Hadley, 8 Months Old

8 Months 

   Likes eating sweet potatoes, mango, bananas, green beans, and more. 

Shakes her head for "no". 

             Rocks back and forth on her hands and knees...but doesn't crawl yet!

Moves from her tummy to sitting position. It scared me the first time she did this in her crib! I couldn't figure out why I didn't see her stretched out in her crib! 

            Sleeps in 7-9 hour stretches, but sometimes wakes at night just to hang out with Mom and Dad. 


Loves to talk!  Her newest sound is "Blah blah!" 

         

She has never paid attention to her bear until now!

Fall with a Baby

I think this fall has been the most exciting time of the year that I've experienced with Hadley.  I've always loved pumpkin patches, dressing up in costumes, and looking at the colorful leaves, but now those things are more meaningful with a little girl who is seeing these things for the first time.

We took Hadley to a farm and pumpkin patch, and let her explore the animals, pumpkins, and people there.  She loved looking at the other children!

Today, we went "trick-or-treating" on Main Street in our town.  She didn't get any candy, but we really just wanted an excuse to put her in her strawberry costume!  She liked looking at the sparkly, feathery, and colorful costumes that we saw.

Hadley, 7 Months

7 Months Old!

Reaches out for people to hold her

             Loves feeding Kiowa her food

Plays on her Kick 'n Play Piano sitting up 

                    Is a mellow girl who loves people-watching.  She does great at restaurants and events!

           

                   

Hadley, 6 Months Old

6 Months

Sits up on her own

     Wears size 6-9 months clothes (just moved up...sniff sniff ) 

Has forgotten her good sleeping habits

               Wants to crawl but can't figure it out yet!

Has tried sweet potatoes, cereal, apples, bananas, squash, peas, and more...but really loves Mum Mums!

        Laughs when Dad kisses her face

Weighs 16 lbs, 5 oz and is 27" tall! 

Loves her doggy, Kiowa

Is this how I crawl, Mom? 

Sitting up! 

Mum mum mum!

The Cake That Changed My Life

There is a loaf of banana bread in the oven for our Bible study tomorrow night.  I have been relying on our nice friends to bring us treats so I didn't have to bake since Hadley was "baking". But, every once in awhile, I get the energy and motivation to make something special for us to enjoy.

And that burst of energy is what motivated me, at 8 months pregnant, to make the s'mores bundt cake that changed me life. 

I was in the grocery store on a Wednesday, buying cocoa and marshmallows for my cake, when I ran into a former student's dad.  He raved about his daughter's new school, and slipped in a promo:  "If you're ever looking for a job, you should apply to this school." It turns out that this dad hadn't been to this grocery store in at least two years. I had just updated my resume that week and was ready to start applying.

My new school has restored my love of teaching and has deepened my faith in God.  I come home happier, less stressed, and am learning about being a better parent to Hadley.  This is more than a cake can do. I am thankful that God brought me to where I am now. It makes me wonder where else a little motivation can take me.

Saying Goodbye

Hadley went on her third plane flight a couple of weeks ago when we flew to California for my grandpa's memorial service. Her first flight was about a month and a half earlier, when she went to meet her great grandpa for the first time.  As we were leaving his retirement home, I wondered if I'd ever see him again.  I didn't think we'd be back just a few weeks later.

My grandpa, at 93, had a great life up until the last couple of weeks.  He was still sharp and witty, and befriended almost everyone he met with his probing questions and big smile. He could remember so much from his long life, and when Hadley was born, he told me details about my dad's birth 67 years ago (my grandma was in the hospital for ten days after birth, which was standard!)

When we were walking into the chapel for his memorial, the foyer was lined with photos of him at different stages of life.  I overheard two ladies, close to my grandpa's age, talking. One said, "He sure was a handsome young man!"  Her friend caught my eye and said with a smirk, "Well, he was a handsome old man, too!" I can hear Grandpa's low, rumbling laugh now.

Hadley with her great grandpa in July. 

Hadley, 5 Months Old

I was doing so well getting Hadley's monthly photos up on time, but these past three weeks have been hard- a week long trip away from my precious girl, a sad event in California, and the first week of school at a new school. So here it is, eight days late.  

 

 

Hadley, 5 Months Old

 

 

Discovered her toes!

 

 

     Sleep regression has improved- but she had nights where she woke up every hour!

 

 

Laughs when Kiowa licks her toes

 

 

                             Rolls to her side and *thinks* about rolling to her tummy

 

 

              "Talks" in her crib when she wakes up for the day, but still doesn't like to be put down in her crib for naps

 

 

Gets angry when we eat in front of her!  She grabbed Nathan's spoon the other day and put it in her mouth.

 

 

 

 

Our trip to Iowa (a little over 4 months old).  Hadley explored her great grandparents' farm.

Hadley's First Swim

Hadley's first swim warranted its very own blog post.  It's not hard to figure out why: I love Hadley. I love swimming.  There's a lot to write about.

When we were at my mom's house in California, we spent the day at our friends, the Anderson's, in their beautiful backyard pool. Nathan and I both wanted to be there with Hadley for her first swim, but it was even more special that her grandma, Aunt Rachel, and almost-Aunt Katrina could be there. Her cousins Nola and Drake even swam with her.

I was excited that we got her in the water before the newborn kicking instinct wore off.  She kicked her feet and even paddled her arms when we held her horizontal to the water.  She didn't want to get out- so we took a couple of dips before throwing in the towel.

Mom, Dad, and "Aunt" Katrina swimming with Hadley.  Hadley is pretty lucky that her first swim lesson was with Katrina, who is such an amazing swimmer and teacher! 

We will let Hadley choose to do whichever sports or activities she wants when she is older, but I have a feeling that she'll choose swimming (wishful thinking?) 

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Hadley, 4 Months Old

Hadley, 4 Months

Wears 3-6 months clothes

        Sleeps 8-11 hours each night (thank you, Sleep Regression!)

Rolls from tummy to back

                    Is a wiggle worm!

         Loves to play with toys! She cried when we picked her up from the church nursery on Sunday!

Weighs 14 lbs 12 oz, and is 25 1/4 inches tall

These pictures are getting difficult to take!  She wiggled onto the floor every time we tried to snap a good one!

This happened before Mom joined the photo shoot.  I will not encourage early walking! 

Summer Vacay

We took our first vacation as a family of three last week.  We visited my family in California and spent a lot of time in the car on our tour.  She did really well in the car and on the flight there, but the flight home with just Mom wasn't the same story!

Hadley got to meet uncles, cousins, Aunt Sarah, second cousins, her great Aunt and Uncle, and her Great Grandpa Schultz.  I really wanted her to meet him as he is 93 and she will never get to meet her Pop Pop Schultz. 

We drove down to Santa Barbara (it took 6 hours with a baby!), picked up my grandpa, and then headed to my aunt and uncle's house for a beautiful, Pinterest-inspired patio dinner! Hadley wore the outfit that her Great Aunt Nancy gave her, and her second cousin Justin, daddy-to-be, got to practice his baby holding skills :)

4th of July celebration at the Andersons! 

 This girl loved the lake in Twain Harte.  I hadn't been to my parents' house there for probably 5 years!  Nathan had never seen it, so we wanted to get up there and explore the town. Hadley discovered her love for swimming on this trip (more on that later!) so the lake intrigued her! We also went on hikes, watched an outdoor concert, and enjoyed the break from the 100 degree Livermore weather. .

Cousin Nola loved Hadley. She wanted to hold her- pretty funny since our big baby is probably already half the size of her cousin! 

I am going to write about Hadley's first swim later- but of course, I have a lot to say about it and a lot more pictures to add :) 

Hadley, Three Months Old

Three Months

Likes playing with her toys, especially the Kick n Play piano

                          Sleeps through the night in 8-11 hour stretches

Has decided napping isn't her thing, but marathon sleep days make up for it

                           Coos and "talks" to us 

                                           Wears size 3-6 months clothes

Loves splashing in the bathtub

Hadley at 3 days old, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months! 

                         

The Kick n Play piano is Mom and Dad's favorite toy, too! 

Suburban Farmer

When we moved into our house, we were excited to plant in the little planter box in our backyard.  A year later, we were so busy and exhausted that we almost missed our opportunity! Last weekend, we were able to plant some tomatoes, green beans, snap peas, and carrots. 

Sometimes I forget that I'm married to a former farmer (although "farmer" is something that never leaves a person!).He knew exactly what soil we needed, what can be grown together, and how to keep the wild animals away (or, a 100 pound pest, in our case!).

I am so thankful for this little patch of land we have and my own farmer to help harvest it.

Hadley offering us her moral support.

Neither of us had anything to do with these pretty peonies that bloomed this week, but I still feel pretty proud  of them. 

 

House is Sold!

Remember this house?  The one that had been on the market three times in the past two years, and despite its charm and prime location, it just would not sell? Nathan and Ryan put it back on the market a few weeks ago, and it sold in a matter of hours!  It was a cash offer and they wanted a quick escrow, so the house closed today!  We are so thankful and relieved...now Nate doesn't have to work a "part time job" as property manager, and we don't have to worry about when the market will finally recover so we can sell it. We are so thankful!

Like all endings, it's a little bitter sweet.  The house that I went to for our first date, and was greeted by his roomates parents sitting in the living room!  The house that we lived in our first year of marriage.  The house where we learned I was pregnant. 

Goodbye, sweet little house!

Hadley, Two Months Old

Hadley Two Months Old

Sleeps through the night in 7-9.5 hour stretches!

               Pushes up on her forearms

                                Still likes to be swaddled

Smiles during play time and when Mom gets home from work

               Loves staring at her hair bows while on the changing table

Likes listening to books and looking at pictures. 

Two Months

                               

Looks like spring!

Dad and his girls!

One Month Old!

Hadley- One Month

Sleeps 14-16 hours each day

Shows little hints of a smile- we can't wait to see the real thing!

Loves listening to music and the songs Daddy makes up for her

Holds on to her little birdie blanket and rubs her face on it

Wakes up 2-3 times each night

Sleeps with Mom and Dad in her co-sleeper, but is moving to her crib soon!

When sleeping, she sneaks an eye open to be sure someone is still holding her

One month

 4 days

First bath- 3 days 

Hadley's First Easter

I used to not enjoy the Easter holiday, not because I didn't appreciate the meaning of the holiday, but because I was away from my family and always felt a little like a vagabond, hopping from one random celebration to another. The past couple of years have been different now that we have found a group of friends that has quickly become our Denver family.  We spent Easter with these friends, and I am so happy that Hadley has people that love her and will set a good example for her as she grows.

Before church. I can't seem to get those socks to stay on!

Hadley's Easter outfit #1.

Our church held their Easter service at a hotel downtown so that all three services could be together.  The service was a half hour alter than usual, but it took us so long to get out of the house!  Hadley decided to have a marathon feeding session, and we kept thinking of things we might need for our afternoon out.  The car was filled to the brim by the time we left, and we barely made it on time for the service. 

We covered Hadley up during the service to keep strangers and their germs away, and she slept soundly- right until the sermon started.  She then decided that she needed another marathon feed, so I missed the rest of the service! I did meet about three new moms in the bathroom, though! 

Some actual family in Denver- Hadley and her Auntie Marissa. 

Yard games!!

Easter outfit #2.  Love the little bunny bottom :) 

Ready for Baby!

I just put up our maternity pictures on Facebook, and it is hard for me to believe that we are going to be done with our baby bump album in just a week or so (less than that, please God!) Even though the last few weeks have dragged on, nine months flew by overall.

We are all set for Baby to get here. Tonight we ran our last errand- we got a baby book so we can start filling it out while we're at the hospital and the memories are still fresh. The nursery is done, the clothes have been washed, and now we are just paying attention to every little ache and pain, in hopes that it means baby is on her way.

Here is a little look at what we have been working on the past couple of months!

 

Baby Crafts

I am thankful for all of my friends, and this weekend, I was especially thankful for Eleanor, who lent me some of her interior decorating talents and donated her time to help with a BIG nursery craft that I kept putting off.

Nathan's mom gave us a beautiful wooden rocker, but it was just so uncomfortable that it needed cushions.  All of the cushions I found either were not the right size or were just ugly.  So I ordered some fabric with the intent of making it into cushions. I scoured the Internet for patterns.  I look on Pinterest for ideas.  The fabric sat there for weeks, and I was pretty sure I'd never work up the courage or motivation to get the job done.

Enter Eleanor.

Eleanor didn't need patterns or Pinterest.  Once I knew the size of the cushions I wanted, we started snipping, pinning, and sewing (she did the machine sewing- I am still afraid of my sewing machine!) It took us a little over three hours, but the end result was better than anything I could have schemed up myself.

It is reversible, so when I get bored of the pattern, I can just flip it over. I forgot to buy white ribbon for the ties, so after a little bit of rummaging in my sewing trunk, we found tulle.  I love the way it adds a little bit of whimsy and frill to it!

After Eleanor left, my nesting instincts were still kicked into high gear, and I still had some batting and fabric left over for the chair cushions.  I decided to get started on a bow board, which I also have been thinking of doing for ages. All it took was the batting, fabric, elastic, a staple gun, and some hot glue.

I wasn't sure how I was going to hang the headbands, but the elastic did the trick.  Now I feel like the nursery is all set, just in case Baby girl decides to come a little bit early!