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!

2 Months

Hayley Joy is two months old!

How did this happen?!  It's hard to remember life before Hayley was here with us... and at the same time, these past two months have flown by.

This girl.  Wow, she has absolutely captured our hearts.  It is fun to see her personality start to emerge.  She is extremely observant and aware of her surroundings.  She loves being held and cuddled and is quick to tell you when she is unhappy.  There is definitely a little bit of feisty in her.  

Her smile is captivating!  Nick and I spend a large chunk of our night making sounds and faces in order to see that amazing smile.  Lucky for us, she smiles often!  

Can you tell that she lights up our world?   

12.0 pounds

23 inches long

Grayish blue eyes

6-8 diaper changes a day

Loves her pacifier

Smiles often

Laughs in her sleep

Bats at hanging toys on her play mat

Kicks legs

Can bear weight on her legs 

Sleeps one 5 hour chunk at night

Hates her crib

Blows spit bubbles

Happiest first thing in the morning

Hayley during month two:

Her favorite way to sleep is with her hands in her face.  She did this in all her ultrasound photos as well.

Happy baby.  She loves being surrounded by blankets.

 If I let her, she would nap on my belly ALL DAY LONG.  I enjoy it too... so we have spent a lot of days in this position.  

 Hayley loves stretching!  She spends the first couple minutes after waking up stretching her arms and legs.  It's quite adorable.   

 She's perfected the furrowed eyebrow.  She inherited that feature from her mother!  

 Tummy time is her least favorite time of the day.  This is the only time she has ever smiled during it!

She loves Batman, just like her daddy.  Yes, her outfit has a cape.

It Takes a Village

Hayley is a blessed little girl!  We had lots of visitors during her first few weeks at home.  

During the past year, we have realized just how blessed our little family is.  We are surrounded by incredible people!  Between the multiple baby showers, visitors, phone calls, texts, and emails, we certainly have felt the love!  

Thank you!  

                              Papa Paul, Nana Lily, Auntie Cristina, and Auntie Emily

                                                               Auntie Emily

Auntie Cristina

                                                        Grandma Karolee

                                                                   Uncle Chris

                                                                   Aunt Jenifer

                                                                      Courtney

                                                             Heather and Eden

                                                                     Bryon 

Robin 

                                                                Great Uncle Al

Great Aunt Carolyn

There are a handful of other people who have come by too!  Unfortunately, I didn't always remember to snag a photo.  Thank you to everyone who has loved our little family of three so well!  We are thankful for each one of you.  

One Month

Hayley is one month old!  

The first month flew by.  We are trying to savor and enjoy each and every moment because I have a feeling life is only going to go by faster and faster from here on out!

9+ pounds

22 inches

Brown hair 

Grayish blue eyes

Smiles when kissed by Momma and Daddy

Loves laying on the changing pad

8-10 diaper changes a day

Loves sucking on anything

Spits up a lot

Doesn't like tummy time

Sneezes a lot

Makes cooing sounds

Sleeps in 3 hour chunks at night

Loves staring at lights and fans

Favorite spot is on Daddy's chest

             Hayley had lots of firsts this month:

                                                                    First Valentine's Day!

              First time baking cookies with Momma  
    (Hayley hung out in the baby carrier and "watched" Momma) 

           First gift from Daddy on Valentine's Day!
(Apparently Nick and I were on the same wavelength this V-Day and both created things with our initials!) 

            First trip to Clear Lake with Nana and Papa

 First bath

                                                      First smiles!

Family of Three

Our first few weeks as a family of three were sweet and full of learning.  

Nick took two weeks off work.  I was so thankful to have him home!  We spent a lot of time hanging out on the couch... just staring at Hayley. 

It was exactly the way it should be!

                                                                  Melt. My. Heart.

    This is how we spent the first two nights... she didn't like her bassinet at first.

  Can you spot all three of us??  

(Don't worry, my sister, Emily, is holding Hayley!)

                                          Cuddles.  Doesn't get much better than this!

Cute!