November already!?

TOP THREE's FOR 9 MONTHS!

Top 3 Cutest Things

1. Dance. I am so excited to have a little girl who can dance around the room with me. I love turning on my Zumba music to practice and there she is on the floor practicing her own moves. I love her little bum shake. 

Cameron has started a new job! Yay! What a blessing?! Paycheck and great, needed experience!!! We are so grateful! Sadly, they have asked him to work Wednesdays, one of my Zumba nights. For now, Laila is going to my class with me. She did really well actually! I just parked her stroller up front next to me while I taught! The music was pretty loud, so who knew is she actually put up a fuss!? ;-) No, she really did do great. Here's a picture from Laila's first official Zumba class! 

2. Follows me around. I really could put this on the least cutest things too...ha! But I do love it, I just have to be careful not to trip on her! 

3. When daddy comes home. She gets in this pretending-to-be-shy mode, but she's not really. And tosses herself to and fro in anticipation for him to come and pick her up! She loves him! 

Top 3 Least Cutest Things

1.  She took her time adjusting to daylight savings. I never thought it really made that big of difference, but it really threw her off. Naps, meals, bedtimes....took us a couple days to re-adjust. 

2. Laila loves chasing the vacuum around. I'm not sure what her fascination with it is, but she loves to follow it around, making it almost impossible to vacuum. Sometimes she will cut you off and just plop her little bum on top of it....

3. Freak outs. She has no problem being the noisy one, but whenever someone else, ie another baby makes a loud grunt or schrill she let's you have it. When we get together with some of our friends and their little babes, Laila will have these random outbursts whenever she's not the loud one. 

Top 3 Funniest Things she does

1. Bath time is still a crack up! I'm so happy she loves the water! It is so funny watching her try and crawl in the bath tub - especially when I put some lavender oil in it. So slippery! 

2. She is really starting to get the whole put one foot in front of the other thing... and she gets this grin like, "Mom! are you watching this?! Look what I can do??"

3. Talking. I can't wait to find out what all these weird sounds and noises mean to her.

Top 3 Favorite Things

1.String cheese. She can't eat it fast enough! 

2. her Zebra. She just loves that thing. I mean loves loves loves! And let me tell you, who had the bright idea of making a cute stuff animal into a music box..how are you supposed to put that in the wash machine?! That Zebra smells so bad.... 

3. Keys! and every other item that is not intended to be a toy; phones, remotes, garbage, dvd

(Speaking of garbage...epic "mommy" fail this last month! So sometimes, when our kitchen garbage gets too full we take the bag out and tie it up and leave it on the kitchen floor for the next time we go outside...since its such a journey! Anyway, that's what I had done. Well after searching everywhere else for Laila, I turn the kitchen corner and find her there, on the floor, the garbage bag ripped open, and my daughter literally licking the bloody packaging from the meat we had had for dinner the night before. AHhhhhh! I almost puked. After worrying that my child was now going to die from food poisoning we kept a close eye on her. No problems...go figure. Lesson learned.)

Top 3 Dislikes

1. Halloween. I'm a bad parent because I just had to laugh....She had such a hard time with masks, face paint, big hats, wigs, all of the above. We took her to the ward trunk o treat and she was not loving life. One of our friends was dressed up as a witch and had some fun green and black face paint on. She got in Laila's face to say hello and Laila lost it.

2. Avacados. I can not get her to eat these....more for me! 

3. Still not loving strangers. I think, well I hope, she is still in this kind of stranger-danger phase. I hope it doesn't last. She wont make any friends. And I feel so bad when people take it personal. It's amazing how fast that little scream/cry turns on or off. 

Top 3 Accomplishments

1. She's starting to take steps now while you hold her hands, pushing her walker, or using the couch.

2. She pulls herself up on everything. One of her favorite games is to pull herself up in her crib and throw herself down, bouncing on the mattress. I just pray that her diaper is not full! 

3. Two teeth! The two bottom front teeth. So small and SO cute!  

All Hallow's Eve

Halloween - Tangled style! Presenting Flinn Ryder, Rapunzel, and Pascal ( Rapunzel's lizard friend). We threw these costumes together for less than $10 ! Go Goodwill! and my talented seamster of a husband!  Laila's costume was originally a newborn pea pod costume - we had to cut holes for her legs! ha! 

We had fun! Ward Trunk Or Treat, Playgroup Halloween party for the kiddos (really it was for the moms), carving pumpkins with friends, trick or treating down-town "city-style" and Hocus Pocus. 

The two loves of my life!

Um...so don't judge me. She was already really grumpy before I put her in the pumpkin....I really wanted a picture of her in it...but I think she was a little upset about the whole ordeal. 

Ok, had to take a picture with this person. So we went down to the University Village, its a big shopping mall next to the U of W campus. Lots of families go there to do there trick or treating....we joined the craziness just for the experience of it all, not really because Laila is old enough to actually trick or treat. It was fun walking around and checking out all the costumes. But this beauty had me laughing...I took the picture just for Cameron! He didn't think it was that funny! The cherry on top was Laila was in good spirits until we made friends with this "foot" - she is too much like her father! ;-)

Here are a couple pictures from our Halloween party. We had some friends over to spend the evening together! 

More October Adventures

I have a confession. I can't stop taking pictures of Laila. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with all of these. At least her life will be well photographed. Ha. Here are some pictures from our October adventures so far.... I am so grateful to have a little buddy to explore Seattle with. And she is really starting to interact with the world around her. Now when we go to the zoo, its not just me excited to see the animals! 

Exploring the Seattle Art Museum downtown

A cloudy day at the park...lovin's the swings! 

The Pumpkin Patch. We walked away with quite a haul! The squash was ridiculously cheap! And it makes the best soup! 

Just chillin' in the high chair. 

Seattle has so many parks and trails. I love it. These pictures are from the University's Arboretum park and the Woodland Park trails. 

Ashleigh came up and spent the weekend with us. Got in some Hot Yoga, scary movie (I don't know why we do that, neither of us enjoy them!) popcorn, SkipBo, and plenty of walks!! SO much fun! Here we are at Pike's Market. Honesty, I could go there every week. It is so much fun. I love love love the fresh produce. And Ashleigh and I spent a lot of time at the bread and oil/vinegar samples. YUM! 

Cam had his first concert this week with the Seattle Ensign Chorus and Symphony. It was absolutely fantastic! I am so glad I was able to attend. And I am so grateful, that even with his busy schedule Cameron has been able to find time for this opportunity. It is so fun to watch him up there doing something he absolutely  loves. A couple friends from his pharmacy class attended the concert as well. Way sweet! 

Both he and I participated in the Portland Ensign Choir and Orchestra with my parents down in Portland. It was such a neat opportunity. Especially for me as I really don't have a trained, professional voice (I think I was able to participate because I had a husband who they were desperate to have! :) ) I was so impressed with the Seattle choir and symphony, however. The concert hall, Benorya Hall in downtown Seattle was spectacular. And the choir and symphony just sounded incredible. They opened with "High on a Mountain Top" and the audience was already to there feet. Great concert Cam! 

Crawling everywhere and giggles to share !

Oh baby !! One word.... Teeth!

Well actually it's tooth. Laila is finally getting her first tooth. She's not too excited about it, but it explains the faucet of a nose she has had for the last day or two. It is so sad to watch her, she opens her mouth for a piece of banana and just melts down as she tries to chew it. Guess we'll just stick to the purees for a couple days.

Hello OCTOBER!

We love fall!! Crunchy leaves. Candy corn. Crisp sunshine. Conference weekend. Time with family and friends. and Laila's 8 months!!!!!


I love love love Conference weekend, an opportunity to meet as an entire congregation of the church, across the entire world to "Come and Listen to a Prophet's Voice".  Growing up, we took several trips to Utah, as a family and as a church youth group. Actually attending those meetings in person, and the beautiful spirit about Temple Square was addicting and testimony strengthening.

Mom and dad came up to spend the weekend with us. It was nice to all be together. Chelsie and Dallin (our favorite neighbors :) ) spent the Saturday day with us as well. Complete with a delicious Saturday morning Conference feast!  And honestly, I think when Laila woke up Monday morning she was disappointed to see it was just her and I again. She looked all over, as if looking for someone, like, " Where'd the party go???"

In between the different sessions of conference we escaped to catch some fresh air. And we lucked out with a beautiful, dry weekend. Here are some pics....

I think this is just after a bite of that leaf in her hand disappeared into her mouth. Hence the sour lips. It was impossible to leave her sitting in the grass without leaves, twigs and insects at risk of being eaten. 

I LOVE these pictures. Just like her daddy. The prettiest, bluest eyes!

This is such a Laila face. It is usually accompanied by this fake laugh/ screeching thing she does. 

Story time with Lala, life doesn't get much better! 

I really am growing to absolutely LOVE Seattle! What a view! and just a short drive away!

So this weekend also marked 8 months for Miss Laila! 8 months! ahh! That's like 4 months away from a year! Crazy crazy. Here are Laila's TOP THREE's FOR 8 MONTHS!

Top 3 Cutest Things

1. Booty dance! She loves to shake her little bum. The second music comes on, even if its a commercial, or something quick and random...cue the booty dance! 

2. Her giggles. 

3.Whenever she gets upset or something is wrong, she checks around the room to find me, gives me this look like, "Mom, is everything okay?" I love that she looks to me for reassurance. What an incredible thing, and in the grand scheme of things a horrifying responsibility! Ha! 

Top 3 Least Cutest Things

1. Throw a fit. Yep. Already. Even with a little foot stomp and everything sometimes.  I swear this is much earlier than I was expecting this to start. But this girl has some attitude already! Heaven help us! But she is the cutest thing with her little arms folded across her chest. I'm not sure she is getting the whole "Time-out" concept yet, but it will come, oh yes it WILL come. 

2. Spit her food. She thinks its the funniest thing.

3. Pull all the books and DVD's off the shelves. 

4. I am going to add a bonus one here. We are re-adjusting our sleep training. We are moving from 3 naps to 2. Yikes! This has been a lot of fun let me tell you. She started waking up in the night again, ya not OK! And her naps were progressively getting shorter. So we decided, alright, let's cut the 3rd nap and try and lengthen the 2nd. It was been such a struggle with a lot of crying and screaming. And I have been second guessing it since we started. But I have to say this, today is officially a week since we started and she finally slept through the night again last night. Took a 2 hour nap this morning and is going on a 3 hour nap this afternoon! Hallelujah! Let's hope this continues. 

Top 3 Funniest Things she does

1. You know the little metal circle at the front of your tub, under the faucet!?  Laila will find her reflection in it and just crack up. So funny! 

2. She sings!  Well I like to think she does. Whenever I start singing to her, she starts "singing" along with me.

3. It amazes me how fast she can turn on and off a really impressive cry. Its like slamming on the breaks, you know, when you come to a complete stop, not a sliding, semi-gradual stop, but really quick and abrubt?! That's how she rolls. Drama queen! 

Top 3 Favorite Things

1. So Cameron got me these really light hand-weights for Zumba. They shake a little bit like there might be rice in them. Laila love's them. Some mornings, they are the first things she goes to. 

2. She loves hide and seek. You jump out at her and she will laugh and laugh. 

3. Still loves to bounce. Jump and jump and jump.

Top 3 Dislikes

1. It is amazing to me how quickly these little ones start to learn the concept of cause and effect. We have a book shelf where the shelves go all the way to the floor. Laila loves to rip them off and play with the pages. I have been trying to teach her NO, that she can not touch those. I will see her crawling to the book shelf and say, "Laila no", and you know what she does???? She looks at me and crawls FASTER. The little stink! I grab her in my arms and fold her arms against her chest, a little mini time out (which I have to say is the cutest thing ever. It is really hard to be "mad" at her when she is just so cute.) Sometimes though, you take that book away and cue the fit. Ya, not so cute. 

2. Her bib. They are impossible to keep on her. She just rips them right off. And she let's you know she is not happy about them when you put them on her. I have added it to my project list to make some bibs that are, well, more difficult to get off; button, zipper, super glued! ;-)

3. Strangers. I think she is kind of in the stranger-danger phase. She's all fine and dandy until she looks up and sees an unknown face cooing and smiling at her and she looses it. I feel so bad for all of the people she has introduced to her high-pitch screams. 

Top 3 Accomplishments

1. We have a crawler! And she is everywhere! I LOVE it! 

2. Chewing really well. She loves small pieces of fruit or cooked veggies to chew. Graham crackers and rice crackers. I made the mistake of sharing my roll with her last Sunday. I think that's a new favorite. I'm not as paranoid about her chocking now. I don't mean I'm ready for her to play with marbles, I just mean she is starting to get the hang of the whole eating thing ! :) 

3. Crawls to mommy. I will hold my arms out for her and she will scurry across the room into my arms. 

Summer happenings...

It has been a busy, fun-filled summer. Here is a quick update on our summer happenings;

(*disclaimer :)  forever long post...there were WAY too many pictures to choose from)

Yellowstone/ Island Park - Sill Family Reunion

We had a BLAST! Laila and Jack both had their first tube rides behind the boat :)

 

Family kayak and canoe trip down the river! We even had a mamma and baby moose join us!

I was so nervous as this trip started out. Within the first 2-3 minutes, no joke, the entire family was out of sight beside our canoe and my parents. We had Laila throwing a fit, screaming her head off, and mom, dad, and Jack tipped their canoe. Both grandparents with soaked, with skinned elbows and knees, but with my mom's most graceful and talented efforts a DRY Jack. Good work Lala!!! and lucky, as I mentioned, we were not very far and the water was fairly shallow!  I was thinking to myself, oh boy! What have we gotten ourselves into!?!?!?!?!? This is going to be the longest adventure ever!!!!!  But things calmed down, and it was beautiful and so much fun! 

This was our family Sunday hike to the waterfalls.  BeaUtiful!!

 

A good chunk of the Sill family cousins! 

Now to the good, smelly stuff! :) It had been so long since I'd been to Yellowstone. I thought it was way cool to walk around and see the different hot pots/ geysers/ orange and blue and brown and white swimming pools. 

Loved this picture of Jack Jack!

 

 Laila and Ol' Faithful!

 

Floating the river! Honestly I could have down this all day! We took this picture when Chris and Melani (obviously) joined up with us! Earlier, however, both mom and dad floated the river with us along with Maija and Brielle!

This beautiful spot was right behind the cabin we stayed at. I wish we could have stayed longer. What a fun get-away!?!? 

Corbin and Carianne's Wedding

My little purple bug! Cameron made this dress, and a second for Laila's cute little cousin Aria. Cousin Alec had a matching bow tie! What a talented man I married!?!

The bride and groom! Congrats lovebirds! Best of luck on your happily ever after! Remember to visit and revisit and revisit and revisit that building you are standing in front of ! What a blessing!?

I love listening to this talented family"make" music. That evening Cameron sang with Corbin at the reception.

Little Cutie! 

Laila and dad with Great Grandma Lula!

Lara and I were laughing so hard watching these newbies dance with their little girls. Aria was not so sure about all of it and let everyone know.

Tangled! Well kind of. I thought it was the coolest thing! Awesome idea Carianne!

 

 

Hanging with the Garners

Cousin time! 

I know both of these men have played a great deal of influence in Cameron's, and I am sure Bronson's, life.

Ready for the FAIR! 

Laila - keeping herself entertained!

During our week in Salem, we snuck in a visit to Portland to see Auntie Ashleigh! I thought these pictures turned out darling! 

 

Another trip to Utah 

This made our fourth trip to Utah this summer, and our fifth long trip (Yellowstone being one of them). Laila has been such a trooper! She has become quite the little traveler and luckily has decide the car seat is not all bad. I remember when she was smaller when she really did not enjoy being strapped into it. I am so glad she worked that out or these could have been a lot more interesting! I do have to say though, boy we were glad this last long drive to have a baby that has started a solid diet. Never once did we have a blow out and never did we have a puddle of digested remnants in the carseat!  As my brother appropriately named little Queen poops-alot, we had some interesting road trips. Let's just say Laila has taken several "baths" in the bathrooms at multiple rest stops and gas stations between here and Utah! 

We did travel in style this time around. We all wanted to drive together in one car so we rented a van. Let's just say we all fit! Ha! It was so much fun! 

Miss Emily

I am so glad we were able to be there and show our support and love for Brandon and Michelle and their sweet family. I VERY much admire their dedication to the gospel, their family and those things they know to be true and good. I have always looked up to them from the very first time we met (almost 5 years ago). 

 

Grandma Bonnie, with Mamma Garner and her siblings. It was fun to visit and meet more of the Auger family.

Laila with Grandma Bonnie.                                

More cousin time!