HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY!!!

One year ago today, Lucille Amelia Mekkelson entered our lives.  As a newborn, she endured things that no adult should ever have to experience.  But she was amazingly tough, and she inspired us to stay strong and have faith in her ability to survive, heal, and thrive.  To this day, she continues to inspire us and serves as a daily reminder of how precious life is.  And she continues to inspire and give hope to others who are facing a scary and uncertain future clouded by the specter of gastroschisis.  

Happy, happy, happy birthday my sweet little Lucille.  A year ago, it seemed like this day would never come.  Words simply can't describe the emotions I feel when I think back on where we were then, and where we are now.

And just in case there still some tissues left in that box, I will close with Erik's heart-melting Facebook tribute to the birthday girl...

Her name means light and she was born on the summer solstice...and she's also apparently a Miami Heat fan (we'll forgive her for that last one). So it's no surprise she brightens the day of anyone around her like a ray of warm sunshine, whether it's her proud parents & grandparents or the guy stocking shelves at the grocery store. Happy 1st birthday Lucille. WE LOVE YOU! 

First Taste of Milk

Lucy turns ONE YEAR OLD TOMORROW!!!  Let that sink in for a minute.  That means it's time to switch from formula to cow's milk, and thank goodness, because formula ain't cheap.  Here she is experiencing her first taste of milk, and letting out an impressive burp of approval.

And here she is playing her new favorite game, Close the Door.

E-I-E-I-O

Here's what Lucy is learning at daycare...

Magnetism. It's complicated.

Lucy's toy du jour is a set of animal magnets that she loves to transport back and forth from the dishwasher to the fridge.  Here she is learning that magnets don't stick to everything (and standing unassisted for a split second!).

11 Months Old

The L-Dub is 11 months old!  Here are some highlights from the past month.

She now rolls in a big girl car seat.  I think she likes it.

She has two teeth.

 Her favorite snacks are Mum Mums.

She is constantly on the move these days!  Never still, always moving, always exploring.  She also loves to shout and make silly noises.

Can't believe Miss Crazypants is turning ONE next month!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day.  My parents came to San Francisco and we spent a lot of time playing with Lucy, who is doing new things every day.  Right now she particularly enjoys peek-a-boo, being chased, and reading "touch and feel" books.  Here she is playing skype peek-a-boo with her Auntie Kate and Uncle Lee in Boston.

This Mother's Day sure beats last year's when I was stuck in a hospital bed and strapped to a fetal monitor all day.  Can you believe it has been a year since that whole ordeal?!  The one-year anniversary of my hospital admittance was May 10.  It was a reflective day for me, and I felt extra thankful for the little things, like being able to walk around my house, pet the cats, go outside, and hang out with Erik.  But most of all I felt tremendous gratitude for the health and happiness of the Littlest Warrior!  We are so blessed that everything turned out so well and that all of it now seems like a distant memory.  What a year it has been!

10 Months Old!

Little Lady face

Can you believe the LW is only 2 months away from turning a year old?!  Here are some highlights from the past month.

• We have teeth!  She cut her two bottom front teeth a few days ago.  You can't see them yet, but you can feel them.  
• She's now eating finger foods pretty much exclusively.  At some point she decided that she wants to do things herself (I have no idea where she gets that from) and started pushing the spoon away when we tried to feed her.  So now we just give her whatever we're eating, cut up into little pieces.  And man, can she eat!  She throws back almost everything we put in front of her and can eat some pretty impressive quantities.  I hear it's common for them to become pickier as they get older, so I'm enjoying this phase while it lasts!

Italian meatball soup

• She's crawling all over the place and can pull herself up to standing (very proudly, I might add).  

• She claps and dances to music.   
• She is consistently going to bed between 7:00-8:00 pm and waking up around 7:00 am.  She'll occasionally wake up once in the middle of the night, but it's pretty rare these days.  
• LUCY IS SUPER STOKED THAT THE WARRIORS MADE THE PLAYOFFS!!!  Having been born on Championship Day last year, the NBA Playoffs are in her blood.

• Most importantly, Lucy is one happy little girl.  She smiles and claps all the time, cracks up when she's tickled, and is starting to hug and "kiss" us.  This is such a fun age and we are really enjoying it!