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Growing up!

"Mamamamama!!!" That's what Hailey started saying on Tuesday, March 3rd. It ticked my heart to hear it! I saw at church today, March 15th, that she is starting to waive hello and goodbye. Then she peed on me. Then when I was changing her she looked straight at me and said "Mama". It almost seemed that she associated me with the word. Sean is convinced that she does but I'm not absolutely sure yet. When she says "mama" I try to make sure and respond to her. Maybe because of that she has learned a little early? I'm sure every parent is eager of this!





Things Hailey loves:
Swinging at the park
Jacob & Luke (her buddies)
Daddy's weird sounds
Nana and Aunties
guy's noses (she grabs them)
colorful set of plastic rings that stack

Things Hailey does:
pushes up with her arms and tries to get her knees under her
makes raspberries with her mouth
spits out baby food like a fountain
kicks her feet and waves arms when excited
splashes the water in the bathtub
sits up without support
talks a lot
working on saying "dada"
prefers mommy right now
starting to hold bottle (mostly little ones)
has a starter juice cup


Hailey goes to the doctor on Tuesday to get weighed. I pray she has gained enough weight. Last time the doctor was a bit concerned but said it could be that she is going to be petite. As long as she has gained sufficient weight then she will be fine.

A message to all my peeps

I'm supposed to be in bed for the night so don't tell my mom and dad that you read this. I just wanted to say how much I love them both. Daddy plays the guitar and sings to me all the time. I sit on the floor and look up at him and smile. Daddy is so entertaining and funny. He is always tickling me and making funny noises. Everyone says I look like him. Daddy plays fetch really well too. =o)

I love being with my mommy. I practically never cry when I'm in her arms. Sometimes I topple over when I'm sitting playing with my toys and it surprises me so I cry. She holds me and makes it all better. She knows exactly what I want. When I'm teething she gives me these nice cold rings to bite on. It feels so good but it makes my cheeks and hands cold too! Mommy loves to play peek-a-boo with me. She makes me laugh so hard I squeel. I also love to smile at mommy. When she smiles at me I can't help but smile back. Sometimes mommy rubs my face when I'm tired or not feeling well. I close my eyes and go to sleep.

The doctor says I didn't gain much weight the past couple months but that I look good and not to worry. He said this baby's got some back (like mother, like daughter).

Hey, can someone explain to me what these fuzzy creatures are crawling on my floor?! They run away and leave me with their fuzz puffs in my hand. It doesn't taste good either. Jacob, do you have any tips on how I can catch one of these things? If we catch my big black one, we could take a ride to Bruster's and you can buy me a sundae. :::wink:::

Great Grandpa Raymond

Hailey,

Today your Great Grandpa Raymond passed away. He loved you oh so much. He was so proud to be your Great Grandpa! A couple weeks before he passed, we went to visit him during dinner. He was up in the dining room and overjoyed to see you. He smiled ear to ear. Nana took pictures. He always wanted to know how you were if you weren't around. I'm sorry you will not remember him. But we will keep his memory alive. Know that he is proud of you!!

We're sitting up!

Yes, you read that right! Hailey is sitting up now! She can support herself well. She will sit for a few minutes unsupported. Eventually she topples over and then continues to play with her toys.

Last friday Hailey went to the park for the first time. We went with Carrie Schuessler & kids and Amanda Phillips and her little boy and 4 month old little girl. Hailey got in the swing! She sat in the swing with her legs coming straight out and stiff. lol. Luke Schuessler was in the swing beside her.








Hailey loves to sleep on her stomach. She sleeps with her butt in the air and her hands under her tummy. I just went to get her some more pj's the other day. I got her a couple 6 - 9 month sizes. They are a little big but that's good cause there is room to grow!

Hailey still hates baby food. I give her bananas and apples in a mesh ring and she loves to chew on it. But when I try to spoon feed her or even feed her with my finger, she makes an icky face and spits it out. But then she grabs for whatever Sean and I have!

A couple weeks ago I set Hailey in the bassinet part of her playpen, sitting in her bumbo and she was playing with some toys. From a distance, she looked like she was sitting up by herself. Sean walked in the room and freaked out screaming "Get the camera! Get the camera!" (this was before Hailey started sitting up unsupported) I just started laughing and then he realized she was in the bumbo. Poor guy! He was so excited!!

WORK:
A few weeks ago I was singing the song "God is bigger than the boogy man" I was just so scared about the way work was going. It's a family business. What would we do instead? It's so hard to find a job right now too! I just tried to have faith. Then suddenly we had a lot of people looking for estimates. Soon we should have more work to do!! Thank you God for your provision! I pray for favor on our estimates we are giving out.

FAMILY:
My pop (my mom's dad) is doing very bad healthwise. My family has started making arrangements because he could pass anyday now. My mom has been dealing with everything very well but I think it is starting to take a toll on her. Pop has been in and out of the hospital and hasn't eaten in weeks. He had a stroke last wednesday and now he can't talk at all. Jesus Christ is our savior and my pop has accepted Jesus so I know he is going to be eternally with God. That gives me such a great sense of peace even during a tough time.

5 months and counting!

Five months have passed since I had Hailey. Can't believe it!! Her developments are so fast and dramatic. The other day Sean and I were commenting on Hailey's social development. We have seen a huge difference in the past week. She is working on sitting up too. Haven't gotten it yet but soon!! I would love it if she would skip the crawling and go to walking. I want her to be able to crawl, of course, but Michael's (our huge black german shephard) hair is everywhere!! Once I vaccum or sweep, it's there 10 min. later so it's pretty much a neverending battle. I can just see it now... Hailey looks up at me and smiles with a mouth-full of black hair. Ah! Well, I guess it comes with the territory.

Hailey loves toys that have blinking lights and makes music. She also loves her Chewy... it's a zebra. For the most part she is sleeping well. Most nights she sleeps all the way through. Some nights she wakes up and I give in and feed her and she goes right back to sleep. Other nights, like last night, she woke up crying a couple times. She was laying on her back so I flipped her over and turned the mobile on which vibrates and she soon went back to sleep. She cried for not even 5 minutes. I don't let her cry steadily for more than 10 minutes.

Doc appointment

Hailey had a check-up doc appointment today. She weighs in at 13 lb. 7 oz. and 25 1/2" long. She got 3 shots today and was quite upset about it. I think that combined with being tired made her really fussy this morning. We started her on baby food today. (Here comes the nasty poo!) We are trying sweet peas first. She cried and cried but I think it was for other reasons. The doctor said she will start teething more soon and to watch out for ear infections.

Hailey began waking up during the night cause she is cold. I started putting a onesie underneath Hailey's pajamas and she is sleeping much better. We are on a schedule of waking up at 7 AM to eat, eating every four hours and going to bed around 8 PM or so. It's working really well. My only struggle is getting her to nap when we are out places. Sometimes she will act the cutest when she is really tire but then suddenly, like hitting a brick wall, she is exhausted and screaming! It's not fun!!

Hailey rolls over from stomach to back and back to stomach. She loves it when Sean and I clap and say "yay!!". She smiles and we have noticed she looks for our approval. I had to tell her "no" for the first time the other day. She was arching her back while sitting in the bumbo and I was feeding her cereal. The first time she smiled at me. When she noticed that I didn't smile back, then she just gave me a serious face (the same face I was giving her).

Christmas was a blast with Hailey. Her favorite present was a pinguin Aunt Stephanie got her that wobbles, plays music and has balls in it. She squeeled and grabbed it. With the money from her Great Grandpa and Great Uncle John, I bought Hailey an exersaucer. It should come in the mail any day now!! But where am I going to put it?! I'm so glad it colapses.

Hailey slept through her first new years. It would have been fun to keep her up but not good for her. We spent the night playing Rock Band with Stephanie and her boyfriend Patrick (Patti).

We got a new camera... a Nikon D60. We LOVE it! Sean and I had been saving for over a year. We had a ton of gift certificates from last Christmas we had saved. Speaking of saving, Sean and I decided we need to save and do something for our anniversary. This year it will be our five year anniversary. We are thinking maybe a 3 day cruise. Can I really leave Hailey for that long?! Ah! She will be a year old so maybe I can handle it by then.