Christmas in Texas

We were able to spend Christmas in Texas this year so Layne could meet her Texan family! Needless to say she was a hit. She did great on the plane there and back. I fed her on the way there and she slept the whole time on the way back. It was so great to see everyone in Dallas. And as a surprise for my parents we got all the grand kids together to take photos at JC penny to give to them for Xmas. (Sample pics below). We went to our friend Cortney's house to meet all the kiddos we've been seeing pics of on Facebook for years, it was a nice little get together. Thanks again Cort!
And we spent time with the Thomas' playing monopoly, clue and Apples to Apples. All of which my 12 year old beautiful niece Olivia was a pro!
We spent the night at Auntie Holly's house.
It must go down in the record saying this is the first time I've been to Dallas and not gone to the bars. My how times have changed. Layne did go to her first restaurants though. First one being her fathers Texas favorite: Whataburger! And the second a sit down restaurant good ole Ozonas.

Thanks for having us Nana and grandpa! Here are some pics I took from my phone. There are a million more taken with the good camera, but those are still on said camera.

JC Penny Family with mini Dr. Evil

JC Penny Grandkids

First Plane Ride!

Omar and Olivia

Julian and Layne

Andrew and Olivia the last two survivors in Monopoly

Sarah and I went through this pregnancy together via email since week 8.  She lives in Portland and our babies were born 9 days apart.  So glad to finally meet Ike!  <3

Layne napping on Nana

Comfy Grandpa with Julian and Layne

Big cousin Simone

Uncle "Dre" as Olivia called him

Julian stuck on the couch between Uncles

Building the Gingerbread House

All the girls

See ya next time Texas.  Hopefully when it's not snowing and no one is sick! :)  

2 months!

I forgot to do my two month post! She'll be 3 months in 2 weeks... We're does the time go?
Probably the best thing that has happened these past few weeks... She laughed!! First baby giggle. I cried I was so excited. She's done it a couple more times since then, I didn't know my heart could grow any bigger.
We went to Texas and back for Xmas. Which was great but I came back with a pretty bad cold which I'm still fighting.

Back to Layne- she can hold her head up she doesn't cry during tummy time. Actually she rarely ever cries. The only time she cries is when she's hungry or needs her diaper changed or has gas. Those are pretty good reasons! So we feel pretty lucky so far with a happy, very smiley baby.
She's still sleeping in our room in the rock n play next to our bed, I'm dreading the move to the crib in her own room. I'm all ears for any advice on how to move her in there. Or any sleep training advice!

These 2 months have flown by and I'm loving every minute of it.
She's still not taking a bottle very well so unless she does ill be right here on this couch till she starts eating solid foods and someone else can feed her.

Ill be back for her 3 month post. If not sooner.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Bloggers!

2012 will always be a special year in my heart as it is the year we had our beautiful baby girl.  Happy Birth year to my Baby Layne! I can't wait to continue to watch this sweet baby girl grow!

Looking forward to see what the new year brings.

Be safe out there.  We are staying in and being cozy.... there will be some champers and some horn blowing and some baby kissing.

Cheers to you!

Happy 2013.

xoxo

Firsts

I've sorta missed blogging and I often think if idea if what I could blog about. That includes my sweet baby girl of course. So here's a thought. A post about firsts. Could be a weekly post or biweekly we shall see.
But here are some for now. And I'm doing this from my phone so it's harder to get the picture that goes with the activity in order. But I'll try.
Here are some of her firsts. Pictures are next.


First smile: we saw last week.

First Christmas party at my friend Jess' business

First holiday party at Hayleys house

First vaccines (2 month shots). Lots of tears from both her and I.

First time taking a bottle. ( I wanted to do an entire post on this) my exclusively breast fed baby does not like the bottle (with breast milk in it) she has finally taken it twice after many failed attempts. I never thought this would be an issue. But we will keep trying. Andrew has to give her the bottle while I leave the house. She knows if I am here and won't take it! Smart cookie.

First time: quitting my job to be a stay at home mom! Yep! I sure did. You see I didn't get paid enough to be able to afford day care or a nanny so if I stayed home it helped us out more. Needless to say we are on a strict budget! But I've always been a good saver so my goal is to figure out how to pay bills, rent, eat, buy diapers and save off of one salary. I quit a couple of weeks ago and gave my one month notice after being there 3years. I'm hoping to go back somewhere full time after a year. Or perhaps part time somewhere after 6 months. Depending on how we are doing.
Back to Layne..

First: plane trip!! Ill post this one again cause it hasn't happened yet. But this weekend we are flying to Dallas for Christmas. Weather gods be good to us!

First: time holding her head up for a good while during tummy time.

First: photo shoot for her Xmas card! (Taken by Andrew an I)

First: successful swing! Thanks for letting us borrow it colie!

Ill have to think of more. Here are some pictures

First Official Smile or Gas?

Either way i'll take it.  This little beauty is changing every day and i am trying to keep up. her little cheeks are really filling in, and we finally got the first official smile caught on camera!
Thanks to Andrew- my official photographer.

One Month!

My sweet baby Layne is one month old (yesterday).  I can't believe we've been hanging out for a month! And i mean hanging out.  I haven't really left the house much in the last month.  But in the past week we have been out on our own!  Layne and i went to girl's night last week to watch Top Chef at Hayley's house!  This month has really flown by and i am so proud to call her my daughter.  She's pretty cute, I'll keep her!

In one month, she's gotten back to her birth weight and more!  Baby's an eating machine.
She's really good with her big sister Chai, and vice Versa.  Chai is very gentle with her and Layne is so curious to know what that fur is that she is touching.
She's starting to hold my gaze more.
She doesn't like tummy time.
She is starting to sleep more. (hallelujah!)  (up to 3 hours now!)
She goes through like one million diapers a day. Pooping machine!
She loves when mommy sings to her out of tune.  (i mean who wouldn't).
She's gotten lots of super cute outfits and I am trying to make her wear all of them before she's too big!
We love our little chicken nugget and we are soaking in every minute.  While taking 150 million photos each day.

I posted these pictures on Facebook, but if I am going to keep this blog going, I really should document it here too.

Layne's one month photoshoot:

Happy one month my little Laynie Bell.

Visitors and other things

I have tried to keep up with this blog, but my iPhone app has crashed and I am not sure how to fix it.  So it takes some time to get to this ole computer.
Here are some photos of some of the wonderful visitors that have come to meet miss Layne.
I didn't get pictures of everyone, because I forgot to.  This post pregnancy brain is a whole lot worse that actual pregnancy brain.  But thank you to those not pictured:
Erika & her kiddos who came by and brought Layne some gifts and dinner for us!  Also to Hector and Laura who brought Layne the coolest Baby CD ever.  Rock-a-bye Baby  Lullaby's of the Pixes, The Beatles, and Radio Head.   Why didn't we think of this???!  Little Layne has been jamming out over here.

Here are some photos of visitors and things that went on these past few weeks.

Hayley & Jess on Layne's Birthday at the Hospital

Auntie Anne

Alivia & Layne- sweet cousins

Aunti Aimee demonstrating the Moby Wrap with Layne tucked in there

Hayley & Steve brought over wine and dinner for us!  Nice little adult Friday night.

Dawn & Shae- Co workers holding down the fort came to see miss Layne

Auntie Alison, stopping by with much needed coffee and sweets

Auntie Mary came today to see Layne- with Beautiful flowers!

Grandma giving Layne her First Bath!

Chai loves her

those lips

first walk around the hood with the stroller. I felt legit

Andrew took lots of pictures

me trying out the moby wrap.

Tomorrow Layne and I are going for a walk to vote.  Wish us luck!  Our first venture out with out daddy.
xoxo  must nap.