Back to Work

I went back to work this weekend. It was better than I thought. I had been so worried about leaving her, but it turned out ok. Both mornings she woke me up before my alarm, so I was able to nurse her before I left. Once I got to work I tried not to think about her and just focus on work. She was at home with her Daddy and he is so wonderful with her. I had no reason to worry about her safety. The only problem is and will always be...he is so easy going. He really didn't follow the routine her and I have nor did he focus on the clock and have her eat and sleep on time like I do. The change did have her up more Saturday night, but jatovi got up with her so I could sleep. Grannie came and stayed with her from 5pm until I got home. I think she cried a lot for her. Poor Grannie, Layla should have given her a break. Really I think she was sleepy and needed to go to bed. One good thing was she was still awake when I got home...and boy did I need that. My third shift back she was in bed and I was almost in tears thinking I wouldn't get to see her...but she woke up 10 minutes after there!
I was able to pump at work 3 times each shift, so my new goal is to breastfeed until 6 months! Boy I can't believe I am still breastfeeding and at this point I don't mind it. It took 3months but the hate is gone and now I try to focus on the positive..it is best for her, it is free, and easy. Now I just have to hope my milk doesn't dry up...that would be my luck just as I am getting use to it!

12 weeks

We are 12 weeks into our journey with Layla. I must say it is getting better and better everyday. She now smiles all the time, she coo's and makes lots of sounds, and is less fussy. Now if she would sleep through the night she would be perfect!

A day with Layla starts about 7-730...when she wakes for the day full of smiles. This current routine has been around for about 2 weeks. I am not sure when it will change again because it changed over night. She went from going to bed at 9, and eating at 1 and 5...to going to bed by 6:30 and eats at 11, 2 and 5. After she gets up and dressed for the day it is play time but only for about an hour when she falls back to sleep for a short morning nap. The rest of the day she wakes and sleeps on a 2 hr schedule. After about 2 hours of play she will sleep for anywhere from 20-60mins at a time. Now what does play include..well her bumbo chair, bouncy chair or mom/dad making faces at her. She prefers one on one time with either of us. She loves to sit and watch you, smiling back. I am still breastfeeding, although we have tried bottles of breast milk at bedtime to see if she will sleep longer..which did not work. We also tried adding rice cereal to it..which also did not work, so straight up breastfeeding it is. I really like to sleep so the sooner she sleeps through the night the better. I really just want her to sleep from 11-5...I don't think I am asking too much!
Her eyes are almost completely brown now. There is a firm of grey left around the outside, but the inside is a light carmel brown. Her hair is getting longer. The top middle is the longest and it curls up, and the back stays straight after it drys. The sides have the least amount of hair because she sleeps on her side so it is worn off. Her thunder thighs are her biggest part on her..the rest seems to have balanced out with her length, she is really tall.
Her face always has little cuts on it..from her nails. Jatovi and I have tried to cut them but we clearly haven't done that great of a job.
What I want to remember from this month is our trip home to Canada and how fun it is to watch her smile. One day her just looking at me won't cause the joy it does now for her. If only when she was 15 would her face light up this way when she sees me!

Maybe a left hander?

Well over the past 2 days Layla won't stop sucking her hands. Well Grandaddy came over and while holding her noticed this. He asked me if it is always her left hand. Well yeah it is!! So it is sometimes her right hand but mostly her left. Jatovi nor I had thought about this but does that mean she may be a lefty! Again who knows but if she is today was the first day we thought about it. As far as I know they only lefty's are Mycal and Myla. Only time will tell.

Our Little Swimmer

When Layla was first born she hated her bath. In fact when Grammy was here and we would bath her, her screams where so bad we thought something was wrong with her. Over the weeks the screaming became less and less. then one day during her bath she discovered herself in the mirror and started to smile. It was nice to have her enjoy her bath. Jatovi then had an idea...fill up the bath tub and let her bath in it. Well I wasn't sure what her really had in mind, but I said sure. Well he started to fill up the garden tub...and by fill I mean to the top. We put bubbles in it and Jatovi held her the whole time and boy did she love it! She kicked her feet played in the bubbles and really seem to like it. We did this again a few days later and then decided that the garden tub full of water for a 10 min infant bath is not good so we have been using the sink since. She likes the sink just the same although the mess she makes with her kicking is terrible some times!

So this got us thinking....would she like to swim outside. Well after a trip to walmart and a baby pool later we tried. The first time Jatovi set her in it she started to cry. Well Daddy was not going to give up. He continued to warm up the water for her and try again, with success this time. She loved it! So does this mean she will be a swimmer? Or just enjoy the water...who knows but it is fun watching her discover the water.

Canada

First Trip Home Pictures

First Trip Home

I want to start by saying Layla is smiling now! It makes my day seeing her beautiful smile. She started at about 7-8 weeks although by week 9 it was all the time.She seems most happy in the morning, after her breakfast feed see will sit and smile and make nosies. She seems to copy what you are doing, like sticking out your tongue, or making kisses with your lips.Layla still cries several times a week in the evening...in fact she is crying right now! But thankfully Jatovi is home tonight to walk the floor with her. Due to the Durham Bulls evening games I am usually here alone with the crying..and it is hard. So seeing the smile during the day makes the evening more bearable!
On June 30 Layla and I hoped on a plane and flew north! I wanted Layla to be at home for her first Canada Day. This meant she missed July 4th but I am sure she will see more of them in her life time than Canada Day's. We were there for 6 days and it was great. Uncle Corb and Jeff came home as well. Jatovi couldn't come because of work, so her was able to catch up on sleep..lucky guy! Layla loved uncle Jeff. Jeff tried with his attitude at first "I don't do babies" But not 10 minutes in the house Jeff couldn't put her down. Layla would watch him, smile and talk to him. It was so nice to see Jeff's soft side. I even started to call on Jeff to sit with her when she was crying...didn't see that coming. My mom had friends and family over on Saturday to meet Layla. It was so nice to see everyone, and Layla has more clothes now than I do.
We spent and afternoon with my good friends Angela,Tara and Kim.I miss everyone so much so I love seeing them. My parents were of course so happy we were there. I love how much they love her. I am so thankful Layla has brought my mom and I so close. For once in my life I think of her as my best friend. I have heard of others say that about there mom's and didn't get it. I do now, when ever something happens after Jatovi I can't wait to call my mom. I see that Layla and I can have a good relationship as well.
What I want to remember is the feeling I felt the first time I went into her room and see was crying. I picked her up and the biggest smile came across her face! Oh I felt my heart stop..it was magical!
I also want to remember my parents face when Layla and I came around the corner at the airport...pure joy!