Two months with the sweetest girl.

Hadley was two months old Monday.  This is the first time with either kid I missed taking their "block shot" on the exact day, but I had a very good excuse.  I was in the hospital from Sunday through Tuesday having an ERCP and my gallbladder removed.  I'll skip the details, but I'm pretty sure it was the sickest I've ever been and I'm VERY glad it is over and I am home with my babies.  I'm also 100% sure that we would have all crashed and burned if not for our amazing friends and family.  People fed my boys (best help ever for a single dad), sent beautiful flowers and lots of prayers.  Mom of course helped a ton and even uncle Scott got stuck with preschool car pool.  We will never be able to thank everyone enough.  It takes a village is the God's honest truth.

Hadley's two month well check was yesterday and she's topping the charts at 13lbs. 14oz., and just under 24 inches.  95% in both.  I know everyone hears me say it all the time, but she really is the sweetest baby ever.  She hugs you tight at 9 weeks, and has been doing it a while.  She wraps her little arm around your upper arm, grabs a fist full of hair or whatever she can with the other, leans in and hugs tight.  It makes you want to melt.  And when you hold her she melts into you.

She wakes up happy and as long as you are talking to her or smiling at her she is talking and smiling right back.  I think she's definitely going to be a girl that thrives on being around people.

She's still not crazy about being put down.  Ever really.  She'll tolerate it for about 10 minutes before she lets you know she'd prefer to be held.  This does not bother me in the slightest most times, but when either of us has to do dinner and bed time on our own it can be tricky.  She can be loud.

She is still nursing first and then getting formula.  The only time nursing satisfies her completely is in the early mornings.  If she gets up before 5, and she does most days around 3 or 4, I let her snuggle in bed with me and she normally nurses right back to sleep.  If she gets up after 5 she's ready for a full feeding and some play time.  Either way we are counting our blessings that at 2 months she's sleeping from at least 8pm-3am, many times longer.

Two months in we just can't imagine our little family without her.  Hardin loves her so much, and loves to tell you how much older and bigger he is.  He also loves to talk about when he was a baby.  The only time he was ever seriously jealous was at bedtime when she got to stay in our room.  Now that she's in her bed he seems more okay with the situation.

Random Pictures

A few days ago we went to Cat's and my father in law reminded me again that I haven't sent him any pictures in a while.  God love the non-facebookers in my life.  They keep me on my toes about uploading and ordering actual prints of the nine million pictures I take.

Tonight I'm scrolling through pictures uploading them to Costco, in doing so I'm finding many random pictures from our first couple of months with Hadley.

Also, the reason we were at Cat's the day after they came to visit us is Hadley's fondness of tummy sleeping.  I went to my first ladies night in our "new" (1.5 years) neighborhood Saturday night.  It was a lovely spa night where everyone wore jammas, sipped martini's and had a massage with a wonderful masseuse.  I got home very late and very relaxed, to find Jason in bed alone in our room.  No baby next to our bed.  When I asked where Hadley was he casually said in her crib.  Hmm.  I'd tried to get her to sleep there numerous times and she'd only stay for 15 minutes.  When I asked him how he did it he said she just went to sleep.  I went to check on her and gasped when I found her on her belly.  It may change before my kids read this but for the time being every doctor tells you over and over to only place babies on their back to sleep.  When I started freaking out Jason just said "Tiff, when I put her on her back she cries, when I put her on her tummy she sleeps."  And so it was.

Cathy had the same issue with Lillian and bought a fancy movement monitor to place under her mattress that has a loud alarm if they don't move (quit breathing) for more than 20 seconds.  I've accidentally tested it every day since we got it by picking her up without turning it off, and let me tell you, it works like a charm.  Ever since then Hadley and I both have been sleeping like a charm.  Knock on wood.

But I digress, Hadley's sleeping and I'm uploading some of my favorite random snapshots over the last few months.  Next post, my random iphone favorites.

Such a pretty little thing.

Hardin went for an unplanned spend the night with Gigi this afternoon, and I found myself alone with my camera and my girl.  PICTURE TIME.

She's wearing a sweet little Feltman Brother's dress that mom bought the day after I found out I was having a girl, and my Buster Brown crib shoes she's saved all these years.  It's worth noting this is her first time in anything smocked.

Hadley was being the biggest ham before we started taking pictures but got a little mad when I changed her clothes and tied on those shoes.  Still so adorable I could eat her up.

When I texted Mimi the picture above she replied that she is "such a pretty little thing," just like her mom used to say.  I couldn't agree more.

Snow Day 2014

The last time it snowed this much in Georgia I was on maternity leave with Hardin, and we took what have become some of our all time favorite pictures with him.  When the forecast showed snow in our future a few days ago I started dreaming of having the same photographs with Hadley.  Luckily my brother is here and was able to take some family shots as well.*

We rushed threw pictures because Hardin was anxious to get playing, but I love them all and know they will be cherished. 

After we took pictures I brought the baby inside and the boys took the golf cart down to the lake to go sledding with all of the neighborhood kids.  They had a blast and Hardin hung with the big kids.  Jason said he was fearless and my brother texted me these while they were down there. 

I am glued to the news and internet because friends all over town are still trying to get home.  My brother in law is a school bus driver and just made it home after an excruciating afternoon.  Many are sleeping in their cars, walking home with cars sliding all around them, and staying with friends (or long lost clients in Jason's brother's case) to avoid the roads.  We'll be praying tomorrow brings relief for all!

*My brother moved home a week ago and is staying with us until he gets his feet on the ground.  We are SO happy to have him home!  In keeping with his drop everything and move to Hawaii spirit he has decided to go out on his own with his landscape architecture career.  I know he'll do great and can't wait to see where this leap takes him.  I also hope that living in a house with a boy who is every bit as three as they come, and a 6 week old, doesn't scar him too bad for life.  Or make him lose any respect he had for us as parents.

 

She's so much better than my camera skills.

I know.  I KNOW.  Things don't always turn out like I envision in my head, but bless this sweet girl's heart, we just can't get on the same page with photographs.

Right before Hardin was a month I saw a friend post the "block" picture online, so naturally I copied them. I had an older camera and had no idea how to use it.  His photos were not great, but I didn't know it so I loved them all so much.  

With Hadley I spent weeks picking out her perfect blocks, picked out places in my home to photograph her, outfits, blankets, etc.  I tried 100 different camera settings.  Four different times, four different places, and three different outfits.  I used my fancy new camera, and because I know what it is capable of I know when it's off.  I just can't figure out a good baby angle where you can't read the other sides of the blocks [ie, years, other numbers, etc.].

I LOVE every single picture because they all show her sweet little face and personality, but I haven't taken "the one" yet.  Not even close.  This may be my one year photography challenge to get the perfect shot.  In the mean time, I'll love all the practice shots of my perfect little girl.  

She's just so good. She's soft and calm.  Cuddly and sweet.  Strong and focused.  Did I mention snugly?  Because oh my, I could hug sister all day every day.  And do most days.  

Sweet girl, when you wonder why I didn't write too often about you these early weeks, it was because I was holding you and couldn't.  

4 Week Old Hadley

These pictures were snapped after Hadley's bath when she was four weeks old.  She is SO sweet this one, and makes the cutest little faces.  She's also the snugglest baby I've ever held.  When you hold her she just melts into you.  Little Miss likes to lay and look out the windows and I love to watch her.

  

First Christmas Program

I have a lot of catching up to do, but I want to make sure to document Hardin's first Christmas program.  It was the day after Hadley was due and I was so thankful I was able to make it.  I wish I could articulate just how insanely sweet it was but that is just not possible.  I cried like a baby for at least half of it.  They all proudly wore their snowman sweatshirts that they made with their footprints, and carried little Baby Jesus' they made with socks.  They sang 8 songs in all and I'll never forget a second of it.