Noah's Laugh

Dear Noah,

Parents will do just about anything to get their child to laugh.  One of my favorite episodes of Friends was when Ross and Rachel sang "Baby Got Back" to make Emma laugh. At one point Rachel tries singing other baby-friendly songs to get her to laugh but gives up in frustration and says, "That girl is all about the ass!" It's a great episode.

The first time you laughed was when I was getting you out of the car seat and I noticed that you had a booger hanging from your nose. I tried to wipe it away, but it held on tight so I wiped again. On the third attempt, you giggled. It was a very quiet giggle, but it counted!

From that point on, I tried to get you to laugh again. I tried tickling your nose and chin, playing peek-a-boo, and even singing "Baby Got Back". You found none of it funny.

The second time you laughed was at Momma Jane's house. Another Mom was holding and talking to you and you laughed at her. I think you were just flirting with her but my feelings were a little crushed.  This made me determined to get you to laugh for me.

I finally had success a few days later and even caught it on video. It was awesome.  But if you ever need me to rap about a girl's enormous backside to get you to laugh again, I'm your girl.

Love,
Mommy

Dust Bunny

Dear Layla,
I have a love/hate relationship with dusting.  It, by far, is my least favorite chore. I would rather clean the toilets at the gym than dust the house. And that is saying something. 

BUT, if I don't dust once a week, the house just doesn't feel clean. I could spend all weekend organizing and doing other chores, but without dusting, the house doesn't feel neat and tidy.

On Saturday you followed me around the house with your stuffed bunny while I dusted.  Without any prompting, you used your bunny to dust your dresser.  The term "dust bunny" now has a whole new meaning.

Love,
Mommy

Layla the Friendly Ghost

Dear Layla,

Walking around with your blanket on your head is your new, favorite activity.  Yes, you've walked into walls, doors, and cabinets. No, you didn't really care. You think this new game is funny.

Love,
Mommy

Halloween Candy

Dear Layla,

Last year was really and truly your first Halloween. It's hard to consider it your first Halloween since you didn't really participate in any of the trick-or-treating activities. This year I was bound and determined to do Halloween the "right" way. I wanted you to trick-or-treat like the big kids.

So, on Halloween night, I dressed you up in your adorable Halloween costume, and Daddy and I took you and Noah around the neighborhood. Since our neighborhood is so small, most of the families walk to other neighborhoods to trick-or-treat and leave behind dark, empty houses. We literally went to 5 houses. Each neighbor ohh-ed and ahh-ed about your costume and gave you candy. You had to hold each piece of candy.

After a short trip of trick-or-treating, you deserved a sweet treat of a Reese's. You've had Reese's peanut butter cups before, but this time it was Halloween candy. That makes it so different from the other times. When it's Halloween candy, it's candy that you've earned.

Love,
Mommy

P.S. - Your video was cut short because we had trick-or-treaters. The part where you jump makes me laugh each time I watch.

Trick-or-Treat!

Dear Layla,

Here is my attempt to get you to say, "Trick-or-treat". I'm sure you will nail it next year. :)

Love,
Mommy

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Dear Layla and Noah,

It may have been the last weekend of October, but we did it - we made it to the pumpkin patch! Daddy and I were both a little surprised that there were still some good looking pumpkins left, not just the yucky, moldy ones that had been rejected by all the other families.

Layla - you were so much more interested in moving the pumpkins from one pallet to another than posing for pictures. I guess you didn't like where the farmers had put the pumpkins so you felt the need to rearrange them. You may be a future interior decorator. Or home designer. Or just a plain 'ol pumpkin mover. Or something like that.

Noah - you aren't able to sit up on your own, so Daddy and I propped you up against pumpkins, hay barrels, and even cuddled you. You were completely un-interested in the pumpkins. Oh well. What can you expect from a 3 month old??

Love,

Mommy

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Bathtime for Noah

Dear Noah,

When I gave Layla her first bath, I was a nervous wreck. She screamed the whole time and I had no idea how to comfort her. When I gave you your first bath, I was a nervous wreck again. I wasn't worried about you crying, screaming, or rolling off the counter. I was nervous about one thing and one thing only - getting peed on. That is why your diaper stayed on for the majority of your bath. I thought I had outsmarted you.

After the bath, you peed on me while I tried to get you into your pajamas. Pee went everywhere: the towel, my bedspread, your hair and my shirt.

I guess you showed me.

Love,
Mommy

New Stroller = New Toy

Dear Layla,

I always knew the day would come would I could say, "Get in your stroller" and you would do it. I just NEVER would have thought it would be so soon.

This video was shot on the first day we got this stroller. No one taught you how to climb in and out of the seat. It was something you figured out on your own. Once you knew how to do it, you must have played on the stroller for an hour. It was your favorite toy of the day.

Love,
Mommy

Bein' Busy

Dear Layla,

You are always on the go. It's not that you are into stuff to make a mess and cause trouble, but that you are constantly playing and moving. Ya-Ya and Mama Jane have both described you as "busy". I think it's hilarious that they used the same word!

This video is just one example of you "bein' busy". Earlier in the day, Ya-Ya, Noah, you and I all went to Kohl's to do some shopping. Ya-Ya bought you several new pairs of pajamas which you loved so much that you had to hold them in the store and fussed when they were taken away so that they could be rung-up. After your nap, you were back to the pajamas. This video is only 2 minutes but you played with the pajamas for at least 20 minutes. Bein' busy is your favorite!




Love,
Mommy

iPhone - So Easy a Baby Can Use It

Dear Layla,

My cell phone is one of your favorite toys. I had to get a super-duper strong case for my iPhone because you love to play with it. You love to look at all the pictures of . . . you! Here is a video of you scrolling through pictures.

By the way, I never taught you how to scroll through the pictures. That is something you figured out on your own. You are so smart!

Love,
Mommy

Feeding Time!

Dear Layla,

You and I have been practicing how to use utensils for a few days now. You are really great at getting the food from the fork to your mouth, but not so great at getting the food on the fork to start. That is where I come in. I put the food on and then you take over. Looks like you still need me for something!

I also love how you switch hands when eating. Whether you will be left-handed or right-handed is yet to be determined.

Love,
Mommy

Dancin' Queen

Dear Layla,

A few years ago Beyonce came out with a song called "Crazy In Love". There's this part in the song where she sings, "Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no" over and over again and does some serious booty shakin'.

You love booty shakin'. You think it's funny. Sometimes, just to get you to laugh, I'll do my impression of Beyonce's dance for you. You look at me with a look that says, "Momma, you crazy". You laugh at me and I laugh at you.

I've tried for months to video you dancing like Beyonce. Here is the fruit of my labor! I even did some minor video editing! Aren't you proud? If I was any good at video editing, I would have used "Crazy in Love" as the background music.

Love,
Mommy

Potty Time

Dear Layla,

You aren't the first child in the world to enjoy playing with toilet paper, and you probably aren't the last. I can't believe how you long you sat there in the bathroom, unwinding the toilet paper off the roll and then trying to put it back on. I was impressed. But then again, everything you do impresses me.

You sat and played so long that I was able to take pictures, record a video, and get the G-Parents on Skype to watch. Sadly, I wasn't able to record the best part of your toilet paper playtime. The best part was when you put a bunch of torn pieces of toilet paper on the toilet lid and then pulled the handle to flush it. Genius!

Love,

Mommy

Pickle

Dear Layla,

You love pickles. The first one you ever had was at Firehouse Subs when you were about 9 months old. When you order a sandwich (I like the Engine Company without tomatoes), they always give you a pickle on the side. It was late, and by "late" I mean like 8:30. See, when you become a parent "late" is unusally "early" to most non-parents. You were acting tired and fussy, so I gave you my pickle. I wouldn't let you hold it, but let you bite into the soft middle part. You were in love.

From there, you progressed into eating cut-up pieces of pickle then to holding one and eating it on your own. Such a big girl!

Ya-Ya suggested that I grab the video camera and record you eating a pickle during tonight's Skype session. I am so glad that I did!

Love,
Mommy

I'm Going to Fence You In!

Dear Layla,

I don't remember when or who said it to me, but someone warned me not to go out and buy everything at Babys R' Us. They said that you will let Daddy and I know when you are ready for bottles, walking toys, and all the other baby items I thought I needed to buy before your birth.

I guess you are showing me that it's time to buy a baby gate.

Oh - and for the record, no concussions were developed in the making of this video. You did not fall down the stairs like it may appear at the end of the video. Once you reached the top, you were so proud of yourself that you turned around, put your arms out for me and fell into my arms. I dropped the camera so it looks a lot worse than it really was.

Love,
Mommy

Nose Pickin'

Dear Layla,

I don't know who taught you this or why you think it's funny.

But I'll admit it - it is kinda hilarious.

Love,
Mommy

Ring, Ring!

Dear Layla,

Yesterday, on Skype Night with G-Pa and Ya-Ya, you grabbed my cell phone, put it to your ear, and started talking. It was hilarious.

And if this video is of any indication, your Daddy and I will have a massive cell phone bill one day.

Love,
Mommy

Layla's First Birthday!

Dear Layla,

365 days have passed since you where born and I love you a little more each day. Happy birthday to my sweet angel!

Love,
Mommy

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Strawberry Cake

Dear Layla,

When I was little, G-Ma (or as you've started calling her, "Ya-Ya") used to make me homemade strawberry cake for my birthday. I can still remember the bright pink icing. So yummy!

Now it's my turn to make it for you. I decided to use the recipe as cupcakes for you to take to Mama Jane's house to share with your friends at daycare. Each cupcake was decorated with a white dot in honor of your first birthday.

Here's the recipe so that perhaps one day you'll make it for my granddaughter.

Strawberry Cake
1 box white cake mix

1 small box of strawberry jell-o
1/2 cup water
1 cup oil
4 egg whites
3 tbsp. cake flour
5 oz. frozen strawberries

Beat the egg whites until stiff. Combine the other ingredients then fold in the egg whites. Bake at 350 degrees until done.

Strawberry Icing
5 oz. of strained frozen strawberries (just buy a 10 oz. container and split it between the icing and batter)
1 stick butter
Confectioner's sugar

Combine all until icing thickens.

Enjoy the tradition!

Love,

Mommy

Will Walk For Food

Dear Layla, This afternoon you were having a snack while I sat on the couch. I was teasing you by putting one cookie on one cushion and another on a different cushion. At first, you would eat one, drop to the ground, and crawl to the other cookie. But then something amazing happened. You ate one cookie and then walked to the other cookie!! Yes, you were holding onto the couch, but it counts! I immediately got on Skype to show G-Ma and G-Pa. And when Daddy got home after bathtime, we showed him too. Here's the video:

Love, Mommy

Daddy Gymnastics

Dear Layla, Most people don't like to belly-flop, but you have no problem with that! In this video, you used Daddy as your personal gymnastic apparatus. It was funny to everyone! Love, Mommy

Easter Pictures

Dear Layla, Happy First Easter! Love, Mommy

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Slides and Swings

Dear Layla,

While your G-Parents were visiting we took you to the neighborhood park for a little fun. I've wanted to take you there for a few weeks, but it always seemed to rain when we had some free time. I just knew you would love the swings. I was SO wrong.

When we first got to the park, G-Pa put you on the slide because some other kids were swinging. You absolutely loved it. Here is the proof:

After a few trips down the slide, we put you in the swing. It was obvious that you missed the slide. You kept looking over at it with a look of longing. Don't believe me? Check this out:

So we put you back on the slide. You love slides! In this video, we pretend that we are leaving the park. Clearly you did NOT want to leave your precious slide!

Oh Layla, you are such a silly, little girl! Thanks for all the giggles!

Love,
Mommy

Work It Girl!

Dear Layla,

I think you are on your way to a modeling career. When a camera comes out, you pose and smile. It's cute and very diva-like.

It all started when you were just days old. I started taking "Daily Dose" pictures for G-Ma and the rest of the family. A "Daily Dose" is a picture or two that I email to G-Ma every morning. And believe me when I say this - she gets a little testy if I miss a Dose or two. I once got an email that simply said, "I NEED A FIX" in the subject line. Apparently pictures of you are like crack to her - she's gotta have it!

Here is one of my favorite Daily Dose pictures.

So after many months of Daily Doses, you know exactly what to do when the camera comes out. You always give a big smile. You always let your personality shine though. You occasionally blink at the flash - but who doesn't?

The Office

Dear Layla,

Those super late/early morning feedings were pretty brutal. I mean, at 2:00 a.m. most people want to be sleeping, but you liked to eat and play for about an hour, sometimes longer. One time, when you were about a week old, I fell asleep while you were nursing. G-Ma was the one who found us on the couch. She was freaked out and so was I. I knew I needed to do something.

The Office was my answer. I set the DVR to record the series on any and all channels it came on. When we got up for a feeding, I turned on the show. I watched an episode or two until you were back asleep. I was able to stay awake and entertained! It was great catching up with everyone at Dunder Mifflin, especially since I never really watched the show prior to you being born.

Now I LOVE the show. And by the looks of things - so do you.

Love,
Mommy

Driving Lessons

Dear Layla,

My first car was a teal blue, four-door Saturn. Uncle Jason always agrued that the color was green, but I'm convinced he's color blind. It was blue, no matter what he says. That car was the bomb! I loved that car. It had manual windows and locks, a ink stain on the back seat from the previous owner, and a tape deck! (I got a CD player installed one year for Christmas, which totally rocked!)

Your first car is a pink converable. Lucky girl! Perhaps the best part is that you don't even have a gas bill.

Love,
Mommy

What's So Funny?

Dear Layla,

I don't know why, but sneezing is so funny to you. It doesn't matter if it's a real sneeze or a fake sneeze - it's all so funny. I don't think sneezing is funny at all, but watching you laugh makes me laugh.

Love,
Mommy

Home Cookin'

Dear Layla,

You've been eating solid food for several months now and you've never had a home cooked meal. During my pregnancy I had this naive thought that I would make your baby food. It honestly didn't seem that difficult or strange to me. I mean, if that ditz Nicole Richie can do it, why can't I?

My plan was simple: I would take an hour or two each Sunday afternoon to cook up some veggies and fruits, puree them in a handy-dandy food mill, and store them in the fridge to use throughout the week. Viola!

It has never happened. Sheesh.

You really don't seem to mind. Apparently Gerber makes a mean meal. You are particularly fond of the peaches and sweet potatoes. Peas, on the other hand, disgust you. Daddy likes to laugh at your facial expressions while eating them. As torturous as it is, I still feed you peas. I've learned to feed you a couple bites of peas, then a bite of fruit as a reward. You still don't love peas. You just tolerate them until you get a bite of something sweet and yummy.

I honestly don't know what I was thinking with the whole homemade baby food thing. It sounded like a great idea at the time. After a long day of Working Motherhood (more on that in a later post) I don't even want to cook dinner for myself and Daddy. You probably eat better than us!

But there will come a time when Gerber will no longer be your chef and I'll have to step up to the plate, er . . . stove. I'll cook your meals and pack your lunches - probably with a little help from Little Debbie.

Love,

Mommy