Myla at 6 months

I never posted this one! Never mind she'll be 7 months in a few days...

Sweet Myla,

I can't believe you've been out of my belly for half a year! Happy half birthday. You've changed so much lately and we are loving watching you grow. You get stronger every day and would rather be standing than anything else... you can get quite feisty until we pull you up to standing. You are also sitting all on your own now! Being the little curious girl you are, however, you tend to tip over when trying to explore something that's just out of arm's reach. Falling down doesn't faze you and you're always ready to try again.

We started you on some solid food this month! You had your first taste of oatmeal cereal on March 13th and you loved it! You're still trying to figure out how to taste it and swallow it without it getting out of your mouth though. You've also tried a bit of banana and avocado and liked both of those too. You make the cutest faces when you're eating and try something new! You couldn't figure out how to get the avocado off your tongue and down your throat so you just sat there with your mouth open and tongue sticking out.

You love to explore things with your hands... especially my face... especially while you are nursing. You like to try and stick your fingers in my mouth and just stare at me while you eat. It's pretty adorable.

We go to lots of activities during the week and you are getting more and more involved. We have Baby Rhyme and Playtime at the library on Tuesdays followed by lunch and institute with daddy. On Wednesdays you have swim lessons but those are going to end now that you are turning 6 months. Then on Fridays we have Music Makers at Midwestern.

You are still not sleeping through the night, but you are getting better. You consistently take 2-3 naps during the day and sleep from about 8:30 to 3ish, then you eat, and then you sleep again for a few more hours, eat again, etc...  Your daddy and I are thinking about starting some sleep training in the near future :).

We're going to New Mexico this month to visit your grandparents, auntie, and cousin - can't wait! Hopefully you're just as well behaved on the way there as you were on the way to Oklahoma :D

We love you so much, Myla girl!

picnic fiasco...

Myla and her friend, Cohen!

fresh out of the tub!

Myla at 5 months

This month FLEW by. Practically broke the sound barrier, I think.

Myla bean,

You are so much fun! This month has been a whirlwind of watching you grow, seeing you continue to develop your sweet personality, and dealing with sickness. Yep, 2 bouts of sickness in one month... It really isn't fair! You had your first cold (along with dad and me) and you took it like a champ! Last week, however, you got the flu and it wasn't pretty. You were so tired of throwing up, having a fever, diarrhea, and a yucky cough. I finally took you to the doctor and she said we just have to wait it out and make sure you are hydrated! You liked pedialyte ok - as long as it was warm. Good thing you liked it, because from personal experience I think it's disgusting! I loved the extra cuddles. One of the nights you slept in my arms all night long because you just couldn't stay asleep in your crib or in the swing. Just in your diaper because you were warm, I got to snuggle you all night long. Despite almost no sleep for me, I wouldn't trade that night away! It took you 8 days to get over it, but now you're back to yourself :)

you can just tell she feels crappy :/ So glad she's all better now!

Anyway, enough about the sickness, let's talk about the rest of the month! You are doing great at swim lessons and the teacher says you are ready to go under water! Egads! I don't want to try it until daddy is there to watch, too. Quite exciting. You are now the oldest baby in the class and the teacher likes to use you as an example for the other babies.

You love to play with toys - especially toys that light up or make music. You've started bouncing around more in your jumparoo and it is just adorable! Daddy has been able to get you to laugh a few times, but you're still working on that social skill. Lots of smiles though!

You reach out with both of your hands when you want to touch or hold something. You love touching our faces and playing with/pulling my hair. You like it when we play with your feet and sing songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" or "Pat-a-Cake." You really like to touch our clothes. You always reach for my shirts and feel them, pull on them, and try to eat them. You also like sucking/chewing on your burp cloths and blankets.

You can almost sit up by yourself and you never want to lay on your back... you always flip over to your stomach (and then get frustrated after too long). If you had it your way, you'd always be standing. You'll even take some steps if we lean you forward. I think you might skip crawling all together and go straight to walking! You can stand while holding onto something (our hands or even the couch!). When you eat you like to help by trying to hold your bottle.

Spring break was LOTS of fun - it was so great to have daddy home for an entire week! We took you on 3 hikes in the baby bjorn and you (mostly) liked those. You also had your first trip to the zoo. You didn't really know what was going on, but you were very well behaved and enjoyed being out in the sunshine! You met one of my best friends and her cute little girl, Lizzie. We're hoping your roommates in college one day like we were :).

It has been a VERY fun month! We love you Myla girl!

Love, mom

Anyone else dying of cuteness?!

Myla at 4 months

Ok, she's 4 and a half months now, but I finally finished this post... at least I did it before she turned 5 months!

Myla girl, you just keep getting sweeter and sweeter! Smiles from the minute you wake up until you're in bed for the night. More than once I've found my cheeks hurting because you make me smile so much. You bring us so much joy! A favorite new thing that you do is when you start eating and get a few swallows down, you pause, give me the biggest open-mouthed smile, and then go right back to eating. Heart melter...

Your personality is really starting to come out! You are starting to have opinions and know how to get attention. I'm pretty sure you've even 'fake cried" a few times just so we would come over and see how you were doing. You can be pretty independent, however, and can play with your toys by yourself for a little while before you start fussing for attention.

Your accomplishments this month include short little laughs, "razzing" conversations, great head control in the walker/bumbo, floating on your back at swim lessons (with mom and dad's help of course!), grabbing everything and putting it in your mouth, sleeping in your crib every night (instead of the car seat for reflux), putting all your weight on your legs with us helping you balance (you only have to hold onto our fingers), rolling over both ways, and splashing in the tub instead of just laying there, and saying GOODBYE TO REFLUX! That's right... you haven't had a reflux episode in over 2 weeks and we are thrilled!

You also smile all the time when we talk to you... and you don't just smile with your mouth - you smile with your eyes and your whole body. You get a big grin on your face, crinkle your eyes, and put your hands together by your face and... it's hard to explain. Hopefully I have a video of it somewhere :)

Your favorite toys to play with are Meg the mermaid and your pink ball. You also like your farm sing along toy and is getting some good use out of the jumper (although you haven't figured out the jumping part of the jumper yet...).

You are starting to single us out as your parents and get excited and so smiley whenever daddy comes home from school - he loves that!

You've also turned into a little human faucet. You have a constant, ample supply of saliva/spit-up coming out of your mouth. We even had to invest in some "drool bibs."

Sleeping through the night doesn't happen anymore for some reason. We usually get you to bed from around 7:30 to 8:30 and you sleep 4-5 hours and then are up every 3 after that until I get you up for the day around 7 or 8. I miss my sleep but I bet one day I'll miss the nighttime cuddles.

You survived your 4 month shots and weighed in at 13 lbs 11oz when you were 4 months + a week. 24 1/2 inches long.... and looking chunky (cute chunky, of course!) The doc said we could start you on some solids, but I think we'll wait at least one more month.

We love you Myla Bean!!

the queen of spit up....

swim lessons! 

bedtime stories with daddy

I love her expression (left)! She also got her first "scalp spa treatment" for cradle cap, and we visited dad at school a few times

She LOVES this mermaid (thanks Meg), looking at herself in the mirror

I just love this girl!

Myla at 3 months

I apologize in advance for the insane amount of pictures...

Hey baby girl!

Happy 3 months! You have changed SO much this month! Every day your dad and I say something along the lines of, "She's so much fun" or "She's changing so fast" or "She's getting so big!" Usually all three.

Some of your favorite things are watching the fan, eating your Vitamin D supplement, sucking on your binky in your swing or car seat, going on walks, "talking", smiling, sucking on your fists(!), stretching, eating (of course), burping like a sailor, exploring your toys, bath time, peek-a-boo, getting your diaper changed (ha!), and just being oh so cute.

Your favorite place in our home is your changing pad. I have no idea why, but when you are pretty fussy, I can just bring you to your changing pad, start talking to/with you or singing to you, and then you start smiling and cooing. It's pretty darn cute.

Your least favorite things are taking your reflux medicine and being strapped into your car seat

You are learning so much every single day! You can now push up on your elbows and hold your chest up during tummy time, grab your toys, reach for objects, put toys in your mouth (a little clumsily), smile all the time, do short little laughs, fall asleep by yourself for nap time, put all your weight on your legs when we balance you, hold your head steady enough to sit in your bumbo chair and walker, and you can now bring your hands together. Unfortunately, you haven't learned how to let go of your hands when you want to once you have them clasped together in front of you. I have seen you (several times) trying to get your hands apart, but you haven't figured out that you have to let go first!

Your hair still looks reddish brown and your eyes look like they are turning a little bit browner. Your thighs are as chunky as ever!

You haven't been sleeping quite as well the last few weeks - we're thinking our trip to Oklahoma for Christmas kind of threw you off for some reason because that's when the poor sleeping started! You were sleeping a good 6-8 hour stretch earlier this month, but now you're at about 4-5 hours. There is the occasional exception (like last night!) when you sleep longer. You are so good to go right back to sleep after you eat in the middle of the night. I am so grateful for that!

You reflux has improved so much! You are so much more happy and full of smiles. You still have your occasional "episode", but overall we are very happy with where you're at. You are still taking Prevacid every morning and usually a dose of Zantac at night. It is getting more and more difficult to get the medicine in your tummy, however! You are mastering spitting it out of your mouth (even after I think you've swallowed it!).

You did wonderful on our trip to Oklahoma. Seems you like airplanes! You slept like an angel both ways and everyone around us commented on how sweet and adorable you are. I had to agree, of course. You got to meet your uncle Dan and aunt Laura for the first time. You were a little out of your element on the trip and more fussy than usual, but they still loved you!

Your first Christmas was lots of fun! You had no idea what was going on, but you could feel the joy and excitement in the air. You got so many fun and thoughtful gifts. Your aunt Laura even made you an absolutely beautiful quilt. Your cousin Gage got you a toy dump truck. Grammy and Papa got you some fun toys and a family favorite book - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (parts I and II!). Dan & Laura also spoiled you with a fun toy, and aunt Jen got you the most adorable hat and mittens! Grandma Maylene and Grandpa Kim gave you a fun train set and Uncle Justin made you a noise-maker and gave you a cute stuffed monkey. Santa brought you some clothes, books, and toys. I'm sure I'm forgetting something...You were very spoiled!

We started swim lessons with you this week and you had a great time (until your mouth got some water in it...)! I am excited to take you every week and teach you how to be a water baby. We will be doing lots and lots of swimming in the summer! We are taking the lessons with your friend, Cohen, and his mom, Brittney.

We are settling into more of a routine with bedtimes and nap times. You usually have your bath around 7:30 and go to bed around 8 and then get up for the day around 8 in the morning. I am trying to get you on a better nap schedule, but for now I am just putting you down for naps when you seem tired 3 or 4 times a day. You'll usually sleep for about 30-40 minutes each time.

Myla, I love hanging out with you! I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to spend my days watching you grow, learn, and enjoy life. You are such a bright ray of sunshine in my life! I miss you when we're apart even for just a little while. We're pals!

Your daddy and I love you so much! Every day we love you more.

And the growth chart....

myla layne

Myla Layne Pearce

born 10.09.13 @ 9:28pm

6lbs 7oz, 19.5 inches long

I figure I had better write out myla's birth story before I forget any of the details! For those who want the short version:

Our baby girl was born on October 9th at 9:28pm after about 5 hours of active labor. She has all 10 fingers and all 10 toes and is as healthy as can be. 6lbs 7oz and 19.5 inches long. I am having a great recovery and Brian and I are thoroughly enjoying being parents to our sweet angel baby!

Long(er) version:

I had been trying for a week to jumpstart labor because at my last appointment I was 2.5-3 cm dilated and 85% effaced. I know that that doesn't really mean much, but I was encouraged that my body was at least making some effort to get the show on the road! So Brian and I walked and walked and walked and walked (all the while dreaming about what she would be like) and I bounced on my exercise ball whenever I got a chance. I had tons of "contractions" that lasted about a minute and were often less than 5 minutes apart... but they didn't hurt so I decided not to worry about them. Well, lo and behold they were actually getting some work done because when I went to my appointment on Wednesday morning, I was a "generous 5" and my cervix was paper thin... My doctor was surprised that I was walking around just fine. He stripped my membranes (wasn't as bad as I had heard) and then asked me if my hospital bag was in the car. I said, "Nope, but it's packed and waiting at home!" He then told me I should get to the hospital because I was considered to be in active labor at 5(+) cm and that when the contractions really kick in, this baby is going to come fast. I had decided before that I wanted an epidural and I definitely did not want to have this baby at home, in the car, at the store, etc etc. Brian and I talked about it, consulted with the doctor again, and decided that the safest move was to go into the hospital - and I am so glad we did!

I got all checked in and my contractions were getting more frequent and more painful. The doctor came in around 4:30 or 5 and broke my water... then things really picked up. The contractions started coming every 3-4 minutes and lasted 1-2 minutes each with very looong peaks. The nurses were pretty impressed by the intensity of the contractions. After laboring through the contractions for a while, I decided that it was time to get some relief... We didn't have to wait long for the anesthesiologist and I think I only had to endure about 6 more contractions before the epidural was in. They checked me and I was at a 6+. The epidural worked pretty well, but there was a spot on my left side about the size of a softball that still had all sensation - so I definitely could still tell when I was having a contraction. They adjusted the meds a little bit and it helped to dull the pain. Once I was able to relax, I started dilating faster. Unfortunately, baby girl wasn't tolerating it very well and kept having episodes of bradycardia. I was put on an oxygen mask and rolled around to different positions to see what she liked the best. She stabilized pretty well for a while with me on my right side and I loved listening to the sound of her little heart beating - I couldn't wait to meet her!

Brian got back from getting a snack and we were listening to her heart rate together when all of the sudden it shot up to 220 and then down into the 70's...60's...50's... I knew that wasn't good and tried to reposition. Then 4 nurses came running into the room and helped flip me to the left (didn't help), flip me back to the right (didn't help), put me up on my hands and knees (didn't help), and one of them gave me a shot of terbutaline in my arm to slow down the contractions. I was having contractions extremely close together and the pressure on my uterus was making it impossible for the placenta to deliver enough blood/oxygen to baby girl... thus her decreased heart rate.

I was trying to stay calm because I knew that I had to take slow, deep breaths in order to get as much oxygen to her as possible, but to be completely honest, I was totally freaking out inside! The nurses called for the doctor that was on the unit and he came rushing in as well. They checked me and I was at a 9.5/10 and it was decided that pushing would be the best idea. So, I started pushing...and the moment I started pushing, her little heart decided to start beating faster. She recovered and we all started breathing easier. The terbutaline made my contractions slow down to one every 8 minutes for a while so there was a lot of waiting in between pushing... so much waiting, in fact, that my doctor was able to show up for the delivery! He was about 40 minutes away when they called him to come in.

I pushed through about 10 contractions (they did, eventually, get closer together again) and out came our perfect baby girl! She started crying before she was even all the way out. The doctor lifted her up for me to see and she had her arms wide out like she was waiting for a hug (startle reflex, I know, but it was so cute!). She only cried for a second and then they put her up on my chest. She was so alert and had her eyes wide open, just taking everything in. We stared at each other for a while until she started getting sleepy. Brian cut the cord and then came up to meet his new daughter :). We did some skin to skin before they took her to the warmer to weigh and measure her... we all had guessed her weight (I guessed 7lbs 2 oz) and Brian guessed it right on! 6lbs 7oz and 19 1/2 inches long. It looked like she was a redhead but later it turned out that it was just all the blood in her hair that made it look that way... she's definitely a brunette. 

I am so glad we went into the hospital because who knows what would've happened if my water had broken at home and labor went that fast - I am grateful that she was on a monitor and that we knew that she was distressed. The medical team was great - they stayed calm, worked together, and did what needed to be done :)

The next two days flew by and before we knew it we were heading home with our little bundle of joy. We finally decided on a name on Friday morning. The names we were considering were Myla, Claire, Abigail (Abby), Evelyn, and Amelia. We narrowed it down to Myla and Abigail after meeting her and seeing what she was like and finally decided that Myla fit her best. So, she's our little Myla girl! A few people have asked me where we got the name and I honestly can't remember. I think it might have been from a baby name book a while back. It means "merciful." Her middle name (pronounced like "lane"), is her grandma's name (my mother).

Well, we were/are in love! She has been a great baby and eats like a champ (most of the time). She definitely has her days and nights mixed up and that has been interesting, but she's so sweet that I don't really mind being up with her at night. She loves to cuddle, likes tummy time, loves to hear her dad sing her lullabies, loves going on walks, and getting her hair washed!

Her #1 talent at 1.5 weeks: pooping right after getting her diaper changed... 

Now for some pics! Warning - some of them are a little bloody...

Leaving for the hospital

She's here! Holding her for the first time was the best feeling ever!

Getting all cleaned up...

Daddy holding her for the first time :)

First family photo

Grandma Layne came to visit and help out

Going home on Friday afternoon.

baby girl blanket & wall decorations.. and 35 week bump (sort of)

Here's another peek into the nursery - baby blanket and wall decor!

First, Brian and I (with much help from his mom) finished the baby blanket we had been planning on making! We bought the material forever ago, but hadn't gotten a chance to sit down and do it. I love how it turned out and it was really quite easy as far as sewing is concerned (and I am definitely NOT a seamstress - it stresses me out). If you want to know how to make a quilt/blanket like this, just let me know!

I really love how there is texture and the "fraying" around the edges of the squares. Our little munchkin is going to love touching it! The back is soft pink with a cute square design because we sewed around each individual square.

Hard at work! And there's your glimpse of my 35 week bump.

 And here is some of the artwork we will be decorating her walls with. I mod podged the chevron frame by just getting a cheap frame from ikea and some scrapbook paper I liked - I think it turned out pretty good! I got the prints for free from a website online and then mod podged a few of them onto an art canvas with scrapbook paper underneath or just on the sides. I can't wait to put them on the wall!

And lastly, I had been wanting to paint some pictures for her room because I like to paint! This picture does not really do them justice, but I had a really fun time with this! The leaves on the tree, flags, and hearts are actually more scrapbook paper that I mod podged... apparently mod podging was the thing to do this week... Anyway, Brian and I both really like jungle animal themes but couldn't find much as far as "girly" jungle decorations... so I made my own!

3-D ultrasound of baby girl!

Just a little slice of cuteness to brighten your day!

Too bad my placenta/her hand was in the way.

Ok, confession: I think that 3D ultrasounds are a little weird. I alternate between thinking she's super cute to thinking she looks like a creepy alien gummy bear. Right now? CUTE!

34 weeks! And... welcome to baby girl's room :)

Well hello there internet world! I apologize for being a little (or a lot) neglectful of the blog. I guess I've had some different priorities the last little while. Don't worry though, I am feeling more committed again! Especially now that I am miles and miles away from dear friends and family.

I might get teary about that sometimes. I blame it on pregnancy hormones.

Anyhoo (anywho?)...

We are finally feeling settled in! It was quite the move and I am 100% serious when I say I never want to move again until we are out of dental school. Thanks to the incredible help of my mother-in-law and brother-in-law, we were able to make it out of our old apartment on schedule and head down to the valley of death. Ok, it is not the valley of death. But when I walk outside and I immediately begin to sweat like a pig perspire, I wish I was back in good ol' Utah - or anywhere that gets below 90 degrees at night. 

Minus the heat, I really, really like it here! It is so much greener and landscaped than I was expecting! There are flowers, trees, bushes, and even grass almost everywhere you look! I have no idea how much the city shells out for water, but I imagine it is a pretty penny. 

We upgraded a bit and moved into a 2 bedroom apartment (pictures of that to come). I love that it A. has air conditioning B. has new paint/carpet C. is in the corner of the complex so we have some privacy D. It has a pool/gym/etc and E. It has air conditioning (that deserves double gratitude). It's a great place to live and only 2.5 miles from campus so Brian can bike there in less than 20 minutes. 

Oh yeah, and we have palm trees. I'm a sucker for palm trees!

Now, call me crazy, but I really think that Glendale feels a bit like southern California. Not the weather, but the landscaping, houses, etc. If I pretend that the ocean isn't far, sometimes I can fool myself.

While Brian is away for pretty much the entire day, I am trying to make some new friends before I am chained to the apartment with an infant. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited for her to make her debut, but I am realistic enough to know that new moms do not socialize too much. Too busy trying to keep a wee one fed and happy! That said, I've met some really great people already and am excited to meet more!

All right, enough updating. On to the pictures!

34 weeks - taken this morning after swimming. Along with what I see when I look down!

Side note: I was swimming at a new friend's house this morning and I asked one of the little girls if she knew what my name was. She said, "Oh yeah! Your name is 'Belly'!" Haha :)

And... introducing the "project." I won't go into detail about why it has been such a project, let's just say there were some setbacks. But, the room is well on its way to completion!

We painted the walls (gray... or actually "timberwolf" or something like that), put up molding around the ceiling (thanks to our tape job not working as well as hoped), painted the molding, put together the crib and cube shelf, put up curtains, made tissue paper pom poms, found a rug & other decoration, etc.

What's left to do:

Find a reasonably priced rocking chair/recliner

Paint the bookshelves white and hang them

Decide if we need a dresser/buy a dresser if we do

Hang all the artwork we have for the walls

Decide if we want (mesh) crib bumpers or a crib skirt or a mobile

Probably more.

It's been a lot of fun. Now I like to sit in there and just think about a little baby being in there.

It's crazy!

I can't believe I'm going to be a mom! And SOON! 

Time to pack the hospital bag...