lydia carol stewart

December 28, 2011 brought us our beautiful, beautiful baby girl.


She's perfect.


Labor was fun (again).


Adam is my favorite (again).


And I'm in love (again).  


Happy New Year, indeed. 

THE STATS

Weight 6 pounds 7 ounces

Length 18 inches

Hair Blonde

now maggie ...

Just a few 17-month-old Maggie tidbits I don't want to forget ... 


Warning: This mother of a post is mostly for my memory (and for grandparents). Feel free to skim or skip if it's not your cup of blog. :)


1. Margaret is never not talking. She parrots everything we say — including our tones. Why say "hi" when you can say, "hiiiiiiiii!" in varying pitch?


2. This girl has got dance moves beating out of her bones. And her preferred style? Raised eyebrows (my fav), a bopping head and a dramatic bounce from foot to foot. 


3. She calls her Aunti Kara "Waka." It's adorable, but also odd, considering this is the girl who perfectly pronounces words like "patience" and "broccoli." (Does my sly broccoli reference make me sound like a super healthy mom? Ha!)


4. Speaking of patience, she hasn't quite grasped the concept yet. She says "patience" when she knows she needs to wait for things, but it's usually followed by an annoyed "arghh!"


5. In addition to the "Backyardigans," Mags is obsessed with the cartoon "Super Why!" She regularly hands me the remote and says, "Remote! Why! Please!" 

6. Anytime I open the fridge, she sprints to it, opens the drawer and says, "Orange! Peel it! Orange! Peel it!"


7. She kisses my belly regularly and says "Hi, sis." She also regularly kisses her dad's belly to say hello to her sister. We're working on this.


8. We got her a "Leaptop," and every time she picks it up she says, "e-mail, e-mail!" 


9. She loves to push around the cute baby stroller her Grandma Stewart got her. However, she typically likes to take out her baby doll, throw her on the ground, and then stroll sans baby. (We're working on this, too, little sis.)


10. Margaret goes up to things she KNOWS she's not supposed to touch and says, "Don't touch. Mommy's!" She of course does this with a smirk WHILST touching it. Stinker.

11. Maggie still loves sleep. When we put her to bed, she tells us, "Bye! Night night! Love you!" She has essentially ruined us for our other children. Our expectations for sleeping babies are pretty much ridiculous. 


12. She FINALLY goes to nursery in two weeks. Our angelic child can be a downright terror at church, and nursery will be the glorious answer to all of our prayers (including Maggie's).


13. In what may be Adam's proudest moment as a father, Maggie lays down, fake snores and then spontaneously pops up and says, "Wake up!"


14. Maggie learned how to go down the stairs solo a couple months ago, and when she was learning we gave her words of encouragement. As a result, she now goes down the stairs telling herself, "Turn around. Good job. Good Girl. Focus. Great!"


15. We spell out her name, at the end of which she throws up her hands and squeals "Maggie!" She also helps us spell it (we alternate letters), although much of the time she gets lazy and goes straight to, "I ... E ... Maggie!" (And then proceeds to clap for herself, obviously.)


16. Maggie's obsessed with iPhones and iPads. Her favorite activities? Scrolling through the home screen, watching "Backyardigans" on the Netflix app, roll calling the picture album, and constantly viewing one of Kelly Clarkson's music videos (girl's got taste). 


17. My baby is a full-fledged kid now. What the what?

ladies first

Did I mention we're having another girl? 


Because we're so totally having another girl.

This is Maggie practicing being a big sis with her doll. 

Rest assured — we're working on the "never shake a keiki" part. 

obsess much

Sister Erin knit this delicious (apparently literally) dress 
for Mags before she was born.

Things I'm currently obsessed with — in a very particular order.


1. THE BABY BUMP. It has grown. Overnight. I'm 21 weeks, and I look like I did at almost 30 weeks with Mags. Just like riding a bike? Try just like having a baby.


2. THE MARGARET. Currently ... the way she says her name ("Mah-GEE!"), how she says "love you" to me when I say it to her (or when she thinks it'll get her food), how she giggles with delight when we put her to bed at night, and how she walks into a room and casually says, "Hi guys."


3. THE FOOD NETWORK. Specifically, "Food Network Star," "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Giada at Home." (Even though it drives me batty that Giada is the queen of talking normally and then saying Italian words with a jarringly intense accent. Crazy annoying, Giada.) But I know what you're all wondering. Does this make me cook more? No, silly!


4. THE MATERNITY JEANS. My first pregnancy, I felt like it was a badge of honor that I didn't wear maternity jeans until 20 weeks. This time, I started wearing them at 13 weeks. Oh, that blessed elastic waist band. It's like wearing pajama pants — all the delightful day long. 


5. THE BACKYARDIGANS. Have you seen this cuter-than-life cartoon? Maggie loves it, but I think I might love it even more than she does. And thanks to these colorful creatures, Maggie knows what a pirate says. I will always love you for that, Backyardigans.

january 2012

In six months time, baby No. 2 is coming to an Adam and Bri near you. 


And we couldn't be more thrilled. Or tired. :)


How's Mags feeling about it?

"Ummm, baby what now? This concerns me."

"I guess it makes sense. I am 'SO big.'"

"Wait, does this mean your camera time will be split between the two of us and I'll no longer have to escape Dad's grasp as he tries to pose me by the flowers? 

Big sister it is!"

num, num, num

1. Maggie turned 1. (I know. You so already knew that.)


2. She devoured cake. Twice. (Once on her birthday, once at her family party yesterday.)


3. She likes to make "num, num, num" noises when she eats something she loves. Triple cute.


4. As you'll see in the video below, Maggie parroted me — all while keeping her eyes on the crumbs at hand. Four the love.


5. I've watched this video way more than five times. 





Want more pics of the party and its girl? Oh, OK. If you insist.


My only regret is that we didn't get pictures of all the party-goers! Lame and a half. How to the ever ... we love you all. (Why, yes, I did just say how to the ever.)

This is the cake sister-in-law, Amy, and I made together. Cute, right?

Also, I pretty much can't say enough amazing things about Amy. But I'll try anyway ...

I love her. She's whip smart in the kitchen. I love her. She makes me smile. I love her. She's generous (with time and talents). Oh, and I love her.

We made a big cake for the adults, a baby cake for my baby, and little meringue sandwiches to snack on.

When your new soccer ball looks like a ladybug, it gets kisses.

(Also, this picture is proof Mags had clothes on for at least part of the party.)

Tissue = Maggie's favorite present.

Hands just slow you down.

"What have I done?"

"Saved some for later, that's what."

our 1 and only

Happy Birthday to the little girl who changed our lives and charmed our hearts. 

We love you, Margaret Diane — it's almost ridiculous how much. 

P.S. Remember how Mags went from this ...

... to this? Sob!

If you look closely, you'll see that my daughter is now capable of a ponytail (of the itty bitty variety). Happy birthday to me!