Thanksgiving and the Day After

Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving with Ryan's side of the family. Layla's two bottom teeth are coming in so she has been pretty uncomfortable for the past couple of days (and nights). She seems much more content today so I wonder what is going on with those teeth now.... We are just relieved that she seems to be more comfortable for the time being.

Anyway, Layla enjoyed her first Turkey Day and she was very interested in what everyone else was eating. She would work her way into someone's lap and then reach her arms out to their plate with food. It was very cute as she is just starting to reach out her arms to people/objects, but she will have to wait until next year for the Thanksgiving feast.

Layla sitting with Kelsey and Ryan and I at the table while we played Monopoly.

Layla happy in the walker...she was amazed she could move herself around (even if it is backwards). She is a crazy driver (see the video below)!

Ryan, Layla (trying to numb those teeth with an ice cube), and Kelsey enjoying dinnertime.

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving and that you got some great deals on this crazy shopping day. I need some space from Wal-Mart after today's experiences!!! Too long of a story but don't worry I called Wal-mart customer service and let them listen :-) Have a great rest of the weekend.

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving (a little early)

This past weekend, we celebrated Thanksgiving a little early with my side of the family. Enjoy the pictures and video below!

Shea and Layla working on their friendship :-)

Do you think Layla is ready to move on to real food and drinks?
(the pizza is fake play food by the way!)

Hanging with momma

Cassie and the special guest who joined us at the dinner table. Nope not Blue, his twin brother Red, but just as naughty!

Happy Thanksgiving...I'm sure more pictures to come!

Fun with Family

On Saturday night, we spent time with the Sloan girls, Renee, Ashley, and Shannon. It was great to catch up and they got to meet Layla and Shea for the first time. Look at Ashley and Shannon below...they were like pros with the babies! (Renee, how did I not get your pic with the babies!?!) Anyway, it was great to see them and we are looking forward to future visits!

Just a Day in the Life of a

little Princess!

If you can tell from past postings, Princess Layla loves this train toy! Also, as you can see below our little lady is also getting better and better at sitting up in the Boppy. I am in constant amazement by how quickly babies change.

And...Princess Layla needs a nap! Thank you Julie for this adorable outfit...it entertained Layla and I for the morning :-)

Hands and Feet

Did you know???

I am really getting the hang of these hands

And I finally found my feet!! They were so small I never saw them down there :-)

(They are small...Layla is currently sporting newborn and 0-3 size shoes!)

I interrupt this blogging...

for an advertisement! I have taken up a little sewing and will be attempting my first craft show at the beginning of December. I will be selling burp cloths, hangers, nursing covers, and hooded towels. A picture of a few of these items are below.

If you would like to attend, here is the craft show information:

Baby Hangers

Nursing Cover

Burp Cloths

My friend/kindergarten co-worker Suz connected me with this craft show and she and her mom will also be at their own booth selling painted ornaments, wine bottles and more!

I am a little nervous about trying out this craft show as I have no idea how much product to make, no idea if people will buy anything, and I just have no idea!!! It will be something different to try and it just might become a fun hobby for me. Hope for a better outcome than the YMCA!

Thank you for reading and we will now return to your regular scheduled blogging :-)

Learning to play well with others...

Sharing

Waiting patiently while the other person (uh, living thing) tries to turn the toy back on.

I was in an all out sprint for the camera to capture these pics!

Baby-Filled Weekend

Friday--

Layla and I had our last swim class of this session. She did great and I have been letting her practice holding the bottle while I am getting her changed after class. Swimming takes a lot out of a little baby- Layla's hungry! We have switched from day to night class so that Daddy Ryan can join us in the pool.

Oh and we had a fabulous Mexican dinner (Adam's favorite...ha ha!) with Stephanie and Adam Friday night. I am not happy because I forgot to get a picture of Layla and Adam during their first meeting.

Saturday--

We got out the highchair so that Layla can get used to it before she starts eating solids next month. We have also been in the habit of holding Layla throughout dinner so it will be a good routine to get into to have her sit next to us at dinner.

Enjoying her new "big girl" status

Getting SO big!

"Eating" in the highchair

I told you I was working on hats with Ms. Layla (now I just need to work on the red-eye function on my camera!)

Special Saturday guests!!!

My mom, dad, Jamie, Cassie, and Shea came to visit us on Saturday night. It was a great impromptu visit and I was excited to see the little Seamus (and everyone else too!)

Shea showing Layla the big boy way to drink a bottle

Uh oh Layla...:-)

Sunday--

Ryan was a Godparent for little Miss Alexis (one of the twins with the same birth date as Layla) It is always fun seeing the three babies together and we enjoyed the afternoon with Ryan's family.

We hope you had great weekend and have a wonderful week!

5 Months Old (sniff, sniff)

Top Ten List of Layla's Month
(drumroll please...)

Layla...

10. wore shoes for the first time and tights for the first time (can you see her little foot?)

9. celebrated her first Halloween! (Howie is never far away from Layla- look behind her in the picture)

8. has found more interest and happiness during tummy time (and still has very little hair)

7. is at times a little afraid of men with facial hair (poor Grandpas)

6. has found interest in a cute gray and white cat (poor Rocket)

5. sleeps in her crib at night, but still sleeps in her swing during naptimes

4. is not a big fan of hats... (I'm working on it!)

3. loves when her daddy comes home from work

2. was Baptized (and is starting to hold her bottle on her own)

And the number one highlight from Layla's 5th Month...

1. Okay maybe the number one highlight involves three items! Layla was a part of the 2008 Presidential Election, is putting EVERYTHING in her mouth, and she is making great progress at grasping objects.

Warning--she was a little hungry during the making of this video :-)

Rocking the Vote

- Happy election day! Ryan voted early this morning and Layla and I went this afternoon. A couple of workers wanted to hold Layla while I was voting, but I wanted to bring her in for the voting experience. And I didn't really want strangers holding Layla while I was behind a curtain...call me overprotective :-)

Anyway, Layla was a hit at the polls in her Election Day wardrobe...

Her onesie says...I Vote for a Change (my diaper's wet)

and yes she is complete with bow and legwarmers...if not on Election Day- then when?

This was my first presidential election that I voted for at the polls (I did an absentee ballot my senior year in college). I remember watching the results come in the night of the last election with three or four of my close college girlfriends. Tonight I will watch the results with my husband and daughter...geez, what a difference four years can make!

Okay, okay...I think the teething has begun

I was not fast to admit it, but I finally concede that Layla is teething now. She puts everything in her mouth, is drooling constantly and for the clincher...yesterday she sucked on her finger so hard that she formed a blister (which later broke open). Ouch!

We tried to put a baby mitten on Layla's left hand so she would avoid the hurt finger. Layla entertained us with it for about two minutes and then proceeded to take off the mitten with her right hand :-) Our smart cookie's (see onesie) finger looks much better after a night of rest.

Spider and a Bug

Just in case the costumes have tricked you :-) Howie is the spider and Layla is the lady bug!

Oh! And Howie has shown Layla his favorite lookout place...out the front window :-)

Layla thought it was pretty fun!

Wondering about the kitties? They watched in delight as Howie and Layla got all dressed up....they are very grateful not to be dressed up anymore (yes, I used to dress up the poor cats).