Happy Easter !

This past Sunday was Easter, and Auntie Rose and Cousin Connor came up to visit for the weekend. Mommy and Layna stayed at the hotel with them to keep them company. Saturday morning, Auntie Rose, Connor, Mommy and Layna went swimming. Layna loved the pool ! She would sit on the edge and kick her feet in the water. Mommy would hold Layna on her belly and say "kick" and Layna would kick her legs like a frog. Also, Layna blew bubbles in the water really well too !

So, Sunday was Easter. The Easter Bunny visited and left baskets for Layna and Connor. Layna got a Disney Princesses basket and other presents... the Easter Bunny had to make up for Christmas. Layna also did VERY well for her first Easter Egg Hunt. After finding a few eggs with Mommy, she quickly caught on and found the rest herself !

Daddy got Layna her first basketball hoop and (bubble) lawn mower for Easter !

The other day Layna got a VCUG test done, which is a test that they insert dye into her bladder to see if she has reflux or not, and she doesn't. This should be the last thing ever for her kidney. Layna didn't appreciate being held down at all for the to clean her and insert the catheter. She was screaming and crying, and pee went flying right into the doctor's face ! (like a boy !!) Mommy was in shock and apologized right  away and laughed silently with Daddy. The doctor didn't appreciate it, but realized she's just a baby...

Today Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux had a yard sale. It was a cool day, but a good handful of people showed up. Not much of Layna's baby clothes and stuff got sold, but some other stuff of Mommy's and Daddy's did. Grandpa Robidoux made some money too.

Layna's Easter Basket 

drinking Mommy's strawberry smoothie.
once she has one sip, there was no getting it back !

first eggs she spotted by herself !

someone lost some eggs....

Mommy & Layna

Shooting hoops !

trying out her bubble lawn mower

                                   like mommy, like daughter

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.

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

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

Recovering SO Good !

Layna is recovering wonderfully and quickly from her surgery ! She has been a little fussy up to Wednesday. The incision healed perfect and the little whole where the urine drains out, isn't has big as the doctor said; It is more of a half-inch opening at the end of the incision. Mommy and Daddy are now trying to figure out a way to keep the urine in the diaper. It isn't low enough to go directly into her diaper even though it gets covered by it, the urine still leaks out the side if the diaper isn't on perfectly. The other day Mommy put a maxi pad around Layna's right side under the diaper and it collected all the urine from the hole. Mommy thinks that is what they are going to have to do. 

Yesterday Layna had a little photo shoot with one of Mommy's friends (Jackie) who does photography. They are Layna's Easter and 3 month-old photos. Mommy will be getting them in a few days and can't wait to share ! 

Also, Mommy thinks Layna is teething. She is nawing on everything, not sucking... gets suddenly fussy... puts her hand to her ear ... and drools .. a lot.... and sometimes she doesn't want to eat even though she hasn't eaten for awhile. Some babies start teething early and some late, and well, Layna must be an early teether. Time to get some teething rings. Mommy tried giving Layna a cold, damp wash cloth which she seemed to like. 

Baby Girl is now 15 pounds and is fitting into 3-6 month clothing and by the time summer comes she will probably be in 9 month clothing. Boy, is she growing ! 

Daddy, Mommy, and Baby are going to visit Grandma and Grandpa Robidoux for Easter weekend. Aunt Rose, cousin Connor and Slavka (great aunt) are coming to visit for the weekend, too.

Mommy and Layna Bayna lounging and playing

she didn't tell Mommy we were doing *kissy face*

Layna's Surgery

Layna Bayna had her surgery yesterday afternoon (Friday March 26). It went very well. They took her "away" from us around 2 but didn't start until 3 and came out around 4 30. She was a little sleepy baby when we saw her in the recovery room. After an hour in the recovery, we headed up to her room. She ate 8-10 ounces of Pedialyte and finally fell asleep. A little later she had some formula finally. 

Layna was a trooper. She only fussed a tiny bit. During the night after the surgery Layna got pain medicine and when the morning came, she just got Infant Tylonel and did great on that. It seems like it doesn't even phase her. Throughout the day she was smiling and awake. Layna's incision it below her "bikini" line and the whole where the urine leaks out (where the ureter was implanted to the skin) is at the end of the incision. Hopefully she will heal quickly and be pain-free in a few days. 

Layna's baby hospital gown

fell asleep while the doctor was finishing up with another surgery

after the surgery ... sleepy baby

Daddy comforting his Baby Girl

recovering

Mommy had to hold her Baby

(the balloon is from the balloon lady at the hospital)

the next day - doesn't even phase her

playing the balloon game while waiting to go home

(tie it to her ankle and she watches it bounce every where)