Outdoor Adventures!

Daddy left for Miami this weekend to cheer on those dreadfully tacky orange and green Hurricanes in their battle against the beloved FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SEMINOLES - needless to say, the 'Noles won and I'll have a nice big heapin' helping of Humble Pie warm and waiting for when Daddy comes home tomorrow with his tail between his legs (I think I'm enjoying this just a little too much!)

Anyway, to pass a lovely Saturday afternoon, Lily and Mommy met up with Ms. Elise, Mr. Mike, Ms. Crystal, new friend, Brandon, and fan favorite, Braidan for an outdoor adventure at the Junior Museum (which is now going by a much more fancy-shmancy P.C name, but for those of us who grew up here in Tally Town, it will always be the "Junior Museum" - so there).

This place has served as such a large part of my childhood I was just giddy at the thought of sharing it with Lily. It's as close as Tally can get to its own zoo, featuring all kinds of native Florida wildlife and historical exhibits. We saw birds, wolves, bobcats, bears, deer, panthers and one very large, lazy, ugly, tacky GATOR (my oh my I sure am showing my school spirit in this post!) The grown-ups had a blast, and I think the kids enjoyed the trip, too!

Looking out onto the water

Deep conversation about life and love...

Get Ready, Daddy

Ever the Southern Belle, Lily successfully charmed her way through her first date this past weekend at the ripe ol' age of seven months! She was dressed in her pink seersucker best and had been looking forward to meeting her beau all week.

It all began with a rendezvous in the park on a cool autumn afternoon when Mommy and Lily met up with Ms. Elise and her handsome son, Braidan...

GOSH she's pretty!

Mommy! He's SO cute!

Eyes are windows to the soul...

While the youth enjoyed each others' company, Mommy and Ms. Elise got to have a nice long catch-up chat. We talked babies and hubbies and job(ies), and just had a fabulously familiar gossip fest. We were positively tickled at how well the little bits got along (whether or not they truly fell in love at first sight or if they were just flabbergasted at the sight of another baby) and have already made plans for next week! Ahhh...autumn is a magical time, y'all.

6 Month Photos!

Finally discovered how to get these on here from the photographer's website (thanks, Elise)! Enjoy!

Lily's Baptism

Dear Lily,

Today, darling girl, you were baptized. Today, you were welcomed into the Catholic community with open, loving arms. You were cleansed, anointed, and blessed - and looked fabulous doing so! Wearing the same baptismal gown your Aunt Brenna, Uncle William, 5 other cousins and I wore when we were your age, a bonnet that has served as a wedding handkerchief for both me and your Kiki, and a bib that belonged to your great-great grandfather, you completed your first Blessed Sacrament in vintage charm and style!

Darling girl, you are so very loved. Today, your Aunt Brenna, Uncle William, Daddy and I all stood around you and pledged our dedication to your well-being. We vowed responsibilities for your spiritual and moral development and promised to serve as your guides and protectors as you grow and become a citizen of this terrifying and wonderful world. I know I speak for everyone when I say that I have never felt more proud nor have I felt more worth as a human being as I felt today in assuming those privileges. You bring so much light to our lives. Today we vowed to use that light, along with God's loving help, to guide you through times good and bad, of celebration and trial, tears of joy and sorrow, times of confidence and uncertainty, as you live your beautiful life.

I love you, always.
Mommy

There were people taking at the beginning of the ceremony - Fr. Chris had to dole out the shame!

(Fairy) Godmama Brenna making sure your hair (all three strands) wasn't messed up!

Proud Godparents

Proud Parents

Proud Grandparents

You were fighting that bonnet something fierce. Oh well.
We Love You, Darling Girl

6 Month Update!

A quick update for all les Lily fans:

1. Lily is sitting up completely on her own and is thoroughly enjoying the view.

2. She absolutely refuses to crawl. BUT today we took our lives in our hands and tried a bit of tummy time. She began to show signs of getting the hang of things, but couldn't quite figure out the whole arm-leg sequence deal. BUT it was a good 5 minutes of honest-to-goodness trying before she decided this whole "on all fours" thing was more brother puppy Mowgli's thing.

3. She adores sweet potatoes, apples, peaches, and pears. Les veggies, she claims, are so 4-months and therefore not fit.

4. She has now accepted the Sippy Cup into her social circle - Bottle and Spoon were thrilled for the new ami, I'm sure. As fabulous as this is, we're still working on getting her to hold the thing herself. Ever the princess, she still insists someone else tends to every meal.

5. When she wants "up" she raises her arms. Small gesture - but charming.

6. She understands the sign for "milk" and immediately perks up when she sees it - baby girl loves some milk. We're still waiting for her to actually sign it herself as a request (demand) before we can move on to more signs!

7. A quick-fix to a fussy situation (while someone else is prepping the bottle!) is to stand her up and hold her hands for support. La petite loves to stand! No crawling, just sitting and standing.

8. Primary mode of transportation, other than our loving (tired) arms, is rolling. Then again, once on her tummy she realizes the disaster and immediately calls for help to set her back up.


9. Her first tooth is as stubborn as she is. It's still camping out just at the surface and has been there since we first saw it almost a month ago. Talk about delayed gratification...


10. Stranger anxiety is kicking in. My once passable baby (yes, as in "pass her around" -quit your judging) has now cut off all communication to "outsiders" save a random few. People she used to bless with a giggle she now begins to scowl and sob at, making for somewhat awkward visits! Immediate family and grandparents are still members of her club (court) but everyone else seems to have been voted out. Every once in a while she'll charm the pants off an "outsider" but for the most part anyone not in possession of a "Member's Only" jacket (distinguished by drool stain on the shoulder) is in for a Diva encounter. To all who hath known or will know the wrath of Lily - I am so sorry. It's only temporary, I promise!

Savannah, Y'all!

I'm nibbling on my last praline from the trip as I type - most of them never made out of the city limits! This Labor Day weekend, the Lazar clan (minus brother puppy Mowgli and cousin puppy Tally) went to visit the beautiful city of Savannah! I had never been before and within minutes of stepping out onto the cobblestone streets I was completely and totally enchanted. As our time was pretty limited (one day to explore) we spent it all in the Historic District and down by the rivuh. So many fabulous things to see and learn about! Maps and camera in hand, we were tourist supremes waltzing up and down the squares - don't want to think how many "bless their hearts" were muttered as we went by! We saw Oak trees galore, parks a plenty, Girl Scout Mecca, Sherman's headquarters, rivuh boats, Forrest Gump history, lots and lots of famous graves, and so much more! I spent most of my time getting lost in sweet shops and antique stores. Jason took it so well...

Lily did amazingly well on the 4 1/2 hour car ride, only using the last hour or so to tell us she is not a road-trip kind of gal. Lesson: Disney will have to wait a few more years! We took tons of pictures, but I decided to just put the highlights here. Take a look:

All Ready To Go? Ready!

I Call This Room!

Room Service! She actually did start pushing buttons so I had to intervene...

What kind of Mowgli is this?

First Stop!

Happy Girl!

Two Smiles and a Wink!

So after our long and only day of sight-seeing and exploring the Historic District, we said our goodbyes to the beautiful city and made our way back to the hotel to relax and rest up for the next day's drive home. Lily went to sleep a little on the later side, and thinking that we didn't need to rush the morning, Daddy and I stayed up a little later too. Oh Boy. Early this morning (like so early I can't talk about it without thinking unladylike thoughts) the fire alarms in the entire hotel blared on. We called down to the front desk who's clerk assured us the alarm would cease in a matter of minutes. So Mommy Me sat down with Lily holding her little ears trying to protect them from the RIDICULOUS volume level of the sirens. Give or take 5 minutes, Mr. Front Desk Stick His Foot In His Mouth Man tells us we now need to move out of the building. No time for anything else, we quick-fixed a bottle and headed down to the parking lot for a PJ parade - everyone looking their slumber-party best! 45 minutes later the great mystery had been solved: A guest on the second floor, no doubt there to speak at a conference concerning common sense, had decided that the closets provided by the hotel were not up to par, and that really really cool manly men use the in-room fire sprinklers instead on which to hang their clothes. In doing so, he flooded the 6th floor, parts of the lobby and forced everyone out into natural lighting before makeup or coffee - good morning to you, too. Once the coast was clear (dry) we were all given the OK to head back in:

And so we napped before leaving a few hours later. The drive home was like our own private tour of South Georgia as our GPS decided it would be best to take the scenic route - my preferred method, too! As opposed to just hopping on the Interstate, we drove through Homerville, Valdosta,Thomasville, and all the smaller towns and cotton fields in between before reaching home. All in all, we had a fabulous time! And as for the 6th Floor Genius? Well, bless his heart!

A Very Merry Half Birthday!

Dear Lily,

Today, darling girl, you are six months old - that's half of a year! Daddy and I can't get over how quickly these past few months have flown by! Everyone told us to appreciate every second with you. We just nodded our heads and smiled; sure that time couldn't possibly escape us the way they said it would. But they were right. If nothing else, I have learned to pay closer attention, so as not to let the next six months pass by in such a blur. You went for your six-month check up today. You are, as always, perfectly centered in your height and weight coming in at 26 inches and 15 pounds, 11 ounces. Along with these physical standards you also:

Continue to wake up on the sunny side of the crib - in a completely different position and location than where we left you the night before. Even as you sleep, you continue to explore. You remind us all to keep exploring even the most familiar of places.

Grow out of clothes ten times more quickly - you encourage me to clean out my own closet :-)

Drool like a maniac and make it look cute - you are the essence of confidance

Enjoy pears, sweet potatoes and bananas - you truly believe, as I do, that life is too short to cut calories

Hate sitting still - you make us all want to approach the day with the same amount of energy and vigor.

Are learning sign language - we've been working on "milk". You're starting to get it!

Study - today the doctor called you a philosopher. You seem to study and try to absorb everything you see in order to better understand it. You remind me to look for meaning in even the smallest of things.

Never cry, rather you yell - the only time true tears are shed is when you're hungry - you are so like your mother. Any other time you yell at us. Scold us. Downright put the SHAME on us!

Every month you grow in so many ways. You learn quickly. You laugh loudly. You make us all so very happy.

I love you, Lily. Always.
Mommy