10 Months

Is she crawling yet? Is she crawling yet? Every Sunday when we drop Hailey off at the nursery we're asked that question. Answer is....nope. But we are feeling encouraged that she still may actually crawl. She has found her way onto her knees and can move a little bit, she tends to stick her butt in the air and tries to cover ground that way instead. But she is trying and I believe one day will actually crawl. I'd always been so worried about it, that a friend's kid was developing faster then her. But I can honestly say now that I'm fine with it. She will develop in her own time at her own pace. I can't make her crawl nor do I want to, I will keep providing opportunities for her to do so and she'll have to do the rest.

I feel like this past month she has learned a few more things. She pulls herself up a lot easier now onto everything. At times she still whines and wants help but for the most part when she wants to do it she does...and quickly. It's kind of funny b/c she'll protest some times if I am not helping her but I've seen her just turn and pull up on the couch. She actually just did it while I was typing this. Once up she can walk around the coach holding onto it of course.

She is able to turn individual pages a lot better, her fine motor skills...if that's what you call it seem to be improving. She also turns to the front of the house when ever I saw dada or daddy. Really cool to see her recognize Brad as daddy. We are working on waving hello and goodbye, the past few days she seems to be getting it a little better. She'll stretch her arms out and move her fingers. We were playing on our bed the other day and she saw a picture of Brad and myself and she smiled and waved to the picture.

She is still really enjoying bath time every night. I think Brad got to experience her first poop in the tub, it seemed really likely that I'd get that honor since I normally am the one who does it (just because he works at night) but lucky Brad got to deal with that present.

She recognizes both sets of grandparents when ever she sees them on oovoo. What a blessing oovoo is. I don't know how others have done it in the past without it. When ever we sign in she starts smiling and moving, she gets so excited to hear that sound.

She still loves The Wiggles and we have about 20 episodes taped and ready when we need it. I really think it's the music. Every time she 'works with mommy' I put music on and she instantly starts dancing, bopping up and down.

Every week it seems to be something new that she learns or that we learn :) We love her more and more each day and some days we just watch her or listen to her talk to her self (which she does a lot!) and think 'man I love this kid'!

Getting Better

So x-rays came back good, she just had a virus. It's just been a VERY long 2 weeks though. Her cough is pretty much gone and she hasn't had a fever since Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning she developed a rash so of course I was worried b/c it followed her fever. This is the first time she's actually been sick so I've got nothing to compare this to. So I called the doctor and that made me feel better, basically this is a good sign and she's getting better.

Kinds weird b/c she has been so fussy, crying and just so unhappy these past few days. The only time yesterday that she seemed to be happy was when her daddy was around.

So we're almost over this virus which I know will just be one of many. Showed me that I probably need to toughen up when it comes to this parenting deal but it's so tough to see your child hurting and unable to fix it. So crazy to me that she can be a handful the whole day and I can be so tired or frustrated and watching her smile when he daddy walks through the door makes it all better. There is nothing sweeter right now then seeing my baby girl smile that beautiful toothless smile at her father.

Life is good.

Doctor

Hailey has been sick for a little more then a week with a bad 'smokers' cough and a runny nose. I had been debating if I should take her to the doctor or not. I was concerned about the sound of her cough and the fact that it seemed to be in her chest. Once again I found myself feeling completely clueless and not wanting to be an over worried first time mom. So I let it go.

Saturday she got a fever, still had it Sunday and in the morning got one again. So I called, got her in and while we were there her fever was the highest it's been. So she got checked out and everything seemed to be ok. The doctor sent her for x-rays of her chest to make sure she doesn't have phenomena. My first thought was 'am I going to have to hold her for an xray?'. I soon found out...let's just say I hope I NEVER have take her to have an xray ever again. She had to be placed in a tight plastic tube, with her arms straight above her head. It was terrible, I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it. She was screaming and there was nothing I could do. I was standing beside her for all of it but the first shot she was facing a black slate and the next she was turned facing me, screaming, looking desparate for me to help her and I couldn't. I HATED it. I was so worried she'd think I didn't want to help her.

I know I'm going to have to learn to be tougher but it breaks my heart to see her in pain and not being able to fix it.

9 Months

As Voula once said to me Hailey has now been out of me longer then she has been inside of me. We feel that 9 months is such a big milestone. I keep thinking...9 months...I can't believe it's gone by this quickly and we have enjoyed every second of it. Ok maybe not EVERY second, I wasn't a fan of 2 hours of sleep a day and the learning curve was pretty steep but we couldn't imagine our lives without her. She has brought us so much joy in such a short time, its overwhelming.

Just saw the doctor today. She is 19lbs 13oz (I actually thought she was heavier) and 28inches long.

Hailey is not crawling but she has found a way to move backwards. She is trying to move and I can see her wanting to move so badly but she just hasn't put it together yet. So we are making progress and I believe one day it'll click and she'll start to crawl. It's kinda funny when she's on her tummy and wanting to reach for something she tries to move and just ends up reversing.We are spending much more tummy time and she seems to enjoy it. Some times I just give her a teething ring and she rolls all over the place talking away to it. She needs her alone time...maybe like her mother :)

She is still standing really well and starting to move her way around what ever she is holding on to. She can't stand alone yet but I hover around her so that she doesn't fall over. Some times I wonder if she wouldn't be progressing faster if I wasn't such a new mommy. But she is doing great and she loves to stand and try to pull her self up.

She does not have the gift of patience, I''m not sure if any kid has it but I have about 1 second to give her what she wants or else I get the grunting, hip thrusting, stiff body and of course some tears and she vocally lets me know what she is thinking. Some times I have to try not to laugh when she does this. She always seems to put on a big 'show' to show us her disapproval of us not running to her every whim but then she calms right down and just tries to get it herself. I actually try to ignore these mini temper tantrums.

She does love to laugh though and Brad and I absolutely love that about her. Normally daddy can only get the deep belly laughs from Hailey, I try my hardest but I think she holds out and waits to give daddy those.

She is very curious, always trying to see around a corner or around me. I'm assuming her curiosity will lead her to crawling...that or maybe a trail of puffs might do the trick too I think.

9 Months

Christmas

Four generations! Mom, Grandma, myself and Hailey

We all sqeezed into this picture, only some of the family was there but it was nice nice to see everyone. This is my moms side of the family

Cuddle time with Granny (she asked that Hailey calls her Granny and we call her Grandma)

She's mastered the sippy cup

Playing with Great Aunt Della (she's way to young to be a great aunt!)

Just ignore the crazy look I have in my eye...this is a cute one of Grandma and Hailey

My dad's parents. They are so amazing, they play cards every night and constantly raise money for work.

Hanging out at Uncle Randy's place.

Grandma McLaughlin made her this mittens - they are so cute! I was hoping she would make her a pair since but didn't want to ask. She made me half a dozen pairs that I wore all through college.

Wearing her new snow suit - well not sure if it's a snow suit but its really fuzzy and adorable! (thanks Nana and Papa Mac)

Had lots of cuddles and kisses from Nana

Our daughter already giving her dad a look...

Hailey's cousin Tasia got her Tigger (Uncle Matt and Aunt Voula) and Uncle Adam bought her Mini Mouse. She LOVES them booth! She wrestles with them all the time.

Uncle Matt and cousin Tasia.

Probably our favourite part of the holidays, all of us gathered around the table. There was 11 of us. Dad just made us the traditional BIG breakfast.....so yummy.

Tasia helping Hailey open her gifts

Beautiful Aunt Voula

Aunt Siona and her boyfriend Sheldon.

Reading with Nana Mac

Another Christmas has come and gone so quickly, seems that time passes by much faster when you have a kid. This Christmas we drove up to Ontario to see my family. We left at 8:30pm and arrived around 6:00am on the 24th. It was such a long night but I believe if we travelled during the day it would have been a much longer trip. We had yet to attempt a day trip with Hailey, but I am doing my best to avoid it. I know we will have to eventually but it is so much easier have her sleep through the night.

I was so stressed out before we left about the travelling, how she would do sleeping at my parents place now that she was much more aware, napping, eating....so much to worry about and so little time! All my worries were pointless as I learned. She slept great, we fought with her for some naps - which is to be expected. She ate like a champ and was friendly with everyone who approached her. She even let my family hold her with me in the room. This was so amazing. It is such a huge step for Hailey, normally if I'm going to be in the room I have to hide or not talk. This is an on going battle for Brad but she is making improvements.

It was so nice to be around family again, and as always I shed a tear or two while leaving. Now that we have Hailey we find it some much harder to be away from family but we believe 100% that God has brought us here and we have peace this is where we are to be.

Acceptance...

So I like many other new mothers I'm sure was concerned that Hailey wasn't crawling yet. I know I shouldn't be comparing her to other kids but my friends kid was 6 months and already starting to crawl. Granted it's probably because I haven't been as vigilant with getting Hailey her tummy time. She would just cry and scream and some days I just couldn't mentally take it.

But since we are finding her on her tummy in her crib I decided to try and really make an effort to get her time on her tummy.

Today she was on her belly and I was able to read a few stories to her without her crying or rolling over. I consider that a success! She is trying to move her arms and legs a little bit and I know she'll get there at her own pace. So she may crawl...or army crawl or just skip it all and just start walking. I've accepted that and am thrilled with the progress we're making on her belly. I can tell she's wanting to move but she just hasn't figured out how to make it happen yet; I have a feeling I'll be running around all over trying to keep up with her once she starts moving. She is standing really well, at times she can hold onto her table without help, she even pulled herself up to her table with very little assistance from me yesterday....we're getting close!

Hailey spends most of her time sitting up and very little time on her back. I was thinking back the other day to when she would spend most of the day on her back. It's so much easier now!

I was actually able to get stuff down today and Hailey was content to sit on the floor, watching and playing with what ever objects I gave her. Her recent favorite is a book with pages she can try to suck on or rip or any light switch. She gets so excited she nearly jumps out of my arms to touch the thermostat each time.

So another day goes by and I've once again cherished all my time with her...yes I'm tired and ready for her to go to bed :) but she's so much fun. The highlight of my day was we were laying on the ground side by side and she was just looking up at me smiling while I was rubbing her big cheeks. That smile was enough to make my day.