David, Lisa, Kayla & Isaac

This Thanksgiving was so much fun! We had a houseful of people, as always! My parents and grandparents and David's dad and Brian and Laura drove in on Wednesday. My MIL flew in town earlier in the week to help me get the house ready for guests (what a blessing). She deep cleaned my house and also helped take care of Kayla so I could clean up clutter and such.

It never ceases to amaze me what a group effort the Thanksgiving meal is. Granted, I make up the menu and do all of the shopping. But here is what it looked like in my house from 2:30-3 (we ate at 3): my mom fed Kayla a bottle that I had pumped, since she was hungry and cranky; I was making mashed potatos and giving directions on what food went in what bowl, etc; My grandma was making gravy; David, Brian and Laura were setting the table; My dad was carving the turkey; My MIL was helping with last minute items and staying on top of dishes; my FIL was drying those dishes and putting them away... just to name a few. I think it is so neat how people pitch in and make the whole thing happen. If I was doing that all on my own, we wouldn't have eaten until midnight andthe food would have been cold!!

In thinking about Thanksgiving and what I am thankful for, I am also constantly struck with how blessed I am. I have a loving husband, a beautiful baby girl, a roof over my head, a reliable car, good health, good health insurance, a freezer and pantry full of food, money saved in the bank, friends who are like family, family who love and support us in everything we do, and most of all a God who loves me and is always there. There are so many more things I am thankful for, but that is just to name a few. There are a few situations I have recently become aware of, and it makes me sad to think that so many people don't have any of those things. I can't imagine what it is like to not know where my next meal is going to come from. I can't imagine not having a car to go places. I can't imagine not having health insurance, and trying not to get sick or let my kid get sick because I can't afford a doctor visit. I can't imagine what it's like to have no relationship with your family, or have a husband who is abusive, or isn't interested or helpful with our child. I can't imagine the hardship that infertility can bring. I can't imagine not having the hope of heaven, and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. It often makes me worry - why is my life so good right now, and what is going to happen to rock my world. Any one of those things could be taken away from me so easily. I don't want to think about things like that, but it often crosses my mind.

On a happier note, the weekend was quite packed, but also quite relaxing. My grandmother insisted on bringing dinner for Wednesday night, so I only had to have a few things ready for that. My grandparents also wanted to take everyone out to lunch on Friday, which was a huge relief that I didn't have to cook a new meal then either! Those both made the weekend easier on me for sure! Everyone was interested in holding Kayla as often as possible, so I got a break from holding and entertaining her! In fact, I'm glad that I was able to steal her away to nurse her - I was able to get in my cuddle time with her then! It is so fun to watch other people coo over her! Granted, our families are bias, but it is fun having people constantly telling me how beautiful, charming, sweet, smart, etc she is! The last night we were all playing cards, and she was put in the middle of the card table! She was all smilies, and was rolling from side to side, charming us all! She was 3/4 of the way onto her belly, so I imagine that she will be rolling over soon! It was funny to have her "perform" for us all! I was almost in tears thinking how much she has grown up and how quickly life is passing by.

Here is a link to the rest of the pictures from the weekend!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/dtaylo04/Thanksgiving2007?authkey=vr8QWhC-uvc

Posted by Lisa at 11:52 AM | Permalink

And how cute is she in this hat?!?!

Posted by Lisa at 01:33 PM | Permalink

So tummy time is important, I get that. But when she screams and screams when you put her on her tummy, why again would I want to do that? If I have a happy baby, I don't want to make her unhappy, and then have to work to calm her down. If she is unhappy to start, why would I torture her and make her even more sad? But I realize its importance, so I have been working hard at giving her time. And look!!! She was actually enjoying it!!

Posted by Lisa at 01:25 PM | Permalink

1st Birthday Weekend

Twelfth Month

4th of July

Eleventh Month

Tenth Month

Ninth Month

Spring Break 2008

Eighth Month

Seventh Month

Sixth Month

Fifth Month

Fourth Month

Third Month

Second Month

First Month

Posted by David at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My how time flies! I can't believe she is already 3 months old! And I can't believe how much she has changed already! I have heard that babies change so much in the first year, and it is true. She came home from the hospital a helpless little fragile baby. Now I feel like she is a little person (ok, still helpless, but not as fragile!). She interacts so much with us. She smiles ALL the time, which just melts my heart. Every morning when we wake up, she sits in her bouncy seat while I shower. She is all cute, waking up and stretching (after being swaddled all night, suddenly she has hands!). When I get out of the shower and she sees me, she squeals with delight and grins at me. It is so precious. I don't ever want to forget that!

She is meeting all of the milestones for her age. She smiles, she can track objects (she tracks me like nobody's business. If someone else is holding her, she will watch me walk away, or turn her head so she can see me - so cute!), she is sticking everything in her mouth - toys, her hands (fists really, she doesn't separate her fingers much!), my hair, etc. Very cute , but probably shortly very annoying!! But for now, it's just super-cute! She will mimic us - she sticks her tongue out at us when we do so, and recently has started making raspberry noises as well. It is so fun to watch her think, and to listen to how her breathing changes when she is concentrating on something. She still hates tummy time with a passion, but she is able to lift her head at least 45 degrees. And overall she is quite strong and has very good neck control. We can hold her up in a standing position, and she can bare her weight on her legs and keep her head still for quite a long time.

As for her weight and length, I don't have another Dr apt for a month. But our friend has a digital scale, and Kayla weighed about 13 lbs. And we have a play mat that has a measure stick on it, and I've measured her to be 25 inches long on that! So she appears to be growing and thriving!

I wish I could report that she is sleeping through the nights consistently, but that would be a lie :) She still wakes up once or twice to nurse, but that is ok with me. I am getting enough sleep, so I really can't complain. And she seems to be ok with the arrangement as well.

She is having a shorter and shorter "fussy time" at night. Sometimes we don't have a fussy time at all! And then there are times when she is angry (choking on her own rage kinda angry), which breaks our hearts. But nothing a little comfort nursing can't cure.

She has an intense love of the outdoors. If she is fussy and we take her outside, she instantly calms down and starts to take things in. We often will take a walk around the block in the evenings if we notice she is starting to fuss, and that cures it! Sometimes I walk to the local grocery store in the afternoons, and she just stares at the scenery. I am hoping this love for outdoors continues, as David and I love the outdoors and want to do things together like that as a family.

A few notes for my reference:
1. Her eyes are still a slate blue color, almost blue-gray - just like her dad!
2. Her left tear duct is still plugged :(
3. She has not cried real tears this month, so maybe it was a fluke last time
4. She is cutting down on her spitting up, or maybe we are just being smarter about catching it!
5. I have seen her wiggle her left ear several times, and David has seen it too!!

As for me, the "forth trimester" has come and gone. I am at times overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a mother - of being in constant demand for my time, my attention, my milk, etc. The truth is, I really don't get much time away from her, and sometimes that is hard for me. At the same time, I love her so deeply and care about her so much that I really don't want to be away from her. I can't put into words the joy she brings to my life. There are times when tears of happiness stream down my face. She has a way of lighting up my life - her smiles and her squeals of glee absolutely overwhelm me with happiness.

When I was pregnant, I was told, "9 months to put on the weight, 9 months to take it off". Well, with the um (cough) 46 pounds I gained, I figured it would likely take the 9 months to get it off. But I told myself that I wasn't going to worry about that for at least the first 3 months. I was going to spend my time learning how to be a good mom, and not worrying about eating or exercising or dieting. And all but about 10 of those pounds have come off already! You'd think that maybe some of my pre-pregnancy pants would fit, but I assure you they don't! And sadly, those 3 months I gave myself to adjust have come and gone, and I suppose I better start to get my body back into some semblance of what it was before. I have started playing on our soccer team again, but would like to start working out at the YMCA again... it's been more than 3 months since I have stepped into those doors, and I am finding that I miss it. I'm not sure how exactly I would be able to squeeze that in, but I will try to make an effort to do so. In the mean time, I have been trying to do my Pilates tapes daily, and take brisk walks as well. Now if I could just forgo the nightly desserts, perhaps I'd see some results!! :)

Posted by Lisa at 03:31 PM | Permalink

We had professional pictures taken and they are online for your viewing pleasure! They turned out so cute, we love them!!

http://www.laurahollanderphoto.com/online%20gallery/

Choose Kayla's gallery. The password is rose.

Let us know what you think!

Posted by Lisa at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

States:
Every object in motion tends to stay in motion.

All new mother's should be alerted to the fact that once they become a mother, they are in constant motion. And that motion will not stop... ever! I think I have been perpetually rocking, or shaking my knee, or swaying since the moment Kayla was born. And not just when I'm holding her. I often find myself swaying or whatnot when other people are holding her! It is a bit ridiculous! Oh well... maybe it's helping me burn off more of the 46 pounds I gained!! LOL!

Posted by Lisa at 03:25 PM | Permalink

This past weekend Kayla and I went to MA to visit my parents! My grandparents came from NY to visit us as well and meet Kayla for the first time! We had a blast! She got to go to her first soccer game (my dad's team) and was his good luck charm (they scored almost as many goals in that one game than they did in the entire season combined, and this was a team they had lost to earlier in the year!)! My mom was able to borrow all sorts of baby toys/items, so Kayla enjoyed the new scenery, plus having a bunch of extra eyes on her giving her attention! We also got to be there when the Red Sox won the World Series (truth be told, I was fast asleep on the couch when we actually won)!

I was a bit nervous about flying with her, especially since I was doing it alone. They certainly don't make it easy to travel with a child alone either! They made me take her (sleeping) out of the car seat to put it on the security belt and break down the stroller and put that on the belt too! Plus I had to take off and put back on my shoes! Thankfully, I had my sling, so I could have her in there while I had to do all of that! I understand why they make you do it, but still! At least people (workers and other travelers) were nice and often offered to help with anything if I needed it. She slept through 2 of the 4 flights, and really didn't cry much on the other 2. She fussed a bit, but only for a minute here and there and I don't think she annoyed anyone, which is good (not that there was anything I could do if she did)!

We had a really great time, but made us realize even more what a bummer it is that we live so far from our families. It was so fun to see everyone enjoying Kayla so much, and also nice for me to get a little break!

Here are some pictures of our weekend!!

Posted by Lisa at 07:58 PM | Permalink