She's a maniac, maniac on the floor!

Abbie has always loved to dance! I used to bust her getting funky with a sweet beat all the time. This is just one of those many times. This was her head banging phase...

Abbie was introduced to a new style of dance last night on So You Think You Can Dance. She was absolutely amazed. It's like she's never really known dance before then.

So, check out her rehearsal, a.k.a. nap time...

Just another day dancing like she's never danced before and Being Billingsley...

She's a Talker!

Just another day chattin' and Being Billingsley...

11 Months Old!

Check out this BEAUTIFUL baby who is 11 months old!

Lila, this month you have changed so much! Here are a few things you have done...

• First trip to the pool... Not a big believer in the hype. You seem to like swimming for the first minute, but then, you're over it. Does your gut make you feel self-conscious? Don't worry. You get used to it. Trust me.
  
• You've actually gotten to be a little...and I can't stress the word "LITTLE" enough here...snugly lately. You will occasionally get a little bit grumpy and the only thing that will fix it is a good ol' snuggle on the couch. I LOVE IT!
• You've gotten 3 more for a grand total of 5 teeth!
• You are rockin' a size 4 diaper and 12-18 months clothes.
• You have always had such a great sense of humor, but this month you've learned to laugh when everyone else is laughing. You don't even need to know the reason. You just like to join in on the fun.
• You have a vocabulary that amazes me! Added this month: "Yiya" (Lila), "Sis Sis" (Sissy), "Nah" (No), "Hiiiii" (Hi, said like a true southern girl with multiple syllables), "Daddy" (instead of Dada).
  
• You've also started to combine words: "Bye bye, Daddy," & "Yay, Lila"
• New favorite game? Spiderman.Please forgive the quality of the picture. The photographer nearly had a heart attack at the sight of her baby upside-down on the ceiling.
  

• You can stand up on your own and started to cruise around furniture. However, we don't anticipate you will be walking soon because we don't allow you to move around much on your own.... on account of your propensity for head injuries.
• First and second trip to the nursery at church. The first one went fine. I was actually there the whole time to witness it... I'll tell you more about that later. But, your second trip was a complete disaster. I was called back in 10 minutes because you wouldn't stop crying. I honestly think I saw a little tear in the nursery attendant's eye also. You are persistent.
  

Lila, you are the greatest little baby in the whole world. Funny, mischievous, independent, and let's be honest, gorgeous! I can't believe you will be a year old next month. It is an honor to be your Mom.

Just another day of celebrating Being Billingsley...

Happy Father's Day

Thanks to all of you out there who are great fathers to your kiddos. Especially those of you who have sons... my girls will be looking for good husbands one day.

These two think they have the World's Greatest Dad...


I think they're right.

Just another day thanking our Heavenly Father for this wonderful life of Being Billingsley...

The World's Funniest Dad

Just another hilarious day Being Billingsley...

So, it's already begun... Lila is channeling her 16-year-old self and doesn't like me to come into her room, or in this case, her sister's room.

It's uncool. I mean what would her friends think if they saw her mom all up in her room folding her onesies!

After I recovered from the snub, I decided I would go talk to my buddy (a.k.a. Abbie). She still thinks I'm kind of a big deal, likes to chat with me, thinks I wear cool jewelry, sometimes approves of my hair, etc. But, as you will see, she's over it. She's hired a part-time bouncer...

Just another day Being Billingsley...

Sunday

James and I have not been able to sit together in church for a full service in a year. I'll just say Lila has some matters of preference regarding the order of worship. Her "preferences" usually end in one of us making a mad dash to get out of the sanctuary before someone decides we should be asked not to return.

But, today, my friends, things were different. Well, sort of...

Guess who went to the church nursery for the first time!!


The service started as usual. Happy baby until the opening song began, and then the screaming started. This time it was because her sister was looking at her.

I quickly passed her to James (because he had a lapse in judgment and ended up sitting on the end of the pew). He received the hand-off and ran out of the sanctuary like a trained professional athlete in a sprint relay.

This time instead of spending the morning in the "Training Room" with all of the other screaming children, we decided to take the leap and put our baby in the care of professionals.

We dropped her off in the nursery together and proudly walked back to our seats. As soon as we sat down, I jumped right back up and headed straight for the nursery.

So, I still didn't hear a sermon, but at least I didn't have the embarrassment of running through church with a yelling kid...

Truth-be-told, I was humiliated for an entirely different reason. The kind of humiliation that could only be felt if you were busted sprawled out on the foyer floor with your face pressed against the nursery window watching your baby and crying uncontrollably.

I think we might skip the nursery next week.

Just another day embarrassing the family & Being Billingsley...