The Holidays: Part 1

I promise I did not abandon the blog permanently, just a small holiday hiatus.  I'm allowed a few of those a year, especially when there is tryptophan and apple pie involved. Our now 8 month old expertly travelled by plane back to Nebraska for Thanksgiving.  I congratulate myself, but I did nothing. The Travel Gods looked fondly down on me.  I breastfed on both flights smoothly, only endured 5 minutes of screaming/crying and otherwise showed myself it is possible to travel with a child!  I don't want to encourage too much technology at such a young age, but there a few baby apps on my ipad that were life savers on the airplane! 

Lilah and I visited my grandma, Gigi, in a rehabilitiation home where she is recovering from breaking her hip.  Her spirits were high when she got to have Miss Pookie Rose on her lap.  Lilah attracted quite a bit of attention around that place as well!  We wish Gigs a speedy recovery and hope to have her home soon!

Great Aunt Joan

Great Uncle Ron/Momo :)

Uncle Trev and Tristan

Uncle Ty

Grandmas are the best.  They spoil, spoil, change diapers, laugh at everything Lilah does and are just great.  I wish they lived closer!  Ben and I went "out" one night with friends... big stuff!  While in Nebraska, Lilah attended her Aunt Lauren's baby shower for her new cousin... coming February 2014.  We also discovered how to climb steps, started saying what might be Mama and Dada (?!) and met a few new family members!   Poor Lilah also endured an agonizing 3 hour trip to Verizon to set up Gramma and BopBop Otto with smartphones.  If it was a movie, it would be entitiled "Chevy Chase's Verizon Vacation".  Just before teaching my dad what texting was and slightly after explaining how to use a mobile hot spot, Lilah blasted out her pants in Verizon's main room.  It was a trip to be remembered by all. 

If everyone had this much fun with baths!

Gramma Otto and pumpkin pie

PopPop singing Pony Girl

And of course, we enjoyed the best Thanksgiving ever together!  Ben drove overnight to join us and we celebrated with both families for the first time in 3 years!!!  Before I could say no, Gramma Otto, had Lilah try her first bites of pumpkin pie.  Like father like daughter... this girl's going to have a sweet tooth! My brother's girlfriend, Jen, took expert photos of Lilah, all while minimally using her shoulder- impressive!  Lilah partied with her Great-Doctor-Unc-Dude-Man Scott, who calls her his great-neph-dudette.  And we also said hi to Allie, Marth and Iz.  Iz is 13 months ahead of Lilah... a glimpse into what next year at Thanksgiving will be like! At the Taylor house, Lilah partied on her two scooters!  She brought the house down laughing when she figured out how to ride these with hilarious charm!  It was a quick trip but we loved it!
Jen's Photos:

Really, how can you not love this?!

The Fam! (minus Gigi, Jeff, Nancy)

George & Gracie

A new idea was suggested by my dad, midnight driving.  We left at 1am to drive back to Indiana.  That man is a genius.  We endured the most quiet and easy car trip with a baby.  We will repeat this clever strategy in a heartbeat! (Please note, Ben drove all 10 hrs and I slept.  This can also be repeated :)    However, when we got back, we had a fussy 8 month old for a day.  We call it Black Sunday.  It's the day you endure when there are no grandparents around to smile, play and laugh at your kids.  We had one.  She was displeased about not having a mega adoring audience around anymore.  Ben and I think she's fabulously cute, but we clearly don't meet Lilah's expectations for attention giving. 

We miss everyone already... but Christmas is right around the corner!