Miss Independent

After only a few days of feeding herself with the sippy cup, Hailey has further maintained her independence! She was fussing today during her morning feeding. What was the solution? Give her the spoon!

All I can picture is Hailey reading the paper and drinking her coffee... Please don't let that come too quickly!

It wasn't a precise operation.


And it wasn't fast. Even though you'd think two spoons at once would do the trick!

Jump-A-Roo

Hailey would like to say, "Thank You!!!" to Addie Manthey for letting her borrow your Jump-A-Roo! She likes it very very very much! She would also like to mention that it was very nice to see you on our little play date at Como Park! (Mom and Dad were happy to see Tim and Jen too and hope we can do it again soon!)

Where Can I Put These

After a month of playing with her toes. She has finally discovered the alternative to sucking on her hands. Yes. Oh Yes. She now officially knows how to suck on her toes. Yeah!!

Hammy

Oh Hammy... That's about the best word we can describe Hailey these days. I really think she's starting to understand the camera and that it's being used to proliferate her cuteness on her very own star studded blog! Every morning, Hailey and Mom sit down to check out the blog to find out what Daddy-O wrote for the day. So she does get to see a lot of herself.

It also seems at times when we're trying to catch her in the middle of doing something (rolling over, using the sippy cup, etc...) She focuses on being cute for the camera. When what we really want her do be doing is the thing that made us sprint upstairs to grab the camera.

I do suppose it's either that or she just thinks we occaisionally have had enough with her and have to run away quickly. Only to reappear with this shiny black object to hide our face from her and flash her in the face...

Oh to know the things she's really thinking...

New Tricks

In light of yesterday's post about the antibiotics... One of the side effects happens to be diarrhea. (Sorry, that's gross and something you probably don't want to read first thing in the morning for all those who check out the post the first thing in the morning.)

Anyway, so to combat the 'problem' the doctor suggested giving Hailey some yogurt. The first few days we used the kind you need a spoon. She loved that, so we thought about using a sippy cup with the kind of yogurt smoothie for babies.

As you'll see, Hailey's first attemp at grabbing the cup was a good one, and you can see her in action below!

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Antibiotic Fiend

After our last visit to the doctor, Hailey got some antibiotics to take for her ear infection. We have found that she has become a little addicted to the dropper with the orange flavored microorganism destroyer in such a way that once she sees Mom coming in with the dropper, she starts patting her legs with her hands and puts a huge smile on.

She gets down to business and doesn't need any help sucking the medicine from the syringe...

And of course 'Boos' when it's over.

Ready to Read

Hailey has officially learned the art of rolling. She frequently leaves the comfort of her red blanket and ends up elsewhere in the loft area. Today, she ventured over to the book case and we asked her what she wanted to read... The NIV Exhaustive Concordance or the Jerusalem Bible.. Both of which probably weigh nearly as much as her!

Alas, she turned to remind us that she can't read yet.
She just wanted a closer look so she could drool on them!!!

No really. She drooled all over the concordance. So if you want to borrow that book, consider yourself warned. :)

Trapped

Hailey is secured in what we call the 'Rat Trap'. It's actually a really neat contraption... It's about 18 feet of fabric that you carefully intertwine over your shoulders and around your waist. Which leaves a spot to stick the baby into. It's nice for being able to walk around and do housework and not have to put the baby down, or use one arm carrying her.

The real derivation of 'rat trap' came from one of the first times Darlene had Hailey in the wrap and she (Hailey) was fussing and since Hailey had no where to go, Darlene said, "You're trapped like a rat." Now it's just called the rat trap. When company is over and Darlene's using it, we call it the Hailey Trap. :)

Seafood

'They' say that the typical progression for starting solids for infants should go from vegetables to fruit to meats (all pureed). However, Hailey had her first fruit day today, and then proceeded to chow down on some fresh seafood!

FISH!!!

LOBSTER!!!

Also, if anyone figures out who 'they' are, I'd like to know as they obviously don't know much and I'd like to give them a piece of my mind on the 'new' progression of foods. ;-)

Tastes Great

The age old debate over whether or not something tastes great or is really less filling has spilled over into our house. We had Hailey in her pack & play and were working on dinner when we strolled by only to see her sucking on the end of her shoe.

Someday we'll show Hailey this picture and ask what the answer to our little question would be... Did it really taste good?

Security Duck

Move over security blanket. Here comes the duck!

'Seriously. Between you me and this duck, if he ever gets lost there will be no more sleeping in this house. You hear me? You hear me??'

That's what I believe Hailey is so seriously thinking about in this picture. Duck has graciously saved the day many-of-times. I would like to thank Grandma Zier again for this generous purchase the day after we got Hailey home from the hospital.

Why Is It...

... so funny when babies toot.

Hailey has been playing the 'snare' drums around the house the last couple days and there has been no indications that it is anything but humorous. Some might say that it's down right funny.

Hailey celebrating the fact we've had nearly a week of temperatures above 50!

Not My Fault

No pictures today. Something is wrong with the blogger hosting site. It won't let me upload pictures! So I'll just have to say hello this way and inform you that we are all doing ok. I can't say we're doing well, or good because we all seem to be broken a little bit...

What ails ye Blogger? Won't let people upload and display new pictures.

What ails ye Hailey? Ear infection, chest congestion, remnants of pink eye.

What ails ye Mom? Asthma, strained ribs from coughing, and chest congestion.

What ails ye Dad? Sore throat and a hang nail.

Hopefully we'll be better soon! Including blogger... New pictures tomorrow! (as long as things out of my control happen to work again!)

Sleeping Baby

It's faces like this that remind us that sending Hailey through the 12 step pacifier program seems to be working!!

Statistics that show the program seems to be working:

Nights over the past month that Hailey slept through the night prior to last Thursday: 0
Nights in the last 5 days that Hailey has slept through the night: 5
Nights that Darlene and I have slept through the night in the last 5 days: 5
Happy parents: 2
Happy baby: 1
Happy birds: 2

All in all, I believe the simple equation is that sleeping through the night = happy babies/parents!

Sitting Up Is Hard to Do

Hailey, check. Ring toy, check. Rattle, check. Butterfly, check. Sitting up without mom's help, WOOOOAAAAAH.

Don't try to adjust your monitor. That is a dirty baby. Drool on the chin. Spit-up on the shoulder. Can anyone say bath time? :-)

First Visit to the Zoo

We made it to the zoo for the first time today. And as Darlene pointed out, this technically wasn't her first trip to the zoo. We went last fall too, but Hailey definitely has a different view of it this time.

We also found out a few things that Hailey likes to do. She liked to see all the people. She liked the trees and birds along the tropics trail. She liked the darkness going into the aquarium and the nocturnal animal exhibits.

And lastly, I think her most favorite thing to do today was sleep! Which she did for the rest of the visit to the zoo!

I would also like to mention that it is NOT recommended to visit the zoo on the first weekend of the year where the temperature is going to be at or above 60 degrees. At one point today while we were walking around the Family Farm at the zoo, I swear I saw more strollers around than people. How the heck does that happen??

Attack of the Tickles

We've had Cuddles. We've had Waddles. And now, I'd like to present Giggles!!!

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So Far So Good

Hailey just a few hours old.






Our little lamb with her little
lamb at 5 months 4 days old.

Well, we've made it through day two of a pacifier-less Hailey. She's doing very good for the most part. The bottom picture is her during her nap today. Ever since she was born (and Darlene really really thinks she was practicing this in the womb) until today, she seems to enjoy sleeping with both hands above her head!

Preparing for Battle

Here's Hailey getting burped before bed.

We're trying a new thing today. Actually, we're trying to eliminate one of her habits. The habit being, her need for the pacifier. Lately at night, she hasn't been sleeping well. By lately, I mean for the last month. By not sleeping well, I mean she wakes up every hour in need of the pacifier.

So today, Darlene was researching (and I did a little too) and found that most people start weening the baby from the pacifier around 3-4 months. We found TONS of stories of people with babies doing the exact same thing that Hailey's doing. Not sleeping well. Waking up a lot. Squirming around in the crib. The whole deal pretty much boils down to her being able to be 'self soothing' and being able to settle down to sleep on her own without the pacifier.

All these people basically followed the same process whether their baby was 3 months, 5 months, 9 months, 1 year or 2 years old. It was the same. No pacifier and just be there to comfort them. And yes, let them cry a little longer than we have been. The interesting thing is that the longer people waited to break the habit, the longer it took to get through it. 3-5 months took around 3 days. 1-2 years took a week or more.

Since we'd have to go through this sooner or later. That's where we are. :) So far today, she's been able to take 1 really good nap and 1 short nap. Tonight, it took a little while, but she's sleeping now as I'm making this post.

I really hope this works!! If it does that means all three of us will hopefully be back to getting the sleep we all need!

Mmmmmm. Carrots.

Hailey's foods to date: Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, and now, Carrots!

French Baby

I am pretty sure this is something that Hailey would be wearing if we were French. With the red beret on and she looks so stern and serious... She'd probably be saying, "Regardez moi, je suis un bébé français." When translated means, "Look at me, I am a French baby."

Although, some might simply pass by and say to us, "Hey, that's a nice tomato you have there."

Once Bitten Twice Shy

Some people would think by now that I would have learned not to let Hailey bite my finger. But then again, I am the same person who did the pole vault on the track team and kept running my head into the pole until I am now left with a permanent bump on my forehead.

I'm thinking I'll really learn once our little Pumpkin has some teeth. Until then, Hailey 'gumming' up my finger is really kinda funny.

P.s. I'd better not catch you starin' at my forehead... ;-)

Our First Easter

We hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Here is Hailey and Mom all dressed up for our first Easter. We also ventured out to church! Everyone did really well. Mom sat in her seat and wasn't too boisterous for the most part... Just kidding!! Mom actually did really well. It was Hailey we had our concerns about. After waking up last night at every little sound, she amazingly fell asleep during the worship music.

Once the music stopped, she woke right up. She was doing OK for 20 minutes with a combination of toys in her car seat and sitting on Mom's lap. Then she needed more. So Mom went to the side of the auditorium and just stood and swayed with her for the remaining part of the service. She did impress the people we were sitting by as well!

Here she is after we got home. I guess she just worked too hard impressing everyone during the service!!

Is Anyone Else Ready?

I am pretty sure that Hailey isn't the only one ready for spring. Here she is sporting her summer tank top and shorts and she has no place to go to show them off! The main reason is that at the time of this post, the current temps were 30 degrees (22 with the wind chill). That 80 degree day a couple weeks ago really spoiled us.

Party Time

The last week or two, Hailey hasn't been able to sleep through the night. And I couldn't resist purchasing a shirt from Target that perfectly explains our current sleeping situation any better than this one!

Pink Eyed

Minus the fact that Hailey is highly contagious with pink eye, she still enjoys playing with her ducks (strewn about the crib) as well as displaying her new fondness for her toes. Her dexterity is getting better and better every day. Thank goodness she's not sucking on them yet, but I hear that should be coming sooner rather than later! :-/

This little piggy pulled on her left toe...
This little piggy pulled on her right toe...
This little piggy had pink eye...
This little piggy had none...
And this little piggy played with her ducks ALLLL DAAAAY long.

Blogger Sesquicentennial

Today we're celebrating our family blog's sesquicentennial-th post! (150th post!) Woohoo! Hailey would like to toast this occasion by showing how good she is at avoiding naps. When you see this face in the crib, how can you not smile and encourage the cuteness?!?!

Also better...

I also wanted to pass along that Darlene is feeling much better today too. To quote her, "I feel like I have a gazelle standing on my chest instead of an elephant."

Flower Girl

I'm getting better!! We ended up not taking Hailey to the Doctor today. Her eye was alot better this morning and when we called her pediatrician, he said that if she seemed to be better, let her get better on her own! We are always happy when we don't have to solve problems with any drugs! So now we're still on the recovery though too... Better, but not out of the woods. Hopefully in a couple days everyone will be up to par again. :)

Wrong way honey! if you notice, the pacifier is backwards! She's been taking it out and sucking on the other end... Such an interesting phenomenon...

We've also been babysitting Grandma Jo's orchid. We have been under strict orders to post a picture whilst it was in full bloom. And here it is! A lady slipper from the north woods. Hope you're doing well hiking in Utah! Send some of that warm weather our way!!

Sick Turkeys

We're finally battling our first cold of the season. And when I say 'we', I'm referring to Darlene and Hailey. I don't know how the cold bug hasn't bitten me yet. But I tell you what, I really wish I could take the cold from the both of them and just me be sick. It's so hard to watch Darlene and Hailey be miserable. Especially Hailey when she's coughing away... We are going to be going into the doctor in the morning. It looks like Hailey might have a little eye infection. I will certainly keep everyone posted on how it goes! Keep us in your prayers that we can get over this quickly!!

Laying Around is for the Birds

Hailey during one of her standing sessions today. She loves it sooooo much! I'm going to start taking bets on whether or not she'll crawl first or walk first... :)