SO Big

Layla is doing a new trick....because she is SO big :-) Ryan and I started trying to teach Layla how to do the "so big" trick from about 6 months on and she was just not interested. So we had not been trying anymore, and then Layla picked it up on her own from our mom/baby yoga class that we have been attending for the past couple of weeks. Too funny, Layla is a little girl who does everything on her own terms!!!

Wondering how mom/baby yoga class goes with an 11 month old? Mostly Layla enjoys crawling away from me as fast as she can and then pulls herself up by the stereo and "dances" to the relaxing yoga music....I have to bring my camera this week. Although, come to think of it, I don't know if flashes and yoga quite go together.

Enjoy the video below of Ms. Layla trying to figure out her puzzle...and she does "so big" at the end (which can easily be confused with "touchdown" for any football fans reading this).

Mother's Day 2009

Yesterday, I had a great first Mother's Day. We went out to breakfast with Ryan's family, visited with my parents, grandma, aunts and uncles at my grandma and aunt's house and then off to the Brookfield Zoo we went. Cassie, Jamie and Shea joined Ryan, Layla and I and we had a great day...although we all decided we needed to brush up on our animal knowledge. Seal, sea lion??? Ape, gorilla? Buffalo, bison???

Off to the zoo we go!!!

Ryan took a quick picture of Layla and I and the McDonald family by the birds....I think Layla and Shea were most interested (and probably most familiar) with the ducks

Okay...maybe Layla liked the giraffes too

Okay...really liked the giraffes :-)

Oh, and she was very interested in the....

zebra! They are beautiful animals.

After several hours at the zoo, Layla was bow-less (which means tired) and drinking out of Shea's sippy cup and Shea was pushing his own stroller...so it was time to go!

We had a great day and Ryan and I couldn't help remember our last Mother's Day. Our days were filled with constant doctors' appointments and the possibility of delivering at any time. I specifically remember last Mother's Day, and worrying why Layla was moving so little at the time (most likely from the steroid shots in Dr. Kristin.com's opinion!) Anyway, a year later, we have a healthy, happy baby girl who even says "momma" as an added bonus :-)

I wonder what next year will bring....(hopefully a new house!!!)

Kitty Time

Layla found some ribbon in a shopping bag of mine and noticed that it caught Blue's attention. I ran for the camera and this is what I captured!

Here are a few of my favorite things...

I love hiding from mommy...

and playing peek-a-boo :-)

I actually love playing this with Howie the most. I laugh SO hard when I pull it off Howie's head. He is such a good doggie.

I love going by the CD player in my room and waving my arms so mommy will turn on the music.

And then I like to dance, dance, dance!! Wondering when I am dancing?? Watch my arms go up and down and my legs move a little (listen for me saying mom in the video at about second 32).

I love washcloths!!!! Dry, wet, you name it, I love them :-)

I love music, dancing and washcloths all at the same time :-)

I love to watch other babies/kids at the park.

I love my cats (maybe a little more than they love me).

I still love to eat. While I eat, I also enjoy talking to my food (see right picture) :-)

I love pulling books off my bookshelf (mom put them on the lower shelves so I can get to them now) and opening and closing the books over and over again.

I love looking at real pictures. I love looking at animals, family, babies...and even this picture of myself :-)

And finally I love baths...and crawling in the bath which makes my mom REALLY nervous. She calls herself a lifeguard now during bathtime.

Now if you add up all of these things I love...they add up to 11. Because I am 11 months today!!! Only one more month and I will be a year....oh my goodness....halfway to the terrible twos :-)

What in the world...

are we doing????

I'll give you a hint or two (or three).


They are made of paper.


They have black spots.


They have red bodies.

Hmmmmm......yes, we are making invitations for Layla's 1st birthday party!!!! They turned out so cute and I will share them with you all in the near future. I must thank Stephanie and Stephanie's mom, Kathy, for spending a majority of their Saturday helping create these invitations!!! Thank you so much for planning, cutting, adhering, stamping, and more! As you can see from the pictures, Layla was very much involved in the process too and she loved the tape :-) A gracias to my mom and Ryan too who also helped with the invites. Yes, it was a team effort. Can't wait to show them to you all!!

Twin Day, Fun Day

Layla and I met the twins, their big sister, and their mom at the park today. Their mom, Jessica, and I talked about plans for a first birthday party for the three girls. I am so excited! To celebrate their first year of life we are going to do a triple birthday party with Ryan's side of the family and family friends. It is so fun that they were born on the exact same day that we just need to celebrate it in style :-) We are going to throw a casual BBQ get-together and maybe throw in a carnival theme (Oh, how I love a theme!!!). So Layla is going to have her ladybug party on her birthday with family and friends and a birthday party with the twins and Ryan's side of the family shortly thereafter...what a lucky girl :-)

Toy time

Today I was trying to remember when Layla starting playing with her toys....you know, really playing with her toys. It seems like just weeks ago that I was the one playing with the toys to entertain Ms. Layla. I am sure it has been longer, but time really flies when you have a baby who is rapidly approaching the big ONE.

Anyway, here are some snapshots with Layla playing with her toys from today.

This toy I used to use for tummy time motivation. The popping sound would help encourage a one to two second head lift from Layla while she was on her belly :-) Now she does all of the popping herself.

Layla really likes this riding toy. She opens her mouth really wide while riding around and just her tippy toes touch the ground. Too funny!

Finally caught a picture of this one!!! Layla has shifted from chewing on this book from Super Aunt Ann to be very interested in the pictures in the book. She is always taken with the picture of Great Grandma Baader.

Oh!!! And Layla (just like Howie) LOVES a new toy. A teacher from my school (thank you, Carrie!!!) passed this toy on to Layla. It is a salon and Layla LOVES it. Ryan brought it into the kitchen and Layla crawled right over and started playing with all of the fun accessories. I have to say I love the hair dryer that makes noise!

Okay, and although it is not a toy...everything is a phone these days. Too cute (and a little scary...maybe I AM on the phone too much).