Month by Month: Layne turns 6 months!

As always, its already come and gone. The first 6 months of his life have flown! I feel it hasn't been but a couple months since he was born. He was actually 6 months 2 weeks ago but has had pink eye and his eye has been swollen and red up until now. I am so in love with this little cutie and his character that's starting to show.

At 6 months, Layne can sit up on his own, raises his upper body up really well when on belly and started saying "dada" literally the day he turned 6 months old. While he is still pretty mellow, he has started making his likes and dislikes more known. If he wants to be held, he quickly protests when you put him down. And he has started grabbing at everything. He gets mad if I pull something out of his reach that he wanted. All things are going to his mouth, too, so I am having to take things away more often.

Another way he gets his point across is with eating! He doesn't like any food that I have offered. When I start bringing the spoon towards his face, he locks his lips and either shakes his head or starts rocking back and forth. We play a game of hitting the target and I have to do silly things to make the target open! If I succeed, he will swallow the food but makes an awful face. After a few bites, the game gets harder and occasionally he throws gagging and spitting up into the mix. So I continue to attempt to feed him baby food/cereal in hopes he will eventually like it! On the other hand, he wants to nurse every three hours and still gets up once a night. Speaking of night, he is sleeping in his crib now!

(Guess he thinks his foot is more appetizing!)

At his 6 month checkup, he weighed 18 lbs 10 oz and was 27 1/2 inches (I think?). He fell down to the 75th percentile on those, but is still growing great. I haven't actually been able to check Garyn's weight for 6 months but I am pretty positive it was more than this. Looks like Garyn is taking the lead on size. And that is completely fine with me! I would like to keep him baby size as long as possible! He is wearing 6-9 months clothes and some 9-12 months.

Other news, Layne has gotten into playing with his toys more and more. He sits in the playroom floor a lot and plays. Ansley and Garyn usually keep him company and entertain him. We found several new toys for him to play with when we moved that he has been enjoying, like the johnny jump up and the activity center.

(see all things go to his mouth!)

Both Garyn and Ansley still want to play with him and can make him belly laugh so hard! Ansley is back to wanting to hold him all the time. I really have to watch her because she tries to pick him up all the time on the floor. And tickles him a lot but digs a little deep sometimes. We are working on being gentle and waiting for mommy if she wants to hold him and such. She tells me she is his mommy all the time and wants me to leave her to take care of him. Cute but dangerous!

(both the boys were sick in this pic but I still like it!)

(Trying to rock him)

(cheese!)

Now, for the next six months to slooow down.

Layne at 1 month

Layne turned 1 month in a blink of an eye, of course. Seems it gets faster and faster with each child. In fact, he is already about to be 2 months next week. Geez.....

So before I forget about all his 1 month cuteness....

Layne just started smiling right around his 1 mo. "mirthday"

 

(This was at 2 weeks or so, not a real smile yet, but very good picture, I think!)

He likes to eat on his own time....there is no scheduling him other than you can guess he'll be hungry 3 hours from the last feed, but every so often he sleeps through 3 hours or fusses to eat before that mark. At 4 weeks old, he took his first bottle. He did pretty good with it!

(This was after a football game, I had made the bottle to give him during the game but he didn't get hungry until right when we were leaving.....of course!)

Sleep wise: Bedtime is usually 10 ish and he sleeps till 2 ish then is back up 3-3.5 hours later. He gets in a good dead sleep those first 6 hours and doesn't make a noise. After that, he tends to need more help getting back to sleep.

Speaking of, he likes the pacifier but isn't completely attached to it. He will fall asleep without it but gladly takes it when tired if you are there to offer it. Big sister likes to offer it to him a lot!

 

At one month, Layne has grown to 11 lbs 1 oz and 23 1/2 inches long! At birth, he was 8 lbs 4 oz. 20 3/4 inches. Then at his 5 day checkup he was 8 lbs 3 oz. So almost 3 pounds in 4 weeks! Big brother and big sis were 9 lbs 4 oz and 9 lbs 5 oz, respectively. So we are anxious to see how this growth curve goes. I know there is no need to compare, because they are obviously all different, but given that they are growing differently makes you want to imagine what's in store for the future.

Big brother and sister are enamored with Layne and literally fight over who gets to hold him next. We have to set aside turns and watch Ansley closely because she tends to grab at him when she is mad about it not being her turn. Both love to talk to him and help with his pacifier and such. Ansley wants to do everything from change his diaper to feed him her baby doll bottles.

At one month, Layne still seems to be laid back although he tends to get gas a lot and will want to be held up so he can burp some more. I asked the doctor about reflux because he seemed to be doing this a lot and having some spit up with the burps but it seems to be normal. He doesn't get very fussy just wants to be held up.

Onto holding, right around 4 weeks, he seems to prefer to be facing out the most. Ansley liked this most, too. We haven't reached a screaming cry when not in this position like Ansley did, but he wiggles and such until you move him.

He likes to wiggle a lot, actually. And at times, he practically jumps out of your arms trying to move and hold his head up. And for only 1 month, he seems to see and hear well. He looks right into your eyes and turns his head to noises. May be at the right time, but seems to be earlier than I remember the other two.

Although he still puts his hands to his mouth, he has stopped trying to suck his thumb. I probably plug the pacifier before he gets a chance, but he seems to be less interested in finding it.

We still say he looks the most like Tyler and a lot like Garyn did as a baby. It is scary to look down and have flash backs of holding Garyn. When he is asleep, he seems to be identical to Garyn. When his eyes are open he looks more like Tyler. He lost some hair on the top of his head and looks like a little old man now, too.

So I tried to recreate the same scene and if it weren't for already knowing which is which, I'd say they are twins.....

Layne 7 weeks

Garyn at about 6 weeks

Layne is born!

Layne Timothy Rich was born 2 weeks ago on July 25th at 2 am. He weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was 20 3/4 inches.

 I arrived at 8 pm on the 24th to begin the induction. As much as I didn't want to be induced, I discovered if I wanted to have Tyler 100 % there, we needed to go before football camp. Obviously, he would have been there either way but I didn't want him or me torn between the two. I know how much football season takes out of him and just didn't want it to be weighing on him that he couldn't be in both places at one time. On top of that, I know I haven't gone into labor on my own before. I didn't want to wait until the 28th, his due date, and then end up being induced. So we went in at 8 pm on the 24th ( Garyn's birthday) and started receiving meds around 8:30 pm. I was 2 1/2- 3 cms. dilated already.

We were hanging out, talking to my coworkers. I wasn't getting uncomfortable really. My nurse, Rebecca, said Dr. Brody wanted to break my water around 11 pm and suggested I get my epidural first. I concurred and we started with that process. Once that was done, a resident broke my water, well 2 of them did (not at the same time!) but I apparently had a sealed tight bag that didn't want to bust. So a different resident had to come back and try a different tactic. At this point, I was just 4 cms. I was also feeling real relaxed, as well, and we started to rest as best we could. However, I kept getting interrupted. Layne had been doing great and still was fine but showed signs of distress or that he was moving down quick. At 12:30 am, I was 6 cm and they had me turn to my side with oxygen. Again, I tried to snooze as best I could. Then about 1:00, I was told Dr. Brody was on his way to check me. I was still a little dumb founded not expecting things to go that quick. I could still feel some pain with contractions but didn't feel pressure or anything. Well, as they said, Dr. B checked me and I was 9 1/2 cm. !  I had to wake Tyler up at this point. And I texted Nana because she wanted to come once I was close; she likes to hear their first cry. She was also bringing Garyn because he got upset when he realized he wasn't going with us when we were leaving. I knew he would be excited and easily awakened! While everything for delivery got set up, we waited for them before I started pushing.

Nana captured this of Garyn trying to peek in while I was pushing......one of my favorites

Then at 2 am, he entered the world! We couldn't have been happier to see his precious face!

 

 

Garyn was so excited to see him and hold him, along with Nana. They stayed for about an hour and then headed back to sleep before coming back.

looking a bit tired here...it was 2 am

When they came back, Ansley was with them, of course. She was interested but observant at first. She touched him some and talked about me being in the bed with my pj's on. Emma was there at that time, too, their 1 yr. old cousin. So I think Ansley just focused on her some. She didn't fuss when they left like I thought she would but again they were leaving with "Mema." Sonja said she didn't want to talk about it once they left and would change the subject. Garyn just couldn't get enough of him and didn't want to leave.

Once we got home, she was a lot more herself. They flogged the van as soon as we opened the doors. It was very cute to see their excitement. Garyn couldn't wait to hold him. Ansley was interested in his feet and his pacifier. She and Garyn both worked him over good for awhile.

 

She wants her paci all the time now, too.

 

 

Features we noted about Layne:
- He looked a lot like Tyler those first few days, now at 2 weeks, he looks so much like Garyn as a baby. Which is also very Tyler like.
- He has dark hair, at least for now. Tyler hopes he keeps it! I think his hairline looked more like Tyler, now its about the same as I remember Garyn's being. Garyn's hair was much lighter, Ansley's was the same color at birth as Layne, but both kids have turned sandy blonde. So it'll be a waiting game for Layne's official hair color.
-He has wide hands and long feet.
-Although he weighed 8 lbs 4 oz, he looks just as small as his siblings! Even the doctor and nurses thought he would be 7 and a half or so. I had her weigh him a second time cause we were in such shock!
-We quickly determined that he has sensitive skin. Pampers diapers made him break out and now it seems like he has gotten bumps on his arms from blankets or something.
- He has a pretty laid back attitude and doesn't cry much. At least for now...
- He likes his fingers, hands and thumb but a pacifier will do, too. I try to keep one around since they are easier to take away!
-And his eyes look dark blue like I remember Garyn's being.

2 wks. old

The last several days, we have just been admiring him and getting used to life as 5. Both kids have been doing good with him. I just have to watch Ansley cause she wants to lean over the bassinet to see him. She likes for him to have his paci and wants to "rock" him when she holds him. Garyn is just loving and sweet to him. He gets frustrated, though, when he sleeps long periods because he wants to see his eyes. I have been pleased with the transition to 3. It seems easier than when Ansley was born. I don't feel overwhelmed, I just keep trying to figure out how to shave time off of getting us ready to go somewhere. I figure we'll get there eventually!

Some nesting/ Layne updates!

Well I only have 11 days left until my due date. Which means, Baby Layne could come anytime! I have mixed emotions about it. I'm ready to see him and know that this is a less hectic time since my other two boys aren't about to start school. (Tyler will never be off the school schedule, :) )
At the same time, its easier for me to work and be able to enjoy Garyn's birthday festivities with him in my belly! And with this being our last baby, I don't want to rush him out cause I really enjoy being pregnant. I am wanting to let him come on his own but geez, considering all the changes we are about to have it really would be easier to have a couple weeks under our belt before it starts!

33 wks

Speaking of changes, let me update real quick....1) We are obviously about to have our 3rd child; 2) Garyn is starting kindergarten around the second week of August at a school 20+ mins away; 3) We will be breaking ground on our house around the first of August; 4) This one isn't really a change, but Tyler will be completely busy with football and adjusting to a new school at the first of August!
Nana asked if I was in denial about Garyn starting school.......I'm not but yet trying not to think about all of the previously mentioned all at once. I can only take it one day at a time right?!

36 wks

Back to baby updates! Layne is moving and growing great. I really can't complain about anything! I have some trouble sleeping and heartburn. I have been getting out of breath more especially when carrying or chasing Ansley! I haven't had too many cravings; I just tend to get something on my mind and can't get it out of my head until I eat it. Garyn and Ansley are getting more excited about it. Garyn absolutely loves him already and talks to him (my belly) a lot. Ansley has finally realized there is a baby in there. I was trying to get her to stay still long enough to feel him one day and he moved big enough for her to see my belly move. She looked up at me wide-eyed and then bent down to look in my belly button and said "He's in there!" It was quite funny and cute! So now she says she wants to see Baby Layne or "Wayne" and has even asked to go to the baby doctor to see him. I still don't think she understands it all, obviously, but she seems more prepared than before. I have a feeling both kids aren't going to let him be much!

Garyn and I at our maternity picture session...one of my favorites!

 

Ansley being a big sis!

 

Layne's face- He is laying sideways and the pic is only of his face and a foot or hand up to his chin. The black crescent moon in the middle is his left eyelid crease. Then up to the left of that is his nose. Then left some more is his lips. Not sure you got all that but I tried.

Living with Nana and Poppa means Layne will be in our room with us and I can't necessarily prepare a nursery. However! I have been working on the area of the room designated to him. We shuffled around the rocking chair and dressers which meant Ansley's room got shuffled around, too. The changing table is going to live in her room. Since she is still wearing diapers, I can use it for both of them. It has really helped to not have to get down in the floor to change her! Here are some pics of what her room looks like. She is going to remain in the baby bed until we move at least.

 

Our room....

That's my mostly packed bag over there and I intend to move the bassinet around as needed.

We have such generous friends and family that have given me three showers! I really wasn't expecting anything this time a round since its our third and we have a lot of baby equipment. However, work friends, church friends and family have given me 3 showers. We have gotten a lot of diapers and wipes along with other essentials like baby wash, destin, blankets, etc. We feel very blessed! I didn't get pictures at all of them but here are some I have...

Two of my friends at work. Chrissy and I were only a week or so a part but she had a C-section this past weekend. Having friends at work make it easier to go!

 

My family in Georgia that gave me a shower.

 

Garyn and Ansley were eager to help open the presents! Ansley kept saying "Aww, how cute"

 

And my Sunday School class gave me a lunch shower. Stephanie and I were about 8 days apart and she just had her baby boy yesterday!

I have a lot of friends that were due in between June and July. Most of them have delivered. There are a couple in September including my sister n' law Kadie. Yes, Layne will have a boy cousin only 2 months younger! It's going to be a fun Christmas!

 

We are just overjoyed to be having a new family member join us soon and all the fun that entails! Can't wait to see what he looks like and how his personality turns out. They are all so different. Garyn thinks he is going to look like Tyler with black hair. Tyler is actually hoping he does so that one of his children will have hair like him! I am just hoping everything goes smoothly and he is a happy healthy baby!