Just Pictures

Lounging in the boppy

Also lounging in the boppy

Look how strong she is getting!

I already have him wrapped around my little finger

I love looking at myself

I am so funny!

Just talking to myself

Earning those rolls one meal and nap at a time

Do I look like CC?!?!

Still laughing at myself

Meeting Aunt Danee and Uncle Bug for the first time!

Success! Koda FINALLY got the glo worm :-)

My Latest Accessory

It seems that this is the only way I am going to get anything done today!

The Simple Life

Life is simple these days: whatever Hadley wants Hadley gets!

She is getting a little better at letting me have some time to do something for myself, i.e. bathing. For anyone that knows me well knows I take a shower in the morning and a bath at night EVERYDAY! Not so much anymore. If I can get in a bath at night or maybe a shower every other day I am doing good!

I really cannot complain. She is getting her nights and days in order and I don't feel as a exhausted as I use too. Matt is a HUGE help at night! He knows how crazy I am without sleep and will beg me not to get up in the middle of the night! I must be pretty cranky :-) He can function on a lot less sleep than me. Speaking of Matt's night duty.. this is what I found Hadley wearing when I woke up this morning...

Big Foot?!

That is quite the sock she is wearing! If you are wondering why only one giant sock... you'll have to ask Zoe where the other one is :/

Yesterday, I went to my mom's house for the day. She babysat while I went to the park and exercised for the first time! It was great to get out and enjoy a little alone time. After my 2 1/2 mile walk/jog I swam laps and floated around the pool.. pure relaxation!

Most days are spent at home making a mess of the house. In the morning I am half asleep and I am just trying to get her fed and cleaned up from the night before (we go through lots of bibs and spit-up towels in 24 hours). If I happen to get breakfast or a cup of coffee it is usually by noon. After the morning chaos this is usually what the house looks like:

All this for a little bitty baby!

These were clean dishes however I loaded it up with the dirty dishes in the sink and re-ran it. Thank you Justin for teaching me this trick when we were kids :-)

My new work station (this pic is for Rachel)

You know the old adage sleep when the baby sleeps... in theory this is a great concept HOWEVER I am finding it almost impossible. Although from the pictures above you would think I live by this saying, I don't. I have some (key word is some) OCD tendencies and it is hard for me to rest and just leave all this. If she is sleeping I am either a) taking a shower b) starting laundry c) eating or d) sitting down at the computer for a little mindless facebooking/blogging.

Remember I said I have some OCD tendencies - well apparently it goes away when it comes to laundry. We have been putting clean clothes to be folded on the guest bed for about 2 months now. It has been my goal every week to get it folded and put up. I have a feeling it will be a goal of mine for next week as well.

In short, I have a messy house and happy baby and that works for me!

Hadley's First Month Recap

The first night Hadley was home Matt and I did not sleep. I had the pack 'n play pulled up right next to my side of the bed, I stacked up pillows so I could see into it. I had the bathroom light on, a plug in nightlight, her Angelcare monitor nightlight on.. poor girl no wonder none of us could sleep - a plane could have easily landed in our room with all those lights! I just cannot even explain the anxiety I felt that no one would be watching her while we slept. We had planned on her rooming in with us at the hospital and she did the night I delivered (and I didn't sleep at all that night), but since she had jaundice she had to stay in the nursery after that and they would bring her to me every three hours to nurse. I could actually sleep during those times because I knew she was being taken care of.

After a few sleepless nights due to my own anxiety I was so happy my mom came over to babysit. I just couldn't completely rest if no one was watching her. I am sure every new mom feels this way. It is overwhelming to know that you are completely responsible for this tiny precious little life. I had done my research for the best baby monitor on the market and Judy and Toni bought it for us. It is the Angelcare Deluxe Monitor system. I would highly recommend it to any new mom. Since Hadley was born two weeks early we had not set it up yet. It took a couple of days after she was home before we read the manual and set it up. After that I slept so peacefully (in between her crying and feedings). There is a movement pad that you put under the mattress and if your baby stops breathing it sets off an alarm. It happened to us once and it was a false alarm.. she had just unswaddled herself and rolled to the end of the bed. Our little Houdini!

We had many visitors come see Miss Hadley. Stacy and Becky cooked us lots of meals, the Crosby's brought over dinner, all the grandparents brought us food and held her (must have been miserable for them ;-)), the Abbotts, the Aus, Stacy McNeil, Hugo, Hannah, Brooklyn, Rachel, Todd, Lauren, and Jessica all came by to see her. We had a wonderful impromptu Kannady family reunion. It was great to see everyone (minus a few) all together! Mike, Peggy, Vicki, Candy, Dawn, Ross, Fernanda and David spoiled her with hugs and kisses and many MANY gifts!

Doctors Appointments

5 days old: We had to go in for a jaundice and weight check. She weight 6 lbs 11 oz and had to have her blood taken to check the billiruben level. It was going down so we were happy!

1 week old: Weight check and general check up. She weighed 6 lbs 11 oz still. In great general health!

2 weeks old: 2 week check up. She weighed 7 lbs 6 oz! Yay! We were so happy she put on 11 whole oz in a week! 

2 weeks and 5 days: She had a terrible couple of days and the night before was the worst she cried 4 hours straight and on and off for 2 more hours. Matt and I called the on call doctor in the middle of the night - we were so worried about her. The next day I took her in and they said it sounds like acid reflux and colic. She told us if we give her Maalox and it instantly calms her down then it was acid reflux. Well to say the least Maalox is now called magic milk in our house! Instantly she calmed down! So we started her on Prevacid daily and it has helped so much!

Hadley's first real bath:

Check out that left hand.. go ahead and
let us know how you really feel about it!

This part is much better,
but I am still a little unsure.

First photo shoot: (2 weeks old)

Thank you Victoria Lind for all the beautiful photos! Hadley was so great during the shoot. She only got a little fussy at the end, I was a proud mom!

One month picture:

She is growing so much so fast!

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

I want to let you know I love you very much and you are still with me every day and every night I know your their watching me every step of the way I just wish I could see you again even just one more time I would feel so much better. At least I know the last think I said to you was I love you! Oh I do love you! I want you to know I'm going to keep up the good work and keep you proud. I will continue on all the work I have started. I just wish you were here with me and I wouldn't be wrighting this letter to you. I will help mom and Justin and take care of Nestle and hanna and the fish, fu and Kazoo. If you don't mind can nestle be my dog I will take care of nestle and the family as best as I can I want you to know that we miss you very much. And wish you were here - I don't know how to take care of the pool but I will learn. I feel that you are with me every day and that you will be there when I need you. I never thought I would have to worry about you leaving me. At least not when I was 13. Life isn't fair and I've learned that the hard way which wasn't fair. I'm sorry you had to go through so much pain. But were all here for you anytime you need us well be here for you. I keep waiting for the moment you will get up and out of bed but if you can't I understand I cant belive some thing like this could happen But remeber strong people get strong results so be strong if you want to be strong. Whats nice is everybody that was are enemy is now are friend so if we need anything there their for us which is nice. I want to tell you this all in person but I cant. You were sapose to walk me down the ile and see when I turn sweet 16 we were sapose to go to La tour de archant I don't know how to spell that but I don't care. You were sapose to see my first boyfriend you were sapose to see me next year at the NJHS meeting your sapose to be there. But it was an accident. And accidentes happen. I love you and although you were sapose to be their you couldn't but thats alright I understand. Whos goin drive me around in the corvette it wont be the same without you who's gonna take nestle on walk with out his friend, hiss daddy, YOU! I guess I'll have to do it for you Who am I goin wake up Christmas morning at six am or your birthday or even Easter. I guess we wont get a boat. But that is alright I just wish to see you one more time! I love you so very much. I wish I could see you one more time. I will do my best to hold up the family and my fair share don't worry I will! I love you daddy so very much I was your baby and I was a daddys girl! I love you

Love,
Kayleigh
(your little girl)

I wrote the above letter 12 years ago after finding out my dad was in a coma (it is typed just as I wrote it). August 20th is a hard day for our family and those who were so close to my dad, on this day in 1998 he went to Heaven. There are so many things I want to tell my dad, but I know he already knows. I wish more than anything he could have met Matt. Then I think there is no way he didn't have a hand in picking the perfect partner for me.

This past November 13, on my dad's birthday, I bought flowers and a pregnancy test before work. Since it was starting to get dark earlier I wanted to go put the flowers at his grave site in the morning. I thought there is a chance I could be pregnant, but didn't want to take the test and be disappointed so I decided I would wait until Saturday morning. While visiting his grave I prayed, just as I always do when I am there, and in this prayer I prayed for the gift of a child. I talked to my dad about my life and desire to have a family and to be a great parent like he was to us.

After work my mom and I went to Hobby Lobby to get supplies to make wreaths and then we met Matt at Pappasitos (one of my dad's favorite restaurant) for dinner to celebrate his life. When the waiter came by my mom ordered a margarita and so did Matt and I ordered water. My mom instantly turned and looked at me with this side ways smile like there was something I wasn't telling her. I honestly didn't know if I was pregnant, but I was being cautious anyways. In my heart I just really thought I was pregnant. I don't know why I felt this way since we had been trying for the previous 8 months and it had not happened yet. It felt different this time. So that night I went to bed, but in the middle of the night I couldn't take it.. I took the test and well you already know it was ++++!

I don't think it was a coincidence that I found out I was pregnant on my dad's birthday. My two Fathers in Heaven gave us the best gift we could ever have: Hadley Grace was hand picked to be our daughter and I can already tell she is going to be daddy's little girl just like I was. She calms down the second Matt picks her up and she sleeps on him so comfortably. He is such an amazing dad and watching them together puts the biggest smile on my face.

I wish my dad was here everyday, but I know he is watching over our family. He is our Guardian Angel.

Daddy's Girl

Family Adventures
(please note the boom box on top of the car)

Daddy and Nestle

6 Weeks Old

It is really hard for me to believe that Hadley is 6 weeks old today. I know that it is cliche to say this but I cannot imagine life without her. She is amazing and watching her grow and change is just unbelievable to me. She has already rolled over a couple of times.. I am pretty sure she has no clue what she is doing and it just happens, but I think it is because she is gifted! She loves to grab onto anything and everything. The other day when our ac went out and we spent the night at CC's house she pulled down the orchid that was next to the sink when I was taking her out of her bath. She has a mighty grip on her.

I am going to try to be organized when it comes to her activities at each stage of her life. So here are her 6 week stats:

Nicknames: Squirmy Wormy, Stinker or Stinker Poo and Baby Girl. Wow. I guess the only sweet one is baby girl.. maybe we should work on those.

Diapers: Still wearing size one. We have had a few diaper blowouts.. more like every time now because she usually only goes once a day. You will hear the grunting for a couple of minutes and then the legs straighten out and then you better get about 5 wipes ready because it will be a doozy.

Eating: We are still nursing and supplementing with formula. We have changed formula because for the past week the spit up has become a constant thing where as before it was occasional. It seems to be helping. I was also running out of Matt's shirts to wear so we had to get that stopped before I had to start doing laundry.

Sleeping: We are on a good (as good as getting up a couple times at night can be) schedule now. She is up for the day by 7:30 and eats, plays for an hour (as best as you can play with an infant) then sleeps for about 1-2 hours. Then repeat every 3 hours until 7:30 p.m. that is when we bath her, feed her, and then put her down for the night and she usually will sleep till 12 or 1 and then she is back up at 4. She is sleeping in her pack in play in our room still. She sleeps well in it at night only if she is swaddled. If she gets one finger out of the swaddle it is over! Most of the time she sleeps in her bouncer. The Dr told us to keep her at a 45 degree angle as much as possible. She loves her bouncer!

Crying: Oh yes lots of crying! After we got her Prevacid for her acid reflux she calmed down. She still cries and I sometimes don't know what she wants but when it comes to food WE KNOW THIS CRY - it is a constant cry and she turns red and gets sweaty if you don't get her food in the next few seconds! She is very demanding when it comes to her food.

Smiling/Grunting: She might sneak a smile every once in a while, but for the most part she still hasn't reached that milestone in my book. She is a grunter. I cannot wait until this turns into cooing, but for now I'll take her grunts - they make me laugh every time.

6 week Favorites: Teddy bear mobile, baths, kicking (kick starting her motorcycle as Matt calls it), bouncer, pacifier

Enemies: GAS! This by far is her biggest enemy. She didn't earn her nickname Stinker Poo for nothing. Baby acne - this is more my enemy than hers because it takes everything I have not to pick at them. I swear I haven't! Diaper changes - sometimes she doesn't mind her diaper changed and other times she screams like we are hurting her! Still not a fan of clothing changes. Hiccups and tummy time: exhibit A below

Not too happy with tummy time

Today she was right on with her schedule. She enjoyed her playtime on her play gym, but not as much as Koda. He was determined to get the glo worm. He waited patiently by her thinking maybe eventually it would be his turn to play. He is such a good boy!

Just waiting patiently

Is it my turn yet???

Once he realized he wasn't going to get it he decided my toes were sooo bad he would give me a pedicure. Yes, my big toe is half chipped.. it is bad.. very bad. Maybe CC wants to babysit so I can get a pedicure! :-)

Matt told Hadley today don't grow up too fast.. I am okay if she wants to get to the sleeping through the night stage quickly, but I agree I don't want her to grow up too fast. These past 6 weeks flew by and I barely slept..

First few days

Hadley had a lot of visitors the first night. Stacy spent the day with me while I was in labor along with Matt and my mom. Becky got to the hospital about an hour before I delivered. Judy and Toni got there right after she was born and Justin made in from Dallas about 40 minutes after she was born.

Rachel and Victoria were the first at the hospital Friday to meet Miss Hadley! They spoiled her so much before she even got here.. I can only imagine what it will be like on her birthdays! She has a lot of aunts that love her :-) Victoria Lind took some amazing pictures and I used them for her birth announcement.. they turned out so cute!

Later that day Mike and Peggy met her and Mike was one proud grandpa! Peggy warned us that he is not great with babies, well I guess that has changed because he went right up to her and picked her up!

Keleigh came up that afternoon to spend some time with us. Then Jamie made it there that evening. She drove from Dallas in between 2 jobs to make it to the hospital to meet Hadley. I like this picture because it looks like Jamie is my baby.

Stacy also came by that day and so did Cindy O'Neil. Cindy brought tons of gifts for Hadley!

Saturday morning Terry met Hadley. He looked very nervous to hold her, just like my brother!

Hadley had to spend an extra day at the hospital because of her jaundice. We had great nurses that took care of her and us when we were discharged, but she wasn't. They let us stay in a room Saturday night and we all got to go home Sunday morning.

When we got home the puppies were not too sure what this thing we had was... curious Koda was checking things out:

Later on that night Koda learned firsthand that this "thing" was not his new play toy and he better keep his distance. He really is a great big brother. He looks at her when she cries and sits next to her when she is on her play gym. Zoe watches her too, but keeps more distance.