9 months old

Hayden is now 9 months old! Each month is going by so quickly, I can't believe he's such a big (actually little) guy already.

• 17 pounds, 9th%
• 27.75inches, 24th%
• head is in the 17th%
• eats constantly (I can't believe he is still so little) and hasn't met a food he doesn't like. Eating a bowl of (grown-up) oatmeal and a whole banana are a "small" breakfast for him. He is pretty good at eating with his fingers and has to have something on his tray to pick up at all times.
• plays with his sippy cup, but doesn't really care about the water inside it
• sleeps for around 10 hours at night
• takes 2 naps of 30mins-1 hour apiece and often still takes a 30 min nap in the early evening.
• has been working on crawling for over a month now-he can make it 3-5 "steps" and then collapses down. Has gotten good at a modified army crawl.
• pulls up to his knees (his favorite place is on the toilet)
• tried to pull up to his feet in the bathtub (of course that's the only place he tries, ha!)
• babbles often, but consistently says "mama". We have decided that it actually does mean that he's calling me.
• loves to be outside
• loves to swing, ride in the wagon or in the stroller
• can still wear some 3-6 month clothes, but fits into some 6-9 month outfits now.
• loves balloons, balls, and trains

4 years old

Our little girl is four years old, it is amazing how quickly she has grown up. I have to remind myself often that she is only 4, as she amazes me constantly with what she knows, what she does, and how she acts. Of course, I have to remind myself occasionally that she is only 4.

I had heard all kinds of horror stories about the 4 year old well-check and the dreaded shots. Hayden had his 9 month check at the same time, so I took my mom with me to entertain whoever wasn't being examined, or vaccinated. Hannah did amazingly well. She sat on my lap while they did the shots, and she tensed up with each one and squeezed my arms (that were wrapped around her of course), but she never made a peep. She even watched them do it. She has moved from the 98% to the 88% in height (although I think she has grown more than the 3/4 inch they said she has since last year...), and jumped from the 58% in weight to the 68%. Here exam went well, although she didn't pass the eye portion. She cracked me up though. The nurse asked if she knew her letters or shapes, and Hannah replied "I know all my letters AND shapes". She called the moon a crescent and for several letters she said the sound instead of the letter name. I did have the nurse at school check her eyes again when we got to school shortly after our appointment, and she passed the exam there. We are going to keep an eye out for any other signs, but hold off on an extensive eye exam for now.

Hannah has grown into a beautiful girl on the inside and out. She really does have a kind heart and thinks of others needs and emotions often. She loves to color (with markers especially), ride her bike, swing, jump on the trampoline, take walks, ride her bike (basically anything outside will work!). She loves books and reading and has discovered making her own books. She LOVES to write. She even sounds out words without help, and does a great job (frm for from, jf for Jeff). She loves school and dance and is looking forward to her first dance recital in two weeks (really it's the costumes she's excited about). She adores her little brother and is a huge helper to me. She loves to dress up and play with her babies ("hospital" is her favorite thing to play with them). She continues to be hard-headed, stubborn,  bossy and acts like a pre-teen often, but we love those things about her as well.

Happy 4th birthday Hannah!

Pinata Making

When we discovered that a small rainbow pinata was going to have to be ordered online and shipping would make it even more expensive than it already was, I decided to try my hand at making one. I couldn't see spending all that money for something that was just going to be broken. I am proud to say that my creation turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. I am also proud to say that I only paid for the goodies inside, and even those I got 50% off.

First, make a frame of cardboard. We used empty honey bun and Stoffers boxes.

Make paper mache mix using flour and water.

tear newspapers (recycled of course) into strips and dip into the mixture. Apply to the frame.

We did one side at a time and let each side dry overnight. Then we attached and old shoe string to the top and filled it with goodies. Then we covered the end with more paper and Modge Podge.

We raided our reused tissue paper (so did Nana since I didn't have much of some colors) and tore them into small pieces. I knew saving all that tissue paper would came in handy one day! We used Modge Podge (which I love and use for tons of stuff) to stick the tissue paper on.

When one side was done we let it dry and did the other side the next day.

Excited about her birthday pinata!

We were very pleased with the final result (actually the other side is a little better I think).

First Field Trip

Hannah had her first field trip yesterday to the zoo. Nana went with her since I couldn't be away from Hayden (or the pump) for the full time. She wasn't too excited about the zoo, however, riding the bus and taking her lunch were big time thrillers. She even had the choice to ride with Nana to and from the zoo, but she chose the bus. She enjoyed herself, and so did Nana, even though her best buddy Anthony was absent.

Flower Girl Debut

Jaime and Ned were married on April 6. Most of the picture I took (or Jessica took while I was actually in the wedding) are on Jaime's Facebook page. She wasted no time in posted what I shared with her! She tagged me in them, so you can head there to see the masses if you'd like.

Preface: Saturday night before Easter, I came down with a nasty virus. I was up all night in the bathroom. Hannah woke up around 3 AM and Justin took care of her while I was still exploding from both ends. Justin got it around 10. Needless to say we didn't make it to church Easter Sunday, and we don't have any pretty Easter Pictures. Also, we had eaten dinner a few hours before I got sick at the Vitters.

We headed down to Hilton Head the Wednesday before the wedding (Justin at this point didn't know if he would even be off for the rehearsal on Friday). Mimi got the virus on Monday but was feeling well enough (although not 100% yet) to head on down. After we arrived and explored, we got some dinner and then Papa got the virus. We didn't see him again until mid afternoon Thursday. We also didn't see the sun for several days. Hannah was dying to go play in the sand at the beach, so finally on Thursday afternoon, Uncle Jeff and I took her to the dreary gray beach, but she had a blast. Uncle Jeff was a trooper to dig and play with her at the water's edge.

 Family started arriving Thursday afternoon and kept coming throughout the day on Friday. On Friday morning the girls headed out to get mani/pedis, and Hannah got her nails done too. She thought she was such a big girl. The rain stopped soon enough/held off long enough for us to have our rehearsal at the Westin and then we headed to One Hot Mama's BBQ for a yummy rehearsal dinner.

 Hannah also really wanted to go swimming. On Saturday morning, Lona willingly agreed to swim with Hannah so my hair wouldn't get nasty. Hannah was thrilled. We then went "home" and got cleaned up and ready to head to the Westin to get ready wit the girls. Thankfully, my sister Jessica was able to come meet us there. I couldn't have gotten myself ready and Hannah too. She patiently curled Hannah's hair and helped her get dressed.We got ready and took pictures with the photographer. It was chilly outside and Hannah was getting tired. It ended up being quite a long day for her.

 The ceremony went well. The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze. Poor Hannah. She was so excited about her flower girl duties. We had practiced at home with fake petals and she was completely ready. The director told her to start dropping the petals back at the steps and put put a handful out at a time. She did just as she was told and ran out of petals before she even got to the chairs and the actual isle. She was devastated because Aunt Jaime wouldn't get to walk on them. She walked sadly down the isle and started sobbing when she got to me. I of course, started sobbing too. I couldn't help it. She was so disappointed and had taken her job so seriously. Of course we didn't have a tissue, and she didn't want to leave me, so she ended up wiping her nose on my arm, her dress, etc... Jaime was absolutely beautiful and excited and radiant.

our 4th time down the isle together

 The dinner reception was great fun. I do have to thank my parents so much for their help with my kids. They carted both kids home each night and put them to bed, and took care of a fussy (too much stimulation, new people and evenings are fussier anyway) Hayden both nights so we could fulfill our duties in the rehearsal/dinner and at the wedding/reception. I wouldn't have been as calm and put together with them and my sister!








Hannah was so exhausted but really wanted to dance, especially with her daddy. She did dance with daddy, lots, but also with Harrison. If you ask her what her favorite part was, she says "dancing with the boy Harrison". When she sat down for a minute, she fell fast asleep and Grandaddy took her home to bed.

Epilog: Jaime and Ned headed off to Antigua for their fabulous honeymooon, only for Jaime to get the virus early Sunday morning and have to fly with it. As far as I know, Ned didn't get it. Uncle Chuck and Great Grandma both got it while staying with John and Judy for a few extra days. As of them arriving back in South Dakota, Jan hadn't gotten it, but I'm sure it was only a matter of time. Sorry everyone!

Our Little Big Man

Sunglasses from the Easter Bunny.

LOVES black beans and cheese

standing and bouncing to the music

He loves trains and Hannah's Mickey train is his favorite.

He tried really hard to crawl, and can crawl backwards and make 1 motion forward, but doesn't really go anywhere (forward that is) yet. He's been working on this for a couple of weeks. I have a feeling once he "gets it" he will be unstoppable. He is itching to chase Hannah around.