June

Summertime is here at last. I have 4 goals this summer while I am off. #1 - Get her out of the swaddle blanket, #2 - More talking, #3 - More walking and #4 - No more baby food.

#1 was accomplished in the first week I was home. The following week Hailey decided to cut two more teeth including one molar. My child is getting all her teeth on one side. She is talking quite a bit more (#2). Matt has a hard time understanding her. She is now able to say cheese (which is her favorite snack), cookie, Da Da, Ma ma (only when she wants too. If I ask her to say ma ma, she will sign ma ma but say Da da and laugh), kitty, TV, broom broom (for car), toast, choo choo (when she hears a train coming), olive and pool.

We started going to story time with some friends. Hailey does a good job of sitting as long as I have a steady flow of cookies for her. The first day she sat in my lap for most of the story time. Only at the end did she want to sit next to me and try to crawl around. The 2nd time we went she sat next to me the whole time and even tried to walk around.

#3 She is walking around a lot more now. Not all the time. If she wants to go anywhere fast, she drops down and crawls. I definitely have a strong willed child because she will only do something if she wants too.

This month Hailey learned she has holes in her head. She now likes to stick her fingers in her ears and says "what" but it really sounds like "da" and she likes to stick her fingers in her nose. Not one but both at the same time and then she snorts.

The food thing is not going so well. Hailey is not gaining weight so well. She is 18 months old and weighs less than 20 lbs. 12 month clothes don't fit her. They are too big. The shorts I have for her are 6-9 months and most 12 month pants need to be taken in. I tried to keep up with her calorie intake but can't get her to eat more than 900 calories, if I am lucky. She will only eat chicken nuggets, toast with peanut butter, peanut butter on a spoon, cheese, beef stroganoff, BBQ potato chips, cookies, olives and yogurt. I don't know what to do. I tried giving her carrots but she won't even put them near her mouth. I tried this for 2 weeks. I try to get her to taste everything, but she won't. I hate buying her baby food, but I want her to eat vegetables and fruit.

I bought her a pool around Father's Day. I was afraid she wouldn't like it since she doesn't like the bathtub. We blew it up in the living room and left it in there for a day. She was a little scared at first and then enjoyed playing in it in the living room. We brought it outside and put it in the shop so the Texas sun doesn't burn Hailey. She really loves the pool and ask to go in it. She splashes and lays down. Sometimes she will even put her face in the water. So I tried the bathtub again. No luck! All she did was scream.

Some random things Hailey likes to do: play with my Tupperware, wash her hands in the sink (play with the water), brush her teeth (play with the water), push buttons, get in trouble (bang on the grandfather clock, spit & dig in the plants) and listen to Dr. Jean CD's.

May

May was a very busy month for us. We went to Tyler for Mother's Day so we could spend the day with Matt's mom. Then we went to Tyler the following weekend for out Anniversary. I can't believe it has been 7 years since we got married and 10 years since we met. It was so nice to go to the movies and out to dinner. I think the last time I went to the movies I was pregnant with Hailey.

Mother's Day was nice and warm. Hailey got to go swimming for the 1st time. She doesn't like the bathtub and still a little scared of Kevin, but went in the pool with him and Grant. Hailey loves to play with Grant and all of his toys. He favorite thing to do is chase Grant up and down the hallway.

Hailey walked for the first time Memorial Day weekend. I was so excited. She didn't just take one or two steps. She took 5 steps and did it twice for me. Matt was in the shower and when he got out Hailey refused to walk for him. He had to wait to see it. She won't walk if you want her too, but if you turn your head and pretend you are not looking, she will do it. Hailey also cut another tooth. Now she has 5. I hope she gets all her teeth before she goes to kindergarten.

Daddy feeding Hailey a Cadbury Egg 20 minutes before bedtime.

That was good!

Hey! Don't forget about me. I want more.

April

April was a very difficult month. Michelle came out on April 1st to watch Hailey so I could have an abscess drained. I was told it was going to be day surgery. APRIL FOOLS! I ended up having another drain put in and having to spend the night in the hospital. In order to go home the next day I was given a PICC line in my arm so I could receive IV antibiotics over the next 11 days. I am so thankful Michelle, Kevin and Grant were able to stay overnight to watch Hailey for us.

This month Hailey began to stand without holding on. She could walk if she wanted to. She also began making a sound for dog. It is kind of like woof with just the /f/ sound. She still loves to read books and magazines. I found out the Arlington public library had the Baby Signing Time videos and I took them out. Hailey loves to watch them on the laptop and is beginning to make more signs. We are able to sign tree, outside, shoes & happy now.




Easter was special this year because Hailey got excited when she saw her basket. We did this twice since the first time she was only in a diaper. She also got her first pair of Nike's from Grandma and Grandpa BunnyEars.








I let Hailey finger paint for the first time this month. She had so much fun and made a big mess. No pictures of her painting because we took video.

March

Not too many pictures this month. We went to Tyler this month to see Aunt Michelle, Uncle Kevin and Grant. Hailey has so much fun playing with her cousin Grant. We went out to the lake house and Hailey enjoyed playing with Grant's toys and his slide. She is still not sure about Kevin.

Grandma Susan came out to help while I had my gallbladder taken out. We went to the Fort Worth Auto show and had lunch downtown. This was Hailey's second time at the auto show. Hailey really enjoyed having grandma here. Grandma walked Hailey all over the house and started making a cat sound. Bob got put to the side and now Hailey carries a cat around with her. She even takes him to bed with her. This month Hailey started signing more, eat and drink. She is not saying any words yet but at least we know what she wants. She also started waving hello and goodbye. Grandma was here for 8 days and the day after she left I developed a fever. Back to the doctor and more antibiotics. Finally found out I had an abscess and need day surgery to drain it.

Hailey went to the doctor this month for the first time with only Daddy. She weighs 17 lbs. 3 oz. and is 30 1/4 in.

Look at my crazy hair

Taking everything out of Grandma's wallet.

February

This February was a bit unusual for Texas. We had lots of snow and ice. I got about 4 days off because of it. With the ice came a gallbladder attack for me. This one lasted about 4 1/2 days. If it wasn't for the ice, I would have gone to the hospital. Hailey enjoyed the time I had off with her.

This month Grandpa Mike came to visit. We went up to the Decatur swap meet for the day ad Hailey was so good. I don't have any pictures because it was dirty and I was worried we might get run over.

Hailey still only has 4 teeth. They are trying to come through. She has a fever one day this month and I thought that tooth would come through, but it did not. We gave her cherry licorice for the first time and she loved it. It made a bigger mess than we expected.

January

Hailey has been able to point to her nose when asked since November. We have been working on finding her ears and eyes. She still loves watching Signing Time on Youtube. Hailey got to see snow again. This time we took her outside to see it.

I've been trying to introduce table food. It hasn't been going well. Her favorite thing to eat is still chicken nuggets. I tried giving her Hamburger Helper and she liked that. See picture below of Hailey feeding herself. I also tried Cheerios. These are not a favorite. Hailey enjoys feeding mommy more than herself.

She still loves her bear Bob and takes him all over the house with her. Hailey occasionally licks the floor as she crawls around. I happened to get a picture.