April Update

Well, I'm a bit behind on my posts and thought that I better give a quick update on what we've been up to this past month. Justin and Celeste invited us to go to the circus with them, which was a big hit with Ayla.

She really liked Xander's sword that lit up and blinked. Xander was great with sharing and let her chew on the top.

Ayla has always loved going to the store and now that she is big enough to sit up in the carts it has taken on a whole new level of excitement. No matter where we are she is constantly screaming and talking to whomever may walk by. Despite how much I'll try to get her to sit up straight, she will eventually be lounging, one leg the way it's meant to be and the other propped out to the side.

Brittany, Kaden and Austin went with us to the WOW (World of Wonder) Children's Museum, which was more of a huge playground, but a lot of fun. Ayla had just started to get the hang of crawling so she was quite content just playing on the baby mat.

Kaden had fun with all the grocery store produce.

And Austin put together a few puzzles.

They even had a lizard that Ayla really liked.

Ayla has started to point at just about anything or anyone (hopefully nobody is offended by her impolite manners). She especially likes it if we point back or touch fingers.

After several weeks of trying to get to the zoo it was finally warm enough to go. All the male peacocks were giving us quite the display (or should I say the lady peacocks).

Once again we spend quite a bit of time with the Primates since it is our favorite!

When leaving the primates there was a gorilla that was sitting right against the glass. Austin and Kaden were quite excited to be so close to the best zoo animal. Thanks Brittany for always bringing us along to the zoo!

From Army Crawl to Inch Worm

Ayla just about has the crawling down...I feel excited seeing her learn and grow so quickly, but sad too. I just want her to stay my little girl forever and I know that isn't going to be the case for much longer.
Ayla started army crawling at about 6 months and the past 2 weeks she has started to get up on all fours, rock back and forth and then she'll push off with her feet, which usually results in a bit of a face plant or belly flop. She has her legs all ready to go, but the arms are a bit behind in moving with them. I know it won't be long now before we'll truly have to baby proof the whole house, put up baby gates and watch her every move.

Here's the belly flop.

Ayla's First Easter Sunday

Yesterday was not only Ayla's First Easter Sunday but we also had our LDS General Conference. I decided that I wanted to continue my childhood tradition of hiding our Easter baskets. The above picture is of Papa and Ayla getting ready to start Are we Hot or Cold?

Milton was a bit of a poor sport and didn't want to waste anytime. He found it a bit too quickly...I had hid it in between the dresser and wall in the guest bedroom.

Ayla's basket was filled with toys and an outfit and book that Grandma Anderson had sent to her. The dinosaur was one that she had picked out and was the toy she played with the most for the rest of the day. Milton couldn't understand why I would get such non-baby friendly toy, but I find that the toys she picks out always become her favorites. Maybe I'm giving her too much freedom of choice at such a young age...

Ayla wasn't too happy in this picture since we kept taking away the Easter grass that she was trying to eat.

This picture was from last Sunday of her in her early Easter dress that Grandma Maxine Gagon had given her. She looked absolutely adorable! Thanks Maxine!

Ayla's Kisses and Hellos

Ayla has become more and more social with everyone around her. I haven't noticed much separation or stranger anxiety (even though she may act a bit shy at first), so I'm hoping that we can bypass that stage completely....
She is known as the "singer" at church and she does have a lot to say. Besides her amazing vocal skills she's developing she's learned a few others. This past week she started waving hello and giving us kisses. I love both, but getting a kiss from her when I'm least expecting it has been such an amazing feeling. Being parents truly gets better and better each day!

Ayla giving me kisses.

Ayla waving hello. Thank you Grandma Anderson for the adorable outfit she's wearing!

Ayla's First Easter Egg Hunt

Ayla experienced her first Easter Egg Hunt this past Saturday. The Gagon's invited us to join them at their family Easter Egg Hunt, which was such a blast. It was a quite windy so they decided to have it at Ian's house.

She was finally able to pick up the slippery plastic egg.

She was feeling like such a big girl while carrying her own basket. We didn't let her keep any of the goods that she found since she wasn't able to eat them anyway, but it was definitely worth the pictures and experience.

Of course her Papa is always teasing her!

And he even puts her in the most odd things. I think she was actually a bit comfortable sitting in her basket.