Ringing in the New Year!

For the past 4-5 years we have gone to the Spanish Ward's New Year party. We enjoy seeing friends and members that we don't get to see very often and miss from when we attended the ward.

Once again, Ayla surprised me by staying up until we headed home around 12:30am. She was fixed on all the people dancing and is obviously going to need to be put in dance lessons soon.
The pictures I took were horrible...I guess I had it on the wrong setting.
Ayla wasn't shy about interrupting her Tios so she could dance too.

Time sure flies by! This is our 5th New Year together, 4th year of marriage, we have a beautiful daughter and a baby on the way. Life is wonderful!

Denver Zoo Lights

One of the gifts that we received from Tio Gerson was an annual pass to the zoo. Ayla and I are really excited! We LOVE the zoo!

We also received tickets to go to the Denver Zoo Lights, which was really pretty.
The highlight of the Zoo was Ayla's first carousel ride! Luckily, they give you several minutes on it cuz she was frozen in place for some time before she let loose and decided that it was fun.

Our Christmas Holiday

This year for the Christmas Holiday we headed to Orem to be with Milton's family. We left early Thursday morning praying for good road conditions, which we luckily got.

That night we headed to Temple Square in Salt Lake. Despite the freezing temperatures it was beautiful and Ayla stayed in good spirits despite being very tired.
Ayla with her Abuelos

Ayla, Tio Gerson, Eric (Vanina's boyfriend), Tia Vanina and me

Ayla and her Papa

Christmas Eve is when Milton's family celebrates. Ayla was the angel who put the star of the tree (unfortunately, she was too big to be the angel this year).

About 10:30 at night is when the festivities begin by a yummy dinner.

Afterwards we opened the gifts.

Even Kusko and Bahlu were invited to the party.

As you can see, Ayla is always the centerpiece of all the pictures.

Ayla was spoiled! Milton and I didn't buy much this year, but her Tio and Tia sure made up for it. Thank you for making it such a memorable Christmas!

We made the mistake of giving her the baby bottle as one of her first gifts and she wouldn't let go of it the whole night or the following day.

Christmas Day Grandma & Grandpa Anderson, Rachel & Grant and McKelle and Ben came over for dinner. Grandma brought with her an old baby doll blanket, which Ayla loves to wrap her babies in and feed them like a good mama.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures that night or for the rest of the trip...not sure what happened.

We left the day after Christmas to head back home. On the way we stopped in Price to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Garff. Grandpa looked remarkably well from our last visit a couple of months ago. We are grateful for us both being raised in amazing families who love eachother's company. It was truly a wonderful Christmas and we are so blessed!

Ayla's EARLY Christmas Present

Ayla is loved by many, especially her Tios & Tia. They couldn't wait to give Ayla her Christmas present so she got to play with it a little early (besides I don't think they could fit this train set into their luggage).

I think it's an adorable present, I just wonder where the heck are we going to store this thing!

The train tracks took up their whole living room so I know it's way too big to be left set up.

Thank you Elton, Gerson and Vanina for the awesome gift! I'm sure it will get lots of use in the next coming years.

Bye, Bye Chupon!

Do you notice anything new or different about this picture? Besides that she's trying to ride something that is much too small for her?
Her chupon (pacifier) is gone! Ayla had become very attached to her chupon and had to have it with her most of the time. Milton and I were wanting to break her of it months ago, but there was just so much going on and then I was so sick that it just didn't happen...so a week ago I made the dreaded decision that it was time. I rounded up all her chupons, snipped the ends and handed them to her. I proceeded to explain that they were all broken and she was too big for them anymore. For the first 30 minutes she thought it was funny, but after realizing they were all broken she became quite upset.
Luckily, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. At bed or nap time she would cry for about 10 minutes before falling asleep, but overall it went quite smoothly.
I miss it sometimes when I need the quick fix to make her happy, especially since she is now cutting her top canines....however, it was time to say goodbye.

Ayla's Sure Knows How to Dance!

Ayla has always loved music! She started head bopping and moving her legs as soon as she knew how. She is now starting to make her own choreography and it sure is fun to watch!

November Updates

Unfortunately, the beginning of November was the worst of my morning sickness so not many pictures were taken....But here's Ayla's ready to go for a walk in the cold!
We were very happy that Thanksgiving was at our house this year and we were able to celebrate with so many of our family and friends. My parents, McKelle and Ben, Justin and Celeste's family, Milton's whole family and a few friends were able to make the trip!

Xander LOVED pushing Spencer around in Ayla's doll stroller (Spencer actually enjoyed it too).

On Saturday we all met at Justin's to have dinner. Rachel and Grant were on their way back from having Thanksgiving in Missouri so they stayed the night there before continuing onto Ut.

Grandpa & Grandma

Justin, Celeste and Spencer (Xander was too busy playing to join the picture).

My family!

Ayla has become quite the toe jam picker and will take every and any opportunity to do so, even if it is someone else's toes, LOL.

After finding no lint in Spencer's toes she had to check her own.

On Sunday my family left so we headed over to Tio Elton's to hang out. Ayla LOVES to listen to music!

Thank goodness for Ayla's abuelos! Abuelita was so much help the week and a half they were here. I was starting to finally feel better but she made sure that I did as little as possible. She is always so much help and we just love when she's here to take care of us!