Layla turns 9!!!

Weight: 63 pounds.

Height: 55 (maybe?) inches 

Eating: You are a creature of habit. 

Clothes: 10

Shoe Size: 3 

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I'm so sorry I'm nearly a month late in writing this for you - between a pandemic, working from home, and assorted other madness - it's tricky sitting down at a computer to write to you. BUT...here I am :) 

If there was ever a year of transition, I think this was it. You went from being a big sister to Benny... to becoming a true second Mama to Miles. Your heart is SO pure, SO kind, SO FULL OF LOVE. You cry when you're happy / sad/ scared. You're sensitive and emotional and wonderful - a true angel on Earth. 

While we've watched you truly transition into a pre-teen kid, I'm SO happy I still see you as the child you are. You love to play with your toys (LOL dolls, Barbies, Calico dolls). You love to do art (and make slime). You love to play games (Ticket to Ride, Uno, Shopkins Go Shopping). You are a big girl with a kid heart and it makes me happy. 

You just wrapped up your 3rd grade year and it was NOT EASY...we finished the second half of the year totally at home due to the Pandemic. You totally adapted with ease - you did your homeschooling everyday without complaint. You read constantly. You missed your friends fiercely. You miss recess / aftercare / normal life. It breaks my heart that we are living in this very strange time. We have been home for nearly 4 months. You and your brothers have barely left the house. We spend a lot of time outside and we are SO lucky to have you as the optimistic outlook - always willing to see the positive side.

Here is a list of 9 things going on with you today....

1. I can't believe how beautiful you are. You are so tall and so lovely. LONG light hair, big blue eyes, fair skin getting more sunkissed everyday. Your face is sprinkled with freckles. Your teeny body is the best at giving hugs!

2. 3rd grade was a wonderful, learning year. Your teacher, Ms. Townsend, was so sweet and lovely. She took on the pandemic / homeschooling in stride and made you feel okay with all the changes. You had wonderful friends and really loved to read - any graphic novel you can get your hands on.

3. The food struggle...any everlasting tricky part. You eat the same few meals everyday and while we keep trying to get you to try new foods but it's a struggle. Your favorite foods - bacon, pork roll, chicken nuggets, french fries, nutella, strawberries, apples, grapes. 

4. Your favorite things include: movies (Mama Mia), TV (lately, Nailed It, Simpsons, Liv & Maddie, Fuller House), singing, reading, shopping at Justice, begging for another puppy, playing with Miles, playing with Benny, being around your BFF Avery, playing with ALL of your cousins (you really adore Marley, Sam & Remi). We love Broadway and we are missing all the shows so much. Can't wait to go back to NYC!! You LOVE to dance. You LOVE to put make-up on. You LOVE to lay on the sofa curled up under a blanket snuggled to me watching a movie. You LOVE your nightly sleepovers with Benny and refuse to sleep alone. 


5. You are THE BEST HELPER. Seriously. I don't know if there are many kids that will drop whatever they are doing to help with Miles, grab a diaper, grab wipes, get him a snack. Your patient and sweet and easygoing. 

6. We had a great birthday party despite it being SO different then we had planned. You were meant to have a party at a Rock Wall Climbing place but it was cancelled due to the Pandemic. Instead, we had a swim party at the house with family and your besties (Averi, Izzy & Emmy) - it was so much fun. We had a big birthday sign on the front lawn, balloons galore, beach themed decorations, Kona Ice Truck, a pinata and a Simpsons cake. TOO MUCH FUN!!

7. It is so sad that camp was cancelled because you were so excited. We are trying to make the best of summer without camp but it's tricky. During the pandemic, you took singing lessons with Alexa (my distant cousin) and LOVED it! You also virtually participated in a play (Charlotte's Web) and it was great!

8. You LOVE the pets - we miss Shluffy (our dear cat that died) - but we added sweet Liverpool to the mix!! Between Rigby, Livie & London - our house is full of fur and love. You're always asking for ANOTHER puppy which will never happen. Or maybe it will. WHO KNOWS ;)

9. You are my best little friend. We are the only girls in our family and it's our job to teach these stinky boys how to act. I love you beyond words and I'm so lucky to call you mine.  

Some questions I asked you...so many of the answers were the same from last year! I love that.

Favorite Food: Nutella with whipped cream or vanilla cake with cheesecake filling from Costco
Favorite Color: Teal or Sea Green
Favorite Movie: Mama Mia 2
Favorite TV Show: Bob's Burgers
Favorite Song: Waving Through a Window - Dear Evan Hansen
Favorite Actor: Dove Cameron 
Favorite School Subject: Art
Favorite Sport: Basketball
Favorite Vacation: Grandma's House or Disney World
Best Friend: Avery, Juliet, Paige, Izzy & Piper
When you grow up, you want to be: Singer / Songwriter 
Favorite Thing About Yourself: "I'm caring"
Favorite Thing About your Body: "My hair"
Favorite Toy: Barbie Skate Park
Favorite Book: Boy Crazy Stacey from Babysitter's Club Series
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Holiday: Hanukkah 

***A few pictures***

Miles is 13 months!!

13 month stats:

Weight: Somewhere around 23-25 pounds. 

Height: Not sure, maybe 31 inches at this point?

Eating: 3 meals a day, 4 bottles of whole milk, lots of snacks!  

Clothes: 12 month, 12-18 month, 18 month and 18 - 24 month.

Diaper: Size 4. 

MSE,

13 months for our littliest love. What a wonderful, exciting time for you! While the world around us currently feels terrifying, there is an electricity in the air. Between a continuing quarantine due to Coronavirus - there are now major protests going on across the country this past week to support our black communities. I've been talking to your brother & sister about it - and while you're too young to understand, I know you'll grow up to be an ally. You will be a kind, loving, supportive, listening boy. 

You are so handsome - and your little body is ever changing. Long hair that is desperate for a cut but won't happen for a while. Chubby belly and legs and arms that I love to kiss constantly. Big brown curious eyes. The sweetest light skin. 

You are learning new tricks every single day. You love to dance, constantly. You love to clap at anyone and everyone that walks by. You are really good at signing "all done" and "more." You are getting better at playing with toys by yourself - you have a basket  of toys that you like to to unload and pack up again. You really like playing with the Duplo blocks and reading books. You are walking way more then crawling nowadays - and FAST. You play in the pantry constantly and open every single cabinet you can. You like being outside - you love walks in your car and playing with the water tables on the deck. 

You like TV but don't care much - the only shows that hold your attention are Sesame Street and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. You love music and you'd listen to Baby Shark on repeat if we allowed it :)

Sleep - our biggest battle. You are mostly very good at napping. Usually 9 AM - 11 Am and again 1 PM - 3 PM. Sometimes we have to wake you from your naps. You go to bed at 6:30 PM - and wake up between 4 AM - 6:00 AM. A good morning is sleeping until 6:15 AM. A bad morning is waking up at 4 AM. It's tough but we'll get there. Your dad & I are finally taking turns waking up early with you and despite the exhaustion, those early morning hours are sweet. 

The night before you turned 13 months, we officially stopped nursing. You slowly self weaned and I followed you... it was the sweetest, most special journey and I"m grateful for all that time together. You now get 4 bottles of whole milk a day (morning, before each nap and before bedtime). You love it. 

We will work on letting the bottle go soon... I don't think you're ready and either am I. 

You get new words every single day - right now, you say Mama, Dada, Benny, Mom-Mom, Bye-Bye, Kim, Matt, DD, Doggie, Cat, I'mGoingtoGetYou (one word)... I love it all so much. The word you say the most is Mom-Mom. It's so cute. 

Food is your your favorite. I mean, you eat ANYTHING. You see food and yell MMMMMM... and also after each bite. It's so fun how much you're willing to try! I would say your favorite foods are mango, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, banana, pasta, meat sauce, bread, bagels, peanut butter & guacamole. 

With everything on hiatus, you've had to learn and discover things in our house everyday. I wish I could be taking you to music class or school or even to Mom-Moms house, but right now...you're almost always home. Luckily, we have Miss Kristen - an amazing nanny who is teaching you and loving on you constantly. 

You are so loved by everyone - you are crazy and into everything and wild and fun. 

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Mama