Fun in the Baby Pool

Thursday after work we decided it was time for Layton to try out his new baby pool. The water was a little cold at first but once he got used to it he loved it! He had fun splashing and splashing. The dogs were really intrigued as well. They thought it was a huge water bowl for them and gave Layton lots of kisses. I'm sure we will be spending many hot evenings out in the backyard this summer watching Layton splash. Here are a few pictures of our little water baby.


Roscoe in the background watching Layton
Then Roscoe decided to pose for the camera too.Lots of laughter and splashing having so much fun!

Uncle Jerrod and Aunt Amanda

Jerrod and Amanda stayed with us all weekend because my parents had Cooper. We had a great time hanging out with them even though we didn't do much. Layton enjoyed having the extra attention from them and enjoyed playing with Dexter their dog. I was really lazy and didn't take very many pictures at all this weekend but here are a few.

On our way to dinner Saturday night
Layton keeping us entertained at Chili's

Layton and Amanda being silly

Just like Daddy

Layton is fascinated with shoes lately now that he can say shoes and always plays with them by the back door. We are trying to teach him how to say boots but he hasn't caught on just yet. He wanted in dada's boots the other day so I put them on him. Too funny!


Clifton has been shredding a lot this weekend around the house and Layton stands by the window and points and says "dada tactor" and makes his engine noise. He loves to watch him drive back and forth. This weekend he went for a little ride with dada in the tractor and Clifton said he was happy as long as he could steer. I ran out there with my camera just as they were getting out. I'm sure he will be spending many hours in that tractor with daddy as he gets older.

Kyleigh is here!

Clifton and I have a niece for the first time. Kyleigh Reese Hindes made her grand entrance into the world on Friday May 21st and weighs 6 lbs. 10 oz. and is 20 inches long. She is so tiny compared to when Cooper and Layton were newborns. She is perfect in every way! We went up to the hospital on Friday afternoon once Jerrod and Amanda made it into town from Houston. I got to hold her and wow she was so light it is crazy how tiny her little features are. Here are some pictures of our trip to the hospital.

Cooper opening his big brother gifts
Nana holding her first granddaughter

The proud mama with her sweet baby girl

Daniel was trying to get Cooper to sit by him for a picture but he wasn't too sure about Kyleigh at firstKyleigh Reese

Aunt Amanda and Uncle Jerrod

Water Baby

I took Layton swimming on Tuesday after work at my parent's house and I was a little worried about it being too chilly for him. He was a bit cautious at first but once he got used to the cold water he started splashing and laughing. He was laughing so hard when he would splash himself he was cracking me up it was hilarious! I pushed him around in his float and he made his little motor boat noises and just couldn't get enough. He is fearless which is a little scary. He kept trying to jump out of my arms when I was holding him. He was real good about kicking and paddling so I can't wait to teach him how to swim once he gets a bit older. He thinks he is a fish already. This is going to be a fun summer with lots of swimming I'm sure!




Tomorrow Lauren and Daniel are scheduled to have Kyleigh at 12:30 so we are all very excited about meeting her. More pictures to come of Kyleigh's big arrival!

Here is a short video my mom took of Layton splashing and laughing.

Eleven Months

The count down begins to Layton's first birthday. Wow I can't believe we only have one month until our baby is turning 1. Time is flying by and Layton is changing so much everyday. He is learning so much and talking more and more. He now says "tactor" for tractor, "ha" for hat, "sak" for snack, "papa" for his papa, "baba" is his bottle, mama, dada, nana, ball, light, cheese, shoes and we are working on a few more new words. He is really into trucks, tractors and basically anything with wheels that he can push. He loves to pretend he is driving. Layton loves attention and lots of it he has to be the center of attention now all the time. He is watching everything we do and trying to copy dada. He points at the lawnmower and says dada and he loves to watch Clifton mow the grass from the window. He is walking more and more which is kind of scary because he falls a lot and most of our house is tile or hardwood. We have had some bumps and bruises already and I'm sure lots more to come. He gets so excited when he is walking he goes faster and faster and falls into us when he is coming towards us. He is also really into doors still. He loves to open and close them. He is also enjoying books more and more he will actually look at the pages while you read instead of trying to eat them. We know he weighs 24 lbs. now because they weighed him last week when I took him to the doctor (no wonder my back and shoulders are constantly bothering me). We are going to enjoy this last month of Layton's baby stage and cherish every moment with him before he becomes a big boy next month. Here are a few pictures of our 11 month old.

He loves this big truck book and he looks at it by the hour and makes his truck noises.
Here are a few action shots of Layton walking from the game room to the living room. For those of you that have been to our house you know this is a pretty good distance. He was so proud of himself walking all over the house tonight.
Here he is playing in the toy basket

Almost made it

. . . . to a year without Layton getting sick. Poor baby woke up from his nap on Friday with fever. His temp was 102.5 so I called the pediatrician and they told me to bring him in that afternoon. In the middle of the big rain we had that day I loaded up Layton and drove to San Antonio. I'm glad I took him because she said he has the infant hand foot mouth virus that is going around. Basically there is nothing we can do except give him tylenol for the fever. We have been staying home this weekend just giving him lots of extra cuddles and lots of rocking. He has been fussy and isn't eating much and is fighting sleep. Friday night was rough I was home by myself because Clifton was on a fishing trip and Layton and I were up almost all night. I got him to sleep finally about three and then thirty minutes later a big thunderstorm came and woke him up. Thankfully Clifton came home Saturday afternoon so I was able to nap a little. Layton is doing much better today and hasn't had fever since Saturday morning.

He wouldn't take a nap Saturday morning and I didn't have the patience to listen to him cry in his bed so I went ahead and gave him some lunch. I was on the phone with my mom and I look over and he is out. I guess he sat still long enough to realize that he was really tired.


Here is a video I took of him on Friday night he kept saying Papa over and over. I was trying to get him to drink some pedialyte but he wasn't really interested in that or his dinner that night.

We've got a walker

Layton decided this week that he was going to walk. He is such a determined little guy and it seems like it happened over night. This is the best video I have so far of him taking a few steps. You can see how stubborn he is in this one and he is becoming more and more independent. This new toddler stage will be interesting I'm sure.

My blue eyed boy

Thankfully Layton was blessed with his daddy's beautiful blue eyes. I've always wanted to have kids with blue eyes but wasn't sure how Layton's would turn out since mine are brown and everyone in my family has brown eyes. Layton looks just like his daddy in so many ways and from talking to Deborah acts a lot like him too. Most people say he looks like a little Clifton and looks nothing like me. His hair is finally starting to grow and it looks like it has a little curl to it so I'm anxious to see if he got his daddy's curly hair too. I know I've posted a few bath time pictures before but here are a few more because Layton is just so happy taking a bath. As soon as he sees me turn on the water he starts clapping and saying YAY! He cries when it is time to get out. I remembered to take my camera with me to the bathroom the other night during bath time so I could capture the pure joy in Layton's face. His big blue eyes show up so good in these pictures and I know I'm biased but I think he is turning into a handsome little toddler. We are truly blessed to have such a happy baby!

Wal-Mart Baby

I realized the other day as I was looking through pictures we hardly have any of Layton just hanging out in his diaper now that he is moving around. He would prefer not to wear clothes ever but that isn't an option so the other night after he made a huge mess at dinner we stripped him down and let him play before bath time in his diaper. Here is our Wal-Mart baby that is what we have always called it because you know how you always see interesting people at Wal-Mart with a baby in just a diaper.

Layton's first girlfriend

Our friends Chad and Kellie came by the other day with their daughter Emersen. Layton is always fascinated with her and wants to touch her face. These two are going to have lots of fun playing and growing up together. Layton was loving on her and I actually had my camera close by.

My First Mother's Day

Today was my first Mother's Day and it has been a great day! We had my mom and dad, Clifton's mom, my two grandmas and Joe, and Daniel, Lauren and Cooper over for lunch today after church. Layton was so sweet he got me a candle that smells great and even signed the card that Daddy got me. Being a mom is hard work but is the most rewarding job I have ever had. I've enjoyed every minute of it this past year and now have a deeper appreciation for what my mom did for me growing up. I didn't take very many pictures today but here are a few.

Playgroup and Date Night

Friday we went to Playgroup at Abby's house and Layton had a great time. He enjoyed watching the older kids play and walking around pushing some toys. We managed to get him and Keaton in the wagon together and they were too funny talking back and forth to each other. After playgroup Layton and I enjoyed a nice lazy afternoon at home and both took a nap.






Friday night Clifton and I finally got to go on a date! He was offered some free Spurs tickets and we couldn't turn those down since they are in the playoffs. My college friend Jackie and her husband Jared were in town so we met them for dinner at Canyon Cafe before the game and it was fun to catch up with them. We really enjoyed the game even though the Spurs lost and it was nice to get out and have some adult conversation without Layton around. Grammy D. was so nice to keep Layton all night for us. He did great at her house and was happy to see me the next morning when I went to pick him up.

Vroom Vroom

Layton has really gotten into pushing everything and making the truck noises. He now pretends everything is a truck and wants to sit down and drive and shift the gears like daddy. Lately he has been enjoying "driving" our wood rack in the game room. I must say he has a good imagination already. Here he is laughing and of course clapping on his pretend "truck"
Here is a short video so you can hear the sound effects.

Another fun day at the lake

Sunday we spent all afternoon at Medina Lake with Daniel, Lauren and Cooper. The boys did great on the boat and we were out on the lake about five hours. It was so much fun being out on the water and getting a little sunshine. The water was still pretty chilly but we managed to get in a little. We stuck Layton in for a minute but it was too cold for him still. I can't wait until it warms up a little bit more and we can take him swimming in the water. Here are a few pictures from our lake trip.