A Hidden Habit

Grandma and Grandpa Clark will be happy to know that Lily has continued to suck her thumb since their visit in December. To my surprise I saw her doing it in her crib one morning in January and I realized that she had been doing it without me knowing. She is starting to suck her thumb outside of her crib and I've caught her red-handed. I don't mind as long as it keeps her happy!

How do I do this?

We got Lily a jumper for Christmas, but because she wasn't big enough we haven't been able to use it until last week. She didn't quite know what to do once she was in it. She sat there with her arms down in the seat and just kept looking up at us like, "What am I suppose to do?" It was adorable.

I'm a Big Girl Now!

My Favorite Things

I know that I haven't updated this in a long time and I apologize to those of you who check it regularly to keep current with our lives. I am glad I have a rare opportunity now, while Lily is talking to her mobile in her crib.

We have been doing much of the same thing here: school, church, visiting family, working, playing with the baby. Lily gets older and smarter each day and I love being able to spend so much time with her every day. She is so fun to be with. Since a lot of things have happened in the last couple months I thought I would compose this post into a collage of Lily's favorite moments and things that she loved about her 3rd and 4th month alive.

Lily loves to hang out at Grandma and Grandpa Thomas's house. Tobby has been traveling more often for work, so when he is gone for more than one night, Lily and I have been having sleepovers at my parents' house.



Lily loves getting her cheeks squished


Lily loves talking to whoever will listen


Lily loves sitting on Grandma's knee and listening to her songs

Lily loves to attend social events and go new places. My grandpa had an early birthday party this year. On the 15th of February, everyone on the Thomas side of the family got together to see Grandpa, perhaps for the last time for some. He was diagnosed with leukemia around the same time my dad was in the hospital. His b-day isn't until June 1st, but he doesn't have much time left, so we celebrated early. My brother Jared came up from Arizona. It is always good to see him.


Lily loved to see her Great Grandpa Thomas and Sylvia at his birthday party


Lily loves to laugh with Mommy (See any resemblance?)


Lily loves the camera


Lily loves her Mommy and Daddy


Lily loves when Uncle Jared comes to visit

It was also her first Valentine's Day. She got some really neat presents from Grandma and Grandpa Harward, including a stuffed pink gorrilla that says, "I'm Ape for You," on it's belly, a book, and a cute festive outfit.


Lily loves to hug and kiss her gorrilla


Lily loves to be held by her uncles (Uncle Sean featured here)


Lily loves her "love bug" outfit from G and G Harward


Lily loves to play the staring game(for those of you that have played with her this comes at no surprise)

We went on our first family road trip last week. We went up to Logan, Utah for Tobby's work. Lily and I mainly hung out in the hotel room since it was so cold. She was so excited to be somewhere new! She kept looking around and laughing and was such a happy girl. She liked to bounce on the bed the most.


Lily loves to drive for long periods of time in the car (at least that's what we kept telling her)


Lily loved bouncing on the bed at the hotel

Lily loves to play. Some of her favorite toys now are her books, teething toys, her rattle, and Tickle Me Elmo.


Lily loves her rattle and can grab and shake it all day


Lily loves to play with her tongue and stick it out while laughing


Lily loves to play the piano with Mommy


Lily loves to hear her Elmo toy sing to her


Lily loves to read

Lily loves to get her immunizations. Okay . . . she didn't really, but they are good for her, so she is grateful. Her doctor said that her soft-spot has grown together faster than normal, so if it continues she might have to have surgery. She has also been having symptoms of reflux and so she was given a medication to help with heartburn. Along with the pain and vomiting caused by the shots, she was having a rough time with the medication, so we had a tough couple days. I always take a picture of her at the doctor to see how much she has grown. I'll put some of these pictures in the slideshow above, so you too can appreciate how far she's come, even though she is still a tiny 14 pounds, 25 inches long.


Lily loves the doctor's office and being healthy!

Most of all, Lily loves her family! She definitely recognizes not only Tobby and I, but extended family members as well.


Lily loves to play with her Daddy and loves seeing him after a long day


Lily loves kisses from Mommy


Lily loves when the Harwards come to visit


Lily loves to visit the Thomas'



Lily loves being herself!

Don't forgot to check out the slideshow above this. It really shows how much she's changed looking at her doing the same activities at different ages. My favorites are the pictures when we first held her and our first family picture. Hope you enjoy!

Miracles Really Do Happen!

This month has been a whirlwind for our little family. On December 22nd I got a phone call from my mom at about 11pm that changed our family's life. My dad had gotten the phone call he has been waiting for, and he was going to finally get his lung transplant. He had the surgery the next morning and Tobby and I drove up to Salt Lake to be with my mom while she waited. My brothers were in Las Vegas for the football game, so they didn't make it up until that afternoon. I was so excited to go see my dad! Even though Lily couldn't see my dad in the hospital, she faithfully came with me to the hospital practically every day that week to visit him.


Lily waiting with Grandma at the surgical ICU waiting room

Playing with Uncle Trevor


With Mommy on Christmas in her cute outfit

Dad is looking wonderful and has the rosieness back in his cheeks and twinkle back in his eye. Anyone that knows my dad knows that he just beems positivity and love, and it was so awesome to see him with so much energy, even though he was in a hospital bed. Dad was able to come home last week and he is adjusting to a life with so much oxygen :)


Eating breakfast with Daddy at the Harwards'

This holiday season has been a blast! On Christmas morning we went to Tobby's parents' house and had Scott's famous omelets followed by a trip to the hospital to visit my dad. That evening we headed back over the the Harward home to play some games and hang out. Lily got a play gym from her Grandma and Grandpa Harward and it is her favorite thing to play with everyday. The hilarious thing is that she loves it so much that everytime she plays with it, she poops her pants out of excitement.


Lily's new favorite toy

Lily had here first immunizations a couple weeks ago. She was so good the whole time, even though we were there so long that she skipped a meal and a nap. She bawled when she got her shots and it was so sad, but seemed fine after a nap. Later that night, she woke up and was screaming. She was in so much pain and it was hard to hear her cry like that. We tried everything to try to comfort her; a bath, holding and cuddling, but to no avail. She wasn't even comforted by nursing. Eventually she was able to fall back asleep and when she woke up in the morning she was her happy self again. It was so heartbreaking, but worth it. Because of my dad's transplant, anyone who has live culture shots or immunizations can't be around him for 6 weeks. The next serveral months will be interesting since babies get shots every 8 weeks. So, he will not be able to be around the baby for 6 weeks and then can see her for 2 weeks and then that pattern will repeat itself. The good thing is that she is so young that she won't remember not being able to see Grandpa. I can't wait to see them playing together again!

At the Dr.'s office, right before the dreaded shots

On New Year's Eve we visited the Aaron home and also went to my house since my dad was released from the hospital. On New Year's Day, we tried desperately to see a movie with Tob's family, but everything was sold out. Tobby and I were able to get into an evening show thanks to both sets of grandparents babysitting. It was the first date we have been on since having the baby, and it was much appreciated.

I am so excited to start the new year with an addition to our family and am so thankful for the love and joy that she has brought our lives so far. I am thankful for both my family and Tobby's family and for the support and help they are for us. We received an incredible miracle this holiday season and I will never forget how thankful I am for my dad and the lessons of patience, optimism, and faith that he has always exemplified in his life. Dad, since you can't see Lily for a while, these next pictures are for you. Love you!

Happy Girl