Five Months!

Happy Hadley is 5 months old.  My goodness, this baby girl can smile.  I'm sure she does all kinds of other cute things as well, but her smile is what people comment on all the time.  There is also a deep gut laugh that goes along with that smile.  It's irresistible.

She's as happy as she looks too, as long as you don't think about putting her down.  And by "you" I mean me, Jason or Gigi.  No strangers.  The kids and I went to a birthday party yesterday and the two times I passed her off on a friend in order to help Hardin, she screamed bloody murder.  As soon as I took her back, she was all smiles.  That was a first though, and I think it may be because she was left with a non-family baby sitter the night before.  Hopefully she's over the residual anger now.

She's sleeping much better again, and still on her belly for the most part.  I'll catch her on her side every now and then, but not on her back just yet.  She can roll both ways, but doesn't do either often.  She babbles all day mixed in with some loud squeals.

She still doesn't show any interest in eating.  We've tried carrots, apples and whole grain cereal.  She's not into any of it.

It's funny how much personality can be packed in a tiny little package.  She's definitely found her way of letting us know her likes and dislikes, favorites and not so favorites, and her sweet little trust and love.  We certainly enjoy loving on her, no one more than big brother.

4 Month Pictures (a week before month 5)

I took these pictures the weekend she was 4 months, but was scared to edit them.  Most were way too over exposed.  I'm still attempting to learn my new camera, a year later.

Although some of my very favorite smiley pictures were un-salvageable, I'm still swooning over these.  Her little expressions have already changed so much, so these hold a special place in my heart.

She gave us a run for our money the last few weeks.  Her bunny teeth are coming in and OH MY GOODNESS she is not happy about it.  Aside from some chewing and drool, we hardly noticed Hardin getting his teeth.  Hadley is the exact opposite.  She's noticed, and made sure everyone else has too.  It is nothing short of heartbreaking.  She just chews and drools and fusses.  I hate not being able to explain that it is temporary.

We've tried everything to aid her.  And I mean EVERYTHING.  Don't put anything past a sleep deprived mama at the end of the month; alone with a credit card, a screaming baby, and the internet at 2:30 in the morning.  Aside from the basic must-have teething chew toys and homeopathic tablets, we now have an absolutely ridiculous $30 Inspired by Finn amber teething necklace.  I have a few friends who swear by them and I was ready to try anything.  I'm 99.99% sure it is worthless, but I am not lying when I say the only night she woke up this week was the one night Jason lost it and we didn't have it on her ankle.  Although it promises to break easy on purpose to prevent choking, there is no way I was putting my baby to bed with anything around her neck.  We've been putting it on her ankle and now that she is sleeping again we're doing it out of habit.  I literally laughed out loud when she started screaming at 3am the morning we couldn't find it.  Needless to say Jason's shaking his head at my hippie ways...  but I guarantee you it will be on her during his assigned "Hadley Nights."

This week has definitely been her best in a few, and her smiles still outweigh the fussing by a long shot.  She's really getting fun these days.  So much more interactive with Hardin, and she does not let him get out of her sight.  His sweetness is matched only by his unintentional roughness towards her, but it keeps us all on our toes!

These babies could not be sweeter.  They're crazy and silly and wild and a bit stubborn, but my word they are sweet.  We had another wonderful Easter and went to Cat's house that afternoon for the now legendary front stoop picture.  Cawley was a master baby holder, as always, and the kids were actually very cooperative.  After we took pictures we hunted way too many eggs and ate an incredible beef tenderloin, salad and homemade mac and cheese.  Justin was so sweet to Hardin.  H has a serious attention to detail.  He's pick up an egg, look at it, open it, examine what was inside, maybe close it, maybe eat it, close the egg and place it his bag.  Meanwhile his cousins were running around snatching eggs up like crazy.  Jason was holding Hadley so Justin stepped in and tried to keep Hardin on track.  It was so funny to watch.  

Can't wait until our littlest bunny is running around with these big kids next year!  Pictures and the 10 minute egg hunt must have worn her out, because she pretty much slept the remainder of this year's Easter.  

 LILLIAN!

 I don't know if a boy has ever loved his cousins more than this kid.  

We are lucky the feeling seems to be mutual.  

Mimi bought Hadley this sweet little bubble at a little boutique last year when we all went to the beach. As she said, we could have never imagined it's little occupant would be as precious and sweet.

Four Months!

I can't believe this little smiley baby is four months already.  A third of her first year is over.  Wow.

She's still every bit as sweet and happy, as long as you are holding her, and she's definitely found her voice.  She loves to squeal and yell.  It's pretty impressive, honestly.  She's loud.  It's also incredibly cute.

We think she weighs about 17lbs according to our pass-the-baby-to-Jason-on-the-scale method.  We'll find out officially at her pediatrician appointment Monday.  She's strong like her brother as well.  Watch out when she gets a handful of your hair.

She loves to stand in your lap and bounce, lay on her changing table and kick, she'll tolerate the swing and the Little Einstein's play mat.  Mostly she just likes to be held and talked to.  When you sing and talk she tries her hardest to imitate you, when she's not smiling.

Last but not least, I'll elaborate on the smile.  It is nothing short of amazing.  Seriously.  If you so much as look at this baby she smiles with her entire face.  Her eyes especially.  She has the squinty McWhorter happy eyes, and I've never seen anything more beautiful.  I realize these aren't the smiliest pictures, but mama took off all morning for Hardin's Easter egg hunt at school, so I had to work a little later than expected and she was just about to fall asleep on me.

The Bunny Pictures

I'll make this story short.  These are not my favorite pictures, but I love how the photographer captured their natural expressions.    Part of it is my fault, because the photographer wanted to reschedule due to the chance of rain and cooler temps, but I couldn't because I had to work during her weekday options.  The other part is that I'm not crazy about bright color edits.  My kids were not wearing neon clothes.  I also didn't voice that, so maybe it's all my fault, next time I'll mention my preferences.

Either way, they are cute enough and worth the little bit we paid for a mini session.  Especially to hear Hardin talk about the bunnies and chicks, he loved it.  Sister Smiley on the other hand was not impressed.  The girl literally grins ear to ear if you even look at her around our house, but when we are out and about she's as serious as H was soaking it all in.

Everything else is going very well.  Although life is crazy right now, I sometimes feel like I'm holding my breath in the calm before the storm.  Like things just can't stay this good for that long.  Our careers are going well.  We are all happy and healthy.  And these two babies are very literally as good as it gets.  Throw in the fact that I honestly can't remember the last time Jason and I argued or raised our voices towards each other AND Hardin is 100% potty trained, and I need to pinch myself.  It certainly hasn't always been this way, and won't always be this way, so I'm trying to make a very conscious effort to enjoy it while it last.  Lots of blessing counting in our world right now.