Here is the first outfit I wore....

Then came Saturday.  Mommy was very busy early with a trip to the store before 9 AM.  She decided to make brownies from scratch and top them with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and blueberries as a festive dessert to take to two different BBQ's we would go to over the weekend.  Then she started baking.   Boy oh boy what a mess she makes.  The funniest part was when she tried to double the recipe and when she went to add all the ingredients into the mixer it came splashing out the top of the bowl all over the counters.  She yelled, Daddy sighed, and I giggled.  I wanted to stay close to the action so I made myself busy in the tupperware cupboard.  And notice my very cute second outfit....

That afternoon we headed over to Daddy's friend Rebecca's house.  He knows her through work and this was the first time I got to meet her.  She was very friendly, but I was mostly interested in all the dogs that were there.  I spent a lot of time in the pool with Daddy and some time napping on Daddy's shoulder.   We got home at dinner time and I was worn out. 

Sunday started with Mommy doing some more baking.  This time she seemed to have everything under control and it went much smoother.  That is until she tried to cut watermelon and cut the end of her thumb.  Daddy had to run and get supplies to get her finger bandaged up.  Once again I was just sitting in the middle of it all, on the floor, just watching.  Here is me and Mommy and my third outfit....

That afternoon we went over to Bev and Lance's house.  I got to see my friends Savannah and Zane and play on the floor with them.  I also got to do some more swimming with Daddy, Lance, Rod, and Zane.  Zane jumped into the pool for the very first time all by himself and I wanted to try it too.

 We got home once again just in time for dinner and bedtime.  I was very tired again and fell asleep right away.  Mommy told me the next day that she and Daddy got to see some fireworks from the patio.  I am not sure what those are yet, but they sound pretty and maybe next year I will get to see some too.