Puzzles, Playing, Parties, Pounds, & Possibilities

There's been quite a bit going on here lately.

First, we had a fun Easter weekend. Saturday we went to the Ft. Worth Zoo and enjoyed a beautiful day outside. On Sunday PaPa and GiGi came for the afternoon and watched Hadley hunt lots of eggs.

Lately Hadley has been very interested in working puzzles. He got one for Easter and quickly mastered it, so we found some more for pretty cheap and got them as well. He will sit by himself and work the puzzles for a long time.


Last weekend we went to Starlyn's 2nd birthday party and had a lot of fun. The party was Elmo themed, so of course Hadley enjoyed it! He also enjoy swinging, sliding, and riding in Starlyn's car.




This week has been kind of crazy for our sweet babysitter, so mommy and Hadley got to spend two days home together having fun. Today we even went to the park in Gainesville and rode the train! Then tonight we all played outside for a long time together.





Hadley seems to learn new words every day, and I would really like to try and remember as many of them as possible. The latest one (that I can remember) are: pig, swing (sing), cracker, car, shoes, pea, ball, bowl, Ernie (as in Bert & Ernie).


In other (non-Hadley) news, both Eric and I are doing Weight Watchers. Well, I am actually going to the meetings, but he is doing the points and tracking his food with me. So far I have lost a little over 10 pounds and Eric has lost as well (not sure exactly how much). Hopefully we can both stick with it and reach our goals.

Some not so good news...a couple weeks ago Eric found out that Callisburg, for budget reasons, is downsizing the Ag department next year to one teacher, so he is out of a job after this school year. We were totally shocked to find out that news, as well as very disappointed. We kind of thought this might be where we would settle down and stay a while and raise our family. But now we are looking at moving (again) this summer. Eric has already applied at a few school districts and hopefully we will find just the right fit for our little family.

Updates via Facebook

Starting back around the beginning of October sometime...


Mandi is home with Hadley again today. Ear infection #4 for him. Thank goodness for Amoxicillin (sp?).

Mandi is back at work today while Eric stays at home with Hadley. I'm ready for my sweet boy to be all better!


It is definitely Hadley's bedtime!!

Dear Hadley- As much as mommy loves rocking and cuddling you, it would be great if we could avoid doing that in the middle of the night tonight. If you do wake up during the night and don't feel good, mommy will come get you, but she would really prefer if that doesn't happen. So, sweet boy, just remember how good it feels to sleep all night long and wake up rested and happy in the morning. Night, night baby.


Well hello, Friday! It's so nice to see you again.

The flu has infiltrated our house.


Mandi just spent over $200 on Tamaflu for the three of us (and it's only preventative for the two big people). This stuff better work or I'm not gonna' be happy!

Hadley appears to have a very mild case of the flu...to watch him play today you wouldn't even know he is sick...and his fever is gone tonight (hopefully for good!).


No more fever...happy/laughing baby...maybe we can get back to normal around here!

Pedi's tonight - yay!!


Oh beautiful sunshine - where are you hiding??

Mandi is in Dallas for a meeting tomorrow - missing my boys.


Mandi is, once again, playing with Hadley while Eric fixes supper...homemade pizzas - yum!

Mandi is exhausted


Mandi is super glad it's Friday!

Mandi is at a pig sale in Vernon.


Happy 11 month birthday, sweet boy...can't believe how quickly you're approaching a year!

Mandi needs diet coke...stat...an IV of it would be great.


seriously?? more rain??

Dear Landlord - Our roof is once again leaking, which means it wasn't actually fixed the last time we told you about it. I would appreciate very much if you would get this taken care of immediately as I don't like when it rains INSIDE my house. In addition, I don't plan on paying my next months rent if this matter is not resolved. Sincerely, Aggrivated (Wet) Tenant


One good thing about my drive home every day is the fall colors on the trees. I love fall.

Well, hello autumn! Thanks for bringing such pretty leaves with you this year. I hope you can stick around for a while.


Mandi is wondering what kind of crazy people run the air conditioner in an office when it's 50 degrees outside. Are you kidding me???

Mandi does not understand why some people are so totally 'in love' with (DOS based) software that is 20 years old, and think it is the best product ever! First of all, it's 2009 people! And second, do you know what a mouse is???


Are you kidding me??? Air conditioner is on AGAIN at work. Seriously? I still have my heavy coat on, little heater is running, and I'm considering covering up with a blanket. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Mandi could not be more tired of this rainy weather.


Mandi is excited to put Hadley in his halloween costume tomorrow - just wish we knew more people we could go see and trick-or-treat (aka show off how cute he looks!).

Mandi and Hadley are still hanging out in our jammies. I love lazy Saturday mornings!


Lazy morning over - now we're on our way to the Pumpkin Patch!

Why is it that my house is never clean and the laundry is never done??


It's so much easier to leave the house at 6:45 when it's light and sunny outside!

3 am??? Really Hadley??


Mandi is feeling a bit irritated right now

I would like a Route 44 diet coke, please.


Today's agenda: meetings all day in Plano. Good times!

Mandi is sitting in a freezing cold room listening to a guy talk about software that I don't even have access to yet. Nice.


Loooong day! So glad I'm taking tomorrow off!

Mandi dropped Hadley off earlier tonight with his Gigi and Papa to spend the weekend (first time to stay at their house w/out mommy & daddy) and I miss him already. But hopefully we can get a lot done around the house tomorrow.


Mandi and Eric spent the day scrubbing, straightening, dusting, sweeping, and mopping, and now we have a spic-and-span house. So as a reward we are going out on a date!

On our way to pick up Hadley!


Mandi had a good weekend and got a lot done, but is happy to be back to our little family of three!

I think I'll skip washing bottles tonight...we have enough to last a couple days w/out washing. I'm feeling lazy and ready for bed when Hadley goes to bed.


Thank goodness for iPods.

Today I am thankful for sweet smiles and slobbery kisses!


Today I am thankful for my Poppa, who turns 95 today. I am thankful for his wisdom, his bear hugs, and the amazing example and influence he has been on my life. I love you, Poppa.

This morning I am thankful for my job and even more thankful I can take days (paid) days off when I want.


I am thankful for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse because it keeps my little munchkin happy while I get ready in the mornings.

I am thankful for birthday parties!! Can't wait until the big party tomorrow for my (soon to be) 1-YEAR OLD!!!


Today I am thankful for yummy and messy birthday cake and icing.

Today I am thankful for naps.


I am thankful for fun, noisey toys that make Hadley laugh out loud. (Ask me tomorrow and I might be more thankful for removeable batteries from those same toys!)

This morning I am thankful for a warm coat to wear in the cold wind.


I am thankful for pictures so I can always remember special days.

I am thankful for memories. I am remembering one year ago today (Nov. 17) when I had my last doctors appointment before Hadley was born. I remember how disgustingly swolen my legs were & how I could barely climb up on the exam table. I was excited and nervous when he said we were going to induce that Wednesday (Nov.19). Little did we know that Hadley had other plans!!


I could not be more thankful today for the gift we were given on this day one year ago. Happy 1st Birthday, my sweet Hadley!! I love you to the moon and back.

Although they were not enjoyable for any of us this morning, I am thankful for immunizations so my baby can keep growing healthy and strong.


Today I am thankful for: Fridays; Diet Coke; hot showers; bottle brushes; boots; pickup trucks; tiny socks; Chick-fil-A; applesauce; red lights....(to be continued)

More thanks for today: adding machines; YoBaby yogurt; napkins; skunk traps (that catch other critters too!); screen savers; crushed ice; Christmas music; sticky notes...


I am also thankful for Target; shopping baskets; not driving in traffic where we live; text messages; Fuddruckers; cruise control; toy trucks; sliced cheese; and toilet paper.

Mandi is thankful that, so far, Hadley seems to really like REAL milk!! My goal: buy NO MORE formula (until Hadley has a little brother or sister).


Mandi is thankful for family.

Today I am thankful for a healthy heart, regulated blood pressure, and the ability to breathe normally - three things I did not have a year ago today, and three things I have learned not to take for granted.


I am thankful for my sister who, a year ago, was staying with my tiny 5-day-old Hadley while I was in the hospital, and taking such good care of him; I knew he was in good hands and I had nothing to worry about. Thanks, Kim.

I am so thankful for the ability to buy gifts for other people - one of my favorite things to do!


Mandi is thankful for days off work...which means more fun time with my boys!!

Today I am so very thankful for my amazing husband who is my best friend and my precious son who fills my heart with love and joy. We have been so blessed this year and I am thankful for every moment I have with them. Happy Thanksgiving.


Mandi is excited to decorate the house for Christmas this weekend!!

Christmas tree is up & decorated; (some) presents are wrapped and under the tree; and today we are all going Christmas shopping. I love this time of year!!


Eric is putting Christmas lights up outside; Hadley is napping (totally off schedule thanks to a terribly rough night last night!); and I am making Chex mix, doing laundry, and enjoying my beautiful Christmas tree inside the warm house.

Dear Hadley - Do you have another ear infection? Is that why you have been so fussy all weekend, and why you had such a rough night last night? Does mommy need to call the doctor tomorrow?


Yep - another ear infection! One more and we will see an ENT and talk about the next step.

8 Months

Sweet Hadley,

8 months!! It seems like I was just writing about you being 7 months old, and now here you are turning another month older. Slow down!!

This past month has been a fun one (mostly) with some new milestones for you. First, you now have 2 teeth! We knew you were probably getting at least one tooth, and one morning we woke up and there they both were, poking through your gums like little weapons. I know you were in a lot of pain for a couple weeks, but I think now you have passed the worst part. We watch every day as a little more of those cute little teeth are visible. No more sweet gummy grins, but now I think your little 2-tooth grin is even cuter! One funny thing about the teething that I don't want to forget is the silly face you have been making where you stick your bottom lip up over your top lip. Daddy and I crack up every time we see you do it!


You also experienced your first July 4th celebration this past month. We had a house full of people that day for you to entertain, including PaPa, GiGi, Aunt Karah, Doug, Mitzi and her dog Raider, Toni and her girls Ashleigh and Kayla, and of course mommy and daddy. You didn't make it for the fireworks (way past your bedtime) but you had a fun day anyway.


You got to celebrate your first Father's Day with daddy this month as well. You have the absolutel best daddy in the whole wide world, and he loves you more than you will ever know!


You got to see lots of mommy's family this month as well when we went to the Hays family reunion in Forsan. I know you enjoyed seeing Mema and Poppa and Nanny and Papo, and they all were so happy to see you as well. Uncle Tim and Aunt Dina let us stay at their house for a couple nights, and you got to play with Bailey and Emma and meet your newest cousin, Seaver.


These past eight months have been so much fun, and I can't believe how quickly you are growing and learning new things. You have totally mastered the scooting/army crawl thing and I'm sure it's only a matter of days before you figure out how to crawl on your knees. You try it all the time so we are just waiting for you to take off! I had to lower your crib mattress this month because you are starting to pull yourself up on everything! You have also mastered the laying down to sitting up thing, and you are so proud of yourself every time you do it. The steps in our house have presented you with somewhat of a challenge, but you try your hardest to climb up them. We haven't let you do it completely by yourself yet, but I'm sure you probably could if we let you. Going down in another story though! You also love bath time these days. You love to play with toys in the tub and splash, splash, splash!


Hadley, mommy and daddy love you so much. Thanks for making our lives so much fun.

Doctors, kittens, and grandmas

Doctors:

Yesterday was Hadley's 6 month visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, that meant more shots. He is very healthy, and is growing just like he should be. However, I think he remembered what happened last time we laid him down on the table with the crinkly paper, because he totally freaked out every time I laid him down on that yesterday. It was lots of fun (note the sarcasm). Here are his stats:

Weight: 16 pounds 6 ounces (about 50th percentile)

Height: 27 inches (about 50th percentile)

Head: 44.5 cm (about 75th percentile)

All of his measurements are pretty much right where they have been every time so far, so it appears as though he is growing very proportionately. And the best part of the visit...no more shots for six months!

Kittens:

This part of the post is very sad (just warning you). This morning when we were all leaving to head to work we had a little accident. When I started my car we all heard the most horrific noise (coming from my engine) so I quickly cut the engine back off. Eric was getting into his truck at the time and obviously heard the racket and came shooting around the front of his truck to see what happened. That's when he saw it and looked up at me with a pretty terrible look. One of our kittens (about 2 months old) was apparently in my engine when I started the car, resulting in the horrific noise mentioned above. At this point all we could hear was the poor kitten crying and meowing as loud as possible because she was in so much pain. Eric told me to go on because he was going to have to shoot her. I couldn't bear to watch, and he didn't want me to watch so I backed up and drove away, and as I did I heard two shots as he (mercifully) put her out of her misery. Although all of our cats are just barn cats, there to catch critters, it was still very sad to see, and I feel terrible about it. Not a good start to the day!

Grandmas:

I decided this post needed something happy to end on, so in honor of Mother's Day (yes, I know it was a week and a half ago) here's Hadley with his grandmas and great-grandmas who love him so much.

Nanny (Mandi's mom)

GiGi (Eric's mom)Mema (Mandi's grandma)
Grandma Molly (Eric's grandma)

Mother's Day 2009

So I'm a little late in posting about Mother's Day, but what's new!

My first Mother's Day as a mommy was wonderful. My boys made sure I felt special all week leading up to Sunday. They sent me some very pretty flowers at work, and then gave me several sweet gifts. They gave me a poster with pictures of Hadley, a Bible cover, a "mommy" book, a necklace with Hadley's picture on it, a day-by-day calendar, and a devotional book that Eric and I are doing together. We spent Saturday and Sunday in Quanah at GiGi and PaPa Max's house. Overall, a very nice Mother's Day. Thanks Eric and Hadley - I love you both very much!