What's Up Dude!

i love this face.

Sad Mom

I am feeling a bit dispensable lately....
Why must my little baby have the desire to be so independent?

She is getting really good at falling asleep on her own.

So good, that I think she is beginning to prefer it.

During the evenings she no longer requires a bottle or being rocked before bed.

I simply lay her into the crib, give her a kiss, turn on the ocean sounds,

she talks to herself for a few minutes, and then falls sound asleep.

While this does make things easier on me,
 it makes my heart ache just a little.

Allow me to share another example where Miss Lyla proved her point even further....

I happily accept help during the work week from anyone who offers,

but I continue to take her to work with me most days and
I'm still struggling to find a consistent routine with her.

She seriously needs to improve her work ethic.
She enjoys checking things out around the office.
She enjoys being a distraction.
She enjoys being held.
She enjoys action.

This is great and fun, but at the end of the day
 I'm just not satisfied with the work I'm able to accomplish.
I am, however, getting really good at typing with one hand.

Anyways, back to my original point!
Lyla is turning into a self-soother.

I was desperately trying to put her down for a nap at work and nothing was working.

So, I figured I would try the same method that we've been doing at home.

I found a nice nature station on Pandora, 
laid her in the crib in her "office", and shut the door.
Just like at home, five minutes max and she was lights out.

Clearly, my soothing skills were irritating her and she just wanted some alone time.
SAD MOM.

Blissful

As I prepare for another work week, I realize I'm not ready yet.

I need just a few more days of doing nothing.

I need one more weekend of spending quality time with my baby.

I need more of that genuine, uninterrupted, bonding time.

Her days as a baby are limited & play time is critical.

In my picture perfect world new mommies would be

temporarily excused from their financial responsibilities to

ensure they were spending adequate time with their new babes. 

....society really took a wrong turn on that one.

sigh.sigh.sigh

no more complaining!

I am grateful that I am allowed to bring Lyla to work with me, 
even if it isn't exclusive playtime.

I am grateful that Kirk and I are able to independently provide for our baby.

I am grateful for the free time I am able to spend with Lyla.

I am grateful for my amazing support system. 

I continue to remind myself that the circumstances

 of others aren't always as wonderful...

Lyla is so loved and so blessed.

Our weekend in pictures...

 

Lyla was supposed to help me fold her laundry,

but she decided to zonk out instead.

 "ummm, guys, I really want that orange juice."

 Lyla holding her own bottle...like a boss.

 watching basketball with dad...
must have been an intense game.

taking a snooze on a Sunday afternoon.

And this picture is from awhile ago,

but I just stumbled upon it and 

I absolutely love it.

A Little Food for Thought

I've decided...
Lyla saves her monster poops for her brand new clothes.

She didn't even make it until 9:00 a.m. before she destroyed her entire outfit.

You might say it's just a coincidence, but I know she

does this on purpose cause she always giggles when it happens!
*
I am in need of a third arm.

Seriously, I'm considering getting the operation.
*
Lyla is an impatient person.

She knows what she wants and she wants it now.

Poor girl definitely got that trait from me.
*
Housework is no longer my top priority.

I didn't believe people when they said this would happen.

But sadly, I will admit, this is now true.
*

Unlike some babies, who are content with their lack of independence,

 Lyla seems very frustrated by her limitations as a baby.

She knows she is capable of so much more and

 she just can't wait until she can get a move on. literally.
*
And lastly, I suspect that Lyla might be bullimic.

Just kidding.

She is a champion spitter-upper though.

This is the girl's new toy.

She loves it.

All By Myself

This morning Lyla wanted to show me something....

YUP.

She's rolled over, all by herself!

She has been rolling onto her side for quite some time now,

but hadn't quite mastered rolling onto her belly because

 she couldn't figure out how to pull her arm out from under her.

But this morning, she finally got it.

As you can see, I had a blanket laid out for her

to hang out on while I finished getting ready.

She squirmed, wiggled, and eventually made it 

almost all the way to the tile in my bathroom.

She was as proud of herself as I was!

Hoppy Easter

The reality is that a three month old baby just isn't old enough for Easter.

However, everyone (including myself) seems to think differently!

Despite her age, I think she had a very fun & relaxing weekend.
It's so crazy to imagine how much bigger she will be for her second Easter.

She colored eggs. 

Okay, no she didn't...but she watched me color eggs!

Zonked out in dad's arms...

She was exhausted after her big Easter egg hunt 

at grandma & grandpa's house on Saturday.

"mmmm, just chowin' down on my fingers again..."

After helping Lyla find all her Easter eggs, 

grandpa also helped her eat her very first piece of Easter candy.

Umm, I think it's safe to say she loves chocolate.

I also think it's safe to say she loves her grandpa!

I had to capture this very naughty behavior on camera.

And finally, Sunday! 

I planned to spend my afternoon cleaning the house, 

but instead it was spent relaxing with my little Lyla.

After enjoying our Easter brunch, we came home and took a  

three hour long nap together on the couch.

She usually won't take naps for that long, so it was awesome!

She soiled three different outfits today....
so, we will call this her "napping outfit"

And I had to sneak in a picture of that cute little mouse bum.

3 Months Old

7,889,231 seconds. 

131,487 minutes.

2,191 hours.

12 weeks.

90 days. 

3 months.

whichever way you look at it, 

the fact is that Lyla is no longer a newborn.

She is alert. She is aware. She is a baby.

 Her little personality is growing with each day,

and I can't even begin to explain how adorable she is.

the skills & life experience of a 3 month old:

1. she can smile. i love that big, goofy toothless grin.

2. she can grasp her own bottle. (not hold, just grasp. it still falls over)

3. she babbles & squeals. she has lots to talk about.

4. she can roll onto her side.

5. she can splash in the bath. a lot.

6. she is beginning to recognize faces. 

7. she will mimic facial expressions. 

8. she has visited three different states.

9. she has pet a kitty & a doggie.

10. she has put some mileage on her stroller.

11. she has discovered she has hands & loves to put them inside her mouth.

12. she has played in the grass & was very fascinated by it.

13. she sleeps in her own room, waking up for only one feeding during the night.

14. she likes to pull her mom's hair.

15. she likes ice. she also likes chocolate. (oops)

oh yes, and she knows how to get exactly what she wants. 

And if you don't do what the boss wants, she will cry....
it is very pitiful, yet oh so cute. :)

sooo much excitement in three months!

what's to come in the next three?

hmmm....
wasn't I just complaining about being pregnant?

 

Birthday Bash for Momma

Lyla's first big adventure outside of the

great state of potatoes was to Salt Lake City.

 (she has traveled to Wyoming...but that was only for one day, so we will pretend this is her first venture.)

The inspiration for this weekend getaway was the birthday of yours truly.

Just as with road trips from my childhood,
 I sat in the back seat, looking out the window, daydreaming, 

with the occasional, "mom, are we there yet?"

 Except this time, for the first time, I was with my baby girl and my love.

Thinking to myself, this is the good life.

Our weekend consisted of the following:

 

"the whole entire bed just for me? aww guys, you shouldn't have!"

 LOTS of cuddling.

 The girl showing off how strong she is....

Being silly with her dad...

 

Shopping at the new City Creek....

(she really did enjoy it!)

 

 

It was very much past her bedtime, but the little girl powered through it.

She's a trooper party-animal.

"mmmm, my finger tastes sooo good!"

and finally, the ride home....

"please mom, nooo more reeses"

(kidding. this picture was set up for comedic purposes only. 

the baby did not eat any chocolate during this trip.)

Overall, a very very fun birthday!

SLC is close enough to home,

yet has better shopping and nicer weather.

Also, Lyla did very well during the car rides...

slept the entire time.

I always thought 23 was a grown up.

sooo I guess I'm grown up?

No. No. I'm just better than ever at being a kid.

Oh yes, and I made a kid of my own. 

It still boggles my mind that I am a mother.

me! a mom! wow!