11 months, 2 weeks, 1 day old

11 months, 1 week, 5 days old

New year, new me

I haven't had a real haircut since February 2008. I had it cut very short then, which I liked ok for awhile, then I didn't like it and let it grow. Then I had a baby and couldn't seem to find the time to take a shower, much less get a haircut. One time I went for a trim at GreatClips, and it was terrifying.

So, last night I went back to my old, fabulous salon where they give you a glass of wine to sip while you wait. The stylist listened to me and cut it exactly how I wanted.

I got bangs!

I just saved $360 on my car insurance (annually).

Seriously, and all I did was call my current agent and tell him I was looking to save some $. Don't just renew like I always do! Call your agent and ask how you can save some cash!

We have a screamer.

Someone please tell me all this recent screaming/shrieking is a just a phase and she does it because she likes making new sounds. It's hurting my ears.

Love it!

Dear Biffy and Granddaddy,
Thank you for my new car. I love it. I really enjoy using it as a push toy more than riding it. I can push it very fast. Can't wait to see you next month!

11 months, 4 days old

Love always,
Mary Lawton

One tooth closer to corn on the cob

A second tooth finally poked through today at 11 months, 1 week old. It's the bottom-center-right one.

11 months old

I just mailed the 1st birthday invitations. How can this be happening so soon?
Mary Lawton's 11th month was exciting--first Christmas, visits with family, our first nuclear family vacation, lots of exploring, lots of investigating. We have a busy girl.

reaching for the cat's tail

She is getting feistier by the day. She would like it her way, thank you very much, and quickly, so get it together. She already has started pitching small fits--she will lie on the ground face-down and just wail. I hate to admit it, but it's pretty funny.
She's doing much better about not putting every tiny bit of something she finds on the floor in her mouth. Now she holds it up and will hand it to us very proudly. I'm sure she still sneaks a few bites, too.
She is funny and happy (most of the time). Probably the thing that makes her laugh the loudest is hearing Sweet LJ laugh. When he laughs, she cracks up. When she's excited she flaps her hands around, and when she's really excited she holds her hands up in the air, eyes and mouth wide open.She's still a good eater. She loves to dine out--for the people watching, not necessarily the food. She waves to every person who enters the restaurant, everyone sitting around us, and to the server on each visit to our table.

munching on half a banana

Her daycare teachers call her the classroom greeter. They tell me she waves to everyone coming and going.

Still she has only one tooth. She will brush her hair if I ask her too, and she will brush my hair.
She gives us hugs and kisses. She usually kisses us by touching her forehead to ours. She also kisses children in books by touching the book to her forehead. I love this.

Her favorite book is one with little poems and sayings about babies that includes lots of photos of babies. We read it A LOT. We have our favorite babies. We don't even have to read it--sometimes we just slowly go through it and look at all the babies. Again. And. Again.

She crawls fast and pulls up and cruises on everything but I don't think she'll be walking anytime soon. She does great with her walking toys, though.

Fun with plastic bags (under close supervision)

People tell you babyhood goes by quickly, and they're not lying. This has been the fastest 11 months of my life. I wish I could have held on to it a bit longer.
We are so crazy in love with you, Mary Lawton. Thank you for all the sunshine you bring to our days.

Merry Christmas!

Our sweet girl woke us up around 6:30, and we proceeded directly to the den to see what Santa had left. I put her down to discover the treasures on her own. She was a little unsure at first what she was going after, but then...TOYS! She grabbed her new phone first.

We had a great morning opening gifts, digging into stockings, and eating my traditional homemade cinnamon buns. I got some fabulous gifts. My husband really knows how to shop.

Then we packed up for St. M to see Biffy, Granddaddy, and the Braces. I was so busy helping Mary Lawton open her gifts, that I didn't take any pictures. Trust me, though, she had a lot of fun playing with her cousins, trying to eat tinsel off the tree, and playing with her new toys.

After a couple of days being spoiled by Biffy and Granddaddy, we headed to the beach.

The last week of 2009: New Smyrna Beach, FL

We are alive.

I'm currently trying to achieve a work/life balance. Your suggestions? Sweet LJ has started buying lottery tickets, so that might help eventually by eliminating the work part. I'm supposed to buy a ticket with my lucky dollar that I found on the street, but with my work/life balance struggle I'm having trouble finding time for buying lottery tickets.

I will be back!