The Watson Watch: July 2009

Crazy Driver

On a trip to Home Depot, Lyla got her first taste of driving. She wanted to use BOTH steering wheels. She had the best time and was pretty skilled behind the wheel in her NASCAR.

On our way back from Oklahoma City, we stopped at the Cherokee Trading Post. This was my favorite place to stop as a kid and I accumulated a pretty impressive collection of Indian Dolls. We got Lyla her first Indian doll, a soft baby, we named Red Feathers. She loves her, especially her shiny black hair. TJ's grandma Josie was a full blooded Cherokee Indian and I want to make sure Lyla appreciates her heritage!

Playing the drums

Warrior Princess

Herding Cats

Nino made these really cute outfits for the girls so we wanted to take their picture. It took four adults to get the pictures below. It really was like herding cats.

Alayna, Lyla, Alijah & Mazi

Mazi, Lyla and Squeeze Baby

Alijah's 4th Birthday

On July 6th Alijah, our nephew, turned 4 years old. Teri and Allen were in from Georgia and Allen was starving for a Chile Relleno. The Plaza's are just as good as Lorene's and since the Plaza serves adult beverages, we went there. Nothing tastes better than hot mexican food and cold beer! I have MISSED mexican food. It was terrible in Tennessee and only decent in Louisiana. We have pigged out on all things tex-mex over the last two months.

After dinner we went to Aunt Brenda's house so Lyla could play with Alayna, Braylynn, Taci, and Alijah. She loves to be with older kids!

The Birthday Boy

Lyla crashed out after playing with her cousins

Fourth of July

We had a fun Fourth! My whole family went to my Aunt Sherry's house for a cookout. We had had lots of great snacks and "what-not" (my 17 year old cousin's favorite term), hamburgers and homemade ice cream! My cousin Tyler and his girlfriend Marci came home from A&M and took Lyla swimming. She had so much fun swimming with the "big kids" and not just mom. We met my friends, Kimberly and Laura (used to be Black), to watch fireworks. It was raining almost the entire time but that didn't stop the firework stands from holding their annual "war". It almost never rains in the panhandle but of course it would on the Fourth, but since we needed the rain, you can't complain too much!

Lyla in her mandatory holiday bib. I love them and TJ thinks they are dorky, but who dresses her?!?!?

Terminator Baby

Lyla loves walking

Swimming with Marci and Tyler

Nine Months

It is so hard to believe she is already nine months old! She has so many new tricks and seems to get bigger by the day. She is crawling everywhere, sitting up from crawling, pulling up and standing, clapping, waving "bye-bye", dancing,
and saying "dada", "mama", "baby" and "puppy". She has grown a headfull of hair and is cutting more teeth. Her "L" pictures are getting harder to take. She is so busy and doesn't want to lay down to take her picture. We got a few with Aunt Haylee's help, but mostly had to settle for sitting pictures.

Playtime at Nana's

Lyla had so much fun playing with her Nana Toys. Most of her toys were boxed up in storage so Nana and Aunt Haylee came to the rescue!

Practicing for try-outs

This is one of my favorite outfits. It has lady bugs on the pockets and a matching bow. We call her Lyla Bug so this is perfect!

Her favorite toy - the singing stage. This one was not put in storage for obvious reasons. She learned to stand up using her stage for balance!

Her new favorites - the Little People! She loved her cousin Aubrey's so Aunt Haylee got her her own set. They are how she learned her first real words - "baby" and "puppy". She crawls all over the house with them in her hands!

Summer time Fun

Lyla swimming at Aunt Sherry & Uncle Irvin's pool

Lyla and her cousins Aubrey and Sidney

Lyla and Aubrey playing in the tunnel

Happy Father's Day

Lyla is so blessed to have such a wonderful Daddy! She decided to get him new golf shoes for his first Father's Day. We spent the day with my family, cooking out and then Daddy got to play a little golf. It was a great Sunday.

Our family

Lyla and her Daddy

Crawling on all fours

After army crawling for several weeks, Lyla finally decided to try crawling up on all fours at the first of June. She would go a little ways on on her hands and knees, but when she wants to get somewhere fast, it is back to the army crawl.

Lyla and her cousin, Jaden, exploring at Grandpa Joe's

Our summer pastime - Golf

We spent a lot of time in June on the golf course. Lyla enjoyed being outside, I got to work on my non-existent tan, and T.J. got to improve his handicap. I am still terrible, but maybe I can take a few lessons while we are in Borger. T.J. played in a golf scramble with his Aunt Tereasa and his cousins in Guymon, where he won Longest Drive. The prize - a free haircut. With a family full of cosmetologists this was a bit of a waste on him, but we were proud of "the crusher".