Happy Birthday Baby

It feels like yesterday I was posting a blog for Hailey's 4 month birthday -- and here we are, she is officially 5 months old!! We had some errands to run on base and while there we decided to stop by the lactation clinic because they allow you to weigh your baby at anytime, so we decided to do a big birthday weigh-in. Drum roll please ... 14 lbs 7 oz!! After we got home Hailey spent the rest of her day doing whatever it was she wanted, which meant rolling around the floor, sitting up, drooling and playing with her toys. She even took an interest in Science when Madison had her 6th grade science book out . . . she may not look like me, but she thinks like me! Science Rocks!!

Sittin Pretty

Today we went on post to register with CDC (Child Development Centers)so Hailey could go into child care if and when needed -- not that I plan on having Hailey in childcare anytime too soon, but it's good to have her registered because one day I will have to start working again (dread!!) After filling out tons of fun government paperwork we went and had lunch with daddy in his office ... Hailey loves her daddy!















Then we ran some more errands and came home to relax a little before getting Madi from school. I decided to give Hail's a little butt time; as some of you may know I have been working with her on her sitting skills -- thus far she has just kind of rolled over anytime I try to sit her up, Nonni says it's just because she has a little round bottom -- well I guess it just got a little flatter!! To my amazement she just started to sit, and sit, and sit . . . toppling did eventually come but not after several uninterrupted seconds of sitting (we're talking like 30 seconds here ... BIG NEWS!!) And the more I let her try and sit the longer she would do it!! I have been trying to get her to do this for weeks now and it seems like all of a sudden the whole concept of balance seems to have clicked with her!! I'm one excited mama, she can stop all growing now -- all I wanted was a little baby that could sit up and now I have her!! Any chance she comes with a pause button that would allow me to freeze her at this stage of life?

Busy Busy Bee

On this lovely Sunday we took a trip to Nashville . . . we started at the Nashville Fair Grounds where at the end of each month they have a big flea market / craft fair. Karl and I are always looking for good deals on antique items, and little odds and ends that add "flair" to the house.

Hailey was of course dolled up, and today even had on her new shoes I got from Target. No sooner had we arrived and were walking around than I looked down and Hailey had on one shoe! I thought they started the whole loosing a shoe thing around the age of 1 or 2, but apparently the little monkey started early. Luckily it was only a few yards behind us and a nice man had picked it up. Silly daddy put the shoe back on and moments later we got to witness how easily she could kick them off. So we removed shoes. A few minutes later my friend Christie noticed that a sock was missing -- and so ended the wearing of the socks!
After a long day of antiquing and patrolling the crafting stalls Hailey was a little hungry and decided that my face would make a good meal, mmmmm . . . baby hickies!!












Next we moved on to lunch at PF Chang's! Yummy! Hailey had a wonderful lunch of Mama's Milkies before arriving and was in a milk induced coma for most of the meal -- but woke up and joined us for some conversation with Pete and Christine (yes, the same culprits that were partying hard with her early this week!)




Finally, we ended our Nashville trip with a visit to the Children's Hospital to check up on Tyler, Madi, Heather, Tony and Memaw. It was great to see them again, unfortunately Tyler is still in the hospital and quite sick, but is gaining strength enough to fight with his nurses! With lots prayers and a little luck he'll hopefully be out soon. Hailey was excited to visit the butterfly wall . . . and to bring "pseudo-big sister" Madi back home with us to Clarksville for the week so she can get back to school!

Talk about a busy busy day!!!

Round 1: Hailey 10, Mommy 2

Well Hailey had a great night in her big crib last night, slept like a log! Mommy on the other hand . . . well lets just say our official score at the top reflects hours of sleep! Although 2 is probably being a little drastic, I probably got more like 4. Daddy even got in on the action, when the movement sensor went off at 4am, he shot out of bed like a bullet and into the babies room ... I was so delerious from lack of sleep it took me a minute or two to figure out what was going on! She of course was fine, and had managed to roll herself into a corner where the sensor couldn't read her movements -- daddy gave her a little pat, moved her over and returned triumphantly to our room ... he gets all the credit for rescuing Hailey, where is my credit for all the times I was unable to sleep, wandering into her room to check her even when the alarm wasn't going off?

Tschuss, Ciao, Adeu, Adios, Cheerio, Aloha ...

Goodbye is never easy, and this case is no different. It is time for me to say "so long" to the Pack N' Play that has been residing next to my bed for the past 5 months and let Hailey be a big girl, who sleeps in her big girl crib, in her own big girl room. She I'm sure is ready for the transition ... as she seems to be rapidly outgrowing the Pack N Play


I however will take some time to adjust to her absence in my room. Karl was nice enough to get me the Bebe Angel Monitor that detects movement in the crib so that I can rest peacefully knowing that a loud beeping sound will awaken me should the crib sensor not sense movement from my little angel for more than 20 seconds! I'm sure there may be some false alarms but I would rather be awakened to find her perfectly fine than have something happen (which I'm sure it won't but she's the only one I have so I'm a little protective!!)
We'll let you know how the first big night as a big girl in her own big crib goes ... I have a feeling the only one that will act like a baby over the situation is me.

Let MEEEE talk

Hailey always wants to talk to whoever is on the phone -- in this case it was our usual morning conversation with Nonni ... it's a good thing drool doesn't travel through the phone otherwise there would be a lot of people with wet willies courtesy of Hailey!

Those Party Animals

Pete, Hailey and Christine

Our crazy friends Christine and Pete took pity on me and Hailey and had us over to dinner tonight since Karl is out in the field. It was so nice to have someone else do the cooking and clean up, I love Christine!!! -- Hailey was hitting the shots a little early and passed out cold by 8pm! Seriously though, just incase Social Services happens to check up on my blog, there was no drinking involved, just a quiet night with friends . . . I'll wait until she can atleast sit up on her own before I let her hit the bottle!!

Back on the Farm!

Today we spent a fun day at Honeysuckle Hills Farm. It's a small educational farm out in the middle of nowhere TN that is open to the public on weekends and schools/groups on weekdays. Our playgroup arranged a trip, so being farm girls ourselves Hailey and I couldn't say no. There were piggies, goats, horses, cows and even tractor rides! Our small group of moms and kids (6 moms and 7 kiddos) had a great time checking out the animals, going through the corn maze and even going to the apple orchard to pick an apple! I thought it was going to be open apple picking, but the orchard contained all of 9 apple tress, so everyone just got one =( ... but that's ok because we got homemade apple butter and pumpkin butter =) I'm very excited to try the pumpkin butter!! Katrina from playgroup says it's good stuff =). Here are some photos from our big adventure!!


Hailey watching the piggies from her Baby Bjorn







Sam, Emily and Piper milking the cows








Sydra, Lexi, Jenni, John Ryan, Heather and Matthew on the tractor ride


Mom and Hailey with the Jersey Cow










Then we all played in the corn box, it was a huge hit with the kiddos and moms!

Although Hail's freaked out a little when I buried her legs!We can't wait to go back in October to the pumpkin patch -- and of course next year when Hailey is big enough to milk the moo - cows!!

Hailey had fun in the car because she didn't have to face nothing ... Matthew and Emily were in the seat behind her so she had something to laugh at!! Not that any of them were laughing for long, within minutes all three were passed out from their big day!!

Where there's a will there's a way (or a foot)

Has it been a year?

Can you believe there was life before this little face? ...



I was looking back through some old pictures from this time last year, it's hard to imagine life before Hailey but there was indeed a time when it was just the three of us, mommy, daddy and Caliboots. Here are some of the adventures we had sans Hailey this time last year ...








There was the Kenny Chesney concert in Virginia .. in the torential rain and lightning ...
















The trip to Snowshoe, WV for the Road Kill CookOff with Nonni and Papa (before they were Nonni and Papa ... )
















And Karl's many sporting adventures ... trips to Wake with Boompa John for Homecoming and to Baltimore with Papa David to watch the Oriels ...













Hope you enjoyed our little gander down memory lane, I have to run now because my little angel seems to have woken from her slumber ... ah the life of a mommy =) ...

Go Deacs

This Saturday was dedicated to cheering for daddy's beloved Demon Deacons. Mommy and Nonni made Hailey a gold and black tie dye onesie so that she could cheer for the Deacs with her daddy ... and look good doing it! Here we have Hailey very focused on the game



... and then the toy beside her became far more interesting ...

Until next weekend folks, with the return of College Game Day ... will she be sporting the Black and Gold or showing her Hokie Pride??!

What kind of Mother am I?

Today was supposed to be Jersey's day -- a blog all about Jersey. You see today was Jersey's first day of doggie "good manners" obedience class. Mommy and Hailey went along with Daddy and Jersey for their first big day at school. It was supposed to be like the first day at kindergarten, lots of pictures and attention, all about Jersey. Bad mommy got distracted with Hailey and other things and didn't take a single picture of my middle child's first day of school -- terrible I know. So here we have Jersey after coming home (and getting a bath, some reward for a great day at school) cuddling with her favorite squirrel and being mad at mommy for ruining her big day...

Cali's thoughts on all this -- "get over it, I have cancer!" Her tumor looks really bad, but I assure you all she is still eating, playing and running around like a big 6 year old puppy, she's such a little trooper ... in fact today she had the energy to run away from mommy, across the road to the new neighbors house and meet their little sheltie, Gator ... guess where they moved from!? Yup, Florida -- I suppose we can still be friends =) They seem really nice and Gator was fast friends with Cali.





And a blog entry would not be complete without an appearance by Hailey -- shhh ... don't tell the dogs I shared their entry with her ... Here she is modeling mommy's latest consignment finds --

Just so ya'll don't think I'm cheap I must say -- consignment is not normally my thing, but Clarksville has these events at different places hosted by church groups, mommy / baby organizations, etc that do just baby consignment for a day or two twice a year -- and there are some good finds. And those who have kids know, baby stuff isn't cheap and they literally wear it for a nano second -- so mommy has been trying to save pennies and the environment by shopping resale -- just had to say that!