LAYLA IS TALKING AND TALKING!

CHRISTMAS 2008!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

DECEMBER HAS COME AND GONE FASTER THAN IN ANY OTHER YEAR! I WAS JUST COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL SCHOOL WAS OUT TO SPEND MY VACATION WITH LAYLA. JOHNNY & I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY. WE ARE SO BLESSED THAT OUR JOBS ALLOW US TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH HER.

LAYLA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS!

LAYLA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE!

THIS YEAR WE DECIDED TO PUT UP A SMALL CHRISTMAS TREE WITH ALL OF THE ORNAMENTS THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE GIVEN LAYLA. EVERY ORNAMENT IS EITHER PINK OR SILVER - IT IS SO GIRLY AND CUTE! SANTA EVEN MANAGED TO WRAP ALL OF HER PRESENTS IN PINK AND PURPLE WRAPING PAPER!

LAYLA JUST LOVED OPENING GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING! SANTA BROUGHT HER SO MANY NICE TOYS. SHE HAS BEEN ENJOYING PLAYING WITH THEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST SHE IS GROWING!

LAYLA'S FIRST BABY DOLL!

LAYLA ROLLED OVER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON DECEMBER 16TH. SHE ALSO STARTED SITTING UP BY HERSELF. SHE DID THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE I WAS AT WORK. I ASKED JOHNNY TO TAKE A PICTURE SO I COULD SEE IT. SHE IS NOT VERY CONSISTANT WITH EITHER THOUGH. WITH PRACTICE SHE WILL GET THE HANG OF IT!

WE HAVE HAD MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME AND VISIT US THIS DECEMBER. HERE ARE JUST A FEW:

JOHNNY & LAYLA WITH HIS AUNT VICKY

LAYLA, MOMMY, & GRANDMA ROSA

LAYLA AND GABE (JOHNNY'S FRIEND)

LAYLA, ENRIQUE, & GAEL

JOHNNY, LAYLA & MR. LOPEZ

Barbara, Andrew & Emily Come To El Paso For Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was great. Barbara, Andrew & Emily got to come and stay with us for Thanksgiving. We had so much fun. We ate Thanksgiving dinner at Vidal's house (Johnny's brother). It was scrumptious! All of Johnny's family was so excited to finally meet Barbara, Andrew and Emily. They all loved passing Emily around and playing with such a happy baby girl. On Friday we just relaxed around the house and watched What Not To Wear and got some great new haircut ideas. I've decided that I want to cut my hair short, but have not gotten the courage to do it yet. Barbara went back to Tulsa and chopped her hair off. I can't wait to see how cute it is. On Saturday we decided to go to Carlsbad Caverns. We stopped at the Guadalupe Mountains on the way and pick up a National Parks Passport for Layla and got our books stamped. Emily has already been to many national parks and added three new ones to her list just from this little vacation (White Sands, Guadalupe Mountains, & Carlsbad). We got to the caverns a little late, but had enough time to go on a short tour. After our tour The Stuarts headed back to Tulsa. We had such a wonderful time! We can't wait to see them again!

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WITH EMILY!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We Visit Beeville

MY NEW PHOTOS

EMILY & BARBARA COME TO VISIT!

BARBARA & EMILY COME TO VISIT

Barbara and Emily came to visit us this weekend. We had so much fun just staying at home and letting Emily and Layla get to know each other. It was nice to have my sister share ideas about what has worked for her and Emily. I will cherish every moment we spent together. Thank you Barbara! I love you!

The Schauers' Visit

BOBBY, TERESA, HAILEE, & ASHLYNN CAME TO VISIT

This weekend Layla got to see her Aunt Teresa again, and meet the rest of her family. My brother Bobby, sister-in-law Teresa, and nieces Hailee and Ashlynn came to El Paso to meet Layla. Johnny, Layla, and I were soooo happy to see them. The girls, Teresa, and I spent the weekend playing with Layla, watching t.v., visiting, and baking cakes. Johnny and Bobby spent Saturday tailgating at the UTEP vs UT football game. We had a wonderful time enjoying Bobby's great cooking. It was nice to have someone else cooking and cleaning up in my kitchen. Johnny, Layla, and I can't wait for them to come back and visit us. We love you all!

Thanks for spending the weekend with us!

Family & friends

Laylas New Pictures

She was swingin'.....

Layla

My Visit with Johnny, Kathleen and Layla

Well, it's Sunday and the last day of my visit with this wonderful family. I have truly enjoyed every moment that I've spent with each one of them. Kathleen is a fantastic mother, and Johnny is completely in love with his little angel.

While I've enjoyed getting to know Layla, I have to admit that the best part about this trip has been learning more about Johnny and Kat's relationship and their life here in El Paso. They are so in love and seem to be made for each other...what a great family.


We've had a quite a few "firsts" during the past few days. Among them are:

• Kat's milk finally came in on Thursday night--and it made EVERYONE relax and breathe a litte easier!
• On Friday morning, Layla had her first doctor's visit and we found out everything was great...
  
• On Friday evening we gave Layla her first bath, which she loved....and she showed her appreciation by peeing all over me!
• On Saturday, Layla started to jump over certain noises....like when a door slammed. She also took a pacifier for the first time.
  
• On Sunday, we noticed that her feet were no longer blue, but a pretty, healthy pink color. She also tried out her new swing and absolutely LOVED IT!

My flight leaves at 6:40 tonight and I am NOT looking forward to saying goodbye. I am so proud of Kat and Johnny and how they're handling the ups and downs up being new parents. I have completely fallen in love with my angel of a niece and am looking forward to watching her grow and change....I have a feeling I'm going to be making the trek back and forth between Beeville and El Paso quite often.