7 Months Old

Hayden is 7 months old and we are having such a blast with him. His little personality shines through more and more. Here are his pictures and some highlights from his month. Keep in mind, these pictures were taken as he had an infection and was cutting his first tooth. He really is a pretty easy going kid.

• sits up for extended periods of time (about 15 minutes while Amelia was unwrapping presents - he hasn't had the opportunity to do it for much longer than that!)
• rolls to get wherever he wants to go, or get whatever he wants to get. Has even managed to roll himself under Hannah's bed!
• is quite a "talker". Babbles a lot (especially when Hannah is at school and it's finally quiet at home), lala, gaga, baba, mama, blabla
• purrs like a cat after his tummy is full of milk, for real - it is too cute
• loves to take baths and splash  the water as hard as he can, he gets excited when he just hears water running
• eats three large solid meals a day
• cut his first tooth on his 7 month birthday - there were no signs, he is always drooly and chewing on everything, but has been remarkably dry lately, and there is no swelling
• pears and apples make his reflux worse
• has his first ear infection :(
• seems to be cutting out his early morning (4:30/5:00) bottle without much effort
• sleep is still not consistent during the day, and you never know if the nap will last more than 30 minutes, but he does take 2-3 naps a day and can sleep 8-10 solid hours at night
• is generally a very happy content kid, with lots of infectious grins and giggles

Valentine's Day 2013

 Hannah loves any excuse to get presents and eat sweets! She didn't want her fun day to be over.

Decorating cookies the day before.

heart pancakes on her new V-day kitchen ware

loot from Nana

loot from Mimi

Awesome tea bags from Madeline!

Happy 1st Valentine's Day Hayden!

Super Siblings

Our kids LOVE each other so much. There is some aggravation occasionally, like when a fist full of her hari gets pulled, or she takes away his toy, but for the most part they adore one another. Hannah has to see him first and always squeals. She includes him in everything, wants to "babysit" him, and teaches him all the time. He listens for her voice and always has a smile ready for her. I hope it stays like this forever.

Hannah loves to read to Hayden.

This is how I found them. They were still like that when I went to get my camera.

Oh Snap

Since Christmas has been over, Hannah has been missing her beloved Elf of the Shelf, Snap. A few weeks ago she brought me a piece of paper and asked me to write. I assumed we were writing a letter to Madeline, as we frequently do. Oh no, she dictated a letter to Snap. We discussed how to get it to him and decided putting in the mailbox might not work as he's probably on vacation right now and not currently at the North Pole. We saved the letter and thought about it. The next day Hannah came to me very excited. She had figured it out! She wanted to attach the letter to a balloon and let it float away and find Snap. Great idea! Nana happened to be at the grocery store a few days later and they were giving away Super Bowl helium balloons. She got Hannah 2 and we got them a few days letter. Last weekend, she attached the letter and let it go. She watched it float away for a while, and is now eagerly awaiting a response. She is aware that it might take a while, as the balloons had to find him wherever he may be. I have a feeling a letter from Snap may be arriving today. She will be a happy, happy girl!

Getting bigger

Our little guy isn't so little any more! We went to the doctor last week for a yucky cough and he weighed in at around 16 pounds. He was just over 15 pounds 2 weeks before at this 6 month check up, so he put on a little weight. All of a sudden he out grown his 3 month clothes and most of his 3-6 month clothes. Some of his 6 month clothes are still kind of baggy, but he's been wearing some all week that fit great, thanks to Grayson who outgrew them and passed them along (yes, Grayson is younger than Hayden...). Our closet has lots of winter 9 month clothes that I was afraid would be wasted, but there is hope yet. I think our little dude likes to eat solids. He's eats three solid meals a day, and they are pretty hefty! He already eats an entire banana with his (big kid) oatmeal in the morning. There isn't a food yet that he hasn't liked. I don't think our family will have many leftovers in the next few years :).

Baptism

ringing the bell

 

 

Miller Family

Vitters Family

Hayden's Whole familiy

Parrish family

Harrelson Family

Hayden was baptized at church yesterday. It turned out to be a great day! The service started with Hannah (Daddy helped) ringing the church bell to begin the service. Of course, she then had to go potty. Justin and Hannah made it to our seats at the exact time Rev. Ken called us up. Hayden was past his nap and was very tired, so I was nervous he might start fussing, but he didn't. He didn't give any of his cute smiles, but he did cooperate. After the baptism, he actually fell asleep in my arms for the entire sermon (he hasn't done that in a long time, and he did it without making a single sound). Then, we had a more formal communion service. Rev. Ken asked if our family would assist in bringing the elements down the isle to the alter. I was supposed to be part of that, but Hayden was still sleeping in my arms. Justin and his Dad walked, as did Hannah and Nana. Hannah held the tray of bread so proudly. She was smiling the entire time, and did an awesome job. She really was so proud of herself. Hayden woke up in time to get a bottle right before the service ended. We were fortunate to have our entire family there with us to celebrate, plus our extended family, the Harrelson clan and Parrish clan. We sure did miss the Connor family though! After the photo shoot, we went to Uno Chicago for lunch, where Hayden managed to fall asleep again (this time in Mimi's arms), so his adoring public missed out on him for most of the celebration.

6 months old

Hayden is half a year old! Time sure does fly by when you're having fun (and sleep deprived!). Hayden becomes more and more fun each day and his little personality is starting to really shine through. He is getting baptized this Sunday at church so we'll have some good pictures to post next week hopefully. Here are his pictures and of course the comparison photos. I couldn't find a good angle match up this time, but it's pretty close.

Hightlights for 6 months old:

•  15 pounds 3.5 ounces - 10th%
• 26 1/4 inches long - 32nd%
• head in the 40th %
• rolls all over to get where he wants to go, and to get what he wants
• loves to play with toys, especially his Sophie giraffe.
• loves to jump in his bouncer and his jumper
• eats solid food twice a day and is begging for a third meal (to start this week!). 
• hasn't met a food he doesn't like yet. 
• apples made his reflux worse, so they are on the back burner for a while, even though he loved them
• eats veggies like a champ and never even makes a face at the different flavors
• adores his big sister and wants to be with her at all times (the feeling is mutual!)
• can sit up on his own for a few seconds, longer if he is balanced with a toy
• sleeps on average about 45 minutes at a time (BIG improvement) during the day and usually will do that twice, sometimes an added 30 minute one later in the afternoon as well
• sleeps for 8-9 hours straight at night (another HUGE improvement), chugs a bottle then goes back to sleep for about 2 hours (most of the time)
• nurses 4 times a day, formula bottle before bed and then mixed drink when he wakes up) 
• eventually puts himself to sleep, some naps/evenings it's longer than others
• is happy in the car seat 95% of the time now, has even fallen asleep in it a few times in the past 2 weeks
• is a VERY happy baby and always quick with his smiles
• makes lots of noises (grunts, squeals, babbles, squeaks)
• pays attention to some baby signs, although doesn't mirror them quite yet! (Hannah is helping teach them to him)