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!!

Burney Falls

Meghan and I took a walk around the Burney Falls Loop today. It was a nice afternoon and we wanted to get out. Plus, I figured Burney Falls would give Meghan an opportunity to get some great photos for her photography class. It seems that everyone else had the same idea about getting out of their house to walk off some of yesterday's turkey dinner! - The Burney Falls Loop was the busiest I have ever seen it.

Still, Meghan took some great pictures, I got some exercise and Hayden got some fresh air. It worked for all of us...plus, we got to build up a nice, healthy appetite for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving

We are actually going to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow (in style, with a turkey) as Meghan only arrived today. But, Shane and Hayden did go to the traditional Thanksgiving skeet shooting. They took Boone so he could spend time chasing his sister, Molly. Hayden had a great time staring at Cody who had a great time staring at Hayden...it was a mutual stare contest, with no particular winner.

While they were there, I stayed home and cleaned house and baked a pumpkin cake. One of the eggs had two yolks...so, I ask you, does this count as one egg or two?!

Shane stayed home with the baby while I drove to Redding to collect Meghan from the airport. For those of you who don't know, Meghan (and her brother Conor) were the children I looked after in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when I first came to the States. She was five then...she is sixteen (nearly seventeen) now. Wow, you really can tell how time flies by how quickly people grow up. Anyhoo, by the time we got back, Shane was well and truly ready to hand the baby back over to me - I think his words were "I've had enough." Apparently, Hayden did not stop crying while I was gone. Glad I missed it!!

We are having our Thanksgiving turkey tomorrow - I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

"I Want Daddy's Soup...I Really, Really Want It."

Thankfully Shane was able to get some of his soup before Hayden tryed to nab it!!

Big Boy Stroller

Hayden and I took a nice, long walk around town today. Hayden got to ride in the stroller like a big boy and did not ride in the car seat attached to the stroller. He looked so cute!! He really enjoyed looking around - right up until he fell asleep!!

He was an angel around both stores I went in and while I visited with friends. He was content to watch around himself and take in all the sights.

It was a nice walk.

Carly at 29 weeks

This is a picture of Carly (my "sister-in-law to be") and my niece-to-be, Maddie. Carly (who does have a head, I promise) is 29 weeks pregnant already!! - Time is flying.

Maddie

This is the first picture of Maddie Ann Hardy due at the end of January next year. Adam and Carly, we can't wait to meet her!!!

Playtime

Hayden can now roll from his back to his belly! He sometimes gets high-centered on the one arm that he forgets to move out from under him...but, all in all, he is rolling from back to belly and back again! He is so funny to watch!

His second bottom tooth is already starting to come in. I can feel it right beneath his gum line just waiting to pop through. The tooth that is already in, is already a good few millimeters above the gum line. You can actually see it when he smiles now. He is still as good as gold despite teething. I have not had to give him any medicine as he has had no fevers or upset tummy. He really is a Stepford Child.

He is also sleeping through the night now! He has some rice cereal in his bottle before going to bed at night (between 6:30 and 7:30pm) and he sleeps until 5-6am the next morning. He has his 'first' breakfast, and typically goes straight back to sleep for another few hours...nice!! Don't worry, I am well aware that everything is a stage with babies and that this enjoyable one will likely end soon! We are just enjoying it while we have it.

Holding His Own Bottle

He can do it now. He reaches for the bottle when it is placed in front of him, holds it with both hands and pulls it to his mouth (via his nose). It is just adorable. He tends to make a little more mess when he holds his own bottle - but it is worth it. He can sometimes get lazy and let go of his bottle, in which case we just start the whole process over again starting with him reaching out for the bottle.

Getting His First Tooth

Lately Hayden has been chewing and sucking on anything he can get his chubby little fingers around. So, I knew a tooth was coming...yesterday I found it! One of his front, bottom teeth has cracked the surface of his gums and I can feel the edges of his brand new tooth. I am still struggling to believe that he is old enough to be cutting teeth. He has been very good through out the experience...no fevers, no runny nose, no crying and no fussing at all.

I took Hayden to Redding with me yesterday for our first solo grocery getting experience. Up until yesterday I have always had support (i.e. Shane!) there to help in case Hayden has a melt down or some other catastrophe occurs. All I can say is there are not enough "very's" in the world to describe how very good Hayden was. He slept most of the way there...cooed and giggled around both stores I had to go to (even flirted with whoever made eye contact with him) and then slept on the way home. I was so tickled! It was amazing. I am very, very proud of him.

The rest of the weekend was spent playing in his jumper, playing on the floor (he is 'this close' to being able to roll consistently from back to belly without getting stuck on his arm), talking to both sets of grandparents over Skype and napping.

The New Toy Is A Hit!

Hayden loved his old jump-jump; however, it just was not interactive or entertaining enough for him anymore. So, we decided to get him a new jumper...one that has toys around the outside of the seat and a seat that swivels. There is a piano to play, a sun to chew on, a mirror to stare at himself and more. He seems to really love it. He spent over an hour in it tonight. He talked to his Nana and Grandpa in Colorado while giggling and laughing. It was all very entertaining...for us all.

Growing Up Fast

Hayden held his own bottle (with very little assistance) three times today. He is growing up so fast!! He's amazing.

Playing With The Expensive Toys

Hayden has a nice collection of little toys: rattles, soft teddy bears, plastic sea creatures...you know, colorful baby toys. So what toy entertained him the most today out of all of all he has to choose from? - Yup, a diaper. That's our boy!

The Bib Says It All

...Hayden actually came 17 days early, so he did not make us wait as long as could have; but, one thing is for sure...he was definitely worth the 8.5 month wait. Definitely.

Dancing With Baby Bear

Hayden had giggles this evening while dancing on mumma's lap. Apparently moving your arms erratically while listening to Boxcar Willy on the record player is reason for fits of laughter. Good times.