Eight Weeks Old

Week 8 was a LONG week...following a long week 7. So I'm happy to be getting caught up on blogging! Luckily this week, after a trip to the Pediatrician AND the Lactation nurses, we finally discovered the reason our very happy baby has been so very unhappy recently. He was not getting enough to eat...not even close! And it was finally catching up to us. So the first half of the week was spent solving this mystery and the second half started our devoted efforts to fix it as quickly as possible.

Somewhere in there Tyler and I changed our original plans of a weekend away for our 3rd wedding anniversary while Hayden spent the weekend with GiGi and Pop, to a night down in Charlotte for dinner at a restaurant we've been dying to try while GiGi babysat at our house. We were bummed to give up on our weekend away....but REALLY enjoyed our night out at Cowfish. And after all, it doesn't matter where you are...only who you're with. <3 So here's to an incredible 3 years that have been filled with so much love and so many smiles and cheers to forever more.

We also left town this week for Hayden's first road trip to St. Augustine. This is only the first of many to come and he was a great car companion! Tyler is starting a new job and I am preparing to go back to work as well. We had a week before all of this got started, so down to Florida we went. Tess stayed in NC with GiGi and Pop...definitely a great option for our first family trip with baby gear. :) We enjoyed the start to our week in the sun with fried shrimp, a visit to the fresh market at the pier, oysters at Oasis and meeting Florida friends.

The camera didn't make an appearance this week until later in our Florida trip, but luckily the sweet gem above was caught on my phone.

Our First Baby

This blog has been FLOODED with pictures of our newest addition....but along the way I've also been capturing some pictures of our sweet Tess. I was VERY nervous about how she would react to a new baby in the house. After all, she had been the first and only baby for 7 years. It was an adjustment for her when Tyler came into our lives and now there are times when I swear she'd be fine if it was just the two of them. :) So I knew she would come around to being a great big sister, I just didn't know she'd be so wonderful to Hayden from the beginning.

She was definitely a little unsure of what was going on at first. But she was a trooper as we spent so much time getting ready for baby Hayden.

And once he got here, she wasn't really sure about that whole crying business...

...but now she keeps an eye on him. If I step into another room and he starts to fuss, she gets up and comes to let me know.

She LOVES to give him sweet kisses...but Hayden isn't quite sure about those yet!

We had a long week last week and I melted when Tess snuggled up with the little guy one morning just to make sure that he was feeling better.

I was so scared to go get my big camera, so I took these with the flash on my phone.

Then I got brave and opened the bathroom door to let some light in for this one.

Then I got really brave and turned on the overhead light. I was so happy to have captured this moment!

Mostly our wonderful dog spends her days snuggling on the couch, following me as I walk around with the baby, or posted up on the stairs keeping an eye out. She sits just high enough to see out the window at our front door...just making sure no one comes to bother us. :)

And apparently our camera-shy dog is suddenly willing to get in on the picture taking action...FINALLY!

Seven Weeks Old

Hayden had several visitors this week and I was REALLY bad about taking pictures! He got to meet Lisa and hear all about her fabulous Honeymoon. :) Then Matt and Carrie came over for a wonderful last minute overnight trip. We enjoyed a fun night in and can't wait to do it again soon! And Papa came to visit and take us to lunch. He got TONS of Hayden smiles and we really loved having him here!!

In between all of that, we celebrated my first Mother's Day! My mom came in town on Saturday night and my dad and Sophie drove over for the day on Sunday. We had a very yummy brunch and spent most of the day together. Hayden even went on a walk with his grandparents, and given a little "baby free" time, we did what any new parents would do on a Sunday afternoon...we took a NAP! It was the perfect way to spend the day and I loved every minute of it. I also got some amazing gifts to remember the day by. Tyler and Hayden got me a BEAUTIFUL ring with Hayden's birthstone. I love that it is something I can wear every day! My parents got me a gift certificate to order a custom print for Hayden's nursery that I have been eyeing. I'm working on putting it together now and will be sure to share it on the blog when it arrives!!

The little guy is not very willing to look at the camera...we're still working on that!

Then he put on his very serious face. :)

FINALLY we got a sweet smile captured on film!

Spending some man time with Dad...

Happy Mother's Day!

The boys also "kicked" me out of the house on Tuesday night so I could go see a girlie movie. It was much appreciated and very much enjoyed! I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who insisted I go, even though it had been a long day and a really long 24 hours.

iPhone Goodness

Here's a glimpse into my phone's library from the past few months. There are times when I just can't get to my camera and am SO grateful for the iPhone!!

Thanks Uncle Brent and Ashley for the Nole Beanie!

Loves to sleep with his hands on his mug!

His paci always finds the best places to hang out. :)

The differences of snuggling with Dad and Mom!

Melt...

We have quite a thinker on our hands!

Riding and snoozing in his car seat with Moo. :)

I am completely in LOVE with the everyday moments!! And thankfully no one gets sick of the daily emails or picture texts. :)

Six Weeks Old

This week started with a good transition!! I packed up almost all of my maternity clothes to be put away in the garage...until next time.  My closet is so grateful! I also packed up all of Hayden's newborn outfits with footies. :) He is still wearing some newborn clothing, but for the most part he is living in 0-3 month stuff at this point.

On Friday we woke up to a split tree in our front yard. So many people are dealing with very serious damage from all of the storms during the past month, so we consider ourselves very lucky that this tree didn't cause any damage to our house or our neighbor's house. This is the second split in the past month though, so we had to have the tree completely removed. 

The view from our front door...

Standing in our driveway...

From the street...

Our weekend was packed with fun! On Saturday, Amy came to spend some time with us at the house. Her and Laz were in town for a friend's wedding. So, while Laz played golf with some buddies, Amy got in some smiles and snuggles. :)

Later that afternoon we headed down to Symphony Park to see the Paper Tongues concert. It was Hayden's first concert and he certainly went in style!

On Sunday we grabbed oysters, wings and beers on the lake at Vinnie's with Amy and Laz. It is SO nice to have the warm weather here to stay...for the most part!

Early the next week I tried to get some smiling pictures. I still haven't grabbed the perfect one...but here are some that I captured along the way!

 

Hayden's First Concert

My sister and I will always laugh when we share our first concert experience. When we were little girls, we went with my mom to see Barry Manilow. Now, I never got into music like my sister did...BUT STILL! Any time that question has come up I have found myself chuckling. I question to this day how my music loving father ever let this happen!! But, in my mother's defense, I still happily belt out The Carpenters or Gloria Estefan when I hear them...Barry Manilow just didn't stick. :)

Knowing my personal experience, Tyler and I were happy to ensure that Hayden would have a different story to tell. My uncle Joel works with the band Paper Tongues, and they were in Charlotte on Saturday playing down at Symphony Park. It was a beautiful day outside, so we happily headed south for Hayden's first concert. It was a fun and rowdy crowd and we were a little out of place with our stroller. :) But we went backstage for the Paper Tongues set and ended up having a blast! Hayden rocked his orange ear plugs and danced to the music through the first half. Then he zonked out in my arms as we listened to the rest. We were happy to be behind the speakers and in the shade! The lead singer even brought Joel out onto the stage to congratulate him on his newest nephew.

 With Dad before the show...

...and sleeping with Mom during the second half!

Loving his orange ear plugs. :)

Checking out the action up close!

Our shady backstage view.

Joel onstage with Aswan...talking about Hayden. :)

So, I must admit that I'm a little jealous of Hayden's first concert experience...but I'm glad we could provide him with such a rockstar time! THANKS Uncle Joel!!