Valentines Day

Best. Valentines. Ever.

Bibs, burpies, and wipes, oh my!

I've been working on these baby gifts since before Lyla was born! It really is crazy how many things get put on hold once you have a little babe (and mommy naps!) sucking up all your time.

After 5 months of staring at the half-done burp cloths in my office I finally sat down and finished my project. I turned our table into a full on messy workspace and pumped these bad boys out in about 3 hours.

It was definitely a learning experience. 

I'll spare you all any up close pictures because I assure you there are many flaws. 

But I'm proud of myself for {finally!} getting them done.

Can't wait to make a few bibs for this little cutie! 

 I can't believe it's almost time for her to be eating solids! Num num.

Brace Free!!!

Oh what a beautiful day today was! I have been almost dreading Lyla's X-ray appointment because I was confident that the doctor was going to say she needed to still wear her brace.

Jesse just started working night shift again this week so we decided he should just come home and sleep and I would take Lyla by myself to the appointment

We waited forever for the X-ray. Every minute that went by this cute smile was fading a little bit more as nap time approached. I was desperately praying I wouldn't have a huge melt-down on my hands.

Thankfully, Lyla was her usual happy curious self when we went in the room. I'm very familiar with this whole process as I've literally had a bazillion X-rays done in my life but it was interesting helping a 4 month old get one done! I had to hold her wiggly legs still as we got her picture taken.

... I didn't do a very good job and we had to take two. Oops.

Lyla was still all smiles when we got to the doctors office. Mostly because the secretary was so happy to see and talk to her

Dr Geitz walked in carrying the Rhino Cruiser brace. My heart instantly dropped. I knew it. This was what she would be wearing when she left.

He looked at me and asked if he showed me this brace before. I said yes and he replied, "Okay well she won't be needing it now." What a cruel (unintentional) joke!!!!

He put Lylas X-ray on the board and started breaking everything down. He said that her hips were completely normal. The angles of her sockets were in the mid-normal range. He said if they were in the high-normal area he miiiight have considered bracing her at night but with where she is there is no reason to wear a brace. He said if he showed a room full of doctors her X-ray they would all say that she had normal hips :). Wahoo!

We get another picture taken in 3 months and will continue to monitor her hips for a few years just to make sure, in his words, nature doesn't need a nudge. If that's ever the case she would only need to wear a brace at night. Like a retainer for your teeth... No big deal at all! So we are looking at blue skies and rainbows right now.

The best part of the day was when I got home. I went into our room, woke Jesse up and told him the news. He said, "nu uh. Don't lie to me. That's not funny." Once he believed me I swear it was like Christmas morning in there.

Thank you everyone for all of your support and prayers! Now it's finally time to bust out those cute outfits and dresses!

Bubble Bubble Double Trouble

I love watching Lyla discover her voice. 

 Every time she discovers a new sound she can make she fixates on it and repeats it ALL DAY long.

Her most recent discovery started with her finding her tongue. 

 One morning she woke up, stuck her tongue out, and that's where it stayed for about three days

Then, it was like a lightbulb went off. She figured out how to manipulate her tongue and how to blow raspberries... This is quite possibly the CUTEST thing ever! 

 For about four days straight she was just a giant slobber chinned girl!

She would wake up from her naps blowing raspberries even! 

 What a nut.

It's just so amazing to me to have this front row seat to watching her grow. 

 It is such a fun and beautiful process and I thank God everyday for giving me the opportunity to be home with her and to not miss a thing!

I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! 

 Because if it is even HALF as cute as this, it's worth seeing!!

Sicky Sick

My poor little girl had her first little bug last week. I don't think I ever fully understood just how hard it was for your little baby to be sick until I experienced this hardship firsthand.

It was a long three days full of a lot tears (and not all on her end either!).  But, despite it all, I was happy to help my little one and there was nowhere I would've rather been than right there with her.  Motherhood is a true journey and I am so thankful God picked me to be the protector of Lyla Mae.