Sunday, January 18, 2015

Dedication.

We could not be more honored to have Lyla dedicated to her Creator.  She was dedicated on Sunday, December 28th at our church (Grace Covenant).  Pastor Farrell dedicated her along with Gage when he was little and married Erik and I :) We love him and feel so blessed to call Grace Covenant our home.  When my Pawpaw died in 2000 I started going with my Meemaw to keep her company.  It wasn't long after going that I realized this was a place that I loved and felt this was where I was called to worship.  Erik and I officially joined after we got married and have loved it since.  Sorry, got off topic.

Anyways....Lyla looked like a little angel.  We love her to pieces and can't wait to tell her all about what God has already done for her and our family.  We are truly blessed to have two healthy babies to call our own.  

Lyla Ray, you are loved by SO many....but most importantly, the man upstairs.  God will never forsake you and he will always be there when you need him.  THAT is why we chose to have you dedicated to him and we know that one day you will REALLY find out how truly amazing our God is.


A little cat nap on the way.









Meemaw and Lyla.





Thank you to our family for your support of Lyla and our family!  We didn't get a picture with everyone but you know who you are :)  We love you!!

Christmas 2014.

We had a great Christmas and I think Lyla enjoyed her FIRST Christmas :)  Erik and I were talking about how much fun it is to see your kids light up when they open presents.  Way more fun than receiving presents yourself....at least for us.

So anyways, we went to Erik's family in Burlington on Christmas Eve.  We got to celebrate at Grandmaw's nursing home because she is hard to remove from the home so we went to her!  We had a great time and played dirty santa with the family.  We came back home that night so Gage could wake up Christmas morning to see what Santa brought him.  He didn't wake up until 9:00 :)  Wahoo.

To prep for Santa we made him cookies (Gage asked if he could leave two so see if Santa would share, haha) and milk.  Gage got carried away with the sprinkles....as usual (see below).

This is the first time Gage really "got it".  In the past we really just had one small toy for him to open but Erik HAD to get him more this year.  All he asked for was a squishy snake.  So he definitely got that and who would have thought that a $14 toy would be his favorite!  His "big" gift was a new tool bench.  He liked the shop vac that came with it and thought it was pretty cool that it had a light to help him see.  He got "big boy underwear" and Santa wrote him a note.  Santa told him he wanted him to be using the potty and sleeping in a big boy bed by the time he comes back next year.  Ha, we can only HOPE.  He has no desire to not wear diapers, argh.

After spending some time at our house Christmas morning, we went to my mom and dads to eat lunch and open gifts there.  That night we went to Mimi's and had Christmas with my moms side of the family.

As always, we are beyond grateful to have both of our families and get the opportunity to share Christmas with them.


YaYa and all her babies!


Evelyn and Gage waiting to see Santa :) 



We tried.....


Poor Santa....he had to have had a stomach ache.


Christmas Jammies!


Jenna and Lyla


Reese and Lyla


La La, Bella, and Lyla



Exhausted.

7 & 8 months.

Seriously, we have been sick in this household since October....not kidding.  I have never been sick so often in my LIFE and I'm a teacher; I have a good immune system.  Gage and Lyla have been sick almost as much as I have, poor babies.  Lyla is just now getting over a double ear infection.  Erik too...and you know how whiny men are when they are sick.....love ya babe!

So the whole point of that intro was to let you know I have a good excuse for not updating the blog....I have lots of those :)  Need one?  Just ask.

Anyways, I feel like a lot has happened since Lyla was 6 months old.  She is now sleeping consistently, yeppppp! Finally.  So apparently when I was breastfeeding she wasn't getting enough.  She finally wouldn't refuse formula anymore (around 7 months old) and now has (4) 8 ounce bottles a day versus (4) 4 ounce bottles a day...poor thang.  Needless to say we are all formula here.  She will only drink Enfamil A.R. (added rice).  Whatever.  If she drank $80 formula I'd still buy it, I need sleep :) Erik has been a HUGE help now that he can help feed her.  Speaking of Erik......

Lyla is a daddy's girl.  Why is that?!  Why are boys into their moms and girls into their dads?  Weird. Seriously though, she loves him.  He gets her to sleep like no other.  He tried to teach me the trick but I'm not quite as good.  She will say "da-da" sometimes.  Turd.  What about "momma"?

She is smiling ALL.THE.TIME.  That big ol' head and one little dimple always makes for a cute smile, ha!  To think the doctors thought her head was proportionally small (in the womb), hilarious.  She loves to be talked to and LOVES her brother.  There is nothing sweeter than Gage entertaining, singing, and loving on Lyla.  He loves her to pieces....never saw that coming.  He calls her "Lyla Boo", "pretty girl", and "punkin".  Sweet thang.  He might be crazy but he is protective over his sister.

She loves her jumperoo, Erik and I love watching her jump in it.  She still likes the paci; should be interesting when its time to get rid of it.  Gage just didn't want his anymore one day....we could only be so lucky with Lyla.

She is sitting up but if she reaches for something to the left or right, down she goes.  She LOVES to roll on the floor; she will roll around for an hour and be completely happy.  She is extremely difficult to feed.  She has ADD.  She is so into everyone else or every little sound that she hears so she is constantly looking around.  So as you put the food to her mouth, she turns the other way and it gets everywhere.  She loves fruit and to get her to eat veggies, I have to mix her food when I make it.  Did I mention she is high maintenance?

I see Gage in her as in, the not staying still part.  She is always reaching for something or pulling my hair out and ya'll know I need my hair (EVERY strand).  I still love her though.

She enjoyed her first Christmas, she actually ripped open her gifts, ha!  She was dedicated to our church days later and we couldn't be more blessed.   I have some more updating to do but until then, here is our little angel :)




Violet (our sweet neighbor) and Lyla


Grey and Lyla


Bella and Lyla


Love this girl!


Lucky girl to have a big brother that loves her so much!



We brought good luck to the Panthers when she wore this.  The last game.....not so much. 



Tea Party action....Sorry Gage.


How did she get so big?!


I could squeeze her.



She loves Daisy girl.


Saturday, November 8, 2014

Halloween 2014.

Happy Halloween....2 weeks late :)  I feel like I say "late" every post some I'm gonna stop.  We will all just assume I am always late writing posts.

To kick off Halloween, the past two years we have carved pumpkins together.  This year Lindsay hosted.  We ate a boston butt and carved pumpkins, always a good time!



This year was Gage's 2nd Halloween and Lyla's first!  Gage was a fisherman (after much deliberation about being a dinosaur or cowboy) and Lyla was Little Red Riding Hood one night and just cute the next, ha!

As always, we went to my moms church for Trunk-or-Treat.  Gage had a blast going to all the trunks and getting candy.



All the cousins at Trunk-or-Treat.


Fisherman Gage


Lil' Red Riding Hood, Lyla


On actual Halloween we went to Kari and Dan's house.  Erik was under the weather so I took the kids.  We went around to several houses near Kari and Dan's.  Gage could have cared less about going up to the houses, he just wanted candy.  In fact, at the second house, he sat right down on the peoples porch and ate the twix that they gave him.  Lord.

We had to stop by and see all the cousins dressed up before we went trick-or-treating with friends :)


Pawpaw and his 7 girls and 2 boys!


Gracie Girl and Lyla


Gage and Lyla


This is the best we could do....the trick-or-treating Gang :)


Gage and Addi


We love Ya-Ya!




6 months.

Lyla Ray is 6 months, ah!

She is....
-always smiling
-happy
-chunky- see the rolls below :)
-not sleeping very well (up 1-4 times a night...I know....some people have it way worse than that.  But seriously, she tricked me.  She WAS sleeping through the night for a couple months)
-rolling over
-sucking a paci
-eating baby food (so far she loves:  sweet potatoes, bananas, and carrots)
-spitting up EVERY.WHERE
-wearing 6 month clothing
-"un"snuggable (doesn't like to be snuggled)
-stiff as a board (she stands up to burp)
-lookin' like her mama, at least thats what everyone says
-our little angel and we love her to pieces :)

Happy half way birthday sweet girl!



First Halloween as Little Red Riding Hood.


First experience with baby food....sweet potatoes, yum!


6 month check-up


Weight 14 lb, 10 oz (34%)
Height:  25.25 in (46%)

Here is Gage at 6 months.  Think they look alike?!