weary wee flipperling

Lil got these duck slippers for her first birthday, and although they're a novelty item, I can't convince her to take them off. Or put anything else on. I doubt that has much to do with the ducky slippers though...

party doll

getting ready for her big day

posing on her changing table- she barely fits!

For Lil's first official birthday, Mama and Papa had a little celebration at our most favorite spot in the neighborhood, Tuffet. It was the perfect mix of kiddies and adults, food and drinks, balloons and magic and music. Lil wore the most perfect brown corduroy pinafore on the planet. Embroidered with pink cupcakes across the front, it matched with a polka dotted blouse with a peter pan collar, and a fantastic pair of leopard print tights! Never to disappoint, Lil looked like the quintessential party girl. All her guests doted on her... and there's no doubt in my mind that her Grandmary's smile and warmth shone in the bright midwinter sun.

enjoying the adorably funny Dave Droxler

Lil's first cake tasting, courtesy of Delicioso Cakes!

post-cake

post-post-cake

the after-party— Lil tries on her new boots!! (Thanks, Malika!)

No matter how many presents you open, no matter how many cupcakes or glasses of champagne you celebrate with, it never actually feels like enough for someone as special, as amazing, as our little Lil.

my best friend

Lil's found a new way to express her affection: hugs! And she has hugs for everyone and everything she loves—Mama, Papa, her sippy cup, Jenny Giraffe, Woofie, her shoe... and her Kee-Kahs. Last night I found The Cat pinned under her while she quietly hummed him a song...

This may turn out to be Lil's first taste of unrequited love.

"where, oh where has my big kee-kah gone? where, oh where could he be?"

lil bigger

You may remember this romper Lil had when she was a wee thing. It was my single favorite item she wore throughout infancy. It was soft, and leopard print, and had a little tag that said "pretty girl" or something like that. I was crushed on the day I realized it no longer fit. Kinda felt like I was losing a little snugly kitten. I began searching for the same romper in a 12-month size for her to wear this winter, but it was not to be found.

You can imagine my excitement when I found the same fleece leopard print romper this fall... the only thing was that it wasn't gray leopard print it was a tan-and-pink leopard print. Hmm. A little disappointing, but when Lil put it on today, crawling around all over the place in her awe-inspiring cuteness, all my reservations melted away.

Kitten babies are really, really adorable. Much more so than baby kittens.

peaches and creamy

pure as the driven soap

I dress my baby in beige and white. Yup. I am that person. I even occasionally take her outside in beige or white (and yes, after Labor Day). So why do I think I can get away with something so daring? Well, I do own a large container of Oxy Clean, and often do 24-hour pre-soaks. But beside my amazing skills as a laundress and stain-fighter, I am just reminded of fuzzy little bunnies, or fluffy kittens, or anything soft and downy. And I want my baby to be that sweet and innocent and cuddly for just a few more months. I know there's not much time left. Soon she'll be fully mobile, and we'll be in the park covered with dirt. Or she'll find Papa's charcoals, or Mama's nail polish. But for a few more weeks, she'll just be a little dusty, perhaps spilling some sweet potato or peaches on her collar. And I can have my polar bear baby as clean as pure as ever with the help of a Tide stain stick, and nothing more.

still mama's smitten kitten

grin and bear it

Cooler weather is all about layers, especially for a baby who can overheat just by getting too excited watching The Cat.  For little girls it's easy– just add a pair of tights or leggings under a dress, and over a nice looking diaper cover.  Then if the backs of your knees begin to sweat you don't end up all cranky. These pink knit tights came from cousin Josie, although they were  originally a present from Mama for Josie's first Christmas.  I just couldn't resist the little bear knitted on the butt, though on Lil it kind of loses it's charm.  I see her "bear" butt all the time.

Still, a baby girl in ruffles and pink bows can always be cuter.  So we'll keep the bear-butt tights (the droopier, the better), thanks.

new video: lil kitten

It's Tuesday again, and we have another video for you.  Here is Lil from the weekend's photo shoot, cruising through the jungle in her irresistible leopard print romper.  Nothing too exciting, but she is a baby wearing a cat-eared romper.  And she babbles.

capturing Lil

Lil, in captivity

Oh Lil watchers, you have been very patient.  We promise this post is well worth the wait! This weekend was full of ups and downs, mostly ups for Lil, and downs for Mama.  (Don't worry, just a little under the weather, that's all.)  Mama had a mission to get some good pics of Lil's remarkable new teeth- the vampire fangs she's apparently sprouted in time for Halloween.  It was quite a challenge getting the right smile at the right angle with enough lighting.  Any wildlife photographer will tell you all the perseverance pays off when you get that one shot at the end.  Once she was in her leopard print romper (with kitten-eared hood) Lil bared her fangs for the camera.  Mama was very still, so as not to spook the critter, and just as the sun peeked through the clouds, Lil's lips parted and the shutter clicked at the right moment! 

All of the photos that led up to that perfect shot should not be overlooked.  So here is the collection of the weekend's best Lil pics.  Check out the captions to see what she was up to at the time.

morning nap. She fell asleep while trying to escape

wakey wakey, Lil! saturday morning means cartoons!

• • •

getting ready for swim class on a bright sunday morning

practicing her wave with a sweet smile

• • •

the elusive baby leopard approaches her mother...

Lil carnivore!

save the giraffes (for Lil)

don't turn your back on this lil giraffe

It's true.  There is a giraffe-print obsession taking place in the House of Lil.  But how can anyone really blame us? The fact is, giraffe on a baby is the cutest thing EVER.  So we'll take giraffe onesies, giraffe legwarmers, giraffe dresses, leggings, socks, sweaters, hats, headbands, whatever, what-have-you, if it's giraffe, we want it.  This is the only time in Lil's life that she'll be able to pull off a head-to-toe animal print, so let's do it right.  If you would like to contribute to our "Brooklyn Serengeti" campaign, visit us on Facebook, or like Everyday Lil via the button below.

giraffes have long legs, too

And we wouldn't turn down a nice giraffe-print scarf, or hair-calf pumps for mama, either.

the prints and princess

Lil can rock an animal print like no other baby on the planet.  This fall is all about giraffe, so today we  broke it out with a new, super-sized and super-bold bodysuit and some chocolaty BabyLegs.  Lil's going to hit this trend hard and fast, and Halloween could even feature a giraffe coup de grâce.  By then Mama could possibly get the giraffe obsession out of her system by Lil's first birthday.

electro-cute and cuddly

shockingly adorable

There are lots of cat references on Everyday Lil.  We even have a tag "furry friends" that will pull up all the cat-related entries.  But there has been little in the way of cat prints lately.  Sure, there was that sweet leopard print romper from our early days, but now we've passed mid-summer and not a lick from the big cats.  Finally, Lil has grown into this gray and white leopard print dress her GranMary sent back at Easter time (size 9-months).  While Lil usually stays away from electrocuted colors,  The chartreuse trim adds a jolt perfect for these hot, lazy days.

and you wondered how she gets her hair to stick up like that

ready for a cat nap

It's just the perfect look for when Lil's feeling.... kittenish.

ruffles and roses

Once in awhile we find a really cute outfit that includes matching accessories, like hats, bibs, and socks.  Typically this is not Lil's style, but every so often we go with the head-to-toe baby ensemble.  This one is  all about the booty, baby.  With rows of pink ruffles peeking out from beneath a bow-studded trapeze top, the leopard and rosebud print seems... subtle.  Throw in the ruffled brim on the matching cloche, and Lil's suddenly part flower face, part wildcat!

bird's eye view

you think I look silly?

 really?

foots and legs

                                      "Tell me, O Octopus, I begs,
                                        Is those things arms or is they legs?
                                        I marvel at thee, Octopus;
                                        If I were thou, I'd call me Us."
                                                                                     

                                                                                      The Octopus, by Ogden Nash

31 flavors

I promised a special outfit for Lil's 31st appearance on Everyday Lil.  I pulled out a special diaper, her sparkliest dress, and even some additional flare.  It was nearly 6pm when we started, and I soon realized Lil was not at her best.  After a long day out and about meeting new mamas and babies, and visiting friends in the neighborhood and getting tons of fresh air, Lil was just tuckered out.  There would be no perfect picture, no special ensemble to mark day 31.

 

Her good side (the one that wasn't crying)

It didn't take long for me to give in.  Lil changed into a sleepy gown, and I wrapped her up in her favorite blanket.  So the special look for day 31 is the genuine Everyday Lil.

Everyday Lil

Has that much changed in 31 days?

 

Day 31

Day 1

a li'l extra

Here's what Lil actually wore out today. I won't count as one of her daily outfits since it's featured in the archive. Unlike the bunting, this snow leopard print fleece romper was one of the winter's biggest wins.  It even makes me a bit sad for the end of winter weather.  There's nothing quite as cuddly as this little kitten- you can even ask the Cat!

That is the closest I'll ever come to getting a hat on Lil's head.  Maybe after the fontanelle closes up a bit she'll be more accepting of this fashion accessory.  Just remember: despite how cute they may be, infant caps are (in Lil's opinion) a no-no.