The Big 2 Month Old

So, Miss Lyla is now 2 months old!  She is a doll and I am smitten with her :)

I am loving her at this stage!  She is still so tiny and sweet but so interactive now.  The whole world around her is so new and she is constantly trying to take things in.  She is pretty fascinated by that big brother of hers right now and will smile at him.  It's too cute!

I mentioned in a post awhile back that I have had to cut dairy from my diet.  And, thankfully, we saw immediate results.  She went from having 2-3 large spit ups after each feeding, to having maybe a small one, if any.  And she went from being uncomfortable and discontent to being content and happy.  I mean, she is now the type of baby that I can lay on the playmat or bouncy seat and she will stay content for awhile.  I am loving her sweet personality that has shown itself after this dairy change. 

She had her two month appointment the other day and here are her stats:

Height: 22 3/4 in (65%)
Weight: 11 lb (75%)
Head: 15 in (25%)-- a small head!

I am happy she is a healthy, growing girl.  I feel like she had a big growth spurt once she stopped spitting up so much.  She wears 0-3 month clothes right now and size 1 diapers.  She eats about every 2.5 hrs during the day.  And, unfortunately, she still eats about 3 times every night!  We are about to try to work on that.

She enjoys being outside, which is good, because we are outside every day!  She does pretty well on outings.  She is pretty smiley.  Even the doctor mentioned, "I don't usually get this many smiles!"  Of course, that was before the shots.  She currently takes 2 one-hour naps during the morning and one shorter nap in the afternoon.  She can still nap when we are out and about and I am glad for that. Oh, and she rolled over yesterday!  But she has yet to do it again, so I'm not sure if it was on purpose or not.. lol!

In a little over a week, Lyla is going on her first "girls' weekend" with my mom, sisters, cousin and I.  Her cousins Elise and Callie are probably going too.  We are going to Daytona Beach and I intend to get a massage at the spa in our resort :) I am very much excited about this trip!

I feel like we are past the hardest part.  The first 5-6 weeks were pretty hard with two little ones.  It feels normal now and I am enjoying our two blessings.  I feel joy and blessed each day.  I look forward to watching Lyla continue to grow and learn.  She is a joy.

Enjoying the weather!

Resting :)

Meeting her aunties!

 Mother's Day

Playing with cousin Callie

Enjoying uncle Asher

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Branson

This past weekend we made a little trip to Branson.  We stayed at a hotel, which Emerson LOVED.  There was a mini fridge in the room and Emerson kept going up to it and saying "my very own!".  He said the same thing about the TV.  Hotels are so exciting for kids :)  The next day we went to Silver Dollar City.  Emerson was super excited about that too. 

Enjoying the hotel :)

Look at that face!

Emerson loved the rides so much that he would bawl when he had to get off.  And Caleb insisted on taking him on that ride (which he was barely tall enough to ride) that has swings that go very high and spin around in a big circle.  I just knew he would cry and hate it.  When he rode it, his face looked a little serious and I'm not sure he breathed the whole time.  But, apparently, he LOVED it!  And he cried once again when it was time to get off.  I guess dad has a future roller coaster buddy!  We are hoping to spend a whole weekend there soon, so we have time to swim at the hotel pool :) 

* And Lyla was actually there on our trip.  I just didn't get any pictures because she slept the whole time, which made for an easy trip!

Four Years

Friends, today marks four years of marriage for Mr. Caleb and I.  I feel like we have a lot to show for it, considering we have two kids and all :) 

Caleb, I love how the longer we are married, the more "seasoned" it feels.  We just go together.  You know me so well.  You help meet my needs and care for me and lead me and I am so thankful that God brought us together.  You are an amazing, loving husband and an incredible, involved dad.  I can't imagine my life any other way.  Thank you for being who you are.  I love you! xoxox

Date Knight

Last week, Chick-fil-A had a Mother Son Date Knight.  So, I got to take this guy on his first date :)

Y'all, it was fun :)  It was good for Emerson to get away with me and get some undivided attention. First we got a picture with the cow (he's dressed like a knight). 

Then we got to sit at little tables that had tablecloths and centerpieces.  And a lady went around making balloon swords for the boys.  There was also a magician going around.  And they gave us menus, and had waiters come take our orders.

Here's Emerson battling with the other boys in the play area post dinner :)  I was surprised at his boldness to join in the fun since he was one of the littler ones there.  He held his own, even if he did hold the sword by the wrong end!

 
I think we both enjoyed our date.  The next morning he kept asking to go on a date again.  He's a sweet boy :)  I'm a lucky gal to be his first date ;)

Family Photos

When Lyla was one week old, we got some newborn pictures taken, along with a few family shots :)  I LOVE them and need to get some printed to put around our house!  My friend Kalyn, who is in my playgroup, took them.  We thought she did a wonderful job and recommend her to any of you who may be looking for someone to take some family, baby, wedding, or even pet pictures!  Here is her website and here are some of my favorite photos that she took! Sorry, I couldn't narrow it down to a few, so here are 17!

Remember me?

Hey friends.  Sorry for being a stranger lately.  Tonight the house is quiet.  The hubs is out with friends.  The babies are down.  I tidied the house, emptied the dishwasher, put away toys and now I am sitting drinking hot coffee (a rarity these days), ready to update you on our lives!

LYLA:
I cannot believe Lyla has been with us for 6 weeks!  It seems like it's flown by, but it seems like we were at the hospital welcoming her so long ago.  This girl is a sweetie and I love her.  She does wake me up 2-3 times a night to eat.  And she has removed my diet of chocolate (!), caffeine (!), beans, and DAIRY as of yesterday!  What can I eat, I ask :(  She has been a big spit upper from day 1 and still deals with tummy/gas issues.  But she is becoming more and more content.  She has the best sheepish smile sticking her tongue out.

And she loves to be talked to.  She takes good naps and sleeps til 7:30 or 8 in the morning, which is a nice treat for us, since Emerson has been such an early bird.  She is petite and when I pound on her little back to burp her, I just feel like her back and rib cage are so TINY!  Of course, I'm used to the "hearty" boy God gave us first :)  Most people say she looks like mama.  Nana says she feels like she is looking at me when I was a baby.  I'm not sure how much she weighs now, but she grew out of newborn clothes around the 1 month mark.  We started having her sleep in her own room this week, so around the 6 week mark.  Sorry, I'm just splurging all the info I want to remember :) 

We took our first road trip with 2 kiddies this past weekend to KC and are now in search of a mini van!  I don't want to go on another long drive until we have one!  lol.. but seriously. 

EMERSON:
Emerson is doing well these days.  I have to say we had a few rough weeks in there.  He has had an adjustment with all the shared attention.  He has always been very sweet with Lyla and has never taken any of his frustration out on her.  But he had a few weeks where he acted out and disobeyed constantly.  It was SO hard, because I wanted to love on him and have sweet time with him when the opportunity arose, but we ended up having to constantly discipline him.  I have to admit, it was very hard for my mama's heart to see him struggle with the biggest change he's ever had to go through.  Thank God, this past week has been better.  There are definitely still those "twos" moments.  Sometimes I even wonder why I thought having a baby when my other child was entering his "terrible twos" was such a good idea.  But most of the time I feel very blessed and I know it will just keep getting easier from here.  I've started praising him abundantly over the good things he does, like helping or obeying, to encourage him to do those things more.  A little positive reinforcement :)  And he's been doing much better.  I think he's getting used to our new life.

CALEB:
Caleb is doing well.  He has been at his job for a year now and still loves it.  We still see it as such a provision from God.  His dad and grandpa came down a few weeks ago to build us a breakfast nook!  I am so excited about it.  It was pretty neat because, if you count Emerson's help, there were 4 generations that helped build these benches!  If we ever move from this house, I'm sure they will be hard to leave behind.  I can't wait to show you pictures of the finished product.  We are still varnishing and painting :)  And we plan to add bead board for the back.  Eventually Caleb wants to build a table to match it.

We are still loving our house.  We are enjoying watching all the new plants sprout up... a patch of daffodils in the backyard, big white iris blooms in the front, the trees are filling up with green.  I love the sweet spring surprises that come with owning a new house. 

We did get some newborn and family pictures when Lyla was 1 week old, and I plan to post some of them on the blog soon, so check back!  I adore them and am excited to share them with you!