BOWS!

Trike

We have been debating for a couple weeks if Lydia would actually enjoy a trike. She does enjoy playing with other children's trikes. But she doesn't really play with the trike it seems that she enjoys the pursuit of getting the trike away from another child. And then we do not have a great driveway/sidewalk space to play with trike. So we had had been debating if we really wanted to get her one.

Then I found a trike at a consignment sale in good condition and a great price. So decided to buy it. If she doesn't like it now she will defiantly enjoy it in a couple months.

I think she approves of her trike. 

Allot!

Maybe James does have a little bit of tomboy in this prissy little girl!

Teaching Dad

James is a great dad and Lydia has been teaching him lately how to be a really good dad to a daughter. Lydia is stretching her dad and teaching him exactly how to play with dolls, feed dolls, hug dolls, love dolls, and all things DOLLS! As of late, we must take our dolls every where with us (we do leave our baby dolls in the car though!).

Below James had been trying to teach Lydia how to play with a toy car. Let's just say, James surrendered on that particular lesson and learned a thing or two about little girls and baby dolls!

"Dad this is how we feed the baby doll"

"Let me find a baby doll for you Dad".

"That's right Dad. Hug the Baby!"

Hurricane Irene

We braced for a hurricane. Irene was supposed to hit our coast as a category 3 so we were prepared to spend a day or two without power. I had made muffins for breakfast and hamburgers for lunch. Chicken on the grill for dinner. We had bottle water and batteries for the flash light. Gas in the cars AND gas for the chain saw (we do have a very wooded yard). The yard furniture was put away. Our outside toys were secured.

And Hurricane Irene hit our coast as a category 1 and we got a little bit of much needed rain and some wind. Our "storm damage" included a large stick blowing onto the deck. (I assure you that we were very thankful to have such minimal damage!)

Better to be prepared for nothing then to not be prepared for something :)

Lydia enjoyed her Hurricane Muffins. 

In the worst part of the storm, Lydia surveyed the storm damage (the stick that blew onto the deck). 

Hurray for electricity! 

Our hurricane party :)

Lydia enjoyed taunting cousin Andrew by sitting in Uncle Paul's lap. See who needs siblings? A child can easily have sibling like conflict with cousins! 

Lesson #1 on the Peanut Free Journey

Several weeks ago, I gave Lydia her first peanut butter sandwich (what kid does not enjoy peanut butter sandwiches!). She thoroughly enjoyed this tasty treat. She had peanut butter up her arms, all over her face, hair, and most of all in her tummy. As I was cleaning her up I realized she had a rash all over her face.

This tasty lunch was enjoyed. Can see the rash starting already :(

It was an art project too! 

Long story short, after a phone call to her doctor, a dose of Benadryl, and a nice long nap we decided Lydia really needed to go visit an allergist. The allergist confirmed what I was thinking but was REALLY hoping I was wrong. Lydia is allergic to peanuts.

Lesson #1 on the Peanut Free Journey
Lydia is well aware of what others around her are eating and she wants a piece of it! 


Soon after this discovery we went out to eat with friends. I did my research and found that this restaurant did not have peanuts in the main entrees. The desserts were made off site and did have the chance of having come in contact with peanuts. I knew going into this meal that the kid meals at this restaurant came with dessert. I knew that desserts at restaurants are not peanut free. I did due diligence at home and could not find a similar dessert that was peanut free BUT I did find animal crackers. So I packed animal crackers and away we went. I ordered Lydia her meal and substituted her dessert for a VEGGIE (smart choices - I was rejoicing over how nutritious her meal was going to be!). Lydia enjoyed her meal. She even ate the veggies. I gave her animal crackers and scooted her farther away from her friend who was going to be eating the cookie soon. I am thinking to myself - this is not that bad. She loves animal crackers.

AND then Lydia sees that she is eating animal crackers and her friend is eating CHOCOLATE! The animal crackers no longer looked as great. The child wanted the cookie.

Needless to say, Lydia and I took a walk. And I learned a valuable lesson that day. The child is no longer oblivious to what others are eating (seriously we have eaten cookies infront of this child for 14 months now and the last several of those months we give her a small bite and then RAISINS!).

Oh, and in the event that you are wondering. Oreos are peanut free!

Lydia's Top Three Life Rules

Hey people! I have been learning allot lately and I have compiled a list of rules to help other babies out... 

3. Clap often for yourself. The only exciting thing going on with our grown-ups is US. So I must entertain them. Clapping for myself seems to easily entertain them and buy me a few minutes to get the important things done LIKE...

2. Play with the toilet paper. Why else would our peeps have this magical toy dangling at my eye level???

And number 1 Rule for Life: Eat all the food you can find off the floor. The gross things that your grown-ups give you actually taste much better mixed with the flavors from the floor. The best way to pull this snack off is to do a party trick (ex. walking, waving, blowing kisses, etc...). When your people are talking about how cute you are, quickly scoot to the food item, put the food in your mouth, run to the corner, close your eyes, AND then chew!!!!