taco covered in presents

Just now are we really settling down from the holidays and I can sit on my bootie for a minute to share with the Internets Lydia's Fun Christmas Day.

Lydia had a special visitor at her daycare right before Christmas -- the man himself, Santa Claus! Lydia was more than happy to sit down with him for a picture.



We had a small Christmas the weekend before with The Husband's grandparents, who were in town from Mobile. That night she officially got to unwrap her first present with her Daddy's help.



Business picked up on Chrimstas Eve when the families from both sides got together for Christmas Crab and ornament exchanges. Lydia got quite a few ornaments. She was most pleased with the ones she could chew on.



That night she slept well while Mommy and Daddy were up late cooking and generally stressing out. It's hard to coordinate something huge like Christmas with something that needs a schedule like a six-month-old. I greatly look forward to the time when it will be Lydia who can't sleep all night because she's just so damn excited that Santa really is coming 'cause Daddy showed her EXACTLY where he is on Google Earth and we all know that Google doesn't lie. EVER.

So the next morning a well-rested Lydia wakes up to frantic parents gathering up presents, wrapping Oreo truffles, and cleaning up cat puke off the couch -- Renton's Christmas gift to us. By the time we're headed off to my parents' house it's time for a nap. This actually worked out -- we did adult presents while she was zonked and once we were done, she was up and we laid out the task before her.



Her and her cousin became literally buried in presents -- we had to keep moving them behind the kids so we could see their faces -- as we unwrapped. Lydia was mesmerized, especially by anything shiny. Her ladybug was a pretty big winner. Mommy likes her hat.



After oatmeal and a good nap, it was time to pack up and have Christmas Part Deux with The Husband's parents across town. We pack up and off we go.

Lydia was ready to be wowed again after her long nap and she wasn't disappointed. She enjoyed checking out all her toys and clothes.



Poor Lydia! Mommy has a habit of sticking bows on heads. The cats know this and keep out of range.



Soon after, Miss Lydia was quite worn out for the day. She had been in a great mood and had a blast. We all slept pretty deeply that night.

six month old taco

Lydia turned a whole six months old back on December 23rd. I had every intention of writing this post then but before I blinked it was Christmas Eve, then Christmas, then more Christmas, then I felt a slight breeze as the end of 2008 flew by and HOLY CRAP IT'S JANUARY! So here we are.

Soon into her sixth month Lydia got to experience Thanksgiving Day as her own person. A year ago she was an itsy bitsy blueberry-sized thing when The Husband announced her impending arrival to an incredibly shocked collection of family and friends. This year she got to play with her buddy, Syon, who was also present in utero at last year's Thanksgiving.



Right before Thanksgiving we were very worried about how Lydia would behave. She had been screaming as if someone was trying to poke her with needles for three days. Even her caregivers at her daycare were flummoxed. Then, almost as if by accident, The Husband figured it out -- Lydia wanted to stand all the time. ALL THE TIME. Stand, stand, stand. You just have to hold her up for balance. Suddenly, her legs were the best toy she'd ever had.



From there, everything became interesting -- all the toys, the kitties, Mommy's shiny necklace -- everything must be grabbed. Lydia was most pleased with herself the day she figured out how to pop her pacifier back in her mouth the right way.



Lydia got real serious about different foods this month. She started getting rice cereal at daycare almost daily and throughout the month we went through all the vegetables and applesauce. I never would have thought it, but peas are the #1 absolute winner, even over all the fruits so far. This girl could eat her weight in peas.



Despite three months of chewing, drooling, and otherwise "teething" there are no teeth to show for it yet. She doesn't seem to be all that impressed with teeth in general.



A few days ago The Husband and I were looking back at some pictures of Lydia from back when she was first born. How did she go from a six pound wiggily infant to a 15 pound bouncy, laughing child in two seasons? Mitosis is an amazing little wonder.