Bye, Bye Paci, Hello Thumb!

Well, I think it is official. We can trash the paci! Hayden has not ever really loved the paci. He would take it off and on in the beginning, but has slowly been rejecting it. We switched between the soothie and the nuk paci. He won't take either now, especially from me. He has discovered his thumb and likes it much better! I am not sure how I feel about this. I liked the paci for the fact I could remove it or get rid of it when we wanted to. I liked that I could give it to him when I was driving and he was upset. However, he has gotten much better at "self-soothing" since he has discovered his thumb. This has made going to sleep a much smoother process! He really hasn't gotten the grasp of having a blankie, silkie, friend, or whatever you might call it. So, for now, I guess we are stuck with the thumb! Hopefully he won't be a kindergartner still sucking his thumb!

Dreaming of co-sleeping

I have been dreaming of co-sleeping...literally! Not because I want to try co-sleeping but because almost every night I wake myself up for fear that I have fallen asleep with Hayden in the bed or I have rolled over on him or something of that sort. The thing is, Hayden has never slept with us. I wake up and feel one of our Yorkies next to me and it scares me to death thinking it is Hayden. Weird! When I finally "come to" and realize it isn't him, it is such a relief. I always have to get up and check on him and make sure he is ok...he is always sleeping peacefully!

Jeff worked crime scene for a few years and too many times he was called out during the night to go to a home where a baby had passed away because they had been smothered in their parents' bed by pillows or their parents themselves. HORRIBLE!!!!! Anyway, Jeff and I always said that Hayden would not sleep with us. So, all this to say, I don't know why I am having these dreams or moments of panic. Jeff just attributes it to being new to motherhood and just being worried about our baby boy. What do you think? Anyone have new motherhood dreams?

**On a lighter note, as I was finishing up typing this post, I was holding Hayden. I felt this wet spot on my leg, but was thinking he was just slobbering or something. Umm, no! He had poo'd all over my shorts, my thigh, down my leg to my ankle and all over himself and his feet. How did this happen? YUCK!!!!!!!!! Been pee'd on and poo'd on today! Makes for a good day!

The swing is our friend again!

Hayden went through a a phase where he wasn't real thrilled with the swing. He might stay in there for 5 minutes. I couldn't figure out why he didn't like it any more. It used to be his best friend! Maybe because he slept in it for the first 2 months of his life? Well, I raised the seat up where he could sit up a little more and added the activity tray on to it and he loves it! He will just play, talk, spit, make noises, and enjoy the ride! Not that I want him to stay in it for long periods of time, but it sure is nice to have our friend back so I can at least have some time to get a few things done!

Just for fun...check out these pictures from the first week we were home and now at 4 1/2 months! He is getting so big! It is hard to remember him that tiny!



Hayden is really getting to where he wants to try to sit up all the time whether he is laying down getting his diaper changed, sitting in his swing, laying back in your lap and he is now getting to where he doesn't want to sit back in his bouncer either. It was nice for him to sit in the bouncer while we ate or unloaded the dishwasher or even if I had to take a shower while he was awake. But now, he wants to sit up so bad, he just doesn't love it too much any more. Thank goodness he is liking the swing again!

Here he is trying to sit up in his swing...

Stats

Hayden had his four month check-up on Thursday. Here are his stats:

Weight-13 lbs, 14 oz. (25th percentile)
Length-24 inches (10th percentile)
Head-16.5 (50th percentile)

Hayden has started a few new things...

He has become quite the busy body! If he is laying back in your arms, he will try to sit up. If he is laying down, he raises his head to try to sit up. If he is sitting up, he wants to stand! Also, he tries to lean over in his bumbo seat to get out and tries to sit up in his bouncer seat. I am guessing that the fun has only begun!

The funniest thing...on Sunday, Jeff's dad had Hayden and was raising him in the air and sitting him back down in is lap. He did this over and over again because when he would sit Hayden down, Hayden would raise is feet then his bottom in the air like he was saying, "More PaPa, More PaPa!" I can hear it now!







I am thinking Hayden had a growing spurt last week. He was waking every three hours again! And, eating every 2-3 hours during the day! Luckily this week has been better so far!

He has also learned to "razz" with his lips. He can make all types of noises with his tongue and mouth now. He loves to imitate you doing them also. He particularly likes to do this in the middle of the night after he has been fed and he is getting his diaper changed! He is so much fun!!

4 months!

Our baby doll is 4 months old! He is growing and changing so much each day! We can hardly get enough of him! He brings so much joy to our lives!



This boy loves his Daddy!! Jeff learned this new "holding" trick from his uncle and Hayden loves it! Most times, if he is upset, he will immediately calm down when Jeff does this.

Loves, loves, loves being outside! It is almost as if he just melts when you go outside. He relaxes and will just sit or stand in your lap, look around, and soak it all in!



Everything is going into his mouth these days! Most of the time it is his thumb, fist, or two or three of his fingers!



Hayden is getting great at sitting in his Bumbo seat, holding his head up, sitting up in your lap, and even tries to sit up on his own while sitting on the floor. Loves to stand up too! He has some super strong legs!



Loves going for rides from Nanny and Granddaddy's house to our new house in Daddy's big truck!

Hayden has become so much more aware of his surroundings this month. He will just sit and observe. He will recognized that you are looking and smiling at him from across the room. He has also discovered he dogs! He loves to just sit and watch them.

Although I don't have any pictures on here to prove it, Hayden is smiling and laughing so much these days! He loves for you to make silly noises and faces and for you to "get him". I am going to have to get better about taking pictures of him smiling and laughing! I just noticed that all these are so serious! We did get some pictures taken at JC Pennys the other day and he did great! He was just plain silly with the girl taking the pictures! They turned out so good! We can't wait to get them back!

Here is one from our 3 month photo shoot that I thought was too cute not to share! A little half smile... Looks like he has on a little prison suit. HA!


We go back to the doctor on the 20th for shots. Yuck! We can't wait to see how much he has grown!

Show Us Your Life-Favorite Vacation Spots

I have not ever participated in Kelly's Korner's Show Us Your Life Friday's, but today I thought it would be fun! Today is Favorite Vacation Spots! I have several! But, I will choose just a few!

Jamaica is my all time favorite! Jeff and I went to Negril, Jamaica for our Honeymoon and it was oh so amazing! We also went to Ocho Rios, Jamaica as a stop on a Caribbean Cruise we went on. So fun! Sad thing is, I don't have those pictures on this computer!

My next favorite is Alaska. Jeff and I went there last summer for a week to visit some friends that were living in Anchorage. It is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!

Out the airplane window on the way there.

We went to an awesome airshow at the local Air Force Base.

This was on our way to our glacier cruise. We had to stop here and wait for our turn to go through a one lane tunnel.

Beautiful! There were several waterfalls. Some were frozen and some were not. This one was coming out of a glacier.

Jeff, Tom, and Shauna

Burr...it was so cold and we went in July!!

This was before we got into Homer, Alaska. We drove down to Homer for one night after our glacier cruise. When we got there, we went to the famous bar called the Salty Dog. It was the tiniest little bar that was packed with people and with smoke...GAG! What it is known for is the dollar bills that cover the walls. People put their names, where they are from, date, etc. on them and hang them up. There is not much telling how many dollar bills were there! One of the boats from Deadliest Catch docks in Homer, but it wasn't there when we were there.

The peninsula you see in the picture is called the Homer Spit.

Showing off our Halibut we caught. You get to keep two fish. They then clean them and package them up for you on the boat. We then froze it back at Tom and Shauna's house and brought it home with us. Sad to say, we haven't eaten that much of it but the fishing trip was so much fun!

These pictures don't do it justice, but the flowers in Anchorage were unbelievable!

Colorado is also another favorite! My family always went to Colorado in the summer growing up. Jeff and I took our travel trailer there a couple of years ago and spent the week with my parents. It is so peaceful and we love the cool weather in the summer! Our favorite thing to do is just go for drives up scary one lane mountainsides looking for wildlife but try to stay away from bears! We hope to be able to go again next year when Mr. Hayden is a little bigger!

This was at the top of a scenic drive. The elevation was over 12,000. It was super windy and very cool! There was a thunderstorm lurking so we didn't stay long!

At the top of another scenic drive. THIS ONE WAS SCARY!!!! One where you are climbing rocks and you can stick your hand out and touch a tree or huge rock. But, soooo beautiful!

On our way to Bear Lake...AS CLOSE AS I WANT TO GET!!

Jeff was so excited that he got to play at one of the top rated golf courses in CO. I just sat back, enjoyed the ride on the cart, and the beautiful scenery!

Just a Strolling...UPDATED***

Hayden actually went to bed at a decent time (7:30 PM) last night and actually woke up at a decent time this morning (8:00 AM) so I decided to take advantage of the cooler weather and take him for a stroll. It was his first time sitting facing the front like a big boy! How about that huge harness? He loved it though! He just sat back (or actually kept trying to sit up more), chewed on the strap, and enjoyed the ride!

UPDATE***
Kristin and Marla...no, he did not sleep for 11 hours straight. That was definitely misleading. He did sleep for 6 1/2, then 3, and 3. This is great for us! He has gone 7 hours and 8 hours a couple of times each. Rare though! He had a week or so where he was waking up about an hour after going to bed. I couldn't figure out why! Even back to waking up every 3 hours a couple of nights. UHG! Anyway, he didn't do it last night and had a great night of rest! Typically, he was not really waking up for the day until around 10 or 11 AM. So, our day was half over already! We are getting better at going to bed around 7:30 or 8:00 PM. I think that was really my fault. I would stay out at my parents or something and I couldn't figure out why he was so fussy from about 7-9 and wasn't really going to bed until 9 or 10 PM. Now I know! He was tired and ready for bed much earlier!! Live and learn!

Our Attempt at Tummy Time!

Here is our attempt at tummy time this morning. I guess he just wasn't that in-to-it today!

I'd rather crawl...

Ok, I am tired...I am just going to suck on my fingers...

Without a pillow...just want to still suck on my fingers...

House Update 8-11-09

Some of you might ask, why are you building a house like this? Well, it is our way of building something nice to live in that is affordable so I can stay home with our precious boy! This is so much more important to us than living in the best house on the block! We have worked really hard to get where we are financially so I can stay home. I know it isn't for everyone, but I am truly blessed and honored to have the title of "Stay At Home Mom"! I couldn't be more proud!

Finally a house update!

Since the last update, we now have interior walls, electric and telephone run, plumbing, ac/heating duct work, garage door, and even a new driveway! Exciting stuff!

Here is the outside completed...

Yes, that is our travel trailer! I wish we got to enjoy it more! I will post soon about our 1 night camping trip with Mr. Hayden! We do take it to the deer lease and enjoy it half the year there!

The garage...

It is a one car garage which will also house our washer and dryer. The whole upstairs above our house will be storage/attic! YEA! Between holiday decor, teaching stuff, assistant principal stuff, and other misc. stuff we have collected, I am sure it won't take long to fill it up!

Looking into the kitchen area from our dining area and out the back door...


Looking from garage into the rest of the house (living room, Hayden's room, bathroom, and two closets. Hidden behind the bathroom is our bedroom and my closet.)


I know it is really hard to tell anything about anything right now. Hopefully before long, we will have our walls completed and it will start to look like a real house!!

Hayden and his Daddy enjoying a little shower time together! Ha!


View off our back porch...

We are so excited about our back porch! It is so peaceful and often times there is a nice breeze. We can't wait to spend time out there watching Hayden play! Jeff already has the perfect spot picked out for Hayden's Ark/Pirate Ship he wants to build!

Side/Front View...

We love those trees!

Long Time, No Post!

Wow...it is has been a long time since I have posted. Our life has been a little crazy lately...family reunion, building a house, my mom having surgery, and of course, having an almost 4 month old! I hope to get caught up soon! But for now, click here to see some precious pictures of our baby boy that my best friend Jennifer took!