New Year

The Howard/Coobs/Smith family decided to start the new year off right this year. We spent last Sunday preparing a meal for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City.
We had a pretty good experience, it was stressful making sure that we had enough food and getting everything done in time, but we got a lot of thank yous and I appreciated being able to offer something to families that are under a lot of stress.

My next project on my quest to do more good things for other people this year will take place in February. Andrea and I have signed up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Iowa City. This is another good cause that I am excited to be able to help out with. If you want to read more about the project we are going to be working on, there is info here: http://www.womenbuild2.blogspot.com/ .

I will try to post some of Leila's 9 month pictures this week after I have a chance to scan them. They turned out really good, and Leila had a good time. She is getting to be such a big girl...she sleeps all night long in her own bed and loves to give kisses and clap her hands...I can't believe that she is only 3 months away from being a 1 year old! Where does the time go?!?!?!

At her 9 Month check up she was in the 90th %ile for everything...weight, height and head circumference. She was 21 lbs 10 ounces, 28.5 inches long.

I am on my way to reaching my one year of nursing goal!!

snow :(

It is January 15th and we have finally gotten our first snow storm of the year. I can't say that I am excited about it, I hate snow. Cory and I both have today off of work for MLK Day, so we have spent it hanging out at home, doing laundry and using our new vacuum cleaner.

Leila's sleeping habits have really improved lately. We have to give a lot of the credit Marla, Leila's babysitter. She has been working with her at nap times, and she lets her cry...something that I have had a hard time doing, though I think it is necessary. Today Leila took a two hour nap, in her crib. Yes, in the crib! AND last `night she slept 8 hours, in her crib. Shocking I know. We are almost there and it is beautiful, now if only she would do this long enough for me to get used to it and actually sleep through the night instead of waking up and wondering what she is up to.

I have been planning to update and kept forgetting since new years. New Years Eve we drove back from Tabor through a snow storm (no fun). When we got home we hosted a small get together with some friends. It was nice to have people to hang out with at home since it really isn't cool to bring your baby to the bar with you. Here is a picture of Leila and her friend Bryce hanging out on the kiddie couch on New Years Day.



Here are a few other pictures since it has been a while...

Here is proof that we really needed the baby gate :)



Here is Leila sitting on the car that Great Grandma and Grandpa Howard got her for Christmas...I think this is her favorite new toy!


And here is Leila giving mommy a kiss...one of her new tricks.