8 months

Last Tuesday, my sweet Lyla Rae was 8 months old. Since we have been in Georgia for my sister's wedding, I am just now getting to update on all of her accomplishments this month.


Lyla is definitely developing more of her personality. She is super social and loves getting attention. She hardly ever cries unless she is hungry or tired. Girl has to have her naps-she takes 2 naps a day and still manages to sleep through the night....most nights:)

She is moving more-still not crawling though. It's amazing how far she can get just by scooting or rolling. She loves to move. In fact, it's getting harder to hold her now, because she squirms so much and tries to get down. It makes me a little sad to think that those days of holding her are almost over, but it excites me to think that she is growing and learning.

Lyla is trying new foods every week. This month, we have added yogurt, squash, carrots, and pears to the list. We have discovered that she is no longer a fan of carrots unless we mash them up with some peas-even then, we get the sour face from her. At 8 months, she has 2 jars of baby food 3 times a day and 4 bottles a day.

We have also started letting her use a sippy cup for water. She will hold it, but is still learning that in order to drink, she has to tip it up. We have bought her one with a handle that helps this process a little more. She does better with that one for now.

Lyla is talking more and more. Of course, most of it is just baby babble. It is seriously the sweetest sound to hear her talking. Sometimes, I just lay in bed a little longer before getting her up, just so I can hear what she has to say. She is officially saying "Dada" and "Baba"-no clue what "Baba" is, but she says that A LOT! 

I guess everyone thinks that their child is smart, and I am no different. I think Lyla is super smart. I have noticed that she has really started watching people and will imitate what they do. She is very curious too, so she is always trying to touch things and move things. Oh and, she is also working on clapping. I swear, she's a genius! 

Lyla still does not have any teeth, but is still constantly chomping on those hands. She is in size 2 diapers and 6 month clothes. At her last doctor's visit, she weighed 15 lbs. She is now in the 10th percentile for her weight and height. She is a small girl, but is growing proportionately. 

Has it really been 8 months? Lyla, we love you. You are one beautiful little girl. Happy 8 months!

ps. we had a hard time taking 8 month pictures because she wouldn't stay still...here are a few that made the cut. The one above was seriously the BEST we could do. 

7 Months

I am a little behind on this post due to Lyla having RSV last week..but, better late than never:)

Last week, Lyla made her 7 month mark. I can hardly believe that it has really been 7 months since she popped into our lives. It feels like she has been here forever, yet other days it seems like just yesterday. So, here are some 7 month updates for our sweet baby girl.

Lyla is rolling over like crazy. She can scoot around to get what she wants and is actually enjoying being on her tummy.

Since she can turn over, most of the time we find her in her crib like this:

She still loves to put things in her mouth-so we have to watch VERY carefully.

People are always getting on to me because she doesn't have socks on...well, you can see for yourself why this is...(I promise, we always start with socks ON!)

She is now up to 3 meals a day and down to 5 bottles a day. So far, she has tried sweet potatos (that's her favorite), avocado, peas, peaches, apples, and cereal. She is a VERY good eater and will "clean her plate" everytime. 

Another big change this month has come due to my back issues. The doctor advised me not to carry her in her carrier anymore, so we have started putting her in her "big girl" car seat and putting her in the grocery cart seat and high chairs at restaurants. She is still a little small for the grocery cart seat, but I have learned to pack her in there good and tight so she won't fall over:) This small change has helped my back TREMENDOUSLY!!!

She loves to hold things...including my hair, jewelry, cup in my hand, phone, remote control...haha. I usually have to fight to get it back. She is a very curious little girl. 

She is such a happy baby-rarely cries unless she is exhausted or hungry! I just love to hear your sweet little laugh. For some reason, you think my hair is so silly and you are super ticklish under your neck. 

 This month, she had her first real cold (RSV) and first ear infection. We all made it out okay, but it was very scary and very sad to see her not feeling like herself. Thank goodness, she is MUCH better now.

Lyla weighs 15 lbs now and is getting bigger everyday:) She is in size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothes.

Sweet girl, happy 7 months. We love you more than you can possibly imagine!!

It's tough

I was coming home from visiting my family in Louisiana today. I needed a few ingredients for a soup I am making for church tomorrow along with a birthday gift for one of Lyla's friends who is turning one and celebrating tomorrow. I decided that we would stop in Hattiesburg at the super target. There I could get my groceries, the gift, and a Starbucks. :) Don't you just love super target??

As with most trips, I decided to stop at the bathroom first so that Lyla and I could both take care of business so as not to interrupt any shopping. There was a line for the family bathroom, so I decided to just take us into the women's bathroom. We did what we needed to do and got on our way shopping.

Now, if you know anything about Target, you know that most of the grocery sections are diagonal to the bathrooms-basically meaning, you cannot be further away from the bathroom when you are shopping in that section.

I was checking out the frozen foods when I saw Lyla lift her leg in her car seat. I thought it was kinda cute (heel stretch-haha) That is, until I saw what was literally "oozing" out of her diaper onto the car seat and into the buggy. Hadn't we JUST gone to the bathroom??

So, I put a wipe under her and we hall tail to BACK to the restroom area. Again, there are about 3 people standing in line at the family bathroom (I know it's big and all, but come on people!) So, I take her into the ladie's room where the ONLY changing table is right by the door-not in an actual stall. Clearly a man put it there! No woman with a child would EVER think that is a good place to change an infant.

I am struggling to change her and get her clothes off. (she has literally ruined her outfit) As I am doing so, women are giving me looks that could kill. I don't blame them really. The smell alone could kill. And here's what made it EVEN better. There were three VERY essential things that I could have used in my diaper bag that were NOT there. 1. Her laundry bag ( I ALWAYS carry it in her bag to put her soiled clothes in, but took it out JUST THIS MORNING!) 2. smell good bags to put the stinky diaper and wipes in-yes, I had NO other choice but to throw the "nasty" in the trash can. (To be fair, I did tell a Target worker to change out the bags when I left. )3. WIPES! Yes, I had maybe 3 or 4 individual wipes in her box. And trust me, this one could have used a whole box. So, I wiped her the best I could with what I had, wrapped her clothes up in toilet paper (there were no paper towels), got her in a one-zie, and apologized to everyone in the bathroom for the smell.

 As I am apologizing a woman comes up to me and says, "It's tough being a mom, isn't it?" Maybe she saw the frustration in my step or saw the actual sweat pouring from my head at this point. "It's tough being a mom"...

I said earlier that I had just left family in Louisiana. The reason I was visiting is because My Aunt Cathy, who lives there with her family, is not doing so well. She has struggled with cancer for quite sometime and has been moved to hospice.

I was only there for a day, but I got to talk to my cousin Hope (15 yrs old) about how she is coping with all of this. As we cried together, I couldn't help but think-man, that's HER mom in there. I watched as Hope would hold her mom's hand and tell her she loved her and my Aunt would just smile at her. She may not be able to respond to much, but she KNOWS her daughter's voice and her touch. My aunt is fighting to stay alive for her family because she loves them more than her own life! THAT'S TOUGH! Yeah, it IS tough being a mom!

 Thank you Lord for the time you give us with each other-even when it's messy and tough.

**please continue to pray for my aunt and her family**

6 Months

MY MY! Where has the time gone?? My sweet baby girl was 6 months this past Friday. We have been so busy that this is literally the first time I have gotten to sit down and blog. 

Lyla is growing and changing so much everyday! She is such a fun, happy baby!

This month was a big one for our little family. We did a lot of traveling, which meant getting to see a lot of family. 

This month, Lyla got to meet her Nona for the very first time. It was love at first sight:)

She also got to meet many of her aunts and uncles and second cousins. They LOVED playing with her. 

 Lyla and cousin Elizabeth and Aunt Pat

Lyla and cousin Clara (they are only a week apart!)

Lyla and cousin Khoen (me and Steph were pregnant at the same time with these beautiful girls-just like our moms were!)

This month we spent Christmas in Texas. You got to visit your Gigi and Uncle J! They just ADORE you!

We had so much fun watching you open presents...you seemed to like what you got, but in the end, I think you liked the wrapping paper the best!

While we were in Texas, you got to experience your first snow. It was a white Christmas!

We later got to spend New Year's with Gammie and Papa..boy did they spoil you!

One of the sweetest gifts you got this year was a puzzle to share with your best friend Zoe (technically, you have never met, but TRUST ME! You will be best friends!)Such a precious gift from your grandparents!

Gammie and Papa also bought us the baby bullet so we could start making your baby food. I am a little behind on this update and your first actual taste of food came a few days after you turned 6 months! We tried cereal (oatmeal) at first and you made the most sour face and screamed! I took that as a sign that you didn't like it, so on Jan 9, 2012 I made you your first sweet potato. You seemed to really enjoy it!

I was very pleased with how well it turned out and cannot wait to keep making you more healthy baby food:)

A few other highlights from this month: 

You are starting to sit up by yourself more. We only try it on the bed just in case you topple over. 

You can reach for things and bring them to your mouth (which is probably your favorite past time-chewing on things!)

I love to see you reach for me or your DaDa-however, when you reach for me, you usually come out with a big chunk of my hair that you have pulled out. *We are working on that!*

This month, I swear you said your first word DaDa-however, we have not heard you say it again. I have doubted myself, but I still think you said it. Maybe this upcoming month, you will tell it all!

You are SO close to rolling over on your tummy from your back. You have even started sleeping on your side. 

You LOVE to kick your legs. Sometimes I worry that you slam them down so hard on the floor that you are hurting yourself, but you think it is such a fun game to kick and play.

We grow more in love with you everyday little girl! You light up our life!

We LOVE being your mommy and daddy!

Happy 6 months Lyla Rae!