Layla's Birthday Party

We had Layla's birthday party the weekend after her birthday. Ella was so excited all week and told her teacher at school all about it! She is a friend of mine so she would tell me everything Ella would say. Layla's room is turquoise, her newborn pictures and several after she has work turquoise outfits, so I went with turquoise. I was looking for an outfit when Kate posted that she had two of the same outfits and I snatched it up from her, so I didn't even have to shop hard (thanks Kate!!). 

I bought tons of blue and yellow candy. These are BIG canisters, so I sent home a lot of candy for each of the kids at the party. I am sure their parents were so happy with me!

I bought this open back frame from Hobby Lobby, spray painted it turquoise and cut down a chalk board to put inside.

I LOVE her cake! Melody  has now made two of Ella's birthday cakes and a baby shower cake for me and she does such a fantastic job! I send her a picture and a flavor and I always get it exactly like I want it and it always tastes soooo good! The only sad part is cutting it, I HATE that!

Layla's smash cake.

I asked my sweet husband to run to the store and get me some yellow flowers. I said daisies or whatever. I have previously told him no carnations, EVER, but he forgot and that is all I had so I used them. I am a flower snob about carnations. I do have an amazing husband that will run to the store to get me flowers though!! =)

Layla's party started at 1:30 and at 2:00 we finally woke her up after everyone ate. She woke up just kind of out of it. Not sad, not happy, just there!

She did finally perk up for her big present, her playhouse from Granny and Papa. She loved it!

Granny and Heath.

My brother may kill me!

Sweet Katie loved the house too. I think one may be in her future.

We let the kids go outside and play and get some energy out. Hunter has the best big smiles.

Me and my sweet birthday girl.

I kind of knew from her attitude that the cake wasn't going to go smoothly, but we tried.

She just kind of starred at it for a while.

So I gave her a taste. Of course Ella had to get a taste too.

Ummm, I'm not so sure about this.

See the finger on the left. Yep, that is Ella. She and Hunter kept coming over and getting finger licks. 

Alright Mom, I am done.

Most of the damage done was by Ella, Hunter, and me giving Ella and Hunter bites!

Finally we just let them all dig in.

It was a great birthday party. We are so blessed to have such great families that love our girls and will drive 2-1/2 hours to party for 3 or so hours and then turn around and go home. 

Layla is ONE!!!

My sweet, sweet Layla, I can not believe you are already ONE year old!!! This has been the fastest year of my life! Your personality has grown stronger and stronger and I am afraid we have another spit-fire on our hands! You are so sweet and cuddly. You give me the biggest hug in the morning when I get you up and you just hold on to my neck with both arms with all your might. You lay your sweet head on my chest and just melt into me. You also growl when you don't get your way, push your sister out of the way to get to something and make it known when you want something. 

You are so ticklish on your ribs and your feet. I can tickle you and just get those deep belly laughs that I love. You LOVE it when someone says "Ouch!" and you just laugh. When Ella pretends to fall you cackle! 

You love your sister so much. Your favorite place to be is playing with her in her room, I think it makes you feel like a big girl. You love getting to read books when we put Ella to bed because you get to sit on her bed with her. You are always at her heels and lately she has been dragging you around! You always have the biggest smile on your face. 

With strangers (well, that includes anyone you don't see on a regular basis, including family members) you are very reserved. You prefer to study them and hang around them a while before you feel comfortable letting them hold you. You just like to be comfortable with your surroundings before letting go of Momma.

You are 31-3/4" tall (above 98%) and weigh 26.14 pounds (above 98%). You wear size 24 months or 2T and a size 5 shoes. You are still in a size 4 diaper, but you have a big bottom and tummy so we might be moving up soon. 

You say mama, dada, bye bye, no no, and uh oh. You shake your head side to side when saying no no just to make that extra impact!

If I let you stay in the bathtub all day long you would. However, you are a daredevil and try to stick your head underwater and stand up. You are nothing like your sister in this regard, she airs on the side of caution.

You still nurse 4-5 times a day and don't seem to be giving that up anytime soon. You eat some baby foods, but only fruit, and you are beginning to reject those. You want big people food. You drink your water great and soon you will start to have milk!

Your favorite song is "If you're happy and you know it."

Your bedtime is around 9 a.m. and you sleep until 8:30. You go down for a nap at 12:00 and sleep until 2:15 when I have to wake you up to go get sister. If I let you sleep you sleep until 3. Sometimes you take an evening nap, sometimes not. 

You won't wear shoes for anything. You like to take them off and eat them! You have also started pulling off your bows, but I am not going to stop putting them on you, I will win!! =) 

I am so thankful God blessed us with you. It has been a rewarding, exhausting, fun filled, trying, amazing year!!! I could not imagine a better baby in the world! You are just so easy going and I love you so much!!!

Watch Me Grow:

May 10, 2011. Such an easy delivery and such a sweet blessing!

You have always been so chunky!!

You didn't have a neck until much, much later!

You are always up for anything!

Sweet Sisters!

But, you took a while to warm up to grass!

See, grass is fun!