N is for Nose

A few months ago, I printed three photographs of Lola. In each one, she is with a different aunt.



Aunt Andy. Aunt Rachie. Auntie LouLou.



Today, I finally purchased a collage frame meant to hold three 5x7 photographs. As I assembled the photos, I thought about how different each one of Lola's aunts are from one another and how different her relationship with each one will be.



Then, I smiled because I thought of something that is totally random, but something that Lola's aunts have in common: each one has her nose pierced.

How funny is that?

For once, maternal guilt saves the day.

Tonight, while we waited for Josh to finish making dinner, Lola and I sat on the living room floor. My laptop sat on my legs and Lola sat with her red plastic bucket. I browsed Amazon, as she looked at her colorful shape-shaped blocks that were spread across the carpet.

Lola picked up a blue circle. She examined it, as if she were trying to decide whether it was worthy of sticking into her mouth for a quick nibble before retiring it to the bucket. Without mouthing it, she tossed it in the bucket. Her next choice was a yellow triangle. She throws it in the bucket without hesistation.

Watching how thoughtful she was being with her blocks, I began to feel guilty for looking at Amazon rather than engaging my baby in play. I put the laptop to the side and scooted closer to Lola.

"What's this? A green square?" She gripped it tightly, and began to move it toward her mouth.

"Wait, Lola. I think there's some kiwi on it, or something." I could see something black and hanging off the side of the square. I pryed the shape from her fingers.

"Let Mommy fix it and then, you can have it -- OMGWHATTHEJOSHHELP WOOORRRMMMMMM!"

Hanging off the tip of my finger was a small slimy black worm with its insides on its outsides. A nasty bloody worm that moments ago almost made its way into my sweet baby girl's mouth.

Now that my friends, is some mother's intuition.

Kisses

How could I forget to mention this?

I know how. A long work week + very little sleep = a forgetful mommy.

Anyway, I digress.

Tonight, Lola attempted to chew on the side of our new ottoman. Why would she attempt to knaw on a piece of furniture like a beaver? Well, that's because LOLA HAS FOUR NEW TEETH.

They all kind of appeared out of no where. She now has her top front teeth and her top side incisors. At least, I think that is what you call them. They are the ones next to the front teeth.

Maybe tonight, I will sleep.

Hey old lady, bring me my walker!

Last night, Lola figured out how to use her walker toy thing. Her wide leg stance might just be her new signature look.

Our Blue-Eyed Brunette

She reached the 11 month mark last week, and this month, like all the other months before it, I was like, really, already?! Yes, already it was here.

She just so happened to have a doctor's appointment on her 11 month birthday (so she could get her H1N1 booster shot) and Dr. G reported that she is now a whopping 20 pounds, although based on the size of my biceps (which are the only muscles that get a workout), I could have told you that.

In the past month, Lola has become quite adept at pulling herself up. She attempts to rock climb her dresser every morning and confidently holds onto furniture/our legs/Archie with one hand and waves with the other.

Her current favorite food is shredded mozzarella. When she sees us take it out of the refrigerator she starts wildly waving her arms and shrieking like Brad Pitt just walked into our kitchen. Not that she'll ever think Brad Pitt is hot. She'll probably always think of him as some old guy. But, yes, my kid goes bonkers over some mozzarella.

This month she also tried feta cheese, banana pancakes, pineapple, cottage cheese, marinara sauce, apple butter, lemon, cilantro, and black beans.

She is starting to piece together language too. She says mama, dada, nana (banana) and occasionally something that sounds like doggie. She also recognizes photos of babies and dogs and will point to them when you ask, "Lola, where is the baby/doggie?"

She also LOVES to give kisses. Wet, open mouth kisses. And, she goes straight for the face. Nose, eye, cheek, lips, they are all targets of hers. The next time you see her, I dare you to ask for one. You won't be disappointed.

Maybe one day she'll be a pilot

A few days after Christmas, Lola's Grandpa Manny came to visit. He gave her this Elmo airplane toy, and she goes nuts every time the propeller starts to spin. Archie, however, is cautious.

Christmas, Part II

(Clearly, blogging every day was not one of my New Year's Resolutions.

(I mean really, you should consider yourself lucky because this means more Christmas photos!))

After we dropped off Auntie LouLou at the airport, we came home and started the yule log.

Then, we began opening presents. Since Lola had 6x as many presents as Josh and I and it took her 6x as long to open them, I can honestly say we opened presents for hours.

Now inserting side story:

A few days before Christmas, Josh came home from work and said,

"OMG there is this toy at work that I have to buy Lola for Christmas!"

"What kind of toy?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because I want it to be a surprise."

"How much is it?"

"Not much."

SIGH.

Now if you know where Josh works, you know why I was a bit concerned. Basically, nothing in the place costs less than $15 and most people can't leave without spending $400.

But, I thought, it is Christmas, and I bit my tongue and decided to trust my husband.

And this is what he bought her:

A wooden train that is constructed of wooden blocks. I think it is absolutely adorable.

And, it only cost $18.

Good job, Josh.

Lola also received these funny textured balls from her Grandma Linda and Papa Lou. She spent a significant amount of time on Christmas morning trying to figure out how to fit them all in her lap.

Every time I look at this photo, I laugh out loud.

Six hours later, after we opened all the presents, we finally got to our stockings. Because I never got around to buying an ornament holder for Lola, we improvised for the photo.



Lola was very pleased with her stocking. Santa filled it with a new sippy cup, some spoons, socks, and the infamous puffs.

Later on, and by that, I mean WAY later on in the day, another present magically appeared.

This one, a little ride-on purchased off craigs list, was supposed to be under the tree, unwrapped, as it was a gift from Santa. But Santa was very tired from a late night and an early morning and as a result, forgot about the present.

If Lola were a year or two older, this post might have qualified for the "maternal guilt" tag, but

luckily, I have a bit more time before she figures out how the whole Santa thing works. :) Note to self: put out presents the night before.