Happy New Year!

Such the big girl riding her new pink car!
Tickles from Mommy!

Super tickles from Daddy!

Layla likes to put on Mommy's purse and get on her car to go "bye bye". She will also push her baby in the stroller while holding the purse. Oh boy! She's a mini-Mommy!

Look at all those teeth!

We hope you had a wonderful holiday season just as we did! Please forgive us as we didn't get our Christmas cards out this year. I have an entire package of Christmas portraits that are sitting here unsent... such is life.

All is well at the Friedman home! The winter weather has been great and we've been able to play outside on many days. I'm still involved in my exercise class and have made friends and joined a book club. Robert and Scott completed golf lessons and are enjoying golfing on the weekends... well when they get the approval from their wives that they can go anyway. ;)

We'll be having friends up to visit in a few weeks and are looking forward to their company!

Happy 1st Birthday Layla Jane

Our baby girl is 1 year old!



"#1 Colossal Cupcake just for me!"

"Mom and Dad, you've been holding out on me. This is yummy!"

"More!"

"I see a trend here, pull out the tissue and there is something fun inside!"


We celebrated Layla Jane's birthday with the Horns. They came over for playtime, lunch and cupcakes.

"They" say time flies when they are little, but WOW, it feels like superspeed. Even though I'm home with Layla, I feel like I've blinked and she went from a bundle in my arms to a walker. With that being said, I try not only to savor the big milestones, but cherish the tiny experiences: the cuddles before bedtimes, the excitement in her voice as she says, "Mama" when she and Daddy wake me up in the morning, nursing, being my little shadow as we do everyday household stuff which often turn into games or songs, folding her hands during dinner prayer and saying "Amen", and the list goes on. I feel so blessed that Layla is growing and developing. Thank you God for blessing our family. Thank you for our precious Layla Jane.

First Family Fall Trip

Stylin'

At the Apple Festival in the Mountains in Virginia.




Layla'a first cardboard picture.

At the winery, the kids enjoyed playing outside in the beautiful weather while the grown-ups swapped turns and tried some "grape juice" ;)

Layla loved the outdoors! All she wanted to do was walk while holding hands.

Look at those teeth!!!

She definitely looks like Robert here.

The Friendmans and the Horns drove 4 hours to Lydia Mountain. We rented a 3 story cabin which had just been built in the spring. It was gorgeous! It sat up on of one of the mountains and included an outdoor fire pit, Foosball table, jacuzzi, 2 fireplaces, full kitchen, 3 bedrooms, and a game room.

While there, we roasted marshmellows, went to an apple festival and wineries, shopped, toured, and enjoyed the beautiful mountain air. We look forward to another mountain trip with the Horns next year!

Layla Mouse

Peek-A-Boo!

Hmmm... How do I get out of here?

*Vocalizing* "Yi-yi yi yi" (Translation: What do I look like?... the entertainment around here?)

Ah! Much better!

Alright there paparazzi, enough already!

*Adorable outfit and bow made by Auntie Lindsay.*

9 Months Old

No teeth yet!

I love my little baby girl so much! I hold her tight and kiss her, kiss her, kiss her!

Even though you can't see her face, it captures what a little bundle she is. :)

Bye-Bye!

What's Layla up to these days?

She's dancing... it's the cutest thing!
She's signing "more" and "all done".

She's clapping.

She climbs on EVERYTHING!

She's eating cheerios and other foods all by herself.

She loves helping Mommy do the laundry.

She's beginning to walk while pushing a toy.
She's saying, "Mama" and "Dada".

She's following simple directions.

She's indicating a choice when looking at simple pictures. How? Well since she doesn't know she can point yet, she'll lean forward with her head. I love it!

8 months

Picture taken- July 4, 2011 (I'm a little behind as our camera broke. Bummer!)

Our Layla Jane is 8 months old and getting so big! She's crawling all over the place, pulling herself up onto everything, waving, and just started walking while holding onto our hands. It's so much fun to see the growth! No teeth yet but that doesn't stop her from trying to each real food, which she loves. Her personality is coming out more and more. She recently started throwing little tantrums when she doesn't get her way. It kind of makes me chuckel as I think, "Oh please, this is SO not how you are going to get your way." Makes me feel like I'm at work because I go into behavioral therapy mode. Ha ha! Speaking of work, it is going well and Robert and Layla really enjoy their time together.

Trip to Florida

Our trip started out in Miami. Layla enjoyed playing with Nana! Nana had the hardest job of breaking Layla in to being around new people and she did it! She gets the award!
We spent time with Grandpa and Grandma. They are doing well!
We also had a BBQ and had friends and family over. It was so nice seeing them and catching up!

Then Layla and I said goodbye to Robert and went to Port St. Lucie to see my parents. It was wonderful! Even though I'm all "grown-up" my parent's home is still home to me. Eating, shopping, playing, talking... yup that's what we did! Plus, I didn't have to worry about anything... in some sense, I got to be a kid again! :)

My long-time friend Lauren and her baby girl Selah came by to visit. We met each other's baby girls and caught up.

Then it was off to Sebastian to see Aunt Jeanie, Uncle Anthony, and Andrew. We celebrated the twins birthday, Jane and Jean! :)

The last stop was Melbourne where we soaked up the sun with Jocelyn and Jessica! Layla had her first pool experience and loved it. Plus, she got to shop with her Aunties!... she crawled around getting into things while we tried on clothes. Ha ha! Didn't bother us as we all made a purchase. :)

Thank you all for EVERYTHING!

Thank you for having us, feeding us, taking time off of work, driving us, getting a pack n' play, and the list goes on. Most of all, thank you for showering us with love! All that love we're bound to take another trip down soon! xoxox