As Hayes Go By

Switched to Shutterfly

2011-04-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
I have switched to Shutterfly - to follow visit http://itsallahayes.shutterfly.com/
Thanks!

Trip to the Zoo

2011-01-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Amy was nice enough to give us two free tickets to the Atlanta Zoo. Adam and I had been before but it had been years so we were excited to be able to take Elleri. Most of this week has been a bit of a struggle with the little one. She hasn't felt well, been off schedule a little bit and pretty irritable but we braved it anyway. We had a good time. We had a few breakdown moments but all in all she did really well and I think enjoyed herself.

Christmas 2010

2011-01-01T09:01:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It is so much fun to watch Elleri during this special time. She still isn't quite old enough to grasp the concept of what Christmas is. She just likes the tree, the lights, the toys of course and playing with cousins.

We look forward to next year when she'll understand a little more that it is Jesus' birthday especially since we have a birthday cake for Him every year. It is a Hayes' family tradition which I love so much.

We typically make the drive to both Savannah & Waycross but decided to do just Savannah this year since we did Waycross for Thanksgiving. There was good & bad of course from that decision. I didn't get to see most of my family on Christmas but I didn't have to spend a majority of time on the road with a 21 month old. My parents were thankfully able to make it over to visit us on Christmas eve which was nice. They brought my niece Payton.

Not sure what we will do next year with Elleri who will be 2 1/2 and then Baby Boy Hayes who will be 8 months. We might have to start making our own family traditions at home. We'll figure that out when the time comes.

It's A .....

2011-01-01T08:55:00.001-08:00

BOY!!! We are so excited to find out that our new addition will be a little boy. I think Adam and I were both in shock to hear the news. We both just expected a little girl (can't explain why) and when the ultrasound tech pointed out the "boy part" we couldn't believe our eyes.

No names have been decided yet. That is a question we get several times a day. Even if we did have one, we'd probably keep it a secret like we did with Elleri until Baby Boy Hayes arrives.

Fall Time

2010-11-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since my last post until I got on here. That in itself should tell you how busy it has been. Between work, a 20 month old, almost 4 months pregnant and wifely duties, all I want to do it sleep.

Just a recap of the last few months - Adam ran his first half marathon and did a great job, Elleri hasn't slowed down and has given us sneak peeks of the "terrible twos" and I've gotten more pregnant. The first few months this time around weren't so easy but the worst is behind me (I hope).

This past weekend was Halloween (pics above) and Elleri was an M&M. Getting it on was a little bit of an ordeal but was well worth it when we saw how adorable she was.

I must admit that raising a 20 month old, working full time and being a wife doesn't come easy to me. I have 3 full time jobs and I feel it everyday. Those who make it look easy or that it comes natural to I give you props.

Another Great Playdate

2010-08-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Elleri and I had another great playdate with Amy & Allie. Everytime we are together (which is never enough) is always perfect. The girls play (not necessarily together) and do their best to share. Amy and I try to have "adult" conversations that are often interupted with a "no Elleri" or a "stop Allie". Nonetheless, the time spent together always goes by way too fast. Amy and I always promise we'll get together sooner rather than later but the days just go by so fast.

The day ended on a high note with Elleri and Allie sealing the day off with a kiss - best friends!

Family Vacation 2010

2010-07-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Elleri on vacation - we barely had a chance to put our bags down

Ready to hit the beach - quite the little tourist

Strollin on the beach with daddy - stride for stride

With cousins Anna & Witt

The grandkids with Poppy & Mimi

Our last night...hated to leave

Elleri loved the beach...can't wait until next year

We just returned from a week in New Smyrna Beach Florida with the rest of the Hayes. It was a great time and went by way too fast but doesn't it always. Elleri had a blast and loved the beach and spending time with her cousins. Anna did a great job of helping watch after Elleri and keeping her entertained. Witt could care less if Elleri was there (so he said) but secretly I think he liked having "that baby" around. He is quite the little character. Family time, fun in the sun and good food made for a wonderful week.

Our 1st Peachtree Road Race

2010-07-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Adam and I participated in our first Peachtree Road Race. The Peachtree is the biggest 10K race in the world and it was a honor to be apart of it. The weather was perfect which was totally shocking since it has been so hot lately. The race was alot of fun and there were so many people running, cheering and just having a great time. I'm thankful that my parents came up to take care of Elleri so that we could do the race.

Afterwards, we hung out with my parents. We went shopping and just enjoyed the rest of the 4th. It was a fun day. Glad I was able to spend it with my parents.

The Power of a Drawer

2010-06-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

BUSTED!

Elleri's new thing is playing in mom's bathroom drawer. Like most couples, Adam and I have our seperate drawers for our bathroom items. Lucky for Adam, Elleri can't reach his yet - give it time. On a daily basis I put all my bathroom stuff up a minimum of 5 times. She loves my hair bands not because they are "girly" but because she can stretch them out and put them in her mouth. She loves my bottle of leave-in conditioner and thankfully none gets in her mouth while she bites on the nozzle. She often goes for my deodorant and of course the "personal items" are a must play with. It amazes me the stuff that she finds interesting. A house full of toys but hair bands & leave-in conditioner are what she wants.

A Long Few Days

2010-06-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

This week has been a blur and not a good blur. We went to Waycross this past weekend to visit my family and Elleri wasn't in the best of moods most of the time. I attributed it to being off schedule and out of her comfort zone. The visit itself was nice but Elleri's mood was a little draining. Sunday she woke up with a runny nose and had a low grade fever so then I thought ok it must be a cold or possibly teething. Monday was about the same and minor moodiness elevated to complete whining and irritable. I decided to take her to the dr only because she had become lethargic and just not herself. Even it were just a cold, I wanted to ask Dr Harbaugh to look at a bump on her leg that had gotten what I thought to be infection. It started out as a small bump and in 24 hours had become this gross, puss filled "thing".

The dr visit was going well and seemed to be pretty unevenful until Dr Harbaugh looked at Elleri's bump. Before I knew it, he was calling a nurse in to get a coulture from the bump which required squeezing firmly to get "stuff" out. It was so painful. He and the nurse were holding her down and Elleri was screaming & crying uncontrollably. I then got upset watching her go through pain. After that we had to go to the lab to get her white blood cell count which required a finger prick. Back to the dr's room to find out it was too high so now she is being treated for STAPH. What? Then came in two other nurses to draw blood - this is done like an adult. Again, they held her down and tears started to flow from us both. Last but not least she had to have antibiotics injected into her legs. She and I both were emotionally & physcially drained after this scary, upsetting and long 2.5 hour visit.

I don't see how mothers handle seeing their kids in the hospital. Those few hours for me were brutal. Today we had some good news. She responded well to the antibiotics and was almost 99% normal again. Looks like we caught it early and Elleri is great! Thank you Dr Harbaugh.

Natural Mother

2010-06-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

I think there are some people who are just "natural" when it comes to motherhood and then there are those who have to learn and take it day by day. I am definitely the second of the two. Don't get me wrong - this doesn't mean I don't love it but I find it very difficult. I often see women and have a lot of friends who make it look so easy and I know that it isn't for them either but they have this "grace" about it. I feel like a bull in a china shop when it comes to motherhood - lots of oops, crying, overanalyzing myself, being to hard on myself and probably not enjoying the little things as much as I should. I find myself getting jealous fairly often of Elleri's lovingness of Adam and her nanny Olga. I know that she loves me but I also know that she views me as the authority figure - the person who tells her "no" way more than she wants to. The person who has the discipline her and teach her right from wrong. Olga and Adam do as well but not to the degree or as much as I do. I take my role as a parent very seriously (probably too seriously sometimes) and know that God has given me this task of guiding and shaping Elleri into a good person. I can remember when I was younger having this "father/daughter" bond with my dad (we still do) and I viewed my mom as the "person in charge". Didn't mean I loved my dad more - it was just different. I still have that relationship with my dad but with my mom it is different. She is my advisor, my therapist and my best friend. I pray that Elleri will say these things of me one day.

A few of my faves at the moment

2010-05-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the things I love. Some of them will always be the same but some are fleeting I'm sure. These are in no order (except the first one).

* Being Elleri's mom - where have the last 14 1/2 months gone? She is growing up so fast. The good, the bad & the ugly - I love it all.
* The feeling after a good workout. I am blessed to have a body that is healthy & works so well.
* Being married to my best friend. It is always nice to come home to someone who "gets" me and loves me anyway.
* A best friend (Amy) whom I can't imagine my life without.
* A wonderful family that I wished we lived closer to. Praying about it - maybe soon.
* Powerade zero - love this stuff. 0 calories = awesomeness.
* Peanut butter - I've always loved pb but I think I do now more than ever.
* American Idol, Biggest Loser & So You Think You Can Dance - they encourage me in some weird way and make me happy.
* Perimeter Church - we are not as involved as we should or would like but I love the teaching there.
* Everynight between 7 - 8. Elleri goes down to sleep around 7 and the hour following is so relaxing for me.
* Chikfila french fries. I don't think I have to say much else.
* The Bachelorette & Real Housewives of NJ - guilty pleasure.

Life is good.

Playdate with Allie

2010-05-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a great day for Elleri and I. We got to spend the afternoon playing and catching up with Allie and Amy. I hope that Allie and Elleri become great friends like Amy and I are. Amy is a very special person in my life - she is "that person" who I don't have to say anything but she knows what I thinking or feeling. It is just easy. No need to put on any faces or fronts. Our friendship is genuine. My prayer is that Elleri finds a friend like I have in Amy. Someone who will challenge her, encourage her, hold her accountable, pray for her and love her for who she is.

Abide in Me

2010-05-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 5: 4-7

I didn't need much to show me that I need to spend more time in the word so I sat down to have some quiet time this morning and the passage was the one above. How fitting? There are no coincidences with God. He put this before me to show me how much I need Him. Not just that I need Him but I WANT Him. My prayer is that my desire to be in the Word, communicate with God & grow spiritually will grow.

Motherhood These Days

2010-05-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

So, this post isn't a happy, "oh look at my baby" post. It is more of a vent and a post of sadness somewhat. Elleri will soon be 14 months old and she has such an independent nature about her. The last few weeks I have noticed her not necessarily wanting to be with me all too much. I must admit, it is heartbreaking. I ask myself what I did wrong or am I am bad mom but others tell me (much wiser moms than myself) that this is normal and that alot of babies go through "independent stages". They say soon she'll be back to her normal self - wanting to be with mommy or at least acknowledge my existence. I pray for this soon.

WALKING!

2010-04-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

I'm off on Fridays so Elleri and I did our usual stuff - gym, grocery store, park & play. I noticed something a little different this Friday, Elleri is walking. She went from taking just a few short steps to walking like a crazy person on Friday. The trend continued and now she is officially WALKING!

Here's the proof:

A Walk In The Park

2010-04-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday afternoon we spent the afternoon at the Dogwood Festival down in Piedmont Park. It was a great day. Couldn't have asked for better weather. I wish I could spend every day that way. Elleri is still on the verge of taking off when it comes to walking but there are a few steps here and there.

I love Sundays - we start off getting to worship our Savior and the rest of the day is spent together as a family.

Bring on the Sun

2010-04-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last post. I've been so busy with Elleri, work and life. Just wanted to give you an idea of what's been going on in our lives over the last few weeks. As you can tell from my last post, Elleri turned a year old on March 18. She has taken off since then - not walking just yet but definitely taking steps in that directions. A few steps here & a few steps there. She is into everything these days and her little temper is starting to show. The last few weeks I admit have been a bit difficult with her. She has been teething and I can tell she is frustrated with what she can't quite do yet. It saddens me to see her be so upset and angry. I can tell there are times when she is trying to test me and test her limits. I go through feelings of guilt when I have to get on to her but I have to remember that I'm the parent and God gave me job of being a mother.

The weather is starting to improve and the days are getting warmer finally. Adam and I are still running a good bit but I get frustrated because I find myself getting to 5 or 6 miles and hitting a block. Seems like I have nothing left at times. Maybe the warmer weather will give me inspiration.

Adam's debit card got stolen this past week and can I just say how much I despise thiefs. There isn't much worse to me than stealing. It is such a selfish and hateful act. We are in the process of trying to figure that whole situation out with the bank. Hopefully we aren't out of money (OUR MONEY). Pray for us.

Oh and Dakota. My feelings change about this almost hourly. I don't know whether or not to give Dakota away. I get so aggravated with him these days. Most of the time it is me and not him. We are considering giving him away for his own good. So he'll get more attention and someone to play with. We just don't make time for that like we should. Again, not sure what we are doing here.

We celebrated Easter last weekend with a great service. A much needed reminder of how wonderful our Savior is and the blessings He gives us.

Reminder of a Miracle

2010-03-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while. I apologize. I've been busy and then the times I do have a moment to blog I'll be honest, I just don't want to. Yesterday and today have started off a little rough for me so I'm hoping that blogging and recognizing the blessings in my life will help give me perspective. While on the way to take Elleri to her sitter's house, I was almost ran off the road by an insane driver. What makes this situation worse was that he was doing this intentionally. Scared me to death - not just for me but for Elleri who was sitting innocently in the back seat. I quickly went from scared to full on rage. I was so mad that he almost hit me and that I felt he was purposely trying to do me harm. I just didn't (and still don't) understand. I thought on several occasions yesterday (Elleri's 1st birthday mind you) how blessed I am to be alive, to be a mom, to be a wife, to be a child of God and so much more. Things/people can be taken away in seconds. To turn things around and be a bit more positive - Elleri turned 1 yesterday. Crazy right? A year has come and gone. She has grown so much. Getting her 4th tooth, only days away from taking her first step and babbling away. No words yet - just noise but she is trying. What a year?

This morning was a little better but I just didn't want to wake up. Adam watches Elleri in the morning while I either get a little more sleep or go to the gym. This morning was a sleep day. When he has to go to work it is my turn but I just wasn't prepared this morning. She was in full force - like she has sipped on coffee all night and has tons of energy. I've had some impatient mommy moments which I'm not proud of but at least I recognize and am trying to improve. It is going to be a beautiful day. Hope to get out and do some things and turn this day around.

Holly's Wedding

2010-03-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we headed to south Ga for my little sister Holly's wedding. She married a guy name Cade Mattox this past Saturday (Feb 27) at 6pm in an adorable & sweet wedding. My older sister Wendy & I were lucky enough to be a part of her special day.

I adore Holly probably more than she knows. I think of her like a daughter in many ways. I'm protective, emotional and love her so much. I want nothing but the best for her in life and I hope that she has found it.

Congrats Holly!

Snow Days

2010-02-16T13:00:00.001-08:00

Snowman on the deck

Daddy showing Elleri the snow outside

Standing in the snow (not a huge fan)

We got some good snow this past week. Almost 4 inches at our house. I enjoy the snow and think it is very pretty but I'm quite over the cold temps. Elleri is still too young to know what the snow actually is but I'm sure we'll get some next year that she'll enjoy.

Sweetness

2010-01-21T17:37:00.000-08:00

The new picture on the top of my blog was taken by Bethany Keisler - a friend from college. She is a talented woman who is pursuing her passion of photography. She came by last weekend to take some shots of Elleri for us and to add to her portfolio. I haven't received the others just yet but she sent us the one above as a little tease and I LOVE IT! I look at it all the time. It shows me how much Elleri is growing into a little girl. A beautiful little lady. Thank you Bethany.

Playdate with Allie

2010-01-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Elleri and I headed down to Fayetteville to visit with my BFF Amy and her daughter Allie. It is something we need to do more often and seeing them yesterday just confirmed that. We had a great time watching the girls play and go everywhere. Amy and I had time to chit chat while they enjoyed themselves. I hope that Elleri and Allie grow up to be great friends. I've been blessed to have Amy as my best friend.

9 Month Check Up (Actually 10 Months)

2010-01-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

So we went to see Dr Harbaugh today for Elleri's 9 month check up. Odd because she'll be 10 months in just a few short days. We are a little behind due to the holidays. All was well though. She is developing and growing up perfectly. (Perfectly is my word not Dr Harbaugh's). He would say she is doing great though. She weighs 19lbs 7.5 ounces. I knew she was close to 20 lbs and it was confirmed today. She is babbling and starting to eat little finger foods. I watch in awe as she grows up so quickly. How can someone not believe in God and have a child? I see Him at work everyday witnessing Elleri grow up. Amazing. We are blessed to have a beautiful and healthy baby girl.

Elleri's First Christmas

2009-12-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

13 hours of driving, more presents than we can count, enough food to feed a small army, a ton of fun with family & celebrating Jesus' birthday - that is what Elleri's first Christmas was made of. She had a great time and we did too watching her explore all kind of new things. Her schedule was a little off but other than that she stayed in a good mood, cried maybe twice the entire time and loved being with her grandparents.

We are home now and we are enjoying playing with our presents. So much to do, so little time.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Jingle Jog

2009-12-16T16:13:00.001-08:00

This past Saturday Adam, Elleri & I participated in our second family 5K - the Jingle Jog. It was a lot of fun. Freezing but fun. For the past 10 weeks I have been a "coach" for a group called No Boundaries through my store Fleet Feet. This was the group's goal race so Adam & Elleri decided to join me in the fun. We did much better this time than we did on our last 5K in September. It was in the low 30's that morning and a little windy but we pulled through. We had Elleri all bundled up.

Time Together

2009-12-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

I work most Saturdays so our true "family" day is Sunday and I LOVE Sundays. Most of the time we don't do much but we are all together & that is time I wouldn't trade for anything.

This past Sunday we enjoyed a playful day together. Hung out around the house watching football, drinking coffee (us not Elleri) and then went for a run. It was a laid back day and seemed to go by too fast (they always do). I can't wait until this Sunday.

All That I Am Thankful For

2009-11-24T16:38:00.001-08:00

Just to name a few:
* Christ - His love, grace, sovereignty, forgiveness & mercy
* Adam - my adorable, loving & caring husband. A great father & my best friend
* Elleri - the greatest gift I've ever been given. Can't wait to watch her continue to grow
* My parents - for their marriage, their health & the christian home I was raised in
* My sisters - though we are different, our bond is so great
* My neices & nephews - wish I could spend more time with them but I love them more than they know
* My inlaws - two of the most generous and loving people I've ever met
* Amy - my best friend. She knows me so well and I'm grateful for the unique relationship we have. Wish I could see her more
* My job - the flexibility it gives me, the friends I've made there and enjoying what I do
* My health
* Our home
* Dakota - my sweet dog. He can be annoying at times but he is my baby
* Coffee - I honestly don't know how I'd live without coffee
* Facebook - I love facebook. It has allowed me to reconnect with old friends and stay in touch with so many people
* Digital cameras - I love being able to capture moments in my life
* 80 Degree days - my favorite temperature. Wish it were this all year round
* Reality TV - still love it. I know a lot of people are over it but I'm not one of them. Give me Survivor, Amazing Race, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance & The Biggest Loser forever
* Blueberry pancakes - I eat them once a week. I love Sundays
* A warm bath - I don't get them as often as I use to now that Elleri is here but I grab one here & there
* Cell phones - we don't have a land line so I am really thankful for my cell phone
* My car - I adore my Subaru Forestor. Greatest car I've ever owned. Can't wait until it is paid off

After the first eight to ten, these are in no particular order. There is also so much more. Point being, that I am thankful for so many blessings (big or small) in my life. Take nothing for granted.

What a Week?

2009-11-20T09:44:00.001-08:00

It has been a rough week being a mom. I know it is normal to have days like these but doesn't make them any easier. Every morning has been a struggle to get myself & Elleri ready & out the door. She has been grumpy and irritable and I have to admit, so have I. I always use the "teething" excuse when she is a little grumpy but have yet to see any teeth. Well, this week I guess that was the reason because little Elleri Brooke Hayes has her first tooth. It makes me emotional to think about it. Crawling and now teeth - she is growing up so fast. I love you Elleri!

Mr Bob

2009-11-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

Bob and I work together at Fleet Feet. He is such an awesome man. Been through many life experiences and I added to his list. I actually went into labor while at work and before I could even panic, I can see Bob prepping his Explorer for the drive (towels & stuff). I could not have picked a more perfect person to drive me the hospital. He was so calming and in charge. This past week Elleri and I went up to work and Bob was there. This was the first time I've been able to get their picture together. Too cute! Thanks Mr Bob.

First Beach Trip

2009-10-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Sweet Smile

Walking on the Beach

With Mommy

Adorable Face

Playing in the Water with Daddy

We just returned from a family trip to the beach. It was Elleri's first time and it was a blast. We were able to stop in Waycross on the way down to see my family and then headed farther south to join Poppy and Mimi in Florida. I loved being away with the family. It was a much needed break from work, worries, rain & general life in Atlanta.

Traveling with Elleri was pretty easy. She is a good baby. People often tell me that and I think I take it for granted. She is close to perfect in my eyes. She enjoyed the beach (I think). It was pretty windy most of the time so I don't know how she liked that. She closed her eyes a lot to keep the wind out I suppose. She didn't spend too much time in the soon but played and rested in the shade with daddy and Poppy. Her daddy isn't a huge fan of the sun. Poppy and Mimi adore her and loved having her around. It was emotional to leave but Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner so we'll see them soon.

Enjoy a few pics from a great and memorable trip.

Getting So Big

2009-10-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

The days are flying by and Elleri is getting so big. Everyday is fun and she brings a big smile to my face. Motherhood is still a learning process and I feel like I'm growing everyday. She is teaching me patience. Patience is something I've always struggled with. God blessed me with Elleri to help me grow as a person and as a christian. I want to know Christ more in order to share more of Him with her. I can't wait to hear her sing hymns and songs of praise.

Here are a few pics and a video of my little girl growing up. She is very close to crawling and sitting up pretty much on her own.

Duluth Fall Festival 5K

2009-09-27T11:03:00.001-07:00

This morning we woke up and ran the Duluth Fall Festival 5K. It was our first 5K race. You would think that because I work at a running store I would have done more but I haven't. It was fun. I didn't do it to win or to set a personal record. I did it purely for fun and to enjoy the time with Adam and Elleri. We enjoy running together. We think it is great to have Elleri exercise with us and important for her to know that physical activity is good for you.

It was a hilly run but fun. We did ok on time but like I said, we weren't doing it for the medal. Here are a few pics from our run this morning. The weather was great. The Lord blessed us with another beautiful day.

6 Months Old - Can It Be?

2009-09-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

Our little Elleri is 6 months old. She has been with us for over 182 days. Half a year. I have to be honest, most days have flown by but others have crept. The last few days I think Elleri is teething and she hasn't been the happiest of little girls. I feel for her because I know she is in some discomfort but at the same time I am self and get irritated. I assume these "mommy meltdown moments" are normal. I hate to admit that I have these but I do. More than I'd like. Elleri is such a bright spot in my life. God has used her to show and teach me so many things. I am thankful for the gift He has given me.

Bow Time

2009-08-27T16:54:00.001-07:00

Adam is not a fan of bows for Elleri's hair (or I guess head at this point since hair is a little light). I must admist that I'm not a huge fan either at the moment. I think I'll like them more as she gets older and of course grow more hair. All that to say that I put a little outfit on the other day that came with a matching bow & I couldn't resist. It only lasted a few minutes but the pictures are adorable.

Moving on Up

2009-08-19T05:04:00.000-07:00

Today Elleri is 5 months & 1 day old. People told me in the beginning that time would fly but during the first two months, I thought they were lying to me. Now that is a different story. Time really does fly. Elleri is growing and doing something new almost everyday it seems.

This past week we started with some cereal and practicing with a spoon. I think she likes the spoon more than the cereal . I am attempting to make her food so I've been practicing on pureeing squash. I think I might become domestic after all.

Elleri has become quite the little smiler lately which I totally love. She giggles and laughs and it makes me so happy. She is playful and I love being with her.

She is not quite sitting up on her own but is getting very close. I wouldn't be surprised if she is doing it in the next few weeks.

A Visit from Aunt Holly

2009-08-11T07:39:00.001-07:00

My little sister Holly came up for a visit this past weekend and it was so great to see her. This is first time she has seen Elleri since the day she was born. Boy has she changed. It was an exciting weekend and lots of fun. Holly got engaged the morning she came up to Cade. No wedding date yet but they are happy.

Elleri loved being with Aunt Holly. I think Elleri knows how much mommy loves Holly so she loves her too. Holly is so important to me and my only want for her is for her to be happy. She seems to be.

4 Month Checkup

2009-07-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

Elleri had her 4 month checkup yesterday and it went well. She is progressing along perfectly. She weighed in at 14 lbs 4 ounces and is now over 23" long. We had her 4 month vaccines which I hate to watch. Elleri was a trooper though. I can't explain how perfect she is - she is doing everything right on schedule. I am so proud. Dr. Harbaugh gave me the option to start solids but I might wait another few weeks. He said not to rush it if I didn't want to. There is no reason if she isn't hungry after eating formula and she isn't. I'm trying to research how to make my own baby food. We'll see....

A New Do & A New Toy

2009-07-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

Elleri's 4th month is moving right along so her daddy and I decided it was time for a new toy. She needs it for stimulation and for enjoyment. She gets bored easily just laying around. After a little research we went with the FP Jumperoo and she loves it.

After a year & a half of pretty much the same hairstyle/cut I decided to for a change. When I was pregnant, I was advised by many not to make any drastic changes because of hormones so I took their advice. Now, I needed a change so I did it. I got about 3.5 inches cut off and I'm enjoying the shorter bob style at the moment. I was a little worried that Elleri would notice me but as soon as I walked in the door she gave me the greatest smile. I adore her!

Goodbye Month 3

2009-07-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, month 3 has come & gone. Let us share some of the great things we did this past month.
This is a shot from my very first professional photo shoot.

Elleri before her baptism on June 21 (also Father's Day)

This wasn't her first bath - we just didn't think to take pictures before b/c she wasn't loving it too much. Now she is just chilling out.

An unhappy moment in her bumbo seat.

One of the first times she used her swing. Isn't a big fan just yet.

Elleri met Uncle Ken for the first time.

Elleri & Adam on Father's day.

This past month she has also learned to roll over on to our belly but she can't get back over just yet. Elleri has also learned how to put 4 of her 5 fingers in her mouth. She actually leaves the thumb out which I think is funny.

Elleri has grown so much and is ready to take on month 4.

Elleri Flying High

2009-07-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

Adam and Elleri have a new game. It consists of Adam picking up Elleri and flying her around like she is a little rocket of some sort. They both have so much fun. Adam does the sound effects of course and Elleri just enjoys the ride.

Here is a video of the two of them on one of their flights....

A Cute Video

2009-06-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

I love watching Elleri play. She has so much fun and gets so excited over the little things. I bought her a new little playmat with toys dangling above her to swat & kick at. She loves it! I am so glad. Here is a little video of her having a good time.

Pretty adorable huh?

Amazing Day

2009-06-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

Meeting Uncle Ken for the first time.

Father's Day 09

With both sets of grandparents.

This past Sunday was an amazing day. One I hope to never forget. It was Father's day and I was able to celebrate it with my husband Adam, my daddy, my father-in-law & of course my heavenly Father. I was surrounded by some of the greatest men I know. This past Sunday we also had baby Elleri baptized. One can't help but to get emotional thinking about God's grace and how much He loves His children. I cannot wait to tell Elleri more & more things about Christ & to see what He is going to do in her life. She is such an amazing creation already. Here are a few pics from this wonderful day.

A Big Week

2009-06-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

This week is a busy one. Little Elleri turned 3 months yesterday. Where has the time gone? In the beginning the days ran together but now I can't get enough of her or enough time with her. She is growing up so fast and is just beautiful. She is developing a wonderful personality and being her mother is the best feeling in the world.

This is a busy week at work but other than that it is a busy week in my "home" life. This coming Sunday is Father's day as well as Elleri's baptism. I am very excited about the whole thing. It is Adam's first Father's Day & I hope it is amazing for him. Both sets of grandparents are coming up for the weekend and Adam's brother Ken & his family are heading up for the baptism. This will be Ken's first time meeting Elleri. I am excited for her to meet him and her cousins.

It is going to be a great week but I have a lot to do. Probably should get busy.

Elleri's First Dress

2009-06-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Weird to think that Elleri is almost 3 months old and she wore her first dress today. I guess onsies & t-shirts have been the easiest articles of clothing to keep her in on most days. We went out today to run some errands and I wanted to put her in something comfortable & cool since it was going to be pretty warm. I chose this cute little number and of course had to take pictures. She is growing up so fast. Can I say that one more time? I think I say it in say way or another in every blog.

Growing Up - 2 Month Check Up

2009-05-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Ms Elleri is growing up so fast. We have started using our Chicco carrier now which she loves to walk around with and we've put her in her BebePod baby seater. She can't control her head too long so she can only manage the Bebe for a few minutes at a time. Elleri had a good two month appointment this past week. She weighed in just under 11 lbs and got a few immunizations. She did well with them. I was worried she would be fussy the following days but she was great. We switched her formula because the dr thinks she might have a little colic. Luckily colic usually goes away by 3 months. She is developing wonderfully. She loves her hands especially when she can fit them in her mouth. I have a feeling she is going to be a thumb sucker.

A Load of Laughs

2009-05-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

Elleri is very animated and starting to smile a lot more. When she smiles and I know she is in a good mood, it makes me so happy. It makes my heart melt. She is 2 1/2 months today. She has truly started to develop into a little baby now. She doesn't have that "newborn" look anymore. Part of me is sad by this but at the same time I am so excited about seeing her grow.

Here are a few of her crazy faces....

This Week on TV

2009-05-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

A lot of my last posts have been about Elleri & being a new mommy. I guess that is to be expected when you life takes such a drastic change & you are consumed with love for this little person.
I thought I'd share something that has me pumped this week....some good ole' TV. Let's start with the Bachelorette which started back up this past Monday. Jillian, who was eliminated by Jason last season, is the new bachelorette & I couldn't be more excited. She is so genuine & I hope she finds true love. I must say she has some good choices it seems so far. I'm going to go ahead & say that I think Ed, Sasha, Kypton or Micheal (break dancer) will be one of the final guys. I'm not putting any money on it but I feel confident.

The next great thing on the tube this week is of course the American Idol finale. It is down Kris, the wholesome good guy from Conway Arkansas, & Adam, the theatrical rocker from California. I am a huge Kris fan. He has definitely got my vote. They both win of course. With all the exposure that they've had, they will both have awesome careers. But I do hope that Kris walks away with the American Idol title.

Lastly, one of my favorite shows ever is coming back on. So You Think You Can Dance! I can't wait to see all the talented people. I'm not a great dancer so I can live through this people & their passion for dance.

It has been a great TV week!

A Wonderful Mother's Day

2009-05-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I celebrated my first Mother's Day with my beautiful new daughter & husband Adam. Adam's parents were up for the a visit and it was great having them there as well.

I was given some beautiful tulips (which were delivered on Sat after Adam specified they come Sunday). I woke up Sunday morning to find cards & a box on the nightstand. I got an adorable card from Elleri, Adam & the inlaws. I opened my gift to find a "Willow Tree" figurine of a mother holding her daughter. I love these. I've given them to my mom before & they are wonderful keepsake items. Elleri did a great job picking this our for my first mother's day. I'll never forget it.

She will be 2 months old tomorrow. She is starting to develop her own little look & personality. I love being around her. The next mother's day she will be saying "happy mother's day mommy". Tear!

Going Back to Work

2009-05-07T14:44:00.001-07:00

Today was my first day back at the store after maternity leave. I have been dreading this day for weeks now. I cried most of the day yesterday & this morning before I had to leave. I didn't sleep well last night thinking and worrying about today.
Kristin (my babysitter/nanny) arrived perfectly on time and immediately put me at ease. Even though I hated leaving, I felt ok with it. I will say that the day drug by. I was a big clock watcher today. I've never been a big clock watcher either. I was pretty out of it at work - just not focused AT ALL! I can't imagine having to go back full time. I am blessed to have great employers/friends that allow me to do some of my work from home. Thanks Joe & Shannon!
Well, I made it home and Elleri seemed to have done well & Kristin was still very reassuring. I'm home until Monday now. I think I've made it over the toughest part. Even though Monday seems right around the corner.

6 weeks old & dr's checkup

2009-04-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Its been quite a week so far. We started off Monday with Elleri's 5 week checkup with Dr Harbaugh. Everything went well. She weighs a whopping 8 lbs 12 oz now. I can't believe how fast she has grown. We went through a series of questions & she seems to be doing great by his standards. I love Dr Harbaugh so if he says everything is great then I am pleased. She had her second Hep B shot and I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head. I hated watching. I gave her a little infant tylenol to take the edge off and that seemed to help. She is great now.

Tuesday I was suppose to have a hair appt & was going to leave her with Kristin (summer babysitter) for a few hours for the first time. I have to admit, I was a nervous wreck. My appt got cancelled but Kristin came anyway so I could run a few errands & have a little "me" time. I must say that I really needed it. Every good mother needs a little time to herself to regroup & take care of things (including herself). I was gone for less than two hours and was pleased to come home knowing that Kristin did a great job with Elleri. Next week when I start back to work a few days a week will go a lot smoother now I think.

Today we are celebrating E's 6 week birthday. 6 weeks! Where has the time gone? Everyday is a new day and she is growing up so fast. I have to cherish every moment. Something to remember.

I've got gas

2009-04-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, I hear that gas and hiccups are pretty common in newborns. I sure hope so because it seems like Elleri has both of them all the time. Elleri can let them rip like the best of them. Here is a pic of "gassy" Elleri caught in the act.

5 Weeks Old & A Trip to Waycross

2009-04-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

I just returned home from a short visit with Gma & Gpa Clark. This was Elleri's first road trip & mine alone with her. She did really well sleeping most of the way. There was an occasional outburst of tears signaling she needed to eat or have a diaper change. While we were in Waycross she got to meet her two great grandmothers. It was quite neat being part of 4 generations. My grandma Clark has dementia so I hope that she remembers Elleri as long as she can and that Elleri will grow old enough to remember her. My sister Wendy & neice Payton were also able to visit with us & see Elleri for the first time. Payton was in awe of her & wanted to hold her the whole time. She is 8 and was so sweet to her. The only downfall of our trip was that neither of us slept very well being away from home so today we are both a little on the ill side. I plan to sleep better tonight in my own bed and some help from daddy.

Here are a few shots of my sister Wendy & neice Payton visiting Elleri.

One Month Old

2009-04-15T08:29:00.001-07:00

It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that Ms Elleri is a month old today.
She has grown so much since birth & its only been about 30 days. Here is a reminder of what a month ago was like....
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4f4463314d5451794e4877784f4455344f5441344d773d3d0d0a&sb=1&campaign=email_receipt_directurl_makeyourown

Two Things...

2009-04-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings." Hodding Carter

I like this quote but I think there are more than two lasting bequests I would give Elleri. I definitely want to give her roots. She will know where she came from and I hope to raise her into a humble & loving person. I also wish to give her wings. Wings to do whatever she wants in life. I want to give her the best instructions & guidance so that she'll pray about her decisions & follow God's will for her life. I want that for myself too. I want so much more for her than I ever wanted for myself. She is amazing & is going to do amazing things. I can't wait.

Three Weeks Old

2009-04-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

At 12:01am, Elleri turned 3 weeks old. It is still hard for me to believe that I am a mom and Elleri is actually MY little girl. Adam and I are still adjusting to parenthood. The feeding & diaper changing - that is my life right now. In between those things there is the sleeping & of course the gas. Girl has some gas! I'm not going to lie - there is no shame. I guess at 3 weeks old there is not need to be modest. Rip them while you can right?
She is definitely starting to change into this beautiful little girl. Her facial features are shaping up and she recognizes who I am. I am MOMMY! I type as I watch her sleep right now. I love to watch her dream. I see her eyes wiggle and know that she is dreaming about something. I wonder what. My prayer for her is that she always has peaceful dreams & that she will love God with all her heart.

2 weeks, dimples & brown eyes???

2009-04-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

This is just a funny pic to me!

2 weeks old today! Amazing how fast the time has flown - she grows & amazes me more each & every day. People keep telling & Adam I to enjoy every moment because before we know it she will be 6 months old & then 18. I read a quote today by Soren Kierkegaard that said "most people rush after pleasure so fast that they rush right past it". It doesn't necessarily pertain to parenthood but to life in general. Yes, there are many sleepless nights & frustrating moments especially early on but there is so much pleasure. I don't want to wish my way through this time - good or bad, I want to cherish it.

I do believe that my girl Elleri has two dimples (like her mommy) and looks like her eyes are darkening up (like her mommy). She still has some red to her hair & her eye shape is definitely like her daddy's. Overall, she is beautiful.

Day One

2009-03-30T13:14:00.001-07:00

Today was my first day with Elleri alone. Adam had to return to work but we are very thankful for the time he was given off by his job. It was more time than we expected & we loved the time together.

The weather was perfect. The day started off a little chilly but warmed up to close to 65 degrees. Elleri and I slept in after a little bit of a restless night. I wish Adam could have gotten more sleep but someone's got to pay the bills right? After a late breakfast for us both & a shower, we went for a walk. It was fabulous. I hadn't been out in days and I needed the fresh air more than I even thought I did.

We are back from our walk & Elleri is taking an afternoon nap. Not going to let her snooze too long so that maybe she'll sleep better tonight. Overall, our first day together alone has been great.

Full Time Job

2009-03-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

"Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love." Mildred B. Vermont

I am in the process of trying to decide on a nanny for when I return to work. Luckily I am fortunate enough to only work parttime in the store & do the remainder of my work at home. I honestly couldn't imagine going back full time. Right now, I can barely imagine leaving for parttime other than the occasional trip to the store or for a walk. Being a mom is a full time job - one I love doing. It is hard and boy do I still have a lot to learn but the rewards I get from being with Elleri everyday is worth everything. My heart feels like it will explode with love for her.

Trying to figure it out

2009-03-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm a week into this "motherhood" thing and I often wonder if I'm doing a good job. I look at some friends & it looks like being a mother comes so natural to them. I adore Elleri and think of her constantly. Every move she makes, I want to know what it means & if she is ok. There have definitely been times that I've felt overwhelmed, emotional & confused since we've been home. I pray for her (us) all the time knowing that God will give me wisdom, patience & guidance. Everyday is a learning process & I've got a long way to go.

Elleri One Week Old

2009-03-25T18:04:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe she is already a week old...she is growing so fast!

Elleri is here

2009-03-25T12:45:00.001-07:00

Elleri Brooke Hayes is here...

2009-03-24T09:12:00.001-07:00

6 lbs 14 oz - 21 inches long
March 18, 09 at 12:01 am

More to follow....

Some Good Advice

2009-03-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

I had my 38 weeks checkup today and things seem to be progressing like they should. Dr. Graham told me that if she wasn't here a week from Monday (23rd) that he would induce. He is on call that day which is great so he can deliver her and he thinks I'll definitely be ready. Crazy to think that in about 10 days (or less) I am going to be a mommy.

I've been getting some wonderful advise from friends the last few days to do over these last few days. I'll share them with you....
1. Lay in bed for 5 extra minutes just b/c I can and don't have a baby forcing me up.
2. Go to the store & pick up one thing b/c it might be the last time you go in with just your purse & come out with one item.
3. Eat something delicious without guilt.
4. Watch a TV show beginning to end b/c it will be the last time for a while that I can do that without interruptions.
5. Read a book. It will be the last for a while that isn't about babies.
6. Go out to dinner with my hubby and talk for an hour afterwards. You'll either be paying for a sitter so the clock is ticking or you'll be eating with one hand.
7. Get a pedicure.
8. Put my feet up as much as I can & relax.
9. Go to the movies.

I love all of these and am trying my best to do them all before she arrives. I love my friends and all the support they have given me throughout this wonderful experience in my life.

Checkup 36 1/2 Weeks

2009-02-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

I went today for my 36/37 week appt. At this point I am going every week. Today I had a test for Group Strep B (GSB). Group Strep B is bacterium that causes life-threatening infections in newborns. Pregnant women are tested for this during 35 to 37 weeks because they can pass it along to the newborn at birth. I'll find out at my next visit how that turns out. Wish me (us) luck. So, the doctor says we are moving right along. She is measuring good, in a good position and very low. He urged me to pack a hospital bag this weekend if I hadn't already. I keep telling myself to do that but I keep putting it off. I guess I won't anymore. At this point, it could be anytime. Isn't that a crazy thought?

Things seem to be coming together as best they can for someone who's life is about to change drastically. Adam and I have our infant CPR class tomorrow and then we will interview another nanny candidate afterwards. We are also going to interview another lady on Sunday. That will make 3. We interviewed a super nice lady last Sunday who has an 8 month of her own. She will be hard to top but it is good to have options. So wish us luck with that too.

Until then, keep us all in your prayers & I'll keep you posted!

Meet the Pediatrician

2009-02-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

Today Adam and I had a little "meet & greet" with our daughter's future pediatrician. Dr Harbaugh came highly recommended to us by my boss Joe & his wife. After meeting with him, I can see why they love him so much. He seems amazing & it only took 30 to 45 minutes for me to come to this conclusion. I am so excited about working with him in the future & allowing him to help us raise our daughter. Yeah!

Less than 40 days to go

2009-02-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

Less than 40 days to go! I guess at this point I really could go into labor at any moment - that is so hard to grasp. During the final few weeks I plan to get things somewhat organized at work, do some final touches on the baby room, decide on a name, try to put my feet up a little more than I have in the past, find a nanny and/or childcare options & spend time in prayer. I've had some pretty emotional days over the last few weeks - I guess that is normal. If not, maybe I should seek some medical advice.

Here is a pic of what she looks like right now (or should)...

She should be around 18" long and weighs a little over 5 lbs. Her kidneys have fully developed now and her basic physical development is complete. She is a little person - my little person. These measurements are just based on averages so she could be longer or shorter, weigh more or less. If I had to make a guess I'd say she was a little on the smaller size just because of my build but you never know.

I pray that she is ok. Anxiety has set in and more than anything I just want her to be safe, healthy & happy! It is in God's hands.

33 Weeks

2009-02-06T14:54:00.001-08:00

33 weeks already! It is hard to believe that our little girl will be here in less than 2 months. I went from counting down months to weeks & soon it will be days. The room is coming together nicely and I'm starting to feel a little less stressed about things. Below are a few pics taken of me at 33 weeks - she & I both are growing. Another shot is of her closet a few weeks ago. It is much more crowded now. I love hanging up her clothes and fixing up her room in anticipation of her arrival. We are narrowing the name list down and I think we'll have something pretty soon. I'll keep you posted....

My FF Shower

2009-02-02T16:20:00.001-08:00

My wonderful friends at Fleet Feet threw me an amazing shower the Sunday before last. It was so much fun and I was in awe at how generous & kind they all are. I'm truly blessed to have such wonderful coworkers.

Here are a few pics to show you guys how nice everything was...

Our chalk drawing - too cute!

Adam and I

My wonderful hostesses - Beth & Shannon

My friend BOB and I

Opening gifts

and even more gifts

Thanks to all my wonderful friends at Fleet Feet - I love you guys!

The Long Awaited Ultrasound Pics

2009-01-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

This is her little foot - isn't it cute?

She is crossing her legs - she is quite the little lady.

This is her adorable profile - look at those lips. Move over Angelina.

Another wonderful profile shot - I swear she has my nose.

She is so cute right? Sorry it took so long to get these scanned. I've been meaning to do it for quite some time now. No names as of yet but we are working on it. I guess we figure as long as we have decided by the time she gets here then all is good. For right now, she just sweet baby Hayes.

Things I have done!

2009-01-13T16:24:00.000-08:00

I am copying one of Laurel's posts here b/c I thought it was a great idea. We focus a lot on the things we haven't or can't do instead of celebrating the things we have. There are always going to be things we want to do in our lives - they are goals we set for ourselves. I want to run a half & full marathon in the very near furture. This is one of my huge goals. The items in bold are the things I have accomplished.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt4
3. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - I can bold this one in March!!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

See, that wasn't too bad. There are a lot of things I have done and I have learned & grown from each experience.

7 month checkup

2009-01-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

I went Wednesday for my 7 month checkup and everything was great. I have gained 12 lbs so far and am really starting to feel "pregnant". Baby girl's heartbeat was great and I passed my glucose test. My iron was a little low but not enough to take a supplement just yet. I'm going to try to make up for my iron shortage with certain foods.

More great news this week - our furniture & swing came in. Yeah! I finally have some relief that things are coming together. I still have this overwhelming feeling that there is still a lot to do and unexpected things are awaiting me. I've come to the realization that there are going to be a lot of unknowns and Christ's will give me guidance and peace to handle whatever comes my (our) way. I am certain of that fact and that being a mother is going to be the greatest gift ever.

At last - Baby Furniture

2009-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

We spent our New Year's Day purchasing our baby furniture. We figured having our first child would be the biggest event for us in 09 so why not start off the year buying our daughter's furniture. I was so excited to finally get it - I do have to wait 2 weeks until it comes in but at least I know I can scratch that off the list. I absolutely love it & think it is going to look great all put together. So much to do still & not much time.

Here it is. We didn't get the tall dresser but got a toy/blanket chest instead. Thought it would be functional for a longer period of time. Here is a picture of our bedding as well. We've got it too thanks to my mom & sisters. LOVE IT! It is going to be a sweet room.

28 Weeks

2008-12-30T16:18:00.001-08:00

I am 28 weeks today - 7 months! In less than 90 days our little girl will be here. As you can tell from the photo, she is starting to grow pretty fast. My bump went from this small thing to a basketball almost overnight. I feel great though with the exception of being a little tired, back hurting some & legs cramping. Nothing I can't handle though. These next 3 months are going to fly by - I just know it. Better get the room finished!

Memories of 2008

2008-12-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

I am still stunned that 2008 is almost over. There has been so much that has happened in my life this past year & in just the world in general. Here are some that I don't think I'll ever forget....

* Finding out I was pregnant (best day of my life) - after over a year of trying I can remember every detail of that day. Makes me giggle just thinking about it. Now I'm 7 months in and it is still hard to grasp that in 3 months our little girl will be with us. Picture of me at my first ultrasound.

* Adam finding a new job. With the economy in the state that it is in many people are losing jobs and we were very afraid that Adam might be one of them with his old company. Being in logistics and dealing a lot with the shipment of building products we weren't sure what was going to happen. In Sept he was offered a job at UPS supply chain. In Oct he started his new job and is loving the challenge of learning new things and the comfort of the stability it offers.

* We elected the 44th President of the United States - Mr. Barack Obama. He is the first African American president in United States history. After a long and heated campaign with his challenger John McCain, Obama was elected President this past November.

* The Summer Olympics were amazing. Michael Phelps entertained and amazed the world by winning 8 gold medals in swimming. He beat out Mark Spitz's record of the most gold medals ever. What an amazing athlete?

There are only a few days left of 2008 so make the most of them. May you have a wonderful & blessed 2009.

Satisfied

2008-12-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

We sing this song pretty often in church and I fall more in love with the words every time. Just wanted to share them with you....enjoy!

All my life long I had panted
For a draught from some cool spring
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Through His life I now am saved.

Feeding on the husks around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.

Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life, so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.

Baby Shower

2008-12-23T16:27:00.001-08:00

This past weekend I went home to Waycross for my very first baby shower and to also have Christmas with my family. I had such a great shower thanks to my wonderful mom & her best friend Montine. There was a nice number of fantastic ladies there and we had a good time playing games, talking and of course eating. I was blessed to have received a lot of great gifts. I am very fortunate to have caring and loving people in my life that would do such wonderful things for me.

Here is a shot of the guest of honor.

Time is flying by....

2008-12-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

I was just sitting on the couch resting after wrapping all our Christmas gifts thinking how fast time has flown by. It is so hard to believe that there are only 6 days left until Christmas 2008 and that I am 27 weeks pregnant. A week away from being 7 months - that is crazy! Where has the time gone? Before I know it, it will be 2009, Adam & I will be married 6 years and I will be the mother of an amazing little girl (yet to be named). It is so hard for me to wrap my head around it. I have days where I am just blown away by how much my life has changed & will change in the next 3 months. Carpe diem right? Seize the day - make everyday count & get the things done I need too before the little one arrives.

9 Days until Christmas

2008-12-16T16:35:00.000-08:00

It is so hard to believe that there is 9 days until Christmas. I work in the retail environment and it still doesn't seem real. The weather too has been unseasonably warm this week with rain & it is very muggy. I look forward to the holidays even though it is very tiresome for Adam and I. We visit both sets of parents so we are on the road a good bit. After the baby is born our road trips will probably slow down & the holidays might be different. Hopefully we'll get more visits from family when she gets here. I've finished my shopping & the Christmas cards are out. All I have to do now is finish wrapping and I must say that is my favorite part.

6 month checkup

2008-12-05T16:21:00.000-08:00

I went today for my 24 week checkup and things are looking great. Little girl's heartbeat sounds very good and I'm measuring right where I should be. That is such great news - I get anxious before every appointment for some reason. I suppose that is normal. Dr Graham always assures me that things are going well and I'm grateful to have had such a good pregnancy thus far.

24 weeks

2008-12-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

24 weeks? Where has the time gone? I must admit I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed with things to do. Schedule maternity classes, figure out daycare or nanny situation, decide on a name, pack a hospital bag & the list goes on. I keep telling myself that after Christmas I'm going to buckle down & really get these things settled. I sure hope so - I guess I don't have a choice. I am 24 weeks along today - 6 months pregnant! That is crazy. Baby girl is starting to move around more especially at night and Adam felt her for the first time the other day. Pretty exciting for him. Another reality check after the gender ultrasound for him. Well, we took a couple of pics to record this step along the way to parenthood.

Cindy & Raytionary

2008-12-01T16:51:00.001-08:00

If I get the chance I listen to Cindy & Ray on 94.1 in the afternoons. This afternoon they were having people call in with words they use alot that they have made up. Cindy & Ray keep a list of words like these on their website http://www.star94.com/shows/dictionary.cfm?show=cr. A few people called in with ones that I just loved and swear I'll use. Some of the words mentioned today by callers were conpuzzled - which means to be confused & puzzled. Nontourage - people you don't want to hang around with you & my personal fave was 8 head. 8 head is someone with a receding hair line...instead of a forehead they have an 8 head. I almost lost it when I heard this one. Check some of the other ones out on the website & get me know some of yours'.

Twilight was a highlight!

2008-11-28T16:18:00.001-08:00

Adam and I were lucky enough to enjoy a day off together so we decided to do something we haven't done in a while....dinner & a movie. Actually it was movie & dinner. We decided to see Twilight because I was so intrigued by all the hype around the book & movie. I must be honest, up until a few weeks ago I had no idea it was a book series. Adam agreed to see the movie out of curiousity & I heard it was great. I LOVED IT! I could go back tomorrow & watch it again. I may even try to read the books. I can't wait until the next one comes out...I'm hooked!

I'm thankful for....

2008-11-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

On this day before Thanksgiving I am taking a few moments to reflect on all the wonderful blessings in my life. God has been so good to me far more than I could ever deserve. I just wanted to share some of the things I am thankful for...
* Christ and His unconditional love & grace
* My amazing husband Adam who loves God, loves me and still has so much more love to give. * My unborn little girl due this March. Even though I am a little scared and still don't know anything about parenting, I am excited and can't wait to see her adorable face.
* My family - I have such a wonderful family. They are real and I can be myself with them no matter what.
* My BFF Amy - she is that person in my life who just gets me. When I see her it is like we can sit and talk for hours or just sit there. She plays such a huge role in my life.
* My job - I work with great people, in a great environment and kind bosses who I can call friends.
There is so much more I could list. Everyday is a gift!

Happy Birthday Hubby

2008-11-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

Today is Tuesday Nov 25, 2008 and it is my husband's 31st birthday. He is such a great guy so I thought I'd spend just a few seconds telling the world just that. I think about how our lives are going to be so different a few months from now and there are a lot of things that are so uncertain. One thing I am certain of is that Adam is going to be a wonderful daddy. He has so much love to give and has no issues showing it. I hope today was a great day for him and that we can share many more birthdays together! Happy Birthday Ad!

Has anyone seen Dakota?

2008-11-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

I had taken the sheets off the bed last week to wash them. We have a mattress cover that is stark white not to mention my body pillow that I use to help me sleep. I called for Dakota and I didn't hear him move. So I started looking around for him. I walked into our bedroom and walked right by our bed without even noticing the little white squirrel (as well like to call him).

Check this out....can you see him?

Fabulous Friday

2008-11-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

I know yesterday was going to be a good day to start off because I was going to visit my BFF Amy & her new baby Allie. This was the first time I saw Allie - she is a little over 2 months now. What an adorable baby? She wasn't having the greatest of days - possibly not feeling well but cute nonetheless. Amy looked great and motherhood definitely suits her. I hope I take to it as well as she has. I was able to visit with them for most of the afternoon and it was great. Amy is that "person" for me - she is my dearest friend who I know I can be myself with all the time. There is never any pressure to impress and I can talk openly to her about anything. I just love being with her no matter what we are doing. Most of the time we do get together (which is not often enough) we just talk. I love it! That's what we did yesterday - it was great.

Here are a few pics...

To start the day off though, I woke up and laid in bed a few minutes before getting up and all of a sudden I feel a little "kick" in my stomach. Seriously, it was a kick. This little kick was followed by 2 or 3 more. I know it was her! She is finally showing me what she is made of. This was the first time I have felt her move. It was quite the feeling. Everyone said it would feel like butterflies or a flutter....not for me. It was a little kick. I loved it.

Special Thanks to My BFF Aims

2008-11-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks Amy for giving me the desire to change my blog background. I've been thinking of doing it for a while now but haven't been inspired. Amy always inspires me. She recently posted a blog about the 30 Day Encouragement Challenge she & I are doing in regards to encouraging our husbands. I am on day 3 & I must say, it is tough. During this 30 days we are led by scripture in ways to better treat, understand, appreciate & love our husbands. I think I might have to do this every 30 days for the rest of my life. What could it hurt? If you want to check it out & take the challenge then visit www.reviveourhearts.com.

New Baby News

2008-11-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

Check out our baby blog....
www.freewebs.com/mchayes

Pumpkin Carving 08

2008-10-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

Adam and I have been carving pumpkins for the past 4 years now. We look forward to doing it every year the week before Halloween. We don't do much to celebrate this holiday (if you call it that) with the exception of pumpkin carving & handing out candy.

I wanted to share with you some the pics from this year's pumpkin carving experience. It was such a beautiful day to do carving.

Hope you enjoy....

Rainy Day Rant

2008-10-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

It is a very cold & rainy day but I don't mind it because I'm off today & really don't have any plans that require me to be out & about. I didn't however head out to the gym this morning and for some reason it seemed like every guy there was wearing those extremely tight UnderArmor shirts which is usually fine when paired with the appropriate bottoms and their figure works it but that wasn't the case this morning. Every guy wearing these skin tight UnderArmor shirts had them tucked into their shorts or pants. Why the need to tuck them in? They don't look more masculine or professional tucked in. Don't get me wrong I like a guy in a semi-fitted work out shirt especially if their bodies are good enough to wear them but the UnderArmor are a little too tight for me and please don't tuck it in. That's enough on that subject. I'll go back to cleaning on this rainy, cold day.

Dakota's Halloween Costume

2008-10-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...it is early but this is as close to a Halloween costume as we are going to get. Dakota had to go to the vet today for some shots & then got a cut & bath. When I picked him up he had this cute little bandanna with bats & moons on it. I had to take a few pics while it still lasted.

Now I believe it - pregnancy brain is real!

2008-10-17T10:09:00.001-07:00

This isn't something I really want to admit but now I am a believer. Pregnancy brain does exist & it is happening to me. Here is what happened....
I went to the grocery store & as I was pulling in I was on the phone with Adam. I got out of the car and went in to buy groceries like a normal person. It was raining a little so I trotted in quickly. I was in the store for about 30 to 45 minutes and was done so I checked out. It wasn't until I swiped my credit card that I realized that I didn't have my keys. No where to be found. I knew exactly where they were so I went ahead & called Adam to leave work. I walked out to my car just to make sure I didn't leave the door unlocked. Of course not but it gets worse...I left the car on! Who does that? I immediately started to cry. I had a buggy full of groceries and there I am standing in the rain behind my running car with the keys in the ignition. Unbelievable. I called Adam back to let him know the car was actually on. He is always so calm and loving. He wasn't frustrated or fluttered. It did take him about 20 to 30 minutes to get there because he works a pretty good distance away. The car was fine, we loaded the groceries & I made it home in one piece.
So there, it is true. There is such a thing as pregnancy brain. If that isn't the case, then I'm an idiot.

Free Webs

2008-10-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

You would think I didn't have a life or other things to do but I decided to do a website anyway. It is mainly for the baby. I guess you can say I'm dedicating it to the baby & to give updates.
Check it out - www.freewebs.com/mchayes

Attack Dog

2008-09-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

If anyone ever thinks about breaking into our house, they should think twice. Our dog Dakota is an fierce animal. Just check out this video & you'll see what I mean. Beware...

Gas, season premieres & such

2008-09-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

My first comments are about the gas shortage. Right now my car sits between a quarter of a tank & empty. Every gas station I passed there were bags over the nozzles. What does this mean? I'm pretty sure I have enough to get to work & back tomorrow but then what? I trust that trucks are coming. But can I get to the gas stations before everyone else does?

There have been several season premieres this week. I was so excited last night to see the Office & Grey's Anatomy (two of my faves) return for the fall. Neither show disappointed. I can't wait for next week.

I'm 14 weeks now. Our little baby is about 4 to 4.5 inches long now. Its crazy. I'm not really "showing" yet even though I'm feeling thicker through the middle so sometimes I think it is a dream. I think this baby is going to be the best dream of my life. I' can't wait to be a mom.

Have a good weekend everyone. Watch lots of football, enough the beautiful fall weather & remember God has an amazing plan for each of us.

Good Ole' Ponytail Holder

2008-09-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

So much for buttoning my pants. Today was the first day that I finally had to resort to using a ponytail holder to keep my jeans up. Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant and I understand that I am going to be gaining a good amount of weight but I just wanted a few more weeks before I started having to pull out the maternity tricks. I'm not quite shopping the maternity clothing department yet but I could use a little extra room through the middle. I think for the next few days I am going to stick with more elastic waisted pants. That's if I have any. Oh goodness! Wish me luck.

12 Week Checkup

2008-09-09T17:47:00.001-07:00

Looks like I'm rolling right along to my second trimester. Over the past few days I have noticed less nausea & more energy. Two things I welcome back with open arms. I went today for my 12 week checkup. Everything looks really good. I must admit I was getting some anxiety that something was wrong and was relieved today to find out that our little one is healthy & growing everyday. They did an ultrasound and he/she was moving like crazy. He/she was doing somersaults all over the place. As long as he/she gets all that energy out now I'm fine. Today was another reality check - it is happening. We are having a baby!

Two Thumbs Up for Palin

2008-09-03T16:46:00.001-07:00

I am really excited about McCain's choice for VP. I believe Gov. Sarah Palin will make an excellent VP. I have been disappointed by all the attention her 17 yr old daughter is getting for being pregnant. Many people are questioning Palin's mothering skills and why she is choosing to run for VP now when many say her "family is in crisis". What family isn't in crisis? Or perfect for that matter? There are many teens out there that are pregnant & they come from families with stay at home parents. These things happen. I think it shows more character in how you handle these struggles. I think Palin is an extraordinary woman for taking on this huge task while her family is going through some difficult times. If anyone can do it - I think she can.

Go McCain/Palin!

Driving

2008-09-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead." Mac McCleary

This is so true especially when it comes to driving in Atlanta. Add a little rain, fog or beaming sunlight & things get 10 times worse. You've got to love the Atl traffic.