Layla Marie Barker

Layla Marie was born Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 1:20pm. She weighed 7lbs 3oz and measured 20 inches long. She was born with a full head of black, thick hair just like both her parents were. Her eyes are dark brown right now. She’s adorable.

Friday, May 6, I woke up with a migraine. I had a dr. appt at 10:30am. My blood pressure was high, either because of the pain, or causing the pain. Either way, the doctor suggested going to the hospital. He broke my water that afternoon, by nightfall I hadn’t had any contractions and things were at a stand still, so I sent J.D. home for the night and told him I would call him when I was making progress. I slept all most of Friday afternoon and all through the night. (On great pain meds which eventually took care of the killer migraine)

At 4:30AM I woke up to super painful contractions lasting up to 30 seconds. I immediately asked for an epidural. I asked J.D. to come back to the hospital. After the epidural the pain was gone and I pretty much went back to sleep.

Around noon the nurse came in and said the contraction sheet was showing some stress on the baby , so she called the doctor. He was there in 10 minutes. Turns out I was ready to push! It took about a hour, but the epidural was still doing its job so it was tolerable.

It was actually really peaceful when she was born. There wasn’t any stress, she didn’t hardly fuss when the nurses were cleaning her up. She is such a sweet baby.


Ali came up and stayed at the hospital with me Saturday night so J.D. could stay home with Bo. We brought our new baby girl home on Mother’s Day.



Bo didn’t really know what to think of her for the first couple days. I’m pretty sure he thought she was a cat for a bit after my mom said ‘softly…like your petting the cat’.

After that, he would pet her and say ‘meow’. Now he gives her lots of kisses and loves his little sister.


Layla is doing what newborns do best…she sleeps a lot! I can’t wait to watch her grow and learn more about her and her personality.

Update

We're pretty much settled in at my parents, where we'll be for the next several months. Bo adjusted pretty quick. He gets excited and runs to the door when my dad or J.D. comes home from work, he's always running upstairs to say hi to 'Grammy' or to chase the cat who lives upstairs. He loves playing with 'Uncle Craiger'. My dad got some new toys for when the grandkids come stay. J.D. put this one together last week and Bo has been breaking it in.

My own child prodigy? His attempt at chopsticks is pretty good for a one year old. I love it when he gets into it and does his Schroder impression.

Hopefully the transition from only child to big brother goes smoothly. We're expecting her debut in the next week or so!

"I love Love..." - The Format

I'm happy to be in love with someone who loves me unconditionally. He's strong and sweet and super thoughtful. I married the nicest guy and I couldn't be more happy with him.

I've always been a lover, but J.D. has really taught me how to love. He's taught me to eliminate fear and gave me the courage to be loved and love back. He is not jealous. He is not rude. He is kind and selfless.

I hope every girl knows it is NEVER OK to be yelled at or called names. It's never okay to be spit on, shoved or threatened. That is not love and will never be tolerated. Have enough faith and love for yourself to know that you will be loved painlessly if you have the courage to distance yourself and start anew. Remember the qualities of healthy loving relationship you've experienced and seek for those loving qualities. Love with all your heart, but don't ignore red flags of jealousy, rage and disrespect. You, as a partner, do not have the tools, training or responsibility to change or fix anyone.

Love is so important to me. The love my Savior has for me and I for Him. The love I have for my husband and for my babies is so special to me. I never would be so loved as I am now if hadn't learned to love myself.

I'm also grateful for the faith I had to know I would be okay. I'm so much more than okay now.
Alma 32:21And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.


A friend of mine, Charlene Robertson, once told me "Use your head (as she thumped my head) and your heart will follow (as she touched my heart)."

Happy Valentines Day to the love of my life. Thank you for all the love and patience you show me. I love you!

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.


For more scriptures on Love: http://lds.org/scriptures/search?lang=eng&query=love

From my Valentine - most precious vase I've ever seen. I love a man who uses his resources.

SUPER BOWL

Last week my friend De came over to play. She'd bought these Gyro Bowls, they were buy one get one free and she shares because she cares and brought one for me. Coolest bowl ever.

If your kid is anything like mine...

He starts out with his snacks on the table.

Then he picks it up while he's slowing falling into tv trance.

...and within seconds he's totally in TV trance and his bowl his tipping.

But it's SUPER BOWL Sunday everyday around here with this bad boy.


https://www.buygyrobowl.com/flare/next?tag=heaf&a_aid=OF&a_bid=d2dbcae0&data1=429

You're Welcome America. And Canada.

Love don't cost a thing, but music note shirts do.

I fell in love with this shirt J-LO wore on American Idol. But as it turns out,

I'm a huge fan of her style! I love everything she's been wearing to these auditions. The music note shirt is only $290 on sale at http://www.moschinoboutique.com/.

My friend Francine say's I could make a shirt like that, I think she's right. Mine would probably look like a kindergarten project, but I haven't ruled out trying!

On the same ridiculously overpriced website I also found this awesome shirt that say's "Love is in the Hair" - I would totally rock that if it wasn't $425. Nevertheless, words to live by!

I LOVE this color!

SHIMMER!

Another fave, I love the headband.

This makes me want to go buy a deep purple shirt and play with my make up.

You know you're pretty when you can put all your hair in a bag on top of your head and still look gorgeous. A hair thing like this would totally come in handy for me with all my crazy unruly hair.

I'm gonna go play dress up now.

Geography and Lyrics

Two things I'm not good at.
Using the right lyrics and Geography.

Bo's favorite show is Clifford the Big Red Dog. I thought the song went 'So they moved to Vermont....' So when I sing it around the house that's what I say. A week or so ago, J.D. said "They moved to an island, Vermont is inland" I argued that maybe Vermont has islands.

J.D.: "No it doesn't."

Turns out it says "They moved to Birdwell Island"

How I got Vermont, I don't know.

I'm sorry...I can't afford a Ferrari

With as many millions of songs use the word 'Sorry' I'm shocked this is first time someones thought to incorporate the hot car that ryhmes with it. This song is my favorite jam right now. I love this version too. I can't remember what was going on in this episode of Glee, but I'm NOT surprised Racheal is acting so pissy.

Press play and dance crazy.