lemos farms

i'm a sucker for groupon & living social; if a good deal comes along to a place we've never been, i'll usually get it.  i like to try new things, and i like to pay less if i can.  win-win!  awhile ago i had bought a deal for lemos farms.  there is a petting zoo, train rides, pony rides, and a play area.  all things that sounded like a good time for lily.  and a fun time for me watching her enjoy them.  yeah, not so much, apparently.  she didn't want to ride the horse, barely petted the goats in the petting zoo (and mostly she just walked around them, clinging to kevin), and insisted on being held during the train ride.  she did enjoy just walking around in circles, though.  which we could have done at the park instead of driving down to half moon bay.  it turned out to be a nice day for a drive, and maybe she'll enjoy it more next year.  if a groupon deal comes along again, that is.

action shot!  the kid does love a good slide.

she wouldn't ride the real pony, but she insisted on getting on the fake ones.
what gives?!

i did a little victory/happy dance when she finally started petting the goats.
it took some coaxing and letting her wander.  

the train.  

fascinated by the chickens.  we had to carry her away.

this made me laugh so hard.

ride 'em, cowgirl!

the lily chronicles

15 months old

lily had her 15-month well check and is doing wonderfully.  she is doing everything she should be for her age and even some things that are a little ahead of the curve (go lily!).

head circumference: 18" (50th percentile)

height: 33.5" (98th percentile)

weight: 24 lbs (75th percentile)

• lily has developed a fascination with jewelry (she has several strands of beads she adorns herself with, in addition to trying to put my jewelry on)
• she loves purses and grabs mine to drag around the house (which means she's getting her own purse for christmas)
• facetime is kind of her favorite thing.  she loves talking to people she can see
• maroon 5 is her favorite band and she dances every time one of their songs comes on
• lily loves shoes and is constantly bringing us our shoes or her shoes; she just wants to get her hands on some shoes! 
• makeup is a fascinating toy to her.  she grabs it, walks around with it, and tries to put it on.  she's becoming a fairly girly (yay!)
• lily is kind of a terror; she tackles and tries to wrestle other kids, but they don't usually understand.  she likes to roughhouse (and we oblige her), but not everyone appreciates her special brand of play

lily is developing her language and chatters constantly.  sometimes even using words recognizable to the rest of humanity.  she knows how to get her point across and has some definite opinions.  she has pretty much left the baby behind and is on her way to becoming an actual little kid.  it's kind of crazy to see how much she has changed in just one short year.  

i love going out and about with her, when it's our little family on an adventure.  it is so fun to watch her interact with the world around her and enjoy the activities we take her on.  i think i'm going to like this stage (sometimes). 

that's my girl!

a text message i received from jessica, (lily's babysitter while kevin & i are at work):

"this morning lily reached into my bathroom drawer and pulled out my mascara and she was carrying it around.  she was later found trying to put it on!  she kinda missed her eyes (it was on her lips) but all i can say is you must be training her well!"

that's my girl! (i'm having such a proud mama moment right now)

eureka fun

in an effort to maintain favorite child status, i gathered up my little family and we road-tripped to eureka for my mom's birthday weekend.  she had no idea we were coming and we managed to surprise her at work.  dad was in on the plan, and helped us with a couple details.  we managed to cram a fair bit into a little weekend and had so much fun.  and mom still likes me best.  :-)

trick-or-treating in style

cutest little witch, ever!

my dad was performing at the haunted mill tour; he did an amazing job, as always.

you know you're part of the tribe when you have
your own tombstone in the "family plot" of the front yard cemetery 

15 months and casting spells

devil dog and the headless horseman from sleepy hollow
 (my brother chris sent annabelle a costume for halloween)

sf & aquarium fun

we recently went on a little adventure to sf, visiting the aquarium by the bay and wandering pier 39/ the embarcadero.  lily was quite the trooper and handled the whole day like a champ; the girl loves to travel and be out and about.  i'm so proud!  i love the city; i love the thousands of ways it is new every time i go, and the different things to see and do while i'm there.  anytime anybody wants to be a sf tourist, call me.  i'm down to join you on any madcap adventure.  and so is lily.

architectural details; i'm a sucker for 'em.

the ferry building; i'd never been inside before, and it is amazing! beautifully restored and an incredible example of adaptive reuse.  and the food inside is delightful: artisan cheeses, fresh-baked bread (we picked up a loaf and ate that for lunch as we wandered--delish), and a host of other things.  i'll be back, ferry building!

lily loved the jellyfish; she just kept staring at them.  and i'll admit, i was entranced by them to.
they are just so peaceful to watch.  

this starfish waved "hi" to us.  lily waved back.

she kept trying to grab the fish swimming by. 

sharks!  they were huge; much bigger than i anticipated they'd be