Layla Rani Gautam - Month 1

Let's travel back in time to the summer of 2021.  Layla's parents had just come home from a joint family trip to North Carolina. Mom was furiously unpacking and cleaning while Dad was lounging and facetiming a friend. Mom was not feeling well so she decided to take a pregnancy test in hopes that a little baby G was brewing. Much to her surprise the test came back positive. We found out that we were pregnant with you on July 5, 2021. We will never forget this day because it was the day that the dream and hope of you became a reality.  

Fast forward to November 2021. Our families came together to celebrate the future baby G. No one knew your name yet except for Mom and Dad and everyone was begging us to share.  Your first name was easy for us to choose - we loved the name Layla. Your middle name hails from your maternal great grandmothers - Rajrani and Ramani. Both of these women mean a great deal to your Mom and Dad and we hope you emulate their greatness as you grow. 

In January of 2022, Mom and Dad moved to Brooklyn to your first home and prepared for your arrival.  Your original due date was March 4, 2022 but you joined us three weeks early on February 12, 2022.  Layla, you were born small but boy were you mighty. You weighed only 4 lbs and 13 oz and were 17.5 inches tall.  Your Dad and I were smitten from the moment you joined us.

We recently celebrated your 1 month birthday (Hooray!) and your Anand mama shared the idea to create a blog post for every 1 month of your life throughout the first year. Your mom is sitting here sleep deprived and crying (as usual) thinking back on how quickly this past month has flown. You have surpassed all of our expectations and are now close to 7 lb! You are finally starting to fit into your newborn clothes and your favorite things to do are guzzle your milk and stick your tongue out. Your grandmothers were with us through the entire first month to help us raise you. Your grandfathers came to see you when you were first born and call to check in almost daily to see what you are doing. Your family in Ohio asks for pictures every day and facetimes you on the regular just to watch you sleep. Your Bua comes to visit weekly. Your Dad loves to cuddle you and be in your face while your Mom likes to take naps with you and know what you are doing constantly. We talk about you all day long and already have 2 shared albums full of 100s of pictures of you! Dad calls you Luly Pie and Mom calls you Lu but to us and your entire extended family you are our Rani.  

We love you unconditionally kiddo and looking forward to month 2 and a lifetime with you.