Chicago Air Show

Today we went to the Chicago Air & Water show. Although we did not see much of the water show, we weren't too disappointed because of the coolness of the air show.

Nate and Lyla on the shuttle (aka school bus) to North Avenue Beach

There, we met up with these cool people...

And these cool people...

Lyla was so terrified at how loud some of these fighter jets were. They were at a mach 3.5, which is appx. 2000 mph. They were really fast and really loud. Thankfully, our friends brought these sound-barrier earmuffs (I don't know the official name for them). Picture is a little blurry, sorry!

I LOVE this picture! After a while, Lyla got used to the headphones and started playing by herself, minding her own business.

These planes would fly up and then shoot back down and swoop back up again. They were awesome!

Getting close to the water.

A huge plane. Picture doesn't do it justice.

Overall, we had a really great time and we are glad we went!

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE... some cute pictures taken in the last week....

Lyla has her daddy wrapped around her little finger :)

"I know Glenn, what IS the deal with Obama's universal health care policy?!" Lyla is eating up every word :)

So Happy

I just had one of the best weekends since we have moved here to Chicago. My dad and his friend came to visit Nate and I and we all got to stay in the city and enjoy only a fraction of what Chicago really has to offer! I will post more about it later but for now...

The fam and the city.

Lyla and Papa Brian. Such a cute moment!!

Like mother, like daughter?

Lastly, my dad bought me an early birthday, Christmas, birthday 2010, and Christmas 2010 present! I asked him for this camera as an early present for my digital photography class I am taking in the fall. How lucky am I? I LOVE my camera and I get the BEST photo's out of it!! Thanks Dad, I LOVE it!!!!!

Lyla is almost 8 months!

This picture is from like 2 weeks ago but is my most recent of Lyla. My camera is in the shop and will hopefully be back soon! Anyway, here is Lyla at 7 months but she will be 8 months in less than a week! I can't believe how time flies...

I am almost 8 months old.

My eyes are huge

When I am tired, my eyelids turn pink

I crawl everywhere

I climb stairs but can't climb down them

I pull myself up to stand and when I do my feet naturally go in the ballet 2nd position from my braces

I eat solids

I take a bottle

I scream when I am excited

I talk all the time but nobody understands me

I like to talk over people when they are talking.

I like to sing with my mommy and daddy when they sing to me and I like to sing to the radio when I am riding in the car

I have bumps on my gums but still no teeth

I look like my mom

I have all the same facial expressions and mannerisms as my mom

I always want to be held by mom and follow her around wherever she goes and I get frustrated when I try to follow her around but she keeps moving to get things done

I like to be tossed in the air by my daddy

I love to play with mommy and daddy in their bed when I wake up in the morning and crawl (and sometimes spit-up) on their faces

I like to be facing outward when I am being held

I love being around people

I love to eat: puree'd fruits but not veggies (except sweet potatoes), pieces of chicken, cheerios, every other table food, and paper (but my mom always takes it away when she sees me eating it).

I love to chew on everything,including rubber spatulas, but straps of my carseat, baby bjorn, and changing pad are my favorite. :)

I sleep through the night for almost 12 hours straight!

I take about 3-4 hours of naps a day

I am loved very much by my mommy and daddy and make them so proud!

Wandering Hands

We recently got back from a trip to Yellowstone and Idaho Falls, which I will post about later. For now, please see one of the pictures from the trip below...

What do you think this poor baby goat is running from?

I didn't notice this picture until just now. Lyla kills me.

past couple of weekends...

Here is what happened the past couple of weekends....

Starting with Lyla, of course :)......

I found Lyla like this one night...

Chillin on the lounge chairs...

We bought Lyla a jumper from a neighbor...

Our good friends Steele and Amanda came to see us on their way driving to DC. They stayed the night with us and so we decided to treat them to real Chicago pizza!

Look at that cheese!!

Good buds...

Tired Amanda...

The next night, we had a big dance festival for our stake's Youth Conference. Our ward did swing and they were the BEST! Here is our little fam at the shin-dig.

Us...

This last Thursday was Nate's 25th birthday. To celebrate his birthday AND Father's day, we went to Medieval Times and we had a BLAST! The whole place was really cool and everyone was in the Medieval spirit. The food was DELICIOUS and they make you eat it without utensils. We were assigned to root for the Yellow Knight and boy did we (well I) have some serious knight pride. I was screaming for him with every piece of energy I had and it was all worth it because he ended up winning the tournament! Side note: This was also our first date without Lyla since she was born!! The weather was awful (tornado and flash flood warnings with pouring rain!) but we were determined to have our date!

The next day, I went to a baby shower for my friend Jill (yes, I wore the same shirt as the night before :))...

Then came home and went to the pool with the family and some neighbors...

That is our building behind Nate. I love this picture of these two. Lyla looks like such a snob :)

Exhausted after being in the pool for 20 minutes.

Later that night we went to a Mandarin restaurant that puts on a show. This guy was making noodles. I didn't take a picture of the whole process but I wish I would have. It was awesome.

Last, today is Father's Day. Here are my two favorite people!

I just have to say that I have the best husband EVER! He makes my life better. He puts up with all of my weaknesses (which are many) and he is always so patient with me with how slowly I try to fix them. He makes me laugh, he works hard, is a GREAT father, and he is just a good man. Today wasn't much of a father's day for him. I was making dinner and he was helping when I accidently added an ingredient at the wrong time, a small mistake that turned into something else... I selfishly got upset over some stuff and had a little breakdown (you know when those emotions all build up and then explode after a small mishap?). To make a long story short, he finished dinner for me while watching Lyla and when I was ready he gave me nothing but words of encouragement, understanding, and love. I felt so bad for making his Father's Day about me but he was nothing but understanding. I seriously have the BEST husband ever! Anyway, besides my little breakdown, we just had a great time the past couple of weekends. I love my man!

Next up, this Saturday we leave for Yellowstone with the Wright family... SO excited!

SYTYCD

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. This is by far one of my favorite shows ever and last night's show just proved to me again why I watch and look forward to it every season. This years top 20 is UH-MAZING!! I can't even decide who I like best... or least because they are all SO good! What do you guys think? Who was your favorite?

She's so Skinny!

Lyla is 6 months. I know, it went by REALLY fast. She is doing so many new and fun things. Here is a small list.

• She jabbers all the time and hums when music is playing.
• She gives hugs and will sometimes dig her fingernails in my neck.
• She gives kisses, which are more like dog kisses because she grabs my face and then licks it and then turns away, all the time. It's cute and gross at the same time.
• She is almost crawling. She can get herself to pretty much whatever she wants to get herself to by scooting/army crawling, or a 1-2 stride crawl and then her face plant. She does get on all fours now and rocks back and forth so she is just about there. We need baby gates.
• Is getting better at sitting up (but hasn't quite perfected it).
• Has started solids.

(Sorry for the old picture, I couldn't find my camera cord)

Anyway, today we had her six month check up and here are her stats:

• Head: 17in (50-75%)
• Length: 27in (90%)
• Weight: 14lbs 2oz (10-25%)

She basically gained .8lbs since her 4 month check up, hence the title of the post, my ethiopian baby! She should weigh more than that, especially since she is so long! I basically feel like a terrible mom and that I am starving her (though she doesn't act like it). Since Lyla is so mobile and just moves all the time, she is burning more calories than she is taking in (which she is still almost all breastmilk). So the doctor said I really need to push her to eat more solids. I swear I feed her all the time and she sleeps pretty well at night and she is smart and mobile and happy... she just isn't gaining enough weight. Kelly=bad mom!