Dentist and Blood Draw

This morning Layla had her first dentist appointment! We went to see Auntie Heidi at the office that she works at.

She did not enjoy the exam. She let her look at her teeth and count them, but did not want them cleaned. She ended up only getting her front two teeth cleaned. She says she'll be better next time:). Auntie Heidi still gave her a balloon and she got to pick out a toy, but I'm not sure she really deserved it:).

She wasn't so sure about the moving chair:)...

On Wednesday she had blood drawn to test for food allergies since she has some tummy issues, and she did really well! She asks often to get the "tv cart" so I let her that day for being such a big girl. They both loved sitting in the little car, but towards the end Gibs wouldn't sit down and neither seat belt worked. Plust it's $1, doesn't fit as many groceries and is a pain at check out b/c you have to switch carts and then go back and return this one. So we will not be getting this cart very often, but I'm pretty sure she'll be asking every time now:). The Penny Pony will just have to do:). Too bad Walmart doesn't have one as I much prefer getting groceries there over Meijer (I know most people do not like Walmart, but I for one never have issues there and never wait in line, unlike at Meijer)!

Layla's had a big week of "firsts"! Not sure why she did so well for having blood drawn and her ears pierced, yet didn't want the nurse to take her blood pressure at her appt last week and didn't want the hygenist to touch her teeth today! Crazy girl!

Ear Piercing!

Layla has been saying for awhile that she wants her ears pierced (she loves wearing clip ons), but she'd always say that she wanted them when she goes to school. Well, then she saw another little girl her age have them so I asked if she wanted them done and even after telling her that it would hurt for a minute, she still insisted she wanted them. So while we were at the mall this past Saturday we told her she could get them pierced. I was wondering if she'd back out, but she was really excited! There was a tiny baby getting them done before her, they had to wake the baby up to get them done which was even hard for me to watch, so I made sure Layla was busy looking at sunglasses during that:). If it was me, I think I may have backed out after watching that:).

She did really well sitting nicely for the lady. It was so fun to watch her be so proud of herself for having them done and for having it be her decision. Such a big girl:).

All ready!

Still no tears...

And then came the tears:(...

She was still a little upset after they were pierced, but once she saw them she was excited again:).

She picked out pink ones, not too surprising since she loves pink:).

Uncle Steve and Auntie Heidi came over once we were home and even picked up some sparklers for Layla! Gibs was way too tired and had just gotten a fever, so he missed out on the fun:(.

Sleepy Sickies

Saturday night we went to Rivertown and during dinner Gibs was shivering. It's not like him to be cold, but Fridays was a bit chilly so we didn't think too much of it. But then when we were leaving and took him out of his stroller to put in the car I felt that he was burning up. Layla then woke up with a fever Sunday morning. They both basically slept or laid down all day Sunday but thankfully their fevers were both gone by Monday morning so it didn't totally ruin our holiday weekend:). Don't mind that Layla likes to wear winter pj's to bed:). Her room is in the basement so she stays plenty cool at night and even with her fever she still wanted flannel jammies on.

3 Year Stats

I wanted to quick put Layla's 3 year stats on here so that I can put the paperwork away. She had her 3 year appointment on Thursday and much to her (and my) surprise, she didn't need any shots. I just assumed since she only sees the doctor once a year now that she'd need some so I had warned her about them but didn't even need to! For some reason she was testy when we got there and didn't want to be weighed and then didn't want her blood pressure taken, but then after that she was fine. Apparently I spent too much time on the way there going over the fact that she'd needs some pokes that I didn't cover that she needed to be a big girl for the rest of her appointment. Normally it's not a problem--she's timid in unfamiliar situations and normally does whatever she's told. We did wait awhile so maybe she warmed up a bit too much playing with some other boys in the waiting area. Anyway, she's growing just as she's always been, gaining the expected amount of weight per year, and they had us fill out a long questionnaire on what she does and she was doing all the things on it so she's right where she should with development too. The doctor said to have her start stringing beads and such for her fine motor skills which she can do and to start working on tracing things so she can improve her drawing/writing skills. She can sometimes draw an "L" now but that's about it for letters:). She will sometimes draw things that will accidentally end up actually looking like some sort of object, but it's pure luck:). She likes to color and play with play-doh and such, loves jewelry, dress up and shoes, loves pretending to make food and have tea parties with Gibs:) and is getting more into her Loving Family dolls. Recently her LF dolls have been doing lots of camping around the house:). I can't wait until she can play properly with Barbies, I might just play with her:). Most of the time she likes to get herself dressed and is very stubborn about it--she doesn't want your help but at times still gets her arms stuck so she needs it. She loves playing with other kids and especially her cousin Gavin, even though they fight like brother and sister. Gavin bit her a little while ago and she would show people her bite mark like she was proud of her war wound and was still excited to see him--no hard feelings, so that's good! She is still insistant that she's having a little sister. She came inside from playing the other day to get her "little sister" (a doll) so that she could take her in the Gator with her and on her bike with her. She also says that her little sister could sleep in her bed with her--yeah, that'd work great:). She's very sweet though--let's just hope she's as sweet to the new baby when it arrives--whether it's a sister or a brother! So far she's a great big sister and the typical oldest child with being responsible and obedient (and sometimes a little bossy:D). She'll be a great influence for Gibs and the new little one. Here are her stats:

Height: 36.5" (50th % when the dr looked at the little girl charts (like 0-3 yrs I think) and then just under 50th % when he looked at the big kid charts (must be like 3 to something)
Weight: 27 lbs 1 oz (5th % on little girl charts, 10th % on big girl charts)

We love our sweet little girl so much and can't believe we already have a 3 year old!!

Disney World!!!!

In early May we took a trip with my dad and Joyce and Em, Mike and Gavin to Disney World!! We knew it would be different going with a 1 year old and a 2 year old and figured we wouldn't get much in, but we still wanted to go since we both love Disney (Joe truly has learned to love it since meeting me). I was expecting Gibs to get grumpy from being so tired and Layla to be scared of things, but they really both did great--better than I expected, so that was nice! Gibs napped in his stroller when need be and loved the rides and shows. He normally doesn't like to sit still for long, so I wasn't sure if he'd get bored, but everything kept him really entertained and he actually sat fine on our laps during shows and such which isn't like him. We went to bed late about every night, but both kids slept in really well--which for the most part we let them sleep for awhile since we knew they were so tired. Layla didn't nap that much in her stroller during the day, but I think she just thought there was too much going on around her to be sleeping.
It was so fun going with Layla this time as she could really take it all in and enjoy it. She loves the princesses and Mickey and Minnie and their friends from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Last time we went she was only 10 months and scared of many of the rides (since most are dark), she was still a little scared this time, but not too bad. I thought maybe she'd be scared on Pirates, but Joe said she really liked it (I didn't go b/c the first time we tried to go they made us exit the line due to techinical difficulties and then the next time Gibs was sleepy so I was pushing him in his stroller trying to get him to sleep). I think it helps that she likes watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Layla's favorite ride seemed to be It's A Small World which I loved when I was little too:). Her least favorite thing was Mickey's Philar Magic which is a 3D show--Donald near the beginning spits on the audience so you get wet and she did not appreciate that:).
I don't know what Gibs' favorite part was. He clapped a lot at everything and squealed. The funniest thing he clapped at was when Ursala came out during The Little Mermaid show--most kids were frightened, but no, our Gibs cheered her on:). He also really loved the Disney Junior Stage Show. I wish we had had our video camera along to that b/c he loved dancing and clapping and squealing (Layla loved it too since she loves all the Disney Junior shows). And I couldn't think of anything that Gibson didn't like so I just asked Joe and he said, "going to bed". I think he was beyond tired and giddy by the time we'd go to bed so he'd do what we called his Jack In the Box in his pack n play. He'd pop up, then fall over laughing, then pop up again with a big smile and keep repeating. He'd finally fall asleep when we turned all the lights off and went to bed too. There are tons of pics, but it's always hard for me to narrow them down--I want to remember them all:). Layla has been talking about going to Disney World again since we got back and I miss it too! We had such a great trip!

Leaving for the airport! Packed and ready to go!



Waiting with dad at the airport...


They were watching the planes so sweetly and then a bit later we suddenly noticed Gibs was coloring with crayon on the window! Oops! That boy always gets into trouble!

Enjoying snacks on the plane...

Gibs had to ride on this side of the aisle (because of where the masks were or something dumb like that) so Joe sat there most of the trip since I wasn't feeling well due to being pregnant and even worse from flying, but really it went better than I expected.

Thankfully Gibs slept most of the time on both flights there and back...

Enjoying a bite to eat in Atlanta. I bought this stroller off of Craigslist before we went since I didn't have a compact side by side, and it didn't come with a snack tray so I got one off Ebay and it was definitely worth it!! Gibs' food would have dropped on the floor a million times throughout our trip if he had to always hold his own bowl! The kid can be so messy!

Waiting for the bus the first day on the way to the Magic Kingdom!

On the bus to MK...

Traditional castle pics...Layla still gets really excited every time she sees the castle (like in the beginning of all Dinsey movies)...

Joe posing by the Stanley sign (that's where he works)...

We didn't get to actually ride Dumbo (b/c it was too long of a wait), just pose in him, but Layla still talks about how she thinks she rode Dumbo:)...

Posing in their cute shirts made by Gavin's Auntie Becky...

Waiting patiently for the parade to start...

Pretty sleepy still waiting...

Watching the castle show...

She was really excited to meet Minnie and Mickey...

Mainstreet Electrical Parade...

Gibs slept up until the parade started and then just laid their staring at the parade and then the fireworks. Layla fell asleep at the end of the parade. Both kids were exhausted for the trip, but still did great!

Gibs just stared sleepily and pointed at the fireworks:)...

On Joe's birthday we went for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants near Disney, Chevy's. It was excellent as always...

In our room...this was probably before dinner, but I don't feel like moving the pictures around...

Gibs loved playing with the Mickey balloon from Gigi and Grampy:)...

Ready for bed...

We stayed at Disney's Riverside Port Orleans...this was our first time staying at this resort and we really liked it...

Layla loved the pool, but Gibs was a little apprehensive, although it was nap time and he was exhaustd from the whole trip, so it probably wasn't the best time to try him in a big pool.

Hollywood Studios!

Layla gave Joe his birthday presents from us on his birthday...(she looks very excited about it)

Layla loves Ariel...

Gibs' first visit pin:)...

The girl loves ice cream just like her momma:)...

I thought it was cute that he was sleeping with his hand out the back of his stroller like this:)...

She was excited to meet Handy Manny until we got up there and he touched her:)...

A little better...

Tired kiddos!

Excitedly watching the parade...Gibs loved jabbering and pointing at everything while we were there...

Layla loves Buzz and Woody and their friends...

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

Watching the Beauty and the Beast stage show...

Hot kiddos!

Cooling down:)...

Epcot!

I put this on here to remember how much Layla talks about Captain Hook:). She doesn't like him and says she's scared of him, but she doesn't seem to be scared of him in a bad way. She just likes to pretend that he's stealing her toys or hiding in her closet or whatever.

Meeting Princess Jasmine and Aladdin...

We at in Japan and it was delicious!

Lindsey and Darrell had just arrived in Disney that day, so we quick met up with them at Epcot. Gibs had just fallen asleep so they watched him while they waited for Illuminations to start while we quick went on Nemo with Layla. It worked great for us that they could watch Gibs!!

They loved their airplanes from Gigi and Grampy! They still have them and still have no idea they are lollipops:).

Watching the water parade at The Polynesian...we mainly just wanted to get Dole Whips:) (it's delicious pineapple soft serve icecream you can get at the Magic Kingdom, The Polynesian and the Dole plant in Hawaii--maybe you can get i othe rplaces, but those are the only places we've found them).

Mother's Day morning we went to the Polynesian for a delicious breakfast...

Oops, I posted the blurry pic of Gavin in his cute glasses from Gigi and Grampy! I would post the better one, but it's so annoying moving the pictures all around on blogger!

Layla enjoyed her Mickey pancakes...



Waiting to ride the monorail...

Enjoying their monorail ride:)...

After breakfast we drove over to Downtown Disney and then took the ferry from DTD back to our hotel...

The ferry...

A view of the ferry dock at our hotel...

Layla fell asleep on Joe on the ferry shortly after this pic:)...

The food court at our hotel...

In front of one of the buildings at our hotel...I didn't get a pic of our building, but it was behind this one...

On one of the bridges at our hotel...

In front of the main pool area...I didn't get any pics of Layla swimming in this pool b/c the only time she went to this pool was when Gibs and I were napping in the room:)...

One last pic of a Disney bus on our way to the airport...Layla wanted a picture of one:). They got the little matchbox size busses on this trip.

Layla loved our rental car and still sometimes asks if we're getting our rental car back:)...

At the airport ready to go home:(..

Joe and I flew seperately from my family, but somehow between the two of us we managed to lug along 2 kids, a double stroller, 2 suitcases, 2 carseats, and 4 carry-ons:). We were slightly skeptical though of how on our next trip we'll make it with 3 kids:).