Merrick Layne is 9 months

You are on the move little bit!  You've finally started scooting around!  Army crawl style, of course!  I laugh every time I see you do it!!  You are so fast too!  You can get to stuff before your brother even realizes it, which means you snag a lot of his stuff...he's really happy about that too!

This picture says more about you than anything I've ever seen...
you are ferocious, beautiful and mighty in that tiny body, little bit...

I've been working really hard at giving you a little more crib time in an attempt to get you sleeping in your crib, I'm failing for the most part!  Nap times go great, bed time not so much!

You are losing baby chunk by the day and
Mama is not happy about it!!

This month was also a big deal for this family!  Mama and Daddy went away for the weekend with the Roarks!  We thought we should live it up at watershed before Ms. Jodi and Mr. Dustin left! Your Aunt Juju rocked it!  She was so great!  She stayed up at all hours with your both...I just had to wean your brother of thinking that camping in the living room with a movie was the norm!

You love:

*eating food that isn't mush

*your brother...he continues to have the ability to make you laugh when no one else can

You are not a fan of:

*your crib

*sleep

*a bottle

*being without your favorite food source

Love, 

Your Mama

Merrick Layne is 8 months

What a fun month!  MorMor finally got here...silly summer school!  Daddy has gotten to hang out with us, a little...silly ARMY!  But we have been busy, we've had fun and it's been sunny in Washington, little bit!

Your excitement...those two little teeth,
could my life get any better?

You are just surprising us left and right with how quickly you are growing up!  People keep telling us what a great baby you are, well here is a secret little bit, you are great in social situations...which is wonderful for our super social family, but at home, you give Mama a run for my money!

Somedays you are so serious...

You love love:

*Bath time

*sitting in the bumbo 

*yelling and hollering at people if you don't get what you want---mostly food and snuggles:)

This you are not a fan of:

*the jumper---sad day

Love, 

Your Mama

Merrick Layne is 7 months

We spent most of this month visiting MorMor in Louisiana and it was such a good change of pace for us!  Mommy loved it because it was the first few weeks since you've been born that I had NOTHING!  No work, no volunteer commitments...nothing, just my two babies:)

Your big, blue eyes are nothing short of amazing, little bit!

This month you have made some big leaps!  While you were already sitting and rolling...they were pretty inconsistent and now you are doing both like a CHAMP!

This is one of my favorite things you do right now,
this is your excited pose!

You also got food this month!  It was definitely needed!  I was trying to wait until we got back home, but you were making people feel so uncomfortable while they ate:). 

All this chunk!

This was also a special month because we got to sneak in a trip to see daddy which we weren't expecting!  It was so good for all of us, despite being a little bit of chaos!  Daddy almost lost our camera...

You love:

*eating...so far you've had oatmeal, avocado, and sweet potato

*being swaddled...I problem need to start weaning you

*being held

*your Daddy

You do not like:

*when other people are eating and you aren't

*missing the action

Love, 

Your Mama

Merrick Layne is 6 months

Well my dear, it's official, in the last few months we have given you the real introduction to the family!  You are quickly learning we don't slow down often!

We've traveled to see friends and family, Mommy finished up the year with the Lewis Community Spouses Club and MOPS!  Daddy's been gone at training which means you are subject to whatever schedule I throw at you!! To say the very least, it has been a hectic, hectic month and you have been such a trooper!  

Despite the worst rash in the world, you are so happy...
I'm only mentioning it so no one else does:)

You have gotten so good at self entertaining because of the hectic schedule of the last few weeks and everyone thinks you are just perfect!  Little do they know you are only that entertained when there are lots of people and noise...little bit, you are quickly turning Into the social butterfly that this family knew you'd become!

You are some kind of chunky, little bit!
The funny thing is, you are light as a feather and tiny in clothes!

This month was also so great because you got to meet your future best friend!  We went to Arizona, are you shocked we traveled?  This was such a great trip because we got to see so many people we love!  Grandad, T-ma, Aunt Juju, Uncle, Aunt Manny (Mama's best friend in the whole wide world), and Baby Crinn (ask your brother:))  It was so fun letting all of you play together and I hope one day you girls are as close as your Mama's because we've been through EVERYTHING together!

You love:

*playing on the floor and screeching at your "babies"

*when you brother snuggles you in the morning...this is the first thing he does each morning and it warms my heart in a way you will only understand one day when you become a mommy!

*being the center of attention or just watching all the commotion that most of our social outings bring

You do not like:

*when I forget to swaddle you

*being left alone

*lying down as much as you like the BUMBO

Love, 

Your Mama

Merrick Layne is 5 months

You are starting to develop the sweetest personality and you love to watch everybody in action.  Your 

sweet smiles and chatter have started to bless us each day!

So many things about this...your sweet smile, your chubby knees, your round face...
these are the things I NEVER want to forget...

You're daddy has been gone since the beginning of March and it's fun to hear him talk about how much you've grown!  I see you everyday so, sadly, sometimes I take for granted all of the little changes you make each day, but not Daddy....he notices them all!

It isn't your most smiley picture, but for some reason,
I love something about this picture and I can't quite put my finger on it...

It was also another fun month of traveling for you, little bit!  We got to go to sunny California to see Uncle, Aunt Juju and MorMor for Easter!  It was so nice to spend time with them!  I think the change of scenery and vitamin D did all of us in this family well!  We sure are missing Daddy, but he will be home before we know it!  

You love:

*nap time...I wonder if it's because those are the only moments you get without your crazy brother harassing you:)

*being held...you're going through a touch of a "hold me always" stage...but that's what baby wearing is for!

You are not a fan of:

*being woken up from sleep

*the craziness that is your brother "helping" you jump in your jumper:/

Love, 

Your Mama

Merrick Layne is 4 months

You went on your first airplane ride this month!  We went to visit Grandad and T-ma to get out of the rain!  But, the big reason for our trip was so you could meet Doc and Gigi!  They were thrilled to meet you!

Look how excited you are!  Your personality is becoming
so apparent and, we LOVE it!

Daddy left again this month and it's really forced Mama to pull the weight of this family's needs on the Homefront!  He found out about 2 weeks before leaving and threw our plans right out the window!  And, like always, when Daddy leaves, everything happens!  You decided to break two teeth right after daddy left, of course!  And, your brother always gets sick when Daddy leaves...

#smirkofmerk

My favorite thing about this month has got to be your giggles!  Your brother might be the only one to make you laugh, but every time I hear you belly laugh at him, my heart is full beyond imagination!

Your brother was feeling a little picture deprived...
and, this makes it official,  I make the PRETTIEST babies!

You love:

*Being swaddled

*Being carried to facing the world 

*your brother something fierce

You are not a fan of:

*not being swaddled

*your pacis--- thank goodness you gave them up on your own 

*water torture during tub time with your brother

*getting teeth

Love, 

Your Mama

Merrick Layne is 3 months

This month might have been one of mommy's hardest months!  After all of the holidays were over and the family was gone, I realized I was left to be a mama of two all by myself!  Sure Daddy is home, but sometimes he works really long days!  Plus, without all those extra hands, sometimes it feels like I don't get to hold you enough, smell you enough, or put you first when your crazy brother is causing chaos!  But, we made it!  

See that smile...you have found a new way to steal our hearts...

This was also a crazy month because Mama and Daddy watched Hailey so that Mr. Andrew and Ms. Ashley could go pick up their new boat!  So that was definitely an adventurous week.  But, as usual, you were you're even tempered, roll with the punches little bit!

You are beautiful, fuzz hair and all...

You also were with a babysitter for this first time this month!  Miss Sara has been watching Mason since before he was one:)  So, she met us at the hotel where we were staying and entertained you all!  Mama and Daddy had a post deployment ball, so it was so fun to get dressed up and have a date!  You were so great...but, I know you didn't like that bottle...

See that smirk...it's going to get you in trouble one day...

But, the best thing about this month!  You've started smiling!  And, little bit, you have the most beautiful smile!  With that smile those, you've also developed, what we like to call, the "smirk of Merk"!  You, my dear, are going to give us a run for our money!

You love:

*being held

*your wubbanubs

*sleepy time in the car

*the ring sling

You are not a fan of:  

*some of your brother's crazy antics

*tummy time---shocker

*the bottle

Love, 

Your Mama