2 Month Checkup

Layla had her two month doctor's visit today. Three shots, poor girl. Her faced turned every color of red possible and she screamed so long that nothing was coming out. It just breaks my heart. She got over it pretty quickly though, so that is good. She is a little trooper.

Well she is still in the fifth percent isle for weight. She was up to 8 lbs, 15oz and she is now 22 inches long, which he said is right in the middle for height, and her head is in the 25th percent isle (she must have taken after my side on that one. =) ) The doctor said that since she isn't dropping off more on weight he isn't concerned, so he said just to keep doing what I am doing. So I will continue supplementing her once or twice a day and hopefully all will continue to go well. He said she looks great and she is really strong. We play Parachute (a more fun modification of the airplane) and her whole body is flat as a board when I hold her up. She is nothing but muscle, that one.

She is smiling more and more these days and she is starting to notice more around her. She stares at her hands every once in a while so it won't be too long before she will have more control over them. She also loves to stare at this little stuffed lion rattle with a bright colored mane. She follows it so well. My favorite, though, is when she talks to me. Her little coos are so adorable. I'm trying to take in every moment cause they all go by so fast.

More Dancing With Daddy

Layla was having fun with Daddy yesterday. It took some convincing to get him to "sing" for her on camera, but finally I broke him down, and I am so glad that I did. Layla loves when Daddy is silly with her.



I love her right hand while dancing. She is so freakin' cute. I know I say that a lot, but she really is. =)

Two Months Old!!!

I can't believe that Layla is already two months! It goes by so fast. We went out to Babies R Us today and I got her a couple little rompers and one of those carriers so that I can do more around the house while still holding her. I hope that it works out. While we were waiting in the check out line some lady thought she was a boy. Now in her defense Layla did have a brown and white polka dot blanket, which I suppose could be more boy, but she was wearing lavender. I suppose I should expect that when I am so opposed to pink. Although I have to say that Layla is warming me up to it. She looks just precious in pale pink.

We had a short photo session on her 2 month birthday with her little lavender dress on. She looks so adorable in it. I so wish that I had a proper photo studio in my house so that I could have better lighting and more variety. Maybe someday. I will have to work with what I have for now. Luckily she is cute no matter what!

My baby doll

Such a happy girl

There is never a dull moment with my little Layla Bug. She definitely keeps me on my toes and I'm loving every minute of it. We are still working on getting my milk supply up. The fenugreek had to go because it made Layla really gassy and miserable, so we are going to have to try some other methods. We've also started the transition from co-sleeping and I am sure it is going to take some time. Every time I set her down she wakes up anywhere from one to thirty minutes later. She has been like that since the day she was born. The only time she will sleep when I'm not holding her or lying next to her is for her nap in the swing. I can't have her sleeping in her swing all night, so if anyone has any helpful suggestions on that or upping your milk supply, I would love to hear them.

Grammy Time!

Grandma was in town visiting her little "Sugar Bun" this week, and we had such a good time. She got to see all sides of Miss Layla, from the most adorable smiling angel, to the miserable, inconsolable munchkin. It was so nice to have her here especially during those rough moments. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't so great while she was here, so we spent a lot of time indoors, but we still had fun. Her departure always comes too soon.

Layla is so freaking adorable, even from the back. Love those copper locks. =)

Talking to Grandma about her day. She is so cute during her play times.

As uncomfortable as this looks, it is one of my sure fire ways to get Layla to sleep. It is like it hypnotizes her. So, even though it looks painful to me, she seems to love it.

Some Days Are Harder Than Others

The term "Don't cry over spilled milk" definitely doesn't apply to breast milk. I am working really hard to get my milk supply up so that I won't have to supplement my little monkey with formula anymore. We are going on day six of supplementing, and it is going pretty well for the most part. I pump at least once a day and then I give her a bottle once, sometimes twice a day with breast milk mixed with formula. Now that she has gotten the hang of drinking from a bottle she usually inhales it, so I am really hopeful that her next doctors visit will result in a heavier baby girl.

We had our roughest day ever yesterday. I still don't know what was wrong, but nothing seemed to work. Between my mom and I, we would bounce her and rock her until she fell asleep, and that would last anywhere from ten minutes to thirty minutes then she would start screaming again. It was so brutal. She would scream, stiffen her body up, and she seemed inconsolable. It would just break my heart. By the evening she was much better and she slept like a champ last night, and so far today she is just a little angel.

I know that babies have good days and rough days, and yesterday was SO rough. Hopefully those will be few and far between.

So it would seem that I have developed something called de Quervain tendinitis. It is a type of tendinitis that is right at the base of the thumb and is somewhat common for new moms apparently. I think it has to do with how I hold and pick her up. It doesn't hurt all the time, but if I move my wrist in certain positions it is quite painful. Unfortunately I don't think there is much that I can do for it. When I try to take pressure off of it, it will just make the other wrist worse. I've started wearing a wrist brace on my right wrist (which is the worse of the two) so that may help. I am hoping it will eventually go away on its own, but then again, Layla is only going to get heavier, so it may just get worse. Here is hoping for the former.

Supplementing Attempt

Well I decided that I was going to go ahead and give Layla a little formula mixed with breast milk yesterday. I figured since I don't plan on breast feeding any less, just add an extra feeding then it shouldn't be a problem.

She didn't take to it at first. She just kept crying, much like she does when I offer her a pacifier. After a few minutes though, she was a bit more receptive. I think it comes out of the bottle much easier than it does out of me, so a lot of it ended up on the burp rag because it would drool out of her mouth. By the time she got about three quarters of the way through the bottle, though, she was a pro and finished it off no problem. Then she slept for over two hours. Seems to have been a good decision.

So today I did the same thing, and she took to it much faster and just inhaled it, then took almost a three hour nap. So I am definitely feeling better about my decision. I am also starting to take the herb supplement fenugreek to help increase my milk production. I am hoping that it will work out. I am also pumping at least once a day and I am starting to get a decent amount, which I hope with the addition of the her supplement will only get better. I do hate pumping though, but I am sure I will get more and more used to it.

This was a really difficult thing for me to do, but in the end it is all about what is best for my little Layla Bug. And so far, she seems to like the addition of the formula/breast milk mix. Hopefully the fenugreek works out though and I won't need to supplement for much longer.

Hanging with my Uncles

Layla's Uncle Erik and Uncle Matthew came to visit this last week and we had such a good time. It is a long time since just the three of us have hung out together.

We went to the Ventura Harbor on Friday afternoon, and it was a beautiful day. Layla slept most of the time, but she seemed to enjoy it out there in the crisp sea air.

After our walk along the harbor, we had a drink outside on the patio at Andres Wine & Tapas Bar, and while we were enjoying our drink we saw a sailboat with the most perfect name. =)

It was so great having Uncle Matthew around with his camera cause he was able to capture some of Layla's sweet little faces. She is just the cutest thing ever! I am so amazed by her every second.

We also ventured out for Layla's second dinner outing. We took her to Larson's Steak House and she was so good. She was getting a lot of attention while we were there from the staff and customers; it is hard to resist that face! =) She was wide awake most of the time and just taking it all in.

Most of the time we all hung out in the sun on our back porch. I would prop Layla in her bouncy seat and she would just chill there and laugh with us. It was too cute. She is going to miss them now that they are back home. It makes us very excited for our time at Aunt Sally's this summer!!!

Confusion

Layla had her appointment with the pediatrician today, and it made me a bit upset and quite confused. First of all she had her whooping cough shot. It is so painful to watch the love of your life in pain. She was not a happy camper. Luckily she got over it relatively fast.

The other issue was her weight. She only gained five ounces in the last two weeks, which puts her up to 7lbs, 9oz, and that is only the 5th percent isle. I kept track of her eating, peeing, and pooping for the week before her appointment, and based on that, she is totally fine. She is also very alert and active and looks completely healthy, yet, according to the average she is not gaining enough. And yet her doctor, who has been doing this for 37 years, is confused by it and doesn't know what to tell me. How am I supposed to know what to do, when my pediatrician doesn't?!

He referred to her as a statistical anomaly. He suggested that I supplement with formula, and I so am not wanting to do that. It is causing me a bit of anxiety. Everyone says that as a mom you know what is best and to follow your gut, and I am just not ready to give her formula. If she was showing signs of some sort of problem, I would do it no question, but she is totally healthy and happy. I am in the process of doing things to increase my milk, so hopefully that will help. If anyone has any words of wisdom please share them with me. Other than that, Layla and I are doing quite well and she is just a happy happy baby.

Changing All the Time

Well Layla just gets cuter and cuter every second. She is reacting to more, becoming more observant and smiling all the time. It is so amazing. This is a video I took the other day, and she is just too adorable.

She has her pediatricians appointment next week, and she is getting her whooping cough shot, which I am not looking forward to. =( Hopefully everything else is good, though. I have been trying to keep track of her eating, napping, and diapers so that we can make sure she is eating, sleeping, and pooping like a good girl. I think we are going to be alright here, because we go through a crap load of diapers (no pun intended), she is constantly eating during the day, and she sleeps quite well at night, at least so far. She doesn't nap much during the day, but I would rather she slept more at night anyway, so I am okay with that.

We are co-sleeping right now, but I am getting to the point where I want to transition her to her own bed, and I am worried that that is going to be a rough thing to do since she likes to be close to me. Although during the day I've been putting her in her swing, bouncy seat, stroller or in her boppy while we play or if she is napping and hopefully that will get her more used to sleeping on her own for the future. Fingers crossed that it isn't too difficult. I am mainly worried that she will get out of her current sleeping schedule of 5 to 6 hours straight. I do love that.

My brothers are coming to visit this week, and I can't wait! Layla will get to meet her uncles for the first time. We are going to have a great time, especially since she is a bit more responsive and fun to play with. Denny and Sheryl were saying that they could even see a difference in her in the week that they were here. My little girl is growing up so fast!

I captured a couple pictures of my little munchkin smiling for me. There is seriously nothing cuter! And I am so excited cause she finally fits into pants!!! Thanks again Crayon ladies for her adorable outfit!