First Eye Exam

Lyla had her first eye exam on Friday, given by her dad. It was a great experience for Daniel, and Lyla was an absolute trooper. 

 At the end, we went out for a walk to make Lyla happy (she was a little sad having her eyes poked at). She just zonked right out. It was a big day for her.

Lyla is kind of amazing

I feel truly blessed to have such an amazing daughter. What ever we through at her, she just rolls with it. Every time we change her sleep schedule to help her sleep longer, she adapts. When we made the journey from WA to TN with the 2 hour time difference, it only took her a day to adapt. 

Last week we decided to stop giving her a binki at night. Before, if the binki would fall out at night, it would sometimes wake her up, and I would have to get up to re-bink her. Most nights were fine, but there was the rare occasion that the night would be terrible. So the first night, when she woke up for her binki, I just patted and  stroked her back to sleep. I only had to do this twice the first night, and haven't had to do it again since. 

Lyla also takes 4 naps a day, usually about 1 - 1 1/2  hours each. And if the nap only lasts 20 mins, then she will take an extra nap that day. That is all her. Nothing I've done. I couldn't stop her naps even if I wanted to. 

So Lyla is kind of amazing, and I am truly blessed to have such an easy going first baby, because I know that it could be so much worse!!

7 Months

This month was definitely the hardest for me with Lyla turning 7 months old. She is now closer to being a year old then she is to being a newborn. So yes, I cried.....a lot! 

Her personality is coming through and I love it. She laughs and talks/screams/babbles all the time. She's very expressive, and all round pretty happy. She is a constant joy in our lives and we feel so blessed to have her. 

 She rolled over to the shelf and grabbed a book to read.

 Napping in her swing while I took a shower. She just grabbed everything she could reach, then snuggled up and closed her eyes. Aaaand I made those booties she's wearing!!

She loves looking at books. It's hard to read to her because she likes to handle the book herself, and hasn't yet learned how to turn the page.

 We started solids with her at 6mths, and it's amazing how much progress she has made in the last month. She loves eating, and hasn't rejected anything that I've made her. Not yet anyway. 

Ready for church. 

 She loves snuggling with blankets.

 These are Lyla's first pair of shoes. It was hard finding something that would fit her teeny feet. 

Zonked out with dad after a long day of playing with mom.

 She loves the laptop. If she is next to you, and you have the laptop on your lap, you're not going to get much done. She will just reach out and start typing (pounding) away.

 Still in the same onesie! (Click on pic to enlarge) 

Aug 24th: 4lbs 15oz (birth)

Sept 10th: 6lbs 1oz (2wk)

Sept 24th: 7lbs 4oz (1mth)

Nov 1st: 9lbs 3oz (2mth)

Nov 21st: 9lbs 12oz (3mth)

Dec 27th: 11lbs 3oz (4mth)

Mar 5th: 13lbs 5oz (6mth)

Mar 25th: 14lbs 3oz (7mth)

Sunday Inspiration

How can a father raise a happy, well adjusted daughter in today's world? 

Hope this little message by Sister Elaine S. Dalton from lds.org brings a smile to your day!

Hanging Out

  I love how curious my little girl is getting. Always reaching and wanting to touch everything. Of course that also includes putting everything in her mouth, but I guess that's a part of learning. I know this has nothing to do with these pictures, but it's what I'm thinking right now!

Frozen Custard

Last week Daniel came home an hour earlier then normal. We were so surprised and very excited. After dinner we decided to go for a walk and get some frozen custard. The nice thing about living near an ice cream place, is that you can walk there and then you feel less guilty about eating it. It was a really nice night together with my two loves!

Sunday Inspiration

A message by Elder Russel M. Nelson from lds.org about faith and eternal perspectives. 

Hope your Sabbath is amazing. 

Missing Daddy

Daniel is on his last semester of Optometry School. It's been such a long journey, and I'm so glad it's almost over. This semester has been really hard. He is in clinic all day, leaves before Lyla and I get up in the morning, and doesn't come home until around 7pm. I love being a stay-at-home mom, but it's hard being alone all day with no one to talk to except Lyla, who doesn't talk back. Since we only have one car, Daniel takes it with him, and so I'm stuck at home. I could drive him, but we live 30 mins away from the school, and I don't really want to get Lyla up before she's used to and disrupt her schedule. 

Right now her bed time is 9pm. We had planned on making it earlier as soon as she started sleeping longer, but if I move it earlier then that, Daniel will either never see her awake, or we'd have to do her bedtime routine soon after he gets home, and then there is the question of dinner. When would we eat? So, she stays up so she can see her dad when he gets home. 

My point is, we miss Daddy and can't wait for him to graduate so we can see more of him!

Photo Shoot

I found this outfit near the bottom of her clothes. It's a 3mth size shirt that is still a bit big for her, but I thought it looked so cute, so I pulled out the camera and we had a little photo shoot. The pictures are a little blurry because Lyla kept falling over. She can sit for a short period when she wants to, but if she gets distracted or too excited she just flops right over. That's what happened with this! 

REAL Food

Butternut Squash...

CUT

 STEAM

 PUREE

ENJOY!

I love making homemade baby food. My favorite part is that, what I make, actually tastes like what it is. So when I take a bite, it tastes pretty darn good! And Lyla has enjoyed it too. (Oh, and it works out to 7c a jar)

Sunday Inspiration

A wonderful message from Elder Henry B. Eyring about overcoming trials through faith. I promise it's worth watching! Hope you have a wonderful Sabbath. 

How to Eat Polka Dots...

First: Find target

 Second: Grab hold of target

 Third: Shove into mouth

Success!!

 Every time we put her in this dress she eats it non stop. No matter what we do, she finds a way to grab those polka dots, and shove them in her mouth.

6 Months

I can't believe my little one is 6 months old. Time just goes by too fast. I've loved being able to stay home with her and watch her grow and learn. She is very curious, but not as adventurous. She will watch and study, but wont take the leap to go for what she wants. I'm in no rush though, I'm okay for time to slow down a little. 

Out for a walk at Shelby Farms. Our favorite place to walk around. 

 Visiting dad at work

 Dad dressed Lyla. What more do I have to say?

 Morning playtime

 Out for an afternoon stroll. She loves being outside, rain, snow or sun. 

 Eating dad's tie. 

 Playing with balloons. She was totally fascinated by them.

 Snuggles with dad

In the exact same onesie. Every month I think it'll be the last time, and every month she manages to squeeze into it again. Not growing too fast. Still wearing 0-3. 

Aug 24th: 4lbs 15oz (birth)

Sept 10th: 6lbs 1oz (2wk)

Sept 24th: 7lbs 4oz (1mth)

Nov 1st: 9lbs 3oz (2mth)

Nov 21st: 9lbs 12oz (3mth)

Dec 27th: 11lbs 3oz (4mth)

Mar 5th: 13lbs 5oz (6mth)