Lylah's First Halloween

I wasn't planning on doing much for Halloween. I have never been a huge fan of the holiday, because I usually wind up eating way too much candy. Plus, we could never top this costume. But I wanted to dress Lylah up as something....I just didn't know what. Then my Mom gave us a little bear hoodie that my sisters and I wore as babies, so I thought we would use that.

Cute, right? :)

Then, I made a trip to Gymboree. I had a giftcard, and needed to buy tiny little black shoes for our Family Pictures. On my way out the door, I saw the clearance rack and decided to take a peek. What I found was this awesomeness...

I love that little lobster! And for my fellow FRIENDS obsessed friends...."She's our lobster!"
See this video for reference.... totally worth it...

We went over to the Browns house and went down the street to a few houses. Lylah was a trooper...anytime Ryan is holding her, she is happy as a clam lobster. (See what I did there?)

This was right before she conked out. It was so fun to have someone to take around at Halloween, even if she had no idea what was going on. It's only going to get more fun! Crazy to think how big she will be at the next Halloween. 

We love this lobster!

2 month Newsletter

Dear Lylah,

We've definitely had a fun month! You are getting more and more interactive, and we will do anything to see you smile. You make the absolute cutest noises. You went to the doctor last week and you just "coo"ed and "gee"ed at the Doctor. I never knew I could be so proud of someone! We also had to get your two month shots, which was absolutely NO fun. I hate hearing you cry, and especially when you cry hard. AND, I forgot your pacifier! So I was mad at the nurse for making you cry and mad at myself for forgettin the paci! Ha. But you calmed down after they were over and slept the whole way home.

We got some family pictures taken and you were an angel! You didn't fuss once. After we took the pictures we even got to eat out at Babe's (YUM!) and you just slept. You are such a good baby! I can take you anywhere. You had your first meltdown at Target, and it was amazing how much faster the service is when you are holding a fussing baby. You really weren't that bad, but everyone around you was nervous. A lady offered to push my cart, and the cashier loaded my purchases in my cart for me. It was pretty nice. Thanks for that. :)

This morning I took you to a Stroller Strides class where we exercised. Well, I did. It was my first hard workout since having you. But, I was very thankful...you would fuss right as I was getting tired and I'd give you your paci, and it was a welcome break. Once or twice I just pretended you were fussy. Don't tell the instructor.

You are a pretty good napper and a great eater. At night you have been doing pretty well. You will give us a 6 or a 7 hour stretch, which is awesome. But after that you will only give me 2.5 to 3 hours, which is okay because then it's time to get up. I think you are going to be an early riser. I like mornings and all, but not so much when I am not getting a lot of sleep. :) Daddy helps with you at night so much. He will give you a bottle if I need him to, and if I ask he'll put you back to sleep for me after I feed you. He's the best.

You were a lobster for Halloween and you were so cute!

Your favorite things to do are stare at the hanging items on your playmat, sing with us (We'll we sing, you stare and smile), skype with Gramps and Gigi in Australia, go for stroller walks, and be held (especially when Daddy holds you and pats you). We love to sing "You are my Sunshine", "The Hokey Pokey" and "Super Bass". Yup, Nicki Minaj.

This month I started teaching piano again. Daddy comes home early to be with you. I miss you, but it's not for too long. I have been taking pictures again for a month or so now, so I've had good practice. It's not fun to be away from you, but I know it is healthy. Plus you love spending time with your Daddy.

You are just an absolute joy! I hold you after feeding you and just repeat over and over again how much I love you. Cause I do. I can't get enough of you. I love spending the day with you. When you nap, I miss you. I am so blessed that God gave you to us. We love you so much.

Love,
Mom

2 Months

"Wait a minute... how often are we doing this?"

"Every month?!?"*

*Oh you KNOW she gets her picture taken way more than once a month. Te he he.

Newsletter to come....

I can't get enough of this little baby girl

I have a one month old. What the what?

Little Lylah is one month old. Actually she's 5 weeks, but I didnt finish this post until today. She keeps me pretty busy! :)
 We are in shock that she has been in our lives for this long, but then again we can't remember what it was like before. She is such a joy!

Dear Lylah, 

I can't believe it has been a month! You are absolutely the most perfect, precious thing to ever happen to me. I can't imagine my life without you in it. My heart is so full of love for you that I am afraid it might burst. I stare at you, and I just want to hold you forever. I want you to always be my little girl. 

I wanted to write you a letter each month, shamelessly stolen from my friend Katie's blog, so that one day I can just give you a blog address, just in case that baby book never gets put together. :)  

You have definitely grown! When I put you in your pack 'n play, where you slept for your first couple of weeks home, you look huge! You seem so big, but everyone says you are so small. You are on the small size in terms of babies, but what you lack in pounds you make up for with weight gain. You impressed the doctor and lactation specialist with your impressive 10 ounces per week gain. At your 4 week appointment you were 8lbs 5 oz. I am sure you are bigger by now. And as you should be because you love to eat. You get that from me and from your Grandpa Coach. You would eat all day if I let you! 

You are very alert during your awake times and I love watching you explore the world with your big beautiful blue eyes. You stare at everything. And if you fuss after a minute, if I move you a little, you seem to settle as to say "Ahh..I needed something new to look at." We are working on your tummy time. The first time we did it at about 2 weeks, you rolled over! Then Daddy got out the video camera and you rolled over again! And you have done it a few times since. We think you don't like to be on your tummy so you fix it! But it's been a few weeks since you have done it. 

You are so wonderful, even when you are crying. I hate it when you cry, hate it so much that sometimes I cry, too. But even when you are fussing and crying I can't believe you are mine. I think sometimes I am waiting for your real parents to come pick you up. But you are mine, and that's so crazy.

We love you, peanut. You have made us a family. 

Mom