Oh yes she just did ...

Yep.  As if it weren't already a leading thought in our minds - it's captured on video and is official - Lily is such a big girl.  Robb and I were just talking last night about how she has become such a big, little person in the past few months.  When looking back at photos from one year ago, it's hardly possible to imagine all of the changes that have brought her to spelling and writing her name!  She is such a gem and we truly love every single day, as each is such a new adventure with her.  #lovebeingamommy

I have been trying to capture Lily spelling her name for quite some time now and finally last Friday - bingo - I turned off the volume on my video camera on my phone and tricked her! ;-)  She had no idea I was taping - that is the key.  She's pretty proud of herself each time she "writes her name" ... have a look!

Fast Forward

My how time flies.  Everyone told me it would.  With two little dolls that fill our time, it's tough to make blog updates a priority (obviously).  I apologize for the absence in my posting.  I will aim to make it more of a regular part of my week. 

Have a look at how the time really has flown.  The video post prior to this captured Lily meeting Molly for the first time.  Fast forward almost five months and Lily and Molly are the best of buds!  Lily is excited every morning to see her sister and Molly smiles the biggest when she sees Lily coming over/talking to her.  It makes my heart happy to see these two - so in love.

Lily meets her little sister, Molly for the first time

Our sweet Lily is the best big sister ever!!!  We could not have asked for a better initial bond between our two girls.  This video captures Lily's first glimpse of her baby sister.  I am holding back tears big time, as you will see...it's just so sweet to see how amazing Lily is with Molly.  She wakes up in the morning and immediately wants to see her sister.  She says, "Hi baby sister.  I missed you!  I love you!"  and gives her a tender kiss.  Simply priceless.

Our little BEE - a natural beekeeper?!

This video is fresh off the phone from yesterday afternoon.  Lily (all on her own) found a bee buzzing in the bushes and proceeded to try and get "Mr Bee" to come play with her.  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen!  She held her little hand out there for him to come land on and kept saying, "Hey, Bee.  Come here."  I think I got tears ... as most of you know the story of bees runs deep in my blood....  I am loving the chance to share this precious moment with you all!!  As Grandpa Schwartz says, "She is a natural little beekeeper...might take after someone else in the family at this age..."

Washing the dishes?

All you parents out there get this ... silence can only mean one thing ... trouble?!?  Last night Lily managed to find her bath toys and create play time in the sink.  She maintained she was "washing dishes" but somehow water got in her hair, all over the counter and at the very end of the "washing," all down the front of the cabinets, forming a puddle in the carpet.  Miss Bee.  She just makes me smile!  It's so fun to watch her do big people things like "bake, wash dishes, brush her teeth, get dressed, feed  and burp her babies, vacuum, clean..." (I wonder where she gets those last two from?? ;-))

My big fun with Auntie and Uncle

They're finally back from South Korea, and Lily is loving getting to know her Danny and Katy!  She played pretty hard with them last weekend.  I am not sure who was more tired out...  I was tired just watching!

Lily loves to RACE from the front door to the living room.  She stands against the door and commands, "Ready. Set. GO!"  Danny was a trooper and raced many, many times!!

Story time

Daddy and Uncle Danny took Lily to see Bob and Larry (of Veggie Tales).  It was an experience similar to the visit with Santa.  She liked them from a distance and then when they got close up, she crawled up Daddy!

Lily reading to Danny

Busy Lily Bee

Never.A.Dull.Moment!

I love this stage.  Exhausting; YES, but so worthwhile and rewarding on a daily basis!  Here are a few excerpts from Miss Busy Bee's little life...

Helping with dinner on Valentine's Day

Running.  Always running.  "Daddy's gonna get you!!"

"Those fish lips are silly, Mommy!"

"...and they tickle!" 

Off to the park...

If I only knew what that little mind was seeing and thinking...

"I spy with my little eye..."

This is how I...

I am a big girl and this is how I...

...get myself dressed, or at least try.

...celebrate Mardi Gras!!  I LOVED my beads!

...slide down the slide all by myself!

...play, play, play and laugh!

...smile for the camera!  Love you!

ABC's

My baby is SO big!  She can sing the ABC's now all by herself!  This video isn't the best representation - I will get another one soon but for now, you get the idea!  Of course, we are so proud of her and love to sing her praises!  Enjoy the little video!

ooxx

Baby Bee 2

This post is dedicated to our girls!  The bright, cheery yellow wall represents my growing joy and excitement around having two little ladies in our home!  Jennifer, you captured Baby Bee 2 so well ... we just love the images and smile thinking about the memories that await "the hive!"

8 Months and counting!

Can you believe it?  I can't!  8 months pregnant.  Wow.  Time has truly flown.  Although, when I think back to August, September, October, November ... being sick all day long, every day, that actually seems like years ago.  That's a good thing, right?!  I hope you enjoy taking a peek at our growing family, as captured by my very talented friend, Jennifer Logan-Stark!  We are excited little bees and a bear ... as we wait for the arrival of our baby bee 2!  Little lady, mommy can't wait to meet you, hold you, hug you and smother you with sweet kisses!

Will you be her Valentine?

Last night Lily helped me get her Valentine cards ready for her friends at Miss Lissa's.  Picking out the heart sticker to put on the back was the best!

"Give me one, please, Mama."  What would I have done without her assistance?  She colored her name on each, as well.  Signed and sealed with love!  Who could resist being Lily's Valentine??  Not this Mama!! (*smile)

Candid shots are best

It's always a treat to capture your child "in a moment."  Lily moves so quickly that it's rare to capture the little things that Robb and I giggle and smile about.  The photo below is a treat because it's one of those pictures that will forever represent a specific time in Lily's life and development.  She's so much fun right now!  I know I've said it before, but if I could bottle this stage up and save it forever, I would!!!

Here are a few things that this photo will remind Robb and I of:

1.  For Christmas (2011), Lily got her very first Veggie Tales DVD (thank you Auntie Emy *wink*)

2.  Multiple times a day, Lily brings us the remote and asks to watch Veggie Tales (and yes, folks, she says and then sings the Veggie Tales intro, while dancing around in a circle)

3.  Lily's attention span has expanded to include watching educational programing (for more than 30 seconds)

4.  Watching Veggie Tales means "covie-up" on the couch with every baby and critter she owns snuggled on her lap

5.  She tells Robb and I to "SIT" - she wants one of us right next to her (again - something I wish I could bottle up and bring back out at ...say age 16!!)

(apparently Veggie Tales has a scene that is too much for Kitty to watch - LOL!!)

Christmas day

 Christmas day 2011.  We created many fond memories in the company of our family!  It was fun to experience Christmas through the eyes of children.  Noah and Breven were so excited and animated as they opened gifts and so thankful, as well.  Precious.  Lily kind of got it this year.  She enjoyed opening gifts - hers and other's.  She loved the visit from Emy and Aaron's friend's puppy.  The pure joy that came with seeing the dog and petting her was infectious!  "Hi doggy!"  She kept saying it and bending over as if to make sure to look the little pup in the eyes.  So stinking cute!!  She was fascinated by Christmas trees this year.  At home, she woke excited to see the tree and told it goodnight before bed!!  Each and every ornament was a new treasure in her little eyes.  Again, seeing things for the simple, pure joy that they are was priceless this Christmas season!!

And who's fab gingerbread house might this be?!  Yeah buddy!  It's the master work of team Robb (with some help here and there from his wifey).  The gingerbread build-off was a blast and made for some great memories and hearty laughs!  

Christmas dinner.  Lily and Breven are bibbed and ready to GO!

Noah is also ready ... ready to give us a show, I believe! :-)

 Christmas in IN - 2011.

Christmas in IN

After returning from MN, we quickly repacked the bags and hit the road to spend Christmas in IN, with Auntie Emy, Uncle Aaron and cousins Noah and Breven.  Nonni and Papa were part of the trek, as we all piled into a ... wait for it, wait for it ... cop car (LOL) for the drive!  It was an adventure, to say the least.  Ask Papa and Robb how powerful they felt driving a cop car down the interstate! ;-)  Cars would literally pull to the right lane, thinking we were highway patrol, and then pass us, once they realized we were the Doerksen crew from CO...LOL!

Lily is situated with her babies and ready for the ride.  She did so well.  We really could not have asked for a better 18 month traveler!  She might have actually done better than pregnant mama!

All of the kids loved spending time with Nonni and Papa.  Lily also found time to play with all of the new toys at Emy's.  The kitchen was probably her very favorite! 

In deep thought/conversation over very cool Pinterest boards, tags, posts... 

Little Bee found a car and realized that dolls are not the only fun toy in this world.



Legos were a bit of a hit too.  Lily learned to diversify her playtime.  Impressive. :-)

I play pool.

Yes, you read the title correctly.  Lily would tell you that she plays pool.  The fascination with the pool table began the night (actually butt crack of dawn/early morn) of the day we arrived at mom and dad's.  Robb took Lily to the basement to try to get her to settle down (finally at 3 am) and go to sleep.  When she saw  the pool table, sleeping was the last thing she was interested in.  She wanted to throw, not roll, the balls and thought it was absolutely hilarious.  Robb might not have found it as funny, but over the course of the weekend, any chance she got, Lily was game for a "game of pool..."  Nana was gracious enough to take her down and let her play around.  Giggles, giggles.  Pure joy on that pool table. 

"This is how you line 'em up, Nana."

 Lily has her own way of making the balls go into the pockets.  It may or may not involve a pool stick! Hee, hee!

 "Nana, this is serious business.  I would like to give you lessons...are you in?!"