Monday, February 10, 2014

Camping

Our ward had a camp out the end of September. We didn't think it would be great to sleep in a tent with Leila so we just decided to stay for the evening and head home before the gates to the campground closed. Even though it was short we had a great time. We absolutely love our ward and it was great to spend some time with them. It was pretty late for Leila so she was tired but snuggled with Daddy for the evening.
 

Growing up...

I can't believe how much Leila is growing. After she was born it only took a few sleepless nights to feel like this was my new norm. Her complete dependence on me and newness to life seemed like a forever thing. So to see little ways of these things changing is sad to me. Don't get me wrong getting sleep at night is great but it's hard to watch my newborn slip away. But everyday is something new and I'm trying to live in each moment. One of the many things that Leila has taught me is to appreciate the little moments and achievements in life.
So people laugh but I celebrate each new food Leila tries with pictures and/or videos. I know...I'm obsessed but I just can't help it! Here are a couple of her first foods...
Cereal
Prunes
Carrots
 
Another sign of growing up...this girl is strong! To keep her entertained in her swing, I attached some rings to the mobile. I was in the other room and heard this clicking noise. I walk in and she was holding on to the ring like this and holding the mobile from turning. I took her hand off figuring it was a fluke that she was able to catch one but she did it again! I seriously thought she was going to break it she was pulling so hard! So the rings are off the mobile now. :)
 
Another sign of growing up...Leila is stinking smart! She loves her books and I loved catching her totally into her LDS quiet book.
Until she got too tired to hold her head up.  
 
Finally, I had to add in this late night picture that Jeremy took...love snuggling with this girl, feeding her with a bottle that she can totally hold by herself now and just staring at how absolute perfect she is. Ya, I'm a cheeseball! 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Pirate Day

Anyone that knows me knows that I love free things. I know everyone loves free things but I think I love them a little more than normal. Free things seriously make my life! So when a friend in my ward sent out an email about getting a FREE DOZEN KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS I was all over it! All you had to do was dress up like a pirate. Not too big of a deal. I'm totally ok looking like a fool but it's always better to look like a fool with someone else. So Jessica and I decided to go together. Walking down Franklin street was awesome with everyone staring. :)
Ya we look like twin pirates but we really didn't have much to work with so we ended up in the same outfit. :)
Oh ya, and we got THREE dozen...one for me, one for Jess and one for Leila. Yes Leila got a free dozen of doughnuts for holding a toucan hand puppet. (We called it a parrot for costume purposes.) I wasn't planning on her counting but when someone offers you an extra free dozen doughnuts you don't pass that up.
We were seriously stoked! So grateful for a good friend to dress up with!
We each ended up with a dozen and a half (Leila gladly split her dozen with "Baby Dyer") and ate them all! So worth it!
 

On the day you were born...

Awhile ago I saw this idea on Pinterest to make a book for your child about the day they were born. I loved the idea and couldn't wait to make one for Leila. Anie gave me the heads up on a free Shutterfly book so I jumped to it and busted out her book in two days just in time for the deal. When the book came I waited to open it with Leila.
She loves books in general but she was really cute about looking at this book. She loved all the pictures. I'm so glad I have this little book and I know it will be a fun thing for her to have as she grows up.
Plus it's good for me when I need a good cry...I'm such a sappy mom!

A Girl and her Dolly

September 15, 2013
One of Leila's many adopted Grandma's gave Leila this sweet little dolly before she was born. I haven't really given it to her to play with since she basically just sucks on everything. But I decided to give it to her today. She immediately grabbed it and just held it. Even when she didn't have her binky in her mouth she just snuggled it. My heart melted. Of course when Jeremy tried to play with her and the doll he was being rough with it and we had to have a lesson on what is the right way to play with dolls. Leila was good about teaching him. :)
 

Chick-fil-A

One of the things I was really excited about when moving to North Carolina was all the Chick-fil-A restaurants! I like my chicken!!! But I've had to control the cravings to keep within budget. My mom, being the amazing mother she is, sent me this little gift in the mail...she knows me so well!
It provided the perfect family date night!
We joined the Dyers at the Chick-Fil-A down the road inside the mall. This is seriously the friendliest Chick-fil-A! They gave Leila and "Baby Dyer" these adorable little cow stuffed animals. So nice!
Leila loves her new buddy!
 (Yes I used a plastic place mat as a backdrop behind her head...real classy I know. :)
 
After Chick-fil-A we took a look inside this store in the mall called Roses. It's basically a cross between the dollar store and Ross. I don't even know if that description completely does it justice. It's nuts and we walked through the whole thing which took such a long time Leila fell asleep in her car seat. Ha! What a night! Such a fun date!

It's Official!

Well, it's official. We have lost our California branding for good. Our little Gordita is officially a North Carolina car. After moving to this new state, getting North Carolina licenses was our first step to becoming residents and the next was getting North Carolina plates. Jeremy and I laughed at how attached we really were to these little things that keep us Californians. But it's time to embrace our new home. Plus people wont know we are California drivers anymore!
Before
During
After
Here's to being one of the masses on the road! :)

Volleyball Game

This is a new thing to attend a school that has actual sports. What a concept! Jeremy gets free tickets to most sporting events but unfortunately I don't. We were kind of bummed about that since we are poor college students. However, we found out that volleyball is free for everyone! So we jumped on that and attended our first volleyball game just three weeks into this new semester.
We were a little nervous about how Leila would do since it was well past her bedtime but she was a champ! She actually really seemed into the game. Daddy was so proud!
She did do some snuggling too as I tried to protect her from all the loud cheering, announcing, and music. These snuggles never get old!
All together our first game was a success and we love having a team to cheer for. I see loves more sporting events in our future!

Just a pear

My sister's sister-in-law Pargie aka one of my favorite people in the world got Leila this adorable pear jumper. I couldn't resist taking a couple pictures.
She obviously loves it!
I also had to show off her little ponytail. I need to get smaller rubber bands but she's got plenty of hair for a nice sized pony!
Love my little pear!

The world through Leila's eyes

I constantly wonder what Leila is thinking. It is fun that she is so aware of her surroundings and curious about things now. She finds joy in the littlest things and reminds me to do the same.
She is so content talking to the butterflies in her gym,
watching the animals spin above her in her swing,
and being mesmerized by the pom poms and mobile while she lays in her crib.

These small things is what she lives for right now and I love seeing her so happy.
But she also know how to take her anger out too...she just puts her giraffe in a head lock. That a girl!

Four Months

4 Months! Whew what a whirlwind! It feels like we just moved here and I was doing her 3 month post and its already time for another month!
Another month, another doctor's appointment. More shots and updated stats.
Height: 24 3/4 inches
Weight: 12 pounds 6 ounces
Head Circumference: 39.6 cm
Leila is such a easy going baby and it is so amazing! She is really getting into her schedule and the whole sleeping at night thing is amazing! It is also nice that she is ok with being held off when she is hungry. She will take a binky which is really a life saver. Not to say that there aren't days that I feel a little crazy but I am truly grateful for the lack of extra stress!
The biggest development this month was Leila started food! She has really taken to it too! I can't wait to start putting some chunk on this girl!
Another big development this month...ready for it...Leila rolled over! Woohoo! I wouldn't say that she is "rolling" but she has done it so I'm counting it! :) 
She continues to be a little Chatty Cathy especially with the little butterflies in her gym. She talks to them more than us but at least she talking! :)
Just to top off this post, I couldn't resist sticking in a bunch of these pictures...her faces kill me!
Love our little fourth month old baby girl!