She gets smarter every day!

Layna is getting smarter every day ! Mommy can't keep up with all the new things she is learning and Mommy is always leaving things out on the blog to share with you all !

Here's a list of more sounds Layna knows and makes:

cow = mooo = mmmmmm

monkey = oo oo a a = a a a

lion = roar = roar (she does it in a deep voice in her throat like mommy does - SO CUTE !

Layna has this little laugh that sounds fake she does. "ha-ha-ha"

Not much is happening lately. Mommy got a part time job, and Layna has been doing well being away from Mommy and with Grandma for the evening. So far, she has been behaving and been a good baby. However, lately, Layna's sleep has been off. She has been waking up more often than usual during the nights. When Mommy puts Layna down to sleep sometimes, when she is still awake after she as finished the bottle, she plays a little and quietly falls asleep. She has learned how to self-sooth and go to sleep peacefully ! yay ! Now only if it could happen during the night !

best Christmas present ever: Layna Elizabeth.
playing in a box from one of her toys on Christmas Eve

Here are a few photos from her birthday celebration with Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux:

Birthday Girl !
Happy First Birthday

stuffing her face
"yummy in my tummy"

any baby would be happy to stay up past bedtime AND eat cake !!
surprisingly she went to bed very easily after opening and playing with presents !

photos from December - February

photos from the past few months

(they are out of order)

valentine's day outfit ... that lasted a couple minutes haha

looks so like Baby Dan in this picture !

where's Layna?

she wanted her big blanket

reading in the car

enjoying her birthday cupcake !

she loves chores: swiffering, dusting, laundry, vacuuming, shoveling...

Mommy's favorite sweatshirt doesn't fit anymore

part of sleep training:

fell asleep squatting on a pillow with her face smooshed

layna is one !

LAYNA ELIZABETH IS ONE YEAR OLD !

how amazing ! a WHOLE year went by and it seems like yesterday she was my 8 pound 10 ounces bundle of joy ! We had a small celebration: Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Boyce. Mommy filled the room with pink balloons - not-helium filled and helium filled. Layna didn't really know what to think of all of them. Every so often she wanted to be carried over and hit them or pull the strings. Instead of popping them, Daddy set them free into the air !

Layna had a small cake smash. Just a little cupcake with frosting and covered in bright pink sprinkles ! (Mommy didn't have her camera, but took some pictures with her phone.) At first, Layna dipped her finger in the frosting, decided she liked the texture and grabbed more. The second she tasted the sweet frosting, her eyebrows raised - YUMMY!! Soon the cupcake was broken up into pieces and she was slowly eating it. Sammy (the dog) eventually came and helped Layna clean up the mess !

Layna got a couple books, a purple zebra bath loofah (she is always looking at the ones in the shower) and laugh and play learning puppy.

Overall Layna had a good birthday !

(I figured starting her second year is a good time to go back to blogspot.... it's a lot easier than the other website)

7 Months Old

Layna's top, right front tooth decided to make an appearance for Layna's 7-month birthday. She was very cranky and Mommy and Daddy couldn't do much to help her through the pain. Mommy and Daddy tried frozen teething rings, frozen wash cloth, ice, teething gel, infant tylonel, and just holding her. Layna would bite on her pacifier; She doesn't use it to sooth herself, she uses it as a teether.

Layna doesn't sleep well at all when it is hot and humid out, which makes it hard for Mommy and Daddy to break her bad sleep habits. She still only falls asleep when being carried and stays asleep on Daddy or in Mommy and Daddy's bed. She usually stays asleep for 20 minutes in her crib.

Mommy and Daddy are slowly trying to get Layna into good sleeping habits. Instead of walking around with her, they lay in bed with her and let her cry until she's asleep. If she can move, she will move and never fall asleep.

Layna is on the go ! She gets fussy when she is being held and just wants to explore and play on the floor. She stands up whenever she has a chance. She responds to her name most of the time.

Baby on the Go !

the cake Mommy made for Layna to celebrate making it to 6 months

~Layna has accomplished in 6 months and Mommy and Daddy are still surviving~

Yesterday Layna had her 6 months check-up where she got her 3rd set of vaccines, which she didn't appreciate one bit. However, she didn't get a fever this time - whew ! We had to see a different pediatrician because Layna's had changed to a different location. The doctor was amazed at how strong Layna is. Everytime she would lay her down to do the physical, Layna would try to sit up or roll over. She even tried to sit up when the nurse came in to give her her vaccines. Layna weighed in at 18 pounds and 26 inches long.

Layna had her 6 month photos taken on Tuesday. Here is the link to the preview photos of Layna's 6 months photos: (if its not a link, just copy and paste it)

http://www.heidihope.com/blog/baby-l-6-months-old-rhode-island-and-massachusetts-baby-photographer-2/

All day yesterday, Layna was on the move.. lunging and "crawling" around on the floor. She reached for Mommy and Daddy's hands to pull herself up to her feet. If she can get to something else to grab on to, she will try to pull herself up - yes she still tries to do it in the bath tub ! Her determination must be the cause of her advance gross motor skills. Enjoy watching her "slither" around on her belly !

She's a girl who loves to laugh and Mommy doesn't have to rub Layna's belly with her face anymore. Layna laughs at funny sounds and facial expressions and squeals when she is playing. She has laughed in her sleep a few times which is the cutest and funniest thing ever. Here's a quick snippet of Daddy rubbing his face on Layna's belly. She laughs just like Mommy: when it comes to much to laugh, she yells:

Today Mommy had put Layna in her crib to relax, she wouldn't nap, so some quiet time in the crib would let her relax a little. Mommy went upstairs and Daddy came down stairs and to his surprise Layna Bayna was standing holding onto the crib; she had pulled herself up ! Also, Mommy was playing with Layna on the ground and holding Layna's hand and she stepped up with one foot and then the other to stand. This baby girl is learning super fast ! She still struggles on sitting up, but she is getting there.

Layna's 6 Months Old

Layna is 6 months old! Mommy and Daddy can't believe how fast half a year went by. Layna had her 6 months photos taken today by Heidi Hope Photography - the same photographer who did her newborn photos. She did very well except she didn't smile her big smiles that much. Whenever a camera is put in front of her she just stares at it. Hopefully Heidi got some photos of her smiling. Also, Layna was a little tired. She woke up at 7, had a bottle, but didn't go back to bed. She slept on the way there, but not enough; just enough to keep her happy and not break down and cry. It was a beautiful day out, so we got some studio photos along with some at the park. At the park, Heidi took some photos of Mommy and Daddy with Layna. Of course, Mommy had her own little photo shoot of Layna when they got home.

Layna's food palette has been expanding. She has tried carrots, which she didn't enjoy... sweet potatoes, which were a hit along with pears and applesauce.

Layna is slowly learning how to sit up by herself, she still needs someone to hold her legs while she does a sit up - literally. When Mommy sits Layna in her crib to play quietly, Layna pulls herself on to her knees and looks over the rail to see what Mommy and Daddy are doing. Instead of crawling forwards, she goes backwards or turns or rolls. The only way she knows how to move forwards is with her butt in the air and her head/face on the floor. Mommy is surprised she has gotten rug burns all on her face yet; her nose just gets a little pink.

Layna had her second ultrasound and follow up with the urologist last week, who had good news: Layna's ureter is back to normal size and the right kidney is not swollen anymore from backed-up urine - it appears to be working. Layna's renal scan is in August, which we will find out the function of the kidney, and when Layna's second surgery is.

Pre-6 Months Photo Shoot by Mommy

L is for Layna

Baby Girl loves to stand

Post - 6 Months Photos by Mommy

super happy baby !!

Relaxing outside with Daddy and Sammy

always wanting to stand

4 Months Old !

Almost a week ago, Layna turned 4 months old ! Mommy had been distracted and busy living at Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux's for the past two weeks with Layna giving Grandma Boyce some time to finish the basement. Mommy and Layna returned to Daddy this past Sunday. However, the basement isn't finish but very very close to it !

Nothing too exciting has happened this past couples week - Layna rolled over but thats it. Layna is such a playful, happy giggly girl. Mommy is waiting as patiently has possible for her to laugh !

When Layna is put on her stomach, we can see that she is trying to crawl. Well, not exactly crawl but she is learning to move her legs and can now push up on her hands when on her belly.

This weeks is full of appointments for Layna Bayna. Yesterday she had her ultrasound for her kidney, and has a follow up on Saturday. Friday is her 4-month check up, which means more vaccines.

Almost Three Months Old Already !

Last weekend, Mommy, Daddy and Layna made a day trip up to see Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux. She was smiley and a good baby... like always...

Layna is almost three months and Mommy couldn't wait til next week to take some more "professional" photos of the little princess ! She is doing great on her belly and sometimes looks like she wants to move and grab her toys ! Today Mommy put a rattle in Layna's little fingers and she held on to it and tried to shake it but it's a little big for her ... but she held on ! She is more smiley than ever ! When Mommy and Daddy hear her little gurgles and coos from the crib in the morning, the minute they say hello, Layna has big smiles on and gets super excited - her legs kick every where ! She is getting big for her Napper and it's time to try to get her to sleep flat now, but it's going to be a challenge. Mommy has put her down flat when Layna is asleep but she wakes up within 5 minutes. 

Mommy will blow bubbles/make that razzing sound with her lips and Layna will sometimes mimick her and blow bubbles too. It's so cute ! 

Layna made a trip to UMass with Mommy because Mommy had to meet with a couple professors. Every one loved her and she was on her best behavior ! 

hand in her mouth

we she's gonna be a thumb-sucker !

tummy time !

visiting Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux

blowing bubble at Daddy

Happy 1 Month !

HAPPY ONE-MONTH-OLD BIRTHDAY, LAYNA ELIZABETH !! That is right .. she is one month old today ! I can't believe I gave birth a month ago. I can't imagine her not in our lives since she has arrived. This past month has been something indescribable and something you can't imagine. From being sleep-deprived but not noticing it to being in awe at all the little squeaks that come from Layna and her smiles and facial expressions has been wonderful. and oh my, has she changed from the day she was born ! Her super chubby cheeks and round face are gone.. instead of a skinny belly that my hands fit around, she has this little round belly and her legs are getting some "meat" on them ! I just noticed her hair getting a little darker today also. Layna is more alert and looking around more. She is such a strong little girl, too ! She can hold her head up pretty well on her own; sometimes she sits straight up by herself and then slumps over - it takes so much effort for the little one. She pushes with her legs so hard .. and her arms need a little bit more exercise! 

Layna has kind of a schedule. She is awake for about 2-3 hours twice a day just to play. I can anticipate her awake times for the night and morning better, and Mommy and Daddy are getting more sleep these days.

We have survived and proudly made it through the first month and can't wait for what else is to come with Layna !