Here and there

You know the old phrase, If you can't beat 'em, put everything in safe containers and just let her have at it? That old phrase? Well, we have had mixed success with Lily and her no-nos. There are some things she's actually really good about and others? Well, others just seem to elude her. Most of the time it's like she truly doesn't realize it's a no-no despite the 8,000,000 times we've told her. I've tried raising my voice, making a serious face, swatting her little tush, even slapping her hand and she just looks at me with those doe eyes. So, yeah. That's what happened this morning. I emptied the whole cupboard of all teas, coffees and snack foods and put them in the cupboard where she's allowed to play. Hm. What are ya gonna do?

Lily loves to play Legos but looks like this most of the time. Until I help her put them together.

She spotted a dog on a balcony. She could not look more like my dad here.

I love the fields this time of year. You can see for miiiiiles.

We saw Da-da and he told us to wait a second...

And then returned like this (best viewed large : )

We visited Babka and Dedko and here's what Tomáš did.

Ok, so actually he gave a front-yard concert for his adoring fans.

Hope you're enjoying the sunshine as much as we have been! Yesterday I was feeding Bug some yogurt while on the square in our town and it was so windy it blew the yogurt right off her spoon! 

YOU have a nice Thursday!

Seventeen

Lily turned 17 this morning. 17 months. And in the last year she has changed in more ways than she will probably ever change in one year for the rest of her life. She has gone from: not walking to walking, not talking to talking, not having (much) hair to having (some) hair, and so on and so forth. Her changes are very visible and very noticeable, but today I was reflecting on how I've changed in the last year. I tend to be pretty hard on myself when it comes to acknowledging personal growth. I suppose that's probably true for most everyone. But as I think back to those early months, there's one overriding word that hangs like a dark cloud over that whole time, and that word is fear. I don't even like writing those words because I don't want to remember it that way. I don't want to have been so scared. But I was. With a paralyzing fear. There were just so many unknowns, so many uncertainties, she was so little and I had so little faith in myself. Everything meant something. Every little decision seemed critical, the what ifs overwhelming. Thankfully it wasn't always like that; there was plenty of joy and adoration and pure enjoyment in having her, but there were also times when I felt very alone and was gripped by fear. But now, now most of it is gone. I've learned to trust myself more as a mom. I have grown. I've become more at home in being a parent, and I have God and Lily to thank for that. She has more than proven herself strong. How can I fear when she is so fearless? (which is a topic for a whole other post). Words are utterly inadequate to describe how I feel about her so I'll just say I wish you all could meet her because you would be completely captured by her too.

Lily a year ago

Lily today

How have you changed this last year?