Lydia Grace started playing hide and seek today.  If you give her a blanket and ask, "where's Lydia?" she'll hold it up to her face and hide.  If you ask again, "where's Lydia?" she'll drop the blanket and wait for you to say boo.  We did this several times today until both of us were giggling.  Not only is it cute but it's amazing to see her learning and doing such complicated action.  It's amazing how fast she's growing!

I love the holidays and this year look forward to them with a special sense of excitement.  Not only do I have a wonderful husband and THREE beautiful children but my mother will be with us.  Of course, the highlight for me is experiencing the holidays with Lydia for the first time.  I know she won't remember them and in some ways this first holiday season is more for me then her but I will remember and I can only hope that these experiences will add to her sense of well being and love.

Last night was perhaps the official kick off to the holiday season.  We have a delightful specialty grocery store in our neightborhood that put on a holiday feast tasting for the neighborhood.  Local vendors were there handing out samples of their vairous holiday food.  In addition, the grocery store itself put on quite the spread with ham, turkey, stuffing, gravy, fish, prime rib, pumpkin pie, mouse, fruit...basically EVERYTHING you could think of for a holiday meal.  Not only was the food great (with perhaps the exception of the stuffing but then again, I'm a stuffing snob) but there was a definite festive feel in the air.  Everyone was warm and friendly and enjoying themselves. 

Lydia got to sample mashed potatos, stuffing and pumpkin pie all for the first time.  She loved it all!  She was also her sweet, charming self smiling at just about everyone.  It was a lot of fun and something I would enjoy making a holiday tradition.

Can't talk now, Lydia Grace is crawling and seems to know exactly what she shouldn't get into!

Ms. Lydia Grace is almost crawling and seems rather frustrated by her inability to take that last (or first) step.  She's spending more and more time moving around on her tummy and can get pretty much anywhere she wants to go.  I'm betting that she'll be crawling by this weekend.  I'll be sure to let you know as soon as she's up and running...there may even be video!

Ms. Mugs has another cold - this one seems to be more of a stomach bug then a head cold. We were up at 1AM and again at 3AM. Her temperature spiked at 102.1 which warranted a call to the doctor. We've got her on Tylenol and she seems to be helping herself by sleeping. I feel so bad for the little thing. She's hot and you can tell she doesn't feel good. All she wants is to be held and snuggled up against my chest (which I'm more then happy to do).

It would seem that daycare has exposed her to every germ known to man at another 23 three unknown.  Experience with Max and Lexus has taught me to ride it through.  This first year will be rough but after that her immune system will likely be strong enough to survive most any illness.  Still, it sucks that it has to happen when she's still so little and there isn't much I can do.

I just had one of those moments of realizing how many people across the country love Ms. Mugs.  She has a number of honorary "aunts" that she's never met in person but that enjoy watching her grow and change.  Then there is the endless family and friends that celebrate each moment of her with us.  To everyone that contributes to the love in her life, thank you!

Ms. Lydia Grace is 6 months old today.  Happy half birthday!

Happy 4th of July!  (Albeit a little late).  Ms Mugsy spent the 4th with Mom, Dad, Uncle Kelley, Aunt Christy and Uncle Eric.  We were lucky enough to get a roof side veiw of both shows.  Ms. Mugs was enchanted!  She watched both shows for almost 40 minutes.  When it was all done she laid her head down on Daddy's shoulder and closed her eyes (it was well past her bedtime).  All in all it was a wonderful 4th and so much fun to see it through her eyes.