Baptism

We had a great weekend last week.

Almost our entire family, Mom and Ray, Dad and Jen, Karen and Bob all made a huge effort to be here and celebrate Layla's baptism.

To say that we were thankful is an understatement. They made a lot of effort to get here and they were all here to help us start Layla's spiritual life. We ate, drank and everyone loved on Layla.

In the Lutheran service, there's a part that the congregation has to respond that they will help us as parents, and that they commit to helping Layla on her spiritual journey. Its my favorite part of the baptism service. I like it because it's truly about community. It's about being responsible for each other. It's about being strong when others are weak and having strength to count on when you are weak. To me, it's about love. There's a similar part in most wedding services- the community is asked if they will do everything they can to help and support the couple. The link is clear- we are told at these critical points in our lives that we can not do it alone. We need others. We need each other.

Our daughter needs more than just her parents to be her best self. She needs her grandparents, her community, and anyone else who will love her and bring her joy. It was very evident to me this weekend how much Layla will be raised by a village, and how very much she will benefit from that. I've said it many times, but she truly does have so many people that already love her.

Dad baptized Layla. After he carried her around the congregation.  He said to the congregation that they had a responsibility to Layla. He said that, in light of the fact that they would see Layla more than any of the grandparents, they were deputized in grandparenthood and caregiving, not just for Layla, but for Mike and I.

We need each other to be our best and to be our strongest. I deeply believe this sentiment. It was driven home this weekend by the fact that our family, which has at times been broken, at times been angry and hurt, at times been selfish and determined to "go it alone," came together to form our own little community. Warts and all, it's ours. And I am so proud to be part of such a strong, loving and unconventional family.

6 months old

Our beautiful Layla Ruth is 6 months old. She is a beautiful, happy little girl. She giggles, she blows raspberries, she has realized that she can move her hands in her mouth and it makes weird noises. She reaches for things she wants and for food that Mike and I are eating. She recognizes Mike and I. She loves Opie, her jumparoo, eating. She gets upset when I sneeze or have hiccups. She goes to the doctor on Friday for height and weight and hopefully permission to try solids.  Her little world is growing.

Our week

This week was pretty low key for the Parker family. On Saturday of last week we got the chance to go out to lunch with our friends, Susanna and Craig. I met Susanna through work, and she happened to have her daughter Annette or Annie just a few weeks after Layla. They happen to live in the next neighborhood over, so she and I walk together with the girls in the evenings and most weekends, if she's not on call. We decided to do a back to back comparison for Annie and Layla...

Also this week, Layla has started noticing Opie more. She now laughs when he kisses her and she reaches for him when he walks past. She likes to grab his hair, which both Mike and I worry about a bit since Opie sheds like it's no body's business... Layla gets a big handful and then of course tries to put it in her mouth. Disgusting.

Layla also enjoys riding on Daddy's shoulders or on the top of his head. She digs her little fingers into his hair and hangs on. There's a lot of drool involved, but it's pretty cute. :)

the glee in her face. 

Mike caught this beautiful picture of Layla when she was playing after her nap. I am not sure why, but I can't stop looking at it. I think it's her eyelashes and her little peaceful lips. Or her eyes. Or the fact that she's my baby. I don't know. Could be anything :)