the perfect bottle??

We had an appointment today since Layla hasn't really been eating (solid food) for a week. Having only gained 5 oz. last month, I have been quite concerned...but allowed myself to wait it out a week. In a nutshell, she has gained some weight, but still not as much as the doctor would like to see. We have another appointment scheduled in 3 weeks to see how she's progressing. At that time, depending on weight gain, the doctor is going to think about blood tests and what-not. We are praying this does not have to happen!

I have been researching all night trying to figure out just what might be causing her to turn from eating (she was mowing down every night!). The doctor gave her a good bill of health aside from the lack of decent weight gain. So it's not because of an illness or anything. Through my research online I have concluded that she doesn't need to eat solid food yet as long as she's nursing well.

She is nursing well...when she's with me. We're still dealing with the issue of her time at daycare. The sippy cup has yet to produce results. I've been okay with this since she's been eating food so well. That not being the case anymore, I'm really wanting to get her on the bottle now more than ever before.

I came across something called the Adiri Breastbottle Nurser through my online searching. I really like the idea of this bottle and am all about trying something new (as the daycare has tried so many types of nipples already)! However, every site I find with this bottle is out of stock!!! Ugh!!! I think I did come across one site, but the price was twice as much as any other site I came across. I guess they can do that if the demand is there and the supply is low. I'm just not sure I'm ready to shell out that kind of money on another bottle that may not work.

Here's a picture and description of the bottle:

Soft and Warm: Filled with warm milk, Adiri's Breastbottle nurser provides an amazingly breast-like substitute that is soft, snuggly, and comforting ­- ­more like breastfeeding than any other bottle. Breastbottle® nursers have proven to be ideal when first switching from breast to bottle - their capacity is also based on maximum breast milk supply.They are easy to clean as there is no need for a bottle brush. The bottles are also dishwasher safe in the top rack.

Soft comforting shape
Minimized air ingestion
Three adjustable flow rates
Responsive to baby's touch
Minimized nipple confusion
Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
Childproof closure system

You can also simulate let-down with this bottle by gently squeezing on the sides.

There is another bottle by the same company called the Adiri Natural Nurser. I'm not as impressed with this bottle. First, I believe Layla will recognize it as something different more so than she would the one above. Second, you have to buy a new bottle if you want to increase the flow. The Breastbottle Nurser comes all in one. If you're ready to speed up the flow, you simply cut off a little nob from the inside.

If you have any comments about these (or other bottles), feel free to share. I really hope I can get my hands on one sometime soon!

I'm dwindling!

I was down 1.5 pounds this week! Okay, so it's not significant...but it's enough to keep me motivated. If I can only get my butt in gear to get physically active I'm sure I'd drop the weight a bit faster.

dadadada lalalala

Layla started talking like CRAZY this afternoon. She's been pretty much talking non-stop since I picked her up from daycare. She used to do 95% of her talking when she was attempting to put something in her mouth. She has done 95% of her talking today with nothing in her hands! And she's found some new sounds. "Dadadadadada lalalala dadadadada" Jeremy is now saying her first word is Dada...I tell him she has to associate her sounds with an object for it to be a true "word." I'm just holding out hope that Mama is her first word. But who am I kidding? If she's already making the sounds for dada, I'm sure that will end up being her first word. I've heard "Layla" several times in her ranting of lalalalalalalala-s. It looks like we picked a name that will be very easy for her (and other little kiddos) to say. Unless of course they have a speech impediment...then I guess she'll be "waywa." :-)

I'm currently listening to her talk away while she's army crawling across the floor to reach the various toys I've scattered about. What a fun time!

WHOA!!! She just pulled our cd drawer open!! Holy cow! Okay...I'm guessing child-proofing is going to come even sooner than I thought!

On a side note...I think Layla is boycotting vegetables while at daycare.

Colts Win!!

What a great way to end the weekend! It was a horrible first half, but we pulled it off!

We had a couple over to watch the game so I was doing my usual last minute cleaning which resulted in a bunch of stuff being thrown into boxes to be filtered through at a later date. My goal this week is to keep the living room, kitchen and bathroom in their current conditions (if not better) and to filter through those 2 boxes.

Next week I'm hoping to be able to add a few other small goals. I have decided to take my house one small step at a time...and hopefully by the end of the month it will be back in a condition to welcome visitors at any time (even unexpectedly). I have found the best time to work is around 8 or 9 at night, after Layla has been put to bed. I'm hoping the start of television's season premiers doesn't hinder my progress.

I also have to find time to fit in some sort of physical activity. I need to get my butt in gear with this Biggest Loser competition at school! I didn't lose a thing last week! Of course I wasn't expecting much since I did absolutely nothing different. :-) At least I didn't gain.

On a Mission

We took Macy to the vet yesterday and were told she needed to lose some weight. She gained 4lbs over the past year which turns out to be more than 25% of her weight. It looks like the whole family is now on a Biggest Loser mission. All except Layla, who is on the Biggest Gainer mission.

It looks like more family walks through the park now that the weather is turning decent.

Macy seems to have it easy...4lbs in a year. Jeremy and I have our final weigh-ins in November & December and we have MUCH more than 4lbs to lose!

Weight Gain (or lack thereof)

This post relates to both Layla and myself. I'll begin with the cuter of the two choices :-)

Layla had her 6-month appointment today. Jeremy and I had bets going on what her weight would be. Last month we went in for just a weight check and she was 13lbs. 13oz. She has been pretty consistent with gaining a pound a month. With this in mind, plus the fact that she's been chowing down on baby food lately and felt rather chunked out, my guess was 15lbs 7oz. and Jeremy's was 16lbs even. Getting straight to the point...she weighed in at 14lbs. 2oz! I put an exclamation there not to show my excitement, but to show my sheer shock. She only gained 5oz. in a month?!?!?! Are you serious! When I was first told the weight, nothing much registered except that Jeremy and I were way off with our guesses. By the time the doctor came in and started talking, it set in just how little she gained. At her 4 month appointment Layla was in the 30%...she fell to 15%. Being the emotional basket case I am, I started crying right there! Her refusal of the bottle these past two weeks hasn't really stressed me out too much...until this news! The doctor was very reassuring, though. She told me this isn't uncommon with breastfed babies. Layla is a happy, active baby and that hasn't changed at all. She told me that she should be nursing 4 times a day...and she is...but there's that gap from 7:30-4 where she's not. The doctor wasn't too concerned so I'm trying not to be. We're going to have the daycare try to add a 3rd feeding time and continue with the sippy cup. Her next appointment is in 3 months...but I'll be taking her in at the beginning of each month for a weight check (for my own piece of mind) to see where she stands.

Here's my part of this post...

I have joined the Biggest Loser group at school. Each person pays $10 to join and the winner takes all. We weighed in for the first time yesterday and I was sadly not shocked at the weight that appeared. I have roughly 15lbs on me that I did not before I became pregnant. The sad thing is that I honestly didn't gain an excessive amount of weight when I was pregnant. Throughout the pregnancy I had no qualms with the weight I was gaining and saw it as a reasonably easy amount to lose afterwards. Ugh! I'm not sure what's up with this 15lbs. I think it's all from my lack of exercise during the pregnancy. I am very much looking forward to this friendly competition at work. I hope it's enough to motivate me into serious effort! Did I mention the winner takes all!

I'll be updating my results each week so keep checking!

6 Months

Layla is 6 months old today! I can't believe how time flies! Here are our monthly pictures of Layla from birth to 5 months...I forgot to take her 6 month picture today so I'll add it later. We were too busy celebrating at Olive Garden :-) Layla had fun, too! She ate a big jar of Sweet Potatoes!



5 days..................................................1 month


2 months.............................................3 months


4 months.............................................5 months