Instruction Manual For Babies

This was posted on my birth club board and I shared it with Josh and we both got a huge laugh out of it.
http://www.c00lstuff.com/1133/Do_s_and_don_ts_with_babies/

Just a short video

We don't really have a lot going on here. Hayden has just been content playing with his toys. We haven't gone out too much since it's been cold. Hayden went to his first party last Saturday to celebrate his good buddy, Jack Schmickle's first birthday. Hayden also has a second bottom tooth that poked through yesterday. We're on a really good schedule of breakfast and bottle in the morning, play-time, 2 hour nap, play time, bottle, more play time, nap, etc. He goes down great for his naps. I put him in his crib, say goodnight, and he's off to dreamland. He's been really easy the last couple weeks. Night time is a little different the last few nights. It could be his new tooth coming in or that he just wants some reassurance that we're right there. Like anything else, I'm positive this will change in a couple weeks.

"Not ANOTHER Picture of Hayden in his highchair!"

Oh and I got my haircut. I just decided I wanted to do something different and if I didn't like it, it would be long again by the end of the summer. So far I like it, although I'll probably fix it a little differently than she did. I made the appointment last night and then Josh came home for lunch today and said I needed to be there two hours earlier because he added on a facial and a pedicure. Yay!


After Hayden eats his breakfast I usually will give him something to play with while I get his food put away. He loves this little chipmunk that Josh got him on a business trip. He's eating more and more everyday and has been eating Stage 2 foods for a couple weeks. He is now about 7 and a half months old and growing like crazy.

Buddy Map

With all the new visitors coming to check us out, I would love for everyone to sign into our buddy map located at the very bottom of the page. Seeing the dots spread all over the country is pretty cool. If you're not comfortable signing with your full name, it's ok to just use a first name. Just click on "Add Yourself"

Grandma Look at Me!

Hayden is really getting the hang of the cup, which I have mentioned before, but I finally snapped a picture of him holding onto it like a big boy.

Playing with Mommy

While Daddy watched football, Hayden and I played upstairs with some of his new toys he got for Christmas. He really likes the Choo Choo train from Grandma and Grandpa and his Roll A Rounds Toys. He can even push the lever on his gum ball machine to have his prize come out.Hayden really enjoys his Roll A Rounds Dinosaur. I can't believe his tiny hands can hold onto the balls that come with it.

Hayden's New 'Do

Yep, he still stares at the camera when we get it out. He's making it very hard to sneak up on him for cute videos.

Hayden really likes to reach for the comb and after his bath I thought it was cute to comb his hair all up. I can't believe how thick his hair keeps getting.

We had a rough night before that bath, which consisted of: dinner and bottle, play in exersaucer (I guess he played too hard), spit up carrots, poop up back, bath, spit up more carrots, play with mommy, and then bed.

Can You Read This?

Today on my birth board, someone posted a link to another thread where some people were commenting on how annoying it is when people misuse words or misspell words, for example: lose vs. loose, i.e. vs. e.g., it's vs. its, etc. After several posts of different things that were wrong that they read often, someone posted this (And yes, I could read it):

if yuo can raed tihs, you hvae a sgtrane mnid, too.
Can you raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

More Pics of Hayden Eating

Starting solid foods has been slow going with Hayden, but he now eats 2 meals a day of cereal and fruit in the morning and a veggie and fruit for dinner. He's not like his cousin Emma at all who opened her mouth as wide as she could get it when she started solids. He's slowly getting the hang of it and usually has one good meal a day where I don't have to wait forever to get the spoon in. He's also really great at drinking from a cup and loves that part of his meal.

Playdate

So today Hayden and I went up to Springfield to meet up with a couple of the moms I met on Babycenter.com. It was really great being able to share what our sons are going through and to also have some good conversation.

Hayden (born 6/5), Elijah (born 6/25), and Calvin (born 6/5)

It's a bird, It's a plane.... It's Hayden's First Tooth!

Yep, after months and months of drooling and chewing on fists, I finally felt a sharp edge a few days ago. It's the bottom center left tooth poking through. He seems to be doing ok, except for a little bit of a stuffy nose.

Hayden is also doing really great at sitting up. In just the last week his balance has improved dramatically. We don't walk away quite yet, but it's great how long he's able to sit up without tipping over. Occasionally he will get excited while playing with his toys and he kicks his legs and starts to fall over backwards.

Christmas Memories

We all had a great Christmas with everyone and it was such a blessing to be able to share it with many family members and especially to have enough time to visit everyone and not have to worry about getting back on a plane to Florida. We were all pretty worn out when we got home after having 4 Christmas's, but we're all getting back into a routine.
Josh was feeling tired on the way home so he took some pictures while I drove for a while.

We all went to see Obama with my parents and sat in the second row. We both shook his hand and he gave Hayden a little shake too.

Here's Noah and Josh. Noah got a huge kick out of one of Hayden's toys.

Here's sweet little Lucy playing with her Momma's yarn.

I think Andy had a blast playing with Hayden. Hayden sure liked him too.

Josh, Andy, and Hayden

Sweet Hayden getting ready for bed.

Emma having fun playing with Hayden. It looks like she was trying to tickle him. Emma definitely had fun playing with him and his toys.

Josh and Hayden on Christmas Day

Grandma Debbie opening her ornament we gave her from Steamboat Springs

Hayden and me on Christmas Eve in the beautiful outfit from Grandma Dawn.

Gunner and Hayden

Hayden opening his gift from the Grothaus Gang. He loves this present.

Hayden, Gunner, and Gavin in their matching pjs

Papa Joel feeding Hayden before bed.

Hayden sitting up amongst all the gifts from Mima and Papa. He seems very excited to get the show on the road! I think next year will be even better for him.

Hayden and Great Grandma Judy

Hayden and the other grandkids with Grandpa Larry

Josh and Hayden opening a gift at the Neally Family Christmas