October 20, 2015. Drake 12 months.

12 months:

weighs 25. 2 pounds (93%)

30.5 in tall (75%) 

happiest baby there is!

loves to explore the house

takes everything out of the cupboards all the time

a great sleeper

2 long naps + sleeps through the night

5 teeth 

constantly doted on by all his siblings

crawls everywhere

pulls up to his knees

loves remotes and phones

loves books

starting to like table food, although prefers baby food

eats 4 bottles a day

Gosh I love this boy! The last year with him in our family has been the best! We are lucky to call him ours! Happy 1 year Bubba Boy!

And a look through the past year...

September 20, 2015. Drake 11 months.

11 months:

almost a year! so crazy!

smacks his lips in his highchair

loves to hear his voice especially in areas that echo

crawls all over the place

a little trouble maker

being outside is his favorite

gets crazy excited when i put him in his crib...anticipating tickles

loves remotes + phones

got 2 new teeth...4 teeth total now

loves the bath + loves to splash, splash, splash

August 20, 2015. Drake 10 months.

10 months:

loves books

loves animal sounds 

tries to bark like a dog

claps his hands

drinks from a sippy cup

loves music

rolls everywhere

can get to a sitting position independently

wants to crawl so bad and is so close

sleeps only in his crib now

loves water and is an expert splasher

such a smiley, happy guy

July 20, 2015. Drake 9 months.

9 months:

weighs 23.8 pounds (95%)

is 29.2 inches tall (84%)

my biggest baby at this age

started rolling...finally!!!

claps his hands

transitioning to crib naps

loves to pull hair

loves to jump in his jumperoo

cutest guy around!

And some other pictures just because he's cute!

June 20, 2015. Drake 8 months.

8 months:

has 2 teeth

always wants to see what is going on

loves remotes

says "ma ma ma" and "ba ba"

loves baths

is loved on daily by Lyla

lights up when mom or dad walks into his view

gives belly laughs now, although sparingly

loves solids and eats a lot!

sits independently

May 20, 2015. Drake 7 months.

7 Months:

got his first tooth

sits almost independently

happy guy

still a swing sleeper

chubby

likes to hear his voice

has the cutest smile

one little dimple

started solids (only likes cereal)

everyone's favorite little guy

April 20, 2015. Drake 6 months.

6 months:

weighs 19 pounds 1 ounce (75%)

loves to squeal really loud

cries when he goes to other people sometimes

takes 3 naps

sleeps through the night

loves to be held but doesn't cuddle

can almost sit independently

still not rolling yet

plays with toys

laughs at his siblings

smiley guy

March 20, 2015. Drake 5 months.

5 months:

has been sick the entire month

screeches like a pterodactyl

has the best smile

loves attention

eats 5 ounces every 3 hours

still hasn't started solids

loves "this little piggy"

tolerates the car with much less crying!

loves to be held but isn't cuddly at all

always trying to sit up

cutest baby around

February 20, 2015. Drake 4 months.

4 months:

weighs 15.9 pounds

has found his voice and loves to "tell stories"

such a drooler

loves to hold onto your finger

loves his siblings

loves his piano play mat

likes music

starting to reach for toys

had his first cold

sleeps through the night on most nights

loves his momma

January 20, 2015. Drake 3 months.

3 months:

blows bubbles and raspberries

hands are always in fists

smiles lots

still hates the car, getting dressed, and baths

loves to be held facing out

still a swing sleeper

loves to be swaddled

starting to reach for toys

tucks his bottom lip in

always has a wet chin

December 20, 2014. Drake 2 Months.

2 Months:

weighs 12 pounds 5 ounces

swing sleeper

stingy smiler

still fussy

spitter upper

sweetest cheeks

heart warmer

loved by all

November 20, 2014. Drake 1 Month.

1 Month:

a fussy little guy

hates getting dressed

loves to be held

a snuggle bug

a good little eater

spitter upper

likes to be swaddled

Growing...

I have to admit that toward the end of this project i was dreading it!

It seemed so easy at the beginning.

When she wasn't mobile!

Once she started moving, it got hard!!

Trying to get an in focus shot of her was a nightmare.

But I am so glad that I stuck with it!

I love how it turned out.  

One year of Lyla!

Such a cute girl.

Love her.

Lyla, Month XII

To My Lyla:

Today you turn one!  I can't believe it.  I have mixed emotions about today.  Sad that you are no longer my little baby, and happy about you growing and learning new things!  What an amazing day it was the day you were born.  One that I will never forget.  Seeing you and holding you for the first time was truly one of the best moments of my life.  And each day since then has been such a blessing.  You have brought us so much joy and happiness.  You bring so much sweetness into our lives.  We are better because of you.  Because of who you are.  Who you have made me.  Who you have made your daddy. And who you have made Sophie, Collin, and Ruby.  We love you!

Lyla you have mastered the stairs.  At least going up the stairs.  And you love it!  You love being able to follow the kids upstairs.   They run up to play and you are crawling along behind them just as fast as your little body can carry you. You are in heaven just being with them!  Sometimes you get up there and realize they aren't there, and then you cry.

Your favorite thing in the world right now is sitting on the couch with mom or dad.  Although I wouldn't really call it sitting.  You crawl, and climb, and scoot, and slip, and slide all over it.  And you like to do it with mom or dad because we keep you from falling off! You definitely aren't a baby that sits still.  Ever.  You also like to do this on mom and dads bed!  It is an especially fun way to wake daddy up in the morning!!

You started taking baths like a big girl this week.  And you are so delighted with it.  You splash, and climb and splash some more.  Until it is time to wash your hair.  We haven't quite figured out the best way to do that yet.  So while you are so excited to get in the bath, you usually come out crying.

At a year you still don't talk, yet you communicate your every desire with a few "ugh, ugh, ugh" followed by hand waving (pushing objects away) or grabbing at things.  You do however have your own language and speak fluently in it!  If one of the kids does something you don't approve of, you are sure to let them know!  And you tell the best stories.  I try to listen closely to everything you say and follow up with a "really!"  This usually encourages you to tell me more.  I love it!

My favorite thing about you at a year is cuddling first thing in the morning.  You aren't much of a cuddler, but sometimes if I am extra lucky after I feed you your morning bottle, you will cuddle with me.  I love rubbing your soft baby skin, kissing your squishy cheeks, and smelling your curly-q locks!  There is nothing better.

Happy first birthday Lyla Kate! You are someone special!  We love you.  Forever and always.
XOXO
Your Momma

Lyla, Month XI

To My Lyla,

Last year at this time I couldn't wait for the day you would be born.  I wanted time to fast forward to the very moment when I would get to hold you in my arms for the very first time.  Now I wish that I could pause time, or at least slow it down.  You are growing so quickly.  You aren't that little snuggly baby anymore, but the little person you are becoming is something pretty special too.

You are one loved little lady.  Your brother and sisters absolutely adore you.  You should see the crazy things they will do to get your attention.  They are constantly in your face smothering you with love and affection.  I spend a good part of my day telling them to give you your space!  I hope that you guys always have a close relationship with one another.

Lyla you are a Daddy's girl.  You light up whenever he is around.  You love being in his arms, crawling all over him, playing with his watch, and grabbing at his glasses.  I don't think he will ever let you have them, but it never stops you from trying!!

Oh Lyla, you bring us joy.  You bring us smiles and laughter.  We love you and are so blessed to have your sweet spirit in our family.

XOXO
Your Momma

Lyla, Month X

I have been slow at posting this ... Lyla is already 11 months old.  But I had to record her 10 month letter.  Hopefully soon I will have 11 months done.  Time is flying by too quickly.  Before I know it, she will be a year.

To My Lyla:

Oh baby girl!  At 10 months you are so full of spunk, and personality.  You know what you want and just how to get it.  You are sweet and stubborn.  And we love you to pieces.  

You never stop moving.  Ever.  You will want to be held and then proceed to climb all over the person holding you.  You have mastered the art of real crawling now and are pulling up to anything and everything.  I just know that all too soon you will be standing on your own and taking a few steps.  

You have started waving and it is pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen.  You wave at random people we see and even at yourself in the mirror.  So cute!  You are talking up a storm, but haven't said any real words yet.  At times you can be quite loud and will burst out with a string of sounds like you have something important to say... and I'm sure you do!

It has been quite the month for sleeping.  We had to lower your crib mattress and you scream every time we lay you down.  I have had to show you some tough love and let you cry it out on more than a few occasions.  I think teething is part of your problem (you are getting your top two front teeth in) but  whatever it is, I hope it ends soon.  It's a good thing that your cute !!!

You haven't been much of a sleeper this month, but you have become quite the eater.  You are loving your baby food, working on some finger foods, and gobbling up those bottles of yours.  I am already getting sad thinking about you not taking a bottle anymore.  I treasure the time I get to hold you in my arms while you suck away and play with my hair.  

Speaking of hair.  You love to pull it!!  You are pulling hair any chance you get.  Poor Ruby is on high alert any time she is close to you.  She knows you have a plan to get her hair.  And you are usually successful coming out with a whole fistful.  Thank goodness she handles it well most of the time!!!  It's funny because you have always pulled hair.  When you were just a tiny baby I would lay you on the floor and all of a sudden you would start screaming because you were pulling your own hair.  Such a silly girl!

We love you Lyla.  We feel so blessed to have you as part of our family.  Happy 10 months little bug.

Love always and forever,

Your Momma

Lyla, Month IX

To My Lyla:

It's been 9 months of cuddling, swaddling, and squirming.  9 months of crying laughing, and talking.  9 months of feeding you, putting you to sleep, and changing your diapers.  9 months of you!  And time is flying.  You have been born for as long as I was pregnant with you and somehow it seems to have gone twice as fast.  You are growing up so quickly.  What a sweet, fun, and sometimes challenging little lady you have become.

This past month you learned to sit up on your own...and there is NO keeping you down now. Diaper changes just became a lot more challenging. As have things like bed time, bath time, and getting you dressed. You are a wiggler and like to be on the move, all the time!

Napping has been my biggest challenge this month with you.  Your naps have been short and by the end of the day both you and I are frazzled.  I hope that this is just a stage...one that we will overcome soon!  But despite this challenge, you are happy most of the time and love to be in on all the action.

My favorite thing about you this month is your loves.  You are not cuddly by any means, but my heart bursts each time you lean your little head into me for a kiss or a little squeeze.  They don't last long, but I think it is something that we both love!

I love you Lyla.  What a blessing you are.  Happy 9 months baby girl!!

Love, 

Your Momma

Lyla, Month VIII

To my Lyla:

I have been so slow to sit down and write you your eight month letter.  You are now nine months, but I still want to record what you were like at eight months old.  It was a big month for you.  Your biggest accomplishment was that you learned how to crawl.  Well, army crawl.  One day you were laying on the floor just content as can be playing with your toys and the next you were making your way across my kitchen floor.  You rarely ever sit still anymore.  You want very little to do with your toys and would much rather move around looking for anything and everything to put in your mouth.  You are a human vacuum and mop!!

You have also love to be  outside.  If one of the kids leaves the door open...which is all the time...you make a mad dash for it completely disregarding any and all stairs that might be in your way.  If you are outside, you are happy!  The only down side to taking you outside is that you love picking the grass and eating it.   Without fail, you gag on it and throw up.  I have had to resort to bringing your jumper outside to keep those grabby little fingers away from the lawn.

You have become quite the copycat and the kids love it!  The spend a good portion of their day shaking their heads back and forth or clapping their hands in hopes that you will do it too!  You usually do and in response they give you a great big laugh.  Making you want to do it all the more.

You have 2 teeth now and I keep thinking another one will pop through shortly but nothing yet.  It seems that I like to place the blame for your fussiness lately on teeth.  You want to be held a lot...but not cuddled...and you have been having a rough time getting yourself to sleep.

Your hair continues to be curly and is lightening up quite a bit.  I wonder if it will end up blonde like your big sister Ruby's is?  You sure are cute.  I can't help but smile every time I look at you.

We all love you to pieces Lyla Bug!  Happy 8 months!
All my love,
Your Momma

Lyla, Month VII

To My Lyla,

Here we are at 7 months, and what a joy you are.  Your smile lights up any room.  One can't help but smile when they are around you.  You radiate happiness.  Your siblings find nothing more fun than to make you laugh.  Your giggle is contagious and is the best sound in the world.  You are well loved!

This month your first tooth popped through.  Although I have enjoyed that gummy smile of yours, I am looking forward to seeing that little tooth more and more as it grows in.  Teething was a little hard on you.  You became a little more clingy during the day, but it seemed to affect you the most at night.  It seems as though we took a few giant steps backwards when it comes to sleeping  You are now dependent on your swing for most naps...just like when you were a newborn.  And many nights you have been up late with mommy and daddy.  Sometimes we wonder if it is because you love the one on one attention you get after everyone else has gone to bed...who knows, but you seem to be on your way back to your old sleeping habits!

Also this month, you mastered the art of sitting up on your own.  The first couple of days I would look over at you sitting on the living room floor and I would just smile.  You are so cute sitting up so big like you have been doing it your whole life.  You love your new view and the way it lets you interact with your siblings and your toys!!

My favorite thing about you this month is your fascination with your tongue.  It is a rare occasion to see you when it isn't it isn't poking out of your mouth.  It really is the cutest thing ever!!  I also can't get enough of your talking.  You have the sweeting little voice that you are beginning to use more and more everyday.

Lyla you are perfect.  I love you to pieces.  Everyday I look at you and think to myself how lucky I am to be your mom.  I am so blessed.

Love you forever and always,
Your Mama

Lyla, Month VI

To My Lyla:

Of your six months of life, this has been one of my most favorite.  Although they have all been great, you are just so fun right now.  Your personality is really starting to shine.  You are so smiley, happy, and easy going.  Your laugh is the best thing on earth and I can't help but tickle you just to hear it.

You finished up your physical therapy this month...Yay!! and have mastered rolling.  You are so close to sitting on your own and you love it!!  You also started eating solids this month.  You aren't quite sure about them yet, but you seem to like them okay.  You always open wide for the first spoonful and then give me a sour pucker face like you are wondering how I could have given you such a thing.

Every time I look at you I see myself.  I think that you look so much like I did as a baby.  Your hair has turned curly and to say that I love it would be an understatement.  I didn't think that I was going to have a little girl with my curls but it looks like you have proven me wrong.

You have the best brother and sisters you could ever ask for.  They love to pieces and you think they are all pretty neat too!  You have however, developed a special bond with Sophie.  Your eyes light up each time she comes near you.  It makes my heart melt to see the two of you...sisters...creating that special bond.

Happy six months, Lyla Bug.  I can't believe it has already been half a year.
Love you,
Your Momma