We went outside this morning – you sat in your high chair and watched Dad clean out the skimmer baskets in the pool while your puppy, Maddison, went for a swim.  It’s one of her favorite activities, you know. 

As I watched you sitting there, with the wind blowing through your hair, I couldn’t help but feel this extreme sense of wonderment & pride.  So much so, that I started crying!  Tears of joy, of course. 

You are absolutely amazing, Hailey.  Neither of us ever could have imagined just how intense our love for you could be.  We are so blessed.

My Mexico trip was a lot of fun but I missed you & your dad a lot while I was gone. You guys came to pick me up at the airport and I was SO excited to see you. You were not quite as excited to see me as I had hoped you would be. We got back into the swing of things pretty quickly though.

You got your first big girl bath while I was gone from daddy.  Recently you haven’t been enjoying your little girl tub so much…lots of kicking and screaming.  Your dad & I decided we’d try your bath in our big bathtub and that I would get in the water with you. You were a little scared at first and did lots of clinging to me, but you soon became very interested in the water. We’ve had a few more baths together since then and you seem to be enjoying them. Now, the plan is to get you to enjoy them without one of us in the water.

You have really started eating big girl food @ daycare. They’ve given you spaghetti & meatballs a couple of times so I decided to buy you some pre-made meals to take to school. We got a variety of things from ravioli to turkey & rice. We’ll see how well they go over.

You also had your first Goldfish and Graham Cracker tonight. You enjoyed both but the Goldfish might still be a little too crunchy for you.

It’s so hard to believe you will be 1 year old in a few weeks. Which reminds me, we better get to planning for that!

We love you baby girl!

Luli & Papaw came to town last night to see you. We went to Cheddar’s for dinner where you got to enjoy some cooked carrots, broccoli, and chicken bits. You were very pleased with all of the items but seemed to be most fond of the broccoli. Thank goodness you don’t appear to have inherited your father’s dislike of vegetables!

We all got up this morning and headed to IHOP for breakfast. Once I googled it on my cell phone to make sure eggs are safe for you, we decided to order you a meal off the kid’s menu. We chose the 1 pancake and 1 scrambled egg plate. You put your 6 teeth (well, 5 1/2 really) to good use and ate nearly every bit of both! What a big girl you are becoming!

When I picked you up from daycare on Thursday, Miss Jo said “I just finished heating up some water for your Princess so her bottle would be hot enough!” We both laughed pretty hard at that…only cause it’s so true!

Your dad said his flight was delayed (he was flying back from Cincinatti) so he wouldn’t be home until late. So you and I headed to Jason’s Deli for dinner. I browsed the salad bar for some Hailey safe foods – you haven’t really eaten very much big people food – so I decided on some peas and spiral pasta. You LOVED both and in true fashion, made a huge mess!

As we stood to leave I saw your father walk in the door! I was VERY confused?! He smiled a big smile and said “April Fools!”. Not only was his flight not delayed, he actually got on an earlier one! He’s so sneaky! 🙂

You are 10 1/2 months old and weight 23 pounds. Today we sent you to school in a size 2T shirt! Granted the sizing seemed to run a little small, but we also got you a size 2T swim suit this weekend because the 24 month size was too small…so it’s not just the clothes. It’s outta control!

We were at the doctor office last week and there was a little boy crawling around on the floor. He was so cute and dainty. I asked his mom how old he was and she said 11 months! What?! You were younger than him!? Everyone that hears your age comments on what a big girl you are! What can we say kid, it’s in your genes! 🙂

You did it!  Like a champ!  We got to the surgery center at 7:40am but they didn’t take you back until 9:25am.  They ushered us to a consultation room where we waited patiently.  It was literally 8 minutes later that the doctor came in and said you had a lot of fluid come out but that you were doing great!

We waited another 10 minutes or so and then they brought you to us.  You were so very sleepy and not at all happy about the situation but it was obvious you were very glad to see us.  You scarfed down some apple juce, desperately tried to open your eyes, and sat patiently while the nurse went over all of the post-op directions.  We were in the car and on the way home by 10:30!  Of course, you passed out the minute we put you in your car seat. 

You’ve slept quite a bit today, but overall you seem to be feeling good!  You are such a strong little girl & we love you more than life itself!

You got four teeth pretty early on – the middle two on the top and bottom.  Well, #5 finally broke through a couple of weeks ago – it’s the one just to your left of the middle on the bottom.  You’re a chompin’ fool now.

Which brings me to the next topic…the Bagel!  The girls at daycare told us they fed you some bagel the other day…and you LOVED it.  So, guess who got a bagel for last night’s snack…and another one packed in their lunch bag today!?  Such a lucky little girl!

Your scheduled to get tubes put in your ears tomorrow.  We have to be there bright and early at 7:40am!  If all goes as planned, we should be outta there by 10:00am or so.  Cross your fingers!  

Though we purchased it a few weeks ago, we had not yet used your big girl car seat.  Well, that all changed today.  You seemed to think it was alright!  You can definitely see more of your surroundings now and I think you like that.  However, you fell asleep on the way home and there is no doubt your baby girl car seat is much more comfortable for snoozing. 

Your dad accidentally cracked your nogin on the garage door.  He thought he smelled a poopy diaper so he hoisted you up so that your butt was even with his nose.  Then it happened – CRACK!  He didn’t realize that there was only about 1 foot between his head and the garage door.  Needless to say you cried big crocodile tears and he felt absolutely horrible.  Unfortanely, I am pretty sure that won’t be the last time that happens.  🙁

We are amazed by each and every day! You are blossoming into such a grown up little baby! You are happy, good natured, and that smile is to die for!

I realized it’s been a month since our last entry – unacceptable! This has been an interesting 30 days. You have continued to battle that same darn ear infection. The doctor finally put you on the “last resort” antibiotic and referred us to an ENT. You are scheduled for tubes on March 26th.

We also went to see an pediatric pulmonologist just to make extra sure there is nothing going on with your lungs. You passed that test with flying colors; of course you were feeling really good and on an antibiotic at the time. We are keeping a close eye on you but I am sad to report that you finished your meds on Thursday and started coughing again on Friday. Poor baby!

You are still enjoying daycare. Everyday when I come to get you, you are playing with some toy, or other baby, and totally enjoying yourself. By genes alone you are destined to be a social butterfly, but daycare has helped you develop those skills – even at such a young age.

We are in the beginning stages of palnning your 1st birthday party. It’s sooooo hard to believe that is coming up! Everyone said it would, but man, it’s gone by so fast!

I am taking a mommy-vacation the first week in April. I am going to Playa del Carmen with my friend Christi. The trip is sponsored by her work and she gets to bring someone. Since she will be in charge of coordinating everything (parties, events, packets, meetings, meals, etc.) for the attendees she decided she should bring somone who’s as organized as she is to help her…..she chose me! 🙂

While I a SUPER excited about having a much needed break, I am already getting anxious about being away from you for that long. The longest so far has been one night in the same city….this will be 5 nights in a different country! Ay yi yi! Just practicing up on my spanish! 🙂

Your grandma Karen is going to come down to spend time with you & daddy while I am gone. Well, probably you more than daddy, but don’t tell him that. Anyway, I’ve said it before and I mean it again. I am going to blog more often! Even if it’s just a sentence or two. Love you baby girl!

I am pretty sure you said Dada tonight!  You and I were playing after your bath and you were making sounds so I decided to start saying mama and dada to you.  It wasn’t long before your dad swore he heard you say mama.  I wasn’t so sure so I started saying dada to you and sure enough!  At just 9 months and 2 days old you said dada!  But we are going to call it a tie though as to whether you said mama or dada first.  🙂