Adventures of Toddlerhood

   So last week I spent a couple hours writing a blog post- nice and detailed. Well what should happen? I lost it. So this week is the watered-down version of the past 3 weeks in Lexington. 

  Loren and I went to his Over-the-Hump-Party a couple Saturday's ago. It was at a nice hotel in Natural Bridge. We had a nice dinner and had fun celebrating the halfway mark in our law school journey. It's all downhill from here! Or so they say.

  Loren's been busy with classes, working and the law review. When he has any extra time, he's practicing his ukulele. He's sounding fantastic for just teaching him himself. It's been a fun hobby. 

  I've been really busy with my calling as relief society secretary. There's always so much to remember and do. I really like it though, I serve with some of the greatest ladies I've ever met. 

  Lydia keeps learning and growing! She's learned that she can get a really good reaction from me when this happens:

    Ah, our first food catastrophe! Figured I might as well document this monumental moment. Never a dull moment with this girl!
  I remember growing up, my mom would always tell me stories of when my brother and I were little. From the way she talked about us, we were truly angel children. We never fought with each other or threw tantrums. At church one day, some guy asked my dad if he had drugged us because we were both sitting as still as statues with our arms folded through all of Sacrament Meeting. I mean, that's the kind of perfection we're talking about here. Before I had Lydia, I always had a vision of my kids acting exactly like that. I mean, I'm their mother, right? What a shock to my system Lydia is giving me! Lately she's been doing this high-pitched scream anywhere and everywhere we go. 
  For example, last week in nursery some kid came up and took the ball she was playing with. Oh, mercy. I cried for that kid because he had no idea what he'd just done. Lydia let out a stop-what-you're-doing-and-stare-at-me-in-horror scream, right in his face. I mean, everyone in that room stopped what they were doing and just stared at her. Not a shining mom moment. It seems like no matter how I try to get her to speak softly, it just makes it worse. Where did this girl come from? Please let it just be a phase.
  Lydia is so smart! She's found a way to keep her out of nap time a little longer. I'll set her in her crib with her blanket and shut the door. A minute later I'll hear, "Da blankey! Da blankey! Mommy, da blankey!" I'll peek my head in see that she's thrown her blanket out of the crib and on the floor. So I walk in, pick up her blanket and lay her back down. Every time I know she's hoping I'll just give up and let her out to play. Such is the mischievousness of a one year old.
  I love when Lydia gives me hugs. She's also somewhat obsessed with playing with my hair. She's getting good, too! Thankfully we're out of the pulling stage and now she just slowly runs her hands threw it. Divine. Yep, starting them young!
   

   This is Lydia's favorite playground now. It's designed for kids ages 2-5 so everything is small and perfect for her. She's learned how to go down the slide by herself! She could have stayed here all day and night.

  Lydia's piano lessons
   

   So yesterday we put Lydia down for a late nap. When she woke up she was inconsolable. It was crazy, we couldn't do anything to stop her from crying. We tried giving her all her favorite foods for dinner and she refused them. We were stumped and totally frazzled.  Suddenly, Lydia used her lightening reflexes and snatched the container of cold rice from the table. Before we could stop her, she started stuffing mouthfuls of cold and sticky rice into her mouth. We couldn't believe after refusing bananas, cottage cheese, mac & cheese, pears and fruit cocktail- she would resort to cold rice. Toddlers are truly a mystery sometimes.

  I truly don't know what I'd do without my Lyddie Bug. She teaches me so much every day and I feel so blessed to be her mom. There are hard times but never in my life have I found anything more worthwhile. I sure love my little family. 

Have a great week!