Most Wonderful Time of the Year

While the holidays often get quite chaotic and I get super stressed out, I still love everything about the Christmas season.  From shopping in crowded malls with rude people, wrapping gifts, struggling with holiday decorations, holiday get-togethers, cookie day with my cousins, I just can't get enough.  This year, we had extra reason to celebreate with our girl.   Here's a few pics from our celebration. 

Coty and his new suspenders.

Playing with Aunt Becky.

Climbing.


A girl and her Gaga.

Cheese.

Total Christmas Chaos.

Checking out her pile.

1st Christmas Morning!

Showing off her "strangers" book.

I had a migraine on Christmas morning so Lyla took a rare snooze on me.   Best Christmas gift ever.

Showing off their Lyla mugs.

Hanging with Dad on Christmas Day.

Happy Girl.

Nice attempt at a family pic.



Christmas Pics

Not much time went by before it was time for Christmas pictures.  Seriously, how cute is this kid!?














Fall Pictures

On a whim, I decided to take Lyla to Pilcher Park for a photo shoot.  One of the girls I played softball with was holding "mini sessions" at the nearby park so I took advantage.  The pictures are awesome.  Really, see for yourself. 








Happy Halloween

We kept is pretty low key for Lyla's first Halloween.  After all, how much fun can a nine month old have?  We got her all dressed up and visited Homewood Disposal, Gaga Peach's, and her grandma and grandpa's. No trick or treating allowed this year!







Spit Happens

When Lyla was less than 24 hours old, she decided to spit 1/2 of her bottle right back at us.   New parents that we were, Eric went running for the nurse telling her the baby was choking.  Little did we know, this was the beginning of a very long road.  Every bottle from that point, as you may remember from an earlier post, was followed by spit up.  A lot.  A little.  We just never knew.  We went through at least three bibs and four outfits a day.  It was awful.   After every feeding, even those at 2am, I was too afraid to lay her back down.  I would hold her for at least 45 minutes and then as soon as I'd lay her down, the barf came again. 

From the beginning, our pediatrician told us there was nothing we could do and she was just a baby that spits.  She assured us that it would end by the time she was nine months.  NINE months!  That seemed like an eternity! 

Well, this post is meant to remind me for next time around.  Megan, your doctor was right.  Nothing you do will stop a child from being a spitter.  Exactly one week shy of Lyla's ninth month, the spit up miraculously disappeared!  I couldn't even believe it.  It was like having a different kid! 

Notes to Self (for next time around)
   Buy Tommy Tippee Bibs, they are the best.
   Switching formula doesn't help. 
   Switching formula only causes more misery.
   Pack at least four outfits when you leave the house.
   Don't worry about what people say, it's not your fault you have a spitter.
   It really does take nine months. 
  



What's Really Her Name?

Rarely does Lyla actually get called Lyla.   This girl has a long list of nicknames that I didn't want to forget so here goes:

Ly
Lylers
Ya-Ya
Squish
Squishy Face
Baby Girl
Nugget
Nuggie
Nuggs
Mama's Girl
Mama's Little Girl
My Girl (ala Daddy)
Sweet Face (ala Grampa Mac)
Sweetie Baby
Monchichi
Monchi's
Beauty
Dolly Girl
Ladybug
Baby Cakey
Picklepuss (ala Mimi)
Grandma's Girl
Jeffery (we'll explain this to her later...and not in writing)

Lil' Punkin

Finally!  Afer 15 years of asking Eric to go to the pumpkin patch, I finally get to go (much like the zoo)!


Hanging out with her Gramp.  Look at those teeth!

Corn Maze!  Creepy.

Lil' Punkin

Not sure who is more excited to be here!

All fun and games until a pony tries to eat your baby.

She's having so much fun.
Had to post these cheeks.
Another pumpkin patch with the Gonzo's...and of course it was 90 degrees (in October)

Lyla and her man.


Me and the girl.