A Little Bit About Lily

We asked Lily these questions last year, and decided to ask them again.  It's ridiculous how much this girl likes to go out to eat (we cook at home mostly! and it's good, delicious stuff, I promise.  But still, Chili's is her favorite resturaunt and she LOVES to eat there), so it's no surprise that Chili's is her favorite place to go.  

  

What is your name? Lily
How old are you? 5
When is your birthday? August 4th
How old is Mama? I don't know
How old is Daddy? I don't know
What is your favorite color? All the colors
What is your favorite food? Mac & Cheese
Who is your best friend? Evie
What is your favorite show? Star Wars: The Clone Wars
What is your favorite movie? Mulan
What is your favorite song? Blue Heaven
What is your favorite animal? Tigers
What are you scared of? Shadows
What makes you happy? Friends
Where is your favorite place to go? Chili's
What do you want to be when grow up? A work mom scientist who helps the city and shoots stuff (hunts)
What's mama's favorite thing to do? I don't know
What does love mean? That you love somebody

Early Birthday for Lily!

My parents were down for a quick visit the week before Lily's birthday, so we had an early celebration.  It was full of Dr. Seuss books (my Dad has been on a mission to track down all his childhood favorites to fill up Lily's library), a doll that looks just like Lily, pedicures, and the always-requested chocolate cake (my Mom is so proud...Lily is a true Davis chocoholic).

Moments in July

Lily only goes to preschool Monday-Thursday, so she's with either Kevin
or I every Friday.  She starts kindergarten in a few weeks, and I am going
to miss my Fridays with Lily.  I love hanging out and spending so much time
with my favorite little. 

Some people just can't hang.  #lilysleepchronicles

Mom was in town for a night, so we had some fun girl time together.
Three generations!

Story time (or spoil time?) with Grandma is always a must.
Lily is also opening a hair-styling service, as evidenced with Grandma's
stunning hair accessories. 

Happy Birthday, USA!

A little 4th of July breakfast at the church, a BBQ with friends at our house, and ending the evening with the Thurmonds watching the City of Livermore fireworks.  Happy Birthday, USA! We are so grateful for the freedoms we have and the people who have worked to ensure those freedoms.  

Hanging with cousin Elika

Walking to the fireworks with Ren

So excited for fireworks!

Best buddies

Best buddies!

The Boardwalk Life

We celebrated 4th of July weekend with a day at the Beach and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  Honestly, it was one of the most perfect days I can remember.  I love sharing a place I spent so much of my childhood at with my little tribe.  Lily is tall enough to ride most of the rides and she's such a little adrenaline junkie.  Perfect weather, fun, and nothing but good times.

Beach fun (obviously)

Love my tribe!

Nothing but fun on the Boardwalk

The car ride home.  Fun days = serious car naps.
I wish I were that flexible. 

Broken Hearts and Miracles

Last night Lily had a meltdown. This one was different than the usual ones. She was crying that she didn't have any brothers or sisters, that she wanted one, and that it wasn't fair that she didn't have any. It broke my heart. It broke my heart to tell her that Kevin and I had planned for her to have a sibling...that we had wanted that for her and for our family. It broke my heart that I had to tell her that it was a miracle we were able to have a baby at all. It broke my heart that I couldn't give her what I grew up with...with what Kevin grew up with...a big family with lots of siblings you could remember things with and have shared experiences and traditions with. It broke my heart to tell her that my mental health and need for medication made it impossible for our family to be any bigger than it is.

But even as telling Lily all of this broke my heart, I was able to tell her how lucky her Daddy and I are that we have her...how thankful we are that we were are her parents and that she is our daughter. I was able to tell her that our family might look different than all of her friends and cousins, but we are perfect just the way we are. I was able to tell her that she is my miracle, and that there is no one in this world I would rather be than her Mama. And even though my heart was breaking, it was also filled with so much love and gratitude for this little girl who has a spirit bigger than her body and will go on to do incredible things and have the capacity for empathy and understanding because of the circumstances of our family.

I know this isn't the last time I will have to tell Lily why she's an only child. I know that as she gets older, her understanding will grow, her acceptance will increase, and she will find the friends that become her siblings throughout her life. I know that this isn't the last time my heart will break when faced with her sadness over not having siblings. I also know that no matter what, I will always make sure she knows how loved she is, how blessed I am to be her Mama, and that she is my miracle from a loving Heavenly Father. She will always be my Lily Bean, and she will always, no matter what, be the best part of my day.

Viva Las Vegas!

We headed to Las Vegas right after Christmas to see my cousin Ashley marry her love Keaka, with Lily as the flower girl! (I was the flower girl at my Aunt and Uncle's wedding, so it was nice that Lily could be the flower girl for their daughter. Traditions!) 

Kevin and I managed to sneak away for an afternoon date our first day in town.  We left Lily to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa and tried out Gordon Ramsey's Pub & Grill in Ceasar's Palace.  The burger was delicious, but the sticky toffee pudding was the best thing ever.  I'd go back just for that. 

The wedding was incredibly beautiful.  Honestly, one of the nicest weddings I've ever attended (#kkashgethitched).  My whole family was able to be there and it was wonderful.  Lily did an amazing job and was so cute; honestly, I think she might have stolen the show a little bit (sorry Ashley!).  I'm pretty sure there were more photos of Lily than anyone else (I'm not making this up--I've seen all the photos from the wedding).  Lily shut the party down, too.  She was on the dance floor non-stop from 6 pm, to when the reception ended at midnight.  She outlasted many adults.  It was pretty impressive. 

The next day we toured Las Vegas a little bit before boarding our flight and heading home.  It was a whirlwind trip with lots of memories and good times.  

Peace out, Vegas! 

(The photos loaded out of order and I don't care enough to try and fix them, but they are cute, so enjoy!)

Afternoon date with this cutie!

Wedding prep

The Klima fam

We fancy

Our traditional cousin lineup

The Klima boys

Klima Kids!

Our band photo. Seriously, we're posing like some teeny-bopper
band in the 1950s.  This is what happens when you're having too much
fun late at night and you're all getting older.  Sigh.  

Midnight and the party is over.  

Makeup by Mama (I wanted her to look good in the
wedding photos.  I was a little vain on her behalf...I admit it.
And she did look good, so worth it, I say.)