First 8 months (written 06.10.11)
As of April 15th, 2011 your stats were:
Weight: 16lbs 6 oz
Height: 26 inches
Your height and weight put you in the 57th percentile.. and your head measures in the 92nd percentile.. smart like your mama and daddy ☺
I’m combining these months because they really seem to have flown by.. considering I’m home with you all day I really don’t know where the time goes sometimes! I will still separate them because you have had a lot going on baby girl.. so let’s start..
Month 6:
You are starting to sit up baby girl.. you don’t quite have the strength to stay up on your own but the effort is definitely there.. we prop you up and you last a few seconds before falling back.. it’s adorable!! ☺ This month was also my birthday.. we dressed you up in the cutest ballerina outfit and went out to lunch with some friends.. though you are usually very social and smiley.. recently you have been more leery of people.. you don’t smile as readily and heaven forbid if someone tries to just pick you up.. that’s an absolute no no.. you have learned to reach out when you want to be held.. and daddy and I are the only lucky recipients of this.. actually, no that’s not true.. ubaldina is as well.. she’s your favorite.. we are convinced that you love the Spanish language.. and why wouldn’t you?? It sounds like a song and we alllll know how much you love singing.. or at least I like to tell myself that ☺ You have also started sleeping stretches in your crib baby girl.. it wasn’t easy the first few nights but you’re a trooper sunshine and by your 5th night.. you even got 8 hours in a row.. I have to say that we were shocked because not only did we start trying out the crib.. we also got you off your swaddle.. did you know you’ve been a burrito baby all this time?? Well you have and baby girl you LOVED it.. I was really thinking that you wouldn’t be ready but you surprised us yet again.. that’s the theme of your first 6 months I think.. surprising us with how you can handle pretty much any situation we put you in.. this speaks so well for you as an adult baby girl.. life is full of twists and turns.. so if you’re already just going with it.. you will have a much easier time later.. we promise! ☺
Month 7:
You are officially sitting up on your own baby girl!!! You are also trying to crawl but your belly doesn’t lift off the ground.. plus you go backwards only.. this is officially called an army crawl.. lol ☺ Just the other day I was cleaning up my cereal bowl.. literally one bowl.. I had you on the floor on your playmat.. I came back into the living room (mind you I was gone about 15-20 seconds) and baby girl I can’t find you!!! I had a minor heart attack because honestly.. where could you have gone.. and then I looked by the front door and baby girl you had scooted yourself back about 5 feet in those 20 seconds!! I still don’t know how you went so fast.. you’ve never gone that fast or that far when I’ve been looking.. sneaky little baby ☺ This month you also got your own twitter account.. it was decided that you had so much more to say than either one of us so we got you an account where we are taking the liberty to try to translate whatever it is that you are saying.. you have a few followers.. namely daddy, me and brofuncle.. lol.. but for future reference your account is under babylylabelle – absolutely adorable ☺ We also celebrated my first mother’s day this month.. we ended up going to the park.. just the 3 of us and it was a lovely Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately we also got some bad news that day.. turns out your grandpa had a stroke and was in the hospital. A few days after that daddy went back home to Missouri to spend some time with family and thankfully it all worked out baby girl.. he is back home now and cannot wait to finally meet you!
Month 8:
It is crazy how much you have grown up in the last few weeks.. honestly.. when daddy came back from Missouri he noted how much he thought you changed.. and then after we got back from mexico.. he noticed it again.. ok, let me back up ☺ You are not only sitting up on your own now.. but you have also started pulling yourself up! You have some strength baby girl.. I feel like it was just yesterday that you would just lay wherever we put you.. that’s no longer the case.. you are an explorer baby girl and nothing and no one is going to get in your way when you want something.. good for you!! ☺ It’s a challenge sometimes because you want to be doing this and then that.. basically anything except just sitting there.. lol.. once you really start crawling we’re going to have our work cut out for us!! So.. this month you went on your first and second plane ride to mexico and back.. not a very long plane ride.. and baby girl.. on a flight that was 98% booked you got your own seat both ways!!! You seriously had a great time on the plane.. I had an aisle seat and you had the middle seat.. at the window was this really attractive guy.. you must have thought so as well because I was speaking to the flight attendant and when I looked back at you.. you were holding his hand!!! Baby girl.. I died on the inside.. but he was taken by you like everyone else was.. and started talking about his nephew who is just a few months younger than you.. ☺ We took a bunch of your toys with us and you flirted with everyone sitting around us.. they all loved you.. obviously!! Even the flight attendants were so impressed with how well you did!! See.. we’re not the only ones that think you’re a superstar!!
In mexico you got to hang out with your teta and jeddo.. they were soooooooooooo happy to see you.. brofuncle was there as well and you just loved everyone!! I’m not sure if you know that you are related to them.. or if you are over your fear of going to other people.. but you reached out and let everyone hold you.. I was so impressed with you.. once again.. you surprised me baby girl.. I guess I should just expect that I have NO idea how you’re going to act in certain situations.. you have pleasantly surprised us every single time and I hope that you continue to do so ☺ Mexico was great in many ways.. we got to see the new apartment.. your jeddo retired a few months ago so they are starting a whole new chapter in their lives and it was nice to actually see their new place.. they even got you a walker to play with while we were there and the first few days you didn’t really understand that you could actually move.. that you actually had space to walk around.. but towards days 3 and 4.. you figured it out and moved a bit.. I’m sure that you will be running around the next time we go ☺
You have been talking up a storm the last few weeks.. we honestly think that you are really talking.. we have yet to understand anything you’ve said.. but months ago you did say help, mama, poopoo and bike.. I guess saying words and KNOWING what you’re saying is the definition of speaking.. but whatever.. you’ve said those words.. and poopoo was actually in the right context.. We are thinking about starting sign language with you this month.. just so that you can communicate better with us.. nothing major.. just the basics.. what do you think about that? Also.. daddy and I keep looking at you and shaking our heads in amazement.. it is really crazy how much you have grown in the last 8 months.. even in the last few weeks.. you are your own little person.. you have your likes and dislikes.. you have a personality.. it’s crazy to see.. but I guess we must be doing something right because everyone that has had the pleasure to meet you says how lovely you are.. you are the lovely lyla.. always smiling.. and if not smiling.. just quietly contemplating the world around you.. you are a happy baby girl.. your smile lights up the room and our hearts.. you make any sleepless night worth it to see your little grin in the morning.. and trust me.. we have had some sleepless nights ☺
Before I sign off for this month.. I need to mention that as of May 22nd - you officially have your first tooth!!!!! It’s adorable and crazy sharp.. it’s on the bottom gum and as of this morning I noticed yet another tooth poking through.. so you have your first two bottom teeth.. as much as I loved your gummy smile.. you are so adorable with your teeth!! According to what we’ve been reading.. your top two teeth are next.. but we will keep you posted ☺ Once you have a few more teeth we will try some more textured foods with you.. so far you have had: apples, avocado, mango (your favorite), pears, apricots (don’t love them), green beans, sweet potato and squash.. not a bad list of items.. we still need to try green peas and some other green veggies.. since we are going organic for your food.. we need to buy when they are in season.. so for now.. we are taking a break on the green veggies.. lucky you ☺
Ok sunshine.. the next time I write you will be 9 months old.. before I ever had a baby I always thought that 9 months was the absolute cutest age.. not sure if that’s still true because I can’t imagine you getting any cuter than you already are.. but you know what.. I have said that every month.. and look.. 6 months was better than 5 months.. and now 8 months are the best we’ve seen.. so who knows.. not sure if I can handle you getting any cuter.. but I promise to try!! ☺
Love you sunshine baby girl!!!!!!! ☺
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
First 5 Months!
(written 4.01.11)
Doctor visit is coming up on april 15th – so no stats till next month..
Baby girl, it is seriously so crazy how much you learn and grow and make us fall in love with you even more than we thought possible!! You amaze us with every little thing that you do.. we did so much in the month of march which is why I am writing you so late.. let’s start off with all of the places you’ve gone! ☺
Ok.. so the first weekend of march you went to your very first Los Angeles Kings game!! Yeah, who would take a 5 month old to a hockey game?? Yours truly and you loved it.. at least the 1st period.. lol.. we had you all bundled up and even put the cutest headphones on you, I have picture proof! ☺ You were amazed by what was going on on the ice.. daddy and I were convinced that you thought you were just watching a giant TV! The game was on March 5th – 5 years prior I was on my first date with your daddy and here we were sitting in the seats like a full-on family.. just crazy baby girl!!
The second week of March we went down to San Diego for the day.. went to see daddy’s hogs play some baseball.. I was a bit worried about how you’d do.. but like you have done time and time again, you pleasantly surprised us yet again.. we were in the car for a total of about 6 hours – remind me to tell you a funny story about our drive down to san diego and daddy’s “oops” moment.. (going and coming back) and you were totally fine.. except for a little freak out on our way back.. but that was “taken care of” and then you were good to go.. we went to our favorite bbq place in san diego.. it’s called Phil’s and it’s delicious.. you even got some bbq sauce on your socks.. and then tried to eat it.. but we had to stop you.. I promise you we will take you back and you can have ribs after you have real teeth.. ok?? ☺
The 3rd week of march was our biggest trip yet.. first off your auntie dida came back to visit and to interview.. she’s trying to find a job out here so that she can be closer to you.. she’s so in love with you baby girl and has been from the very beginning.. her and your teta are crazy about you and have NO problems showing it, even in public.. you seem to love it.. so carry on! ☺ So, on Friday morning we drove to Arizona.. we followed Natalie and Lowell for a part of the drive.. it took us about 6 hours and you napped a few times.. not your long naps.. but enough short ones to keep you happy.. amazing right??? We got there and then I was all stressed out about how we would sleep since your swing didn’t come with us.. you slept in a giant bed with mama and daddy.. and you absolutely loved it.. I was so nervous the first night but then got the hang of it and we all slept really well.. as small as you are.. you probably took up the most space.. lol ☺
Arizona was a blast.. we went there for Dodger Spring Training and it’s a trip I can see us making in the next few years again.. you ended up getting daddy a bunch of autographs for his jersey!!! They couldn’t walk past you.. for obvious reasons.. and AJ Ellis even commented on what a lovely name you had.. he is now our favorite Dodger.. Kershaw was super friendly as well.. he said that he doubted you cared about his autograph.. lol.. don’t worry though.. daddy set him straight RIGHT AWAY.. it was a sight to see ☺ Driving back from Arizona was a nightmare only because of the weather.. it was HORRIBLE baby girl and driving on a bunch of freeways in nasty weather is not something we are accustomed to.. but daddy was careful, as always..
On top of all the travels.. you have been babbling up a storm!! You have so much to say and we are just waiting for your first real words.. though we kind of think you already spoke.. in early march.. I was preparing your last bottle of the day.. you had just gotten out of the bath and daddy was putting your pajamas on.. you didn’t want anything to do with that and just wanted food.. so.. as he was putting clothes on you he swore that you said mama.. not once.. but twice.. and the second time was clear as day.. I missed it.. I was in the kitchen ☹ But I know that you will say it again when you are ready ☺ The second incident is the best one yet.. we have never laughed so hard baby and you can bet that you will hear about this throughout your life.. so we apologize from now.. this was also in early march.. it was early in the morning.. you had just woken up.. we have a routine.. you wake up.. hang out a few minutes.. we change your diaper as your bottle is warming up.. and since you were born.. every single time we change your diaper.. we announce what we see.. you seem to think it’s hilarious.. so it’s always either PEEPEEEEEEEE or POOOOOOOPOOOOOO.. you get what I’m saying ☺ Anyway.. so I was changing you.. took one side of your diaper off and then the other.. pulled it off.. and YOU said “poopoo?”.. yes you did baby girl.. you even said it in question form!! Ahahahahahahahaha.. daddy and I laughed and laughed and laughed.. they say a baby is really speaking when they say something in context.. now, are we going to say poopoo is your first word?? Probably not.. unless you do it again.. then we’ll just have to go for it ☺
You’re still in your swing.. now the issue is not so much that you won’t lie flat (since we know you will because you did in our bed in Arizona).. now the issue is that you are still swaddled and rolling over.. so leaving you in a crib swaddled does not sound very safe to us.. we will be quitting the swaddle cold turkey so I’m foreseeing a few rough nights ahead.. the question is when? We are planning a trip down to Mexico to visit your Teta and Jeddo and see your brofuncle all at once.. chances are that we will go down after your vaccinations and it will be your first time on a plane.. I am a nervous flyer and have only gotten worse as I’ve gotten older.. so this will be an adventure baby.. just me and you.. daddy will stay home.. I bet he is going to miss you like crazy and never let you leave again.. at least not till college.. lol ☺
Ok baby girl.. we love you so so so so much and cannot wait to see what these next few weeks have in store.. you even have your own baby friends now.. you’re like the squishy amigos.. so adorable together and we (the mamas) hope that you maintain this friendship for years to come.. Oh last thing.. since we’re traveling to Mexico we had to fill out a passport application for you.. I’m still laughing about it.. they asked for your statistics.. height.. 2 feet 2 inches.. hair color.. blond.. eye color.. grey.. how stunning are you????
xoxoxoxoxooxoxoooxoxoxo!!!!!
Doctor visit is coming up on april 15th – so no stats till next month..
Baby girl, it is seriously so crazy how much you learn and grow and make us fall in love with you even more than we thought possible!! You amaze us with every little thing that you do.. we did so much in the month of march which is why I am writing you so late.. let’s start off with all of the places you’ve gone! ☺
Ok.. so the first weekend of march you went to your very first Los Angeles Kings game!! Yeah, who would take a 5 month old to a hockey game?? Yours truly and you loved it.. at least the 1st period.. lol.. we had you all bundled up and even put the cutest headphones on you, I have picture proof! ☺ You were amazed by what was going on on the ice.. daddy and I were convinced that you thought you were just watching a giant TV! The game was on March 5th – 5 years prior I was on my first date with your daddy and here we were sitting in the seats like a full-on family.. just crazy baby girl!!
The second week of March we went down to San Diego for the day.. went to see daddy’s hogs play some baseball.. I was a bit worried about how you’d do.. but like you have done time and time again, you pleasantly surprised us yet again.. we were in the car for a total of about 6 hours – remind me to tell you a funny story about our drive down to san diego and daddy’s “oops” moment.. (going and coming back) and you were totally fine.. except for a little freak out on our way back.. but that was “taken care of” and then you were good to go.. we went to our favorite bbq place in san diego.. it’s called Phil’s and it’s delicious.. you even got some bbq sauce on your socks.. and then tried to eat it.. but we had to stop you.. I promise you we will take you back and you can have ribs after you have real teeth.. ok?? ☺
The 3rd week of march was our biggest trip yet.. first off your auntie dida came back to visit and to interview.. she’s trying to find a job out here so that she can be closer to you.. she’s so in love with you baby girl and has been from the very beginning.. her and your teta are crazy about you and have NO problems showing it, even in public.. you seem to love it.. so carry on! ☺ So, on Friday morning we drove to Arizona.. we followed Natalie and Lowell for a part of the drive.. it took us about 6 hours and you napped a few times.. not your long naps.. but enough short ones to keep you happy.. amazing right??? We got there and then I was all stressed out about how we would sleep since your swing didn’t come with us.. you slept in a giant bed with mama and daddy.. and you absolutely loved it.. I was so nervous the first night but then got the hang of it and we all slept really well.. as small as you are.. you probably took up the most space.. lol ☺
Arizona was a blast.. we went there for Dodger Spring Training and it’s a trip I can see us making in the next few years again.. you ended up getting daddy a bunch of autographs for his jersey!!! They couldn’t walk past you.. for obvious reasons.. and AJ Ellis even commented on what a lovely name you had.. he is now our favorite Dodger.. Kershaw was super friendly as well.. he said that he doubted you cared about his autograph.. lol.. don’t worry though.. daddy set him straight RIGHT AWAY.. it was a sight to see ☺ Driving back from Arizona was a nightmare only because of the weather.. it was HORRIBLE baby girl and driving on a bunch of freeways in nasty weather is not something we are accustomed to.. but daddy was careful, as always..
On top of all the travels.. you have been babbling up a storm!! You have so much to say and we are just waiting for your first real words.. though we kind of think you already spoke.. in early march.. I was preparing your last bottle of the day.. you had just gotten out of the bath and daddy was putting your pajamas on.. you didn’t want anything to do with that and just wanted food.. so.. as he was putting clothes on you he swore that you said mama.. not once.. but twice.. and the second time was clear as day.. I missed it.. I was in the kitchen ☹ But I know that you will say it again when you are ready ☺ The second incident is the best one yet.. we have never laughed so hard baby and you can bet that you will hear about this throughout your life.. so we apologize from now.. this was also in early march.. it was early in the morning.. you had just woken up.. we have a routine.. you wake up.. hang out a few minutes.. we change your diaper as your bottle is warming up.. and since you were born.. every single time we change your diaper.. we announce what we see.. you seem to think it’s hilarious.. so it’s always either PEEPEEEEEEEE or POOOOOOOPOOOOOO.. you get what I’m saying ☺ Anyway.. so I was changing you.. took one side of your diaper off and then the other.. pulled it off.. and YOU said “poopoo?”.. yes you did baby girl.. you even said it in question form!! Ahahahahahahahaha.. daddy and I laughed and laughed and laughed.. they say a baby is really speaking when they say something in context.. now, are we going to say poopoo is your first word?? Probably not.. unless you do it again.. then we’ll just have to go for it ☺
You’re still in your swing.. now the issue is not so much that you won’t lie flat (since we know you will because you did in our bed in Arizona).. now the issue is that you are still swaddled and rolling over.. so leaving you in a crib swaddled does not sound very safe to us.. we will be quitting the swaddle cold turkey so I’m foreseeing a few rough nights ahead.. the question is when? We are planning a trip down to Mexico to visit your Teta and Jeddo and see your brofuncle all at once.. chances are that we will go down after your vaccinations and it will be your first time on a plane.. I am a nervous flyer and have only gotten worse as I’ve gotten older.. so this will be an adventure baby.. just me and you.. daddy will stay home.. I bet he is going to miss you like crazy and never let you leave again.. at least not till college.. lol ☺
Ok baby girl.. we love you so so so so much and cannot wait to see what these next few weeks have in store.. you even have your own baby friends now.. you’re like the squishy amigos.. so adorable together and we (the mamas) hope that you maintain this friendship for years to come.. Oh last thing.. since we’re traveling to Mexico we had to fill out a passport application for you.. I’m still laughing about it.. they asked for your statistics.. height.. 2 feet 2 inches.. hair color.. blond.. eye color.. grey.. how stunning are you????
xoxoxoxoxooxoxoooxoxoxo!!!!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
First 4 Months!
FIRST 4 MONTHS (written 2.22.11)
As of February 18th, 2011 your stats are:
Weight: 14lbs 8 oz
Height: 24 ¾ inches
Your height and weight put you in the 65th percentile.. and your head measures in the 85th percentile.. baby girl.. you’re a genius what can we say?? ☺
Baby girl.. there are seriously no words to describe how much cuter you get every single day. Everyone’s always telling us what a beautiful and well-behaved baby you are.. and let me tell you.. you put in a lot of effort in socializing.. you literally are exhausted after spending hours with other people because you’re trying soooo hard to be perfect.. you are perfect baby girl.. I promise you.. don’t worry about pleasing everyone.. you’re so freaking awesome exactly the way you are.. we’re lucky though.. you are always smiling.. always squealing.. making horse sounds.. you’ve officially been giggling the last few months.. not every single day.. I guess we have to do something really funny to get a laugh out of you.. for instance.. during diaper changes.. you wait in anticipation while we first take off one side of your diaper.. then the other.. your eyes are wide.. your mouth is in a little “o” shape.. and you wait.. once we take off your diaper.. we announce what we see.. “peeeeee peeeeeee” – you smile sooooo big everytime and you even laugh at times.. you seriously can’t get any cuter ☺
Our mommy and me group has been awesome.. you have met so many other babies and you’re all so happy together.. your favorite seems to be River.. you have also spent the most time with her.. you’re so cute together.. her mom May is pretty cool as well.. hopefully you will be able to continue this friendship with your new friends for many years to come.
Daddy cannot get enough of you baby.. honestly.. he smiles so big every single time that you’re awake and playing together.. you love him so much as well.. your whole face lights up when he walks in the room.. you also have conversations with him now.. they include you spitting a lot.. but baby you seem to have lots to say.. we can’t wait for you to actually talk.. just a few weeks ago you said.. mo mmmmyyyyy.. we’re pretty sure that you just put some sounds together and didn’t actually know it was a word referring to me.. but we’re sure that you will be speaking soon enough.. daddy’s convinced your tongue’s in the way.. it’s abnormally large for your little mouth.. ahahahahahah.. just like me baby girl.. my tongue was sticking out ALL the time when I was a baby.. it sometimes still does.. daddy likes to point it out and make fun of me.. it really only happens if I’m concentrating hard on something ☺
Last week.. on the 18th, we went in for your second round of vaccines.. ugh, like we thought.. it was definitely worse this time around.. in comparison to what we hear while we’re there.. the other babies are definitely losing their mind more than you are.. the thing is though.. you seriously NEVER cry.. it’s very rare for you to cry.. so when you do.. it’s heartbreaking ☹ and well.. shots are not pleasant.. not for you and not for us.. this time you knew something was up after the first shot.. I’m guessing you’ll know the deal at your 6 month appointment even before the nurse comes in the room.. maybe being a baby genius is not so great after all sometimes??
Since I last wrote.. you’ve been making serious attempts at communicating.. you now grab stuff.. stick it in your mouth.. you’re constantly drooling – hence your new nickname being drool monkey.. no teeth yet.. we’re checking ☺ The other day we were in Redondo with daddy’s family and you were sitting in his lap.. you were distracting your daddy while your tiny hand grabbed a tomato right off the plate.. good that daddy noticed it because that would have gone right in your mouth.. and you’re a little young for that.. we can’t wait to feed you real food.. but we’ll wait till 6 months.. you’re only eating 22/24 oz of formula per day and that’s on the much lower end of where you need to be.. if you end up closer to 32 oz / day then we will try to start you on solids.. we’ll be skipping cereal all together.. it has no nutritional value and is mainly processed junk.. you, baby girl.. will be eating home made organic goodness!! Only the best for our baby girl ☺
In january your auntie dida visited you and you had a great time together.. she got you that glowworm that you’re so in love with ☺ She even got a few real giggles out of you.. my mom, your teta.. also visited in mid February.. she got lots of giggles out of you baby girl.. I guess you like aggressiveness.. daddy and I are too soft for you.. lol.. they were rougher and you loved every single minute.. it’s so awesome to see how readily you interact with the world baby.. you’re so curious.. so genuinely happy.. you’re just a pleasure to watch.. oh.. I have to mention something new you’ve been doing.. daddy and I call it “passionate embrace”.. let me see if I can describe this correctly because it’s so cute.. if we put our face close to yours.. your hands will reach up.. grab our face.. maybe the cheeks.. or the ears.. wherever you happen to grab.. and you will slowly pull us down close to your face and then give us super sloppy kisses.. you breathe really loud when you do it too.. where do you even come up with your stuff?? You’re so awesome!
The next month is a busy one for us.. you’re going places baby girl!! ☺ Here’s what’s coming up.. on Saturday march 5th, you’ll be going to your first sporting event.. an ice hockey match.. we’ll be rooting for the Kings! The following weekend, we’ll be going down to San Diego to watch daddy’s razorbacks play baseball against san diego state.. we’ll be wearing red and cheering wooooooooo pig!! ☺ The weekend after that.. we’re going on a road trip baby!! We leave on Friday the 18th and will be heading to Arizona for Dodger spring training.. it’s going to be an adventure.. you’re going to get to sleep with mama and daddy in the big bed!!! We’ll be there for 3 days and then get back home.. something tells me you’re going to be exhausted.. but we’ll do our best to keep you as comfy as possible.. we’re bringing your favorite sleepy wrap and the baby bjorn and the beco butterfly II that we just ordered (soooo excited!).. you’ll be good baby girl ☺
The swing is still your favorite place to be.. we’re going to try out the crib for naps in the next few days.. I’m going to hope for the best baby girl.. you’ve honestly surprised us in the most positive way with every single step so far.. so who knows.. maybe you will just LOVE your crib.. and if not.. we will figure out what we need to do to make you happy.. You’re seriously the best thing that’s ever happened to us.. yesterday was our 2-year wedding anniversary and on march 5th.. it will be 5 years since our first date.. we’ve had lots of adventures in the last 5 years.. but you, baby girl.. we could have never been prepared for how much you would change our lives.. I am not a morning person.. but when I look over at you smiling away.. I can’t help but grin from ear to ear.. you make us soooooo happy baby. I hope we continue to do the same for you.. a million hugs and kisses sunshine baby!!
--
So I would have kept this entry as is.. except for one thing.. tonight.. I made tacos and you sat in the kitchen on your high chair.. you’re my little sous-chef sunshine baby!! Anyway.. we made tacos.. and then we took you in to get a diaper change and to get you to nap.. during the diaper change I started blowing on your little belly.. baby.. you have never GIGGLED so much in the last 4 months.. you kept going and going and going.. of course, we whipped out the camera and the giggling stopped.. but baby girl.. I’m going to try again later tonight.. after our shower.. did I mention that?? You and I take showers together.. we have a great time and you’re so happy happy happy.. thought I couldn’t love you more.. but tonight.. i was proven wrong.. yet again.. love love love you!!! ☺
As of February 18th, 2011 your stats are:
Weight: 14lbs 8 oz
Height: 24 ¾ inches
Your height and weight put you in the 65th percentile.. and your head measures in the 85th percentile.. baby girl.. you’re a genius what can we say?? ☺
Baby girl.. there are seriously no words to describe how much cuter you get every single day. Everyone’s always telling us what a beautiful and well-behaved baby you are.. and let me tell you.. you put in a lot of effort in socializing.. you literally are exhausted after spending hours with other people because you’re trying soooo hard to be perfect.. you are perfect baby girl.. I promise you.. don’t worry about pleasing everyone.. you’re so freaking awesome exactly the way you are.. we’re lucky though.. you are always smiling.. always squealing.. making horse sounds.. you’ve officially been giggling the last few months.. not every single day.. I guess we have to do something really funny to get a laugh out of you.. for instance.. during diaper changes.. you wait in anticipation while we first take off one side of your diaper.. then the other.. your eyes are wide.. your mouth is in a little “o” shape.. and you wait.. once we take off your diaper.. we announce what we see.. “peeeeee peeeeeee” – you smile sooooo big everytime and you even laugh at times.. you seriously can’t get any cuter ☺
Our mommy and me group has been awesome.. you have met so many other babies and you’re all so happy together.. your favorite seems to be River.. you have also spent the most time with her.. you’re so cute together.. her mom May is pretty cool as well.. hopefully you will be able to continue this friendship with your new friends for many years to come.
Daddy cannot get enough of you baby.. honestly.. he smiles so big every single time that you’re awake and playing together.. you love him so much as well.. your whole face lights up when he walks in the room.. you also have conversations with him now.. they include you spitting a lot.. but baby you seem to have lots to say.. we can’t wait for you to actually talk.. just a few weeks ago you said.. mo mmmmyyyyy.. we’re pretty sure that you just put some sounds together and didn’t actually know it was a word referring to me.. but we’re sure that you will be speaking soon enough.. daddy’s convinced your tongue’s in the way.. it’s abnormally large for your little mouth.. ahahahahahah.. just like me baby girl.. my tongue was sticking out ALL the time when I was a baby.. it sometimes still does.. daddy likes to point it out and make fun of me.. it really only happens if I’m concentrating hard on something ☺
Last week.. on the 18th, we went in for your second round of vaccines.. ugh, like we thought.. it was definitely worse this time around.. in comparison to what we hear while we’re there.. the other babies are definitely losing their mind more than you are.. the thing is though.. you seriously NEVER cry.. it’s very rare for you to cry.. so when you do.. it’s heartbreaking ☹ and well.. shots are not pleasant.. not for you and not for us.. this time you knew something was up after the first shot.. I’m guessing you’ll know the deal at your 6 month appointment even before the nurse comes in the room.. maybe being a baby genius is not so great after all sometimes??
Since I last wrote.. you’ve been making serious attempts at communicating.. you now grab stuff.. stick it in your mouth.. you’re constantly drooling – hence your new nickname being drool monkey.. no teeth yet.. we’re checking ☺ The other day we were in Redondo with daddy’s family and you were sitting in his lap.. you were distracting your daddy while your tiny hand grabbed a tomato right off the plate.. good that daddy noticed it because that would have gone right in your mouth.. and you’re a little young for that.. we can’t wait to feed you real food.. but we’ll wait till 6 months.. you’re only eating 22/24 oz of formula per day and that’s on the much lower end of where you need to be.. if you end up closer to 32 oz / day then we will try to start you on solids.. we’ll be skipping cereal all together.. it has no nutritional value and is mainly processed junk.. you, baby girl.. will be eating home made organic goodness!! Only the best for our baby girl ☺
In january your auntie dida visited you and you had a great time together.. she got you that glowworm that you’re so in love with ☺ She even got a few real giggles out of you.. my mom, your teta.. also visited in mid February.. she got lots of giggles out of you baby girl.. I guess you like aggressiveness.. daddy and I are too soft for you.. lol.. they were rougher and you loved every single minute.. it’s so awesome to see how readily you interact with the world baby.. you’re so curious.. so genuinely happy.. you’re just a pleasure to watch.. oh.. I have to mention something new you’ve been doing.. daddy and I call it “passionate embrace”.. let me see if I can describe this correctly because it’s so cute.. if we put our face close to yours.. your hands will reach up.. grab our face.. maybe the cheeks.. or the ears.. wherever you happen to grab.. and you will slowly pull us down close to your face and then give us super sloppy kisses.. you breathe really loud when you do it too.. where do you even come up with your stuff?? You’re so awesome!
The next month is a busy one for us.. you’re going places baby girl!! ☺ Here’s what’s coming up.. on Saturday march 5th, you’ll be going to your first sporting event.. an ice hockey match.. we’ll be rooting for the Kings! The following weekend, we’ll be going down to San Diego to watch daddy’s razorbacks play baseball against san diego state.. we’ll be wearing red and cheering wooooooooo pig!! ☺ The weekend after that.. we’re going on a road trip baby!! We leave on Friday the 18th and will be heading to Arizona for Dodger spring training.. it’s going to be an adventure.. you’re going to get to sleep with mama and daddy in the big bed!!! We’ll be there for 3 days and then get back home.. something tells me you’re going to be exhausted.. but we’ll do our best to keep you as comfy as possible.. we’re bringing your favorite sleepy wrap and the baby bjorn and the beco butterfly II that we just ordered (soooo excited!).. you’ll be good baby girl ☺
The swing is still your favorite place to be.. we’re going to try out the crib for naps in the next few days.. I’m going to hope for the best baby girl.. you’ve honestly surprised us in the most positive way with every single step so far.. so who knows.. maybe you will just LOVE your crib.. and if not.. we will figure out what we need to do to make you happy.. You’re seriously the best thing that’s ever happened to us.. yesterday was our 2-year wedding anniversary and on march 5th.. it will be 5 years since our first date.. we’ve had lots of adventures in the last 5 years.. but you, baby girl.. we could have never been prepared for how much you would change our lives.. I am not a morning person.. but when I look over at you smiling away.. I can’t help but grin from ear to ear.. you make us soooooo happy baby. I hope we continue to do the same for you.. a million hugs and kisses sunshine baby!!
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So I would have kept this entry as is.. except for one thing.. tonight.. I made tacos and you sat in the kitchen on your high chair.. you’re my little sous-chef sunshine baby!! Anyway.. we made tacos.. and then we took you in to get a diaper change and to get you to nap.. during the diaper change I started blowing on your little belly.. baby.. you have never GIGGLED so much in the last 4 months.. you kept going and going and going.. of course, we whipped out the camera and the giggling stopped.. but baby girl.. I’m going to try again later tonight.. after our shower.. did I mention that?? You and I take showers together.. we have a great time and you’re so happy happy happy.. thought I couldn’t love you more.. but tonight.. i was proven wrong.. yet again.. love love love you!!! ☺
Friday, March 4, 2011
weeks 8-12
slowly but surely we're getting to present day.. for anyone reading.. please bear with me.. being a first time mama is all about figuring things out.. and then pretty much starting over trying to figure it out.. yet again :)
WEEKS 8 – 12 (as of 12.31.10 you weighed 12lbs 9oz and were 22 inches long)
Sunshine!! That’s your newest nickname and the one we seem to be calling you the most.. your smile is as bright as the sun.. seriously!! You’re so adorable.. always smiling.. always happy.. even when you’re puking, which unfortunately happens more frequently than it should.. we went to the doctor and found out that you have reflux, which isn’t too bad.. it will hopefully go away on its own in the next month or so and in the meantime we need to keep you upright while feeding you and keep you upright for at least 30 minutes afterwards – kind of makes changing your diaper a bit complicated.. and why wouldn’t we change your diaper BEFORE we feed you?? Oh baby girl.. we DO.. it’s just that you absolutely and adamantly refuse to poop if your diaper is not clean and new.. lol.. so we change you.. feed you some.. wait for the explosion.. and then go right back in there and change you again.. you must have a deal with pampers or something.. maybe they’re paying you on the side?? ☺
Things have gotten so much easier with you (knock on wood).. maybe we’re getting better as new parents.. maybe you’re just more satisfied with this new life of yours.. who knows.. but it’s working.. we sleep more on a regular basis.. you’ve been sleeping from about 10pm – 6 am.. how insane is that?? You then eat around 6:15 and go back to sleep afterwards till about 9.. could we be more lucky? I have to add though that you’re still sleeping in your swing.. the time is fast approaching that we’ll need to transition you to your crib and I’m sort of dreading that.. we’ve been practicing having you sleep with the swing off.. it works sometimes.. slowly but surely baby.. also.. I like having you in our room.. we’re in a 1 bedroom baby and your crib is in the “foyer” area.. which is right outside our bedroom door.. not that you’ll ever really be far from us.. but it’s so awesome to just look over and see how you’re doing.. or if your pacifier falls out you do this grunt and we put it right back and you’re back to your normal smiley self.. whether awake or asleep ☺
You got your vaccinations in mid-december.. something I had been dreading since I knew I was preggers.. 3 shots.. 1 oral.. and baby.. I was so so so so nervous taking you in.. and when the nurse came in I asked her to do everything as fast as possible and that’s the way she operates as well.. you got your two shots and literally just looked confused.. by your 3rd you knew what was up.. lol.. so you cried.. just a bit.. when she gave you the oral one though… you didn’t like that AT ALL.. but we had a bottle ready for you and you were fine within a minute.. don’t know what I was so nervous about.. something tells me the older you get, the harder these shots will get.. you have your 4-month well check in February.. let’s keep our fingers crossed for that one..
Your biggest accomplishments these last 4 weeks have been that you have now noticed your hands.. you can literally stare at them for hours and you do! It’s pretty funny.. you’ve been unclenching your hands as well and trying to fit as much as possible in your mouth.. you’re even trying to hold your bottle now and seem to get annoyed with my hand which is just in the way.. sorry baby girl.. you don’t have a good enough grip to do it on your own yet.. Also.. and this is major.. we were watching the Sugarbowl the other night (Arkansas vs. Ohio State) and obviously we were rooting for Arkansas.. unfortunately they lost after staging a fantastic comeback in the 4th quarter.. anyway.. want to know what the greatest part of the evening was?? You actually giggled!!!!!! (1.4.11) You did it once when you were a few weeks old.. then didn’t do it again.. we’d sometimes hear you laugh in your sleep.. but this was the first time you did it while awake.. I hope that 2011 is filled with your giggles!! ☺
You had a busy December.. people came from everywhere to see you.. your nana and papa came from baton rouge.. your brofuncle (my brother, your uncle) flew in from DC, your teta and jeddo flew up from mexico and next week your auntie dida is flying in from NYC.. how popular are you baby?? You sleep big parts of the day but they’re fine with seeing you even if only a few minutes.. and you love love love all the attention.. after everyone left.. you were so exhausted you slept 18 hours that day.. you NEVER sleep that long!! ☺
I recently started / joined a mommy and me group.. we have our first meeting on Tuesday of next week.. cannot cannot wait.. we’ll meet other mommies and you’ll have some real friends to finally play with.. though I have to say you seem pretty content with your reflection, teddy bear, the fan and pretty much every other object in this apartment.. I hope that you will be so easily happy and content forever baby girl.. hugs and a million kisses to our beautiful sunshine baby! ☺
--
time seriously is flying by.. present day.. baby girl is almost 5 months old.. wow wow wow!!
WEEKS 8 – 12 (as of 12.31.10 you weighed 12lbs 9oz and were 22 inches long)
Sunshine!! That’s your newest nickname and the one we seem to be calling you the most.. your smile is as bright as the sun.. seriously!! You’re so adorable.. always smiling.. always happy.. even when you’re puking, which unfortunately happens more frequently than it should.. we went to the doctor and found out that you have reflux, which isn’t too bad.. it will hopefully go away on its own in the next month or so and in the meantime we need to keep you upright while feeding you and keep you upright for at least 30 minutes afterwards – kind of makes changing your diaper a bit complicated.. and why wouldn’t we change your diaper BEFORE we feed you?? Oh baby girl.. we DO.. it’s just that you absolutely and adamantly refuse to poop if your diaper is not clean and new.. lol.. so we change you.. feed you some.. wait for the explosion.. and then go right back in there and change you again.. you must have a deal with pampers or something.. maybe they’re paying you on the side?? ☺
Things have gotten so much easier with you (knock on wood).. maybe we’re getting better as new parents.. maybe you’re just more satisfied with this new life of yours.. who knows.. but it’s working.. we sleep more on a regular basis.. you’ve been sleeping from about 10pm – 6 am.. how insane is that?? You then eat around 6:15 and go back to sleep afterwards till about 9.. could we be more lucky? I have to add though that you’re still sleeping in your swing.. the time is fast approaching that we’ll need to transition you to your crib and I’m sort of dreading that.. we’ve been practicing having you sleep with the swing off.. it works sometimes.. slowly but surely baby.. also.. I like having you in our room.. we’re in a 1 bedroom baby and your crib is in the “foyer” area.. which is right outside our bedroom door.. not that you’ll ever really be far from us.. but it’s so awesome to just look over and see how you’re doing.. or if your pacifier falls out you do this grunt and we put it right back and you’re back to your normal smiley self.. whether awake or asleep ☺
You got your vaccinations in mid-december.. something I had been dreading since I knew I was preggers.. 3 shots.. 1 oral.. and baby.. I was so so so so nervous taking you in.. and when the nurse came in I asked her to do everything as fast as possible and that’s the way she operates as well.. you got your two shots and literally just looked confused.. by your 3rd you knew what was up.. lol.. so you cried.. just a bit.. when she gave you the oral one though… you didn’t like that AT ALL.. but we had a bottle ready for you and you were fine within a minute.. don’t know what I was so nervous about.. something tells me the older you get, the harder these shots will get.. you have your 4-month well check in February.. let’s keep our fingers crossed for that one..
Your biggest accomplishments these last 4 weeks have been that you have now noticed your hands.. you can literally stare at them for hours and you do! It’s pretty funny.. you’ve been unclenching your hands as well and trying to fit as much as possible in your mouth.. you’re even trying to hold your bottle now and seem to get annoyed with my hand which is just in the way.. sorry baby girl.. you don’t have a good enough grip to do it on your own yet.. Also.. and this is major.. we were watching the Sugarbowl the other night (Arkansas vs. Ohio State) and obviously we were rooting for Arkansas.. unfortunately they lost after staging a fantastic comeback in the 4th quarter.. anyway.. want to know what the greatest part of the evening was?? You actually giggled!!!!!! (1.4.11) You did it once when you were a few weeks old.. then didn’t do it again.. we’d sometimes hear you laugh in your sleep.. but this was the first time you did it while awake.. I hope that 2011 is filled with your giggles!! ☺
You had a busy December.. people came from everywhere to see you.. your nana and papa came from baton rouge.. your brofuncle (my brother, your uncle) flew in from DC, your teta and jeddo flew up from mexico and next week your auntie dida is flying in from NYC.. how popular are you baby?? You sleep big parts of the day but they’re fine with seeing you even if only a few minutes.. and you love love love all the attention.. after everyone left.. you were so exhausted you slept 18 hours that day.. you NEVER sleep that long!! ☺
I recently started / joined a mommy and me group.. we have our first meeting on Tuesday of next week.. cannot cannot wait.. we’ll meet other mommies and you’ll have some real friends to finally play with.. though I have to say you seem pretty content with your reflection, teddy bear, the fan and pretty much every other object in this apartment.. I hope that you will be so easily happy and content forever baby girl.. hugs and a million kisses to our beautiful sunshine baby! ☺
--
time seriously is flying by.. present day.. baby girl is almost 5 months old.. wow wow wow!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
the first 8 weeks..
so i'm slowly catching up here.. this post was written months ago.. but we'll get to real time soon enough :)
THE FIRST 8 WEEKS: (as of 12.03.10 you weighed 10lbs 6oz and you were 22 inches long)
There are simply no words to describe the rollercoaster we’ve been on for the last 8 weeks.. the combination of having no idea what we’re doing plus no sleep is not ideal, let me tell you.. everyone kept saying that it will get easier after 40 days (or about 6 weeks).. and by easier I think they meant that you’d sleep longer and that we’d be a little more knowledgeable about what to do.. I have to say that they were right.. you BARELY slept from weeks 3-6.. no matter what we did or how hard we tried.. you just wanted to stay up and be a part of the action.. your grandpa came up (from mexico) to meet you and spend the weekend of Halloween with you.. teta and jeddo left on the 31st of October and daddy was in Arkansas that weekend.. I’m sure that I don’t need to explain Arkansas to you (woo pig soooieee ring a bell??).. anyway.. so Sunday October 31st was our first full day together and baby I was soooo nervous.. but we did it.. it wasn’t easy that’s for sure.. I put you in the cutest Halloween outfit.. you were a pumpkin in a tutu and seconds after I took a picture you projectile puked all over yourself.. lol.. at least I got that pic!!
We ended up going to LAX at night to pick up your daddy and I was convinced you were going to lose it on the way.. you didn’t like your car seat or being in a non-moving car.. and this is LA.. where traffic can appear at anytime and usually does.. we got lucky though.. the roads were clear.. we got your daddy and headed home.. of course hitting major traffic on the way back and you screamed and screamed.. but hey.. at least it happened when I was in the back with you and could try to calm you down.. though nothing really worked..
Weeks 3-6 were hard.. I would count down the hours till your daddy got home from work.. I had no idea what to do with you.. how to stop you from crying.. you were exhausted but wouldn’t sleep.. we finally spoke to a doctor and they suggested getting you a swing.. and baby we live in a 1 bedroom.. and those things are huge.. but we decided to give it a try.. best money we EVER spent.. you LOVE LOVE LOVE your swing so much it’s funny.. there’s a mirror on the top and you stare at your reflection thinking it’s your friend.. the last week or so you’ve even been smiling at “her” and trying to have conversations.. it’s adorable ☺
Speaking of smiling.. you’ve been smiling for about 4 weeks now.. at first it was totally random and usually had to do with your bowel movements lol.. but over the last few weeks they’ve been real.. you smile at your daddy alllll the time.. a few weeks ago he stayed home from work and you even laughed!!! It hasn’t happened since then but we’re waiting.. can’t wait to hear it again ☺ Your smile is the cutest thing in the entire world.. your whole face lights up and you kick your little legs and flail your arms around..
We’ve had so many nicknames for you in these 8 weeks.. from baby lyla belle to glowworm to monkey to baby girl to burpy mcfarty.. lol.. baby your poops are explosive and we have no idea how they could smell the way they do.. we’re going to blame the soy formula that you’re on for that.. deal? But seriously.. we also can’t seem to clean the folds in your neck.. so you have formula stuck in there which ends up smelling like swiss cheese.. it’s hilarious.. we’ve been better.. a bit more aggressive about actually getting in there and getting it out.. you don’t seem to like that at all.. but baby trust me.. it’s for all of our sakes ☺
All in all you’re an adorable baby girl.. we’re so excited that we can finally interact a bit with you.. you smile.. you look like you’re about to laugh but no sound comes out.. but we’re getting there.. something tells me it will be a matter of days.. cannot wait ☺ What else? Oh yeah..the last 2 weeks you’ve been sleeping a lot better.. for some strange reason you now hate your bassinet and only want to sleep in your swing which means that mama is in the living room with you.. daddy gets the bedroom alllllll to himself.. how lucky is he?? But we have a good time you and i.. we have a routine and you’ve been sleeping for about 4 hours straight through the night.. thank goodness for that!
Your Papa and Nana are currently visiting from Baton Rouge.. they couldn’t wait to meet you so we went down to Newport Beach to spend the weekend with them.. we were so worried about how you’d be.. you know, being away from home and all your stuff.. we even decided that your swing was more important than your stroller (we have a baby bjorn and a sleepy wrap) so we took that instead.. baby.. I have to say.. you made us look like the biggest liars ever.. like we had nothing to be worried about at all.. not only did you all of a sudden love your carseat.. you slept through the night.. literally.. 6 hours straight.. 3 days in a row.. we got home yesterday and you slept for your normal 4 hours.. we’ll see how tonight goes though since you didn’t finish your bottle and that may be why you didn’t sleep as much.. fingers crossed ☺
You love music.. you especially love “Piano Man” by Billy Joel and “Hello” by Evanescense.. your daddy sings them to you and you seem to be in a trance when he does that.. it’s adorable how you two look at each other.. like there’s no one else in the room.. I guess I could be jealous but baby girl, that’s what I wanted for you.. it’s still what I want.. I hope that you and your daddy have the best relationship ever and that when you’re old enough to date, hopefully you will have the foundation to know what to look for and to refuse to be treated like anything but the princess you already are.. jeez.. talking about you dating is crazy.. you’re barely 2 months old.. lol.. but hey.. time flies.. so I guess we’ll get there before we know it.. the song I sing to you is “just the way you are”.. and baby you LOVE it.. one of the lyrics goes “and when you smile.. the whole world stops and stares for awhile”.. and you smile every single time.. it’s so freaking cute..
Ok.. you’re in your swing and it’s time to feed you and get you to bed for the night.. cross your fingers that we get 6 hours baby!! ☺
--
i just re-read this post.. baby girl is currently 4 months and 10 days.. cannot believe how fast time is flying.. just packed away her 0-3 months clothes yesterday.. definitely a bittersweet moment.. but with every single day that passes.. this baby girl just gets cuter and more of a joy to be around.. i couldn't have even imagined how much i'd love this baby girl.. seriously.. :)
THE FIRST 8 WEEKS: (as of 12.03.10 you weighed 10lbs 6oz and you were 22 inches long)
There are simply no words to describe the rollercoaster we’ve been on for the last 8 weeks.. the combination of having no idea what we’re doing plus no sleep is not ideal, let me tell you.. everyone kept saying that it will get easier after 40 days (or about 6 weeks).. and by easier I think they meant that you’d sleep longer and that we’d be a little more knowledgeable about what to do.. I have to say that they were right.. you BARELY slept from weeks 3-6.. no matter what we did or how hard we tried.. you just wanted to stay up and be a part of the action.. your grandpa came up (from mexico) to meet you and spend the weekend of Halloween with you.. teta and jeddo left on the 31st of October and daddy was in Arkansas that weekend.. I’m sure that I don’t need to explain Arkansas to you (woo pig soooieee ring a bell??).. anyway.. so Sunday October 31st was our first full day together and baby I was soooo nervous.. but we did it.. it wasn’t easy that’s for sure.. I put you in the cutest Halloween outfit.. you were a pumpkin in a tutu and seconds after I took a picture you projectile puked all over yourself.. lol.. at least I got that pic!!
We ended up going to LAX at night to pick up your daddy and I was convinced you were going to lose it on the way.. you didn’t like your car seat or being in a non-moving car.. and this is LA.. where traffic can appear at anytime and usually does.. we got lucky though.. the roads were clear.. we got your daddy and headed home.. of course hitting major traffic on the way back and you screamed and screamed.. but hey.. at least it happened when I was in the back with you and could try to calm you down.. though nothing really worked..
Weeks 3-6 were hard.. I would count down the hours till your daddy got home from work.. I had no idea what to do with you.. how to stop you from crying.. you were exhausted but wouldn’t sleep.. we finally spoke to a doctor and they suggested getting you a swing.. and baby we live in a 1 bedroom.. and those things are huge.. but we decided to give it a try.. best money we EVER spent.. you LOVE LOVE LOVE your swing so much it’s funny.. there’s a mirror on the top and you stare at your reflection thinking it’s your friend.. the last week or so you’ve even been smiling at “her” and trying to have conversations.. it’s adorable ☺
Speaking of smiling.. you’ve been smiling for about 4 weeks now.. at first it was totally random and usually had to do with your bowel movements lol.. but over the last few weeks they’ve been real.. you smile at your daddy alllll the time.. a few weeks ago he stayed home from work and you even laughed!!! It hasn’t happened since then but we’re waiting.. can’t wait to hear it again ☺ Your smile is the cutest thing in the entire world.. your whole face lights up and you kick your little legs and flail your arms around..
We’ve had so many nicknames for you in these 8 weeks.. from baby lyla belle to glowworm to monkey to baby girl to burpy mcfarty.. lol.. baby your poops are explosive and we have no idea how they could smell the way they do.. we’re going to blame the soy formula that you’re on for that.. deal? But seriously.. we also can’t seem to clean the folds in your neck.. so you have formula stuck in there which ends up smelling like swiss cheese.. it’s hilarious.. we’ve been better.. a bit more aggressive about actually getting in there and getting it out.. you don’t seem to like that at all.. but baby trust me.. it’s for all of our sakes ☺
All in all you’re an adorable baby girl.. we’re so excited that we can finally interact a bit with you.. you smile.. you look like you’re about to laugh but no sound comes out.. but we’re getting there.. something tells me it will be a matter of days.. cannot wait ☺ What else? Oh yeah..the last 2 weeks you’ve been sleeping a lot better.. for some strange reason you now hate your bassinet and only want to sleep in your swing which means that mama is in the living room with you.. daddy gets the bedroom alllllll to himself.. how lucky is he?? But we have a good time you and i.. we have a routine and you’ve been sleeping for about 4 hours straight through the night.. thank goodness for that!
Your Papa and Nana are currently visiting from Baton Rouge.. they couldn’t wait to meet you so we went down to Newport Beach to spend the weekend with them.. we were so worried about how you’d be.. you know, being away from home and all your stuff.. we even decided that your swing was more important than your stroller (we have a baby bjorn and a sleepy wrap) so we took that instead.. baby.. I have to say.. you made us look like the biggest liars ever.. like we had nothing to be worried about at all.. not only did you all of a sudden love your carseat.. you slept through the night.. literally.. 6 hours straight.. 3 days in a row.. we got home yesterday and you slept for your normal 4 hours.. we’ll see how tonight goes though since you didn’t finish your bottle and that may be why you didn’t sleep as much.. fingers crossed ☺
You love music.. you especially love “Piano Man” by Billy Joel and “Hello” by Evanescense.. your daddy sings them to you and you seem to be in a trance when he does that.. it’s adorable how you two look at each other.. like there’s no one else in the room.. I guess I could be jealous but baby girl, that’s what I wanted for you.. it’s still what I want.. I hope that you and your daddy have the best relationship ever and that when you’re old enough to date, hopefully you will have the foundation to know what to look for and to refuse to be treated like anything but the princess you already are.. jeez.. talking about you dating is crazy.. you’re barely 2 months old.. lol.. but hey.. time flies.. so I guess we’ll get there before we know it.. the song I sing to you is “just the way you are”.. and baby you LOVE it.. one of the lyrics goes “and when you smile.. the whole world stops and stares for awhile”.. and you smile every single time.. it’s so freaking cute..
Ok.. you’re in your swing and it’s time to feed you and get you to bed for the night.. cross your fingers that we get 6 hours baby!! ☺
--
i just re-read this post.. baby girl is currently 4 months and 10 days.. cannot believe how fast time is flying.. just packed away her 0-3 months clothes yesterday.. definitely a bittersweet moment.. but with every single day that passes.. this baby girl just gets cuter and more of a joy to be around.. i couldn't have even imagined how much i'd love this baby girl.. seriously.. :)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
officially a mama! :)
ok.. so it's january.. i've been a mama for almost 3 months now.. can you believe that??? my posts are long overdue.. but i wanted to write about our birth story.. here it goes.. :)
--- LYLA EMERSEN ---
Born: Monday October 11th, 2010
Time: 5:10 am (via c-section)
Weight: 6lbs 9oz
Height: 19 ½ inches
Time in labor: 18 hours
Baby girl,
There will come a time (in a few years) when you will want to know allllll about your big day.. so here it is.. officially in writing so that we can all remember how you came to be.. ready?
You were conceived on Saturday January 9th, 2010 (we thought it would be great to have a 10.10.10 baby – we had no idea how close we’d be!!!).. this may be more information than you’d like to hear but it is what it is and you were due on Tuesday October 5th, 2010. The pregnancy itself wasn’t bad at all.. you ended up joining us on our honeymoon (which we took a year after getting married) and we had a great time in Italy.. though, all we ate was spaghetti marinara everywhere we went (and lost 8 pounds in the process!!).. the cheese is not pasteurized in Europe and we obviously didn’t want to take any chances.. I promise that we’ll go back and eat pizza.. and cheese.. and all the other good stuff ☺
The first trimester sailed by.. there were days that were harder than others but for the most part.. you were easy peasy.. the second trimester was great.. everyone says that’s when you start to feel like yourself again, and it’s true.. we weren’t big enough yet to be uncomfortable so it was a good time all around.. then came the third trimester. As far as the actual pregnancy went.. I was bigger, obviously.. but no real issues except for my foot / leg which I somehow messed up at some point in july.. to this day, I have no idea what I did.. but I spent the last 2-3 months hobbling around.. I had the waddle going.. as well as my limp.. sexy, is all I have to say..
And then the baby pool.. people were placing bets on when you’d join us.. we had dates from September 20th – October 8th.. we were fairly certain you’d be early.. why, you ask?? I was 15 days early and supposedly that plays a factor.. clearly, in your case it did not.. The first 10 days of October were the longest 10 days ever.. I had a doctor appointment (Dr. V.) every week from 35 weeks onwards.. and every week I got checked.. and again.. every week was at 1 cm.. By October 7th.. you were 2 days “late”.. and the Dr. was concerned that you’d be a big baby since an ultrasound we took 4 weeks prior had you weighing 6lbs 8oz.. we thought you’d be an 8lb+ baby! My blood pressure wasn’t cooperating so we decided to schedule an induction on 10.10.10 (Sunday).
We checked in to Cedars Sinai at 11:30 am.. and by we, I mean.. your daddy, grandmas and me.. by 12:30.. they had started the “induction” process which started off with some sort of pill to “soften” the cervix to help with dilation.. at about 5:30pm, they checked me and I had progressed to 2cms.. still nowhere near we needed to be so the next step was a foley balloon along with pitocin (to induce contractions).. I will not get into the details.. but basically this is a balloon that is inserted and helps you dilate.. once you reach 3cms the balloon falls out.. strange, but true. By 8:30pm, I had reached 3cms and pitocin was still going – at this point we knew you wouldn’t be a 10.10.10 baby but we had been waiting, what seemed like forever to meet you.. so really couldn’t care less ☺
They moved us to a larger room once I reached 4cms (around 11:00pm).. the actual labor and delivery room, the grandmas decided to go home since we thought it would be hours and hours more.. it was now decided that they would break my water.. I was between 4 and 5cms so I asked for the epidural since I knew it was going to be way more intense once that happened.. I got the epi a little before midnight, they broke my water and by 2am, I was fully dilated (10cms!).. they stopped the pitocin a little after midnight because the contractions were super strong and labor was progressing on its own.. you were still pretty high up so they decided to let you “labor down” for a bit.. a little before 3 am, they asked me to start pushing.. which is what I did.. they were monitoring you this whole time and saw that when I pushed, your heart rate would slow down.. this had them worried and had us worried as well.. at one point your heart rate went way below what they were comfortable with so we were in the operating room within 2 minutes.. ready to go.. but then you stabilized.. thank goodness..
We went back to labor and delivery and pushed some more.. Dr. V. was there at this point and mentioned that you were stuck behind the pubic bone and because your heart rate kept dropping with the pushes.. suggested we consider a c-section.. baby girl, let me tell you.. she’s not one of those doctors that likes c-sections.. so when she said that, I knew that maybe that was best.. even the midwife said you were not going to come out the birth canal.. so daddy and I looked at each other and decided that we would go for it.. better have you with us.. safe and healthy.. we were never very set on a birth plan anyway.. this way, we tried.. and we got the experience..
We went back to the operating room at about 4:45.. they prepped me.. did whatever they needed to do and then your daddy came in.. I was super happy to see him (as always).. they had random 80’s love songs playing in the background.. I was very groggy.. from being up for hours and from the drugs.. but I remember a “time out” and then surgery started with “time in”.. daddy can explain that to you ☺
I felt some pressure.. lots of people were talking.. daddy was right by me.. and then they said.. she’s here.. and we heard a tiny cry.. nothing like we were expecting.. they took you to the warmer and were trying to get all the fluids out of you to get a real cry.. we were a bit worried and I kept asking if you were ok.. they didn’t seem to be too worried.. but you didn’t cry.. and I kept waiting for that.. we kept waiting for that.. they then decided to take you to the nursery to continue working on you and get a real cry out of you.. your daddy went with you.. (turns out the umbilical cord was wrapped around your neck.. not once but twice!)
Eventually, I was wheeled into the recovery room.. my mom came in to congratulate me.. she had just seen you in the nursery.. and then j’s mom came in.. and finally your daddy came in.. can’t tell you how happy I was to see him.. he was so awesome throughout this whole thing.. he’s the best lyla belle and I’m sure that you will see that as his baby girl.. he’s already so in love with you ☺ Everyone says you look just like I did when I was born.. and that may be so.. though your hair is lighter and something tells me you will be blessed with colored eyes.. also.. you have the cutest dimple in the world and your daddy’s expressions / mannerisms.. you’re simply perfect!!
We met face to face a little bit after 8 am on the 11th of October (I saw you in the operating room but I was too out of it to really concentrate).. and baby.. you were breathtaking.. you still are.. we cannot believe that you are ours and that they let us take you home with us.. pure insanity.. you’ve been home for 6 days now and we are slowly getting used to one another and the cute things you do.. so far we have been calling you glowworm because of your perfectly round face.. we also call you popeye because when we’re holding you.. you peek at us with one eye to make sure we’re still there.. it’s pretty funny.. you do a lot of really cute things.. yesterday, for instance (you’ll appreciate this when you’re older).. you projectile pooped on me.. not once.. but THREE times.. you’d think I’d learn and get out of the way.. I’m still a newbie though.. so we’re learning together baby girl.. daddy laughed and laughed and laughed.. I think he told everyone.. see.. told you he was so in love with you ☺
I promise to update this on a monthly basis and I will try not to embarrass you with these stories when you’re a teenager.. the key word is try.. ☺
--- LYLA EMERSEN ---
Born: Monday October 11th, 2010
Time: 5:10 am (via c-section)
Weight: 6lbs 9oz
Height: 19 ½ inches
Time in labor: 18 hours
Baby girl,
There will come a time (in a few years) when you will want to know allllll about your big day.. so here it is.. officially in writing so that we can all remember how you came to be.. ready?
You were conceived on Saturday January 9th, 2010 (we thought it would be great to have a 10.10.10 baby – we had no idea how close we’d be!!!).. this may be more information than you’d like to hear but it is what it is and you were due on Tuesday October 5th, 2010. The pregnancy itself wasn’t bad at all.. you ended up joining us on our honeymoon (which we took a year after getting married) and we had a great time in Italy.. though, all we ate was spaghetti marinara everywhere we went (and lost 8 pounds in the process!!).. the cheese is not pasteurized in Europe and we obviously didn’t want to take any chances.. I promise that we’ll go back and eat pizza.. and cheese.. and all the other good stuff ☺
The first trimester sailed by.. there were days that were harder than others but for the most part.. you were easy peasy.. the second trimester was great.. everyone says that’s when you start to feel like yourself again, and it’s true.. we weren’t big enough yet to be uncomfortable so it was a good time all around.. then came the third trimester. As far as the actual pregnancy went.. I was bigger, obviously.. but no real issues except for my foot / leg which I somehow messed up at some point in july.. to this day, I have no idea what I did.. but I spent the last 2-3 months hobbling around.. I had the waddle going.. as well as my limp.. sexy, is all I have to say..
And then the baby pool.. people were placing bets on when you’d join us.. we had dates from September 20th – October 8th.. we were fairly certain you’d be early.. why, you ask?? I was 15 days early and supposedly that plays a factor.. clearly, in your case it did not.. The first 10 days of October were the longest 10 days ever.. I had a doctor appointment (Dr. V.) every week from 35 weeks onwards.. and every week I got checked.. and again.. every week was at 1 cm.. By October 7th.. you were 2 days “late”.. and the Dr. was concerned that you’d be a big baby since an ultrasound we took 4 weeks prior had you weighing 6lbs 8oz.. we thought you’d be an 8lb+ baby! My blood pressure wasn’t cooperating so we decided to schedule an induction on 10.10.10 (Sunday).
We checked in to Cedars Sinai at 11:30 am.. and by we, I mean.. your daddy, grandmas and me.. by 12:30.. they had started the “induction” process which started off with some sort of pill to “soften” the cervix to help with dilation.. at about 5:30pm, they checked me and I had progressed to 2cms.. still nowhere near we needed to be so the next step was a foley balloon along with pitocin (to induce contractions).. I will not get into the details.. but basically this is a balloon that is inserted and helps you dilate.. once you reach 3cms the balloon falls out.. strange, but true. By 8:30pm, I had reached 3cms and pitocin was still going – at this point we knew you wouldn’t be a 10.10.10 baby but we had been waiting, what seemed like forever to meet you.. so really couldn’t care less ☺
They moved us to a larger room once I reached 4cms (around 11:00pm).. the actual labor and delivery room, the grandmas decided to go home since we thought it would be hours and hours more.. it was now decided that they would break my water.. I was between 4 and 5cms so I asked for the epidural since I knew it was going to be way more intense once that happened.. I got the epi a little before midnight, they broke my water and by 2am, I was fully dilated (10cms!).. they stopped the pitocin a little after midnight because the contractions were super strong and labor was progressing on its own.. you were still pretty high up so they decided to let you “labor down” for a bit.. a little before 3 am, they asked me to start pushing.. which is what I did.. they were monitoring you this whole time and saw that when I pushed, your heart rate would slow down.. this had them worried and had us worried as well.. at one point your heart rate went way below what they were comfortable with so we were in the operating room within 2 minutes.. ready to go.. but then you stabilized.. thank goodness..
We went back to labor and delivery and pushed some more.. Dr. V. was there at this point and mentioned that you were stuck behind the pubic bone and because your heart rate kept dropping with the pushes.. suggested we consider a c-section.. baby girl, let me tell you.. she’s not one of those doctors that likes c-sections.. so when she said that, I knew that maybe that was best.. even the midwife said you were not going to come out the birth canal.. so daddy and I looked at each other and decided that we would go for it.. better have you with us.. safe and healthy.. we were never very set on a birth plan anyway.. this way, we tried.. and we got the experience..
We went back to the operating room at about 4:45.. they prepped me.. did whatever they needed to do and then your daddy came in.. I was super happy to see him (as always).. they had random 80’s love songs playing in the background.. I was very groggy.. from being up for hours and from the drugs.. but I remember a “time out” and then surgery started with “time in”.. daddy can explain that to you ☺
I felt some pressure.. lots of people were talking.. daddy was right by me.. and then they said.. she’s here.. and we heard a tiny cry.. nothing like we were expecting.. they took you to the warmer and were trying to get all the fluids out of you to get a real cry.. we were a bit worried and I kept asking if you were ok.. they didn’t seem to be too worried.. but you didn’t cry.. and I kept waiting for that.. we kept waiting for that.. they then decided to take you to the nursery to continue working on you and get a real cry out of you.. your daddy went with you.. (turns out the umbilical cord was wrapped around your neck.. not once but twice!)
Eventually, I was wheeled into the recovery room.. my mom came in to congratulate me.. she had just seen you in the nursery.. and then j’s mom came in.. and finally your daddy came in.. can’t tell you how happy I was to see him.. he was so awesome throughout this whole thing.. he’s the best lyla belle and I’m sure that you will see that as his baby girl.. he’s already so in love with you ☺ Everyone says you look just like I did when I was born.. and that may be so.. though your hair is lighter and something tells me you will be blessed with colored eyes.. also.. you have the cutest dimple in the world and your daddy’s expressions / mannerisms.. you’re simply perfect!!
We met face to face a little bit after 8 am on the 11th of October (I saw you in the operating room but I was too out of it to really concentrate).. and baby.. you were breathtaking.. you still are.. we cannot believe that you are ours and that they let us take you home with us.. pure insanity.. you’ve been home for 6 days now and we are slowly getting used to one another and the cute things you do.. so far we have been calling you glowworm because of your perfectly round face.. we also call you popeye because when we’re holding you.. you peek at us with one eye to make sure we’re still there.. it’s pretty funny.. you do a lot of really cute things.. yesterday, for instance (you’ll appreciate this when you’re older).. you projectile pooped on me.. not once.. but THREE times.. you’d think I’d learn and get out of the way.. I’m still a newbie though.. so we’re learning together baby girl.. daddy laughed and laughed and laughed.. I think he told everyone.. see.. told you he was so in love with you ☺
I promise to update this on a monthly basis and I will try not to embarrass you with these stories when you’re a teenager.. the key word is try.. ☺
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