Letters to Layla

Dear Layla Grace -

I started this blog to document your life. Mommy used to write about everything. When she was little she would go through note book after notebook and fill them with stories and her thoughts. When mommy grew up she stopped writing because she felt she had nothing to write about. Everything is different now. She has you and a reason to create more stories and more memories and fill more notebooks (or in this case a blog).

I vowed to write you a letter every month for your first year, but having a newborn is hard work. I decided that taking a nap with you was better than sitting down and writing. Now that you are older - smiling, laughing & sitting contently on your gym mat - that I can take a moment on the computer and write down all my thoughts about you:

You are an expressive little girl. You have been since the day you arrived. You have a facial expression for just about everything and your tongue is always hanging out of your mouth. Sometimes I call you dramatic (like mommy) because when you don't get your way right away you have a little bit of a meltdown. That's ok, though - you will be a strong willed woman who knows what she wants and gets what she wants. You're a fighter. Daddy and I called you our fighter from the very beginning. You beat all odds to get here - you beat statistics. Remember that. You look just like your daddy most of the time and every now and then you are the spitting image of your Aunt Victoria. You're also tall like your dad, plotting off the charts at the doctors. Marmee (my mom) is praying that you have blue eyes and ringlets in your hair, and we're all thrilled that you have the most kissable dimples.

Someone asked me if I remember my life before you, I said that I did remember my life before you but that now I can't imagine my life without you. If I ever did anything perfectly right in my life, Layla Grace, it was you. Congrats on being 3 months!

10 days?!

It's seriously been 10 days since I've written anything. I swear that I've sat down about 5 times to try and write, but I'd get through one sentence and LG would cry, or the phone would ring, something would inevitably side-track me. No biggie cause here I am :)

In 10 days LOTS has happen. Like this:


Yes, my child is now a holy one!


My little doll <3


Mr G and I with our beautiful little lady.

I have to say that I didn't expect a Baptism to be so emotional, but when Father Michael started reading prayers I broke down. It got even more emotional when he spoke of how children are a gift and that Layla is a blessing. I have yet to go into detail about my struggle with infertility, but we are truly thankful for our little girl and plan to raise her with a strong faith in God.

After the ceremony and lots of tears we had an awesome party! Complete with yummy food, a huge dessert bar & Glee on the Wii. It was an awesomely blessed day.

Layla also FINALLY got to meet her Aunt Nicole (my older sister) and her four cousins. She loved them - especially my nephew Antonio. Her eyes were glued to him. I have a feeling she's going to be following him around when she's older and that idea makes my heart melt. I'll post pictures later :)

I also go back to work tomorrow :\ But for now I'm going to soak up this beautiful day!

Told you he felt neglected

Apparently this is a common problem among women and their husbands when a new baby comes to town; another thing people forget to tell you. Your all consumed with this little baby who needs you 24/7 that you forget about your husband, you also forget about yourself, but you're too tired to care. Beware - your hubby is bound to feel shafted at some point. I speak from experience.

So these last few days I was taking care of Mr G, LG and somewhere in there myself. Not easy when little Layla refuses to sleep (she was up for 12 hours straight on Sunday. I like to think she is a baby genius and just doesn't want to miss anything). Now it's Tuesday and Mr G is feeling a little less neglected - this is only after a few arguments, me feeling entitled, him feeling like I don't love him and a hysterical baby - and now I'm stuck inside cleaning a house that looks like a bomb hit it. OY. Yes, I said OY.

In other news: Layla's baptism is this coming Saturday! I'm boob deep in planning and so far everything is really coming together. We're so excited. My older sister is also coming in on the 17th, so she'll finally get to meet L and ... on the 19th I go back to work. Only for four hours, but I have to get up on a Saturday for the first time since October and go to work. I really really really don't want to but my job has some wicked benefits (like $250 round trip tickets to Rome :D) and Mr G will be starting a new job soon that doesn't have health insurance for the first few months. Once he starts we'll reevaluate and I'll drop down from 32 hours to 15, which means I'll be home 5 out of the 7 day week. That's not bad, right? Than I get to keep my $300 round trip tickets to Australia. I know you're jealous :o)