The Woods

Kitchen Complete!

2012-01-25T07:30:00.000-06:00

It took a few months, but our kitchen is finished! :) When we bought the house, the kitchen layout was one of my favorite parts. It's BIG, and it has big windows that look out on the trees and the back yard. I wasn't a fan of the countertops, old boring cabinets, layout, sink...pretty much everything, but the size and windows. It took a while, but Steve fixed it up for me in his own DIY ways. First, he did the trim. He's working on doing white trim in the whole house. The rough cedar was so annoying. Then, he did the pantry doors. He took the louvers out and put corregated metal in. This is Hailey's magnet spot. I made the magnets on top out of bottle caps.

Here you can see some of the countertops. He did stained concrete countertops. He also reshaped some of the countertop area.

Steve sanded all of the cabinets and stained them darker to give them a more updated look.

He also put in a new stove hood. Now, the smoke alarm doesn't go off every time we make bacon.

Steve made a butcher block so we could move the refrigerator away from the stove and put in tiles under the stove and refrigerator. (There was a huge spot there without tiles when we moved in.)

Here you can see some of the bright blue wall and the sink that is under the countertops.

He also put in shelves under the counter where the built in oven used to be and made a shelf for the microwave.

Here's a close up of the butcher block. It's amazing.

One of my favorite things is the chalk board. Steve made it out of an old frame.

Here's a close up of the petoskey stones (our state stone) in the countertop. We wanted to personalize it a bit. I love my big sink.

I'm a pretty lucky girl to have a husband that can do all of this. We didn't want to put a lot of money into the project because we don't see ourselves living here for a long time, but it needed to be done. Now, I love hanging out in the kitchen.

Christmas Morning

2012-01-22T07:20:00.000-06:00

Baby girl loved her truck that Santa left for her. The fact that it has a radio made it even better. She kept "oohh"ing at the fact that she had her very own truck WITH buttons!

So she opened all presents and stockings in her truck! Who wouldn't?

Then, it was time to explore the tent and tunnels. I had heard somewhere that some kids are hesitant or scared of crawling through tunnels...not this girl! The only thing that scares her....is Santa!

Now, she's in this truck all the time. Yes, it's still in our living room. Classy, huh? Whatever. It's winter in Michigan.

Santa Came!

2012-01-20T07:15:00.000-06:00

Yeah, it was almost a month ago, but he came! Here's what he left.

A lot of stocking stuffers for the whole family. We mostly got candy, snacks, and treats.

A truck for a certain little girl complete with a dog in the back. Every farm girl MUST have a dog in her truck.

A couple tents with tunnels.

A post of Hailey on Christmas morning will come soon!

Kiwi!

2012-01-18T07:12:00.000-06:00

This girl loves kiwi...

...and she's a big dork! :)

Crazy Girl

2012-01-15T07:50:00.001-06:00

Hailey found my bucket of scarves, hats and gloves. It was great entertainment for at least 15 minutes.

Christmas Cookies

2012-01-15T07:02:00.002-06:00

Better late than never, right?
I decided this year Hailey and I would make sugar cookies to take the the elderly neighbors next door. They absolutely ADORE Hailey and don't have family that visits. I figured I would be making and decorating the cookies, and Hailey would be yelling at me and trying to eat everything in sight.

Thank goodness she often proves me wrong.
She was such a good girl, and a fun helper to have.

She's the best darn sprinkler you have ever seen! She didn't even try to eat the cookies while she sprinkled.

Pretty much every cookie was sprinkled, but those are mom's favorite, anyway. :)

Sledding. Part 2

2011-12-24T07:38:00.000-06:00

Hailey got a new sled for Christmas from her Grandma and Grandpa Broyles. It's much nicer than the other one we had. It's padded and has sides so she doesn't fall over. Moose loved chasing the sled around the yard.

Aren't they the cutest? Moose sure does love Hailey.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the sled! Hopefully we have more snow soon so we can play again.

Visiting Santa

2011-12-22T07:31:00.000-06:00

Last year's Santa visit was wonderful. We put Hailey on the big guy's lap, and she just stared up at him. This year, was a bit different.
It was late...she didn't feel good...I should've known better. Hailey will typically let anybody hold her, but not Santa, I guess.
Here's how it went:
We got there and I could tell she wasn't going to be happy with it. So we tried taking a picture of the three of us. (I was NOT ready to be in this picture.) That didn't go so well so we decided to let her warm up to the big guy and play with the trains that were near him. She thought that was pretty cool.

Then, we tried again. BIG FAT FAIL.

So I told Santa that Hailey LOVES ipads and he let her see his. Yes, Santa has an ipad.

But all she wanted was her dad because mom just wasn't helping. :)

Maybe next year. Then, she'll be old enough to bribe.

Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-20T05:43:00.004-06:00

We put our tree up at the beginning of December, but I haven't had a chance to post anything. Hailey is currently sleeping in so I thought I would try to post before she wakes up.

Last year we picked an already cut tree because we had a one month old with us, but this year we cut our own. It was a lot of fun dragging Hailey around to find the perfect tree.

She also had a lot of fun decorating.

Let It Snow!

2011-12-11T08:39:00.000-06:00

Last week we got 6 inches of snow! We couldn't wait take Hailey out to sled.

She was pretty bundled up. I think she would've liked it better if she could move.

Eating the snow was pretty fun.

Hanging out with her Dad was the best part!

Smoothie Time!

2011-12-09T08:35:00.000-06:00

This girl loves smoothies!

All you have to do is blend up some frozen fruit (from summer picking), throw in an overripe banana (Steve only likes 'em when they are green), and add milk. I've even been able to use baby food cubes that didn't get eaten (she's OVER baby food now). She drinks these suckers up like they're candy!

Getting INto Stuff

2011-12-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

Hailey loves to sit IN, ON, and UNDER things. You never know where you'll find her. She sits in the kitchen drawers, under tables, and on laptops. Recently she found the newspaper basket that sits near the fireplace. She loves to pull the newspapers out, sit in the basket, and "read." The picture below makes me laugh every time. Seriously, she looks like her daddy!

What do you think, should we send this one in to the paper?

Our Little Driver

2011-12-05T08:26:00.000-06:00

Hailey is OBSESSED with driving stuff. Her favorite thing to do (other than eat) is to stand on a driver's seat and hold the steering wheel. A few weeks ago Steve was moving some rocks for landscaping and Hailey got to help.

Hailey has also "driven" a tractor and a gator. She's truly a farm girl at heart.

Birthday Girl!

2011-12-03T08:14:00.004-06:00

I can't believe Hailey's party was a month ago! We had a great time!

I loved her decorations. We didn't do much of a theme, but it was very pink. :) Here are some of the decorations.
*Check out the new kitchen! :) We love it!

1 year old

2011-11-04T15:15:00.003-05:00

My baby girl is one year old today.I didn't sleep well after 4:00 am. Which was better than the day she was born. After 4 hours of pushing....she came at 2:12 am.

This morning, she was up at 6ish. Which was ok, because I was up already. She then woke her daddy up with big smiles. We played in our bed for a while (which is a weekend ritual) then headed out for doughnuts. :)

Hailey's morning nap was short. I think she knew what was coming. After finishing up some birthday treats (for the party tomorrow) we headed to Jackson.

Our first stop was Toys R US where we let Sprouty pick out her birthday gift from her mom and dad. It was a tough one. She really wanted the pink power wheel, but we ended up with a basketball hoop (she IS 3/4 hoosier).

After that we headed to The Parlour. It's a 50's style diner. Hailey got her first meal just for her...chicken tenders and fries, and she shared ice cream with us.

Finally, we headed home to play with her new toy, and now she's napping. Tonight will be low key so we can rest up for her big party tomorrow.

We didn't take pictures today because she has a nasty cold. We'll try tomorrow while she's in her party outfit, but here are some from the past month.

11 Months (2 weeks)

2011-10-19T19:32:00.005-05:00

Better late than never, right? I'm sure it's not surprising that as Hailey gets older, I get slower at posting her monthly updates. After her first birthday, I'm done with this monthly update stuff. Over it!

Age: 11 and a half months. We're almost there!

Weight: Not real sure. She's over the 20 pound mark and slimming down. Her legs are still chunky though.Height: Not sure. She seems pretty short. Her sleeves are always too long, and her pants are over her feet most times.

Size: She is growing out of 12 month clothes and into 18 month clothes. We started buying size 4 diapers. Hailey still has tiny feet, but they seem to be thinning. Hopefully we won't always have to buy "wides."

Hair: She is getting a "tuft" in the back, but she's still mostly bald. Oh well, I only have to run a washcloth over her head to "wash" her hair.

Sleep: Hailey goes to bed around 7:30 and sleeps until 6:30ish. She also takes two naps a day that total about 3 hours.

Eating: I am a free woman! Hailey doesn't nurse anymore and I don't have to make baby food because she eats people food. Hailey is still drinking pumped milk 2-3 times a day. She eats whatever we eat plus lots of snacks. She loves fruit and macaroni and cheese. She tried cows milk this month. We gave it to her hoping it would make her drink more, but she was just okay with it so we're holding off on giving her more until we run out of breast milk. She gets a bottle at night so she will drink more. She really doesn't care to drink at all. She'd rather eat.

Movement: Hailey is crawling, climbing, and cruising along furniture. She can walk with a "walker" but isn't walking on her own...yet.

Milestones: Hailey pulls up on everything (including the walls), climbs stairs quickly, and can sign "more." Sometimes she can point to her nose...if you're lucky.

Favorites: Haiey still loves to eat, read her board books, dance, and be outside. She also loves to look out the window and climb.

Dislikes: When she's sleepy she's not a fan of playing by herself or getting into her carseat, but she's pretty easy going now.

Best Buds

2011-09-17T08:05:00.003-05:00

Over labor day weekend the Retherford family came up to visit us. It was great to see the whole family, but it was especially neat to see our baby girls hang out. I can just picture them begging us to drive them 3 hours to have sleepovers with each other.

The girls had to be separated in this picture because Sophie was stealing Hailey's food and Hailey wouldn't stop patting Sophie. :)

10 Months

2011-09-17T07:46:00.003-05:00

Age: 10 (and a half) months

Weight: She was 18 pounds at 9 and a half months. That was our last doctor's visit before her one year appointment.

Height: She seems to be about average. Her clothes fit her just fine, I guess.

Size: She's probably ready for size 4 diapers but we are using up the 3's. She is growing out of 9 month clothes, wearing 12 months well, and fitting into some 18 months clothes. I love the constantly changing wardrobe! Her feet, however, are a different story. She can still wear her socks from last winter. :)

Hair: It's getting a little longer and a little thicker, but you would only notice that if you know about her lack of hair. People who don't know her, just see her as a bald baby.

Sleep: Wellllllll...she was doing great with 2 naps that are 1-2 hours each and sleeping from 8-7 at night with one snack break, but lately she's starting to switch things up. I think it's due to me going back to work. I hope it gets better....please!

Eating: Hailey is eating more people food. She loves pizza! She ate a whole piece last night. She is not as easy as she used to be and certainly has opinions about what she wants. Some nights she wants baby food and others she wants people food. She'll never turn away ice cream though...that's my girl!

Movement: I am proud (and slightly sad) to announce our girl is crawling! She picked it up shortly after going back to the sitter and she cand MOVE! She's everywhere, and I am exhausted. :)

Milestones: Hailey had her first sweet corn....that's a milestone, right? Other than that, she's clapping, crawling, dancing, waving, climbing. That sounds like a toddler, doesn't it?

Favorites: Hailey loves when we hold her under her arms and spin her. She also loves a stuffed monkey Steve gave me when we were dating. She is happiest when we are visiting friends and family so we're on the go a lot!

Dislikes: Currently, she's not a fan of nursing and wants a bottle. Let's hope that stops before my next post. She's also not a fan of vegetables or getting into the carseat when she's sleepy. Who can blame her?

Teeth

2011-09-08T20:29:00.001-05:00

How many teeth does Hailey have?

Not just two!

Four! Her fourth tooth just came in recently and she's pretty proud of them!

Back to School

2011-09-06T20:25:00.002-05:00

School starts today. I'm excited about teaching kindergarten this year and getting a classroom full of sweet little students, but... I sure will miss making a big glass of iced coffee every morning...sitting in my pj's ...

...playing around on the internet until this girl wakes up...

...and squishing these chubby cheeks.

Poor Girl

2011-09-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

Nobody warned me that when Hailey went in for her 9 month checkup that she would have to get blood drawn for a lead test! I don't know who was more shocked, Hailey or myself. She did a great job though and loved her hot pink band-aid!

Don't ya hate it when...

2011-09-02T20:21:00.000-05:00

...your dress rides up and shows off your amazing thighs?

Waffle Sunday

2011-08-31T20:18:00.000-05:00

Here she is on the floor again! This time she got to play with the empty containers from our waffle ingredients. Our girl loves to eat just about anything so of course she loves waffles!

Pizza Party

2011-08-29T20:11:00.000-05:00

First off, I promise she has a diaper on in this picture. Her rolls just hide it well. Hailey isn't crawling yet so we often sit her in random places on the floor while we do something. We just have to make sure there are no crumbs, fuzzballs, etc. on the floor. On this night she had had enough of sitting in her highchair and snacking so we stuck her on the floor while she sat happily and waited for us to finish cooking.

Steve and I were making pizzas. Pay no attention to the messy kitchen. We're redoing it and it's a bit of a disaster area.

While they were cooking Steve and Hailey hung out on the deck and waited patiently.

Here is Hailey's pizza. Crust, a tiny bit of sauce, a few tomatoes, brocoli, mushrooms, chicken, bacon, and cheese. She ate ALL of it! :)

Dorky White Shoes

2011-08-27T20:32:00.002-05:00

Hailey loves to walk while holding our hands, but isn't walking on her own yet. I decided it's probably time to go get her some good ol' dorky white walking shoes since she's wanting to walk more and it's getting cooler outside so she'll need something on her feet anyway. We went to the shoe store and got her measured. She has the shortest fatest feet... size 2.5 wide. She loves her new kicks. :)

New Age Baby

2011-08-27T20:08:00.002-05:00

Hailey's dad isn't into reading books to her, but he'll teach her how to use the ipad. :) Her favorite apps are fireworks and youtube. She definitely knows what is going on and how to work it. Gotta start 'em young, I guess.

Family Pictures

2011-08-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

This summer the Rausch family came to visit and Karla took some pictures of our family. They turned out great! Thanks, Kar!

Random Pictures

2011-08-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

I love this outfit on Hailey so I decided to grab the camer and take a few pictures. She wasn't very pleased at first.

I figure it's important to have a few "real" pictures in the baby book.

She slowly warmed up to the idea.

She loves sitting in her crib since it's something she doesn't normally do. We're in trouble when she can sit up by herself.

What a goof.

She loves watching her "tv" in her crib. It's still our saving grace!

Eating Like a Big Girl

2011-08-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to make dinner that Hailey can eat, too. She loves to feed herself. We have been practicing with a plate (aka...don't throw the plate on the floor). She does really well. On this day she had broccoli, noodles, ground beef, kiwi, and a side of cheerios (they were already on her tray).

Typical Hailey

2011-08-16T10:31:00.000-05:00

Hailey makes the best faces. :) One day I decided to dress her up for a photo shoot, but she just wasn't having it. Oh well. She looks cute even if she isn't cheesin' for the camera.

I decided if she wouldn't cooperate, I would just take a picture of those cute little feet.

Playing With Dad

2011-08-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hailey required more attention when she was cutting her last tooth. Attention from her dad is the best attention of all (especially since her mom had been entertaining her allll. day. long.).

Her favorite thing is to pull his hair as he presses his head into her round belly.

They are best buddies.

*I had to add this picture. Look at those thighs! She loves to show them off.

Playing Around

2011-08-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

Hailey loves playing in her room.
She has been working on getting to her knees from sitting, but she always ends up on her tummy. She's ok with that for now because it gets her a little closer to what she wants.

Peek-A-Boo

2011-08-10T10:19:00.000-05:00

Veggie Girl

2011-08-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

Hailey loves the veggies from her garden. Yum!

9 Months (and 2 days)

2011-08-06T09:48:00.002-05:00

Age: 9 Months

Weight: We go to the doctor in a week. I'm guessing around 20 pounds

Height: not sure. I noticed yesterday that she was "blessed" with her parents short legs and long torso.

Size: Size 3 diapers. 6-12 month clothes.

Hair: Her hair is growing! :) A few people have mentioned that they notice her hair grow. Woo hoo!

Sleeping: Her sleep is still about the same except when she was cutting her top tooth. Then she woke up an our earlier for feeding and wake-up as well as adding in a 2 am scream/feed. Good times!

Eating: Eating is still the thing Hailey is best at. She eats fruit puree and yogurt for breakfast, purees for lunch, and steamed veggies, noodles, and/or cut up meat and fruit for dinner. She really likes being able to feed herself, but tires out easily.

Movement: Hailey can spin on her belly to get to toys she wants. She also is working on going from sitting to her hands/knees, but ends up just falling on her belly so she isn't crawling...yet.

Milestones: Hailey recently cut a top tooth which was very painful for her. It was definitely more dramatic than the first two. Hailey also chewed on her first ear of sweet corn, which is a milestone in the Woods family.

Favorite toys/activities: Playing peek a boo is her favorite. The more dramatic, the better. She also loves eating, being outside, pulling dog hair, and riding on the gator.

Dislikes: cutting teeth, watching people eat and not eating herself, sitting still

Bathing Beauty

2011-07-23T07:57:00.000-05:00

Hailey grew out of the infant tub a month or two ago. She actually learned how to arch her back and get out of the seat part to submerge herself into the water...not safe...and annoying. After that we moved onto the inflatable duck tub. She liked it so much she popped a hole in it and we had to blow it up every other night...also annoying.

So here's our new gadget! She loves it, and her dad loves piling all of her toys in the tub and playing with her.

Lucky Girl

2011-07-21T07:52:00.004-05:00

When it comes to blocks and legos, Hailey is a very lucky girl. Her dad can build anything! He's an architect.

He's a structural engineer, too, but that's no match for this little monster. :)

Happy Birthday, Grandma Patty!

2011-07-13T15:46:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday Grandma Patty! I wish Icould give you a huge birthday hug, but this will have to do for now!

Two Teeth!

2011-07-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

Can you see those two beauties!?!
After a tiny bit of fussiness and lots of chewing, Hailey got her second tooth while on vacation. Now, I think she's working on some more because she can't stop chewing.

When we got back, Hailey and I took a trip to Target and got her a toothbrush. I am pretty sure we need to keep one in every room and bag because she LOVES to chew on it.

Tennessee Photo Shoot

2011-07-09T15:32:00.000-05:00

Last week we spent a week in TN with the Woods family. About 40 of us piled into a huge cabin for a week of fun. Hailey did great and really learned to go with the flow. While we were there, we took her out for a little photo shoot around the cabin. I was excited to get some cute shots that show a lot of her different faces.

8 Months Old

2011-07-07T14:37:00.004-05:00

Age: 8 Months

Weight: I'm guessing about 17 pounds. We go back to the doctor in August so I will know an exact weight then.

Height: no clue

Size: Size 3 diapers. 6-12 month clothes.

Hair: She's still a bald baby, but she has a very tan head since she refuses to wear a hat.

Sleeping: She sleeps 8-5:30, eats, and sleeps til 7 on most days. Then she takes two naps that are 1-2 hours each. Sometimes we can sneak a third in, too. She slept great in her pack n play while on vacation. That was a huge relief.

Eating: Hailey eats 3 meals of purees a day and nurses every 3-5 hours. We have also started puffs (like cheerios) for snacks. She loves them. We are excited she's able to eat "real" food because we can keep her entertained while in public. Hailey LOVES ice cream, but doesn't get it that often. When someone is eating around her she watches them very carefully and smacks her lips if she wants some.

Movement: Hailey is rolling around, but not to get to something she wants. She walks when holding onto our hands and smiles the whole time.

Milestones: Hailey has two new teeth. She is every proud of them. She loves getting her teeth brushed.

Favorite toys/activities: Hailey loves swimming, snacking, getting her teeth brushed, and playing with her mom and dad. She also loves looking at men. I catch her smiling at them even when they aren't looking.

Dislikes: Hailey doesn't like being left alone and sometime naptime is a bit of a struggle, but other than that, she's a very happy baby.

Happy Monday

2011-06-27T14:37:00.001-05:00

Things are Changing

2011-06-25T14:33:00.000-05:00

Things are changing around here.

Can you tell what's different?

Here's a little clue...drool (combined with a lot of chewing).

Yep! Hailey has a tooth!

Daddy's Hat

2011-06-23T14:26:00.000-05:00

When I met Steve, he was wearing this hat.

He didn't say much, but the hat did.

I knew he had to be a fun, laid back guy.

Who knew he'd have such a cute little girl?!

My Sunshine

2011-06-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

Hailey's new smile stinkin' adorable. LOVE IT!

Dadadadada

2011-06-19T11:28:00.010-05:00

Hey Guys! Happy Father's day! Wanna know who the best dad is? My dad. Well, I prefer to call him dadadadadada.
My dad is the best because he does things you wouldn't BELIEVE "Woodz" would do.

He changes my diapers, gives me baths, feeds me, and talks to me.

He'll do ANYTHING to make me laugh...or even crack a smile.

And when I cry, he hugs me, kisses me, and bounces me until I am all better (ok, sometimes he just tells me to get over it).

Anyway, Dad, if you're reading this...(and we know you do)...thanks for being so awesome. I can't wait to grow up and be just like you...and mom.

More Pictures

2011-06-07T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hailey was sick with a fever and runny nose during this monthly photo shoot, but they still turned out so cute. :)

I can't resist those rolls.

Daddy's Girl

2011-06-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

There's no doubt about it. She's Daddy's girl. That's ok. I think he's pretty amazing, too.

7 Months Old

2011-06-05T09:28:00.004-05:00

Age: 7 Months

Weight: Probably between 16 and 17 pounds

Height: not sure

Size: Size 3 diapers. She's growing out of some of her 6-9 month clothes. I am in the process of pulling out 12 month clothes that I bought her a long time ago. A lot of them have long sleeves so I am going to see if I can cut them off to make short sleeves. She still has tiny feet. I'm thinking she's still in size 2 or maybe 3.

Hair: She's still a bald baby!

Sleeping: She's starting to go to bed later most nights. She's out between 8 and 9 and then wakes up around 5 or so to eat and go back to sleep. Lately she's been sleeping until 6 and then wakes to eat. It just keeps getting better. Hailey also takes 2 naps in her crib one weekends and doesn't get rocked to sleep. She does a great job!

Eating: Hailey eats solids 2-3 times a day. She nurses 3-4 times a day and has 2-3 bottles at the sitter. The girl LOVES to eat. I'm getting braver and trying to give her tastes of people food. So far she's had waffles, berry smoothie (on accident...we didn't know she could drink out of a straw), mashed potatoes, cows milk, toast, and cantelope. She likes everything and would eat as much as I give her, but she only gets a taste for now. She also got "real" baby food last week when we were without power for 5 days. I couldn't open the freezer so I went to the grocery and bought enough baby food to last us the week. She liked it, of course, but now we're back to the homemade stuff.

Movement: Hailey loves to move, as long as someone is doing the moving for her. She rolls to her belly, and that's about it. :) I guess that's a good thing because we can leave the room, and she stays in one spot...for now.

Milestones: Hailey can drink out of a regular straw and is sitting even better. She still falls, but not as much.

Favorite toys/activities: She loves to play with burp rags. She's chewing more and more and loves to wrap fabric around her thumb and chew! Hailey loves to ride in the carrier facing forward. She also loves to swing outside and take baths in her grandmas' sinks.

Dislikes: Having her nose wiped. Being cuddled (except when she doesn't feel well).

On Her FACE!

2011-06-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

I try to follow all the rules of parenthood. For naps, we put her down while she's awake, no bumpers in the crib, no blankets, no pillows, no nothing. Hailey...she's not much of a rule follower. You see, she sleeps on her belly....yeah....you aren't supposed to do that when you're a baby. I put her on her back. She quickly rolls onto her belly. Even worse, she sleeps on her FACE. It's scary, but when we walk in once she's asleep and turn her head, she quickly turns it back.

She actually sleeps with her hands between her face and the matress, which I imagine helps her to breathe (yeah...breathing is pretty important).

Want proof? Here's the rule breaker after her nap.

Her cheeks are red from resting on the back of her hands,and see those lines above her eyes...those are finger prints. :) NICE!

Bathing Suit Body

2011-06-01T14:26:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again when all women begin to work on (or worry about) their bathing suit body. Hailey is no exception. She's been working hard on eating EVERYTHING in sight.

Of course, Moose had to join us. He was very thankful for the giant "water bowl" we got him.

Mother's Day

2011-05-31T14:20:00.000-05:00

Mother's day was really special this year. Steve was so wonderful and did whatever I wanted. The Binder Park Zoo is just about 15 minutes away from our house so for my birthday, Steve got me a season pass so Hailey and I can go with friends and family over the summer. I decided we should go on Mother's day. BAD idea. The zoo lets moms in free on mothers day. It was PACKED, and Hailey was NOT impressed...neither was Steve. Haha. Live and learn. :)

*Look closely at those thighs! I LOVE them. :)

Update

2011-05-29T14:18:00.003-05:00

You may have noticed I haven't posted anything new in a while. Sorry about that. Things are going well here. Hailey is taking regular naps, days are getting warmer and longer, and we are staying busy with friends and family. I have also battled the flu, Hailey came down with a nasty cold, and I have been super busy preparing for school to be out. So there are my excuses.

I'll be posting a few times this week so check back for some more pictures. :)

Perfecting Her Rolls

2011-05-14T20:58:00.000-05:00

Hailey isn't rolling over much, but she's still perfecting her rolls...fat rolls.
Check out those washboard abs...

...and those thighs!

Another Kind of Hoarder

2011-05-12T20:55:00.000-05:00

I think I may have a problem. I might be a baby food/milk hoarder. Now that I have my own freezer for Hailey's "food" I can't stop making food and freezing milk.
It could be worse, right?

C'mon Summer!

2011-05-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

A month from now we'll be celebrating summer at the pool! :)

1st Easter

2011-05-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

Hailey's first Easter was a lot of fun. I was so excited to give her her very first Easter "bucket."

She wasn't as excited as I was, but she puts up with me pretty well.

Half Birthday Girl

2011-05-08T20:35:00.000-05:00

Hailey's half birthday was last week. We celebrated by dressing her up in her tutu dress (thanks Vicky) and going swinging at Grandma and Grandpa's. She was a very happy girl!

Blue Eyed Girl

2011-05-06T21:02:00.001-05:00

I never thought I would be the momma of a blue eyed girl, but I love them so so so much.

6 Months Old

2011-05-06T20:18:00.003-05:00

Age: 6 Months

Weight: No idea. We'll find out Monday at her 6 month appointment.

Height: Again...no idea, but she is growing!

Size: Size 3 diapers. She's growing out of some of her 6-9 month clothes. I sure wish it would warm up here so she can wear her cute tanks and dresses before she grows out of them.

Hair: The hair on her ears is gone! She's getting a little more dark fuzz on her head.

Sleeping: Most nights Hailey goes to sleep on her own in her crib by 8 and sleeps until 4 or 5, eats, and then sleeps until 6 or 7. I can handle that. :)

Eating: The list of things our girl eats (and loves) is growing:
peas, carrots, squash (yellow and butternut), sweet potatoes, zuchini, apples, pears, peaches, prunes, parsnips. She is trying to get the hang of drinking water out of a sippy cup, but it isn't going so well.

Movement: A few days ago, Hailey finally started rolling from her belly to her back and rolled all over the room. Since then, she hasn't done it again!Oh well, we like it better when we can leave the room and know she's going to stay put.

Milestones: sitting for a bit longer (still not REALLY sitting)

Favorite toys/activities: the jumperoo, we put away the play mat and the swing

Dislikes: naps...we'll work on that more this summer

Sweet Girl

2011-04-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

I love all of her fun facial expressions.

Easter Bucket

2011-04-20T12:02:00.000-05:00

I'm not a fan of baskets, but I knew Hailey needed her very own Easter basket to use over the years so I made her a bucket. :)

New Kicks

2011-04-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hailey got 6 new pairs of shoes during spring break.

Her momma and grandma just LOVE shoes!

Mean Momma...again

2011-04-16T11:57:00.002-05:00

I promise I'm not always this mean, but sometimes she just cracks me up and I don't want to forget it. I also want to share stuff with Steve when he gets home from work.

So here's another funny picture!
I promise I wiped her nose/face when I finished taking the picture.

Perfect Paci

2011-04-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Hailey doesn't like pacifiers. We tried a TON of them.

She doesn't like pacifiers because they aren't food. Duh!
Stick a pear in a mesh feeder...and she's pacified!

Yum!

2011-04-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hailey loves her new food.

She also loves to put her hands in her mouth...

...and wipe her eyes.

5 Months

2011-04-04T09:51:00.002-05:00

Age: 5 Months

Weight: I have no clue. Somewhere around 15 pounds...I am guessing.

Height: Again...no idea, but she is growing!

Size: Size 2 diapers...but they are getting snug. Growing out of 3-6 month clothes and heading into 6-9 month clothes. We're adding layers to her 6-9 month clothes because it's still chilly here. She loves bare legs though! And I love "playing dress up" with a whole new stash of clothes.

Hair: Let's face it...she's bald.

Sleeping: Sleep still stinks! She went back to waking up twice to eat before getting up at 6. We are taking the doctor's advice and having her cry herself back to sleep until 4. Last weekend we stopped swaddling her and cut out a feeding. It hasn't been easy. She puts herself to sleep quickly, but then cries at night. I think it's getting better. We'll give it a week and see what happens.

Eating: Haiely loves to eat (hence the night feedings). She continues to love cereal and has added sweet potatoes, squash, peas and pears to her menu. Carrots and oatmeal are coming soon. Hailey is eating 3 4-5 ounce bottles a day at the sitter.

I am making her food from fresh (and sometimes frozen) veggies. It's super easy to steam the food (in my new handy steamer) and puree them (in a blender). Then, I pour them into ice cube trays, freeze, and pop them into bags to store in my milk/baby food freezer. I love knowing that she's eating veggies/fruit...nothing else. I can't wait until our garden is ready!

Movement: She's rolling! She rolls from her back to her belly, both ways. She doesn't like it when she gets stuck on her belly, but when you help her over to her back, she rolls right back to her belly. Luckily, she's only rolled over once in her sleep.

Milestones: Eating purees, rolling, smacking her lips, grabbing at things, loves to feel everything

Favorite toys/activities: her play mat (still), sitting up in her swing (watching tv), exercises with mom, being carried around (forward facing), eating out of the mesh feeder, her baby cell phone

Dislikes: having her face wiped, warm baths (the hotter the better with this girl), her current stuffy/runny nose

Thighs Like This

2011-03-29T19:09:00.000-05:00

When you have thighs like this, it's hard to find (and reach) your toes,...
...but this girl did! And she hasn't "lost" them since.

Part Hoosier

2011-03-28T19:07:00.000-05:00

What's she watching?
Basketball, duh! :)

Happy March Madness!

Guess Who...

2011-03-26T19:04:00.001-05:00

rolled over!
This girl! :)

Hillbilly Baby

2011-03-25T20:08:00.000-05:00

Hailey's Carhart outfit finally fits. Steve thought she looked adorable. I have to agree. Nothing beats a little girl in carharts and boots.

*Please ignore the pink robe. Babies get dressed first in our house.

Just Like Her Daddy

2011-03-24T19:13:00.002-05:00

During the week, Hailey visits school often. I like to dress her in the cutest stuff and show her off. Over the weekend, she's mostly in a white onesie, but I also like to dress her in the stuff I know Steve would like.

John Deere socks, overalls, and a camoflauge bow. It doesn't get more "Woodz" than that (I'm not saying he wears bows...or overalls, but you get the point).

Bad Momma

2011-03-23T20:06:00.000-05:00

This is how I found Hailey playing one morning. Oops!

I always lay her on her play mat while I start the car in the morning and get everything packed up.

I guess she hit her bow, but she didn't seem to mind.

Silly girl.

$4 Onesies

2011-03-21T20:03:00.001-05:00

I am addicted to the $4 onesie display at Target. When I picked this one up, Steve was excited because his grandma (triple G) loves elephants. :)

Jumping for Joy!

2011-03-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Dress Up Day

2011-03-18T09:52:00.000-05:00

Hailey hasn't had an occasion to wear her pretty dress, but I wanted her to wear it before she grew out of it. So last Friday I dressed her up to go to the babysitter. It's a good thing because when I got to the sitter she told me they had a meeting for a local fundraiser and were volunteering at my school. Our little philanthropist looked so cute!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2011-03-17T09:35:00.000-05:00

Daddy said I look like a fat hippy in my new outfit. I know he said that with a lot of love. :)

I had to include a picture of Hailey watching her "tv". It's the best thing EVER!

Cereal

2011-03-16T09:45:00.000-05:00

Hailey's doctor recommended starting solids to help curb Hailey's appetite and help her (and momma) sleep.

Steve got to feed her. He was pretty pumped about it.
She loved it...until it was time to clean up.

Trying to Roll Over

2011-03-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

First, she throws those chubby legs into the air.

Then, she tosses them to the side.

And that's about it!

How I (try to) Get Things Done

2011-03-14T09:39:00.000-05:00

She's a fan of the Moby wrap now that she can face out. Hopefully this summer I will get a new carrier that will be better for facing out. For now, this works in short spurts.

4 Month Picture Bloopers

2011-03-13T09:11:00.000-05:00

I'll spare you the captions I was thinking about and let you just look/laugh at these. The more mobile and opinionated she gets, the more crazy these photo shoots are going to be, I guess.

Sometimes those bloopers do turn out so sweet. :)

4 months (1 week, 1 day...oops)

2011-03-12T08:51:00.003-06:00

Age: 4 Months

Weight: 14 pounds 9 ounces

Height: 25 3/4 inches

Size: Size 2 diapers, mostly 3-6 month clothes

Hair: It's still just dark fuzz. Lots of people comment on how round her head is. I think that's just a nice way of saying, "Wow! Your baby is really bald."

Sleeping: Bedtime is between 7:30 and 8 since we cut out her evening nap. She's been just waking up once to eat and sleeping until 6. On weekends, she'll go back to sleep after eating if we're lucky.

Eating: Like a piggy! She's taking 3-5 ounce bottles at the babysitter every 3 hours. We recently started cereal and she loves it. Eating has never been a problem for this girl.

Movement: She's still not rolling over. She picks her legs up, throws them to the side, and then she's done. :) She loves to sit and stand while holding your hands.

Milestones: Sitting and standing (assisted, of course), making more noises

Favorite toys/activities: her play mat, sitting up in her swing, exercises with mom, being carried around (forward facing), chewing and licking everything

Dislikes: When she's sleepy, she wants to be held and walked, but any other time, she's pretty much a happy girl.

Ray of Sunshine!

2011-03-10T14:50:00.001-06:00

*Most of Hailey's smiles include her tongue. :)

Pretty Girl

2011-03-08T14:47:00.000-06:00

Just Playing

2011-03-06T14:39:00.000-06:00

Hailey's Photo Book

2011-03-05T07:43:00.003-06:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Recently I got a coupon for a free photo book from Shutterfly. While cuddling and nursing a sick baby this week I decided to take advantage of it and make a photo book of Hailey's first 3 months. I thought I would post it on here in case grandparents and great-grandparents want to buy one. :)

80's Girl

2011-03-04T14:36:00.000-06:00

We didn't get a picture of the teal faded babylegs that went with this outfit I put together, but she looked totally rad. I'm not sure that she agrees with me though.

Poor Baby

2011-03-02T14:27:00.003-06:00

Today is Hailey's first sick day. Sunday she started getting a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and very cranky. After not sleeping at all Monday night, I took her to the babysitter and asked her to call me if she needed me to pick her up or make a doctor's appointment. Being a new mom, I wasn't sure if she needed to go to the doctor or not, but I trusted her babysitter's advice.

We ended up going to the doctor Tueday after work. Hailey either has a nasty cold or the beginnings of a flu that is going around. Luckily her ears checked out fine and she doesn't have a fever, but the doctor suggested that we stay home so she's away from the other kids (who actually have the flu, but we didn't know that at the time).
So, today we're home. I hate that she's sick, but it is nice getting another day with her.

We're Ready!

2011-02-28T01:00:00.000-06:00

We're ready to change from this...

...to this!

C'mon summer!
We're tired of snow, ice, and staying inside! We're ready for walks, swimming, and staying home with mom!

Flower Child

2011-02-27T01:00:00.003-06:00

Michaels had fake flowers on sale for 99 cents each. After some serious shopping for summer clothes (for Hailey) we stopped by Michaels to pick up matching flowers. When I got home, I took them apart, mixed up the petals, added a gemstone, and attached them to a clip. Think she has enough? Nah!

Mommy's Little Helper

2011-02-26T11:07:00.000-06:00

I love that Hailey is growing out of her fussiness so I can actually get things done with her around. Over the snow day we did laundry, and made cookies...in our PJ's! :)

This summer is going to be so much fun!

That's a Mouthful!

2011-02-25T11:06:00.000-06:00

Jumperoo!

2011-02-24T11:01:00.000-06:00

In the past week or so Hailey has perfected her head control so I thought we'd give the jumperoo a try. She likes it, but doesn't get the jumping part. She's just happy to look at all of the toys.

Thanks Aunty Betsy for getting it for me! :)

Daddy's PJ's

2011-02-23T10:56:00.000-06:00

Steve's mom handed down these pj's. They are so cozy and perfect for snow days.

Chubby Baby

2011-02-22T16:58:00.000-06:00

Blanket Photo Shoot

2011-02-22T16:48:00.000-06:00

Oh Deer!

2011-02-22T10:53:00.000-06:00

These guys were our dinner entertainment for a few days.

I cant wait until Hailey can enjoy looking out our big windows at all of the animals!

Snow Day!

2011-02-21T10:00:00.004-06:00

Today is our THIRD snow day since I have been back to work!
Really, it's an ice day.
Yesterday, we got this.

Last night I got the call that school was cancelled.
So this morning looked like this.

LOVE her! AND that iced coffee in the background. :)

Colorful Cutie

2011-02-18T09:32:00.000-06:00

Do you think there's enough color in her life?

Tu-Tu Cute!

2011-02-17T09:29:00.000-06:00