Skylar's One Year Portraits

Sweet Skylar.  These are unretouched.  Really I should be blogging about Christmas but I have yet to download those photos. 

A little about Skylar: We just figured out, that at 15 months now, she is probably smarter than us, lol.  She is a really smart little cookie.  She has at least 25 words she can speak, which is amazing for a barely 1-year old.  I guess in our house you have to be loud to be heard?  She knows where everything is and can attempt to get it herself or will find one of us to get it for her.  She still has a horrible whine she uses when she wants something, which is probably the result of us not implementing sign language like we did with her sister.  Skylar can climb things, and is sooo proud of herself for getting "bup" on her own.  This includes tables, chairs, ottomans, steps... She is very dangerous!

Skylar is really funny when she wants to be. She likes to play and is intrigued by all of her sister's things. For the most part, Leila is really good about sharing, and luckily Skylar can still be distracted. But I fear that will not last long. This little girl is not a pushover. She is very stubborn and determined and understands things that surprise me. She is just adorable, which helps because she is not always the easiest baby. Every day gets better though and we just pray our girls will continue to love each other. They already play around now and it is cute to watch. They both really love Dixie and she is so gentle with them. Dixie is a great addition to our family and Skylar loves to pat her. She also loves Dream Lights, her Violet Dog, Minnie Mouse, and the play kitchen. And baths. Her hair is curly in the back, like Shirley Temple ringlets. And she has dimples when she smiles!

 

 

 

 

 

Her monster face...  she is silly and will make monster noises when asked.

Curly Shirley Temple ringlets!

So, we got a dog

Our early Christmas present this year was our new dog, Dixie. She is a 1.5 year black lab rescue. We got her on December 8. She has quickly become a member of the family. She is Leila's new best friend. They played together outside for 3 hours the other day! Dixie is very well behaved and gentle with the girls. She is the same size Shrek was- 55 lbs, which is on the small side. She is beautiful and very smart. She also thinks her place in our house is on the couch...

Skylar is walking!

12 months old.

Skylar's 1st Birthday!

Skylar is one!  Our baby girl had her first birthday on September 29.  We had a family party for her and she looked cute in a little cupcake tutu dress.  Her hair is dark blonde and might be curly?  We will see as it grows.  She got some wonderful little gifts and we were blessed to have almost all of our immediate family there.  She had a good time walking around with me and has taken some steps on her own but is still a little hesitant to walk yet.  That is ok!  She does not like her balloons we got her and did not want anything to do with her first birthday cake, which was sad for me to watch :( 

Skylar has her own little personality which is shining through.  She likes to be outside and will walk to the front and back doors and knock.  So cute!  We got Skylar some books, a purple tutu & wand & crown, and a cupcake purse.  And the Leapfrog Violet dog, which says their name but I hope we don't regret at a later date, since I have heard some stories of those dogs talking on their own, haha. 

We had a brunch buffet and a candy bar, for which my friend Cassie made some adorable coordinating food tents and signs (www.sugarbeedesigns.com)  Everything was really cute and it is hard to believe her first year is over!  Thank goodness she still likes to be rocked and snuggle or I would really be sad. We love you Skylar!

Beautiful, fun invitation by my friend Cassie

www.sugarbeedesigns.com

Hmm, who looks more excited about Skylar's birthday??

Skylar's Uncle Sean, Aunt Aimee, Mimi, Dude, Mama, Dad & Sissy. 

I am holding a lollipop bouquet

Skylar's Pops, Mama, Sissy & Nana

 

Skylar with her Mama & Aunt Lili.  Thank you Lisa for all of your help!

 

The newlyweds!  Uncle Jerry & Aunt Lili

Birthday Girl! As Patrick says, this expression sums her up

Skylar's Aunt Courtney, Sissy, Mama & Uncle Jimmy

Leila & Uncle Josh!

 

Candy Buffet

Mmm... Sweets

Yummy brunch buffet

A chair fit for a princess

She is clearly not impressed

We love you Skylar!

Delicious Giant Cupcake for her party guests!

This is Skylar smiling so you know what it looks like. This was not at her party. Her onesie says "Miss September."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Days for Leila!

Leila has had some milestones lately that should not go unposted!

 

JUNE: First Dance Recital, ever!  What a night!  She was a star!  Not the slightest bit nervous, excited to be on stage AND wear makeup, including mascara, which she begged I buy for her (note: recitals require a lot of makeup for all the dancers!) She had a ballet routine and a tap routine.

 

AND, mastered the diving board and the slide in the deep end of the pool, at 3.5 YEARS!!  We are so proud!   Considering swim team at 4 years, we will see.

 

AUGUST: Turned 4 Years old!  Our little Leilabug had the best Dora-themed party with so many of her wonderful friends.  We got her a big girl bike, which she promptly rode around the block with her new tutu on too!!  Leila is so cute it hurts some times.

 

SEPTEMBER: 1st Day of School!  Leila is in PK-4 and, according to her new teachers, "Had probably the best 1st day of school ever.  She is so sweet."  Awww, her mom almost shed a tear over that!  What a nice thing to hear! 

 

This is so cheesy, but she is such a blessing to us, and just a really amazing girl.  She is so funny, and curious, and has pretty much completely mastered the DVR/kindle fire/iphone/computer games/shows on the computer.  Pretty soon she will be explaining things to me & Patrick.  She is a vocabulary princess like her mom and picks up on new words really quickly.  The other day she said something we ate was "scrumptious" and I laughed out loud.  She has watched a lot of television while I am tending to the baby (no lectures, please) and can identify shows by the title of the episode and recite lines.  Hilarious!!!  She has also pretty much completed a 100-piece puzzle by herself (48-pc puzzles mastered @ 3.5.)  She can recite books as if she is "reading;" I know other kids do this too but it is neat to watch.  I am just amazed by her and of course I am mentioning all the astounding things, but I am her mom!!!  We love you so much Leilabug!!!

 

 Ballet Routine: Meet Me in St. Louis

 

 Tap Routine: On the Good Ship Lollipop

 

 Happy Birthday Leila!!!  Squeaky clean after a bath following swim class

 

 From her mom & dad: A dance class tutu dress in her favorite color

 

 New Bike!

 

Cutest View

 

 Dora Party!

 

 The friends we could get in the picture

 

 1st Day of School!! My how she has grown

 

 Ready to go

 

 I can't wait to see my friends!

 

We went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science over Labor Day weekend... Fascinating, especially for a tiny 4-year old!

 

Scootin' Skylar

Now that we have Skylar's tummy troubles figured out, she is a new baby at 10 months.  She is wiggly, and silly, and HAPPY, and we are too!  Our baby girl is into everything.  She is not still for one second.  She can crawl, and cruise, and.... Scoot!  No, not on her bottom, ON A SCOOTER. 

That baby loooooves her sister's scooter.  She is attracted to that thing like a magnet.  We have to hide it from her or she will find it anywhere!!  She immediately knew how to balance, and smiles a huge smile as I (carefully) push her around the house.  We have tile, so she can go everywhere.  It is hilarious. 

I have been really delinquent in posting about my darling baby.  Turns out multiple kids=no time.  Shocking, right?  Here are some more cute pics of my baby girl.

 Every fair-skinned baby needs a hat bigger than she is

 What are you looking at?

 Peekaboo!

 Who's there?

 They call me Tiny

This is what happens when you crawl in chalk

Skylar, Show Me Your Teeth

Little Skylar now has two tiny teeth.  The first appeared the day she turned nine months, the second a week ago.  These little teeth are taking a long time to make an appearance.  Once they were actually visible, I tried to get a picture.  What was I thinking? 

Here they are!  Tiny pearls.