Soccer Boy

Charlie really enjoyed playing soccer this year. It'll probably be his last year since he wants to start playing football next year which is too bad because he is starting to get pretty good. If you ask him, he'll tell you too. He's on the edge of confidence/cockiness, a little pet peave, cockiness has always turned me off. We're trying to get him to understand where the line is. At the same time he can be very hard on himself, saying stuff like "I'm not good at anything." So it's a delicate balance for me of building him up and keeping him humble. Hmmm....not easy.

Anyway, back to soccer. I think he scored at least one goal every game. He did great.

If one of his friends or he scored a goal they would do this.

Charlie hyper extended his knee when another kid ran into him, Mark had to grab him off the field, he was fine after a couple minutes.

Undefeated! A great season. I felt so bad though, their last game got rescheduled a couple times and I thought the message said their game was 6:30. We showed up at the field at 6:20 realizing that the game was at 5:30. Terrible, terrible mom moment. I felt awful. He was so excited to play in his last game. He played for one minute before it was over. At least he was there to get his medal and surprisingly he had a pretty good attitude about it when I told him how sorry I was and that it was my fault.

15 months

Dear Leila,

It's crazy to me how fast time flies, I look at you and can't believe how much you've grown and all the things you're doing (and maybe not doing too.) You for the most part are still pretty easy for a 15 month old but you're starting to challenge me more and more and I'm starting to remember why 1-2 years can be so difficult. You started walking at about 13 months, mastered going down the stairs shortly after, but you were very cautious for a while. You love my bathroom cupboards. One day when I wasn't feeling well and laying on the couch you kept yourself so entertained in and out of my bathroom, bringing me perfume and hiding daddy's deodorant (it took us a couple days to find it, he did have a back up luckily.) You love smoothies in the morning, you scream at me until I hand you yours. Really you scream at me a lot during the day but I know it's because you don't know how else to tell me what you want. I've been trying to teach you some sign language. You picked up on milk but you think it's the sign for anything that you want so when you see me getting some food or you find something from the pantry you scream and say "mama! mama!" Sometimes doing the sign for milk (opening and closing your fist, kind of like you're milking a cow.) You bring me stuff from the pantry all day long and want me to open it. I use to think it was cute and I'd give into you, it's not as cute anymore but I still give into you a lot.

You are transitioning between one and two naps. You usually will do whatever I need you to do, depending on what we have going on that day, but just recently you've been not doing as well with two so I'm afraid just one is right around the corner. You sleep well at night though, a good 12 hours.

You are sweet and sassy, cuddly and independent. You're not saying very many words yet, mama, dadda, nana (for banana, finally today!) uh-oh, ha (for hi), peek-a-boo (sort of) and that's about it. When I read you word books you just laugh at me when I try to get you to say the word. Hopefully one day it'll all click. You're finally growing some hair! You have eight teeth and are cutting a few more molars right now.

Sitting up at the counter with Kenya, about 14 months.

15 month picture in the chair. In and out the whole time, grab a book, look at it, get another...

You discovered the sand box and love to climb up the slide. The other day you came up the back steps covered with sand all over your face and in your hair, on your snotty nose! I had to take some pics.

Playing in the cupboards, your favorite past time.

Little cutie in the car.

Love you Leila.

Love, mom

Little Squeaker

Leila really enjoys being outside. She'll just follow me around, in and out of the garage, up and down the stairs, pull out a toy and push it around. I got her some little squeaker shoes, which usually drive me crazy when I hear kids squeaking around in those. I always thought "why would parents buy those?" But at this age when they're just mastering walking and on my child I love them and love hearing her squeak around. :) It works perfect for when I'm doing stuff outside and she's there with me because I always know where she is. Unfortunately one of these cute shoes got lost somewhere between the car and the soccer field at Charlie's game (I am completely blaming that one on Mark), but they were such a good deal I bought two different pairs at the time. I keep hoping the other one will turn up, I can't get myself to throw the shoe I have away. I'm trying to figure out my camera still. I learn something new on it and practice but by the next time I pull it out I have forgotten it. Lot's to learn.

Let's Go Ride A Bike!

A couple months ago Charlie and his friend Brock decided it was time for Kenya and Brock's little sister Kiley to ride their bikes without their training wheels. I told them to wait until dad got home but they took off the girls training wheels while they were outside. I came out to find Kiley riding her bike and Kiley's dad trying to teach Kenya. Not the way I had it pictured in my head of how it should happen. :) I helped Kenya try for a while but she wasn't getting it. We had just barely raised her training wheels so she just wasn't ready. We talked her into trying again a couple weeks ago. Mark was home, the training wheels came off and out they went. She was a pro and by the end of the night was doing great. She was so proud of herself. Always such a fun memory when they learn how to ride a bike.

Just needed a little push from dad at first.

Charlie had to bring something to the table too. :)

Glad it ended up working out that Mark could teach her. A special daddy daughter moment.