Lake Arrowhead

On October 17th we went up to Lake Arrowhead for two nights. Daddy had a retreat for his department up at UCLA's conference center. We all decided to join him. The weather was perfect and we had our own little 2-story cabin with a fireplace and everything. The conference center is right on Lake Arrowhead and all of the cabins creep up the side of the mountain. It was even more beautiful because the fall leaves were changing (yes, bright orange and gold leaves only an hour and a half from downtown LA).

We also got to hear Daddy present his work at the conference. We had to stay up past bedtime since the talk didn't start until 8:45 PM but we made it without causing too much disruption.

We had a lot of fun playing outside with some leaves and talking a walk near the lake.

5 months

Another month gone by. It's hard to believe. Summer was just beginning when Lily arrived and now it's officially over now that we've had our first fall rainstorm. Last week was hot but now its in the 60s and 70s and it really feels like fall.

We were much more interested in the bunny this month. We liked to pet him and then pull a handful of his hair out and then push him off the chair. Thankfully, he was understanding.

Updates

-Sits up! (9/27/08)
-Can sit in highchairs at restaurants and in the cart at the grocery store.
-Has been going to daycare 5 days a week for a month.
-Still 100% breastfed.
-Drinks 16 oz of milk at daycare and nurses an additional 5 times/day.
-Beginning to grow out of 6-9 month clothing (she's too long in the torso).
-Big feet, sometimes needs 12-24 month socks or larger.
-Wears a size 3 diaper in Seventh Generation.
-Prefers to be rocked until she's almost asleep instead of going to sleep on her own like she used to.
-Loves to kick her legs, especially kicking mommy's stomach while she's getting her diaper changed.
-Loves picking up her stacking blocks.
-Also loves a pink stuffed cat.
-Loves being outside.
-Bedtime is around 7:30 PM and she wakes for the day at about 7:15 AM.
-Can stand only with her hands held.
-Loves to talk and likes to see how high pitched she can yell.
-Prefers to sleep on her side and sometimes her stomach.
-First tried to drink water out of a sippy cup on 9/28/08 (can hold the handles correctly and put the spout in her mouth, but can't tip it up alone yet).
-Loves feeling new textures--must touch everything!
-Squirms when she's getting diaper changes. Rolls to the side and grabs everything she can reach on her changing table.
-Rolls from her back to her belly and back to her back more regularly now.
-Getting closer to getting up on all fours. Scoots her butt up into the air. Can push all the way up on her arms so her hips barely touch the ground.
-Teething. Eye teeth are on their way in. Chews on one finger at a time (and sometimes gags herself accidentally).

Sitting in her highchair at a pizza restaurant. Loves her bugs!

The whole family nearing the top!
Lily fell asleep a short while later.

A pumpkin patch and a hike

This past Saturday we went on our first real hike with Lily. We bought a backpack for Lily to ride in and she loves it just like we expected.

Daddy carried her for about 3 miles (and all the uphill portion):
And mommy carried her for the last .6:

Lily loved, loved, loved looking at all the trees and plants and just looking around. She even took a nap for about 45 minutes--she missed the top!

In honor of the beginning of fall we visited a pumpkin patch. Nevermind that it was over 100 degrees outside!

I bet that pumpkin's bigger than all its cousins too.

Lots of pumpkins!

The straw is much more interesting than the pumpkins.

A sheep, a goat and a llama.
I like pigs! My Aunt Melody would approve.


Look what I can do!


I love the grass. I can grab it and I can pull it out.
I also started to try and drink from a sippy cup this week. I know how to hold it and get it in my mouth but have figured out how to tip it up yet and don't really care for what's in the cup yet.