Fall is here!

It is 12:36 p.m., and the temperature outside is 62 degrees. It's actually kinda cold if you go out there in short sleeves! I'm joking, I'm joking. I haven't completely forgotten what cold feels like, but I am sure there will be a very rude reminder the moment we step out of the airport in Omaha next month. Brrr.

Lily and I are gearing up for our big trip to Iowa in November. We will be flying a couple weeks ahead of Dusty, who will drive north; then we'll all drive home together at the end of our vacation. I've gotten some tips from friends who have flown with their little ones, and I'm trying not to go crazy thinking about what we need to pack. Don't worry, I'll procrastinate long enough that I won't be able to spend too much time being very worried about it. In the meantime, we've also been thinking about Christmas. By the time we return from Iowa, it will be time to set up the Christmas tree!

The cooler weather has been making me want to bake, everything from muffins and rolls to dinners and desserts. This morning Lily helped me make banana cookies. And of course Lily had to eat a banana while we were mixing up the dough; cookie baking is tough work, you know. She is big enough now to be able to stand on a chair to help at the kitchen counter, and you can just tell that she thinks she's such a big girl getting to do that. It's so much fun.

Lily had a Tiny Tots follow-up in the Medical Center on Monday. It was the last Tiny Tots checkup in her series, and it included a complete developmental evaluation. The doctor played games with Lily for about two and a half hours, evaluating her cognitive responses to the activities. It was really interesting, and I am so glad we chose to participate in this program. The vast majority of babies born prior to 25 weeks gestation will have some kind of cognitive impairment or delay, so it was very reassuring to have the evaluation and talk to the doctor. Lily doesn't fall into the majority... She has no impairment or delay; she is doing everything she should be doing at her age. What a miracle! AND, as if that wasn't enough good news for one day, we also learned at that appointment that Lily has officially hit the growth chart. The real growth chart for her actual age, NOT adjusted for prematurity. I can't remember the actual weight, but she was right at the 5th percentile; for height, she's between the 10th and 25th. She's still short, and she's still tiny. But she met her goal of hitting the chart by the time she turns two!

Then on Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment for myself. The doctor has ordered some labs and tests, basically just to be sure my body is still doing ok with my high blood pressure. I've had all of these tests before, but they need to be repeated every once in awhile. We don't expect to find anything unusual. Hopefully we can get everything done before we go to Iowa, so it will all be out of the way.

Today we get to stay home all day. Lily is helping me do laundry (I mean, Lily's unfolding everything I fold), we're cleaning the house, frosting the cookies, and just spending some fun time at home. While I don't like to clean, I do love days like this... Spending time at home with Lily is such a blessing.