So YOU'RE who I'm named after

What a great weekend! I met my Great Grandmother Lillian V. "Not 'M'" , and if I can grow up to be as poised as she is, I'd be a lucky woman. Uncle Bob and Aunt Pam and Aunt Kath threw a dinner party at Great-Grandma's house. (Help! Need pictures of Aunt Pam and other good ones from the evening! Please email Dad!) Met my cousins Jen and Nate and Matthew. It was such a special occasion, Mom even dressed me in my first outfit that WASN'T a sleeper. Check out my PANTS! (Whew! That's a lot. No wonder I look exhausted in this picture.)

Lotsa Learning

If your weeks are like mine, it feels like each one is shorter than the last, proportional to your entire lifespan. (Do the math, it's true. Works for you, too.) Philosophy aside, thanks Auntie Alice for teaching me to make KICKIN' turkey chili; to Uncle Matt for holding me up so high (whew! can barely breathe way up here!); and Daddy, who plays with me a lot. And -- I learned to hold my head up.

Bath Time

Just when you thought life was all diapers and baby wipes, you learn that your Aunt Jess bought you YOUR OWN TINY SWIMMING POOL. Pros: Warm, cleaner when you leave, fun to look at over-the-sink light. Cons: Sometimes cold, shampoo dangerously close to eyes, Dad with video camera.

New shoes and other news

What a busy week! My first gross eye infection (fine now, thank you), my first new shoes (do these come in green? with little strappy thingies?), my first visit with Sean and Alyson (thanks for the toys!), and during a visit with Nanny and (Don't call me "Grandpa" Brian), my first sailor suit.

Plus, as the world comes in focus, I realize I have a full-time babysitter, that I know a superhero (I said goofball, but he types these out for me), and that my Mom is Tall.

Also, that toys can be complicated.

For you developmentally-minded, Mom and Dad swear I can lift my head up on my own, though they have yet to get conclusive photographic evidence.

Lazy Monday, Hectic Tuesday (for Mom ... )

After Sunday's Beverly expedition (great party!) and brutal walk home, we spent Monday chilling at home, taking pictures. Just one photo shoot? An easy day. Dad's back to work on Tuesday; I'll be dictating all my blog entries to Mom, now.

(NOTE TO MOM: As soon as Dad gets to work, let's call him and tell him I was walking, OK? And is it time to eat again yet?)

Didn't Much Like the @#$%^& (*) Walk Home

Okay, so walking home through Beverly on the South Side Irish parade day wasn't a hot idea. In fact, it went something more like this:
Holy @#$&**! Are you kidding! That's cold and I'm hungry! @#$%^$*** .... &(@^#&#@^%$%$#$@# **** .... mother#&$*%@# ***** !! (Hey look, Uncle Daniel!) @#$%, @#$%, @#%^, @#$% ******!!!

On the other hand, the Higginses know how to throw a party--My First Live Music That Wasn't Dad--and their house sure felt warm and snug after that walk through Siberia. Um, Beverly. Is it spring yet?

* Brutally Cold
** Smokes
*** Golly, look at all the green sparklies those girls are wearing on their faces.
**** My gosh, it sure is cold out here!
***** Look at that!
****** Neato, neato, neato, neato!!!

Grrrrr

All this travel is starting to make me ticked off.

Chillin Out, Feelin My Roots

Last night was another one of the Top 12 Nights Of My Life. I hung out with Uncle Dan, Cousins Heather and Jared and Uncle Bob at Aunt Laura and Desiree's apartment. Grandpa and Grandma Brady were there, and I got to see an orange-colored drink invented for Cousin Heather! Neat! Mom makes drinks for me ALL THE TIME! Plus when I got home, it was time for some serious playtime with my best (toy) friends, Mr. Fun Guy and The Dragonfly. Thanks Sean and Aly! Mr. Fun Guy's the best.

Today, it's the South Side Irish parade. Every year, Grandpa Brady dresses up in a skirt, my relatives from Texas comb the neighborhood in cowboy hats, and everyone else throws them a parade. That's what Daddy says.

Uncle Dan

Uncle Dan flew in from Las Vegas. Aunt Laura got a picture of him.

Everybody Loves a Parade!

It looked like today was just going to be another walk in the park, but then Mom saw some of her former students lining up for a parade, and all of a sudden, it was a hootenanny! Apparently, I have a marching band. To top things off, I got to snooze through a visit to the Museum Campus and the Shedd Aquarium. Plus tonight: More rellies and a par-tay.

I Have a Bellybutton!

This just in: Good-bye, umbilical cord, hello innie. Also today, I found out I could reach my toys this morning. (See earlier reports on bling.) If I knew how to giggle yet, I might. As it is, I grunted with joy.

TGIF, Baby!

After a visit to the South Side and a visit with a few of my relatives from Texas (pictures pending!), I came home and met my Gumpoo and Nana Sheila. Something about his voice sounds familiar ...

The Life of a Rock Star

Nanny came over again this morning, and me, Mom, Dad and Nanny took our first walk together. The park was nice, but mostly, I'm enjoying my role as a young urban sophisticate, with my own posse of photographers trailing me wherever I go.

Seriously, when's the fashion show?

Still waiting.

Well, it seems like I was working all day, but as it was, I barely had time to try on a hat, let alone put on a fashion show. Plus, it was raining when we tried to go out. Bummer. Maybe tomorrow when Nanny visits. She's so cool when she smiles at me.

On the positive side of things today, Mom and Dad are hoping the nights get easier for a couple of reasons. Here's one; this is another. My first bottle was nummy tonight. But it's still hard to talk Mom into taking a nap.

Poop, there it is

I love a good song that's valid in my life.

Mornings Happen, the Denouement ...

At least after a hard night working, I can settle down, chill in my crib, and play with all my kickin' bling. (Editor's note: Peas and Carrots jammies? Adorable. -- Jas.)

I sleep on MY schedule. Not Mom's and Dad's.

Bummer. Back to the hard nights. It's not so much that it's hard on Mom and Dad (they're old enough to learn that sleep is overrated), it's that it's hard on Lily. YOU try talking two surly people into feeding you in the middle of the night!

And today's a big day. I heard them talking last night about a fashion show. Apparently, I have hats.

At 4:28 p.m., I had the biggest burp of my life. Shout-outs to Nanny , to Great-Grandma Dottie, to Grandpa and Grandma (Grandpa taught me that I had toes), Aunt Asma, and to Aunt Laura (and Desiree) and Aunt Jessica. I've had lots of visitors the last few days.

Lily's First Shampoo

As promised, Lily's first shampoo. Rock the Mohawk.

Aunt Laura taught me to be bold with my haircuts, and the next day, Mom gave me my first daring hairstyle. Dad says: Sadly, I will go back to work eventually, and my camera too, leaving Lily's First Head Lifting, Lily's First Word Attempt, the Writing of Lily's First Symphony, and Lily's Finest Bowel Movement sadly--criminally--underdocumented. That said, Dad's videocamera was present for Lily's First Shampoo Mohawk, perhaps our first look at what will become her eventual GLBC one-woman monologue show in which the stories of her hard core haircut, tatoos and multiple eyebrow piercings are explained. "My Dad drove me to it," she'll say. I'll weep then. But now, check out the sneer she can muster with that mohawk!

Lily's Blog

Well, the emails were getting too huge, the demand to ... well the SUPPLY too high. So welcome to Lily's Blog, where Lily's mom and dad can obsess with pictures, videos, developmental news, and upcoming hospital visits, concert dates, and professional wrestling promotions.

Lillian Mireille was born February 28, 2006, making her a Mardi Gras baby. Laissez les bons temps roulez.