A Week (Almost) With Lyla

Early Monday morning your Mother called me because she was sick and knew she would need help taking care of you that day. It was your Dad’s first day at MBHS with students present and Open House for parents at 6:00 pm so it was definitely not a good day for him to take off from work. Fortunately I didn’t have any mandatory events at work so I was able to spend the day with you. We had a great day including an early morning walk.  Our walks always end with swinging for awhile (the only picture I took this week!). We also had lunch together at The Egg & I followed by a trip to CVS where I bought you water and a new cup. You love to watch people and seem to delight in all activities. On the way home we visited with your neighbor Selena (mother of twins Tate & Avery) who had a new puppy you really enjoyed. I stayed at your house until your Mom was awake and feeling better. Your Dad didn’t get home until almost 9 pm! Tuesday was a Day With Out Lyla (DWOL). Wednesday afternoon I picked up yogurt & Taziki’s lunch and stayed with you while your Mother had an afternoon nap before heading to work. I spent the night with you but your Dad & I shared evening activities. Thursday morning was my first time to take you to Mother’s Day Out (MDO) at Jewish Community Center. But first we had our walk with Sunday. You were so happy to arrive at MDO!  When I picked you up your were happily playing with your one classmate. Your teacher said you had been very good & too busy to nap. You cried so hard when I got you in the car I feared you would cry all the way home. But you quickly fell asleep. It was a little hard to transition you to a needed nap at home. Your Mom woke up for a few minutes & helped facilitate things. You napped until almost 5. After we got home from our walk & swings your Dad was home which always makes you happy.  Friday I came to your house at the end of the day and got you all to myself  because your parents went to a Phish concert. Our evening walk turned into a party! Your neighbor was having a “end of the 1^st week of school party” and there were a lot of children in the front yard. We stayed for the party and you had an amazing time. You crawled like a crab with your butt in the air & your knees off the ground, on the grass & concrete driveway! You were so fast you were able to keep up with the older children. You enjoyed everyone at the party and got a little dirty and scraped your toes a little. You got to bed at 7 pm and slept all night until we headed out for a morning walk at 6 am. Your neighborhood was having a yard sale & lots of people were out early which delighted you. When we got home your Dad was awake & did your breakfast while I went shopping in the neighborhood. The joy on your face when you saw your Dad is awesome to watch. Your parents surround you in love and it makes you so happy. After breakfast we went back out to the sales. You played with a precious neighbor, Sydni, who is 6 weeks younger than you. It was so fun to watch you interact with her and with all of the people who came to shop at the sale. I got you home in time for morning nap and after I gave you your bottle and put you in your bed I headed home. I was sad to think about so many DWOLs ahead next week, but full of warm memories about our time together this week.  Although I have a lot of work to catch up on & I’m heading to Mobile at the end of week to visit Great Grandmother Labor Day weekend, I’m confident there are many more Days With Lyla (DWL) and no weeks with too many DWOLs ahead!

A Perfect Day

Although every day with you would qualify as perfect, Tuesday, August  14 was a specific one. I got to your house early and you were in your colorful stripped PJs “hanging out” with your Dad while your Mom was still at work. You and I went out on a walk with Sunday and ended the walk at the neighborhood swings.  Soon  after we got home your Dad left and your Mom got home.  The three of us played in your room for awhile before your Mom headed to bed. You did the most amazing thing…your Mom and I talked about a specific book you like (Where is Baby’s Belly Button?) and you went to your book shelf and searched for and found that specific book! It was not random…it was purposeful.  After your morning nap I dressed you in the cute outfit your Mom picked out for you and we went to Galleria Mall. We strolled around and rode the Merry-Go-Round; choosing the stationary giraffe rather than a horse going up and down.  Then your Savta Nitza met us in the food court. You were so delighted to see her! The two of you had a great visit then we went home for your afternoon nap. You talked and played in your bed and by the time you got fussy your Dad was home and suspected you might need a diaper change. This assumption (based on an episode yesterday which was why you were sleeping in winter PJs in the summer) was accurate and after a diaper change you finally went to sleep. Soon after your Mom woke up, your parents got ready to go to dinner with the Mt Brook HS History department where your Dad is the new senior class teacher! But first they got your dinner ready. When you realized they were leaving your got very upset. It seemed your heart was breaking! But as soon as they were gone,  you  were happy again. It seemed as if you felt like you had a responsibility to let them know you didn’t want them to go and after you accomplished that you were happy! I texted them the above picture to document your smile. Your Dad had shown me how to get Toddler Tunes via Pandora on my phone. I think listening to music while you ate helped make you happy. You ate a lot of supper, and so did Sunday who enjoyed what you dropped on the floor. After supper we went on another walk with Sunday, ending at the swings. You continued listening to Toddler Tunes while I sang along with the ones I knew and you said “Hi” to everyone who walked by. Due to your late nap it was 7:00 pm before your bath. You enjoyed your bath and let me cuddle you while you had your bedtime bottle. Although you “talked” a lot after I put you in bed. you were sleeping soundly when your parents came home and I went home at the end of a perfect day.

Where Did July Go?

Because I have so much difficulty with the technology associated with blogging, I have to have a block of time available to generate a post. Since that usually only happens on a Saturday, July passed without a chance to blog! The first weekend in July Eric came from Nashville with your cousins the 3 Green children (Jacob, 11; Abigail, 8 and Jackson almost 5) and the 2 Green dogs! Since you were at the beach, Sunday was with us so we had 4 dogs at the house! We went to the Stuedeman family gathering with only 2 dogs but all of the children! The next weekend I was in Mobile while my Mother had cataract surgery. The 3rd weekend in July Wayne and I were in Clarksdale, Mississippi with your other cousins, the 2 Brown children, Maggie Rae (4) and Eli (almost 2). It was great to visit with them. Uncle Frank was in Canada and Aunt Kristina had a lot of things to get done while we got to play with the children. The last weekend in July I was in Mobile again while Grandmother had cataract surgery on eye #2. The first weekend in August I spent with you while your Mother worked and your Dad went on an "End of Summer" camping trip. I had a wonderful weekend with you...we went to the library and Toys R Us and swam at your neighborhood pool and read lots of books and played with lots of toys! So today is the first Saturday I've had at home in a long time. Because I accidentally deleted my original post and I'm typing it again...I truly need a lot of time to post! I chose pictures of all of your cousins as well as pictures of you and your house in Chace Lake. I love the rainbow; it illustrates the house contains the "treasure at the end of the rainbow"...you!! You are growing and changing so quickly! The picture of you on the floor of your room with the lamb container reminds me that "just yesterday" your Mother was a baby. When she was born she got flowers in the baby lamb & I got some for you when you were born. You are a delightful child just like your Mother was! You are standing independently by your book shelf! You love books and it's so much fun to read them to you. You will be letting go & walking soon. You already have shoes! You are holding a toy telephone which may be the only time you use such a phone. You took my I-phone and actually knew how to scroll through the pictures! You are going to have amazing technical skills. (You can help me with my blog!). You really enjoy your toys. You have a stash in the living room on your alphabet flooring (picture in your "whale" shirt!)  I love the beautiful picture of you with a flower behind your ear! You are such a beauty. I am so glad your Dad has completed graduate school (he now has a Masters degree in Education from UAB) and has a new job teaching seniors at Mountain Brook High School. Not only is this a job he will enjoy, it is a job that will keep your family in Birmingham for at least a few more years! It is such a joy to live in the same town with you. I hope I can do that for a very long time! Now that school is starting back I will be keeping you on a regular basis again while your Mother works part time delivering babies at UAB. There is so much ahead...you will be starting "Mother's Day Out" at the Jewish Community Center 2 days a week soon. Your first birthday party will be September 15. Tonight I will be keeping you while your parents celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary. I'm so glad they found each other because otherwise there would not be a Lyla Evelyn Rotter and the world would be much less wonderful! Okay...I'm getting ready to publish this...I hope it works this time!!!