Lovely Girl

I've been slacking off big time with my blog, but usually that means I've been pretty busy. Don't worry, I've taken a few pictures here and there as well. We just got home from our Washington visit, which was fun. Just fun, because we missed Tanner terribly and even though it was great staying with my Mom, she still had to work every day. Anyway. I have a lot of fuel for my blogging fire now, with hundreds of pictures to sort through.

Please be patient with me...

just like my lovely little Layla.

She's waiting, oh so nicely, for her Nonna to get home in these...

blue skies

Today was a BLUE day...

no, not in the depressing kind of way.

Could her eyes be ANY more blue?!

The neighborhood kids like to play in the long stretch of "backyard" behind the complex and tend to leave toys scattered about. We opened our backdoor to find an abandoned baby on our back step. Layla was very eager to adopt her.

She felt sorry for her...

Nothing beats a bike ride in the bark...

...well, being swung around by Dad might be a little better.

Have I mentioned yet how BEAUTIFULLY GORGEOUS it was today?

And how weird it was that we were ALL wearing a similar shade of blue??

(You'll just have to believe that I was wearing blue as well... I really was)

I LOVE Layla's Face in this picture below... bliss.

best. Dad. ever.

love hair highlighted by sun.

Thank you sunny day for making me feel HAPPY.

Sticker Face

Ocean in a Bottle

Who could resist?

Who could resist a cupcake with sprinkles?

Especially when someone else made them for you (Thanks Derek and Taylor).

Who could resist taking a picture of a cute girl covered in frosting?

Not I.

Who could resist this sweet face and refrain from grabbing those cheeks and smothering them with kisses?

Not I.

Who could resist this toothy grin?

I most definitely cannot.

I love my life.

Especially these precious joys.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't blame her for being too anxious to give a proper smile... this girl finally went (#2) in the potty!!!!!! WOO HOO!! Okay, I know it's silly when parents make a big fuss over their child's bathroom accomplishments, but you don't know HOW LONG we've been working on this and struggling with this! I couldn't be more proud of my girl. Determination kicked in the other night and ALL she wanted to do was try to go! She sat on the potty for a combined total of about an hour and a half, just waiting. She kept saying, "When I go, then I'll get a BIG Barbie surprise!!!!!!" So how could we not comply after such a victory?!

She was so excited to open it, that she barely held still long enough for me to take the shot.

silly sisters

I love each stage that my girls are at.

2 yrs. almost 3, Layla says the silliest things and is so full of curious wonder for the world around her. She's super sweet, with occasional bouts of craziness. She's extremely independent, yet very cautious and careful at the same time. She still loves MILK, her blanket and piggy, and has formed a new love for: Blue's Clues, Kipper, and Barbie.

Gwen has just about hit the 7 mo. mark and OH BOY does she know it! She seems to be very determined to grow up and move out of babyhood. With a big sister like Layla, I don't blame her for wanting to be big enough to play. She scoots (mostly backwards) but all around trying desperately to snatch up anything within reach. Her little shrieks and squeals fill the air as she is so intent on communicating the only way she knows how. (We think it's cute, although Layla does have some issues with the volume of Gwennie's little screams and often times you'll hear her scream right back at the baby). Gwen also loves baths, carrots and sweet potatoes, elmo, and my hair. (She's always loved to play with my hair while she eats and amazingly enough will rarely pull it, just hold it.)

(Oh and Tanner, I tried to crop you out of the background as much as possible. Sorry. These pictures were just too cute not to post!)

How do I even manage to get a THING done with all this cuteness surrounding me?!!