The Happy Dance

My Dad taught Lily "The Happy Dance." If you tell her to do the happy dance, she will move her body. It's very cute. And it's really funny to watch my Dad do it too!

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Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone! We hope you all had a yummy day! We sure did!

I want you all to know that Grandma is out of ICU and in a regular room at Summa. She is one tough woman! We went to visit her last night. She was happy to see us and especially Lily Anna. She is eating pretty well and talking very well. She looks great. She is just really weak. She will probably have to go to a nursing home/rehab facility to gain her strength back. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.

Here are photos from our weekend...

Lily and the Easter Bunny. She loves the Easter Bunny!

Yesterday, Anson, Mom C, me and Lily went shopping. We went to the Hartville Marketplace to see the Easter Bunny, then we ate lunch at Chipotle. Then we shopped at Target. Lily is showing off her new crocs that Grandma C bought her.

After Target we headed to the hospital for an hour to visit with Uncle Bob and Grandma. On our way out, she saw Cousin Teri and Bob, and their son, Colton. Colton will be 2 in a few weeks.

Then when we got home, Grandma fed Lily some Stage 3 spaghetti and meat sauce. She doesn't look too happy. We think she had an upset tummy.

After Lily went to bed, the Easter Bunny laid out all Lily's goodies so I could take a quick photo. This morning, Lily got to open everything that the Bunny brought her. She got books, DVDs, a soft bunny, an Elmo basket and some plastic eggs. In the photo below, she sees Elmo on the cover of this book and she smiled. The book is called "It's Check-up Time, Elmo" I read the book to her and her name is in it. Lily is Elmo's friend who he sees at the doctor's office. I was pleasantly surprised!
Cheeeeeesssee!
Oh, the Bunny brought Lily ears of her own!
After Daddy went to work for a few hours, we headed over to Grandma and Papa's house for some yummy dinner. We had ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, corn and rolls. Lily had a taste of it all. Even some chocolate pie! Turns out that the Easter Bunny left presents for Lily at their house too!
She got more DVDs, another soft bunny, bath stuff, and two outfits. Plus, Grandma and Papa bought her some hard walking shoes and a very cool purple bike.
Oh, and the Easter bunny bought her some bubbles. It looks like she is trying to blow them here, but really she is trying to eat the stick.
Here's the cool bike I was talking about!
We are so blessed to have this little angel in our lives. We love her so much. She has bought so much happiness to our family!

Lily is 10 months old

Lily turned 10 months old yesterday! I can't believe it. She is getting sooooo big! I have been giving her real food the past few days. She's had turkey, ham, potato salad, mac n cheese, noodles, bread...she's not that picky, which is good! She is also able to stand and walk along side the couch or ottoman. It won't be long until she's walking on her own. I think her teeth are bothering her a lot lately because she has been cranky. When we give her oragel or a binky, she calms down.

Lily with her new sponge that Grandma and Grandpa C. bought her for Easter!

Video of Lily in the tub!

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Grandma Hicks

Grandma Hicks is sick, but she is doing much better! She's been in the hospital since March 7. She has lung disease (which probably explains her coughing all these months!) and she had a ventilator down her throat for about a week. The doctor took the ventilator out yesterday morning and she is doing so much better. She can talk and she looks great.

I just got a text message from Mom C. and she says Grandma is talking better and is able to drink water today. Things are looking up! Let's keep praying.

This week, Anson and I have spent a lot of time at Grandma's house with all the family. Here are a few photos I snapped.

Anson with Lily and Rebekah

Monday evening we all went to the Hartville Kitchen - Paul, Maryellen, Rachel, Rebekah and Anson
Me, Lily, Anson, Maryellen, Rachel, Rebekah, Lydia and Emily
Cousin Dawn and Michael. Dawn is Uncle Larry's daughter and Maryellen's sister. Dawn came up to see Grandma from Florida.
Sarah (playing with a cell phone), Mom, Emily, Lydia, Rebekah and Anson
Cousin Adam
Sarah, Uncle Larry and Adam

Everyone at Hartville Kitchen

Grandma C and her Sugar
Baby Girl on St. Patty's Day. My mom had dressed her up so cute and put green barrettes in her hair.

Random Photos from Last Week

Lily reading Daddy's magazine in the bathroom!

Sampson smiling!
Sampson sticking out his tongue!
Lily eating mashed potatoes for the first time!
Video of Lily eating mashed potatoes

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New Lion Walker

Anson made it to New York today. He is enjoying a steak dinner at The Outback right now. Miss you, Babe. Lily and I spent the afternoon at Target. We spent a lot of money. I bought her several new toys/videos, including this Lion Walker. As she gets older she can ride around on it. I also bought her some Easter gifts, but you'll have to wait to see those. Enjoy!

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Hurry home, Babe!

Snowed In!

We're snowed in! We've gotten about 13-14 inches of snow since yesterday afternoon! And it's still snowing. We just stayed in all day and relaxed for the most part. Anson was supposed to go to Saturn today to train someone but he couldn't even get on the expressway. When he got home and talked to the woman at Saturn, she said they were closing. Stores, restaurants and even malls are closed. Anson and I were both let go early yesterday from work. This is the worst snow storm we've had in years.

Baby Girl in her "baby cage." It keeps her safe and out of trouble. We stayed in our jammies today.

Tomorrow Anson is leaving to go to NY for a few days for work. Hopefully his flights won't be canceled.

I've been sick with a cough and cold and I hurt my back somehow. I'm a wreck! It was so nice having Anson home to help me today.

Weight Watchers Update: Anson and I have collectively lost 76 pounds! We are feeling really great.

9 Month Check-up

Lily's 9 month check-up was today. She did really well. She's healthy as can be. Here are her stats:

Weight: 17 pounds, 14 ounces = 40th percentile
Height: 27 1/4 inches = 50th percentile
Head: 17 1/2 inches = 75th percentile

Developmentally she is right on track. She is crawling, pulling herself up and cruising. She's babbling a lot, and seems to say Dada when Anson is around. Also, the doctor spotted some top teeth that should be making their way in soon.

She is eating well too. We are able to begin giving her some soft foods like bananas, mashed potatoes, soft veggies, cut up grapes, etc. And, unfortunately, I think the time has come to wean her off the breast. I am traveling for a week at the end of March and I think I want her to be weaned by then. It will just be easier for everyone. I have really enjoyed nursing her, and I will be really sad when that part of her life has to end. She's growing up so fast!

Here's a video of her clapping her hands. I tried to get her pulling herself up to a standing position, but I couldn't get it on video.

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