McGeeMinutes

2011-07-30T10:28:00.001-04:00

Cupcake

2011-07-12T06:36:00.002-04:00

Ava LOVES her cupcakes! These are part of a tea set she got to play with her in their kitchen. These little cupcakes are always in her hands. As soon as we get home from an outing, she starts yelling "CUPCAKE" as she enters the house. Last night, I caught her trying to hide a cupcake in her bed so she could sleep with it. In the morning, the first thing she says to me is not, "hi mommy," or "i love you"; it's, "CUPCAKE". She even tried to give me her lovey so she could hold another cupcake in the other hand! It is amazing to me the things kids get attached to.

Summertime Fun!

2011-06-27T17:57:00.002-04:00

Well, the girls and I are getting pretty desperate for things to do these days. The girls get bored very quickly. I am not sure how; we have most of Toys R Us in our house!! But after two hours of them going nuts inside this morning, we decided to head out for a walk around the neighborhood. Fortunately, their friend Carsen was outside so he walked with us and then came over to play. That entertained the girls for a little while but I think they changed from 6 different activities within 20 minutes! We enjoyed our visit with Carsen this morning.

After nap, we decided to set up our "swimming pool". While we were playing outside, the ice cream truck came by. YEY!! Perfect timing because when my girls eat ice cream, they also wear ice cream! Since we had our swimsuits on, it didn't matter. They could get as messy as they wanted and then go wash off in the water. Oh and Ava doesn't like to hold her popsicle by the stick, she likes to hold the white part of the red, white and blue firecracker popsicle! Therefore, the blue drips on her arm and leg and the red goes all over her mouth. Our patriotic little girl.

You see in this next picture, we have moved to the water and Ava is still holding onto that popsicle.

We had a blast today! Summertime is a new experience this year with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Staying inside and playing inside just won't do anymore!

I wonder what's in store for us tomorrow.....

Hayden Learning to Swim

2011-06-26T14:38:00.003-04:00

Wejust returned from our annual vacation to Orlando, Florida. We had a blast! The girls really enjoyed themselves and I will have to post more about our vacation--with pictures--shortly but here is a milestone I wanted to share with you. Hayden learned how to swim, with her swim vest on, but she finally got over her fear of going under the water. It took a few days of trying but she slowly started to let go of Mommy and Daddy and then was even willing to go under the water. After this, it was pretty difficult to get her away from the swimming pool. She is ready to head over to Booma and Poppy's pool to show them how she can swim! Our little girl is growing up.

Hayden's Experience as a flower girl

2011-04-19T19:29:00.003-04:00

In late March, Hayden got the privilege of being aflower girl in a wedding of some sweet friends. She loved every minute of it. The weekend kept her extremely busy but our sweet girl made it through. She did a wonderful job! Here are a few pictures to show off our weekend!

The weekend started with lunch at the Swan House with the bride and the bridesmaids. Hayden felt so special to be a part of all the events this weekend. She definitely was not shy at any of the events.

Here is Hayden with the bride. She loved being in Karen's wedding and getting to do all the special things with her.

Here are Hayden and Jacob before the wedding. April and I took so many pictures of the two of them. They were just too cute!! Both did a wonderful job in the wedding!

So, amazingly, Hayden did a pretty good job standing still throughout the wedding. However, her basket did spill a few times. When the petals landed on the step she was standing on, she would gently push them to the floor so they would not mess up "her" step.

Finally at the reception! Hayden could not wait to get out and dance to the music. We had to force her to eat before she could go out and dance. She would have danced all night. This girl LOVES to dance!

Hayden's 3rd Birthday Party (late update)

2011-04-17T14:28:00.005-04:00

So, I missed posting about Hayden's birthday (I'm only 2 months late). Here are a few pictures from her special birthday party at Build-A-Bear:

We do a special gift exchange the morning of the birthday party where the birthday girl gives her sister a special gift. This year Hayden gave Ava a little purse with a dog inside. Hayden picked it out all by herself since Ava loves purses and "dog dogs".

Ava was so excited about her special new present!

Here is our birthday princess about to turn 3! She looks so grown up in these pictures! I can't believe it has been three years since God blessed Bruce and myself with her!

After we got the table all set up for the party, Nana and Paw Paw took Hayden and Ava for a special ride to pass the time by until Build-A-Bear would open.

Here are a few of Hayden's friends at the party.

Kate and Hayden

Hayden brushing her new owl, Hoot.

All the party friends with their new friends!

Hayden has a blast celebrating her 3rd birthday and is already planning out her 4th birthday party!

An Indoor Campfire

2011-01-13T13:33:00.003-05:00

This snowy weather has brought about a whole lot new experiences for our family. Fortunately we were all able to stay home together without either Bruce or myself having to go to work. The first few days being stuck indoors were not so bad and then it started to get a little rough. Ava is very clingy to me and therefore only wants to be held by mommy when mommy is around. It makes life a little difficult. Hayden likes to play rough and as a result now has a scratch next to her eye which we thought was going to lead to a black eye (fortunately that was not the case). Bruce and I are going stir crazy with two girls and their unique personalities.

So, last night, we decided to try a new adventure. Hayden has never had a s'more before so we got all we needed to make s'mores and made them by the fireplace.

At first, Hayden was very confused by what we were talking about. She had never seen or heard of a s'more before and wasn't sure why we needed fire to make it. She quickly caught on that the fire was going to be used to melt the marshmallow. She thought this was the coolest thing!

When we gave her the final product of her s'more, this was the look we got. She wasn't too sure of what to do next...

So, we showed her!

I think this may have been the highlight of the winter storm for her! She felt so special to have a picnic in the house and make s'mores with mommy and daddy!

Winter Storm 2011

2011-01-12T05:30:00.004-05:00

I guess after being stuck in the house for now the third day, I could go ahead and update our blog. I kind of laughed at some of the posts on facebook people from the north were writing teasing about how the south would have to "shut down" if we ever got close to a foot of snow. But it is true, we just aren't prepared for weather like this much less the ice that came with this storm. I do feel like Georgia has had to almost completely "shut down" and I am going stir crazy inside! I love time home with my children but it is enjoyed so much more when we can go places or even outside. With the temperatures being so cold and the girls really getting over a very sick holiday season, we chose to keep them inside and out of the cold. Here are a few pictures we took from inside to show the snow and how we have been coping indoors...

Our Magnolias were covered by the snow. So beautiful!

This is right outside our kitchen window. We were watching this area to kind of view how much snow we really got.

The snow on top of our bird feeder (and even some inside!)

Hayden was really starting to go stir crazy inside. We moved around all the toys. This helped for a little while.

So, her and her daddy decided to make snow cream!

Daddy had to scrape off a layer of ice to get to the snow. You can tell it was cold because he didn't even go outside to get the snow--just opened the door and started to scoop.

Hayden's first bite.

Ava's first bite.

Hayden and her daddy enjoyed the rest of the snow cream as it was starting to melt.

You never know what type of weather will show up in Georgia but if this ever comes around again, we know what we need to be better prepared. We had enough food, diapers, wipes, etc but entertainment for the girls is what we need to better prepare for next time. Hopefully, they will be able to go out to play in the snow when it comes again!

December Snow 2010

2010-12-31T11:58:00.005-05:00

I still can't believe it snowed on Christmas in Georgia! What a beautiful way to end the celebration of the birth of our Savior!

It was actually kind of funny that it snowed this Christmas. Bruce has been talking about his "ideal Christmas" being a "White Christmas". So, as a little Christmas surprise I ordered the snow in a minute (fake snow) so we could cover the ground and give him a semi-white Christmas. Well, God took care of it for me and made it even better!

We watched the snow come down and cover the ground all around our house. We would have been happy with just seeing the flurries but we were blessed with so much more! Our house and yard was covered with at least three inches of beautiful, white, fluffy snow! This snow was special to our girls because they both got to really play in it. Last February when it snowed, both girls were sick (Ava was still too little to go out), so we didn't really get to play in the snow. This year, they were finally well and got to enjoy this beautiful weather...we all got to enjoy it together!

Here are a few pictures to walk you through our day in the snow...

The girls were ready to get out in the snow and play.

Hayden was not afraid to walk out in the snow even though it came above her ankles! She ran all over the yard!

It took Ava awhile, but she finally got down and touched the snow. She spent most of her time laughing at her sister.

We found a spot for our snowman in the shade so he could hopefully last a little longer. Daddy helped us to get started.

Then it was our turn to jump in...

It was a little too cold so we didn't make our snowman too tall. We told Hayden he was Ava's size.

Bruce's "fake snow" is under God's snow to the right of this picture. Yeah, God's way is always so much better!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-27T16:51:00.007-05:00

Merry Christmas to you all from the McGee family! With this being the first year where Santa was truly "real" for Hayden, it was a year full of excitement! From the visit of our elf, Charlie, to having lunch with Santa, Hayden could not control her excitement! I can't wait until next year when we have two going crazy during the holiday season.

Here is just a small snapshot into Christmas at our home this year...

Christmas Eve is spent with my family at the house for our Christmas party. The party occurs around the Christmas Eve Service at the church so it goes "late" into the evening (especially for a 2 year old). The girls were so exhausted from the day that they fell asleep before everyone left and even before Hayden put out her cookies for Santa. So, Mommy and Daddy had to do it for her.

Santa came to our house Christmas Eve after the girls were all snug in the beds. His bag must have been pretty light after leaving all this! The Green Tractor was for Hayden and the little car was for Ava. Ava loved her car so much that she wouldn't even get out of it to open gifts! Santa made two little girls very happy this year!

Ava in her car...refusing to get out!

Daddy got his special gift from God Christmas evening...his White Christmas! He and Hayden went out to collect a few snowflakes in their hair!

Our two precious girls in their new pajamas from daddy getting ready for bed. It was a long day full of excitement!

Merry Christmas from the McGee Family!

Ava's 1st Haircut

2010-12-26T13:58:00.004-05:00

We took Ava to get her hair cut for the first time a couple of days before Christmas. We just knew it was going to be a nightmare with how clingy she has been lately. Ava has been sick for about a month now and unable to leave the house. Now that she was in the clear, we had to get her haircut before she began to see people again...it was just a mess. So, even though she has been attached to Mommy since getting sick, we decided to try this task. To our amazement, she did very well.

When we arrived to the place, we let her have a little time to just kind of play with the toys. Then, Hayden got her hair cut first so Ava could watch her big sister. While Hayden was getting her hair cut, Ava decided she wanted to sit in one of the "cool cars" like her sister. So, we put her in to kind of test the waters...so far, so good.

Finally, it was Ava's turn! Even though she was a little timid and unsure of what was happening, she did very well!! She made it all the way through without tears until...

it was time to trim around the ears. Then it was all over! So our end result picture involves tears. Oh well, she looks adorable anyways!

2010-10-31T15:04:00.003-04:00

As we started the day, Ava had a special present for Hayden so she wouldn't feel left out and ignored all day. Ava picked out a cute pet pillow (frog) for Hayden to take naps on. (I am sure we will need to find one for Ava real soon :0)). Here Hayden is telling her sister thank you for her special new pillow.

As her party began, Ava was soaking up all the attention. We passed out the party hats and amazingly Ava kept her's on for most of the party. The hardest part was trying to get her to pose for a picture because she was going around showing everyone her special hat. She really knew it was her special day! I love how grown up she looks in this picture!

Here is a picture of Ava's birthday cake. She had her own cake but this was the one for the guests to eat.

At first, she was a little hesitant to dig in to the cake. But, once she got started, there was no stopping her. She mainly went for the icing and it ended up all over her face! She loved it! Happy Birthday Ava! This is one of the only times it is ok to play with your food! :O)

Happy Birthday Ava!

2010-10-31T14:02:00.003-04:00

Ava turned 1 on October 26, 2010! I can't believe it has been a year since God blessed us with her birth! Ava has grown up so much over the past year and is such a blessing to our family. Even when she is screaming, it is not long before we have one of her special smiles on her face. We celebrated her as a family on her birthday. She had a special day as she spent time with Nana and her sister all day and then Daddy made a special dinner that evening. After dinner, we celebrated with cake and a dance party! We saved the bulk of the celebrating for the Saturday after when the rest of the family came to join us. (More pictures to come!) Happy Birthday Ava! We love You!!!

Quick update on the family

2010-10-09T13:24:00.002-04:00

Wow! It has been awhile since I last put up a post on here. Sorry Guys! We have been busy around this house. Hayden is back in school and doing Ballet every Friday! She loves it! Ava is cutting more teeth as she approaches her 1st birthday. She has decided it is time to walk/run everywhere so we are really on our toes. Bruce is in the middle of another semester of school and I am spending my time (when I am not here) teaching and selling Thirty-One.

I hope to be able to post more frequently and keep updated with what is going on with our family. Enjoy and I'll be back soon!

Summertime with Two

2010-07-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

This has been a summer to remember! Our first summer with two precious little girls at home. We have gone from one who could run around the house while the other couldn't follow to two who are into anything and everything they can find. They are beginning to work together to cause all sorts of mischief around the house. However, I really love how they play so well with each other. Hayden does a great job taking care of her little sister and reminding her of things we are NOT supposed to play with. With a few weeks left for summer vacation, we are anxious to see if Ava will reach that milestone of walking before school begins. She is so close but right now, she knows it is faster to crawl than try to walk.

Hayden is so ready to go back to school. She asks all the time to go back to HER school she can play with her friends. We are excited to be moving her up to the 3 year old class this year because she has reached her goal of being potty trained this summer.

With Hayden going to school three days a week this fall, that means Booma (grandma), Nana and Daddy get to have some special one-on-one time with Ava in the mornings. They will need it to keep up with her!

Hope are all enjoying the end of summer 2010! We still have a few weeks to go!

Daytona/Orlando 2010

2010-06-25T13:35:00.000-04:00

Since I actually got the girls to sleep at the same time for naptime, I thought I would take this time to post a little about our family vacation to Daytona and then to Orlando. Plenty of pictures to come....

The view from our room was beautiful. We were right on the beach in Daytona. Our girls were so sweet in that they woke us up each morning in time for the sunrise! :0) We even got to see the dolphins jumping in the waves during the morning hours before everyone went out to the beach for the day.

Last year, Hayden was not a big fan of the sand so we made a big deal about buying beach toys and building sand castles. Fortunately her teacher also did a unit on the beach/ocean so she was even more excited about going to the beach this year. We had a blast building sand castles together--even though the process of building the castles involved me building it and her knocking it down.

Ava enjoyed the beach too. Her favorite spot was in her stroller taking a nap. She did like the sand until she decided to taste it. :0) We had a much happier experience with her first time in the sand than with Hayden last year.

Hayden even enjoyed looking for seashells. There weren't many out on the beach but we went on a little hunt. I love this picture!

Hayden and her daddy resting in the shade. Hayden was a little afraid of the water and she was convinced it was going to come and get her so her daddy had to protect her!

Of course our room had no carpet in it and Ava was just learning to crawl on this trip. Fortunately, we thought ahead to bring our own "carpet". Ava had a blast with her own special play area!

Out enjoying the beach from our shady balcony after naps!

Ava is really growing up!!

Our final night in Daytona we went out for ice cream. Hayden enjoyed her very first ice cream cone that she did not have to share! (She ended up wearing most of it)

Ava's first time in the pool was in Orlando. She LOVED the water! Her favorite party was sitting on the side and splashing the water in her face. She would laugh so hard after doing it. It is so amazing to me how different two sisters can be.

After a day or two, Hayden became more and more comfortable with the water and began to slowly let go of her dad or Paw Paw (whoever was helping her). She was learning the basics of swimming with her special float. By the end of the week, she became so comfortable that she was jumping off the side of the pool into someone's arms.

The perfect picture to show how we felt at the end of the week! Hayden was trying to show off her new Cinderella doll Nana and Paw Paw bought for her but she was so tired! (We had a pretty quiet ride home because both girls were so tired!)

A special night out. Bruce and I were able to go out one evening while mom and dad played with our girls. We went to have lobster for the first time. DELICIOUS!

Vacations are always so special but they also make Home so much sweeter when you return!

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

2010-06-24T15:45:00.000-04:00

After reading the book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, I have been challenged in my relationship with Christ. We have all heard, "God is Love" but have you ever really thought about what that means? What does it mean when you say, "Yes, I love God"?

We have all heard Matthew 22:37-39, "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" What does that really mean to you? I was challenged by this question as I went into reading this book.

Without saying too much about the book, I strongly encourage you to take time out to read this book and see what this Crazy Love is all about.

Finally A New Update!

2010-04-22T09:38:00.000-04:00

It has been so long since I have posted on here. I am finally able to take a little time to blog this morning. The McGee family has had a lot happening in and around our home since I my previous post at Ava's dedication back in February.

Ava is now approaching 6 months! I can't believe how quickly she is growing up! We watch her meet new milestones each week. She is beginning to sit up on her own and moving towards crawling. Oh boy! I already warned Hayden that many of her toys will have to be put up when Ava begins to crawl. We will be able to play with them only when Ava is resting. She is ok with that.

Hayden is a wonderful big sister! She plays great with Ava and tries her hardest to help out mommy and daddy whenever she can. Hayden is now two years old and is continuing to mature like crazy! She is such a bright young girl that she keeps us constantly on our toes. Just the other day she was telling us all about how the stop light works. She hasn't quite learned that it is ok to turn right when the light is red so we had to quickly help her understand that it was ok that daddy went when the light was still green.

Our girls are so sweet and precious! We couldn't have asked for two more perfect daughters! To watch them interact just brings great joy to my heart.

Bruce is getting closer to the end of this difficult semester in school. This year has been a hard one for him as he is not only working through school but also helping to prepare for the new building at church. There has been a lot of stress in his life but I would say he is handling very well and still doing all he can to help out around the house!

I am beginning a new chapter in my life. I have been working with Southern Living at Home for a little over a year now and am making the change to working with Thirty-One gifts now. I am looking forward to this new change as I become a consultant with this company. Their inventory is full of wonderful totes, purses and even kids stuff! To have Bruce on my side as I make this transition makes me even more excited to begin this journey.

As the summer approaches, I will have more time to post on my blog and I plan to do so. I hope to get up some pictures from the past few months as well ASAP! Thanks for reading! More to come!

Ava's Dedication

2010-02-28T21:10:00.001-05:00

We celebrated today the dedication of our daughter, Ava. This service is such a special time for a parent as a commitment is made to raise a child in a godly way with a desire to share the love of God with her. I started off this morning getting both girls ready. As I was gathering Ava's dress for the service, I tried to explain to Hayden what was happening at church. I tried to tell her a little of how we did the same thing for her when she was younger. Of course with her young (yet very bright) mind, she had a hard time understanding. That made me think of the importance of our actions as parents. I know Hayden watches Bruce and me because we see her mimicking many of the actions, gestures, facial expressions, etc. that we do. The best way for us to share the love of God with our girls is by what we do [in front of them]. They may not understand our words completely, but they understand our actions. We love you, Ava! We love you, Hayden!

A special evening

2010-02-28T13:34:00.001-05:00

Last night was a very special evening for our family. We had all the members of my dad's side of the family come in for a special dinner in honor of Jonathan, Dad, Hayden, and Grandma. We went out to Red Lobster for dinner and learned some special news. My cousin, Jonathan (home from Iraq) announced his engagement! It was a special time of celebration with Jonathan. He is the youngest of the grandchildren on that side of the family and the last to get married. He has grown into a very respectable young man who volunteered to serve our country overseas. I am proud to call him my cousin and wish him a safe return to Iraq and then back home later this year. (Oh yeah, Happy Birthday Jonathan! You don't have a February birthday but it is close enough.)

We also had the joy of celebrating my grandmother's birthday. As we celebrated at the restaurant it was fun to watch her excitement to have her family together for this special occasion. Birthdays are always special in our family and so I know this was a special time for her. We returned to my parents house and watched the special interaction between her and her now youngest great-grandchild, Ava. (That girl can bring a smile to anyone's face.) Happy Birthday grandma!

Happy Birthday Hayden!

2010-02-15T22:40:00.000-05:00

Hayden turned 2 today! I can't believe it has been two years since we rushed to the hospital on Valentine's Day evening only to have our precious bundle of joy arrive early the following morning! Hayden was born February 15, 2008 and today she is two! She woke us up nice and early this morning....we quickly put her back to sleep between Mommy and Daddy so we could rest a little longer. Then, the fun began! From pancakes with Daddy to shopping with Mommy and visiting with grandparents in between, Hayden had a fun-filled day. We ended the evening with a special birthday cake from her Paw Paw (who will celebrate his birthday tomorrow!) I think one of the most precious things today was listening to Hayden talk with all who called to wish her a happy birthday! She loves talking on the phone and when so many people call her on one day she didn't know what to think.

Happy Birthday "Sweetheart"! We love you!!

Snow, Snow, Snow

2010-02-13T15:03:00.000-05:00

WOW! 4 inches of snow! Hayden didn't know what to think. We made a point to go out and let her play even though she wasn't 100% and she loved it! We built a snowman and let her throw snowballs. It was just me and her since daddy was inside sick and Ava was resting. Enjoy the photos!

What a Year

2010-02-13T10:24:00.000-05:00

Well, we are a month and a half into 2010 and I am already looking for a fresh start and a new year. From losing a pet, to emergency surgery, to the dreaded stomach virus infecting our home, this year is off to a rough start.

Hayden turns two on Monday and she was supposed to have her birthday party this afternoon. But the southeast is now covered with snow (our home about 4 inches) which makes it unsafe to drive. Fortunately, even though she is so smart, Hayden doesn't understand today was supposed to be her party. So, we will reschedule and pray for nicer weather. Today, we are all enjoying the beautiful snow from the indoors. I hope to get a few pictures later today but hesitate taking the girls outside with the stomach virus in the house. I don't want anything else to add to their illnesses.

Good Bye

2010-01-22T17:47:00.001-05:00

We had to say good-bye to a special member of our family last weekend. Theo, our miniature Yorkshire Terrier passed away early Saturday morning. We are not sure what happened or why he died. He went very quickly. We will truly miss him.

Theo has been a member of our family for almost five years. Bruce bought him for me around the time we were engaged and he has been our "child" since. Even he was an "only child" for awhile, he quickly welcomed Hayden into the family (and later Ava) and took the role as guard dog.

Our sweet Theo will be missed!

Learning to Talk

2010-01-01T08:21:00.000-05:00

It is always fun to watch a young baby learning to talk. I was able to capture Ava trying to "tell" us she wanted to play with her special toy. Once I turned it on, she went crazy playing with it.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:17:00.000-05:00

Our Christmas season started out with decorating the tree and the house. Hayden received her first Christmas tree for her to decorate and has been rearranging the "ornaments" since. She has become our "special helper" this year in wanting to take part in every holiday tradition. This has made this Christmas even more special as she is beginning to understand a little more of what Christmas is all about and other fun traditions we have to make it special. Of course new traditions will start this year with her reaching the age where we can. I look forward to many more Christmases as our girls grow up together and take part in the "fun"!

At the beginning of December, as Hayden was just beginning to understand Santa Claus, we were able to go to a Christmas party at Nana's work. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus made an appearance. Hayden waited all evening for him to arrive. However, when it was time for a picture with Santa, she told us Ava could sit in his lap. She is still a little frightened to be near Santa but sitting with Mrs. Claus was not so bad. So, we managed to get a picture with the two girls.

Hayden's seating arrangement made it easy for us to get a picture of Ava with Santa on her first Christmas. (This is a good age because she is too young to cry with Santa.)

As Christmas approaches, it was time to make the cookies for Santa. Hayden was able to take part in the decorating as Ava watched from her special chair. We made several cookies for Santa. They will be placed on his special plate this evening with his chocolate milk.

As Hayden approaches her 2nd Christmas and Ava approaches her 1st, we wish you a Merry Christmas from the McGee Family! May you be blessed this season. We truly are!

Hayden's Christmas Party

2009-12-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

We were able to go and enjoy Hayden's Christmas party with her preschool class. So hard to believe our little girl is growing up so much. She loved us coming to school but was not about to step out of her daily routine for us. We were able to enjoy lunch with the class and then watch their special presentation of the songs they had been learning over the past month. Hayden's music teacher tells us she is normally one of the loudest ones singing in the class (which I believe) but she became very shy with all the parents watching. We hear the songs all the time at home but it was special to video tape her in her classroom.

Hayden's Preschool Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T07:16:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, Bruce and I got to go back to preschool to join Hayden for her first Thanksgiving Feast. I was so thankful to still be on leave to where I could take part in this event. As a teacher, I experience the feast from a different perspective (organizing and managing the students while trying to visit with parents). This year I was able to take part as a parent and realize just how special those events are.

When we arrived, Hayden's teacher had all the kids lined up a group picture so I got to sneak in a take a picture before Hayden realized I was there.

Next, it was time to eat. This was a great meal for their feast. Hayden loved every bit of it. She got her juice before her food so most of her juice was gone before she even started to eat. :0) The table decorations were made by the class before we got there.

We got to join Hayden and her class for storytime and learn what books she has been reciting over and over and at home. Today, they read through "Brown Bear, Brown Bear". We had to find that book at home for Hayden because she enjoys it so much!

After circle time, it was time for the Thanksgiving craft. Hayden and I were able to work together to make her Thanksgiving Turkey which had listed on it what she was thankful for. That morning, Hayden told her teacher she was thankful for Jax (her friend at school) and her family. Her turkey is now hanging on our refrigerator.

Hayden's Newest Video

2009-11-22T14:28:00.000-05:00

Hayden surprises me each week with what she knows and what she can do. She soaks knowledge in like a sponge and then surprises mom and dad with what she knows. When Ava was born, Hayden got a gift card from her BFF for becoming a Big Sister. Bruce took her to Target to pick out a new Leap Frog video (the one with that teaches the letters). Hayden watches this video daily and has now learned her letter sounds. We are so proud of her!

Sisters

2009-11-22T14:16:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that later this week Ava will be a month old! It doesn't seem like that should be true. Hayden has welcomed her little sister into our family with open arms. She loves having her little sister around and is constantly looking for her. When we first brought her home, Hayden loved her but was easily willing for someone to take her. Now, she lets everyone know that her sister and she has to stay with her.

had to put this picture up

2009-11-15T11:26:00.001-05:00

I had to add this picture! What a sweet picture of Daddy and his two girls. This one is definitely going to his office!

2 weeks

2009-11-08T10:09:00.000-05:00

Well, we have been home for about a week and a half and learning to make adjustments with a newborn back in the house. It has been a challenge, but I have definitely noticed the difference in bringing home Ava than when we brought home Hayden. Bringing home Hayden was a lot more challenging because we were new parents and did not have any idea what to expect in bringing a newborn into our home. With Ava, we have a little more experience with a newborn but now we are adding on the adjustment of having a toddler as well.

Hayden loves her little sister but she has had to learn to adjust and understand why we have to be careful around her little sister. I think Hayden has had a difficult time understanding why her little sister gets to sleep in Mommy and Daddy's room while she still has to go to her own room. We have had several occasions of having to wake up in the middle of the night to care for Hayden just to come back to care for Ava. There have been some long nights. Last night was the first night Hayden slept throughout the night in her own room. However, it was also the first night Ava struggled with a stomach ache. So, still no sleep for Mommy or Daddy. :-) Oh well, we are going to make it just like we made it through the first one.

Our little Ava Lynne

2009-11-01T10:48:00.001-05:00

On October 26, 2009 at 11:42 in the morning, we were finally able to meet our precious Ava Lynne! She came to us just a couple weeks early and we were more than happy to meet her. Her daddy and I arrived at the hospital around 7:00 the night before to find out that it was time for her arrival. The doctors monitored us throughout the night and early in the morning began the process to speed up the contractions so Ava could make her appearance. Around 11:30 the doctors came in to discover it was time. I can't express the emotions that go through your head when you know you are about to meet your new daughter.

With Hayden, I was not able to hold her right after birth because the doctors had to monitor her closely for the first little while. So, it was a whole new experience to be able to hold Ava right after she was born. When the nurses came to get her, I didn't want to let go! This precious girl was ours and had come to join our family.

I can only imagine how God must feel about us as we are His children and we join His family. The love He must have for each one of us just blows my mind. I couldn't imagine how I could share my love with Hayden and another child but it is possible and I feel truly blessed to have both of my daughters.

Fall Festival

2009-10-31T10:38:00.000-04:00

These pictures are coming up a little later than I had planned but we had a surprise from our sweet Ava which has caused our delay.

Last Saturday, we were able to celebrate on the square at our Fall Festival. Hayden got to wear her special Minnie Mouse costume. She loves Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse so this was extra special for her. We wanted to make this weekend special for Hayden knowing that soon enough her little sister would arrive and her world would begin to change. I think she really enjoyed the evening--even though it was so cold.

Hayden came prepared with her pumpkin to collect all her candy.

She enjoyed playing the games. This was the first time she was really able to get into the games and do a lot on her own. As a mom, I had one of those moments noticing my little girl growing up and becoming more and more independent.

Hayden and her special BFF, Bella. We had to get a picture together even if the girls didn't really care to have it taken. :-)

I think Hayden had a special evening. After we left, we took her out to dinner at Steak-N-Shake where she continued to have a great evening. Hopefully it was as special for her as it was for mommy and daddy.

Final Week as Three

2009-10-24T10:16:00.001-04:00

Wow! The McGee family is entering their final week as a family of three before our newest addition arrives. We are planning to have a special weekend for Hayden before her life changes with the arrival of a new baby into our home. We will head out to our Fall Festival on the square this evening and just take special time for her. Even though her daddy and I are both fighting a head cold, we know we must make this weekend special for her.

Pictures and stories to come!!

Yummy Cupcakes

2009-10-12T09:12:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it is fun to just handover the cupcake and watch the mess that will appear!! Even though Hayden was not feeling 100% like her normal self, she did not slow down when it came to enjoying these wonderful cupcakes. I think she did much better with these cupcakes than her own personal cake on her first birthday. :-)

A Sweet Shower for Sissy

2009-10-12T08:48:00.000-04:00

Saturday morning, my mom, aunt and a friend held a sweet baby shower for our newest addition to arrive any time now. It was such a special time. This time around (as compared to our showers for Hayden) was a lot different, because we had some special entertainment from Hayden. "Sissy" received some special gifts along with Hayden. Thank you to all who were able to attend. We really feel loved and blessed to have you in our lives. Below are a few pictures from this special event.

We had a nice selection of food for this special shower. Thank you to all who worked to make it so special. The cupcakes were adorable with little pink booties on top. View the next post to see just how much Hayden enjoyed these cupcakes.

We received many special gifts that were perfect for our newest addition. She will be nice dressed and warm throughout the first few months of her life which should be getting cooler. Mommy also received a special gift that I love and am so proud to wear. (Thank you Leigh!)

Before the party even began, Hayden was showered with a few gifts of her own. The ribbons and new Dora cups came from Nancy (my co-worker). Hayden decided her other cup was not good enough this day and she had to use the new Dora cup--with a straw--for the day.

Time to open the gifts to see all that Sissy got.

Two cousins just hanging out during the party. What a pair!

Maw Maw with her first great-granddaughter as we celebrated the coming of her second great-granddaughter.

Taco Night

2009-09-22T19:56:00.001-04:00

We went out and bought Hayden a booster seat today since she will soon have to give up her high chair to her little sister. Plus, it was about time to make the switch. She loved the idea that she could be close to the "big table" with mommy and daddy. Of course, I chose to make the switch on Taco Night. What was I thinking? You can imagine how much Theo got to eat this evening as food was falling to the floor because there was no protective barrier around Hayden to catch the food before it fell.

Hayden enjoyed eating her own taco like a big girl at the big table. She is so independent now that we have to just put it all the plate and let her have at it. Thank you to my friend, Stephanie, for the full smock-like-bib so Hayden's clothes can stay somewhat clean.

After a short while of trying the Taco and watching all the meat and cheese fall out, Hayden finally gave up on the whole taco concept and just took the taco apart. She ate it piece-by-piece...first the shell, then the meat, then the cheese. Whatever it takes to get it down. That's our little/big girl!

Fussy but oh so sweet!

2009-09-22T08:26:00.000-04:00

Hayden was having a rough day yesterday. I can't tell if she is coming down with a cold or she just has seasonal allergies. No fever! So that is wonderful news. She just feels bad. I was happy to be able to stay home with her so I could keep and eye on my little girl (you know that mommy tug to want to make it all better). She was having a rough morning so we set her up in her Dora Bed with her teddy bear and juice to watch a little show. She was so cute in there watching her TV show. I could tell she wasn't feeling well because she actually stayed in the bed throughout the show instead of getting up to play.

Today, she seems to be doing a lot better. If she isn't feeling well, she isn't showing it. I am happy to spend another unplanned day home with my precious daughter before her little sister arrives.

Our UGA fan

2009-09-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

Hayden says it all!

Preparing for "Sissy"

2009-09-12T20:12:00.000-04:00

Hayden is going to be a great big sister! She is working hard to help me get ready for when her "Sissy" will come to join us. I think she may be starting to understand that "Sissy" is not just mommy's tummy or the ultrasound pictures she sees laying around the house; but "Sissy" is going to be a person who will come to live in our home. We talk more and more about her little sister to try to help the adjustment not be so extreme.

Today, we began the process of getting the car seat ready to bring "Sissy" home from the hospital. Hayden helped me locate the protectors for her head and then she decided she needed to make sure the seat would fasten properly. Her sister must be safe when she comes home from the hospital.

After making sure she would be safe, Hayden had to be convinced that she no longer fit in this seat and it really was "Sissy's" seat now.

Finally, it was time to check out the swing. To her approval, it still worked and looked safe enough for her little sister.

Tonight, we went ahead and put the car seats in the cars and showed Hayden that these seats were for "Sissy". I think and hope this may help her to begin to understand more and more that her little sister is coming soon and will be joining our family and our home. Bruce and I are very anxious to meet our new little girl and watch the interaction between the two of our girls as they grow up together. God has truly blessed our family!

Our backyard pets

2009-09-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

Our backyard pets come to visit often but usually we only get to see two at a time. This morning as I was fixing a glass of water, I looked outside to see three baby deer in our backyard...eating. They were just enjoying the scenery.

As I continued to watch them, I noticed a fourth one coming closer. This was the mother deer coming to care for her children.

What a sweet thing to watch a family of deer in our backyard. It is those precious times, that you can really see the Amazement of God is a different way!

First Day of Preschool

2009-09-10T09:54:00.001-04:00

Well, I am home resting so I figured it was time to finally post about Hayden's first day of preschool. Hayden's daddy had the privilege of getting her ready for her first day of school! He did a nice job getting her dressed and off to school on time. Before they left, I asked that he please take at least one picture (you know as a mommy I treasure those little moments). Hayden didn't seem to thrilled at first but then got into it quickly.

You can just hear her yelling "CHEESE!!"

Hayden loved her first day at school. Bruce said she walked in and began to play right away with not a care in the world that daddy was about to leave her there for a couple of hours. She came home after school and refused a nap because she was so hyped up from the morning. Then, when I came home, she was ready to tell me all about school.

This morning (Thursday) I was able to be home and help get her ready for her second day of school. When Hayden woke up this morning, I asked her if she wanted to go to school today. With a huge smile on her face she yelled, "YES". I helped her get dressed and put on her Dora backpack to wait on daddy to get the car ready. She was off to school.

I teach kindergarten so I get to be on the other end when parents are dropping off their kids (some for the first time) at school and I watch as the emotion comes on the parents' faces. I never knew what that really felt like until I watched Hayden with her backpack ready to go to school. As she was walking out the door with her daddy, she yelled, "bye mommy, love you!" What a sweet blessing!

Ready for School

2009-09-02T19:24:00.000-04:00

Hayden is ready for school! She went today to meet her new teachers at the preschool and apparently had a blast. I had to miss out on this fun time due to work but daddy and Nana took her and watched her interact with another girl and play. When I asked Hayden if she went to school today, she gave me a big smile and was so excited to say she did. I don't think we will have any trouble sending her next Tuesday for her first day.

Hayden playing in her new classroom.

Hayden's teachers

Sissy is ready to Come

2009-08-25T19:49:00.000-04:00

Well, Bruce and I just got back from a two night stay at the hospital. I began to have intense contractions Sunday morning during church and had to leave. We went to the hospital and they worked hard to try to stop the contractions. Each new medicine they would try would stop the contractions for about an hour and then they would start back up. After all the exams and tests, we were able to come to the conclusion that our baby girl is still doing great! I am not quite ready for delivery but they still want to take all the necessary precautions to ensure she does not come early. Finally, this morning we were able to look back and see an entire night with very few contractions so the doctor released me to go home!! I can't believe how much I missed my own bed!

I want to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts and concerns these past few days. Bruce and I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family who care about. We are also so blessed to have a Father who is completely in control! None of this came as a surprise and none of this brought Him to the state of, "what do I do next?" He knew all and He took care of us through it all.

We are getting ready now for the arrival of our new little girl now that we are back home. Please continue to pray for her and that she will wait a little longer. Coming now, she would be fine with the right treatment but not fully developed. We know God is watching over her but as parents, we still have our concerns. Thank you again for all your prayers.

Showing Off

2009-08-22T16:32:00.000-04:00

Hayden loves to show off in front of our computer camera. Here is one the latest videos she made singing some of her favorite songs. Enjoy!

Previous Doctor Appointment

2009-08-05T20:44:00.001-04:00

I went back to the doctor yesterday for that wonderful glucose test--you know the one with the sweet drink and then they take your blood. Well, as I was waiting, I was handed a packet of forms to begin to fill out for pre-registration at the hospital. I can't believe we are already to that point in the pregnancy where it is time to register at the hospital. How exciting! This pregnancy is going so quickly. After I filled out some paperwork, I went in to talk with the doctor and then went in for another ultrasound. I got to see another picture of our precious girl. She, of course, was moving all around and posing for the "camera". The doctor said she still looked very healthy but still a little small. It is not a concern but something we will continue to watch. That just means Bruce and I will get to see her again even before she is born!!

I brought the pictures to show Hayden after my appointment. She couldn't hold them fast enough! She was excited to see another picture of "Sissy".

Bruce and I are so blessed to have Hayden given to us by God to raise and this second daughter who will join us in late October/early November! We have a wonderful family and are looking forward to the sweet addition.

Hayden's "Big Girl" Room

2009-08-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

We finally finished Hayden's new room and are beginning the process of adding those finishing touches to the new nursery for her baby sister. Hayden has been so excited as she watched daddy build all her new furniture and then move it into her new room. She is still having some difficulty getting used to being in her new bed but she loves it anyways. I often will be looking for her around the house only to find her laying or sitting on her new bed playing. It is so nice to have her adjusting so well and showing some excitement about her new "Sissy". (I know she won't fully understand what we mean by her new baby sister until she arrives but I am sure she understands something big is about to happen to our family and someone will be moving in soon.)

Hayden was posing in her bed for the camera.

Hayden was showing off her new furniture but as she began to say "CHEESE!" for the camera, she began to walk away.

Hayden has a special chair that sits by her window and we often put her stuffed animals on this bench. She likes to get up there and join them.

Time to kiss Mr. Bear good night and head to bed in her new room!

Dinner at McDonalds

2009-07-30T07:20:00.000-04:00

We took Hayden to McDonalds for the evening to have dinner and play. We met up with Shawn, Bella and Cooper. Hayden loves to play with Bella. Here is a video of their time playing on the playground at McDonalds. For Hayden, it was her first time being able to play by herself with no help from Mommy or Daddy.

I was beginning to worry we had a little girl who was not afraid of anything and I still think we do; but after watching her play on the playground, I know she knows how to be a little extra cautious when she is unsure of what she should do. We enjoyed watching her climb up the stairs, sit at the top of the stairs and scoot her way over to the slide. By the end of the night she became more confident and began to wait to sit until she was at the top of the slide.

Time to paint the new nursery!

2009-07-23T13:06:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it is already time to paint another nursery!! Of course, I say that like I was the one painting Hayden's room and now the new nursery; but I helped in my own way. We were so excited about the report from the doctor this week that we continued our celebration by beginning the process of preparing a room to welcome home our newest addition. Paw Paw and Daddy worked really hard Wednesday evening to get the room painted so I could continue my "nesting" process in preparing the room. The furniture is cramming up Hayden's room, and the bedding is in so once the paint is dried and the room is cleaned up, we will begin the process. What a special time to celebrate! Thanks Daddy and Paw Paw!!

Hayden's Special Night

2009-07-23T12:36:00.001-04:00

Hayden, our little 17 month old, received her special new bedding from Mommy and Daddy. Dora is her favorite character so we decided to use this to try to move her to her toddler bed and out of her crib before her baby sister arrives. She was so excited to see Dora.

Before putting the bedding on the bed, we let her lay on it on the floor. She played on her new comforter for a long time that evening.

Last night, we decided it was time to make the switch. So, as she was playing, Bruce and put together her new be with her new bedding and then it was time to bring her in...

She was so excited to see her new Dora bed. We explained to her that this was her new bed and her old bed was now Baby Sister's bed.

That seemed to be ok with her. Hayden went to bed great last night and slept in her new Dora bed all evening. Of course, Bruce and I didn't sleep too much because we kept getting up to check on her. Hayden did great!

Now, we just have to work on naps in the new Dora bed!

Update on our new addition

2009-07-21T15:16:00.000-04:00

Well, we went back to our new doctor this morning for an ultrasound in order to view how the baby is growing and to check on the small spot on her heart. The lady began the ultrasound and we were able to watch our little girl move all around. I was able to see why I am feeling all those kicks constantly throughout the day...she doesn't sit still (just like her sister). After a little while of watching her move, I was beginning to wonder when we were going to focus on the whole issue for why we were there. Eventually it became evident as to why we weren't discussing it yet--she couldn't find the spot! It was gone! What a wonderful answer to prayer! Even though she could have gone through the entire birth process and even her life with this spot and have no problems, it is so reassuring to hear that the spot is not even there anymore. Thank you to all of you who lifted our little girl up in your prayers. We are grateful to have such loving friends and family.

God's Peace

2009-07-09T09:52:00.000-04:00

I mentioned in an earlier post about the small spot on our unborn daughter's heart. This was a concern because neither Bruce or I had ever heard anything about this. (Apparently it is a lot more common than I thought). Well, I had the doctor's appointment yesterday (Wednesday) with my new doctor in order to determine what steps we would take next in regards to the spot on her heart.

Tuesday evening, at our ladies Bible Study, we talked a lot about our "thought closets" and the thoughts we dwell on throughout the day. The main focus was on those thoughts that we have that either uplift us or bring us down but we also got off and began to talk about worry. We spoke about how we don't have anything to worry about because God always has a bigger plan than we can even see. This helped me to go into this doctor's appointment with an even bigger peace about the whole situation.

Well the doctor ended up sharing with me that this spot would always be on her heart and you or I might even have a spot similar to this on our heart. 97% of the time it is nothing but there is that small percentage where it could be something but he doesn't expect that in this case. Therefore, he went ahead and scheduled an additional ultrasound for two weeks and we will just make sure she is growing appropriately.

Thank you to everyone who was praying for us as I went back to the doctor. God is good is all situations.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T16:27:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July! A day to celebrate our nation and the freedom we have as Americans. I am so thankful that I live in a country where I have the freedom to visit family in a safe environment whenever I want. Today we took advantage of that freedom and went to spend part of the day with Bruce's family at his parents' pool. We had a wonderful time eating lunch together and then going out to the pool to swim. Hayden even enjoyed the water in this setting.

Daddy always makes you feel safer in the water. Hayden loved to play with the balls in the water today and made sure every one of them was in the pool with her.

Here is a picture of Hayden's cousin Brie who was swimming with us.

Hayden loves the pool so much that she was even trying to swim like a "big girl"!

We had such a wonderful time spending time with the family and celebrating the birthday of our great nation. Happy 4th of July!

New outdoor pool for Hayden

2009-07-03T14:14:00.000-04:00

Hayden loves to play in the bathtub, swim at her grandmother's house and even yell out "hey water" whenever we see water outside. So, you would think she would love to have a little pool of her own at home to play with. Well, we thought this would be a nice idea since at our house the evenings bring the most shade to our backyard. We have a wonderful spot for her to play and now great furniture to relax in while she is playing outside. So, we made our way to Target to pick up the special pool just for Hayden.

Bruce worked hard to blow up the pool for Hayden. There were several individual pieces to go along with the actual pool so it was even a little more work than normal.

Hayden made sure she stuck around to help out in any way.

We thought it would be a nice idea to get used to the different pieces before we added the water. So, Hayden played on the blowup slide for a long time before we even took it outside.

Finally, it was time to take it outside to see what she thought...

"ALL DONE, MOMMY! INSIDE MOMMY!"

Oh well, maybe the next little girl will love it.

Our new addition

2009-06-26T13:47:00.000-04:00

We found out today that our new baby is going to be a little girl. I am so excited and anxious to watch the bonds that will develop between Hayden and this little one. Please say a little prayer for our new baby. The doctor today found a small spot called a "bright spot" on her heart. She assured us there was nothing to worry about because 97% of the time it is nothing, but you know as parents there is always that small drop of worry when you hear any type of news about a child. We will follow up with our new doctor July 14th to most likely have another ultrasound and determine if we need to see a specialist or not. Bruce and I know God is great and He is always in control so we ask that you just say a little prayer that the doctors would have wisdom and this sweet baby would be healthy and strong. All other reports from the ultrasound were normal.

Thank You

Summer Fun (Lots of Pictures)

2009-06-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

As a school teacher I am fortunate to have time off during the summer to get some of those special tasks done and to just relax a little before the next school year. Summer used to be a time when I made a long list of projects I wanted to complete and I actually completed most of them if not all of them. Now, my summers have completely changed. The focus is no longer on the projects I want to complete (even though I still have a long list) but on this precious little girl who fills my days. She makes sure our days begin bright and early so we can have as much time together as possible. I am so grateful to have a job where I get summers off to relax with my daughter--and eventually our second child.

We even get special days when daddy gets to stay home with us or when we get to see him earlier in the day. This day daddy came home to "rest" (yeah right, that doesn't really happen much in this house). Hayden decided he needed to read a book instead so she brought him one of her special books....

and sat down with her own book to read. She kept checking back to make sure daddy was really reading his book and not falling asleep.

Sometimes we even get to have special time with Nana because she still has her two days off most weeks. We make sure she still wakes up early though. This day we had been to lunch with Amy and Andrew and then came back home to play.

Once again we find Hayden in the middle of her books. This is one of her favorite places to play--of course I am happy! She was telling me all the animal sounds from her special book. I just hope she continues this passion for reading!

Mickey Mouse made the long trip back from Orlando with us this summer. He has become a very special friend to Hayden. We play with him a lot throughout the days and have to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the TV just for the "hotdog" song--which doesn't come on until the end!

You think she will grow up to be a teacher? Once again her passion for books is showing. She brought in Mickey and Pooh, put them in their seats, and began to read them some stories. They were actually good listeners until she decided to go sit "with" (on) them.

Mickey got tired of the books so we moved to just Pooh listening.

Hayden has been learning a lot this summer: ABCs; how to count; how to do puzzles; matching colors; and even how to climb on the couch!

I can't express enough how grateful I am to have this precious time! Even though I may not get the projects done or the rest I would like to have, I would not trade this time for anything! It will definitely be hard going back to work in the Fall.

2009-06-23T21:08:00.000-04:00

As a school teacher (kindergarten), I know my daughter is constantly being pushed in ways I push my students in the classroom to learn new skills. However, I never imagined my young 16 month old daughter would be counting (to 6 on her own) and saying part of her ABCs. She picks up things very quickly and we are so proud of her!

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T20:58:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day! Hayden started off the day with a sweet kiss for her daddy at church. She wore a special dress just for her daddy this morning and was so excited to see him. I can't believe how much she has grown from even last year on Father's Day. She was able to express herself so much more to her daddy this year than last and she made sure she knew how much she loves him. Bruce is such a wonderful daddy to her and he always makes sure to take time out of a busy schedule to let her know how much he loves her. What a special day to reflect on that sweet bond between daddy and daughter!

After lunch we all went over to Grandma and Poppy's house to go swimming in the pool for a nice relaxing afternoon. Hayden loved playing in the water today with the floats and balls. She would even try to jump out of Grandma's arms to get the balls. By the time we got out of the water, Hayden's hands and feet were wrinkled and she was exhausted.

Hayden found the lobster float and apparently is the only one who can fit on this float to take it for a ride around the pool. She gave her daddy a little kiss before she was off to float around the pool.

Hayden took a break from the water to share a little story with her grandmother.

Present time for daddy. Hayden picked out a special card for her daddy with Minnie Mouse on the front.
As the day ended, we took a little ride to Dairy Queen for some special dessert. Hayden loved eating ice cream with her daddy.

Day 2 at the Beach

2009-06-13T14:27:00.000-04:00

Day 2. Time to try the beach out again!

The sand seemed to be a better hit today than it was yesterday. We skipped over the softer sand and moved straight to the sand that was a little more firm. As soon as put her down, she began to pick up her feet like she was dancing around. She was definitely happier with this morning's experience than the experience she had yesterday.

We tried to get her to sit in the sand--or even just touch the sand. She wouldn't go for this. She is a girl who does not like to get dirty and the sand just felt too dirty for her.

So we told her we would take her to the water to "clean up". Here is a picture of Daddy and Hayden walking to the ocean as the sun is rising. Of course, we have to see what Hayden will do today in response to the water. Knowing the water will be freezing, we just want to see what she thinks of the waves coming in.....After about 1 second, she was "ALL DONE!" So, we decided to head on back to the pool and see how that goes this morning.

After several minutes of waiting on her timing...Hayden was ready to get in the pool. We had to start off by her sitting on the side; then we slowly moved to her playing right beside mommy (on the first step of the pool); then SHE was ready and her daddy had to take her to the middle of the pool.

A Day at the Beach

2009-06-12T19:13:00.001-04:00

We took Hayden to the beach for the first time today. Of course, the big question was how was she going to respond to the sand and water. After talking it up all day, she was excited to go see the sand and the water. So, we stopped by the pool, took off her shoes and got ready to find out what would happen.

We put her down on the soft sand and immediately she started to let us know she was "all done" with the sand.

We decided to move her down to the sand that was a little more firm because of the water. This was ok and she seemed to like it enough to let go of our hands. Of course, we decided to take her a little further to the water. As the water came towards her, she began to slowly back up and then once the water hit...that was enough--she was "ALL DONE".

It was time to head back into the room--dirty feet and all. We'll try again tomorrow.

Walking in Daddy's Shoes

2009-06-09T11:11:00.001-04:00

I went in to find our daughter standing in her daddy's shoes and laughing. She knew exactly how to put them on and then how to move in them. Watching her reminds me how our children (and even others) are watching every step we take and they want to be just like us. I have noticed how many things Hayden does just like me and how many things she does just like her daddy. She is like our little shadow which helps to keep us accountable in how we walk every day. You never know who is watching.

Neighborhood Dogs Beware

2009-06-04T19:54:00.000-04:00

Hayden has officially learned how to torture our dog. Maybe she learned it from her dad, I don't know. I watched her gather all her balls this morning and then proceed to launch them at Theo as he was trapped in a corner. Then, I watched her take her shopping cart and try to run him over with it. But Theo did not learn from any of this. He continues to go up and lick her on the face and tease her. Tonight after dinner, Hayden wanted to "play" with Theo once again. She began to chase him around the kitchen to where he ended up hiding under the dishwasher. Hayden thought she was playing peek-a-boo, but Theo was down there shaking. Guess she probably wouldn't do to great with a fish (as mentioned in my previous post).

Hayden at lunchtime

2009-06-01T13:03:00.000-04:00

I know I have already posted something today but after lunchtime with Hayden, I couldn't resist these pictures with this story. I decided to let Hayden enjoy her lasagna on her own to see what she would do. She is learning to eat with a fork and spoon. (I only backed off because of the special bib she is wearing so I knew her clothes wouldn't be destroyed by the tomato sauce). She tried the fork and spoon for a little while.

After minutes of frustration trying to get the food onto the spoon or fork, she finally gave up and went to the fingers. (They work much better). By the end of lunch, she was covered in lasagna, but it was all gone. She didn't leave one ounce in the container.

She wouldn't even share any of her lunch with Theo, our dog. Normally, he gets to eat at least a little. She always drops some on the floor to let us know she is all done and Theo can have the rest. Not today!

Talking and Fish

2009-06-01T10:27:00.001-04:00

So, I never realized just how much my daughter talks throughout the day until my first full day home with her. She goes nonstop! From just making noises to babbling, to yelling "MOMMY!" she loves to talk. I think she loves to hear herself talk. :-) Some of her favorite sayings include, "Good boy" (I think this is for Theo), "Good Job", "MOMMY!", "Eat", and many more.

I have enjoyed my first few days home with her this summer and getting to spend that extra time with her that I don't get during the school year. We took a trip to the Pet Store yesterday. That was fun! Hayden got to see the fish, cats, birds and even a dog getting a haircut. She was amazed! It is wonderful how a FREE trip to the Pet Store can be so exciting for a young child. I tried to convince her daddy that she needed a pet fish--he didn't really go for it...yet! I think we may wait a few months.

Hayden's First Haircut

2009-05-29T13:53:00.000-04:00

We took Hayden to get her first haircut today. It turned out to be a better experience than I imagined. I didn't know what to really expect as we drive up and a baby is crying coming out of the salon. Then we go inside to hear a young toddler screaming as the lady is trying all she can to cut his hair straight. Hayden went straight into the waiting room to play with all the toys and coloring books as we waited for our turn. She chose to sit in one of the trucks and the lady began to cut her hair. At first, she was not too sure about what was going on and began to let us know she was "all done". Bruce stayed close by as I held the toys and talked to her. She did very well..not shedding any tears beyond telling us she was ready to go. In the end we took a few specials pictures, gathered up some hair and were on our way.

2009-05-28T16:47:00.001-04:00

Well, I finally decided to start a blog about our family and all that is going on with our family. As I am writing this, I am watching Hayden play on her little piano and attempt to look at wedding pictures of her parents. She just discovered our photo album and is amazed by all the pictures inside. Hayden is 15 months and very bright for her age. Just a few moments ago she was cleaning off her bookshelf in order to put the books back in her own special order...I guess she didn't like the order I had.

I am looking forward to a fun-filled summer with her and the whole family before our new addition arrives in November (possibly October). We have wonderful adventures planned and I hope to make posts about all of them as we encounter them. I end this post with a family picture just taken at Bruce's graduation in New Orleans. We are so proud of him!