Eighteen (and a half) months

I know I'm well over due for an update - I was reminded not only by the usuals but also by my mother.  We've been on the go the past couple of weekends (mostly without Lily).  Mike and I took a road trip to Iowa to watch Mike's beloved Hawkeyes cream the Western Broncos. 

 



This past weekend we got to celebrate one of our favorite couples as they tied the knot!

 

 

We've learned Lily is quite the animal lover and has absolutely no fear.  We attended the Vicksburg Harvest Festival today and Lily didn't want to leave.  She got to pet everything in the petting zoo and then took it upon herself to pet every dog that passed us.

 

Baby bunnies

In love with the mini goats

She wanted to give hugs

And of course play in their food

Petting a hedge hog

Petting the zonky (zebra/donkey)

 

Every day Lily becomes more of a diva.  She tolerates pig tails for about 15 minutes and she learns a new word every day.  Her personality develops a little more with each day - time is going by way to quickly. 

 

Sunday Funday

Happy hour with Aunt Katie

So excited to go to daycare

Loves her breweries

 

Check out my pigtails



Angels & Demons

Mike had to work this past weekend for one of the weekend guys.  This consisted of two 12 hour shifts from 6am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.  Typically when Mike ends up working a weekend, I schedule a much needed shopping trip with my girlfriend and Lily's future husband.  This weekend was no different. 

We met Carolyn, Colt, and Aunt Kait at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then proceeded to the mall.  I did some damage at the Old Navy Baby Sale as well as the Crazy 8 clearance section.  Colt and Lily both received some pretty fancy balloons from Old Navy and I don't think Lily has left hers alone since we've gotten home.  She was an angel at the restaurant and the mall.  Then we loaded up in the car and the demons possessed her. 

We left the mall around noon which is nap time.  I thought we'd timed it perfectly - she'd fall asleep in the car, I'd transfer her to her crib upon arrival home, and I'd get some laundry done.  NOT SO FAST.  I knew we were in trouble when 2:00 rolled around and she was still going strong without a nap.  By the time the clock struck 3:30 I was on the phone with Mike in tears that he had to come home immediately because our daughter had been rolling around on the floor screaming for the last hour.  She'd refused a sippy cup, any form of food, even a bottle (I was desperate OK?).  After Mike calmly told me coming home was not a viable option, I pinned her down and stuck a bottle in her mouth.  And you know what?  She grabbed it with both hands and started chugging like she'd been deprived of food for the past month.  At 5:00 she passed out on the floor mid-read where she slept for a half hour before I woke her up to eat dinner. 

When Sunday morning arrived, the thought of hanging out with Lily all day made me anxious.  Lily slept in until 8am - something that rarely happens - and greeted me with a smile when I went to get her from her crib.  We ran to the grocery store and made it in and out alive on our own.  Lily even helped me cross items off my list without tear it into shreds.  Aunt Erin came to visit and we played outside much of the afternoon.  The weather was perfect and so was Lily.  How can someone so small be a devil child one day and an angel the next?  Saturday Lily had me swearing off any future offspring and Sunday had me telling Mike maybe it wasn't out of the question. 

Coloring together - Please note the pigtails

Not a fan of pictures

 

Typical Colt/Lily picture - Colt smiling and Lily not
 

Reading is exhausting

She may look like an angel here

I asked Lily to give Diesel hugs and kisses

Diesel wasn't really into participating

Hugs

Kisses

Diesel stopped too early

Loves her doggie

End of Summer

Hello blog world!  It's been awhile - I've been getting constant reminders for updates from my frequent visitors.

Labor Day weekend has come and gone and with that so has our summer.  The fall busy season for taxes is in full swing and I haven't had much time to blog - weird right? 

Mike and I have been purging the storage room and office in our basement on the evenings neither of us have been tied up with work.  You can officially walk through our storage room without having to hurdle boxes/baby gear/Christmas decorations/kitchen supplies/you name it.  And you can ALMOST walk through my office (mostly because I shoved everything in the closet in hopes that the out of sight out of mind mantra would help).  I've been pinning ideas for craft closets and sewing stations hoping that I can channel my inner sewing goddess (thank you Mom for that) and get back to being crafty now that the weather is getting cooler.  We have several friends expecting little ones here pretty soon and I MUST make leg warmers!

We've had some back to back wedding celebrations that have kept us busy on the weekends.  My cousin Nate FINALLY married his long-time love Kami.  They had a beautiful vineyard/country inspired wedding (I dusted off my boots for this one).

Typical Sundstrand Family Photo - Mom's eyes are closed

Check it out - I made my dress!

Classic

I liked the other one better

LOVE

Cousins!!

  And we got to celebrate lakeside for one of my BFFs from high school - it was a beautiful night!  I can't believe I only took one picture the whole night!  I'm so excited to see the rest of the wedding photos!

 

 

We spent an extra long Labor Day weekend visiting family.  We headed out of town Thursday night and returned home early Tuesday afternoon.  It was nice to be away from work (for both of us) for a long weekend.  Lily enjoyed the lake and the pool and couldn't get enough!

 

 

 

 

 

Lily has graduated from her current room at daycare and is getting moved up on Monday.  I'm sad to see her leave her AMAZING teachers but have learned one will be the new lead teacher in the toddler room.  They will focus on a lot more verbal communication - an area where I feel Lily is lacking - as well as potty training!!  My child could be potty trained before she's two if we get with it here.  My hope is to buckle down on this when we get back from our fall vacation in October.

 

As for other oddball updates - Lily says "ravioli" (kinda), sticks her tongue out and pants like a dog, has a newfound love for FaceTime, brushes her own teeth, brushes Diesel's teeth, tells me when she needs a diaper change, has become a big time Daddy's girl, hates hair accessories, loves shoes, and is growing up too fast.