Lyra Rose Half-Birthday

How did this happen! Six months have never gone by faster. Lyra just won't listen when I tell her to stay a sweet, squishy baby a little longer. Waaaaa!

She has the brightest little eyes around and I actually munch on her cheeks everyday. You hear that phrase plenty, but I mean I literally munch on her cheeks with my lips every. single. day.
Lyra jumps for joy when she's excited about something and it is adorable. Things that make her jump are #1, Rowan, #2 Other People, #3 Milk. She doesn't seem crazy about nursing unless it's nighttime.  Lyra is more interested in cooing at me or watching the never-ending show that is her brother and cousins.
She has gotten in the habit of wanting to sleep actually in my arms at night. She can't sleep near my arm or near me, but she must be in my arms. She rolls and wiggles across the bed whimpering until I hold her. It's tender, but exhausting. I miss the nights she would sleep in big stretches. Traveling is the destroyer of all good sleep habits.
Lyra's love for Rowan continues to remind me of a childhood crush (though comparing it to that will likely make them both disgusted someday when they can read). She is completely enamored with him and will track him around the room with her eyes all day. She giggles and laughs at everything he does. He is the first person she wants to see in the morning. Lyra seems delighted to just be near him or touching him in anyway. You've never really seen her biggest smile until you've seen her around Rowan. Row...likes her, but mostly doesn't know she exists. He is really sweet in the mornings and after her naps. He will kneel down right by her face and ask "How was your nap? Good?" in a sing-song kind of voice. Their favorite game together is to have Row run around in fast circles while I carry Lyra swiftly behind him. They both laugh hysterically and I can't get enough of it. I sometimes will put her on Row's shoulders, but she usually has to be removed within five seconds because she loves those luscious locks of his as much as I do. She is constantly pulling his hair, likely with the desire to glue it to her own fuzzy head. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered doing the same. That hair though.
Lyra is SO fast and coordinated. She's already doing the little pincer grip to try and pick up food or other random objects. Her sitting next to anyone during meals is sort of a disaster. Those chubby, quick fingers of hers will immediately grab the plate, fork, cup, food that is in her reach. She sadly toppled a salad over at Zoupa's the other day that I had been looking forward to eating for months. Luckily my hubs is the best in the universe and got me a new one despite my insistence that "they don't do that here".  She is doing mostly average with gross motor skills. She sits like a pro, has mastered the art of rolling to get things, and is pretty darn close to crawling. Have you ever thought what life would be like if you had to roll to get places? I think I would shave my head and take about 80 baths a day. I guess the no hair thing is hugely beneficial for babies so it doesn't hinder their exploration of the world.
Her eyes are still this gorgeous rainbow. She has all the colors! Brown, gold, green, blue, and grey. They seem to change hour to hour. She still tends to have one eye more dominantly dark than the other. I'm super excited to see what color they decide to be or if they decide to continue to be a kaleidoscope of colors. Her hair is also still a mystery. The hair coming in is a few shades lighter than the hair she currently has. I still adore rubbing her fuzzy head. It's gradually becoming less fuzzy which makes me a little sad. I just adore the 6-month stage. They are so squishy, happy, and lovable. Nothing in this world is sweeter than a 6-month old baby.
We haven't gotten her measurements for this month and won't until she's past 7-months because we are still partying in the West until late January. She is not nearly as garganutaun as Row was those first few months of life. She seems like a puff of air compared to Rowan's current toddler status. I find myself just wanting to hold and snuggle her when I need to be doing other things. There is always something that needs to be done, right? I recently talked to Sel's grandma who had 8 kids and her philosophy was to take the first year of each baby's life and soak it in. You can tell how much she loved/loves each one of her babies and how much joy they brought/bring her. Leave the house to itself because it will always be there, but that baby won't. I want to start doing this more. There are obviously a few things that need constant upkeep, but nobody was planning on nominating me for housekeeper of the year prior to my new baby philosophy. If I feel like picking her up and just squeezing her for whatever time I can spare, I'm going to do it. While I am so excited to see her grow and become more of this sweet, little person, I'm also heartbroken she's moving ahead so quickly while I can barely catch up. Six months has practically evaporated. I barely had time to soak her in. They just change so darn fast!
One thing that doesn't change is how deeply I love this little one. She is so good for my soul and our family. Happy Half-Birthday Lyra Rose!

She loves the baby in the mirror/phone

Those bright baby eyes!

Contemplating her first view of snow. I think she loves it

The love of her life

This was always my favorite view of Rowan too. I love seeing their adorable neck folds and the way their cubby cheeks hang lower than their jawline. 

Granny Lou and Lyly

In the most adorable outfit around

Trying to get the phone by using Aunt Sarah as a launching board

Sucking on Grandma Johnson's hand for lunch. Those thigh rolls!

He loves her so much it hurts

Lyra LOVES to eat shoes. Ugh. The other day a really kind Albertson's employee helped me load my current three under three (I get to hang out with my 18-month-old niece while we are out here whose middle name is Awesome) and he placed Rowan's shoe that he kicked off on her carseat. A kind gesture, but one I didn't notice until later. By the time we drove the three minutes to McDonald's for lunch, she had soaked through it with drool. Gah. 

Why doesn't the heart-eyed emoji show up as an option on my computer? Honestly, why don't emoji's exist on all keyboards by this point? I just feel like you can express so much with one tiny face. 

Stella's bananas were swiped shortly after this picture much to her dismay. 

Lyra Rose 5 Months

This girl is so beautiful! I fall more in love with her every minute. She's such a good-natured soul with a heart of gold. 

* Lyra loves her feet. She loves to hold them both in her mouth and roll around like a crazy gymnast. She can also toss things up to her mouth or hands that she can't quite get to otherwise with her feet. It's seriously impressive. 

* Her eyes are gorgeous. They are some combination of blue, green, grey and gold. One seems distinctly darker than the other which is what my mom has going on too. They are also so expressive! She can tell us so much with those sparkly eyes. Rowan would get compliments most on his smile and she gets the most about her bright eyes. 

* While there is for sure a similarity in looks between baby Rowan and baby Lyra, she looks a great deal like my little sister did as a baby. We all know what a babe my sister ended up, so I'm pretty stoked Lyra seems to be following that gene bandwagon. 

Cheap Chipolte Day. Lyra has started to hate her carseat. She'll arch her back and try and pop out of it when I put her in. I guess I can't say she hates her carseat, she mostly seems to hate getting in it. Once she's all strapped in, she's as content as always. 

I had no idea what to do with the kids when we went back to my "hometown" in Michigan. It's in quotations because I lived there 9th-12th grade then my family moved to Ohio and I was left without a place I could really say I was from. Since I was there for highschool, some of my fav parts about Rochester weren't overly exciting to a two-year-old and infant. My genius plan was to take them on one of my favorite runs which wasn't very long. The total hike is about two miles and you can't exactly take a stroller (see sand, mud, and rocky trails). I envisioned us walking merrily along the path admiring the beauty of my old backyard. While that did happen to an extent, the return mile was pure torture. Rowan was exhausted and demanded to be carried. Carrying his 30 pound self plus her 17 pound self for almost a straight mile (with lots of needed breaks) inspired me to lift weights more. 

*She doesn't sleep anymore and it breaks my heart. She got a cold while in Florida and it hasn't been the same since. It's not awful the way Rowan was, it's just once sometimes twice a night opposed to every 90 minutes. She has gotten better at longer naps now that night sleeping has been offered up on the alter of my sanity. 

*She LOVES Rowan still. Will laugh hysterically at whatever silly thing he is doing. I can get her to giggle when I tickle her tummy with my face, but I nor anyone else can produce the true laughter that Rowan gets out of her. She also really adores my mom. Lyra almost always lets out a breathy chuckle when she sees her. 

* She such a patient, long-suffering little gal. Rowan is mostly gentle, but sometimes will go and hit or kick her because he's mad at me or wants attention. It's so infuriating and it absolutely gets my attention. Sweet Lyra very rarely cries when he attacks her. The other day he stood above her and then abruptly sat on her. I was already on my way across the room when I saw him standing above her, but before I was able to yank him off of her she started laughing. Laughing about essentially being punched in the stomach. Rowan insisted he be allowed to do it again because "sister like it".

She just fell asleep in my arms during a walk. Dream baby. 

They were both mesmerized by my parent's fireplace. Also how crazy does his bony back look next to her rolly back? 

Her 5-month "photo shoot" left much to be desired. I was distracted and felt like getting it done right away for some reason. National Geographic called recently to sign me as a photographer, but I had to pass it up for lack of time. 

 * Her pouty, pre-cry face is money. I almost wish she were a fussier baby simply so I could see those lips pucker and that forehead wrinkle in the most delicious fashion.

* She can sit up unassisted for about 30 seconds at a time. She usually has to be mega-focused on a toy within arm's reach otherwise she sets her sights on something else and topples over. She is getting closer to figure out how to balance on all fours. She can push herself up from the front and can tuck her knees under her, but not at the same time yet. 

* She sings herself to sleep. She makes these little cooing sounds right before she conks out and they take cute to the next level. 

* She completely understands the sign for milk. She will start laugh-crying if I do it when she's extra hungry and just start head-butting my chest. 

* Her baby kisses are what I am living for right now. She will suck on my cheek or chin and I just. can't. handle. it. The slobber makes it all the more delicious. 

* We let her try some sweet potatoes this last week and she pounded them. She ate the entire 4 oz which did not seem normal from my memory of baby Rowan.

Just some RobotUnicorn breakfast time. 

* The day Lyra got her shots, she woke up from a nap and did the cutest little eye-roll smile at Sel when I brought her downstairs. We both laughed at how hysterical it was, but then she wouldn't stop doing it when she smiled. It started to be a bit concerning to both of us and Dr. Google told us she could be having little seizures. I called the Pediatrician expecting them to tell me to stop surfing the internet, but they insisted I come in and have her looked at. It started to break my heart every time she smiled because I couldn't stop worrying that something was neurologically wrong with her. The pediatrician did the exact same check up she'd had the day before and obviously didn't find anything concerning. I feel peds/family med docs can be quite limited in their abilities to do anything past the basic. I know they are trained to only catch things through basic checkups and refer out to specialists, but I would personally find it frustrating as a doctor to not really be able to assure my patients/parents of patients that everything is fine or to not feel like I was easily missing something serious.  Lyra did her weird eyeroll/flutter thing and the doctor got creepily quiet. She told me to keep track of her for 48 hours and we would schedule an EKG if she kept doing it. Luckily it stopped the next day. I think she was just extra tired from all of her traveling/shots/having a two-year-old brother. It made me reflect on how miraculous it is that any child is ever "perfectly healthy".

* She kicks her legs constantly. When she lays on her tummy, she contently kicks those legs. When she sees someone she loves while I'm holding her, she kicks her legs like she's sprinting in the olympic games. She even pumps them somewhat in time to music when it's playing. 

* I've been doing a scripture study guide I snagged from thesmallseed.com and it is so incredible how an attitude of gratitude can change the way I feel and the way my day goes. It makes every small thing my children do something to be in awe of. Even Lyra's little toots are so, so adorable to me. I am so grateful for her health, her smiles, her laughs, her rolls, her growing abilities, her intelligence and THOSE CHEEKS. Thank heavens for chubby-cheeked babies. 

Lyra Rose 4 Months

(Things have changed since wrote this, which makes sense since she's almost 5 months. Tear. Our life is crazy from now until January 15th so who knows if I will get the chance to document much. We will be in Toledo for four days in November, zero in December).


Slow down! Slow down! Puhleease slow down and give me more time to savor this little girl. I feel like time goes even faster with her than it did with Row because I already know a little of what to expect this time around. 

Lyra is such a good-natured, tender little babe. I adore her, nay worship her. She's better than I deserve. 

She is tearing her milk suppliers up lately though. Ly gets so distracted and excited by everything. She'll latch then turn her head to look at the world. Ouccchie. It's not my fav thing, but I'll take it if I get to cuddle her multiple times a day and not pay for formula. 

Trying to eat my salad 

So much love

A lil pumpkin 

 She can roll all across the room to get to a toy. Her favorite thing of all time is to watch Rowan. She laughs hysterically at him when he interacts with her. Row likes to lay on top of her and is still learning to be gentle, but you wouldn't know he ever hurts her because she loves him so much! She rarely cries still. She "sings" herself to sleep when she's extra tired. Lyra doesn't really nap very long unless we are in the car. We've been traveling a lot lately and she will essentially sleep anytime the car is moving. She has started the four-month regression which means no more 12 hour sleep stretches. I'm not complaining because it is nowhere near to as awful as Rowan was for...25 months. She typically goes down around 8:30pm and wakes up once around 3:00/4:00am to eat then will wake up about every hour from then on. 

Her cousin Macy showing her toddler love. She told me her cheeks were really fat 

On It's a Small World in her Cinerella onsie from Aunt Kari

She loves this guy as much as I do

 She is tearing her milk suppliers up lately though. Ly gets so distracted and excited by everything. She'll latch then turn her head to look at the world. Ouccchie. It's not my fav thing, but I'll take it if I get to cuddle her multiple times a day and not pay for formula. 

Her cousin Violet and her are only two days apart! It's so fun and I'm sure it will be  a blast for her as she gets older 

Beach Babe 

 This might be my favorite stage of all babytime. She's cuddly, smiley, and doesn't try to run away or choke on things. She never tells me no and seems to love spending any spare moment cooing up at me.

We had an adorable Snow White onsie my friend sewed that we took to Disneyworld. She was the sweetest princess 

Lyra tried rice cereal annnd didn't love it. She does love her Papa and Mimi though who have graciously allowed us to crash their pad for the past 6 weeks. 

I love these two blessings. It is such a joy to see all their similarities and differences and learn about the incredible little people they are. 

She LOVES dolls! Who knew gender differences show up this young. We only have one tiny baby doll that Row loved to call Little Sister before she came and I hadn't thought to let her play with it yet. An adorable toddler at a church event let Lyra borrow one and it was so tender. She cooed at it and caressed it's little head. 

Sort of how her mother and I's relationship is. Adeline smiling sweetly at the camera and Lyra punching her in the face while sporting a double chin. 

I'll never get over how much I love them loving one another 

She just oozes sweetness.

Row Boy

I feel like I haven't posted much about my first born lately. I figured I ought to write about all his wonderful bits to keep me centered on all the things that make Rowan a sweet, bright little boy instead of the age-related craze that comes from being two. 

I keep a running list in my journal of cute things these two babes of ours do and here are some favorites of mine for Rowboat from the last few weeks. 

*Sel has been reading Rowan the animated Book of Mormon at bedtime. Row really loves Alma and Jesus and will say "Like him! Like him!" then give them a kiss. He also always points out the Laminates wear diapers (loincloths).

*He loves running. I bet he could do cross-country or a kiddie 1-mile race soon. 

 We took him to the track the other night and he did awesome! He had to pump his little legs so much more than we did which made me respect him as a baby athlete more than I already did.

* He loves wrestling with Sel lately. I need to get a picture of his wrestling stance because it's perfection on two little legs.

* He knows all his friends AND their moms names. He talks constantly about his friend Isaac's mom, Becky, who once rescued him from a falling bike at the park.

* One of my favorite prayers he gave a few weeks ago " Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for zoo. Bless sister and mommy. Thank you a mommy. Thank you a pinky book. Thank you a minion shirt. Thank you a daddy and mommy and sister. Thank you a blank. Thank you a owies. Thank you a mommy and daddy and sister and mimi and papa. Thank you a stars. Thank you a hammer. Thank you a Piper and Lincoln and Valerie. Bless oats and mommy and sister. Bless Jesus. Thank you a toys. Please bless toys. Please bless no bad dreams. Name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

* He's become SO brave! He went through a stage where he was suddenly afraid of everything, especially going down slides. We went to a free carnival the other weekend and he climbed up a GIANT wall (not the one I took a picture of here) and went down a big slippery slide without hesitation. He will now climb any and all ladders at the park and is pretty good at it until I start to panic about him falling.

* He asks to "cuddle mommy" all the time now when he wants to avoid bedtime. It's so sweet that it's hard to turn him down on such a request.

 * He loves when we tell him popular oral stories. His favs that he requests almost every nap and bedtime are Red Riding Hood and Cookie Man (Gingerbread man)

* When we tell him to watch for cars, he will start pointing to parked ones saying "there's one! There's one!"

* He gets SO excited when Mimi or Papa come home. He will scream, run around in circles and bang on the glass door that leads to the garage. (We are staying with my parents for a month while Sel does an away rotation here at OSU). He will also say sadly throughout the day "Papa's at work." Or "Mimi's at work" 

* When new people ask him his name, he now responds with his full name "Rowan Michael Warden" and then will laugh at the end. He says each part of his name slowly and deliberately and it's adorable. 

* I love his hair. We've gotten three compliments this week alone on his "perfect" hair. One of them said it was like Fred from Scooby Doo. 

* He is obsessed with his cousins. We went to Philly last week to visit his cousin Brian Jr. who he has been taking about eating donuts with for ages. He adored him and asked if we could bring him to Mimi and Papa's. He also talks about visiting Macy in Florida with rides and Princess and Stella for Christmas with Cookie Houses (Gingerbread houses)