Great End To 2008

I have to share this....this is too good - Maddie was released from hospital today! Discharged and out of there...just in time to see 2009 in with her mum and dad!! I am so happy for Adam and Carly - what a great end to 2008.

Welcome home Maddie!! We love you!!

To see more pictures of Miss Maddie, check out my mum's blog at www.cahardy.blogspot.com

Ahhhh, eating...

...I promise that some of breakfast made it down the hatch and is doing some nutritional good. Not all of it is being used as some form of organic face wash/moisturiser.

Boone's Christmas Stocking

I cannot believe that I forgot to post these yesterday...poor, outdone Boone. Despite Shane and my agreement to not get each other anything, Shane was very sweet and created stockings for me, Hayden and, of course, Boone. Mine was stuffed plum full of chocolate (yummy, yummy), Hayden's had a yellow duck and a toy, and Boone's had chewies in. All Boone had to do was sniff his stocking and his tongue started licking his lips and nose!!

Today, Shane is in Redding spending his Christmas money that has been burning a hole in his pocket for the past 24 hours!! I have a feeling the shop in our back garden is going to do well out of this deal!! He is also going to get Hayden's birth certificate - yes, yes I know. Hayden is nearly 7 months old and we are slacker parents that do not have his birth certificate yet!! We will have the official Hayden title and pink slip by the end of the day!!

I am staying home with Hayden as my friend Diane is coming to visit for a little while. I am excited to see her...she has not seen Hayden since he was a few days old!

Happy Boxing Day everyone!!

Hayden's First Christmas

It has been a good day...Hayden has been a little over-stimulated, but he has enjoyed all his presents. He particularly liked opening my gifts - not sure what that means!

We have talked to England and Colorado over the Skype...made crepes for breakfast and the turkey is done for dinner tonight. I just have the rest of the dinner to make...

Shane, Hayden and Boone are now taking a "well deserved" (cough, cough) nap.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Too Cute

Yesterday was a boy's day as Hayden, Shane and Boone spent the day around the house together while I went to work. From all accounts they had a good day and Shane lived to tell the tale.

Today, I spent the day with Hayden while Shane got some time to work in his shop.

Hayden got to speak to both sets of grand-parents today and he entertained them with growls, nose scrunches and squeals. He is quite the performer!

I have had Christmas music playing all day today and I find myself in quite the Holiday spirit as a result. I am looking forward to Thursday and getting pictures of Hayden on his first Christmas...

End Of The Day

This is Hayden's signal that the end of the day has arrived.

Hayden's Two Teeth

These are much better pictures of Hayden's two teeth. Shane has affectionately named the teeth "Biter" and "Chomper." Hayden has a real smile now!! No more gummy grins.

Update On Maddie

Maddie is one heck of a fighter!! She is now out of intensive care, out of the incubator, off her anti-biotics and drip...and only has her feeding tube left. My mum has more pictures of Maddie on her blog - please check them out...Maddie is absolutely gorgeous.

www.cahardy.blogspot.com

Maddie Ann Hardy

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Adam and Carly on the birth of their new daughter, my niece, Maddie. She was born yesterday (December 14th) at 10:53pm (GMT - so 2:53pm Pacific Time). She weighed in at 2lbs 13oz. She will be in the NICU for a little while, but is already breathing by herself and has pee-d and pooped...all internal organs are working well!! She just has to let her little body get as mature as she feels she is.

Welcome to the world Miss Maddie!!

Happy Dog

This is Boone's favourite time of year...he loves the snow. He was a very happy boy when he got to go and play outside this morning.

Winter Weather Warning...Watch For Snow

Here is the result of the winter weather warning we still have in effect for Shasta County...!!! As you can see from the second picture, I cannot find my car! The snow is still coming down - over a foot and counting. Needless to say, I will not be going to work today.

The third picture is of Shane's shop in the back yard.

Hayden's First Snow

The snow predicted in the Winter Weather Warning has arrived. It is so pretty. I had to show Hayden...here is his response!

Christmas Wreath

This is the beautiful, real Christmas wreath we have hanging on our new front door. I just thought you might like to see it.

What A Difference Six Months Makes...

The first picture was taken June 14th when Hayden was 13 days old. The second picture was taken today, December 14th.

Crazy.

Two Bottom Teeth

I am well aware that this picture is horribly blurry...I am also aware that my son looks as drunk as a sailor; however, it is the best picture I have that shows his two bottom teeth.

You can see that even though the second tooth came in much later than the first, it has pretty much caught up in it's height.

Family Time

I have really enjoyed these past two weekends. We have spent a lot more time together as a family. Last weekend, Shane and I decorated and we all went to the mountains to get the Christmas tree. This weekend, we have just generally "putzed" around the house. Shane and I went to the McArthur Farm Supply Christmas dinner (yes, without Hayden - thanks Amanda for babysitting!!). We actually had a date - our first one since Baby Bear was born. It was so, so nice. The dinner was fantastic...of course, it is not hard to have a good time when surrounded by very good people; but, mostly, it was nice to be out as a couple, again.

Today we have sat inside and played with Hayden. We are waiting for the snow to start - we have a Winter Weather Warning meaning that a lot of snow is expected in a short amount of time. Shane is outside in his shed right now trying to get some bits'n'pieces done before the weather.

Hayden is still eating like a trooper...and getting bigger and bigger for it. He loves his big boy food.

Home-Made Tomato Soup

Last weekend I made some home-made roasted tomato soup. My little baby puree recipe book suggested it was OK to give Hayden tomato's...so, I thought what a great idea - Shane, Hayden and I can actually have our first real dinner together! Yeah, not so much.

Hayden loved the soup; however, the soup did not like him. He got red all around his mouth (which only lasted a couple of hours) and now he is struggling with a little diaper rash. I am convinced it was the tomatoes as it was the only new thing in his diet. Poor little guy. He is, as usual, our happy little guy nonetheless.

He is now eating: pears, apples, bananas, cantaloupe (melon), peas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, yams and pumpkin. I have not found anything (yet) that he does not like. He is as easy with eating as he is with everything else. I am hoping to start him on chicken this weekend. I will keep you posted.

Last Night's Sunset

Oh Christmas Tree...

We got our itty-bitty Christmas tree this weekend. We had a family outing up into the woods and found it by the road side. We opted for a small one this year so it can sit on top of our end table. Shane hung a strand of Christmas lights on our fireplace mantle too - it looks really good! The Christmas decoration that I have taken a picture of is to mark Hayden's first Christmas.

Hayden went to sleep yesterday for his afternoon nap at 3:30pm (about the same time as every other day) and he woke up at 6am this morning - that is one heck of a nap!!!

Six Months Old & Third Round of Shots

Hayden had his third round of shots today. He weighs in at 16 lbs 8 oz and is 28.75" long. Growing just like he should be. He was actually asleep when we arrived at the doctor's office and was not impressed about being woken up, stripped off and made to lay down to be weighed and measured. He cried through the whole appointment which was capped off with more shots to both his legs. He recovered well enough to came home and take a nice long nap.

My Two Children

It is still so hard for me to believe that Meghan was 5 when I first met her and became her nanny. It is hard for me to believe that Hayden is already 6 months old. Time needs to slow down!!

Dinnertime

Pictures from Saturday night's meal.

Taking A Nap In The Truck & Playing In Daddy's Hat

These pictures were taken on Saturday afternoon - it has just taken me a little while to post them on here.

We wanted to drive Meghan to the top of Mt. Burney on Saturday so she could take pictures of the sights; however, even though there is no snow, the gates were locked. We were unable to make it...Hayden got a nap in though - so there's a plus!

We came home and I taught Meghan how to make a Shepherd's Pie. She made it all herself with me giving her instructions on the side line. She did a great job...it tasted fantastic. While she cooked, Hayden sat in his jumper (while wearing daddy's hat) and watched us work...typical male!!!

Hayden's First Thanksgiving Dinner

Yesterday, I made some pears, carrots and sweet potatoes for Hayden. Tonight, I mixed some formula and rice cereal in with each of them and put three little pools of baby food on Hayden's tray. He had a great time mixing the three pools together until they were unrecognizable. I dipped my finger in and fed him some of his new concoction - success! It went down the hatch...well, most of it. I then fed him more using his spoon and he ate quite a bit considering this is his first real attempt at big boy food.

Woo-hoo, we are on the real food path!!