A gem in a haystack

Yesterday I decided that I needed to go through my pictures of Lilybelle. I have one file with each month and at least one hundred pictures in each folder. Some blurry, some "ehh", and some that are kind of decent. I decided to make a "Best Of" in each months folder and pick my very favorites.

It was so amazing to go through all of those pictures and see how much she's changed since day one but at the same time still looks the same. So, anyways, on with the point. Looking through the photos, I can't say I have a favorite ONE, but I do have a favorite couple.

I think my photo taking is a little out of control. I have 1,880 files (includes videos) in my one folder of Lilybelle. This does not even count the pictures in other folders with her in them, just the ones of only her. I think the reason for this is that the photo's from my baby/toddler age were all lost in a fire and because we weren't near any of my mom's family when I was that age, they don't have any either. This is one of the youngest pictures I have of me, and it was when I was about 5.

Wasn't I a cutie? :)

 I want Lily to be able to look back and know exactly what she was doing, and what she looked like, and things she liked to do. I feel like I've gone a little overboard but I'd rather that than have little to nothing.

So yesterday was a beautiful day outside (a little hot, but nice in the shade) and I love going outside and spending time with her just walking in the grass and swinging in the baby swing. Also, when the sun is just right I can really catch a gem. This is the photo I got yesterday:

It's photographs like this that make all the lugging my camera up and down the stairs, editing, deleting, more editing, more deleting all very worth it.

As I was going through all the pictures, I deleted A LOT. It takes major commitment from me to delete any picture of her (unless it's unrecognizable). I just always feel like even though it's not "perfect" I could use it for something, it will be right one day. So, I found that if I give it some time after I have taken them then I have more of an unbiased opinion and can delete the worst of them.

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 So we're going through major teething, as I've said earlier. She's now banging her head on a lot. A this stage teether's only help so much. We had to get rid of a lot of them when she got her two bottom teeth, and the ones that we do have just don't seem to do the trick for her. She'll chew on them for a minute or two and then just throw them on the floor. It seems like board books have been her go-to teether for a bit now. She has to find something that gives just the right pressure to just the right place.

I've also learned that frozen fruit really helps her too. I buy bags of frozen mixed fruit, cut them up into small pieces and let her dig in. Not only does it feel good on her mouth, it's good for her. Also, I found whole wheat blueberry bagels at Wegman's that she loves! At first I just though she would gum it for a second and throw it away like everything else but she actually chewed on it for a long time and as it thawed (I gave her a big piece right out of the freezer) she chewed it and ate it.

Okay, I suppose I should clean my house a little too while Lily is sleeping. I'm still working on buttons, and pages and such but I'll get there. Have a wonderful Monday! I didn't have to go to work and I Lilybelle and I got to sleep in until 8, so an awesome Monday for me us :)