15 Month Update

Our baby girl is 15 months old today! She is practically running and enjoys trying to climb on everything. The park across the street from our condo is one of her favorite places. She loves to climb the playground, go on the slide, and swing, swing, swing, not to mention play with the red dirt on the baseball diamond.

Every day Layla is saying new words, although sometimes we only hear them once. I am finally starting to understand toddler-speak. It is a slightly different language for every child and almost completely unintelligible to people other than their parents.

"mama" - means Mommy and also "I want that now". It's a very multi-purpose word
"Dada"- Daddy
"diggie" - dog
"bud" - bird
"deck"- duck
"pane" - airplane
"tick" - tickle
"bah" - ball

Today, we also got a "pa-pa" for Grandpa and an "amma" for Grandma.

Stats:
Weight (69%) = 23 pounds, 15.6 ounces (seems like they could have just rounded up to 24)
Height (94%) = 32.25"
Head (95%) = 48 cm

She still has a big head and I was really hoping it would get smaller. I have a large head and it's tough to find hats! Layla feels heavier to me, but only gained one pound since her 12 month check up. I guess going back to work has let my arm muscles atrophy. And also that Layla walks everywhere. So much for my nicely cut biceps and triceps! I really have to step up my playground work out.

Layla's Baptism

Layla's baptism was this past weekend at our Sunday church service. It went pretty well aside from a few toddler antics. Naturally, she wanted to trade back and forth between Jason and I while the ceremony was going on. She didn't fuss, but also didn't let the pastor hold her for the actual baptism. While he was pouring the water on her head she was giving me a look that was bewildered, but also asking "is it bathtime?".

Baptism

At the end of the service the pastor invited us to come with him to greet people at the door. Layla stayed with her Daddy and wasn't quite sure what to make of all the people we were shaking hands with. Ever since she was a tiny baby she has not liked people touching her hands, even us. But, I guess the receiving line got the best of her. About half way through she started holding out her hand for people to shake. She was smiling and charming the whole congregation!

with the godparents, Aunt Allie and Aunt Rachel

with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Annie

with Grandma Carol and Grandpa Greg

Bye-Bye Ba Ba

At Layla's one year check up our pediatrician had recommended that the baby bottle be phased out by 15 months. I was on board with this since I was utterly sick of washing bottles.

We waited until the dust had settled from summer vacations and the new job/back to daycare routine had been established. Finally, Layla had started drinking milk regularly at her meals and as that 15 month mark was drawing closer we decided to give it a go. We figured getting rid of the bottle could not possibly be worse than crying it out (learning to sleep through the night). Fortunately, we were right.

Layla had given up her daytime bottles easily at about 12 months, but the bedtime bottle was one she was more attached to and the reason we were sort of dreading it. We decided to go "cold turkey": she would be offered water only. Jason typically does the bedtime routine and bore the brunt of her anxiety including fingernails into the neck when he put her into the crib without any milk. And she was mad, howling mad, for all of 4 or 5 minutes. The next night she didn't want to stop reading: more books, more books, she kept asking. He set her down and this time she howled for 3 minutes, and so on the next night.

Last night when we were getting ready for bedtime she still looked around for it, but not seeing it snuggled into my arms for another milk-free story time. No fussing at all. Ahhhhhhhh!

The bottles will get sanitized one more time and then packed away in a high cabinet where I don't have to even think about washing them. At least until 2012!

Coloring

I love to color......

......on the oven!

Thank you Crayola, for washable crayons. I am sure we will need them again. By the way, this happened just after I was telling Jason that I only let Layla color while she is in her chair!

Stablize This

At my new job I am having the opportunity to work on many exciting and interesting projects. This includes bungalow bathroom renovations, restoration and kitchen addition on a house built in 1879, and much more.

As part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act the City of Evanston applied for and was awarded $18m to restore properties in neighborhoods especially hard hit by the mortgage crisis.

There are 8 homes in the first series of the project, known as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The homes are due for various levels of restoration and/0r renovation and the City opened the bid process last week. Evanston businesses will be given priority in bidding on the projects and minority and woman-owned business will be awarded no less than 25% of the contracts.

During the day Wednesday we visited 6 project sites with our carpenter, we will be bidding on rough and trim carpentry for the projects. The first two projects were pretty minor - updating the floor plan, finishing the basement, remodeling baths and kitchen, etc.. The next two projects were a little larger in scope with additions to the rear of 2-flat buildings (I'm told some people call these duplexes) which are two apartments stacked in a house-like building.

The last two were, excluding herculian efforts, tear-downs. One has, I kid you not, plagued me with bad dreams. This one was in really bad shape. There were two apartments and the first floor one was trashed, stunk of garbage and urine and everything bad. There was a closet under the stair where people had obviously kept their dog and the whole thing nearly brought me to tears, imagining humans (and animals) living in such filth. Admittedly, I am a neat freak, but still.

The house was much like a theme park fun (nightmare) house. The floors sloped in every direction with 4"-5" change in floor height in single rooms, stairs pitched from left to right by about 6", doors are slanted (not slightly), and walls with three layers of finish (plaster and 2 layers of drywall). Presumably, this is to cover immense cracks in the walls. Everything was crooked and it was impossible to stand level. It was actually kind of scary.

Heading down to the basement it is clear where much of the structural nightmare is coming from. In the main beam of the house someone (clearly not a bright person) had cut the 6" waste pipe through the center bearing beam of the house. For all intents and purposes this eliminated it as structural support as it was hanging below the joists. I left out of there quickly so the whole darn thing didn't fall on my head.

Generally, I am not a proponent of tearing down, and this is a 1920's bungalow, which I adore. This is especially touchy in the neighborhood where they want to maintain the fabric of their community. But, this is one we might want to make an exception on. They are not planning to tear this house down, or even jack it up and fix it properly.

Just stabilize it.

Baptism

It took us some time to find a church that we felt comfortable with for Layla's baptism. I was wracked with guilt when I saw 3 week old babies getting baptized over the last 14 months. For Jason and I it was important that Layla be baptized in a community of people we know and where she could grow up in the congregation. Therefore we wanted to join a church before we had her baptized in it. We visited many churches over the last two years, on holidays and "regular" Sundays trying to find a place we felt welcome and enjoyed the services.

We were successful in finding the right place for our family and her baptism will be two weeks from today. We are giggling a little about whether or not she will let the pastor hold her and if she will run up to the altar. It will be interesting! We are not sending out formal invitations, so if you are interested in attending please send Jason or I an email and we will provide you with the details!

Thanks to the Haacks and to Bob and Lynne for unknowingly gifting us a perfect baptism ensemble!

What's New?

Mom is back to work, Layla is back to school. That's what's new not only in our house but around the country! We are adjusting pretty well to the new schedule. My new job takes me to Evanston each day, which is just north of the city, along the lake. Layla's school is about halfway between home and work, so I am usually doing both drop off and pick up. Jason's company has a sales office near to Layla's school so sometime her can pick her up earlier, which is nice.

This is what happens when Mom is trying to get ready for work, pack lunches, and leaves the yogurt within reach of little hands!

Our arrival back home is between 4:30 and 5:00 which leaves us about an hour of running/walking and playing at the park. I am trying to get back into running after a nearly 2 year hiatus. It is slow going, but we are building up speed and distance. Layla doesn't really want to sit in the stroller for more than half an hour anyway! I have some "playground exercises" from a parents magazine. Yes, I am that mom doing pull ups on the monkey bars and squats between swing pushes. Layla thinks lunges are the oddest part. Can't say I blame her. But, my scale currently shows a number that dates back to college and I'd like to keep it that way. A few wayward glances at the playground (from my daughter or anyone else) are not going to deter me!At the park, exploring the baseball diamond.

Jason is busy helping out at the winery this month, making another short trip this weekend to crush grapes. This is a busy time for them with harvesting and preparing the grapes for fermentation. Work has been keeping him very busy as well, although Sunday is a good lounging and football day! Here is where he would like a shout out to "da bears" for being the conference leaders. I like those commentators that call it a "soft" 3-0. The vikes were just trying to throw everyone off our scent. We'll make a go of it yet!

Layla is learning to sit in her chair and brush her hair.

Lake House Vacation

Layla and Grandpa cuddled up with one of Grandma's turtles.

Layla wearing the "apple jacket" a gift to my Mom at the baby shower for me!

This post is overdue and I have no real excuses except that of all working moms; I'm pretty busy! Layla got a head start on the lake vacation this summer, spending 5 extra days with Grandma and Grandpa while Mom and Dad were in San Diego. We were thrilled to re-unite with everyone on the Friday of Labor Day weekend.

Trying to get all three of these people to smile at once is impossible!!

One of my very best friends joined us for the weekend with her two beautiful kids. Her son was just 6 months and daughter is three and a half. We had a wonderful time taking the kids out on the boat, making smores and playing outside.

Moms and babies out on a boat ride!

Allie and my uncle Paul also made the trek for the weekend. It was awesome having a big group of people to hang out with and just enjoy time at the lake. The weekend weather was very nice.

Allie lets Layla try a summertime staple: the A&W root beer float. Just kidding!

The other of my very best friends joined us on Tuesday for a few days. We sat out on the deck on night after it was nice and dark and counted the shooting stars. I haven't done that in many years and it is still wonderfully dark up north. And neither of us got hurt walking around outside in the dark, which wasn't that easy. Note to self: find a flashlight.

A clear night on the way - can't see the stars just yet........

Jason had to head back home on Labor Day and we missed him the rest of the week.

Layla with her Daddy

The weather during the rest of the week was not quite as kind as last year, it was kind of rainy and cool. Fortunately, this did not bother us too much. We enjoyed sitting outside watching Layla play under the covered walkway and also out in the rain. She stood in the middle of the yard and stared up at the sky. Wondering, I am sure, what was going on. Generally, we don't go to the park in the rain. But, hey, when you have your own yard it's no big deal!

"Layla's Beach"

Nicknames

I think I might have a problem with nicknames: I love them. Then, we went and named our daughter Layla which has no go-to nickname like, say, Elizabeth which has many. So, we have had to improvise with a long list of nicknames and terms of endearment:

Munch - started by Jason when she was just a few weeks old but most often used by me. This is a shortened version of Munchkin. Natch.
Munchie/Muncharoo
Laylers - Jason
Lulu - by one of her teachers at school
LB/Layla Baby - from my Dad
Bean/Beans/Beansie - Originally used for my eensy beensy sister, now put back in circulation by my parents. Thanks Aunt Allie, for letting us borrow it.
Bug/Bugs/Bugsy - When I called her "bug" recently at her birthday party, our friends' daughter (who is 4) says, "Miss Beth, she's not a bug, she's a baby." Oops! My bad.
Sugar
Sugar Bug - my new favorite

I can't say for sure that she actually answers to any of these names, except for maybe Munch. But I use them all anyway.