the tooth fairy has made a visit

everly had her first dentist x-rays this summer, and we got some exciting news, an adult tooth was about to arrive, kicking the baby tooth out of place.  yep, ev has had a wiggly tooth since june.  we were sure it was going to be gone by our vacation in july, but nope.  there were a few times we asked ev not to pull it out while in a line at disneyland, because misplacing her first baby tooth probably wouldn't get us any parenting awards [which clearly we are always trying to receive - the sarcasm is clear in brackets, right!?!].

I was starting to think this tooth was going to hold on until we started school, and for a moment I was afraid I might miss this little milestone while at work.  and even though teeth falling out of children's mouths is terrifying to me, I really didn't want to miss this first big girl moment with my lil' one.  

and as luck would have it, or as I like to refer to it, the working mom gods were on my side.  everly and I were eating lunch on friday afternoon when all of a sudden she exclaimed that there was a tooth in her mouth, and it was hers!  pheeew, I'm pretty glad the tooth that she realized was mixed in with her butter pasta was her own.  after a few rinses with water, the little tiny baby tooth was put safely in a ziplock baggie, and tucked inside her tooth pillow.  

that night we decided the tooth fairy might find the tooth easier if we wrapped it in foil, then placed it in the pocket of the tooth pillow.  ev woke up to find a nice little $10 bill in her pillow pocket.  a new stuffed animal has already been purchased.

that little baby tooth popped in at just four months old, and was gone at five.  off to kindergarten with a gap - dreams do come true!

ballerinas [mini film]

everly's first dance recital was a bit of a learning curve for me, but I think we managed things just fine.  because ev dances two days a week, this meant two different dance numbers in her first recital.  she handled everything like a pro, including the quick change behind the curtains back stage.  I really wasn't sure how our semi-shy around strangers girl was going to do when those lights hit her face, but she loved every minute of it!  and for some reason, and I don't really think it has to do with the makeup, but maybe, she looks about twelve in this photo to me.

the studio she dances with allows photography and video during dress rehearsal, but not during the actual performance.  even though everyone didn't necessarily abide by this policy, I loved how I could just be in the moment on the big day.  these photos are from the dress rehearsal - a night that went extremely fast.  two dances practiced on stage and photos with both classes and out within an hour - impressive!

I loved the photos props they had up for the rehearsal night.  we opted just to get a group photo done professionally and everly and I still have on the calendar a day to run around in midtown to take some photos of her in her costumes.  

^and while filming, I managed to sneak in one photo on stage^

here's a peek into our first recital moments - mostly from dress rehearsal and a few moments from the big day!

songs:

"rainbow" - Leap! Soundtrack

"when you say nothing at all" - Alison Krauss & Union Station

first recital

this past weekend we had everly's first dance recital.  something as simple as a little kid's dance recital can just seem pretty monumental in the moment.  she was just so excited about it all.  especially the makeup.  really, all. the. makeup.  I love how her dance studio leaves it up to the parents if they want to have their child in stage makeup.  but of course, we aren't overly prudish about things like that, so makeup it was.  I let everly put on makeup when she asks, pretty much as long as it can't be seen, and she thinks she's wearing a bit, we are good.  my clear mascara and chapstick are her favorite go-to's.  I love how something I hated so much when dancing as a kid is one of her favorite things.  oh, and it turns out, glossier makeup is perfect for a little one in a performance - clearly wearing makeup, but not too much, and so easy to apply!

I remember when I was a bit older and dancing jazz, our costumes were, well, how can I put this nicely, awful.  like I left the sport for another sport kind of awful.  I always remember admiring the gorgeous tutus of the ballerinas as they ran past me back stage.  and I was stuck in a neon blue full lycra body suit.  when we got everly's first costume, I was so happy for her.  it was exactly what she thought a ballet recital costume should be.  pink.  tutu.  sparkles.  beautiful. because she dances twice a week, she actually got to have two costumes, which of course meant twice the fun.  I loved how one was extremely classic ballet, and the other costume was much more playful.

the topic of the recital has been something that everly has brought up for months now.  talking about the big stage, and the lights, and the audience.  I really didn't know what to expect when it was her turn to go.  she's shy around people she doesn't know.  and even though she can dance like she's in the chorus of the greatest showmen at home, I wasn't sure about in public.




well, she danced her little heart out, and loved it.  I asked her how she felt afterwards, and she exclaimed, "great!"  she's already excited for their next recital in december, the nutcracker. 

thanks to our families who made this day extra special for everly!

excited to put together a little mini-film from the day!

the holiday season

first day back after a pretty good week off with my little one.  we took a quick trip out of town, celebrated thanksgiving twice, visited the urgent care twice [we're fine, but we like keeping things eventful I suppose], drank hot cocoa once, and took hundreds of photos!

I decided to skip our family portraits this year.  trying to squeeze in everything with a november baby is just a little much on this working mama. instead, I just wanted to pick up my camera to get our christmas card photo.  and because the stars aligned, and I promised my kid her first cup of hot chocolate [not like I was intentionally holding out on her, I just knew that a hot drink was not going to be her thing] we were able to get exactly what I was hoping for.  photos galore! still haven't designed our card yet, but here's what I'm working with - yay for holiday miracles in the tiniest packages!  so here are my $3 photos... [she drank two sips, spilled seven sips, still totally worth it]

details:

that amazing turquoise wall can be found here

her yellow sweater is currently out of stock, but other colors can be found here

the only shoes, or in this case, boots my kid will wear - hunters found here

christmas light necklace purchased at Disneyland

first snow!

yesterday, the mr. and I finally made our way to the snow.  on our way up to Lake Tahoe we were reminiscing on how long it had been since we had been to the snow - and considering everly had never been, we were realizing it had been well over five years!  turns out, our four hour drive home [it should have taken a little under two] reminded us why we don't go to the snow more often. even so, seeing our baby in the snow for the very first time was well worth it.

next time, more snow gear, and spending the night!

First Snow from Lyndsay Lewis on Vimeo.

shot on our sony A6000

music:
She & Him: Christmas Party - A Marshmallow World

the pumpkin farm!

as a working mom, fields trips with your kiddo can mean a lot of work, just to get ready to go. especially when missing a day means tracking down a sub, writing sub plans, bribing some kids for good behavior, and so on. but man, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  getting to see everly have fun with her friends at the pumpkin farm was a new experience that made our day very special, and getting to have mommy stay home from school for a day made it even more magical.  grammie playing hookie too, well, there you go!  win win all around.

see our first field trip mini film here.

and here are a few pictures from our morning.