Week 8

It's been a busy week! Last weekend was Lyla's first trip out of town! We went to Buffalo and Lyla visited lots of people. Saturday was Sophie's first birthday party. Unfortunately the rain kept us inside but I don't think Lyla cared. We had a great time and Sophie got a TON of gifts. Sunday was Father's Day--I think Mike enjoyed his new gift-receiving occasion! He got several books (Including the "Idiot's Guide to Raising Girls" and "Pacify Me"), a mug with photos of Lyla in her Man City jersey, a photo key ring and more! Later in the afternoon my grandma came to visit Lyla, and so did my Aunt Audrey and Uncle Mort, as well as cousins Alan and Nike. Lyla was a big hit as always! Monday we went for Lunch with grandma and Lyla slept the entire time--she's very good at sleeping through meals in restaurants, but not at home! Monday night we picked up Mike's sister Amy and her fiance Simon from the airport. They got in really late so we basically went straight to bed after they arrived! We hadn't seen them since last summer so it's nice to get a visit from them. They were the first of the Ellicotts to meet Lyla! They'll be here for two weeks visiting. Tuesday we had a great day at Niagara Falls and got some great photos. Mike, Amy and Simon went on Maid of the Mist and Lyla and I played in the park. We had a nice picnic lunch on Goat Island, then drove home to Erie. This sounds like a simple drive, however, it was like a clown car (you know when they squeeze 20 clowns into a tiny car?) We had four adults, two dogs, one baby, and a partridge in a pear tree, all crammed into my tiny corolla, plus four suitcases, two duffel bags and the dog's crates! (thank goodness for the roof rack!) Thursday we went to Preque Isle and took a nice walk in the park. Today Mike, Amy and Simon went to Cedar Point and Lyla and I stayed home to enjoy some time together before I start rotations again on Monday. Uuuuggghhhh. I'm really not looking forward to going back (although Lyla did have a rather fussy and sleepless afternoon today which made going back seem a little less sad!...maybe that was a good thing).

So what's new in Lyla's world this week? She's smiling a whole lot more. Her most smiley times are in the morning, but now occur through out the day as well. She'll smile for 10-20 minutes straight, it's really adorable. She's cooing too which is also incredibly cute. She makes lots of funny faces including cute little frowns, and has been drooling a lot too. Her little chicken legs are starting to get some rolls and she's outgrown the newborn diapers. She's lifting her chest off the ground when we put her on her tummy. She's getting the hang of pacifiers. She really studies faces and is even more aware of her surroundings. She's really showing her personality. She can be like Jekyl and Hyde--sweet and adorable one minute then full blown tantrums the next! I think she's got more of her mother's stubborn and demanding personality as opposed to her father's laid-back attitude! Her sleeping schedule is still fairly good at night (although with the heat we've had the past few days she hasn't slept quite as well) but her napping schedule is erratic. Some days she'll take a three hour nap (usually in her car seat if we're out and about), and other days she'll fight the fatigue all day, take a couple 10 minute cat naps, then be crabby. I've tried putting her in her crib for naps, as I think this is the best place for her to sleep, and she should get into a bit of a routine. but she seems to prefer her swing or being held (and I'm such a softy I just give into it because I know in a few days I won't have as much time with her). Monday Lyla will be going to soccer practice with Mike but Amy and Simon will be there to look after her. I'm just enjoying my last few days of vacation before reality kicks in on Monday!

Visitors Galore!

Last weekend we had a full house! Lyla had lots of visitors come meet her. On Saturday my best college friends Shannon and Diana, along with Diana's 9-month-old son Payton, made the long drive from Virginia to come visit us! It was so nice to see them--it had been two years since I had seen them and it was the first time I had met Payton. We had tons of fun! On Sunday my two best high school friends Kathleen and Rachael, and Rachael's 12-month-old daughter Sophie came from Buffalo to visit for the day so it was a full house! (Poor Mike--he was smart and just stayed out of our way!) It was great to have everyone together. Everyone loved meeting Lyla and I think the babies enjoyed playing together :) On Monday Diana, Shannon and I drove to Grove City outlet mall with the babies and did some shopping. I wasn't supposed to buy anything but somehow Lyla came home with a bunch of new outfits for the winter and next summer--not sure how she managed to get my wallet without me noticing :) The kiddos were great in the car. It was Lyla's first major all-day outing so the diaper bag was full to the brim! Tuesday we went to Presque Isle State Park and took a nice walk along the bay. The weather was great. Payton managed to lose his hat three times during our walk, plus a sandal, but thankfully there are lots of really nice bicyclists at the park and each time someone found it and brought it back to us! It was a really nice visit--next time Mike, Lyla and I will have to make the drive down to Virginia. Here's some great photos from this week's visit:

Lyla

Payton

Sophie

Shannon & Lyla

Me, Kath & Lyla

Rach & Sophie

Shannon & Payton

Sophie, Lyla, Baby B. & Payton (Kathleen is only in the photo because we couldn't think of another way to get her baby in the photo without her!)

Diana, Payton, Shannon, Emilie, Lyla, Sophie, Rachael & Kathleen

Lyla & Payton sleeping---soooooo cute!

Six Week Milestones

Tomorrow Lyla will be six weeks old and has recently achieved two huge milestiones: social smiling and sleeping through the night---hoooray!!! Her smiles are mostly in the morning after she wakes up and eats, but I'm convinced they're intentional and she'll smile for a good 10-15 minutes while I make ridiculous noises and faces at her. The past three-four nights she's slept at least six hours in a row, last night she slept from 11:30-7am, ate, then slept until about 10am! Mike is jealous since she's getting more sleep than him! We took a trip to visit Mike's school on Monday to see the kids' end-of-the-year festivities and games. Lyla seemed to not notice the loud noise in the gym and slept through most of it! We went out to dinner last night and she slept right through that as well! This weekend I'm looking forward to a fun visit from my best college friends--Shannon and Diana, who is also bringing her 9 month old son Payton--visiting all the way from Virginia. My best high school friends Kathleen and Rachael, who is bringing her 12 month old daughter Sophie will be joining us for the day on Sunday so it will be a big girls' celebration/ reunion. I can't wait--it should be a lot of fun!

Here's a video of Lyla waking up. She always sleeps in a swaddle sac (I call it her Houdini bag because it reminds me of a straight jacket!) and as soon as I take it off in the morning she does the cutest stretches, as if to say "I'm free!"

I couldn't get the video to load on the blog so here's the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lylaellicott/3619591631/


Here's the link for a video of Lyla doing her morning smile routine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lylaellicott/3619591631/

(please ignore my ridiculous mommy voice!)

Five Weeks Old!

Lyla is growing like a weed! She had her one month doctor's appointment and weighed in at 8lbs 10oz (30th percentile) and measured 20 3/4 inches (also 30th percentile). Babies are supposed to gain roughly half a pound a week for the first couple months and she's right on track gaining 1lb 6oz in three weeks. I'm glad she's a little on the smaller side because she has a ton of 3 month size summer clothes that she has to fit into this summer! Her pediatrician was very happy with her progress and how she is doing so that's always good to hear. She got her hepatitis B shot and I'm not sure who it was worse for--her or me. Luckily only one of us was crying (I'll let you guess who!) She's been improving on her already good sleep habits--the past three nights she slept six hours, ate, then slept another 4 hours! Last night she slep from 11pm-10am and only got up once during that time to eat. Mike had a work party at our house on Friday and all his co-workers enjoyed passing Lyla around (she seemed to enjoy it too!) Yesterday we had a nice visit from my parents and grandmother who got to meet Lyla for the first time. We went out for dinner and Lyla slept through the entire meal as we were hoping. Today we went for a stroll at Presque Isle park even though it was a bit overcast. Hopefully the weather will improve soon and we can spend more time outside. She's been evn more attentive this week and seems to really be paying more attention to her surroundings. A couple times I think she might have actually smiled on purpose but I can't be sure. I'm hoping she starts smiling more in the next couple weeks. I have three weeks left until I go back on rotations. I'm really going to miss spending this time with her but I hope I enjoy getting back into the swing of things. Here's some photos from the past week.