Winter Trip to Grammie and Poppy's

On January 19 th Layla and I were off to Grammie and Poppy's house. We were flying again and since Layla was still under 2 I decided to go cheap and not buy her a ticket. I was worried that with her sitting on my lap it would be terrible. But to my relief modern technology helped and she was an angel!

Fergus had not had much snow yet this winter so I was worried that Layla would not get to play in the snow. But as luck would have it we flew up right into a snow storm. Which meant we circled around Buffalo for another 45min before we could land. That also meant Poppy and Grammie had to drive to get us in a storm. We were all late getting there but at least we had snow to play in!

Grammie getting into the spirit and teaching Layla how to make snow angels

It was Grammies Birthday!! So Layla dressed in her best and sang to Grammie

Layla and her Grammie, Great Grammie and Aunt Mandy eating nanaimo bars

Uncle Corb with Layla

Uncle Corb and Jeff watching Yo Gabba Gabba with Layla for the first time

All of my wonderful family(minus Jatovi)

Once again we had a wonderful weekend at home. As much as I love going home, it makes me miss everyone that much more. I have a great life and the Muduffie family is so good to me. But it doesn't mean I don't wish we lived closer to my family. Life is strange that way, if I had not moved so far I would not have Jatovi or Layla so things happen for a reason. But I do wonder how things would be different if I had never left Canada. I am happy I will never know because Jatovi and Layla are my world but Canada in always in my heart!

Then and Now

2012

Dear Layla

Another year has gone by. While your pregnant people say and give you a lot of advice. But the one thing that is holding true is"enjoy every minute, it goes by fast" Is soooo true! I can't believe we have had 2 Christmas with you already. Your birthday is just months away and you have grown so much. In a blink of an eye you are talking, running, working on potty training, expressing your desires, and getting tall. When I ask you if you want fruit you say "No, yogurt", When I tell you to put your toys away you do ( well most of the time), today you put on your shoes with very little help. I am amazed by you everyday. I am not sure if it is because you are or first and I had never thought about how a person develops before or if every parent is surprised with each child. But I am amazed at how much you can do at a mear 20 months. You can count to 4, walk up the stairs, answer my questions, put 2-3 words together, treat your baby like she is alive and feed yourself even messy food. I read toddler development articles and you are right where you should be, but it still amazes me everyday.

It seems like yesterday that I was afraid to be alone with you in case you cry. As a newborn you could cry for hours. Now I enjoy our time together. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to see your Dad some nights, but you are so much fun. We go out every morning. The museum, the gym, park any where to get out. Then it is home for lunch and nap. After you play and we eat about 5:30.Most nights Dad doesn't get home until 6, but you are not interested in waiting for him. You will go get in your chair and start saying "eat, eat, eat" about 5:15 every day. You no longer use a high chair so you look so grown up at the table. Bedtime is after the dance parky we have every night at 7:00. We go upstairs play music and dance and sing! We all love it, we laugh and play and then it's bath, read and bed. Great ending to the day. We still have no trouble getting you to sleep. We lie you down and say "nite nite" and walk out. You still sleep 12-13 hours and wake up happy every morning. After nap time you can be a little whinny if you wake up before 2hours, just like Mommy you need your sleep.

The doctor told us at your 18 month appointment to start potty training, which I think is way to early. How ever you do tell us when you pee, take your diaper off and throw it out. We have put you on the toilet many times with nothing yet. I think I am right...too early! But we will see what you do in the next couple of months. The doctor thinks you will be trained by 2!!

I can't wait to see what 2012 brings us, although it makes me a little sad to know by this time next year my "baby" will be long gone! I enjoy watching you grow with each new task you learn, and laughing at the cute things you do every day! You love to copy my every more and I love to watch you copy me...so cute!!

So here is to 2012 my Layla Kat,

I can't wait to enjoy every day with you.

Love Mom

Merry Christmas Layla!

We celebrated Christmas on the 24th this year because I had to work the 25. So Santa came early!! Layla had me worried at first, she seemed unimpressed by "Christmas". We went downstairs and opened her stocking. Santa had given her Yo Gabba Gabba Bennie babies in her stocking! Layla looked through her stocking stuffers briefly and than asked to eat breakfast. Well that was a bit of a disappointment. So we ate and than brought her back into the living room and showed her "how to open" a present. It was like a light bulb went off and she realized....These are all for me!! And she was off, ripping and throwing paper and playing with everything. She even opened her Dad's presents, but I didn't let her get close to mine! It was so much fun watching her and seeing her have fun with all of the wrapping paper and toys.

Santa brought her art supplies, an art easel, Disney princess everything, clothes, bath toys you name it it was under the tree. Grammy and Poppy skyped again this Christmas so it was nice to have them" with us" while we opened our gifts.

In the afternoon we went to Aunt Jamels for a big Family dinner. It was a great day. I have a wonderful family and am so lucky we are all healthy and happy!

Here comes Poppy!

My Dad had some vacation time to use up, so he came to visit us. When we first started to make the plans I was a little worried. I don't think my father and I have spent that much time a lone ever. We are both type A control freaks so I was a little worried that it would a rough week. But to my surprise it was delightful, in fact I loved it!~!~

I have to start with Layla calling him "Poppy" I had always assumed she would call them Grandma and Grandpa. But I tried to get her to say Grandpa and she wouldn't. So I offered up Papa and she said that just fine. That was how it was for weeks before the visit. The morning he was to arrive I kept telling her"Papa is coming today" and she just started to say Poppy. Well it seems to have stuck...it has been Poppy since!

My Dad was like a big kid with Layla. He seemed so relaxed and just had fun. It was so nice, I will treasure this week for ever!