Layla has properly moved into her crib now. I should take her pack n play bassinet out of my and john’s room but I haven’t had the heart yet. I am mostly happy that she is in her crib because it means that she is sleeping so well, but there is still a little bit of sadness that she is just that little bit older already.
She is sleeping in her crib during naps (when we are at home and she’s not sleeping on the go, anyway) and at nighttime. I tried introducing an earlier bedtime (7-8) because she was sleeping so late in the mornings I thought she might need to be put down earlier, but that didn’t work. One thing that was hard for me to appreciate until I was a parent is that just like you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink, it is hard to make a baby (or toddler, or anyone I suppose) sleep if they don’t want to. I can put her in her crib at 7 but even if I think she is tired she will cry. She is too young (in my book) to cry it out at this point, so the two times I have tried putting her down early I have ended up getting her as soon as she cries and bringing her back down to be with me and John until she falls asleep properly.
This morning when I went to get her she was 180 degrees turned around from how I had put her down. I was scratching my head in confusion because I hadn’t heard her rustling around overnight or in the morning and she was swaddled for goodness sake! I don’t know how she turned herself so much that her head was where her feet were when I laid her down, and vise versa. I would understand if she had been screaming her head off at some point (and thus wriggling her body around) or something but she never gave any indication of what she was up to! It did make us laugh, though.
My friend Faith told me and our friend Stephanie about a “sew a long” where people sign up into an online community where over a specified period of time everyone made a dress from the same pattern. The two hosts posted hints and tips over the time to help, and members could ask questions of the community along the way if they got stuck. I decided it sounded like fun and joined. I hadn’t made a garment from a pattern before so what a great time to try for the first time, when I had the support of nearly 300 people! The pattern was for what was called the “ice cream dress” from Oliver + S. I made this for Layla in size 12 – 18 months, so she should be able to fit into it when it gets warm next year. I was hoping by then her growth will slow down some so she can fit into it for a longer period of time than she is fitting through her current clothes! 
Hayden and Layla had their 3 year and 2 (and a half) month check ups last week. They were both at the top of the charts!
Wow, Hayden! How can you be three already? I loved Daddy’s blog that he wrote on your birthday. I echo everything he wrote. You are such a special boy, and I feel so lucky to have you in my life. I like how Daddy captured what you are like at this age. The only thing I have to add to that is that you are a very gentle soul. I have always thought of little boys being very rough-and-tumble and mischievous. You are definitely all boy with your love of cars, trucks, tractors – anything with wheels really. But you are very careful, gentle, and respectful. You often tell me to be careful – going down the stairs, walking around your train track in your room (although in that case you are clearly more concerned about the track than my safety 😉 ), etc. You really don’t pay much attention to Layla yet, but even in your indifference you are careful around her (albeit with lots of reminding from Mommy!). We never really even had to baby proof that much for you in regards to getting delicate things out of your reach. Even as a toddler you didn’t really bother with something after we told you no once or twice. I took it for granted until other children started coming over and getting into things that I didn’t have to worry about with you. 
Dear Hayden,
I feel like we do a lot at weekend, and I feel that you always want to be doing things with me. You always want to know exactly what we are doing. In the morning you’ll ask where we going, and then “what we doing after” that, and “what we doing after”… etc. Typically you wait for us to tell you, but just this Sunday morning, you made up your own mind and asked to go on a “Bike ride with daddy”. Of course we did, because I’m a sucker and will do whatever you want!!! And the bike ride was great!! In fact I took you past the local golf course and pointed it out to you, as I like to make sure you see all the important things on our rides. You then told me; “I want to play golf with you daddy when I’m older!!” – Music to my ears. At the end of the ride you turned and told me that you “want to go to the golf show, colts game and a baseball game!”
I feel right now you really enjoy spending time with me, I feel you really look up to me, and I feel that you really love me. I hope those things never ever change. I asked tonight who you loved and you immediately said Daddy. I did ask who else you love and you told me Mummy and Layla – so I know it’s not isolated to me, you know you have a fantastic mummy too, and a beautiful little sister that you are doing so well adapting to.
eally care. If you cry we know you’ve actually hurt yourself. Even if you hurt yourself you just ask us to kiss where it hurts, and then everything is OK. That works fine except for when you hurt you bottom!!
Hayden and Layla's Place 
