Happy Birthday Leyton Lee

Like everything, LC celebrated her birthday in style.  In fact, she couldn't squeeze it all into one day, so she celebrated her birthweek!  She kicked things off with lots of beauty sleep.

 Then the cards and gifts started pouring in.  Her first birthday card (ever!) was from Grandpa and Grandma Barnett.

 So exciting!

 Next, we took our little pumpkin to a pumpkin patch.  Notice the LOVELY dead sunflowers in the background!

She got to bring a friend, her BFF Susannah.

Surprisingly, she didn't mind the scratchy hay.

"This one is a keeper, Dad."

She loved the 'Leyton-sized' pumpkins

This is the lucky pumpkin that we took home

She got some goodies from Gramma and Grampa!

We went to story-time and she wore the birthday hat (very briefly) while everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'

Now she's old enough to drive.  Thanks for the Scooter, Gramma and Grampa!

Finally, it was PARTY TIME!

Leyton was a beautiful butterfly!

All the kids were adorable!

Finally, CAKE!

Mommy worked hard on this silly thing.

'Don't take it away!  I'm not finished!'

Then it was time for toys!

There were so many toys she had to call in some back-up.

Thanks to everyone who helped make Leyton's day very special.  Although she managed to escape pictures, a big thanks to Aunt Hillary for spending the week with us and sharing her birthday with LC again.
Leyton, it's hard to believe it's already been a year, but it's been the best year of our life.  We love you baby girl!

Our Little Helper

Now that she is almost a year old, Leyton has decided it's time to help out more around the house.

She cleans out the cabinets.

She moves boxes.  Here she is pushing through the pain.

"You wanted this under the table, right Mom?"

She also enjoys cooking.

Mmmm.. she cooked up something 'finger lickin' good!'

And my personal favorite....

taking out the trash!

Literally... reaching in and taking out the trash.  

So helpful!

Safari baby and a play date!

I know everyone loves to hear what baby Leyton has been up to, so here's what's new!  First, she got some new jammies.  Check these threads out!

She looks like a cheetah!

Being stealthy!

Attack!  She likes to climb up my pants, because she wants to be held.  For MONTHS when she was little, she didn't want to be held, she preferred to lie on the floor and play.  Well now that she is a solid 10 pounds heavier, she prefers to see the world from the safety of your arms.  Very sweet, but hard on the back!  We also had a minor accident....

All the Puffs hit the floor, and Leyton was very quick to capitilize.

A little puffs, a little dog hair... YUMMY!

Saving those for later...

We also had a play date with Miss Susannah Mallory.  

They fought over the same toys.

And cried to their Mommies when they didn't get their way.

Here they are drinking out of the other's sippy cups.

Good thing their daddy's are big and scary, because they have two BEAUTIFUL girls on their hands! (Susannah finds Leyton's daddy very scary, she cries every time she sees him!)

 Double trouble!  They worked together to try and coordinate an escape.  First by knocking down the baby gate...

 And then by knocking down the door.  We managed to keep them contained this time, but it's not getting any easier.
We are ALL looking forward to next weekend when Miss Hillary comes to visit.  She better bring her play clothes, because Mommy Shannon, Mommy Whitney, Baby Leyton, and Baby Susannah are ready to show her a good time!

11 Months Old!

Oh Baby Leyton, where has the year gone?  You are so big and smart!  You give sweet baby kisses.  You play ball.  You've figured out how to blink and it is very funny to watch you practice.  You keep us busy and very entertained.  We love you silly kid!!

Daddy got off early one day this week, so we took a trip to the zoo, and this time you stayed awake.  You loved the animals!

Well.. most of the animals.  You were not too impressed with the rhinos.  They were making a strange noise and you were not a fan.

The giraffes were much more entertaining.

And the pandas can't be beat.

Not a real polar bear.

But this one is... boring...

Where's the monkey!

We took one of these monkeys home with us!

Daddy says you're a little young for lipstick.

Luckily it's just your raisin and prune yogurt.

You crawled in there by yourself and had a blast!

We tried taking some 11 month photos.  This one is just a camera trick!  

That's more like it.

Love that smile!

Always a lady.

A beautiful lady!

You are growing so fast, but you will ALWAYS be our baby!