Guest Speakers

Today Layla and I made a trip to a high school in my hometown to be guest speakers (yes, Layla did some chattering too!) in a parenting class. I quickly found out high school students are different yet similar from kindergartners. You ask for questions in a high school classroom, the room goes silent. You ask for questions in a kindergarten classroom, the room becomes alive with wiggly bodies and arms eager to shout out stories and connections...but not really questions either :-) Anyway, Layla and I had a nice time and we are enjoying all of these new experiences together. I believe the plan is to go back in about six weeks to show the students Layla's growth and to share more about pregnancy.

We of course had to head upstairs to visit Grandma Sloan. Layla got quite the kick out of Grandma talking to her students...some very loud laughs!!!

The Basement

We (I can say we because I am involved in the tile/carpet/furniture choices!) are making progress in the basement. Ryan has been hard at work prepping the ground for the ceramic tile to go in around the bar and in the bathroom. Our wonderful friend Kris (we know you read this!) is in the process of tiling these areas for us while Ryan assists with cutting, carrying, etc.

Below are pictures after the first day of tiling, before the grout goes in. The first picture is of the basement bathroom...new paint and ground pieces (molding? I can't think of the word right now) will go up after the floors are finished. The second picture is the tiling around the bar.

The furniture is ordered and being delivered this week. We decided to cut down on the amount of furniture in the basement and we went for comfortable, practical, and baby safe items. I will post pictures when everything is back in order. The pieces that came out okay from the water were/are being sold on Craig's List. A couch and a loveseat sold, one bed couch to go!

The carpet is coming in this week also. Ryan and I opted to re-carpet the family room area (we thought about tiling the entire basement) so that Layla has a place to crawl, pull up, fall down, and walk on. Our entire upstairs, except for our bedroom, is hardwood floors. The basement family room was quickly becoming the place to hang out already because of the carpet. We cannot wait to have this area back to enjoy!

And below is a picture of an exhausted Ryan and Howie (These past few days, Howie has spent a lot of time fretting that he is not allowed to be part of the action in the basement). Layla was wide awake in between the two and I thought they were a pretty funny trio. Hopefully the boys will get more sleep soon.

Layla and Friends

Howie and Layla- Look at Layla's right arm! No, I promise I did not pose these two. Howie cuddled right up to Layla.

Layla and Brayden. Brayden is our friends April (providing back support for Layla in this picture) and Ryan's son. They also have a two year old, McKenzie. Brayden and Layla had a nice little chat :-)

Layla thought Brayden was pretty funny :-)

Layla and her new "Layla-sized" lovie. We found the perfect lovie...in Layla's toy box :-) It was part of a gift from my kindergartners last year.
Okay...so I know there is no friend in this picture, but I just love babies in pajamas so I thought I'd share this picture of Ms. Layla with all of you.

Janisch Week in Review

Let's see...what have we been up to?

YMCA Update-- The Y unfortunately did not work out for us. When Layla was sleeping, it was perfect. When she was up...not so much! I could not give Layla the amount of attention I would have liked, and I struggled to find a balance between the room full of kids (A LOT of kids) and my own baby. I may only have one short year at home with Layla and I want to make it as positive and guilt-free as possible :-) The Y was very understanding of my decision to leave, and even offered to keep me on call so I could keep my Y pass. How nice was that? I did decline, but appreciated the offer. I am currently fulfilling the rest of my schedule (finding a babysitter for Layla while I work my couple hours a week) and I have my last day this week. I may be on to a new business venture...I will let you know as it develops!

Ryan and I took Layla for her 3 month pictures this week. After her 10 day old pictures went so well, I was so excited about these pictures...I studied poses online, searched our town up and down for cute outfits, and was even pulling props from her nursery. Well, Layla cried almost the entire time. She is normally a very happy baby, but didn't have her afternoon nap that day and it was scheduled the hour before her bedtime (I know! I definitely learned my lesson!!!) Anyway, the photographer was very patient and kept shooting the entire time. I have no idea how it was possible, but the photographer actually got quite a few good shots. Below are her outfits for the photo shoot.

Happy and drooling in purple.

This ensemble below never made it on during the photo shoot...she was too upset

Her teacher outfit! Sorry for my face...Layla likes the sound I make when I do that.

With the basement craziness, Ryan didn't get too much sleep this week. He and Layla enjoyed sleeping in at Grandma and Grandpa Sloan's house this weekend.Ryan, Layla, Howie and I finished the last weekend of summer with a walk. Layla loves sitting in the stroller like a big girl. She likes looking around and talks and kicks the whole way. Here is a picture of Ms. Layla Bugs with her new crinkly toy and a belly full of milk!

Have a good week!

Chatter, Cousins, and Water!

Layla has been "talking" more and more lately. She likes to coo and smile, and sometimes the coos turn into a very persistent chatter...some may call it borderline yelling :-) Whatever it is, we love to have conversations with Layla and below is some chatter from last night. (Sorry, I do not know how to shorten the video...I know not a whole lot goes on for the last few seconds- Does anyone know how to shorten videos?).




We had another visit with Layla's cousins (the twins with the same birth date) last week. All three girls continue to grow and are continuing with good health. It is very fun to get the babies together.

Left to right: Alexis (Lexie), Layla, and Elizabeth (Lizzie)

Trying to sit up together...

Lexie needs some space :-)

Layla and Lizzie take a snooze

Hope everyone is doing okay with their basements. We took in water this past weekend with all of the rain, rain, rain. I know many people took in much more water than us, and we hope you are getting things back in order. We are slowly getting there. The floor is continuing to dry, but the smell continues to get worse- Ech! We have decided we definitely need new flooring so Ryan is pulling out the carpet and pad (probably the smelly culprit) tonight.

Below is a picture of Blue- He was very anxious to show off the water-logged basement to us...

Layla Phelps?

Layla and I started swim class together today. I couldn't really tell if she loved it. She was not crying, but not really smiling either. She did seem to enjoy the sprinkler and the reflection from the water. Layla's doctor recommended that we try the swim class- I think it was nice way of saying Ms. Layla Bugs needs more physical activity to strengthen up :-)

Layla headed to the gym for her workout :-) Okay...maybe we took a few pictures the other night so we had some pictures of Layla in her suit!

Layla is feeling good in her swimsuit. Thank you Nicole and Kris for the adorable suit!

Doctor Day

Today was a big doctor day for Layla. This morning Layla had to get the second round of her two month shots. With the doctor's guidance, we decided to split up this first round of shots. She received two shots at her two month appointment and two more today at her three month appointment. Layla was still on the lower end for weight at the two month appointment so four shots was a lot going into her little body. Today she weighed in at 12 1/2 pounds. She continues to steadily gain weight and she looks like a very healthy three month old :-) Did you see her belly in the three month post? Too cute!

Later in the afternoon Layla and I visited Dr. Witte (due with her first baby any day now!) who took very good care of both of us throughout the pregnancy. I did not get to see her for my six week appointment because another doctor ended up delivering Layla so I saw him for my follow-up. Anyway, it was great to see Dr. Witte and thank her for everything she did during our pregnancy. Ryan and I are so grateful that she caught Layla's growth restriction early on and that she made sure I was closely monitored throughout my third trimester. We don't even like to think about what would have happened if the growth restriction was never caught and Layla was allowed to go full term.

Layla and Dr. Witte

I was thinking that I kept all of you up-to-date on the last trimester so carefully and then I never revealed what had caused all of the trouble. So I will inform you now :-) As the doctors had guessed, the placenta was indeed the problem. They sent it into the lab for testing and about a week later we found out the culprit was a small placenta. The small size was restricting Layla's growth and did not allow her to be nourished and grow like a typical baby would be able to do with a typical sized placenta.

As you know Layla is healthy and doing great now, but we are still seeing some slight side effects from the growth restriction in combination with her being three weeks early. She has not met most of the "By Month 3" milestones, but she does continue to make solid progress and we are perfectly happy with whatever rate she develops. It makes the milestones that much more exciting!

Now some pictures of our sweet, growing girl-














Hanging in her Bumbo









Playing with Dad





















Layla and her momma (I know I have some crazy hair going!)




Now you are all caught up...have a good one :-)

3 Months Young!

Layla is now three months old! This past month we have been entertained by smiles, coos, giggles and lots of kicks. She is becoming more interactive with each day that passes. Layla now likes to spit out her pacifier and stick her hand, or most recently just two fingers in her mouth. She is still in 0-3 clothes, but is growing, growing, growing. I have a pretty good guess for height/weight, but we go to the doctor this week and I will post updates then. Layla is still sleeping in her swing, but is continuing to sleep well in it. She gets up at about 5:45 every morning to eat and then likes to stay up for a little while and have her morning chat/giggle-fest with the ceiling fan. We believe the ceiling fan is in a stiff competition for Layla's favorite "toy"-- right up there with her Farm Animal Kickboard.

The first three months have FLOWN by...we feel like it was yesterday that we brought Layla home from the hospital. When shopping for baby clothes, (which has definitely become more fun for me than shopping for my clothes) I look at the preemie clothes and I cannot believe she was ever that tiny. Ryan and I watched a video from "Layla's first bottle feeding" the other night and the bottle was bigger than her head! Those videos are so fun to watch even now.

Have a great week!

Working Women

Our first day of work at the Y went well today. It was an early jump this morning and Layla slept the entire time we were working. The kids were busy, busy, busy in the daycare and I am quickly learning all about 1, 2, and 3 year olds. I found myself gravitating towards the few babies and 4's in the room, but it will be fun to learn about these other stages that Layla will soon be experiencing.

I was ready to play with Layla when we got home, so I got her all ready to play...complete with foot rattles, wrist rattles, and kick and play mat.

Below is what she looked like about four minutes into our play session. We are not used to getting up early...good thing we had the afternoon off :-)