Baby porcupine

15 months, 4 weeks old

We went to the zoo, zoo, zoo...

On June 5 we went to the zoo with Mary Lawton's class as their year-end activity. This was Mary Lawton's first visit to the zoo, and she was wilder than the zoo animals. She just wanted to run around--she didn't want to ride in her stroller or hold our hands and walk. She wanted to be free! We had a good time overall, but Mary Lawton wasn't really into the animals. Maybe next year...

Look at the meercats!

Watching a big bird

She seemed most interested in the kangaroos.

A birthday party

We were invited to Miss Nell's 80th birthday party on Saturday and had a blast. Mary Lawton was in heaven--new toys, lots of space to run around, a little pool just her size, and bubbles.
She even got to meet Yoda.
And on the way home--tired, dress-less because it got all wet and I didn't bring other clothes, just chillin' with her baby.

Dress #3

I just finished the bloomers (pink and white fabric) today. Mary Lawton is not excited about this dress. I forced her try it on yesterday, and as soon as it was on, she announced she was, "all done!" I think the bows are freaking her out a bit.

Dress #2

with matching bloomers! If you were to turn it inside out, you would see that I did much better on this one than on the first one. I did not do the monogramming myself. I'm nearly finished with dress #3 in a different pattern. Stay tuned...

Passed out

15 months, 6 days old

Dusting off the cobwebs

A lot has been going on, so much so, that I had to choose between living it and blogging about it. As I slip back into my blogging shoes, here's a photo to hold you over: Mary Lawton in the 1st dress I made.

A new hobby

When I was little, my grandmother sewed clothes for me. When we would visit her in Florida, I remember going to fabric stores with her and picking out fabric and patterns. She would sew some outfits, and mail them to me at home when she was finished. Then she moved next door, and it was like having a personal tailor. She made me pants, shorts, dresses, and skirts. I loved them. I still have two of the dresses she made for me--one I wore for May Day in 5th grade, and the other I wore in my 6th grade graduation.

She taught me some basic sewing. She taught me to thread the sewing machine and fill the bobbin. She would have taught me more, but I wasn't patient enough. I didn't want to learn to read a pattern, cut it out, cut out the fabric, etc. I just wanted to sit down and sew. I sewed a lot of drawstring bags. I made everyone I knew a drawstring bag. I still use the safety pin trick to pull the drawstring back through my pajama pants when I accidentally pull it out.

My grandmother passed away in 2008. My mom asked me if I wanted her sewing machine. I said yes, of course. I tried it out. I remembered how to thread the machine. It seemed to need a little repair. It sat for awhile. For my birthday this year, I asked Sweet LJ to get it repaired for me. He did, and it sat for another month or so. Then, finally, I went to the fabric store and picked out 2 patterns and 2 fabrics. Then I started.

And it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Granted, my pattern was a baby dress for Mary Lawton with only 4 pieces (6 counting interfacing). I'm not saying it turned out perfectly. The facings are a total mess, and my seams are crooked, but it's wearable and it was fun. Maybe Gran is guiding my fingers. Thanks, Gran. I miss you.

First nap on the mat

Mary Lawton's teacher just emailed me this photo. Today is her first time napping on a mat (instead of in the crib). I can't believe she'll be graduating to the toddler classroom soon.

Favorite book

Today the daycare teachers told me Mary Lawton's favorite book is a Care Bears book. They showed it to me--it's filled with hearts, rainbows, balloons, and lollipops. I wonder if it's because we talk about hearts and balloons a lot...or maybe she's just a sweet girlie girl.

Earth Day a little early

The church we've been attending encouraged everyone to bike or walk to church today in observance of Earth Day, so we did.
About 4 miles there, then we rode to lunch, and then home. We were hoping many people would bike to church, so that we wouldn't be the only ones underdressed. We saw one other family and another guy by himself. Oh well--we had lots of fun.

14 months old

Walking: At the end of March Mary Lawton started taking a few steps occasionally, when she felt like it. Now there's no stopping her. She even can lean over, pick something up, and keep on going. She already has had her first skinned knee from taking a fall outside.
Words:

• dada
• mama (very occasionally. She usually calls me dada, too.)
• uhoh
• hi
• bye-bye
• ball ("baw")
  
• eye
• cheese ("sheese")
  
• yes ("yeshhh")
  
• outside ("ahsah")
  
• fish ("ish")
• shoe ("shh")
• banana ("nana")

She loves:

• hats
• walking
  
• shoes
• being outside
• climbing the steps
  
• exploring
• pointing to eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, hair, belly, belly button, ears, shirt, pants, socks, shoes
• sitting in chairs by herself
• doing everything by herself
• cheese

I'm amazed by how much she seems to learn every day. On our way to work/school on Tuesday morning, I heard her say fish and, in the rearview mirror, saw her pointing. I said, "where do you see a fish?", thinking that surely there was no fish. But there was, on the Captain D's sign: a big red fish. Ah, the learning moments that come from fast food.

Mary Lawton, you are a sweet, loving girl . . . and also stubborn and feisty. Your willfulness exhausts us already, but we love it--we love how you're figuring everything out. We especially love your sweet hugs and kisses and hope you never get too big or old or cool to hug us and kiss us.

Love you, little monkey.

4th tooth

Mary Lawton's fourth tooth popped through yesterday--the top-right one. At this rate, she might have a full grill by 1st grade.

She's officially a walker.

The cutover date was Thursday, April 8.

Her 4th state

Mary Lawton visited her 4th state over the weekend: North Carolina. One of Sweet LJ's clients has a house in Highlands and invited us to stay there over the weekend. It was beautiful. Things were just starting to bloom and there was no pollen. We ate some delicious meals, played on the park playground, walked around the town, and sat outside on the porch. Mary Lawton was in heaven, because the house was 2-story. She climbed up and down, up and down.
A great getaway.

So loved

Mary Lawton is a lucky, lucky girl and had many Easter Bunnies visit her this year. I just had to take a picture of the love. Thank you, everyone!

Accidents will happen.

The scene: Thursday night. Bath time. Mary Lawton told me she was "all done," which was a little surprising, because she never wants to get out of the tub. I got her out, put the hooded towel on her head, and turned around to empty the water. When I turned back around, she was standing in a little puddle. At first I thought it was bath water, but it was too much to be bath water.

Me: Did you pee-pee on the floor? Did you pee-pee?

Mary Lawton, looking at the puddle, whispering: peeeeeeeeeee...

Every day she makes me laugh more and more.

Happy Easter!

We had a lovely day.The Easter Bunny brought Mary Lawton an outfit, a beach towel, and her very own bunny ears.


After church, we went to Joe, Alisa, and Lilly's house. Mary Lawton had so much fun playing with Lilly's toys, and Lilly was so sweet to share.

Alisa planned an Easter egg hunt for Lilly and Mary Lawton--Mary Lawton's first hunt! Her daddy helped her find eggs, and she filled up the egg hunt basket Biffy and Granddaddy sent her.

What a great day! Happy Easter.

Pizza night

Business in the front

Party in the back

Cutest pjs ever

I love these pajamas--love them! I think my baby girl is making me more girlie, because now I love hearts and purple.

First popscicle

On March 26, Mary Lawton had her first popscicle. I'd offered her one a few days before, but she wasn't interested. When she saw me and Sweet LJ eating them, however, she changed her tune.
She liked it. She needs some practice not putting it on the floor, though.

And then, she bit off a chunk. She panicked. So cold! Brain freeze! She spit it into my hand but still cried. Poor kid. She didn't want any more after that.

And yes, it was hilarious and we laughed and laughed. Notice in the photo above that she's crying but still holding the popscicle.

Bittersweet

My 13.5-months-old daughter told me "bye-bye" for the first time this morning when I dropped her off at daycare. I love that she loves it and doesn't mind seeing me go, but, well...you know.