Friday Phone Dump

I realized I had several pictures I had taken over the last two weeks, so I figured I should start posting them now rather than waiting till Lyra's 4 month post. These are on Facebook of course, but for those that follow my blog, these are for you...Enjoy!

Just another day together :)

I'm always trying to catch a pic of her smiling, but as soon as I grab the camera...she stops! Of course...Grr!

I've been a big fan of Pinterest lately, so I've been using my crafty skills to make  few things. This is a bow holder I made for Lyra's room. I bought a brown wooden frame, glitter scrapbook paper, floral accessories, brown ribbon, and pearl embellishments...Oila!

This was my 1st Pinterest project...a summer wreath to hang outside the front door...not too shabby, I think.

YUMMMY....another Pinterest project "Funfetti Cake Bars" You can't just have one...really!

A pic of us at my cousin Melissa's baby shower

I hope that's not her middle finger! lol

Again, no smile when the camera came on, but that face melts my heart!

Just a few minutes later...she was out!

I love that she is starting to grab hold of objects now. She has no idea what she is doing since she' still working on her coordination skills!

My 1st Instagram photo...This is me an Lyra while watching The Bachelorette - our FAVE show on Monday nights!

Such a big girl. She can almost sit up on her own...(with the help of lots of pillows) lol.

Mother's Day Weekend

Mother's Day was extra special this year now that I have a daughter!!

At Melissa's crawfish  boil/diaper shower in Lake Jackson

My long lost friend, Melissa...we hadn't seen each other in 6 years, but we were reunited again! Her baby boy is due in August!

Headed to Aunt Suzanne's for Mother's Day Brunch

Me and mini me...Happy Mother's Day to all my mommy friends and family!

THREE Months!!

Growing up, I had absolutely no idea just how deep my mother's love was for me, until NOW, the moment I held Lyra in my arms after she was born! I knew she loved me and she always said I wouldn't understand until I had kids of my own...and she was right, ugh, she was always right! lol. But now I know, now I know why my mother loved me through all my stubbornness and how I will do the exact same for Lyra.

We have FINALLY reached the 12 week mark where life begins to get A LITTLE bit easier...and it actually has!! At week 11, Lyra really turned a corner...

Sleeping - I can't believe how much more she is sleeping now. I figured with her small self, she wouldn't sleep through the night for quite some time, but hey, no complaints here. She has been consistently falling asleep for the night between 9:30pm-10:00pm and waking up to feed between 5:00am-5:30am, then she'll take less than 30 minutes to eat and she goes right back to sleep for another hour or two till she's up for most the day. Her naps are shorter, but still occur every 1 1/2 - 2 hours when she naps for 30-45 minutes. Some days she'll have a long nap for an hour or two, but not always. She has been sleeping quite a bit lately...I figure she's going through a growth spurt, but not sure. She is still sleeping in our bedroom, in her pack and play. I'm not ready to move her to her crib just yet. It's so much more convenient to only walk to the end of the bed! lol. The only person who is having trouble with sleep now is ME...sometimes its so difficult to go back to sleep after Lyra wakes up the first time...my brain won't shut off and by the time I finally fall asleep, Lyra wakes up soon after. I would think after the 7 or 8 hours of sleep I get, I would not be so tired still, but I really am!!

Play - She's become much more interactive by smiling more, lots of vocal sound, and her favorite thing to do right now is kick her legs! I can put her on her play mat, or in her vibrating chair, or just lay her down beside me without being held for a decent amount of time. She still loves to be held, but for the sake of my back muscles and sanity, I put her down as often as I can, even it that means she has to fuss for a bit. She has been much better about leaving the house and staying out for a little longer. As long as she's fed and changed, she'll chill in her car seat while I shop. She's a pretty good passenger while in the car and usually sleeps majority of the time. My favorite moment in the car with her is looking in my rear view mirror to see Lyra awake, looking out the window...it's so cute! She really doesn't care for her neck pillow and usually fights with it because she can't bring her hands to her face, but she gets over it and passes out within a minute or two.

Getting to know her - I have spent almost every minute of the day with her over the last 3 months and I have enjoyed getting to know every little detail about her. Sometimes I don't even realize how much I know until I begin to talk to someone about her...but that's what's best about being Mom! She has become a little more predictable...I haven't quite figured out all of her cries, but I can tell when she's just fussy or REALLY pissed about something. lol. I know she feels comforted by my touch and voice and that is an amazing feeling. I know she LOVES to fall asleep on Aaron's chest and she does it so well, makes me smile every time, it's so sweet.

It has been an emotional roller coaster over the last 3 months, including many days and nights that I questioned my ability to be a mother and ask myself what the heck was I thinking wanting to have kids...I say this confidently knowing all mother's have been there and said something of the sort, but it's also been a rewarding journey filled with more love in my heart than I could ever imagine! I love that kid, no matter how much her fussiness and crying frustrates me.

A Little Whining...

*Sigh*....staying at home is really starting to get to me. I absolutely do not miss being at work, but staying at home is hard. Same stuff, different day. I get bored and restless at home, so occasionally I manage to get out of the house, but it's such a hassle and not the least bit enjoyable. I always feel like I'm racing the clock, rushing in and out of stores before Lyra starts to cry. She is one fussy girl. The only time she is happy is when she is sleeping or maybe a few other minutes throughout the day, but mostly she is fussy, which makes getting out of the house stressful. She usually sleeps in the car though, but as soon as the car shuts off, she pops those eyes open and it's only a matter of time before she starts crying to be fed, changed, or held, or all of the above. It's a lose lose situation. The other day, Lyra and I got out of the house and we made it through one store in a matter of 10 or 15 minutes, but in order for me to stay out and go into a second store, I spent about 30 minutes in the back seat feeding, changing, and rocking Lyra to sleep.

Being at home also means being alone. Too much alone time gives me too much time to think. I begin to stress and worry about too much. I really miss social interaction. The only person I really get to talk to is Lyra and well, you know how that goes. When my phone does ring, I rarely get to actually answer it because Lyra is usually crying. Lyra requires ALL of my attention. She's not one of those babies that can be put down and be content. We have a swing, a vibrating chair, and a play mat...none of which keeps her content for an extended amount of time. My cat, Lola, spends more time playing on each of those items than Lyra does. Ha. I'm sure she'll enjoy them more as she gets older, but for now she prefers to be held which kills my back muscles. She may be small, but she gets heavy after a while.

And all this is going on while I'm sleep deprived. At this point, no amount of sleep could make up for how much sleep I have lost in the last 10 weeks, which is why I no longer rely on a nap to help me feel refreshed. Lyra is sleeping  a little bit longer at night, but it's still really choppy and inconsistent, and her day naps are becoming far and few in between.

I know all of this will soon become the past and there will be other challenges I will face, while wishing I was back at this stage again, right?!? lol. Alright, my venting is done...thank you for listening :)

"Don't Worry 'Bout Me"

 I miss my mother EVERY day, but I especially miss her a little more on this particular day. Five years ago, my mother went to Heaven. Hard to believe it's already been five years, it still feels like it was just a short time ago...I remember it like it was yesterday. Today I remember how hard it was to say good-bye. To watch and hear my mother's heartbeat flatline after being disconnected from life support was one of the most difficult experiences in my life. I remember being strong and trying my best not to cry because I knew that's what she would have wanted...and I still try to live by that. I never imagined that I would lose my mother at an early age, but I guess nobody really does, it just happens. This year is especially difficult because I now have a baby girl that I know my mother was really looking forward to meeting. She use to wonder why it was taking me so long to get married and have kids and as much as I would have loved to give her those things when she was alive, it just wasn't the right time then. I think about how different my life would be now with her still in it and I smile...*sigh*

There are no words to express how dearly I miss her. My heart aches every day for her touch, her voice, and her reassurance. There are many songs I hear that remind me of my mother, but this one I like the most...I think it's lyrics say it best, "Don't worry 'bout me"...that's exactly what she would say.

Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to me
I just have to believe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Loved ones she left behind
Just trying to survive
And understand the why
Feeling so lost inside
Anger shot straight at God
Then asking for His love
Empty with disbelief
Just hoping that maybe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

It's hard to say goodbye
Her picture in my mind
Will always be of times I'll cherish
And I won't cry 'cause

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Happy 2 months!

Our lives have drastically changed in the last two months and I feel like at least 10 years has been taken from my life due to sleep deprivation, but at the end of each day, it's all worth it. Everyday I am so thankful that I waited this long to have my first child because I could not imagine having all this extra responsibility and being as patient as I am now at a younger age!

2 month stats:

7 lbs 10 oz 22 in 

* Finally fitting into her newborn clothes

* Eats about 3 oz every 2 to 3 hours

* Sleeps 2 to 3 hours, sometimes we get REAL lucky and she'll surprise us by sleeping 4 or 5 hours! 

* Neck muscles are getting stronger and able to lift her head during tummy time

* Makes cooing sounds and smiles more often

* Loves the sound of the kitchen faucet water running...it's our saving grace when she is fussy!

Happy Easter Every-bunny!

I was able to get just a few good pics of Lyra in her Easter dress. "Mrs. Squirms-alot" is not the easiest baby to photograph without a professional camera, so these didn't turn out so bad considering I used my phone camera. Doesn't she look so sweet?!? She is still tiny of course, but she has done lots of growing in the last two months. We have a two month check up this week, so I'll be back to post pics and stats afterwards! Hope everyone had a blessed and happy Easter...Love, The Robilottos

Even caught her with a little smile :)