LAYNA IS TWO !

We haven't been up to much lately. Thanksgiving was good. We went to Auntie Rel's parents house with the whole Boyce clan. It was merry and a good time. Layna behaved very well, especially without having a nap; just a quick 20 minute one in the car. She actually came out of her shell and started being her silly self and playing with everyone.

We have a home.. finally !! Things are finally falling into place. yay !

Today is Layna's 2nd Birthday!  I can't believe that our baby girl is now officially a toddler ! She has definitely been acting like a two year old ! This morning, we sang happy birthday to her and let her opens a couple gifts from Mommy and Daddy along with have a piece of cake for breakfast... she prefers just eating the frosting ! Pictures will soon to come of course !

Happy Halloween !

Halloween was postponed this year due to the early and first snow storm of the season ! Luckily Layna was visiting Daddy when the power was out for the first two days, and she was home for the last two days. When I finally took Layna outside to see the snow and get some fresh air, she thought it was funny walking on the snow and liked doing it.

Halloween came and went quietly. Layna was a Nurse In Training.  Nonna - not Nana - (Grandma Robidoux) and Papa bought Layna polka dot scrubs and we had stethoscope for the costume. The neighbors that we visited for some treats loved seeing her ! Layna did well, especially for one who didn't have a nap ! She was quiet, but would stood at the door and accept the candy and stare at the people waiting for more ! haha she was a doll, and I am surprise that none of the neighbors asked to keep her ! They just wanted to sit and talk with her ! I could tell that Layna liked the fact she was getting "stuff" (chocolate) from these people, and that they were willingly putting handing it to her and putting it in her basket. She only said "trick or treat" and "thank you" to the first house, and wasn't afraid of any "scary" decorations. One house had a ghost that made noise hanging from a tree, and she wanted to go over to it. Another house had a blown up spider and she wanted to touch it !

Because of napless day, she was getting a little cranky and wasn't up for photos, but here a few of her dressed up for halloween:

Just a Little Something

Here is what Layna looked like for the past three Falls:

she makes some things so easy !

Last week Layna wanted her bottle for her naptime, but Daddy "forgot" it at his house. During one visit, the milk in Layna's bottle kept spilling out and drenching everything in milk. It was as if she would take the cap off and spill the milk out. Well, when Daddy dropped Layna back off at home, I (mommy) put Layna down for a nap with her bottle. After Daddy headed home, I went up to check on Layna and her hair was pasted to her head with milk and her shirt was drenched ! In the middle of her deep slumber, I took of her shirt, took the bottle from her little grasp, and looked at the bottle. Layna bit the nipple and cracked the top in 1/2 inch slit. No wonder the milk was pouring out !

The next day, like every other day, Layna wanted milk when she went down for her nap. I brought her a sippy cup of milk. She threw it out of the crib. I gave it back. She was trying to hand it back to me, and was desperate to get it away that she climbed out of her crib ! So, this past week, I didn't only stop the bottle, but I took down the crib, and blew up the queen size air mattress. I was anticipating a lot of stress, temper-tantrums, and lack of sleep for both Layna and myself. However.... Layna has done magnificantly with these changes ! She has adjusted very well, and when we went to Daddy's this weekend, she didn't fuss have no bottle or milk to go to sleep ! At home, she plays for a little in the room, and goes onto her bed (the air mattress) tucks herself in - sometimes - and goes to bed. Mommy couldn't be any happy at how easy this has been !

Hopefully I didn't jinx this by sharing it so soon !


Here are a few more photos (from Dan's phone) from picking pumpkins:

Ear Piercing Time !

Layna got her ears pierced today ! She did very very very well too ! No crying, no tears, no flinching ! Talk about a strong girl ! I, on the other hand, put my hands over my eyes and stood behind a sign so I couldn't witness the pain that I anticpated for Layna. I was amazed that I didn't even hear a peep along with Daddy and everyone else in the area. Even afterwards, Layna wasn't bothered by her new accessories. She would call them "booboos", but for the most part she liked her new earrings !

Pumpkin Season!

I tried to put Layna down for a nap today, and when I came upstairs with a sippy cup of milk instead of a bottle of milk, she was so desperate to give it back to me: she put her leg over the rail and climb over right in front of me ! Therefore, tonight I took down the crib and put up the air mattress. Better safe than sorry ! It was very difficult to get her to bed, but I am going to stay strong this time to stay away from the bottle. At the moment, I am telling her "your bottle is at Daddy's. He didn't bring it back." So, we will see how long this all last.

Also, Daddy and myselt took Layna to pick her first pumpkin ! I would say we got a pretty perfect one ! It was a beautiful fall day : high 70's, not humid... just sunny and warm !

Before we make this pumpkin a jack'o'latern, I thought today was a nice day for some fall photos of Layna. You'll be able to see some of her personality and silliness come out in these photos a little bit !
(remember: to see the photos larger, click on them !)

Pumpkin Head and Lil' Pumpkin Head

Pumpkin Tree ! 

attempt to smile... she was tired... and hungry...

future photographer !

BIG SMILE, Silly Girl

kisses for the pumpkin !

October?...Already ?!

Layna is doing wonderful! She got her first black and blue eye this past week. She was standing on the chair and took a step, and she missed and tumbled down and hit the base board heater. It bruised right away and all she could think of what her "ouch" and "booboo". It looks a lot better now :)

Every day Layna impresses me. We share a room, and sometimes we share my bed. Well, in the morning, I will put her on the floor to play while I get a few more minutes of shut eye, and one day, I opened my eyes to Layna putting her clothes that were on the floor away in the CORRET drawers in her dresser! Along with that... one night Layna's ride-on toy for outside was going on and off in the middle of the night, so Papa Robidoux decided to throw it off the deck. I told this to Layna the next day, and a few days later while she was out playing on the deck with Grandma, she (Layna) pointed to the toy, said "uh-oh" and pointed to the grass where Grandpa throw it.... along with saying "papa"... "uh oh Papa". How cute and smart is she !!

Layna speaking is coming along great ! She tries to say EVERYTHING ! (not bad words because we don't use them), but likes to try to say multi-syllable words like... computer. She looooves Mommy's laptop and does throw a fit when I take it away as well as with my camera.

I thought I posted an entry last week, but I guess I didn't save or even post it. I was just going throw some recent videos of Miss Layna that I think you would enjoy !

this video is after Hurricane Katrina paid a visit to Marlborough.

After being inside for what seemed like forever.... I figured we coudl go explore the

wet swampy backyard. Layna found some tomatoes, which you will see in the video. Hurricane Katrina almost destroyed the garden. Also, we have a little friend that you can hear me say is going to get Layna. Watch how fast she turns and runs ! Enjoy !!

The Day with Uncle Tim & Auntie Rel

Uncle Tim was home visiting this past week. I was afraid he wouldn't be able to see his little Goddaughter, but he did ! We also got to see Auntie Rel (Tim's fiancee and Layna's Godmother.) At first, Layna didn't know what to think of Tim. She sat, in silence, on Mommy's lap and leaned against Mommy. I had never seen her act this way before. She just stared at Tim, and if I tried to get her to go say hi or try to move, she would be right by myself. After some time - when she had to be left with him for a few minutes - she got used to him. This same thing happened with Ariel.

On Saturday, Layna and myself went to the park with Uncle Tim and Auntie Rel. While I sat and chatted away with Ariel, Layna had some quality time with her Uncle. She was all smiles and running around the park: swinging, sliding, and see-sawing ! She would be at the top of the slide and shout "Mom" or "Momma" and wave before going down; she also did this in the swing. I wish Uncle Tim could be around more because she would absolutely adore her Uncle Tim ! When we had to leave to go back to Marlborough, Layna was more than willing to give hugs and kisses to Uncle Tim and Auntie Rel ! Matter-of-fact, she ran to Tim to give him a hug !

There is something about men (not boys) that Layna loves. She absolutely adores her grandfathers, uncle, and the most important man in her life: her Daddy ! (she loves us women too, but just something about her and men...)

Talk-Talk-Talking and Layna's First Trip into Boston

resting in the middle of the wharf area in Boston

The summer is just about over and Layna is almost 21-months-old ! I can't believe how fast this year went by ! My infant went to being my toddler but she will always be my baby.  (I - Mommy - am going to be writing in first person for now on, just to let you all know)

Layna is talking these days! Not quite perfectly clear, but enough that I am not the only one who knows what she is saying. She says Momma now - woohoo ! She just needed a weekend away from me and a weekend with Daddy to accomplish that. She tries to copy everything I say, too, and does a good job of it. She isn't saying any form of Grandma yet, but definitely copies me when I call for my mom. I will yell or say "mom" and there will be this little echo, loud and clear saying "mom".  All of her signs are becoming verbal words - yay ! She still says some words backwards but they eventually come out the correct way. She used to say "caaa" for truck, and now says "trrraaa". Even better she says "Papa.... traaaa". Her words include: cookie, cracker, more, Momma, Mom, Papa, Sam, dog (gog), book, more, keys (says it all mixed up though), house, car, Aus-Aus (for Uncle Austin) and all the other words she knows... and the other day she called her bottle "baba", which could've been a coincident because we never call it that.

She has an amazing memory along she knows what she wants and doesn't. I would be upstairs sleeping, and an hour or so later, she will come up stairs to get me up. She doesn't have to search the house for Mommy anymore. If she wakes up in the middle of the night, I will put her in my bed, and she will hit my pillow and say "Momma..." and hit it again. She knows that that is where I sleep and wants me to go to bed  with her. Speaking of my bed, she could cry forever in her crib sometimes and the second her head hits my pillows, she is sound asleep again. She somehow got into this habit again... as long as she doesn't want her bottle in the middle of the night.

On Friday September 9th, Layna got two surprises: first she woke up to Daddy looking down at her. She had the sweetest expression on her face: confused and elated yet still sleepy. And second was Layna's  first trip into Boston to the New England Aquarium with Mommy and Daddy. She behaved very well, and seemed to enjoy the new sights ! She enjoyed looking at all the marine life and fish. She liked the wharf area where all the boston cruise ships and personal boats were docked, and looking out into the harbor. It was a pleasant afternoon/everning with the family.

harbor seal saying Hello to Layna

 

FISHIES !!

Daddy trying to get Layna to look;
Layna trying to snap her fingers like Daddy
- in front of the HUGE fish tank -

penguins - oh so stinky

Layna kept informing Mommy that he was sleeping

checking out the shark

Mommy&Layna looking at some more fish

in front of the N.E. Aquarium

dining at Cheers at Quincy Market

she LOVES pushing her stroller

 

The 80-year-old sea turtle that's been there since they opened

 

Layna's Quilt !

Check out the quilt Mommy is making for Layna:

click Layna's Quilt ! to view it on Mommy's arts&crafts blog !

Davis' Farmland and Scusset Beach

playing in the sand bar at Scusset Beach, Cape Cod

This week Mommy and Layna went to Davis' Farmland, where Layna spent a couple of hours running and playing at the splashpad. She was in heaven ! Afterwards, Layna got to see a bunch of farm animals: goats, lambs, baby cows, piglets and pigs, ducks, chickens, and a lot more goats!

Mommy and Layna joined Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux for another trip to the beach (Scusset Beach). The water was refreshingly cool, and shallow due to lowtide. Layna let Mommy take her into the water with Grandpa. She let him dip in the water and she practiced her kicking and swimming. When the water final was all the way out, the sand bar appeared which is where Layna frolicked and ran and splashed in the water ! Grandpa found a star fish for Layna, which she wasn't afraid of because she didn't understand that it was an animal. She thought it was just a thing; like a rock. She would pick it up and put it down and drop wet sand on it. Also, Grandpa found a crab to show Layna. She was cautious about it, but also got pretty close to it. The one place that Layna can spend all day at without taking a nap and without getting cranky is the beach. We had a lovely day with Grandma and Grandpa.

Also, Layna ate corn on the cob for the first time. Mommy was impressed at how well she did. She was actually taking bites like an adult and eating it all up !
Today, Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux took Layna to a small hot air balloon festival while Mommy napped before work. They told Mommy that Layna behaved, and enjoyed watching the balloons go up; she would say "woah" when they would light up. Also, there was a playground where she went down the slides non stop. It was a pleasant evening with the Grandparents.



Mommy went to get the camera and when she turned around
this baby goat was nibbling at Layna's dress !

 

 Scusset Beach, Cape Cod

Playing in the sand bar

Mommy said "go on your tip toes" and she did !



Mommy and Layna



Smiles !!

listen carefully she says "tutu" in the tiniest little voice !

Layna's first corn on the cob !