An Overdue Update

An update is long overdue on my little lady here so I figured it was high time to get to it. Many of you know that months two through four were horrible for us. But luckily around 5 months she started improving her temperament, and at 6 months she became happy and a much better sleeper. Then, last week we got back to the doctor and any of the improvements that we had made seemed to be pathetic and useless and nonexistent.

 Lyla tipped the scales at a whopping 12 pounds 3 ounces and nearly 7 months old. Since she was 10 pounds 13 ounces back at 2 months, this was obviously bad. She had dropped from the 47th percentile to completely off the charts. Her head size and height were both around normal, but had dropped percentiles as well. I knew she was little and hadn't gained much weight but I expected her to be bigger than this! 

Our pediatrician made sure to express how dangerous this could be. Luckily, developmentally and behaviorally she is right on target for her age. But because of her nonexistent weight gain, we were sent to a lactation consultant, feeding therapy and a dietician. If things didn't change -and fast- she was going to have to be put on a feeding tube in the hospital until we could get things figured out. My pediatrician is amazing and I love her and trust her, but I was very motivated for this last option to never come to fruition.

I suddenly felt like the worst mom in the world. How could I let my child starve unknowingly for months? I started crying and luckily our doctor is a young, first time mom as well or this would have been even more awkward than it was. She let me cry and reassured me that everything was going to work out and that there was no way I could have known and that Lyla would be just fine in time. 

I had suspected a milk production problem 3 months ago when she was really struggling and fussy and crying all the time and not sleeping. I had tried hard to supplement and add solids but solids seemed to be the only thing she would take. She obstinately refused the bottle. I kept trying but eventually gave up as it was just a huge fight that I never won. 

So, we were off to see the lactation consultant and our feeding therapist. At the lactation consultant we learned I make a third of what Lyla needs.  Lyla currently only gets 2 ounces from me most of the time, except for her very early morning feeding where she gets 3. She guessed my milk decreased at about 5 weeks but for sure around 2 months. She gave some good suggestions, but it would have been so much easier had we tried the suggestions months ago instead of now, with a crazy, active, distracted baby who's not too keen on any of them. 

At feeding therapy we created a diet for her and figured out ways to cram extra calories into everything she eats. She now has to eat solids 5 times a day with 2 meals being high calorie, 2 being high liquid, and 1 being high fiber as she has had lots of constipation problems due to not having enough food or liquid. 

 This last week was stressful at the beginning. It felt like between trying to deal with the war of the bottle, attemping to use an SNS, nursing every 2 hours, feeding her five solid meals a day and keeping her food diary, that there was no time for anything else and that all I did all day everyday was feed her. But things got under control and we settled into a routine. 

And guess what?! No feeding tubes for us! At the doctor yesterday we learned that Lyla gained a whole 10 ounces this week! She's up to 12 pounds 14 ounces. I attribute most of it to her daily breakfast of 1/3 cup oatmeal mixed with 2 scoops formula, 2 ounces liquid formula and 1 ounce of prune juice. Like the saying goes "oatmeal sticks to your ribs!"

We're still going to feeding therapy to work on our bottle issues and meeting with the pediatrician weekly but things are looking up and I am so grateful for the amazing support team we have. Between our lactation consultant, pediatrician, therapist
(who have all called to check on us and see how L's doing and to reassure and comfort me) and amazing family and friends, things have not looked so bad.

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Now for a little 7 month update!

We got to celebrate Easter, General Conference, and Lyla's 7 month birthday all on Sunday! So basically it was awesome. My two Utah-dwelling sisters and their husbands as well as a friend and her husband all joined us for breakfast on Sunday morning and we enjoyed the morning session of conference together. Lyla was adorable and happy and smily and let people hold and play with her all morning till she took a nap.

She is growing up so fast its making me sad! She sits, scoots across the floor, and is almost crawling. She hangs out on all fours rocking back and forth and trying to move forward. Its so cute! She still sucks on her toes for fun and also gave up the pacifier about a month ago and now prefers to suck her pointer and middle fingers backwards. Its so cute - I just hope it doesn't last forever! Still no teeth but I can honestly say I am happy about that. With having to nurse her every two hours I am not ready to throw teeth into the mix - no thanks!

She gets cuter every day and is looking more and more like her daddy to me.
Except her nose and ears, that's about all she got from me! 

Love, Lyla - 6 months edition

Momma told me how much her friends all loved my last post, so  decided I would once again commandeer her blog to tell you how I'm doing. Especially since I love this keyboard so much, and all, you know. Plus she doesn't really use the blog anymore, so I'm considering making it permanent...

Its been six months since mom "had" me. Don't really know how you can "have" someone, but that's what she tells me. Its been a pretty good life. I've really liked scooting and moving around this last month but lately I've taken to just wanting to be held by mom, but still move around a lot. For some reason this bothers my mom. I don't know why. All I do is try to reach for everything and climb up her and sometimes I almost fall out of her arms cause I just think squirming is the best, but I scream and she adjust her grip so obviously I'm fine. I don't know why she gets frustrated and sets me down. I've taught her pretty well, though. She's learning fast that I'll just yell at her and tell her how it is, until she picks me up again.

She's busy with lots of other stuff, but I try to remind her I'm most important. She likes to sew a lot but that doesn't involve me so I set her straight. She says she does it sometimes to make me clothes cause normal clothes still don't fit me right. For example, this is a 3 month sweater and it "still drowns" me to use her words. Cause I don't know that many words. She tells her friends I'm 12 pounds and 26 inches long and in a size 3m.

Apparently mom started taking coconut oil pills (??) in order to increase the fat content in her milk. I loooove milk. So i'm ok with this. I like other food, too, but still mostly just avocado and rice cereal. I've tried bananas, peas and carrots, too, as well as gnawing on a piece of apple. I like the apple. Mom and I are twins, she loves these so I figured I better love them too so we can start an "I'm obsessed with apples" club. Want to join?  The banana was nasty, as were the peas, and carrots mess me up on this inside, know what I mean? 

The coconut oil mom is taking helps me stay full longer, so she says. I don't really know. I have slept better the last few nights, but just to keep her on her toes I made her get up and snuggle me several times last night. She's just the best snuggler. Plus I've taught her so well she can't say no to me. Plus, now I prefer her to dad, so she feels bad for me and will do anything for me:) I am such a master manipulator ....

 Its been cold so mom hasn't taken me on as many walks, but we've gone on a few good ones with my bestie Logan. He's been in Idaho this week so I've been lonely, but I'm a survivor, so its ok. I miss my grandparents, but I make sure I make lots of cute faces so that momma will take photos to send them. Like, I love sucking my big toe, its even better than my pacifier, so I make sure bodhi and amia and nana and papa see that.  And sitting. See how I like to sit up? I make sure they know that, too. 

Well folks, I'm getting tired and fussy and mom is trying to say that means that I need a nap. But I'm stronger than her, so I'll win out, don't worry. 

Love,  Lyla

Love Lyla- 5 months edition

Hi internet! Mom works so hard and is so busy with all the things I make her do, so I decided to take over the blog for her for the day. Because guess what? Today we get to share a birthday! Today I am 5 months. And Mom is 312 months. Apparently that's 26 years. Whatever a year is. I have never experienced one of those. To celebrate we are going on an airplane today! I don't know what that is either but mom says it will be fun and that I should be happy. But being super cheerful isn't one of my favorite past times so I haven't decided how I will be yet. Mom also tells me we are going to visit Aunt Whitney and Uncle Austin. She tells me I have met Aunt Whitney but I can't really remember. I have never met uncle Austin but I bet he's stoked to meet me, because, well look at me?! Who wouldn't want some of this? We are also flying with my mom's friend Beth and my partner in crime Logan. We share a birthday. So basically that makes him my brother from another mother. Right? Plus, we have matching names. Logan and Lyla. So we're tight. Obviously.

Its pretty cool being 5 months. Since Mom always gets to see me do things for the first time, I decided to save something just for Dad. So while Mom was at a meeting this week, I rolled over from my back to stomach. You would have thought I won the olympics or something. I don't know what that is but I'm told its pretty legit. Dad loves me even more now for saving something special just for him. But little did he know that I also saved something extra special for him later that night. My first solid poop. Mom has been feeding me lots of avocado and rice cereal, (apparently to fatten me up cause I still don't weigh 12 pounds even though I'm super tall) and man I love that stuff. Just can't get enough of it. Only it kind of clogs things up a bit. Mom keeps me all clean most of the time and Dad just loves firsts, so I saved this first for him. Aren't I kind? 

I've recently decided to give Mom a little bit of a break so I've started taking better naps during the day. Just to keep her on her toes, though (but mostly because I just love her so much and can't stand being away from her and not getting her cuddles) I get up every hour or two at night time so we can make up for the lost quality time during the day. Sadly a baby does have to sleep, and I do get pretty exhausted by about 3am so I have a good sleep till about 8. Mom says she likes that. 

My favorite things currently are food, food and food. Oh and my toes! But none of that sissy stuff. I don't like bending my knees to suck on my toes. I prefer the gymnast style straight leg. I think its more feminine, more refined. Thats my style. Just don't tell my mom cause then she'll want me to blow out of diapers less often. I also love to laugh. Isn't that the best thing? I think its good for toning my abs, too. So whenever Dad gets home we play a little game of "suck face and laugh." It involves Dad attempting to eat my whole face and me laughing while he fails. I don't know why he never succeeds. I must be too awesome for him. You know, before I was born I would watch my parents and I was so so so excited to come play with Dad. He is so much fun. Mom is cool, too, but Dad is the best playmate. I like to play "balance" with him. Its where I sit in his hand and he holds me up in the air and moves me around and sees how well I can balance. I'm never afraid cause he is the best and if I get tired and fall he always catches me. 

I'm also getting good at modeling. Mom makes me model all the leggings she makes for her shop. Sometimes its fun, but sometimes I hate it and have to remind my mom there are child labor laws that give me rights. That sets her straight. Because of all this modeling and playing balance with Dad I am getting better at sitting up on my own. I'm not there yet but I am definitely making progress and apparently that's what its all about. I am also pretty good at scooting around on my belly and on my back. Sometimes you just gotta move, am I right?

Other things I love. Toys. They are awesome for eating, gnawing, and the like. I also love this keyboard and all the other stuff on moms desk. I always try to contribute to Mom's blog posts, so its nice I'm finally getting a chance. Mom tells me that no one understands my language so she doesn't usually let me have a say on here. Today I had Dad program in a translator from baby to English so hopefully you can all understand me. I wish my body came with a translator so people could understand me all the time. Cause that would be awesome.

Well, thats about it. I don't know what else to talk about except to say that I seriously love this keyboard. Sadly it doesn't fit in mouth. But oh, how I try. One day, I think I shall be victorious.

Love, Lyla 

Remember how I was the devil?

Remember that one time when I was sleep training? You know, my kid hated me because she resisted sleeping and just screamed for me to come rescue her from the prison which is her crib? Well I am here to tell you that after two weeks of sleep training......nothing has changed!

Yeah. I was really hoping for difference results. But alas, I truly am the devil and I have a really difficult child. I have been trying crazy hard to help her develop good sleep habits because I am taking a girl's weekend for my birthday to LA to visit my sister, introduce Lyla to uncle Austin, and to raid the fabric district of all things cheap and fabulous. My good friend Beth and her little Logan (who shares a birthday with Lyla) are coming with me and we are staying in Whitney's little apartment....so I neeeeeeed (times infinity) Lyla to sleep well so she doesn't end up driving everyone to a blood pact to a life with no children - or no more children.

Lyla at 10 days old....now she's the same, just weighs more.

So here's the rundown. We have had tiny little improvements to celebrate. Like the fact that she has at least been going to bed earlier. Although she's waking up really early too so I'm not convinced it better...except for the fact that Kelly and I get a little of our evening back. She goes to bed at about 7:30 and sleeps for about an hour. But then the she wakes up and cannot go back to sleep. like at all. ever. She screams. I go in and pick her up and sing to her and love on her and then put her back down. She screams some more. This goes on for the next two hours at which point I decide to just feed her cause she's so skinny and after all, crying for that long burns a lot of calories, right? After which she goes back to sleep. Only to wake up three hours later. And cries and cries. After more than a week of this I just gave in and decided to feed her at this point - which is 1 am - hoping that this will get her through to morning. Only it doesn't. she wakes up again 3 hours later. I try to let her cry. and put herself to bed. She won't. So, once again, after a long time of seeing no progress and feeling so bad for my tiny precious girl, I feed her. Then she wakes up 3 hours later, ready for the day. Except she's not ready for the day. She wants out of the crib, but even after eating she just cries! Still. After that whole night?! I can't take it anymore.

Currently she is "down for a nap" which means she is crying, because after being awake for an hour and fifteen minutes this morning and crying through most of it I decided she is just still so tired. But she's still resisting. Oh! And then when she's awake and being calm, I can't let her our of my arms, or at least within arms reach cause she's so afraid I'm going to leave her because of all this crying in the crib business.

Reading books really messes with your mind cause you think you'll get the same results as other "best case scenarios" did. I read that "no cry" methods take about a month. But "let cry" methods take 2 weeks. 2 WEEKS?! Baha! Ya right. Maybe for other lucky moms. When I started sleeping sleep training it was because I was at my whits end because Lyla was waking up every 2-3 hours. Well guess what?! Besides for 1 really good day and maybe 2 decent days, things are exactly the same!

So its official. I really am devil mom. Still at my whits end and no clue what to do to help my overtired, sleep-resistant, but very adorable, baby.

I have a 3 month old

Seriously, already? I can't believe how fast she's growing up compared to how long pregnancy felt. She is one of the best things that ever happened to me. She gives me purpose and makes my life feel so rich. I can't believe how many hours I can sit and chat with her during her nonstop talk sessions and take video after video and it never gets old.

Last week we celebrated 3 months by finally taking family photos...and by that I mean we borrowed my friends tripod and headed to Wheeler Farm so that we at least have something to send out for Christmas.

At 3 months Lyla May:
is chatty as ever and we looooove that voice
can scream like nobody's business
has huge personality
almost giggles
can stare at things for hours, apparently everything in the world is so fascinating
always clasps her hands together -always!
is growing like crazy and has a ferocious appetite for how long and skinny she is. (At this rate I figure the waist on her 3 month jeans will fit her at 6 months but the length will be like shorts...)

We love you Missy May!

New/Expectant Mom Essentials

I have been working on this post for months now, and I know you can find a million and one of these lists on any number of websites all over the internet. So, sorry, but this post is here by request of my sister Whitney. She knew I had been trying tons of different things and that I was sort of a minimalist and would give realistic recommendations that would work for her whenever she decided to add to their little family of husband, wife and pup.

So I have tried to make this very simple and categorize things by topic. These products are all tried and tested and proved honorable! According to me. Every mom and baby is different and will find what works for them. So take this however you want.

Stretch Mark Prevention
-Bio oil
-Burts Bees mama bee belly butter
-Vitamin E
also...WATER!

I basically had no hope of not getting stretch marks, as I am prone genetically. I got them as a 12 year old on my hips when I grew 4 inches in 7 months. So I was positive I was going to be covered in them when pregnant, unless I took drastic action.

I got a bottle of vitamin E pills from Walmart as soon as I learned I was expecting. I took 2 a day my entire pregnancy. This helps the elasticity of your skin, important if you want your skin to be able to stretch without ripping.

Drinking water is probably the number one best thing you can do to prevent stretch marks, (though nothing can stop genetics) as it hydrates you skin which help it regenerate and be elastic.

I ordered the belly butter and bio oil on amazon after hearing and reading phenomenal things. I applied the butter every morning (because it soaked in fast so I didn't have to worry about getting dressed right after) and the oil every night. Make sure you apply it all over! I didn't apply it on my bottom and hips because I didn't think those places had to stretch much for some reason. You think as an anatomy and physiology teacher I would have been smarter. I ended up with a few marks there because I started applying it too late.

Preparation for Labor 
Evening primrose oil: This is a pill in gel form that softens the cervix. Take it by mouth and/or poke a hole in the casing and insert vaginally starting a few weeks before your due date. You can also squeeze the oil out and rub on the perineum to help with tearing.
Squats: helps strengthen the muscles down there, and later in pregnancy it can help start labor - they helped get me started.

Postpartum Care (for vaginal delivery)
Tucks- little round thin pads soaked in witch hazel, come in a small little round tub. Give beautiful relief after tearing. The hospital gave these to me, but I also bought more at Walmart. They are a dream come true. I used them for about a week.
Also, stool softeners. But they're a given. Take them. Enough said.

The hospital also gives you (or at least they gave me) two different kinds of numbing stuff (a spray and a gel) that help a ton. They also give you squirt bottle -it will be your best friend - use it.

And don't worry, you don't have to use these things for ever. You only ever hear the horror stories of delivery, and postpartum care, but its not always bad. I only bled for about 12 days and it was just light occasional spotting after the first few days. Yes, your sore for a while but I managed my pain with ibuprofen and only had to take it for a week. (For reference, I had a second degree tear, but I actually tore in 3 places, and it took them an hour to stitch me up.)

Nursing:
-Lanolin: Soothes sore and cracked nipples. The hospital gave me a little tube and when we went home Kelly went to Target with the tube and showed it to a worker and asked here he could find more. I swear by it.
-Lansinoh cold/hot packs: a DREAM for engorgement starts when your milk comes in (stick them in the freezer). They have little soft covers that clip into a circle and fit into your bra. You can also microwave them and use for mastitis.
-------> Story: When my milk came in, Kelly went to Target. Once he found the breastfeeding isle, he bought basically everything he could find to help me be comfortable. He came home with tons of stuff. Some of it I didn't need and returned, but I tried most of it. I honestly was blessed and had/have a really easy time with breastfeeding but you can't help getting engorged in the beginning and there are things that can make you comfortable.
-Boppy or other nursing pillow you like. I really like the Boppy. Its big and supportive and Lyla can sit in it too and be propped up.

Travel:
-Baby carrier you like, I love the sling but I also made my own wrap and I love it, too.
-Any stroller you love: I require a jogging stroller because the big wheels allow me to go anywhere I want and I can still go for runs. In the two months since she has been born I have taken that sucker to farms, parks, stores, everywhere. It allows me so much freedom. I don't have a car during the day but the stroller (and the location of our home) makes it no I am not stuck.

Diapering: Find diapers you like, not much to say here. I have tried three different brands because I had them all as gifts from a baby shower. I prefer Huggies little snugglers as she has a tiny waist and skinny legs and these hold everything in. They also have a band a the top in the back that keeps the blowouts from going up her back.

Butt paste: Desitin does NOT work on Lylas little bum. She got a diaper rash pretty early and we were sing the desitin a ton to no avail. Butt paste is better, BUT make sure to get the "natural" one (green tube instead of yellow) instead of the regular one (only about 80 cents more) because the regular one has boric acid in it - bad  for babies and their skin.

Well I think that's all I've got. There are other products I could talk about but these are the ones that I really needed early on and helped me make the transition from pregnant teacher and wife to stay-at-home momma.

What products would you add from your experience?

Miss Lyla at 2 months

Yesterday was November 5th....which means Lyla had a birthday - 2 months! She has been so fun lately and last night she slept 7 1/2 hours! Good thing, too, because today we celebrated with shots, poor girl. She's been passed out ever since. She's weighing in at 10 pounds 13 ounces and 24 and a 1/4 inches long. That's 49th percentile for weight and  97th for height!

So without further ado, here are our favorite things about two month old Lyla:

-that she talks nonstop, must get that from her mom

-how she can put her pacifier in her mouth by herself now

-she's so close to rolling over!

-her smiles and smiles and smiles...can't get enough!

-her energy level is all over the place, crazy high!

-how she can stay awake for 11 hours straight..... weird

-her dimple, but we're always loving up on that

- her long legs that she usually has stretched out long and hard

- the bald spot right above her tiny mullet...

We love you sweet girl- these have been the best two months!

A Beautiful Blessing Day

The first weekend of October we went to Washington to bless Lyla. My parents had already met her, as they spent a week with us right after she was born, but Kelly's parents had not yet had the pleasure. Since both of our families our in the same place, we decided to do her blessing there to accommodate everyone. Well, at least both sets of grandparents - none of my siblings could be there and most of Kelly's couldn't be either. It was a really quick weekend, with tons of driving, but was very enjoyable. Lyla got to meet her nana and papa Conrad and her aunts Cori, BreAnne, and Megan and uncle Joe. She also met cousins for the first time!

She was blessed on Saturday October fourth, following the afternoon session of conference in my parents home. Kelly and I had always wanted to bless our baby at home as doing it at church seemed less special. It felt more intimate getting essentially a fathers blessing in my parents home surrounded by those who love her. It was perfect. She wore my blessing dress, and her headband is made from lace from my mother's wedding dress, which i wore on my wedding day. It was also the fourth year anniversary of mine and Kelly's engagement. So she was surrounded by sentiment, from her clothes to the very day!

 We love our little girl so much and are excited to see who she will become - but we are trying to savor ever moment. She already seems to be growing up so fast! 

We love you Lyla May!

One Month

 We celebrated Lyla's first (month) birthday over the weekend in Washington with our families. She's getting more animated all the time and her aunts and admirers (including me) can't seem to keep the camera out of her face. Despite her many attempts at privacy, she has yet to succeed at avoiding the paparazzi.

Here are our favorite things about miss Lyla at one month:

-she loves  the sound of her own voice, and we love listening to her try out all her sounds (though there may be a few sounds that we could do without..)
-she coos in her sleep. Its adorable. Whether in her bed, or in the stroller, or worn by momma, she coos.
-her turtle face, sadly not captured on camera and shown here. Maybe if your lucky you'll get to see it in person.
-her stretches. At about 4 or 5 days old my dad did a ton of baby yoga and stretches with her. She's never been curled in a ball since.
-her incredible sucking power on a pacifier. Its crazy how much she loves those things.
-she's the loudest eater ever. I laugh every time.
-her little coughs when she's eating way too fast to actually swallow
-her cuddles. she's not big on being left alone in a bassinet, on the floor, or anywhere that isn't your arms. Makes life a little difficult but how can you not love it.
-how every time she has tummy time she either promptly falls asleep or she cries till you get her off the floor because, well, who likes tummy time?
-how every time I set her down on her back she immediately rolls to her side

I could go on and on because what's not to love about a month old Lyla?
Nothing, I tell you.
Nothing.

Lyla's Newborn Photoshoot: 10 days young

Yesterday I attempted taking newborn photos for the first time. Lyla didn't believe in sleeping through them, but she cooperated well enough. She slept for three hours afterward and had the hugest blow out of all time (had to wash her clothes, blanket and couch covers.) 

But hey, the pictures turned out ok.