Lilly the biggest Big Sister

Lilly is doing great, she seems to love her little brother very much. We haven't had too many issues with jealously, but I guess that could still come. We have had some very minor issues of her wanting to be a baby again; but we were told that this was to be expected. She has done very well with the whole situation, especially considering that she was drug back and forth to the hospital to go visit Luke. Then she was expected to be quiet and sit still. Yeah right! Is that even possible for a 2 year old.

<Lovies for Baby Brother Luke



> Getting to hold Luke
for the first time with the

help of daddy

But now that Luke has been home for awhile, she is very used to him and wants to know where he is at all times. She is very helpful too; she gets diapers and throws them away, she gives Luke his pacifier when he drops it, and she even tries to calm him down when he is crying by shushing him and saying "Bubby Wuke (aka Bubby Luke) it's okay". She also is constantly wanting to help feed and burp him, and anything else that we let her help with. Sometimes she is a little too helpful, but we are glad that she is taking such an interest in him.

Our helpful Big Sister

Lilly amazes us almost on a daily basis, with everything that she is learning and
all of the things that she comes up with. Her personality has really evolved and she makes us laugh all of the time. She can not only count to ten, but she also recognizes and can name all of the numbers 1-10 when written for her. She also has mastered naming all of the ABC's; this is one of her favorite things to do - we write random letters and she tells us what they are. She is having a little difficulty saying her ABC's in order, but with a little help she does quite well. She also sings and does the dances to many songs and mimics reading several of her favorite books. She is very polite little girl and says "please", "thank you" and "you're welcome", with only minimal reminders. Don't get us wrong, she is a true 2-year- old, and has her moments where she throws temper tantrums and tells us "no". But those seem to be getting less and less. She definitely keeps us busy and on our toes, but we are cherishing this age and all of the things that come with it.

Even with all that was going on with Luke, Lilly did get to do some fun things. She spent some time with our friends, the Hedges'. Thankfully they were able to keep Lilly for the first several days after this whole ordeal started and we did not have to worry about her; since we knew that she was being well taken care of by the entire Hedges' family. Lilly loved being with the Hedges' (her temporary family), I think she liked having 4 older "sisters". They took such good care of her and she had so much fun that we were afraid that she wouldn't want to come home. We were so grateful that Lilly was able to stay with the Hedges' until Aunt Brittany got into town.


< Lilly & Ellie Hedges

> Lilly & Ellie playing at Chuck E
Cheese's for Ellie's 3rd B-day party


Lilly with Nicole, Natalie & Ellie Hedges
at their farewell dinner before they head to Italy.

Lilly also got to go to a St. Louis Cardinals & Arizona Diamondbacks' game with daddy