Firsts

The other night Lily had just taken a bath and was ready for bed when the Pattonville Fire Department came through the neighborhood. An SUV, ambulance and pick-up pulling a flat bed trailer slowly came down the street with their lights and sirens on with someone on a bullhorn saying "Come out and see Santa!" We had forgotten they do this every year. It was perfect because Lily hadn't seen Santa yet. So, my people put her coat and hat on and took her outside. Instead of elves, firefighters assist Santa. Katie handed Lily over and the nice fireman set her on Santa's lap. Lily didn't cry at all, just stared at Greg and Katie with a look like "What are you doing to me?" Here's the picture. I think it's funny that Lily's in her pajamas. Of course, I watched all of this from inside the front door. Btw, is it just me or does Santa look like he can't be much older than 20?


Last weekend, we got our first big snow of the season. I'd say a good 6 or 7 inches fell. I had a lot of fun running in it. My people took Lily out to see what she would do. She just sat in it until her bottom got cold, then she cried. I bet she likes it better once she's walking...maybe the next snow storm that comes through.


And just for your viewing pleasure, here's a picture of me relaxing on the couch. This is as far as my people will let me get up. It seems pretty silly to me, they may as well let me get all the way up.


I don't know if you noticed the edging on the coffee table. My people just added that this past weekend. Something about protecting Lily while she learns how to walk...

Merry Christmas...Go Elf Yourself

I've been working a new routine with my family. Click on the Elf Dance below (I hope the link works). Enjoy!

Elf Dance

Putting Two and Two Together

Last night I heard my people talking about how they've made hotel reservations for their trip. They've also been discussing how they want to handle the drive to South and North Carolina after Christmas. A few weeks ago they mentioned having my reservations made at the kennel. I'm really not liking the sound of all this. I even heard Katie telling Greg that the kennel offers five different kinds of "suites", but only have "studio apartments" available the week after Christmas. I definitely don't like that sound of that! If they're going to put me in a kennel, they should at least have the decency to reserve the Penthouse Suite for me, don't you think?!

On another, more exciting note, Lily took her first steps this week! She's still not really walking, but I'm sure she'll be chasing me around the house in no time. I can't wait.

1 Year Check-Up

Here are Lily's 1 year stats:

Height: 28-1/2"--25th percentile
Weight: 16.11 lbs.--First percentile, barely hanging on to the charts on this one.
Head: 18"--70th percentile

I've been convinced that my new little friend is a genius. That head size confirms my beliefs. Here is a conversation from the movie "So I Married an Axe Murderer" that gets quoted in the house after Lily's doctor's appointments. Enjoy.

Stuart Mackenzie: Look at the size of that boy's heed.
Tony Giardino: Shhh!
Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, it's like an orange on a toothpick.
Tony Giardino: Shhh, you're going to give the boy a complex.
Stuart Mackenzie: Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.
Tony Giardino: Shh!
Stuart Mackenzie: Has it's own weather system.
Tony Giardino: Sh, sh, shh.
Stuart Mackenzie: HEAD! MOVE!

---

Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Now that was offsides, wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.

Happy Birthday

Lily's big bash was this past weekend. At least, I think it was. My people rudely locked me in the basement for the duration of the party. It was torture hearing all those people and kids talking, laughing and eating without me. I'll find a way to get them back. Anyway, I found these pictures on the computer.

It looks like she could have used some help with that cake.

Nevermind, she appears to have figured it out.

This is one of her more dangerous gifts. This lifelike lion makes all sorts of scary noises.

Tigers and Birthdays

How 'bout them Tigers? They beat those silly Chickenhawks to make it to the Big 12 Championship game. Woo-hoo! Now they just need to pull a win off against Oklahoma on Saturday, then it's off to the Championship Bowl game. Who would've thought?! Lily wore her cheerleader outfit all day on Saturday so she could cheer her Tigers on against Kansas. When game time rolled around though, she went to bed. Some fan she is. Bailey and his people came over to watch the game with us. I don't think Bailey is a true fan though. He laid by the front door for a good portion of the evening. I think he was trying to subtly let his people know that he was not happy about being at my house and was ready to leave.

Lily turns 1 on Friday. Can you believe it?! We're getting ready for her birthday party this weekend. She's doing a lot of new things, but isn't quite walking yet and still has no teeth! Her favorite thing to do right now is to "spy" on things. She likes laying on her belly to look under doors, tables, couches, etc. She especially likes when someone goes into the master bathroom. She tries to peek under the door and stick her hand through the crack. Sometimes when the person comes out, she and I are sitting right there waiting for them.

I'm hearing rumblings around the house about how my kennel reservations have been made for the end of December. I don't like the sound of this. I'll have to do some more investigating to figure out what's going on.

Tiger Spirit

Lily went to her first Tiger football game. While she was having fun cheering the Tigers on to victory, I was having fun staying with my cousins. Hawkeye and I got to go on walks every morning. I enjoyed walking so much that I didn't even mind being hooked to the same lead as him. We only got tangled up a few times.

Here are some pictures of Lily at the game. It was the Blackout game, so the family was dressed appropriately.

Cheering in the stands

Sleeping at the tailgate

Playing with Rory after the game. These toys taste great!

Of course, Lily was a Mizzou cheerleader for Halloween. She visited a few houses on the street and was a hit.