Lydia is 9 Months!

How did my baby get to be 9 months old already! I just love this baby girl of mine! She gets cuter and more fun each and every day.

At nine months Lydia waves, claps her hands, and "Rocks Out." She actually just bounces up and down and bobs her head when we tell her to "Rock Out." It's super funny. We just need to catch it on camera so we can post it. Her crawl is still well, not the traditional crawl. She used to do a swimming motion, now she actually pushes herself up with her arms. She actually uses her toes to push her self forward instead of her knees. We try to help her up on her knees to see if she'll really crawl, but she just gets mad at us, so we just let her do her weird toe and army crawl thing. She has pulled herself up to the couch a few times in a standing position and we decided right then an there it was time to lower her crib. She'll take a few steps with me holding her fingers, but then decides to plop back down on the floor where she can do things herself.

She LOVES her books. She claps and laughs whenever I pull one out to read to her. If it's a new book she will actually lean back against me and sit still for maybe 15 minutes while i read to her! I LOVE it. These moments are super rare, since my baby is not the most cuddly.

She went through a phase where she HATED baths. I think it was actually because I sort of, maybe traumatized her while rinsing out the shampoo from her hair. I poured just a bit of water on her head to rinse it out and it went all down her face. She kinda panicked, after that she would cling to my shoulder and cry whenever I started filling up the tub.  Then she would cry the entire time I bathed her. She's gotten over it now, and once again enjoys her bath time.

She is kind of a picky eater. She gags when food it too cold, or if I introduce her to a new texture. She won't eat mashed up food at all. No mashed up bananas, no mashed up sweet potatoes, though on Father's Day I gave her some of my mashed potatoes, and she did eat a few bites. She is even going through this "I don't like fruit anymore" phase. She would rather eat green beans, sweet potatoes (as long as they are pureed), squash, or any other vegetable. 

She went on her first go cart ride last weekend with her dad. Don't worry, her cousin can drive the Go-Cart and he's 6. It goes VERY slow. She loved the noise, and kept waving to everyone who was having a turn.

Oh I just love my Lydi bug so much! She is the best thing that has happened to us. I'm sad that she is growing up so fast, but at the same time it is so fun to watch her reach these milestones. 

Love you Lydi!

A Dad is...

A Dad is someone who sneaks Mountain Dew for you when Mom isn't looking.

A Dad is someone who lets you play video games with him AND his friends.

A dad is someone who takes you for rides in his truck.

The BEST Dad's do such a good job at raising their own kids, they get recruited to help raise their Grandkids!

Grandpa Matt

Grandpa Rodney

The Best Dad's get promoted to Grandpa.

A Dad is someone who takes you camping.

A Dad is someone who is an expert at assembling items for mommy to use. :)

A Dad is someone who doesn't mind it so much when you wake him up to play with you.

A Dad is someone who snuggles with you when you don't feel well.

A Dad is someone who gives you blessings.

A Dad is someone who takes you to see the temple. (Especially at Christmas time.)

A Dad is someone who works hard and teaches you to work hard too.

A Dad is someone who takes care of you and mommy.

A Dad is the first man his daughter falls in love with.

Happy Fathers Day! We love Daddy.

Branding Calves Last Weekend

Lydia watching the cows with Nana.

Last weekend Lydia experienced her first cattle branding at Grandpa Mecham's.  Every year we get together with family and friends to brand the calves. The cowboys head and heel and calves on the horses (or mules), and we always have a ground crew to brand, vaccinate, and well..."fix" the little bull calves, if you know what I mean. ;)  Lydia loved watching everything. I tried and tried to get that girl to take a nap, but there was too much going on and Lydia didn't want to miss anything. She stayed awake until we left!

Here is Lydia sitting on George the Mule with Papa Matt

She was more interested in the reins than anything else.

She looks pretty cute sitting on the mule with Papa, don't you think? This baby is destined to be a farm girl. :)  We're training her up already. It's never too soon to teach 'em to ride :)

Petting George with Mom

Here is our awesome ground crew. Rhett is holding down the calf. Brian's partner in crime, Nate Bird, is assisting. While Matt (Lydia's grandpa, Laci's Dad) is getting stuff ready. Great-Grandpa Milan and Brian seem to be doing a great job overseeing their work.

Brian was the official "brand master." He branded most of the calves.

I administered the shots while Rhett held down the calf.

Teagan and Lydia hanging out in the shade! These two have become buddies!

Teagan sitting like a real cowboy on George.

This kid was fearless! He kept trying to climb over the fence into the corral. He said, and  I quote, "I want to get in there and help" Or, "I want to rope the cow!" Or my favorite, "I want to ride a baby calf!" 

Nate and Rhett getting ready to brand.

Papa Matt just caught a calf on his faithful steed.

Rhett the calf wrester was always holding them down.

Nate looking stoic.

Lydia and her Papa

 Another year of branding is done. The calves are back in the pasture and the branding irons are put away till next year. Maybe next year Lydia will be old enough to say, "I want to rope a calf!" And this mama will be busy keeping her busy girl on the other side of the fence.