Laila's big ONE.

Looky, Looky...Laila had her big day today! She is officially one year old! We awoke her to singing "happy birthday to you". We celebrated with a little morning cupcake smash session. And of course I set up my own little "studio" (until we get the great Jaimee Ponce to take more pics!) and was behind my mamarazzi cam snapping away. Laila of course devoured the entire thing and barely gave me a second to put it down before she dove right into it. She loves her sweets! It was a fun day! It's hard to believe a year has flown by. It has been wonderful. We look forward to Sunday which is the big celebration with family and friends and yet another smach cake session! Many, many, many more pictures to come this year.
Laila still isn't walking or even standing on her own. She is almost there, but she has to hold on to something with like two fingers. She is saying a lot more now, and even copies what I say sometimes. Today I told her "it's your birthday" and she said "birthday"...it was clear as can be in her own little way. She has LOTS of teeth now and has her own little attitude. She is a riot! This next year is going to be great!

The start of a new decade.

::Laila's first New Year Rockin' Eve::

wow! 2010 already? Life flies by too fast. How much a life can change in a decade. A decade of graduating, engagement, marriage, loss of loved ones, and starting my own little family. I started 2009 anxiously awaiting the birth of Laila. Thinking after the new year it could happen anyday now. Finally she arrived the end of January and I knew our year was going to be special. Now that we celebrated our first New Years with her, I know that each new year will just get better and better. We brought in 2010 at home. Laila was passed out before the ball dropped and we were tucked in bed watching Dick Clark. Looking forward to starting the year and making new memories.

11 months!

OMG! One more month and we have a ONE year old! Time to really get crackin' on party planning. Laila has totally changed. She is talking more and more everyday. She has her own language that just makes me laugh. If you ask her for a kiss she leans in and lets you kiss her forward and goes "mmmmmmmmmuah". She also babbles something like "beabby abby abby". Sounds like "Be Happy!" It's so stinking cute! She loves music and rocks back and forth when she hears the radio on. She puts her arms up sways from side to side and sings along with the music. She doesn't like when we tell her no. She looks at us and pouts those lips and then starts crying. Sometimes it's so cute we can't help but laugh. She still has yet to walk but is building up courage to stand on her own. She loves playing with daddy's cell phone, mommy's keys and the remote control. Pretty much anything that isn't hers. All four top teeth are coming through at once. Can't wait until that drooling stops. She still has a great appetite and is growing like a healthy bean. We will see how much more she has grown at her 12 month check up. Next month we change her to whole milk and will hopefully wean her way off the bottle and binky. We have been gradually starting now and we know we will have no problems with her going to whole milk. It's on to the real stuff now. Oh! and we turned her carseat forward facing this weekend. Poor girls long legs were so scrunched up. And, we took Laila to get some new shoes at Little Feet. I always have a hard time getting shoes on her. Well I finally realized the problem. I was putting shoes on her that were a size too small. She always scrunches her toes and has a high instep...well now Laila is a size 5-5 1/2! wow!

We have been trying to find a church we like, and we finally found one we are happy with. Today, we put Laila in the church daycare for the first time so Jason and I can enjoy service. This was the first time leaving her with someone I didn't even know. I cried...but I knew she would have more fun playing with other kids then sitting with us. After the service we went to go get her. She had so much fun! Made me one happy mommy. Each day is something new....gotta love it!

Laila's First Christmas!

We couldn't of asked for a better CHRISTmas! We got spoiled rotten and God truly blessed us with wonderful family. We started our festivites on the 23rd at my parents house for gift exchange and a Lazagna dinner. Laila got to open many presents from her Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt, and Uncle.

Gifts were piled under the tree waiting for Daddy and Uncle Barry to get off work so we can open them with my family. Laila did some shopping of her own and was so excited to give her gifts out. After all the hustle and bustle throughout the stores, I was so happy to have Laila here with us this year. She loved shopping with me throughout the day (even though there were times when an 8 hour shopping day got her a little cranky). She was SO good! She didn't quite understand the concept yet, but she helped me tear open her presents and was happy when she saw what she got. Even though she liked the wrapping paper better then all the gifts she got, I know in a couple months she will finally realize the toys are better then any of the simple things. She didn't like Santa too much this year...we tried three times. We will work on it, and hopefully next year we can get a good one of her sitting on Santa's lap with no tears.

I was hoping for more of a cooler Christmas, but it didn't happen. The weather has been insane. One day chilly and the next in the upper 80's. Let's hope it stays feeling like winter from now on. C'mon...aren't you supposed to be wearing jackets and scarves around this time? I guess not in Florida. I shouldn't be complaining...I know! One day Laila will see snow and we will make snow angels and a snowman!

Laila always loves being outside. Expecially lately will the cooler weather and the slight breeze. She loves the wind on her face. What a sweet little elf!

We had such a nice Christmas Eve-Eve opening presents. Laila woke up Christmas Eve morning and remembered all the goodies she got. She got her Happy Home dollhouse from Grandma & Grandpa along with a learning laptop, leapfrog learning toys and a bagfull of books! Uncle Barry got her Skippy the smart pup and Aunt Kristin got her Little Superstar so Laila can use her singing skills. She was spoiled and got a lot of stuff just on the 23rd. I need Grandpa to get started on her toy box. Toys are spread throughout our house and we still have a birthday coming up!

On Christmas Eve night we headed to the Little household. We gathered with family and friends and Laila got MORE gifts! Some clothes, lego building set, a purse, and even a gift card to her favorite store BabyGap!

We ate lots of food! Laila enjoyed some of the chicken parm, veggies, and bread for dinner. Then afterwards heading straight for the candy canes. Maybe she has a sweet tooth like her mom. I don't think there is anything she won't eat.

Laila waited patiently to open the presents under the tree from others. She was playing with the ornaments and laughing at everything. She loves being around her cousins Kaitlyn, Landon, and Lianna and other kids. If I'm around she has major seperation anxiety. She is now getting into the sweet cuddly stage again, where she puts her head on your shoulder and pats you on the back. SO cute! She used to be Miss Independant and didn't want to even be held. She is still crawling around like a mad baby and standing herself up on everything. She is almost trusting standing on her own. She lets go and stands for a couple seconds. I'm just waiting for the day when she just walks right over to me. With how strong she is I thought that day would be here already. But my goodness the poor girl has all four top teeth coming in at once...ouch! One broke through and we are just waiting on the others...I feel them!

We enjoyed our Christmas early morning...just the 3 of us (plus the dogs.) Santa brought Laila a couple gifts this year. We told him to give more to the bigger kids since she already has so much and doesn't quite understand yet. We told him next year he can give a little more. Plus with a birthday a month away and all that we buy her throughout the year, Santa understood.

She was so happy with the book and bath toys Santa brought her and the Radio Flyer buggy mama and dada got her. We opened up gifts that were sent to us from family out of town.

We went to Gramma and Papou's house at about 10 Christmas morning to have a breakfast and open gifts. Laila got lots in her stocking, some clothes and a princess ride along toy that she loved! She got to hang out with her cousins Joshua and Leah. We went for a walk with Papa Guy and Gramma Et and enjoyed some eggnog, cinnamon rolls, and breakfast casserole.

Laila was having some daddy time watching the Disney Christmas parade until it was time to go to my parents house. Laila got her presents from Great Aunt Ann and GiGi and Great Grandpa Ken. She got lots of outfits and even some money. The day after Christmas Jason gave me my gift which came a little late. It was a Tiffany & Co. "L" necklace that I have been wanting. "L" is for Laila and when she is older I will pass it on to her to wear. But until then I will cherish it and wear it.

This Christmas was so special. I don't know were the year went but also I don't even remember last year. All I remember is that I could barely walk because I had so much water weight and was ready to pop. These past two years have been the best and longest years of my life. Being pregnant and going through a labor and now here at the end of 2009. Laila is now 11 months and I can not believe it. 2009 had it's ups and downs, but it has been the best because our baby girl was with us through all of it. We look forward to 2010 and feel that it is going to be a great year. We have lots to look forward too this upcoming year and who knows maybe even try for a brother or sister for Laila...maybe. :)

Merry Christmas!

The holidays are fast approaching and I know it will be here and then be gone. Then onto celebrating our baby girl's first birthday. We wish you peace, joy, love, health, and prosperity this Christmas and this 2010. Warm wishes to everyone from us! It's going to be a great year...I can feel it.

After the holidays I will post all about Laila's first Christmas.

Baby it's cold outside.

Finally it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...well a Florida Christmas anyways. The weather is cool, crisp, and cloudy. Every Saturday we spend a Geraci family day together...just the three of us. We decided to go to The Shoppes at Wiregrass to enjoy the beautiful chilly weather. Laila loves being outside and having the wind blow right on her. She laughes and gets a big smile on her face. Maybe this is why she was born in the winter. We always enjoy our days together. Here are some pics of us at Wiregrass and Laila in her "winter" duds.

Looking out the window while eating lunch at Primebar.

With her daddy.

Loves the cold on her face.

On the move!

With her mommy.

Having too much fun!

10 months and gobbling.

We are thankful for so much! Our little girl has been here for 10 months now. Hard to believe. I can't believe were the year has gone. She is climbing and pulling herself up on everything, and creeps her away across the couch. She is anxious to walk and I think it will happen sometime soon. She still just has those two bottom teeth. I have been singing to her "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth". She is drooling like crazy again and gets her bad crabby days, so I'm just waiting for them to pop through. I see a little white uptop...so I think they are making there way. She is saying so many words now...some are hard to understand, but she has me laughing all day with the things she says. She points to everything too. This month was a busy one, and December will just fly by. Looking forward to all the craziness. Life seems to be filled with it lately. Yea, I know a SAHM...going crazy? Sounds easy...not really! It's harder then it looks. And then the month of January...Laila's big ONE! ahhhh...I'm so excited and we have so much to look forward to. Life may be rough for all right now, but I pray and believe it will get better. You got to pray to make it today! ;)

surprise! more pictures that mommy took.

The Grandparents.

Walk baby girl!

Us with Auntie and Uncle.

Mamarazzi.

As if i'm not in her face 24/7! These are some of my favs of our Laila bean that have been taken within a month or so. She is growing way too fast. I know people say time flies, which it does...but it's hard for me to remember my life without her. Hard to believe in about a week she will be 10 months. She is so perfect...even if she is a handful these days.

It's ALL worth it.

Even nine months after giving birth to Laila, I am still going through changes. Physically and mentally. My hormones are still going berzerk. I have lost my mind most of the time and can't seem to find it. I find myself forgetting what I was going to say. I never thought being a stay at home mom would make my mind go one hundred miles a minute. But it does! There seems to always be something to do and not enough time.

I have now noticed I have little tiny baby hairs on my head that I can't do anything with! I was trying to grow my hair long, but decided to cut it to about shoulder length to make it a little healthier. I love it but those hairs didn't help any. My stylist told me at about 6-9 months after going through labor, you get breakage to your hair. That explains it. It just happened out of no where it seemed.

I weigh less then I did even before I got pregnant. Which is a good thing, but I want my muscle to come back. When I get the time I go jogging with Laila (thank goodness we are getting cool weather now), some yoga, and tae bo. I am also building back some muscle from picking up my 22 pounder and dancing around the house like a maniac to make her laugh. I love it!

I guess I didn't do enough kegal exercises while pregnant. My bladder seems to be so weak. I have to pee every hour. And I didn't even push Laila out! And another thing my incision is still itchy! It's healing nicely though. It's c-sections for me for the next 3 babes! :)

Sometimes I think I am crazy for wanting to be pregnant again. But I am ready for another...maybe not physically, but mentally. But we shall wait and maybe start trying again near the end of 2010. Let me try to get back to my normal self before we try for the second. Babies...they are SO worth it!

I can't believe it! We are starting the planning of our little bean's birthday bash! Yes, we picked her mama's birthday...little princess took over and it's no more about me! hehe! I know she will never remember this day, but turning one is a big deal. We can't wait to watch Laila smash her face with cake and celebrate the big ONE! Hugs & Drools, The Geraci Fam!

Our October.

This month has been a busy one. With all the Halloween festivities it seemed as though it was never going to end. We are still waiting on the cold weather to arrive. But besides it being not so cool for fall we had a great month and loved having our baby girl here with us this year. It makes the holidays all the more fun! I look forward to starting our own family traditions with Laila.

::Laila's first time at the pumpkin patch...she wasn't too happy with the heat::

::Our family shot at the patch::

::Leaving for Zoo Boo::

::The Little's and the little Geraci::

::Barntoberfest::

::Halloween in the Woods::

::The G-Rockers!::

::Being like daddy::

::For the real costume...our little monster::