Crawling Practice

She's getting closer and closer to taking off these days. She'll get up on all fours and just rock back and forth, but eventually just plop back down. In this picture she was trying to push off of the couch. Smart girl.

What to crawl for... Fishy or Dad's foot? (of course she was more interested in the foot :)
Just looking cute
"Hey, let me help you up Mr. Lion."
Sweet little face

Just hanging out with my favorite guy.
Getting ready for church!
"Look at what my parents do to me!"

Layla Update

Here's a little peek into the past...

My teeny tiny, brand new baby Layla!

She will be 7 mo. old tomorrow!! She had a Doc. check-up this last week and now weighs in at 17lbs. 9oz. and is 27 in. long. So that's about 65% for weight and 77% for height. Growing so quickly. I can't believe she used to be so little!

I am so blessed to know her. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing okay, or really have what it takes to be a good Mom, but then I stop and think... Heavenly Father must really love me to have shared such a precious spirit with me. I belive that he knows me through and through. Well enough to have designed this special baby just for me. I like to imagine him rooting me on, up there in Heaven, especially when I'm having a hard time. It makes me feel better equiped to handle the tough stuff... and even the little things. Becoming a Mother has changed me more than I have ever imagined. I have been tried and tested to limits I didn't even know existed! But my capacity for loving another person has overwhelmingly increased, past all comprehension. I love the feelings I have when she smiles, or gently feels my hair when she eats, how she makes little squeaky sounds when she wakes up, and snuggles up on my chest when she's tired. I especially love it when she looks at me. Not the casual look, but the "I know you and love you more than anything" look (kind of a lingering look that almost always ends in a sweet little smile). I usually am lucky enough to get that look at least once a day and it's something I never want forget.

I love her!! Sorry for the "mushy" entry, I'm just so overwhelmed with "Layla Love" tonight and I just wanted to share.

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!

We had a fun day. Ate some candy for breakfast, went to church, made some yummy taters, and went to the Stuarts' for a delicious ham dinner. Layla even got a surprise package from her Aunt Kayla! Thanks so much, we love you and can't wait to see you soon. We'll be moving back home to Washington in about two weeks from now. When we first decided to leave for the summer, I was REALLY excited. I've been missing family a lot and feel bad that Layla isn't around them as she's growing. But now that the time has come, I'm starting feel a bit torn. I really do love Rexburg. Not so much for the weather, or even the surroundings, but the people make this place so special! I hope that we can keep in touch with everyone, at least through blogs. We'll be back in the fall, but who knows where we'll be living. University Village is an awesome place that will be greatly missed.

"Cheese!" (you can see her little teeth!)

This is a little toy that I forgot Layla had. It's a stuffed bunny head and arms attatched to a mini blankie. Sounds bizarre I know... but I thought it was appropriate for Easter.
up close
A new BIG shiny bow... and lion! She really loves her Easter lion, especially the crinkly mane. (just a side note: I think Layla has really pretty lips. Very feminine)
"Just playing next to my Daddy. I like to make lots of sounds these days and one of them is, "Dah da da da". Dad gets excited because he thinks I'm saying his name. I've got him fooled!"

Recipes

Crazy Grin

Talking to the camera
I love to play with my socks
I love it when I find Mommy's toys

Here are a couple recipes that I've had some requests for lately. They are simple, yet very yummy and bound to please the whole family. I got them from my Mother in Law and make them very often. Thanks Colleen!

Scalloped Potatoes

4 Potatoes boiled and sliced thin

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 cup Sour Cream

2 maybe 3 cups of shredded Cheddar Cheese (I eyeball it)

Boil the potatoes. (Some people boil them whole, let them cool, then slice them. I've been slicing them first, then boiling them. Both ways work) In a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, and 2-3 cups of cheese. Mix in the potatoes. Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle the top with more cheese. Bake at 350 for 30-45 mins. Until the cheese mixture is bubbly throughout.

Chicken Enchiladas

2 Chicken Breasts

package of tortillas

1 cup of Cream of Chicken Soup

1 cup of Sour Cream

1 can of enchilada sauce

1 can of green chilies

3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

(makes about 10 med. size enchiladas)

Cook chicken breasts (I prefer to boil them). Shred the chicken into bite size pieces. Pour the enchilada sauce into a pie dish (for easy dunking of the tortillas). Combine Soup, sour cream, chilies, and about 2 cups of cheese (more or less if you prefer) in a large bowl. Add in the shredded chicken. Dunk the tortillas (one at a time) in the enchilada sauce, just so they are covered completely (slowly shake off access sauce) and spoon the chicken mixture in the middle. Wrap up the enchilada and place into a casserole dish. Line them all up and sprinkle cheese on the top. Bake at 350 for about 35 mins or until heated all the way through. Eat and enjoy!

Introducing...

Tooth #1 and Tooth #2!

(You may have to click on the picture to make it big enough to see, but they ARE there!)

Happy Birthday Tanner!

Here's what Tanner woke up to! haha, such nice wrapping huh?? We didn't have anything else. The present on the left was The Office Season 3 (which happens to be inside of an oatmeal box! I knew he already had an idea what he'd be getting, so I wanted it to be a different shape). Then the present on the right is a book that he really wanted, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", which is wrapped with a pink stuffed elephant to change the shape as well. I know, I'm weird. Excuse: Layla woke up at 4:45am that morning, so I wasn't really thinking clearly yet when I set it all up.

I wanted Layla to add something to our "card", but she unfortunately held the marker completely still. So I started tickling her and this is what we came up with.
After Tanner opened his presents, he decided to fling the wrapping paper on Layla! This is how it landed!
She thought it was pretty funny.
We had a bunch of friends/family over that evening. Here's a picture of Tanner's cousin Callie's son Kobi, trying to hold the BIG baby. It was really funny, because as you can see, they're almost the same size! Layla is a porker, what can I say. (Tanner also had to add that Chris looks like Matt Hasselbeck in this picture :)
All in all, it was a really fun/busy day. We ordered pizza and I made fruit pizza! Haylee and Lucas brought over a super yummy cake and Taytum and Jared brought the famous chips :) We love you guys and Happy Birthday again, Tanner! 24, yahoo!

Laundry Bum

Yeah, I'm a mean Mom. What?! She was a bit wet from all the slobber... thought the gentle cycle would work! :) (I think she looks like she's going, "Raaawwr" with that little clawed hand!)

I kept trying to get her to look at me, but that metal thingy in the back was WAY too facinating.
Naked Baby Escape! I was changing her diaper and realized I didn't have anymore wipes. I ran to the next room to grab some and come back to find my baby trying to make her getaway! She loves being naked. Look at those chunky rolls!
What a cute girl, love her eyes. I always tell her she has such sparkly eyes.
She loves playing with silly Dad! One of her favorite things to do is to pat her little hands all over his face, so cute!

Teefies!

Layla has teeth!

It was weird, because it was totally out of the blue. She has her two bottom front teeth... well they aren't completely in just yet, but poking through quite a bit! On Monday, we were playing and she decided it'd be fun to start biting me. Once she did, I realized it actually hurt this time! I looked and sure enough... A Tooth! She probably thought I was a crazy lady, because I scooped her up and shouted "Yay Layla! A tooth!!" over and over. I took her into the kitched to get a better look, but she wouldn't really let me get near. That wiggly tounge kept guard very well.

Then, the next morning (tue.) I tried to check her tooth again and what do I find?! Another tooth! Crazy girl. It's weird, because lately I've been talking to a few of my friends/family and most people have mentioned to me that I will DEFINITELY know when she's really teething and that it WON'T be fun. She couldn't really seem to care less! I'm sure it'll get worse as more teeth start to poke through, but for now I'm very grateful. I've been trying to snap a picture, but like I said, she hates having her mouth messed with and will wiggle away every time. Oh well. My baby sure is growing up!

Yummy Gel

We thought she'd like to be up high on Dad's shoulders, but she seemed to like the snacks up there better than the ride. She kept chomping on his hair! ewww.

Look how big!!
HAHA... this picture cracks me up. It looks like Tanner is about to eat her and she knows it!

All Dressed Up

Sorry, It's kinda blurry. She looked so pretty on Sunday though! It's funny, because this is a 12mo. dress I had saved that I figured would be a bit big on her. Wrong! As I put it on, I realized it fit like a glove! Probably the first and only time she'll wear it.

Yucky... apparantly, this dress doesn't pass the taste test.
OH Mom, no more pictures!

Cheer

Personally, I am not the biggest football fan. But, the men in my family happen to love the sport (like most men :) My Dad sent Layla this super cute cheerleading outfit, and I just couldn't resist dressing her up! My family is from San Diego, which would explain why it's a Charger's suit. My Dad lives there currently. Thanks Dad!

No, Layla does NOT have massive feet, the socks are really big.
I don't normally let her play with my phone, but it was the only way I could get her to sit still without whining.
Just hanging out with Dad. She loves to stand like a big girl!

A Package From Nonna!

A Bumbo!

With a tray!
And a new toy!
"Gimmie!"
Put them together... endless fun!

m v cccccccccxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxjcjjjjjjjjjjjjv i knmnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnbmm jmmm (That was Layla saying "Thank You Nonna, I love you!")

Layla loves the laptop, but we don't let her get to close to it, because she'd probably spit up all over it or something. But today I let her smack it a couple times to get her to type something. She was REALLY excited! :)

Silly Daddy

I think Tanner would kill me if he knew I posted this :) He was trying to imitate some of the funny faces Layla was making, causing her to crack up (and me too).

He was dancing with the baby.
And singing.
I thought it'd be funny to put her in a box, to see what she'd do.
Just smile... she seemed to like it!