First day of summer at the pool

We had a great day at the pool. Hayden enjoyed her blow up pool and toys that her Nanna got for her and eventually got in the big pool with mommy. She splashed and laughed and wore herself out! I will upload the pictures soon, they are too cute! It is so nice to have the in-laws and a pool right up the road from us! I am looking forward to this summer. Justin is working a lot so he missed out today, BUMMER! I am already getting excited about planning Hayden's 1st birthday! I cannot get over the fact that it is 3 months away! She just does not seem to be close to a year! I surely am taking in each and every day! We played together this evening and I would laugh and get her laughing so hard that she would snort. It was so cute, it would make me laugh harder which meant she would laugh even harder. I can't say it enough, I just love her so much! I just want to go get her out of her crib and cuddle. I don't do that a lot though because it is taking chances of her not going back to sleep AND the fact that I just do not sleep well with her beside me. Her schedule is so wonderful -- I think I am really getting the hang of this! (and that does NOT mean I am ready for another one, not yet!) I want to enjoy my Hayden time and then we will talk of another baby. Ideally, I would like them to be 3 years apart. I figure that Hayden would be a little more self sufficient, she would be out of diapers, understand that mommy is pregnant, and she would maybe be going to a pre-K of some sort so I would get 1 on 1 time with baby #2. That would be very important to me. Oh and I would like for the economy to be a little better off. Of course! Well just wanted to share our dayh of Fun in the Sun.... I will add the pictures later! Good Night!

Bittersweet Ending

I just wanted to share that today was the first day of the end of breastfeeding. It is such a bittersweet ending. We have made it 9 months and I could not be happier or more proud of myself for doing such a good job with it. It was a rough start and we made it through it. We have been slowly weaning for a month now and was down to 1 morning feeding. Well, Hayden stayed with my mom last night so I knew that I wouldn't bf her today which meant I was done. (we had been down to 1 morning feeding for a while and I just had not stopped yet, so it was time) I do not know why I am so emotional about it because I am excited to have my body back and a baby not being attached to my breasts but at the same time it almost feels like she "doesn't need me anymore." Not like that because I know she needs me but it is like I am not her source of survival for food anymore. I know that there will be another one in the future to breastfeed so I will be okay but I just wanted to share and say thank you to all who have supported me through this. I know that I did the best thing for my daughter (and for me) that I could have ever done!

My love bug is getting into everything now... She can pull up to standing just about anywhere and she crawls like a bear all over the place. We are weaning her now from breastfeeding and it is going well, slowly but surely. She is eating more finger foods, like bite size fruits and veggies. It is a good thing too because I do not have to spoon feed her every bite. We can eat at the same time and enjoy it. I just love this ball of joy! I realize now after all the playdates with babies of the same age that Hayden is VERY high strug... "noooo, you don't say!" haha Ryland and Will are both so layed back and easy going and Hayden is here and there and annoyed and bored... and it keeps on going. So yeah, I have to say my job with her is 24/7 and just because I am home, don't expect my house to look remotely clean! Speaking of a job, I am getting on... I need money - don't we all :P I am wanting something part time so that I am not always away from Hayden but something close by so it will be worth the money I would be making. It will all work out - I trust my God!

Rejuvinated

7 months and I am getting the hang of things. We decided to stick with CIO (crying it out) to teach and train Hayden to self soothe herself to sleep and sleep throught the night. It is going great. It is definately not for everyone, as we tried it a while back and I could not stick with it, but it is worth giving it several tries. And you know... a couple nights of crying and 10-20 mins checking on her, knowing it is leading to the future nights of a full sleep is definately worth it! You just have to prepare yourself for it mentally and stick with it. Giving in will only confuse the baby and it will be worse! I am so glad that I have learned these things and that I have had people supporting me. Justin's help has been so helpful as well. It is nice to have someone walking right beside you and you can both encourage each other. Justin and I just sat in the back vanity area and tried not to listen to the cries! Check the clock and peek in on her... give her a pacifier and pat her belly and walk back out. Re-assure her it is okay and eventually the dry, fed, tired baby will learn to get herself to sleep.

I was not against co-sleeping and did it for the first few months occasionally but it is a bad habit to break if you do not plan to do it for years or at least have your mind set to it. It was actually helpful and easier to co-sleep to an extent in the beginning when she woke to nurse 2-4 times at night but now she is able to sleep throught the night yet she was still waking 2 times, then three and I was not going to let it get to anymore... and it was not to eat but just for the boob! Sorry, I am not a pacifier and it was only draining me. I would not feel like myself all day and if I didn't get a nap... phew! My day was gone! Now, though, I have more confidence and I am having a better nights rest and happier throughout the day. So is Hayden. She is also learning self confidence and independence as well. If you question this method please read about it... www.babycenter.com/0_the-ferber-method-demystified_7755.bc

So... other news, she is eating solids 3x a day. She LOVES yogurt the most. I make her babyfood, just not the rice cereal or yogurt. I like knowing it is all natural and it saves money. It is so easy at that. Just steam or bake, puree, and freeze in an ice cube tray. Put the cubes in labeled baggies and take out how ever many they will eat. So simple and the most natural! Don't get me wrong I am not an organic person myself but her nutrition this early on is very important to me... and why not? - I am a stay at home mom- she is my number one priority and this is my job. How about she is getting on her hands and knees and rocking... she will be crawling before I know it - then walking! OOOhhhh! She can even hold on to something and stand for periods of time! I just love her. I am so excited to see her grow and mature but it is going so fast! It will be time for another one before we know it! lol but lets wait on that thought another year or two. Okay so time to add a few pictures, wish I knew how to get them all over the page but I don't. We took her to the park the other day and she loved it! She got in the baby swing and just smiled and laughed! :)

2009 SNOW!

March 1 2009 We got SNOW! Justin and I played in it, threw snowballs and built our snow family. We had so much fun! Today I got Hayden out in it and took some pictures. She was just wondering why she was out in such cold and what were these cold white snowballs beside her? haha. She is just so precious and just to think next year she will be running around playing in it! How exciting! We made snow cream and of course it was sooo good. Snow is nice every once in a while but now that we got it I am ready for the beautiful WARM Spring! I hope we stay clear from the flu and we all stay healthy!... Next week is Spring forward so turn your clocks!! Can you believe it? Hayden is babbling, sitting up momentarily and rolling everywhere! We are enjoying EVERY milestone! She has cut 2 teeth now on the bottom and getting back to her good sleep habits - THANKFULLY!

We've been parents for half a year! ;)

And Hayden has cut her first tooth! OH MY! She has been fighting sleep, cranky, and refusing to eat lately and now we know why! I tried to take a picture... maybe you can see it! She is growing so quickly! Not quite crawling yet, who knows, she may never crawl. She is trying to sit up on her own but she hasn't figured it out. We are trying cloth diapers on her little tush! They are a little aggrivating because I am new at it... but hey I am not giving up yet! I love how eco friendly they are... how much better they are for their bottom, and in the long run they save tons of money! Justin was not too for it at first but he has been somewhat supportive lately. I just wish everyone was more supportive towards them. They are not "too much work" and I will do what is best for my family! :) I am also trying to get in better shape and that is tough right now. P90X is kicking my butt! But I can't wait to look "good" again! I'm sticking to it! BRING IT!

Our Valentines

So our Valentines has already been truly special! We celebrated it early because Justin will be working on the actual day. Now, Justin usually does not like holidays but he went far beyond what I could have asked for... not only did I get some beautiful Tulips and the sweetest card ever but he even got Hayden a First Valeantines card, 2 books, and a baby doll... THEN took us on a picnic in Glencairen Gardens.

We had such a good time and the weather was perfect. We layed out a blanket and had sub sandwiches, took pictures, and just enjoyed our special family time. I could not have asked for a better time! He is such a sweet husband and such a wonderful daddy to Hayden. I love my family! Of course, I have to share the pictures, well, some!