Layna is now 11

Layna is now 11


2022-03-12

Before focusing on the birthday girl, quick update: I’m four days post myomectomy and doing ok. This is the longest, most intense recovery process I’ve ever been through and already I’ve gained such a deep appreciation for functional abdominal muscles, being allowed to cook and clean, and how much my body needs hard work. Also eyeballs that can focus on small text so that I can actually read. Sigh. They tell me I’ll have all of the above and more if I can stick it out for two weeks. We’ll see. Now. On to birthdays and cake and babies who grow up!

Do you remember when Layna was this tiny little bean? I do. Barely. Now she’s big (Well, not literally. If her growth percentile keeps being super consistent she might get to be 4’8”). There are some pretty cool things that have come about this year…She has imaginary friends. Not like one or two, she has a whole crew. One of my most favorite things is listening to her update her crew on some new development and it sounds kind of like this:
Layna- Mom said we are having cake for dinner!
friend(s)- wait, what?!
Layna- I know, it suprised me most!
friend(s)- eat lot of cake?
Layna- oh yeah, chocolate is my favorite!

She also is really making huge progress in speech and reading and math. It is a cool thing that any academic achievement is a celebration because she doesn’t have to compete with anyone else.
We discovered she loves first person shooter games at the arcade (as long as it’s not zombies) and she is all about scary movies (as long as it’s not pirate muppets from “Muppet Treasure Island”).

Some things have stayed the same…Office supplies are her love language, she loves being outside if the temperature is between 70-73 degrees, and if she doesn’t want to do something it’s because her legs are “super wobbly.” She is delightful and stubborn and feisty and has the best maniacal evil laugh.

Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11

The day started with a daddy/daughters shopping trip to get some new clothes (Thanks again, Grandpa Todd!) Layna is pretty rough on her clothes so new ones were exciting. Her outfit of choice is usually a dress over leggings but her sisters helped her branch out into shorts and even a pair of overalls. I heard there was also a rousing game of “Find the Layna” in the clothes racks.

Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11

This year was not a friend birthday year, so Layna opted for an arcade outing. All our kids love the arcade so it was a pretty awesome hour and a half. But yeah, she loves first person shooters, air hockey, and motorcycle games (as long as I stand there holding the throttle at max and help her lean into turns).
The maniacal laugh was heard the whole night long.

Layna 11
Layna 11

This one doesn’t really like change. At all…we are working on flexibility in small doses. So it was no surprise when we went to her favorite resturant of all time. McDonald’s.

Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11

Birthday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s was great and tasty and Layna was over the moon with her presents. She even has her own MP3 player now…Corra is feeling her youngest child status keenly.

Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11
Layna 11

You know I didn’t forget the cake. Way back before Halloween 2021, we had some time to fill, so Layna and I started scrolling the internet for cake ideas. “Star Wars” had been decided as the theme and then she pieced together a few we saw into “Star Wars with 3 layers half space half tatooine.” There was squealing when she saw the finished cake so I must have come close enough to what she had envisioned. Remember, Layna has strong opinions about how things ought to be done and will let you know in no uncertain terms if you are doing it wrong.