Easter

Hayley's first Easter was a success!  

Nick and I have decided that holidays are much more fun when you have a child.  I found myself evaluating our favorite traditions and dreaming of new ones I want to start in the upcoming years.  

We always spend Easter at my parent's house in Clear Lake.  My dad's side of the family makes the trek out to the lake and we spend a weekend crammed into the house.  It's a big, big house... but we manage to make it feel tight!  This year we had a grand total of 34 people staying at the house.  

We have some fun traditions that we carry on year after year.  My personal favorite is the Easter sunrise service.  My uncle Al delivers a message, we sing a few worship songs, and watch the sun rise over the peaceful lake.  It is majestic.  This year, Uncle Al incorporated our family history into the message.  It was a wonderful reminder of God's faithfulness to our family and the rich legacy that we carry.  I am excited to teach Hayley about our family history as she grows.  

My other favorite tradition is the Annual Wine and Cheese Competition.  Everyone brings their "winning cheese" and then we eat, vote, and anxiously await the results.  It is not only a fun tradition, but a delicious one too!  Needless to say, we don't eat lunch that day!

On Easter Sunday, we have a big Easter egg hunt for the little kids.  Hayley just watched this year, but it was fun to imagine her running around hunting for eggs next year!  

It was a wonderful weekend celebrating Jesus and spending quality time with family.  We are blessed!

3 Months

Miss Hayley is three months old!

This month she became much more alert and aware of her surroundings.  She loves playing with Nick and I... and we love playing with her. Her favorite games are Airplane, Kissing Game, Patty-Cake, and Peek-a-boo!

We're still working on sleep. She does pretty well for the first half of the night (7:30pm-1:30am). After 1:30am, she doesn't sleep as soundly. She wakes for feedings at 1:30, 4:30, and 6:00. She usually wakes up for the day around 6:30-7:00am. I've gotten pretty used to this schedule. However, I really look forward to her dropping one of those feedings in the near future!

Nick and I are loving being parents. Everyone told us that it would change our lives and be the best adventure. It's so true. I don't think we really could have imagined how much we would love this little person. It truly is the best (even when you're sleep deprived)!

13.5 pounds

Grayish blue eyes

6-7 diaper changes a day

Babbles all day long

Sits in her Bumbo seat
Has less hair now than at birth

Holds head up during tummy time

Loves looking at self in mirrors

Takes 35-40 minute naps in crib (sometimes)

Sleeps one 5-6 hour chunk at night
Spits up after every meal
Loves chewing on her hands

Loves standing 

                                                           Kisses from Nana!

Getting ready to attend her first birthday party!  It was superhero theme... so naturally, she was Batgirl!

                                                Discovered Sophie the Giraffe.

                                 Loving the Bumbo seat (for about 3 minutes max).

                        Airplane with Daddy always generates big smiles and coos! 

 Apparently our smart child KNOWS that we are watching her on the baby monitor camera.  She likes to smile at us... it's as though she is laughing at the fact that she has already has us figured out.. ;)

Naps on Papa are the best.   Check out her awesome mullet!  Business up front... party in the back!

Hayley's first Giants game (on TV).  It's the first of many!  We can't wait to bring her to her first real game at AT&T Park!