All Potty-trained

this is from last summer - our first attempt @ 18-months-old. but its so cuuuute!
such a big girl now!

I can officially say Layna is a Big Girl who is potty-trained! I couldn't be a prouder parent ! We have attempted potty-training when Layna was 18 months old. She was very interested in it, would hold her nose (her sign for needing to pee), and actually went ! We stopped because with Dan and I living apart, the training was inconsistent. Our second attempt was when we were settled into the apartment - about March. Layna's daycare was somewhat helping, but I could tell from the daily reports they were inconsistent too. Layna wasn't as interested in it, and by the time we moved back in to Gram and Papa's, I was determined to get her trained ! I've regained my whole as stay-at-home-mom, and I have been working on it with her again. She had her share of accidents in the house, outside in the yard, and out in stores while running errands. I kept telling myself it's all part of the training. It slowly clicked to Layna. Some days I had to force her onto the potty, somedays she hopped up by herself. Sometimes I needed to wrestle diapers away from her, and other days she welcomed undies on with open arms. I quickly realized that when Layna wore pullups, she knew it was okay to pee not on the potty, so I had to stop with the pullups. Some people said, put them in underwear, and if they have an accident, put them back in a pullup or diaper. Layna didn't care about going back into pullups. But I noticed that when she had underwear on, she would hold her pee but to the point where she would have an accident sometimes, but slowly she learned to pee by herself.

It was a rollercoaster, but every time she went on the toilet I was thrilled, and then everytime she went by herself (which was this past week), I was even more thrilled !  It - the consistency of going by herself with and without telling me -  happened the other day when I put Layna in her bed from the car with her undies on. I heard her walking upstairs when it was due for her to awake from her nap. I went up and she was sitting on the potty and said "Mommy, I pee!" and I asked "where" while making my way into her room and checking the floor and the bed. And I came into the bathroom and she said again "Mommy, I peed!" and I looked in the potty, and she peed ! And later that day, she looked at me and said "Mommy, peeing!" and ran into the potty. She has learned the signal of having to go potty, to hold her pee, and climb up and pee! (Side note, I was using lollipops everytime she peed in the toilet by herself, not when I had to put her there because an hour or two went by and she hasn't gone yet. Those pops could've helped!)

Anyways, usually when I get excited and make a big deal of it, she has an accident as if she knew that I was announcing her achievement of potty training. But not this time ! My baby is a big girl now! Now, it's time for night time training... and shopping for more Big Girl Undies !

Just a Little Something

Here is what Layna looked like for the past three Falls:

It is already half way through May ! Layna has been doing a lot lately including teething some more, climbing on furniture and jumping off it, and getting into everything even more ! She has started her speech therapy a couple weeks ago. She meets with her therapist (Sydney) once a week. Layna is definitely trying to talk, but because she communicates very strongly with non-verbal communication aka signing and Mommy understands her wants, she hasn't started talking yet. Layna knows how to move her mouth and tongue to make certain noises and this is evident when she is making her animal noises and sounds in generally. All Sydney does during the one hour session is play with Layna, and when she talks she is very repetitive and accentuates each letter sound along with signing and trying to teach Layna the signs for things. Her first sign is a fish, which isn't very helpful when she wants something. haha.

This past week, Mommy and Layna have been busy travelling. First we visited Daddy Thursday to Saturday. We were home Saturday to Tuesday. We went back down to Daddy's for the night because Layna had her "1-year" hearing checkup, which she did great at ! And on Wednesday we headed to the Cape to join Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux for their last few days of their vacation.

We had a good time at the Cape and being away for a few days. On Wednesday, we relaxed: went for a walk on the beach and went for a walk on a bike path and got some groceries. On Thursday, we went to the National Seashore near Provincetown. We took Grandpa's truck and we got to drive on the beach in the sand dunes. It was the perfect Cape day ! The sun was out and we were in a very secluded area. Layna behaved pretty well until she had to go into her carseat. She got a little overtired because she didn't take her nap. Who would take a nap when you got perfect beach weather ?! Mommy thinks she started teething at the Cape because she wasn't sleeping well and started to not eat much. On Friday, it was time to head home. We stopped at a little breakfast restaurant near the Cape Cod Canal, and then headed to the canal to go for a bike ride. Afterwards, Layna and Mommy headed to Daddy's for the weekend, and Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux headed back home.

Mommy and Layna went to Colt State Park in Bristol, RI on Saturday. (Daddy ended up working in the afternoon). We went for a little walk, had a little picnic, enjoyed the warm weather; another perfect day ! On Sunday, Mommy, Layna and Daddy headed to Newport for the afternoon. We walked on the Cliffwalk and had a little picnic. Afterwards, we stopped in Historic Newport and walked around the shops. Layna was overtired and cranky. She never screams and cries in public, but she did this day ! She didn't want to be in the stroller, and she's getting heavy to carry, and she didn't want to walk... finally Mommy put the little monster on her shoulders and she seems quite  content there.

Tomorrow Layna and Mommy are heading into Boston for the day to visit Auntie Libbie !

(photos of the cape will be up soon!)


Oh yea ! Layna has started walking down steps without holding onto anything ! My she is growing !! (along with her hair ... finally !)

Tooth Number 9 !

Miss Layna has another tooth ! The bottom right tooth appeared in the gap. Mommy is not sure when, probably when she was having those diarrhea diapers and odd poops (TMI, sorry!), which was probably a two weeks ago.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day !

For Valentine's Day weekend, Mommy and Layna head over Daddy's. It was a relaxing weekend with all three of us together. On Sunday, Mommy and Daddy saw The Lion King broadway show at Providence Performing Arts Center aka PPAC. Grandma and Grandpa Boyce babysat Miss Layna for the afternoon. They said she was well-behaved and kept active: going up and down the stairs. She ate most of a Healthy Choice frozen dinner that Grandma Boyce gave her. When Mommy and Daddy came home, Layna was fast asleep in her pack'n'play upstairs in the living room. Mommy's sleep training definitely helped with keeping her anxiety away from Layna down.

Layna has been loving books a lot more lately. She is always looking at them and you can see the wheels turning. She likes to have them for car rides to. Once Mommy, Grandma Robidoux, and Layna were out shopping and Layna would make Mommy read the picture book to her over and over and over from the front seat. Hey, whatever keeps her content and not screaming. :)

Layna is still not liking diaper changes... that's all that needs to be said there.

She tries to put her socks on by herself, but can't yet. She knows the top from the bottom and puts her little fingers in the top, but can't manage to get her toes in it; same goes with shoes. She likes putting Mommy's and Grandma's shoes/slippers on their feet when they are sitting on the couch.

Layna is doing a lot better with eating. Sometimes she is picking... or just not in the mood for what we feed her at the time, which can get frustrating. However, since we stopped giving her baby food or prepared toddler food she has been eating better.

Layna has learned how to go down the stairs safely... on her belly, but she lets herself slide down quickly. She is definitely going to be a risk-taker and like things that get her adrenaline pumping and probably will LOOOVE rollercoaster. (Mommy can't wait to see how she goes up!)

Even though Layna isn't speaking yet, she is learning sounds of things:

(object = sound = Layna's pronounciation

car = vroom vroom = vrm vrm

dog = ruff ruff = arf arf

elephant = = she puts her bottom lip out and blows

bee = bzzzz boink = bzzzzzzz (and a pitch sound)

snake = ssssss = ssssss

(and a couple other things I can't think of right now).

It's Been a Long Cold Month !

It has been a long January with numerous snow storms here in Massachusetts ! Layna and Mommy played in the snow a few times; it was up to Mommy's waist ! Mommy would try to put Layna on the sled but she wasn't having it. Layna's favorite thing to do in the snow: eat it ! After one of the snow storms, Mommy brushed off the cars, which took a while. She bunlded Layna Bayna up and took her outside to play. Layna didn't try running away or running into the street. She just played in the driving knocking the snow off the snow banks and eating snow. She walks good in her snow boots that Uncle Tim and Ariel got her for Christmas.. and does well for being all bundled up !

Mommy and Layna were sick a couple nights ago. Layna had a runny nose which became a stuffy nose and the next morning Mommy woke up with a sore throat and a runny/stuffy nose. Mommy's cold turned into a cough while Layna's just stayed being a runny/stuff nose. It seemed like the illness was going to last forever because Mommy and Layna are always together and their germs were being passed back and forth, or it seemed.

Layna is doing well with her sleep training. She has finally started sleeping longer than 4 hours again. Yay ! And when she does wake up, Mommy gets her a bottle and keeps her in her crib. Layna doesn't fuss, just falls peacefully back to sleep. Now Layna depends on the bottle to fall asleep and her blanket, but getting rid of the bottle will be the next step to Layna's sleep training.

Layna does very well with the spoon and fork, which makes the morning and meal time a little bit easier for Mommy. Layna has become a picky eater over the last few weeks. She won't eat mushed baby food or toddler food. She sometimes eats what us adults are eating but not much. Mommy has been letting Layna eat table foods but will also give her baby cereal with baby food mixed. This has been helping Layna sleep through the night because she is more filled.

Layna isn't really saying any words yet :( However, she is very good and letting us know what she wants. She does this by pointing and say "oooh" or when we tell her "no" she sits down and cries and sometimes will lay on her back and cry. Her babbles include sounds of "na", "oh", "eye", "ma", "mamamama", "baba", "boo" (like in book), "ughh". When Mommy tries to teach Layna a new word or sound, she does watch Mommy's mouth and tries to do it but gives up quickly.

Layna's dance moves have become more "intense". The include: arm waving/flinging, knee bending, foot stomping, clapping, and head nodding. She gets excited when certain songs on the TV come on. Her shows include: Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, and all their little "shows" in between.

Last week, Layna didn't want her diaper on when she got out of the bath. So she rolled over, stood up on the changing table, and started dancing... naked ! It made Mommy laugh a lot !

This past weekend was Uncle Tim and Ariel's engagement party. Layna behaved very well, and everyone loved her like always !

Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux and Mommy had a little celebration for Layna's first birthday. Layna ate her cake like a lady; making no mess.

Mommy's computer is broken, which is why she hasn't updated the blog. She will try to update it more often and post new pictures shortly !

Sledding !

Layna went sledding with Mommy and Grandpa Robidoux this afternoon. She didn't like being put into the sled by herself. She went down the hill twice with Mommy and once with Grandpa. Layna has been doing a wonderful job falling asleep in her crib, but won't go back to sleep in it once she's up in the middle of the night. Mommy is working on that with Layna.

Layna isn't a big fan of strollers and store carriages or being held anymore. She just wants to walk everywhere ! When at a store, she finds something on the shelf to take off one shelf and put on another. As long as she doesn't throw everything on the floor, Mommy doesn't mind.

Layna is becoming such a big when it comes to eating. She has been eating big people food and will reach for the spoon or fork instead of grabbing her food with her fingers.

Here are some photos for you to enjoy:

first snow fall of the year

you can't see it but she's cheering on her Patriots wearing her Tom Brady jersey

after sledding with Mommy

playing with her birthday party hats... goofball !

Just a little update :-)

Layna has been growing so quickly ! Every day it seems like she is learning new things quicker and quicker. She plays on the stairs and goes up them when she wants attention. Also, she is learning to sleep in her crib wonderfully (tonight Mommy is going to attempt to put Layna back into her crib when she wakes up). She is starting to feed herself more and more with a spoon and fork. She definitely knows the difference. She stabs her food with the fork and tries to scoop with the spoon. She is walking more and more instead of crawling. Grandma Robidoux and Mommy took Layna to the mall where she could practice walking in her new beginning walker shoes.

Today Layna had her post-op appointment with the urologist. Every one in the office was at awe with Layna and her outfit ! Her big, cream sweater with black leggings and her "cute" had. She was ready for the slopes ! The urologist said that the incision healed beautifully. We go back to get the stint out (a little piece of something that is put in the ureter so the scar tissue doesn't close up the hole to the bladder) .. we go back January 14, and she has an ultrasound February 9th to see how the kidney is functioning.

Layna LOOOVES chocolate just like her Momma ! Every time Mommy would open her little piece of chocolate, Layna would come running to her, making her "Hum..." sound, which mean "share?" or "more". She is definitely communicating with sounds and pointing. We are just waiting for her to start saying some words instead of sounds. She is babbling a lot though with different sounds.

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas everyone !

Layna and Mommy get to celebrate Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux's house, and tomorrow will be heading down to Daddy's to spend the holiday with his whole family. Hopefully Layna will be in a good mood for the day visiting family in Fall River and then off to Weymouth.

Lately Layna has been wanting to feed herself every once in awhile, so Mommy believed it was time for toddler spoons and forks. Today Layna had pasta and tomato meat sauce for lunch and used a fork for the first time. She did so good ! She got some pieces on her fork and would make it to get mouth ! She looked like such a big girl sitting there with a sipping cup full of milk and feeding herself pasta with a fork!

This morning Layna skyped with Uncle Andre and Nicole, and got to open her presents from them: some really cute clothes from old navy ! She liked Skyping and would say "hi" to them and wave to them through the computer. Mommy was surprised that she knew that they were people talking to her and not a like a TV.

Today Mommy took Layna out on the deck for a short 5-10 minutes. Layna wore her boats for the first time and was bundled up in her winter coat and hat and mittens. She seemed to walk pretty good in her boots even though she preferred crawling. Once on the ground, she would find ice frozen on the deck and lean over and lick it... what are we going to do with her?! hahaha

Tonight Layna will be trying some tradition Ukrainian Christmas food: perogies and beet stew with some bread and some veggies. Hopefully she will like it ! The Christmas feast has became smaller over the years and is now a dinner.

Puff Balls !

Apparently Layna always knew how to climb up stairs. She doesn't just do a couple at a time ... she flies up them like it's an old habit, especially when she knows someone is up there.

This morning, Layna was sleeping in bed with Mommy. Mommy was awake and watching Layna for a few minutes and Layna kept smiling non stop.... and her eyes would open with her eyeballs rolled back kind of freaky.... but the smiling part was SO adorable ! Mommy wish she had a camera to record it!

Layna has been eating these little veggie and fruit puff ball snacks that melt in her mouth along with some "table food" or food off of Mommy's and Daddy's plates. She doesn't know what to make of the puff balls. The have flavor but it's not strong (Mommy tried one). Also, we give her these little yogurt melts also unlike the veggie and fruit puffs, the yogurt ones have a lot of flavor. She eats them which makes Mommy happy, and instead of sticking the whole puff in her mouth, Layna usually takes a little bite - she is using those teeth !!

Layna is starting to learn how to clap. She will fling her toys (or whatever object she is holding) around with her right arm, and sometimes just swings her arm. When Daddy and Mommy clap, Layna will try mimmicking them, but with just the right arm. Also, Layna does this thing now where she will throw her head back with a mouth-wide-open smile. It's so funny and cute !

Layna is learning how to drink out of a "cup". We use the cap to the bottle which is the perfect size. She does fairly well, and improves everytime ! She does still manage to get water everywhere though.

Early tomorrow morning, Layna has an appointment with Dr Ellsworth, the urologist. She had the scan done last week, and now we will find out if we are keeping the right kidney or getting rid of it. Goodluck, Layna Bayna !

...and lastly, the family is going to Syracuse this weekend ! Layna finally gets to meet her Grandpa Chamberlain and that side of Mommy's family. Uncle Andre and Nicole will be visiting that weekend too, so Layna will get to see them again along with Auntie Rose, Cousin Connor, and Mommy's Aunt Slavka and whoever else from Grandma Robidoux's family.

Layna has taken a long car trip before, and she requires a lot of necessary "stuff". Mommy is sure the car will be packed with 75% of Layna's belongings. We are staying in an hotel, and hoping that Layna will get some swim time in the pool !

watching Grandma and Grandpa leave

"Rock Star" tank

(she wasn't feeling this photo shoot)

ribbon!

Naptime.

haha sitting on a ball

trying on a few of her new fall clothes (somebody needs a nap)

learning to drink from a cup

such a big girl !

help, Maaa!

baby in the diaper box

the side incisor makes five...

Little Miss 8-month-old has her FIFTH tooth. Her top right tooth (top side incisor) came in last night. :-) Mommy figured she was teething again because Layna Bayna was drooling again... and this explains why she wasn't sleeping great... just ok.

Cups, Stairs, and No Hands - Oh My!

On Friday, Mommy, Daddy and Layna went to pick up Layna's 6-months-old photos. They came out great and Mommy can't wait to share them!

Yesterday, the family went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux for the day. At first, Layna cried when Grandpa tried holding her, but she quickly warmed up to him. She was hyper and excited standing and sitting and standing and sitting and grabbing toys. Dinner went by, Layna had the rest of her applesauce from lunch. She is starting to feed herself with the spoon. Mommy will put the food on the spoon and Layna will grab it and put it in her mouth. She is such a big girl ... and makes such a big mess ! At dessert time, Layna was still hyper standing up on laps and reaching for everything on the table. She would put the cap of her baby bottle up to her face like a cup and try to get something in her mouth. Grandma put some water in it and Layna slowly understood what to do.

Mommy tried teaching Layna how to use a sippy cup (but took out the safety plug thingy) the other day when they were outside. She understand what to do and looked like a big girl with a cup in hand. However, Mommy thinks they will go straight to a cup, no need for a sippy... and pediatricians don't recommend them anyways. Apparently sippy cups equal bad habits. The baby bottle cap makes the perfect cup for Layna - light and just her size!

Layna weighs 20 pounds now. Mommy and Layna went for their WIC appointment and she got weighed. The nutritionist gave Mommy some suggestions and guidence on the new foods Layna can eat including yogurt and pasta and sauce. Mommy told the lady how Layna instinctively put the cap to her bottle to her mouth mimicking a cup, and the lady agrees that the caps are perfect and convenient for people who can't buy cups.

Mommy fed Layna her brunch outside today (Thursday August 19th) and let her try drinking some water out of her "cup". Layna did amazingly well. She is growing up and learning SO quickly. Layna does spill something, not knowing if you tip the cup it'll spill. After the first few times of picking it up at the edge and seeing the water spill out, she will pick the cup up on it's sides like we do. For an afternoon snack, Mommy let Layna try her first little serving of yogurt - YoBaby Peach yogurt. She seemed to like it. She ain't it without complaint. Mommy got the peach yogurt thinking she would take it more willingly because she knows the flavor. Now, we just wait and see if she has any potty troubles from it.

Layna makes this HUGE smiley face where she opens her mouth in a big O-shape. She smiles and makes it and smiles again. Mommy theory - she is mimicking how Daddy and Mommy say... "say Maaaa-Maaa" and" "say Daaa-Daaa" and "Hiiiii" with their mouths WIIIIIDE open. Also, Layna has "developed" this interesting, new sound as if making a low grunting sound. (it's a little difficult to describe in words....)

Another "milestone" Layna proved she is capable of is climbing stairs, or crawling up stairs. She climbs all over Mommy and Daddy in bed and on the couch, so it isn't a huge surprise she knew how to crawl up the stairs. When the visiting Grandma and Grandpa the other day, Daddy demonstrated (with Layna's legs/body) how to go up the stairs. Today, Layna saw Mommy go up the stairs and followed - Daddy was watching her. Layna did the same thing with Mommy. However, she doesn't like you standing behind her... She reached for Mommy's legs and tried turning around and standing. Speaking of standing (I dont know if this was mentioned before) Layna is getting brave and sometimes let's go and tries to stand. She only stands for a couple seconds before she falls on her bum-bum. She usually attempts this on the couch or bed.; something about the softness of the mattress and cushions must make her feel secure enough to stand with no hands. She learns too quickly!

photos from recent outings and at home

sucking on an ice cold wash cloth

- a trick to sooth her teethies

and cool/hydrate her on hot days -

watching it down pour outside

hanging in her Puma outfit

loving the swing

Layna's new things lately is shaking and banging her toys and to hold her toys and crawl and standup. Layna loves her little baby pool. She crawls around in it and enjoys sitting and playing in warm, bath-like water.

Layna enjoyed the swing at the park and going down the slides with Daddy. However, the water at the beach/park in Somerset isn't the cleanest at all. The family took a little trip to see how the water and beach was, but Mommy felt yucky just dipping her own toes in, she couldn't even let Layna test the water. Not only was there trash but Mommy spot a lovely jelly fish, which topped off that that beach was a "no-way-jose" beach.

Mommy is slowly introducing food to Layna. Whenever Mommy has a cheese stick, she gives a couple tiny pieces to Layna, which is likes. Mommy tried cutting up carrots - Layna didn't really like it.... along with pasta. The next on the list is Kiwi. It should soft enough for her and an interesting and new flavor. Layna's pincer grip is coming along very well, especially because she likes to pick up dirt and Mommy's hair off the floor along with picky at grass when we're outside. She seems a little confused when Mommy gives Layna a bowl of colorful little pieces and allowing her to grab them and put them in her mouth. After a few seconds, she does taste what is in the bowl and experiences and then it falls out.

Boy, this baby girl can scream and cry for hours if we let her .... and we should ! Mommy is getting aggravated that Layna can't and won't fall asleep on her own. It is a stand off between Mommy and Baby. Mommy allowed Layna to get spoiled and now has to live with this. She does sleep 3-4 hours at night before waking.... for a midnight bottle. Again, another mistake/bad habit Mommy got Layna back into. Maybe she is going through a growth spurt and needs the extra food during the night. Anyways, Mommy would put Layna in her crib when she was getting tired but just wanted to play on the couch with Mommy and Daddy. However, when put in the crib she screams and cries. Mommy is trying to be strong and trying let Layna go to sleep on her own, but hearing her cry for an hour straight is awful and heartbreaking. Hopefully Layna will learn that the crib means "sleepy time" and that Mommy and Daddy will not come running when she cries. She needs to learn to soothe herself asleep.

Cranky Baby and MUCH more !!

It has been a LOOOONG LOOOOONG time since anything new was said about Layna's little life.

So, Layna's top front teeth have come in and it was an awful two weeks. While the bottom two came quietly, the top ones wanted everyone to know they were coming. Layna got a temperature... a fever as high as 102.3* and could barely sleep. Mommy and Daddy were up pretty much every 1-2 hours. Layna refused to eat solids and barely had any formula. Her front teeth are so much bigger than bottom ones.

Layna is finally her happy, go-lucky self again playing and getting into everything. She is starting to cruise now, getting braver and braver. She just takes a step or two at a time, but Mommy thinks she will definitely be walking before she's one-year-old ! Oh speaking of her walking, Mommy lowered the mattress the other day - in hopes of having Layna scream and cry herself to sleep - and now Layna can be in her crib safe without Mommy and Daddy worrying she will flip over the rail.

As fun as Mommy and Daddy are to play with and climb and be silly with, Layna Bayna does like playing and exploring by herself. When upstairs, Mommy puts Layna on the floor in the living and Layna will come to the kitchen looking for Mommy ... well, she will sit in the living room for a minute and when Mommy pops around the corner, saying "Here I am ! Come find me!" Layna will crawl over to the kitchen. She is SO cute when she crawls ! and she is so happy and proud when she "finds" Mommy in the kitchen.

Daddy found a new way of "tickling" Layna. He places her belly right on top of his head and moves it fast. Layna dies laughing right away.

Mommy's new way of bonding with Layna is showering with her. As you have been told before, Layna has "outgrown" the infant tub because she tries climbing out of it and showering her is difficult, especially when she wants to play and get to everything in the shower. So, Mommy figured it would be a lot easier and less dangerous showering with her little peanut. Because Layna can sit by herself like a professional and is content with a toy, she will sit quietly on a towel (so she doesn't slip and smash her head on the shower floor) while Mommy washes her. Sometimes Layna is so good Mommy can washup with Layna in there, but usually Daddy comes and gets Layna out so Mommy can finish up. Layna is so fun in the shower because she tries to grab for the water whether it is coming out of the shower head, dripping down on Mommy or the shower wall/door, or splashing when hitting the floor.

On a side note, Layna finally got a new stroller. Not a small little umbrella stroller, but a light weight one, which is a little bigger than an umbrella stroller but a lot smaller than the Travel System stroller. Now she gets to ride around in a black Chicco LiteWay stroller. Next on the must get shopping list is a new carseat. Mommy is looking at The First Years (compass) True Fit Convertible Seat... we just got to wait and see....

The family took a little trip to Easton Beach in Newport, Rhode Island. It was a good beach day. It was hot and humid but the breeze cancelled it out. The beach wasn't crowded and the water was warm but the waves were big. Layna loved the water like always, but Mommy couldn't bring her in too far because of the waves. Mommy did dip Layna's feet... legs ... and belly in the water. Layna found the sand when we were sitting on the blanket and would pick it up and let it slip between her fingers and after a minute or two... tried to put it in her mouth. When Mommy and Layna were sitting on the wet sand, Layna did get some sand in her mouth, but Mommy was quick to get it out. The sun wasn't fully out until 1ish and then it started getting really hot. Mommy wanted to walk on the Cliffwalk and show the Layna the Newport Mansions but once the sun came out the heat was unbearable for Mommy and Daddy and we didn't need Layna to become overly hot and cranky. So, we headed home.

Mommy has gotten Layna on a schedule for the passed few days - one that works and as long as Mommy wakes up with Layna early then the schedule is set for the day. No more waking up at 9 or 10. It is time to start waking up and staying up when Layna wakes around 7-8ish. Her schedule goes something like this:

morning bottle somewhere between 4-6

wake up around 8

breakfast (fruit and baby oatmeal) around 8:30

bottle around 10:30

playtime and hanging out for a few hours

nap around 11 for an hour (she needs an hour nap sometime between 11-1)

lunch (fruit and baby oatmeal) around 1

playtime/errands/outings for a few hours

bottle around 2:30

small bottle or snack around 4

an hour or two nap between 4-6

dinner around 5:30-6

shower around 7

evening walk around 7:30

bottle before bedtime

bedtime is usually sometime between 8-9

There seems to be a lot of eating but it works for Layna. There is no need for her to be overly filled from eating solids and a bottle for the same meal, so with an hour separating the two it works. One thing Mommy and Daddy can't be strong enough for, however, is getting Layna to fall asleep on her own. She is sleeping in her crib, but can't sooth herself to sleep. If she doesn't need Daddy walking around with her, she atleast needs to be patted on the butt. We don't mind doing that because we can put her down in the crib and pat her tooshy and skip the transition from us to the crib.

hopefully, there will be a new update soon ! new photos will be added within the next week! Mommy is slacking with the blog because she is enjoying her growing baby before she isn't a baby anymore !

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.

Happy Fourth of July !

Happy Fourth of July !

Layna is celebrating her first July 4th tonight. Mommy, Daddy and Layna are going over to Daddy's friend's house for a little BBQ, fire, and to watch the fireworks across the Lees River in Fall River.

The Beach with the Girls

Layna has been so active lately ! The pack'n'play is up to keep her "under control". She climbs all over Mommy and Daddy on the couch, and when she sees something she is on the go to get it. She knows how to sit up now: the easy way - push herself up when she's on her belly, and the hard way - sit up. Yes, Baby Girl has some major ab muscles ! She is pulling herself up to a stand more frequently now, and she is starting to crawl on her hands and knees. Sometimes when she's on her hands and knees, she pushes up on her toes.

Mommy swears she knows when she's doing something she's not. She will stop doing what she's doing, look at Mommy and continue on. Also, Layna is "talking" a lot more these days. Her squeals that sound like she's about to cry are actually squeals in delight and laughter. She's a very smiley baby too...

Mommy brings Layna outside to relax and get some fresh air, and Layna just wants to pull and eat the grass. Mommy needs a big blanket to get the grass from her mouth. Layna's top teeth may be coming in because Layna is drooling everywhere and always biting everything.

Layna and Mommy went to the beach with Kim, Nina, Kait and Aislyn. It was a little breezy but besides that it was a perfect beach day. The water was perfect, and Layna dipped her toes in, which she loved. She liked the wet sand, and wanted to put it in her mouth.

napping in her Red Sox diaper bloomers

standing

always pulling herself up in her crib

toes in the ocean

looking like a boy lol