Wonderful Seven (+1) Days in June 2012

Before we went to the beach at Perdido, AL we spent a night at University Oaks in Mobile to visit with Great Grandmother Hastie. It was wonderful to have an overnight visit so you could meet her friends and spend enough time to "show off". You were so precious and my mother really enjoyed her time with you. I love the "4 generations" picture! We headed to the beach Friday, June 15 and stayed until Thursday, June 21. It was also wonderful (which is a word I overuse because it perfectly describes YOU). While we were there you turned 9 mos old (official picture sitting in your pool in your pretty bathing suit) on your Dad's first Father's Day. "Wonderful" also describes your parents. I am truly impressed by what a good job they do raising you! Every day your Dad set up "camp" at the beach where you enjoyed playing (picture with your beautiful Mom). And you had indoor fun with the harmonica while your Dad played & sang to you. You had a private room in a big closet where you slept well and you had a great time at the beach & the pool. The only part you didn't like was the long trip in your "torture chair" (aka car seat). But even that wasn't for too long. It was such a joy to be with you for such a concentrated period of time. We played with toys and sat on the deck & enjoyed the view. Your parents took walks with you in the packback. It was fun to watch you eat your food & hold you for bottles. Your parents planned the visit so well...you had everything you needed including favorite toys. I visited with my childhood friend Becky Ware Fox whose daughter Angela is expecting her first baby in November. It was exciting to share with her all of the joy she has ahead. (By the way, her daughter is just a few months younger than your Mom; Becky asked my permission to use the beautiful name for her daughter). It made me a little sad to head home after we arrive in Birmingham...but yesterday I got to have a +1 day in June! I spent the whole day with you & had my first trip with you to Galleria Mall as well as lots of hugs and play time on the floor. There is a 100+ heat wave right now so we had to stay indoors. It was so fun to watch you observe people at the mall & laugh whenever you saw yourself in a mirror. You have such an amazing delightful laugh. You are sort of crawling & definitely growing up so quickly. You are such a wonderful baby & you will be a wonderful toddler as well. Tomorrow is the start of your first July..I am enjoying & looking forward to it and all of the other months ahead as well!!!

Too Long without Seeing Lyla!!

I got to be with you the afternoon of Friday, May 25 but because I had a longer than usual visit with my mother in Mobile, I didn't see you again until Tuesday, June 5! A total of 10 days without seeing you; the longest I've been away from you. Much too long! Although I didn't take these pictures, I got to see a lot of the mischievous "under the blanket" smile when I visited & you wore the striped pajamas to bed June 5. Being away from you that long really emphasized how quickly you grow and change. You are exceptionally alert, curious, laugh a lot, and learn new things quickly. You are very good at communicating both joy & things you don't like. You actively play with your toys. You are really trying to be mobile and on occasion you succeed in going from one place to another independently. You now take naps in your bed instead of the car seat and you are really enjoying eating a wonderful variety of food. Your parents are very healthy eaters and it is a gift to you to be raised to eat and enjoy healthy food. Although it is going to be 5 days until I see you again, I am going to go to the beach with you! First we are going to stop in Mobile for you to visit your great-grandmother. That will be a treat. I will be with you for 7 days so that will compensate somewhat for going too long without seeing you!! I'm really looking forward to our time together. I must be the luckiest grandmother ever!