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