Monday, Monday.

Mondays are always a mix of bittersweet and excitement. They are bittersweet because that means another weekend has come to a close and that I have to take Lydia to the sitter. They are exciting because we have swim lessons. Lydia's Monday today included a major hissy fit over the use of her sippy cup. She absolutely refused milk from her sippy cup and subsequently, I gave in and gave her the milk in a bottle. Then she laughed. She already knows what she wants and how to get it. Amazing. After her bottle, I thought she may lay down for a nap because she didn't nap long at the sitter's. She laid in bed and began to pull her blanket over her head, like she typically does, but as I sat and read a book in the rocker, she looked back at me sheepishly and laughed again! Those beautiful blue eyes get to me EVERY time!

Again, I gave in, knowing that it was already 4:30 and she was past her napping window anyways, and would want dinner shortly. We played in her room. She loves her big books. She is moving well from a sitting to a crawling 'stance,' but is still not mobile. I am confident that we will get there soon, but am not rushing it as I have noticed some progression in her development and she is more fluid with rolling over, sitting to crawling stance, and doing a lot better on pulling up on me or standing with limited assistance. I think she may be a 'non-crawler' as a lot of babies are now due to the "Back to Sleep" campaign. I feel like I talk like I am expert, but really my knowledge of this matter comes straight from google searches or Dr. Anderson. Ask me about learning acquisition and cognitive skills when she is five or older and I will feel a lot more knowledgeable.

Brett bought Lydia this Gap hat. I love her in it! She doesn't have anything else like it. Of course she looks adorable. Have I mentioned I can't get enough of my little girl? We had swim lessons. Brett and I were the only couple that both got in the pool to swim with Lydia. It works out well having both of us in the pool. We take turns with the exercises and can practice passing her back and forth. Lydia is a little fish and has really enjoyed the pool. We plan on continuing classes after this 8-week session is completed. We will likely continue going on Monday nights for another 8 week session. There are three more 8-week sessions so we are likely going to do them all. It is just a fun way to spend time together as a family and Lydia sleeps so well on nights that we have class!

A few more things I don' think I have mentioned before: I signed Lydia and I up to have a "Mommy and Me" Photography session with a new photographer. I still LOVE patricia and will continue to go to her for all our "major" sessions and mini-sessions, but another area photographer was doing this mini-session and it was too good to pass up. We will go next Monday when I have the day off!

Also, I commissioned an artist to do a portrait of Lydia for her first birthday. He will do a pencil drawing and then go over it in watercolors and colored pencil (I think). The artist previously did artwork for game boards and he does freelance work on the side. I am thrilled to see what the outcome is!