Change

No picture....I know. But believe me, there will be pictures and movies, we've caught Lilla doing some funny stuff lately plus we have Christmas pics.....I'm just a little lazy lately. I just had to write this because I find it so amazing and for the first time (in a while) I am in awe of my daughter. What you forget about children is that they are brand new, right? Everything is new to them.....I guess we forget because as adults so little is "new" anymore, and if it is new, it probably not a good new. (Example: dealing with a lose of someone you love). Ok, I'm rambling....those who know me know I can have my moments....sorry. =)

Ok the whole point of this post is that my little girl said "ball" yesterday. It was like she always knew what that was, but now she can actually say it. Ball! Who knew that that little word would conjour up such a sense of pride in her mother. Really, my first thought was, "OMG....she's a genius....I'm going to have to call Guiness." I've since settled, but I just can't believe I'm already here. It's like I looked at her and she changed. She's no longer this little baby who "needs" everything from me or John....she's turning into a little independent girl. Needless to say, I'm very pround of my little pumpkin and just had to write into the nothingness about her, however, I know that some will read this and be just as proud of Lilla as I am.

She also did another amazing thing this morning, which again made me look at her in awe. As our morning ritual, I wake up, I eat breakfast, I go check on Lilla. She usually is sitting in her crib watching her fish (which she has turned on and I swear is television for babies.....but hey it keeps her in there for a little bit longer). I open the door, she smiles, stands up in her crib, turns off her fish and I pick her up. The next thing happens almost everyday, I ask her "do you want some milk?" Now, I've NEVER gotten a response for this question, I've always assumed she wants some milk because for the last 446 days of her life, that's what we've done, get up and get some milk (breast milk, formula, now whole milk), it's become routine. Well, today, I asked her if she wanted some milk, she looked at me and signed milk with her hand! Now, as a mom, I know how wonderful it is to teach your children sign lauguage, especially since for the last 446 days, she hasn't been able to verbally communicate with me, other then screaming, crying, cooing, laughing, grunting....you know normal baby stuff. And as a mother, I feel guilty because I never took or had the time to consistantly sign with Lilla. However, her lovely day care did, and today it stuck with her. SHE SIGNED MILK!

Let's re-cap: in one day my daughter said the word "ball" and signed the word "milk". I'm sure there will be many more proud moments to come, and there have been MANY proud moments so far, but for some reason, this really hit me. My baby is becoming a little girl, and there's nothing I can do about it except watch and enjoy.

Last Weekend and Lilla's 1st program

Bailey enjoying her brand new Kong bone from Grandma and Grandpa Selander! Thank you....I love it.

Our little angel....halo and everything. Lilla had her first Christmas party at her daycare, which is at our church. The "snuggle bunnies" (her classroom) had on little halo's (which surpriseingly they got Lilla to keep on her head) and jiggle bells which they shook while the adults sang "Jingle Bells". All in all, very cute and worth the horrible weather/traffic jam we had to endure to get there (30 minutes late).

Mommy and Lilla.

The kids getting to the stage. Love the big buggy, wish I had someone pushing me in that some days.

Lilla (carried by Greta) getting to the stage.

Grandma and Grandpa Volker.....Lilla's great grandparents......and of course my Dad and me.

Uncle Dick....a rare picture.

Lilla's great Aunt Joan....otherwise known as my lovely god mother.

Four generations.

John reading to Lilla Jonah. Awwww.

Happy Holidays....

Jonah and family sleep downstairs in our house....so Jonah and Lilla have this lovely between the bars moment almost everyday. It's pretty funny.

The Volkers! Verna, Tom, Avery, Jonah, and Simon. Cute.

This was the kitty parade at Aspyn's house....which is where we had Thanksgiving dinner. Basically it was all of Aspyn's stuffed animals.....and she LOVES cats.

John being a good uncle and helping with the kitty parade.

This is John REALLY getting into the kitty parade.

Lilla loving new toys.

Lilla running around....yep, that's right, I said running.

Aspyn with her stuffed animals.

Lilla helping out with the kitty parade.

Awww.....John getting rewarded for helping with the kitty parade.