Our Pot o' Gold.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Laila has a tad bit Irish in her. I woke up this morning realizing she doesn't have much green in her wardrobe. How can that happen when green happens to be one of my most fave colors. I am usually prepared come holidays but I have no idea where the time is going. So no pinches for Laila! We hung out around the house today since Laila has been feeling a little under the weather. So she slipped on my big guinness shirt to celebrate. All good things come on St. Patty's Day. Cornbeef, shamrocks, pots of gold, leprechauns, rainbows...



and of course you gotta have some green food! Lai had some green eggs...minus the ham. I think she has every Dr. Suess book ever made, so we read the book today. She loved them and devoured every bite. It was a good 2nd St. Patty's Day with our baby girl. We love the little holidays. I love being creative with her. It's going to get more and more fun the older she gets. Hope everyone had a great day filled with lots of luck!

Ouch!

Boobee got her first real boo boo! Yea...she has had the tiny scratches, bumps, and bruises already but this one looked like it hurt. This walking thing can be dangerous. As I was taking her Easter photo's she was wearing her beautiful fluffy dress. She hasn't bared her legs outside in a long time considering this chilly weather. She walks so fast she is almost running. As she fell to her knees she must of scraped her knee on the concrete. Owie! I didn't notice it right away, she didn't even cry or anything. I just got her right back up to continue walking. Of course I had to snap a pic of it. So here it is...yay for Laila's first boo boo. I'm sure she will be coming home screaming to mommy and daddy with scraped knees and welding bruises. Didn't use any peroxide this time, just some water. I know she won't be looking forward to the day you have to pour peroxide on the cut. The joys of parenthood.

Finally!

Laila is a walking machine! Still a little wobbly and dropping to her knees at some point but she has come a long way. It's amazing how she went from a couple little steps to literally walking the entire house. She isn't even walking...she is running! She is all over the place. Turning around and even dancing while standing. It all happened so fast. RUN, LAILA, RUN! I am so proud and been waiting for this. But now that it's here...I want to cry. It's all so surreal how fast she has grown up. Wow! One day of her walking and I'm already warn out. Can't we just rewind for a little while?

Happy 13 months!

Not much has changed in a month. Laila is walking a little more. Going from couch to couch without holding on. Then she realizes what she is doing then falls to her knees. She has such an attitude behind those hazel eyes of hers. Laila's hair is growing so fast now...but she has the Terry Bradshaw going on...mullet style! Her hair is growing how mine did when I was a baby...but she has a lot more hair then me when I was a year. It's too funny! We are just enjoying this age. I'm missing Laila being a teenie tiny baby. I still can't believe how big she is now. Maybe, soon, another baby will be on the way *wink*.

what a ham!

I was just dilly dallying around the house and came into the kitchen to find Laila doing this...

She is now climbing! And took a good 6 steps tonight! Hopefully we are making some progress.

Lovin' it!

Life seems to be busy this year...first planning Laila's party and having company. It is continuing to stay busy and I love it. Here is what I have been doing so far this year...it's already flying by!

I have been enjoying my days learning about photography---reading about it and having help from forums. I even have some photoshoots lined up to help me practice. This has always been a passion of mine. I finally feel like I have the time to do it. I'm building up my supplies and ideas. Here is my blog that I have been posting some of my practice pictures on.

http//www.kimgeraciphotography.blogspot.com/

I have also been putting some funky fun fabric outfits together that I want to make for Laila. My list of things to make continues to grow. I'm hoping to make some fun photography "props" to use on some shoots. I'll make whatever you want me to and I am still doing my crafts, but focusing more on the photography right now.

I started the Mamarazzi Mommy and Me Group so all my local friend mom's (and whatever other mom's would like to join) can get together to enjoy time as a group with our little ones. Good for us mom's and the kiddos. Each month (maybe more) we meet up and enjoy eachother's company. Picnics in the park, Animals at the Zoo, Sand Castles on the beach...the kids will love it and us mom's will be able to have some adult conversation while our rugrats play. Anyone who wants to join, let me know!

At times my head can feel like it's going to explode. I just have so many ideas rumbling around and it can get a tad bit overwhelming. Sometimes I think I can do it all at once but realized I need to relax and take it one project at a time.

Year Check.

Laila's 12 month check went good as usual. She is now 23 pounds and grew an inch since her last doctor's visit at 9 months. Now in the 80th percentile for weight and off the charts in height. Laila wasn't liking this check up this time. She was squirmy and screaming like crazy. Besides her little attitudes she gets she is doing good. Just waiting for her to let go of my finger and walk all by herself, more then just a couple steps on her own. She wants to do it, but seems to be scared. We practice everyday...walking through the stores or home. It will happen out of the blue, and when it does...she is going to be runnin'! I'm so ready for it, because it's all she wants to do now is grab my finger and walk everywhere. She no longer wants to be held. The girl loves to eat and sleep (she fights it a lot lately, but she is a good sleeper for the most part). No more bottle for our little girl. It was pretty easy switching her to a sippy. Next step is working on getting rid of the bink. Seems like Jason and I can be more reliable on it then she is. She is in her throwing stage. She plays ball and hides things from me. She drops food on the floor for the dogs and laughs about it. We yell at her and tell her no and then she starts to cry. We can't help but laugh sometimes. Laila knows how to turn on her cd player to play music all by herself. She knows what buttons to press. Even though she loves things that aren't hers, she is starting to love all her toys. She lays on her belly and plays with her dollhouse, wheels her stroller around and hugs her baby dolls. I look away for a second and she disappers to her room to go play all by herself...miss independent! Laila has never been one to cuddle. She has always wanted to just do her own thing and not be bothered by sitting on the couch or bed and relaxing with mommy and daddy. It's finally changing. She loves hanging out in bed with us. She flops herself around and back and all over the place and giggles like crazy. Now she lifts her arms up and calls for mommy or daddy. She copies things we say and says some sentences that we have yet to know what the heck she is saying. She loves giving us "high fives" and dancing all silly with mommy. Laila loves books and had a TON of them! She is now pointing out things when I ask her were something is. During bathtime she has her Bathtime squeak book and each time I read it she knows at the very end comes the "squeak" on the piggy's nose. She points to it. She laughs when we scare her and when she farts, I say "piggy" and she tries to fart again. It's too stinkin' cute! Goodness, new things happen everyday. What a little sas she is!

Family time!

Wow! We have been super busy. I don't know where this year has gone already. I can't believe we are almost half way into February. Since the holidays I have felt non stop. We were so happy to hear that we were going to have family coming from New York for Laila's birthday. Brian, Marisa, and Jordan were coming to stay with us for a week. And we were surprised by Aunt Patti and Uncle Bob. They came and helped prepare for Laila's party and then we enjoyed lounging around the rest of the week. We got to go see a movie, spend the day at Busch Gardens, and just enjoy eachother's company. Laila and Jordan loved playing. Laila picked up a lot of words and walking moves from him. We always have so much fun when they are down. Can't wait for the next time.

Kaitlyn, Lianna, Laila, Jordan, & Landon

Laila practicing her walking at BG.

The clan.

Laila was happy daddy could come with us this time!

Lovin' Cousins!

Jordan fishing in Lake Roach.

Brian and Jason with the kids.

Time for the Johnson's to head back to NY.

"You are our Sunshine"

HOLY COW! Can I pinch myself? Do we really have a one year old? Unreal. Laila's 1st party was definantly a big deal. We welcomed tons of friends and family to our home to help us celebrate. Jason and I wanted to make it special for her, even if she won't remember it, we will, and she will look back and be greatful for it all.
Laila got lots of gifts (and me too!). It was a never ending line of opening presents and cards. Laila got Elmo Encore, Radio Flyer Outback Wagon, PBK baby carriage with Abby and Stella baby dolls, oodles of clothes, some mulla to stash away, gift cards and some other little things to play with.

Every one year old needs a smash cake. Laila stuck her little fingers into her sunshine cake and went at it. While about 50 people watched her and laughed. She was loving it! I have never seen such a mess. About half way through, it was time to take a bath and get all the cake crud off of her. She wasn't too happy and could of just been covered in cake the rest of the night.

I couldn't get over it. It literally was everywhere...hair and cake prints all over her face. Looks like she is ready to fight in a war. haha!

I wanted Laila to remember everyone who came to her first birthday. I will have her 1st birthday picture framed and kept in her room. It was a great day (and a memorable birthday for me). As much fun as we had...next year...we do small. After this...Laila will be telling me what she wants for her special birthday parties. Thank you to everyone who came and crammed themselves into our humble abode!

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. :)