1st Birthday Planning...

I still cannot believe that my baby girl is going to be ONE in just a few short weeks! We have started the party planning process.

I am not a regular on the bump (a baby website for mamas to chit chat) but do occasionally like to glance at the 9-12 month board and see if Hailey is doing things that other kiddos are doing. For obvious reasons, the subject of birthdays is a HUGE topic for this board. Everyone has a different idea about what a 1st birthday party should be like. Some say GO BIG, and have as many people as possible, while others say keep it small. I fall somewhere in the middle. I do not want an overwhelming amount of people because I want it to be fun and casual. I want for Hailey to enjoy her day, as well as let Kyle and I enjoy it with her. However, I do want to include some of her baby friends. This is where it gets tricky. How many "baby friends" is too many?

When I first started to think about her birthday party, I honestly thought of the pink pretty princess party birthday. Then the magazine came, one ALL about 1st birthday party themes. For those of you that don't know, Hailey LOVES anything to do with Elmo. So of course, I start looking through the magazine and first thing I see is a baby Elmo first birthday party theme. How could I not have an Elmo theme for my 1 year old who LOVES him. It was perfect. There are some pretty neat decorations, including a full size Elmo balloon that we will have to have I am sure. So away with my pretty pink princess party, and on with Elmo.

This is the plate from the Elmo beginning theme.

On a side note, Hailey started swimming lessons last Saturday. She was a pro already and LOVED the warm water. We are taking her to a therapy pool so it feels like you are getting into the bath! She gets to play with two of her buddies all morning too! She had her face in the water all morning and was trying to get a nice taste of the pool water. Looking forward to this Saturday another swim adventure. :)

Till next time!

Chelsea

2011 Begins...

As I look back at 2010, I am left in amazement at all that this year has brought for our family. It is still hard to believe that I my sweet little baby girl is almost 1 year old! Boy what a year of firsts for her.

I have been thinking lately about the blogging world and all that it can be. When I first started to write a blog, I mostly read friends blogs and was excited to begin writing all about motherhood. Working full time and being a mom, and wife seemed to be my excuse, and I let it get the best of me. One of my goals for 2011 is to become a blogger, and by become one I mean actually post frequently instead of the every several months that I am doing right now. I want to share my experiences as a mother and the special moments in our lives.

So here is my start:

Hailey has grown up so fast, and continues to leave me in amazement. I have been home for two weeks and am headed back to work tomorrow. It was a wonderful to spend the time with Hailey, and be a part of her life 24/7. Sometimes as working mothers, we feel like we are not present enough in our children's lives. I feel blessed to have a career in which I am given time off throughout the year (mostly summer) and able to soak up every moment with her.

She is already a social butterfly and babbles all day long. She is so interested in her surroundings and points to anything that happens to catch her attention. Hailey has become an expert crawler and her favorite activity is to dance to any music she hears. She rocks out!

I have started to think about her 1st birthday. Makes me teary-eyed at times, but mostly excited for all of her milestones! I still cannot believe my baby will be 1 in early Feb. She loves Elmo, so we are planning to have a small get together with a sesame street theme of course!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from Christmas and our 1st snow!

Hailey and Daddy playing in the snow for the first time.

Never would have known she didn't like the snow at all!

Grandpa made her a rocking chair. She is a pro, and knew how to rock from the beginning!

All the kiddos on Christmas Eve. From Left, Makenzie, Hailey, Shane. and Blake.

Hailey hanging out in her wagon from Grandma and Grandpa!

Hope you have all had a great start to your 2011 year!

Sweet Fall

Fall has been incredible and we have been blessed with a beautiful one. The trees are turning and losing leaves and it leaves me realizing that winter is soon upon us. I can hardly believe that my darling baby girl will be turning 9 months in just another week. Many of the women in my life have warned me that when you become a mother time just flies by, but I never believed it until now.

A dear friend of mine recently had her baby (last week) and I am so excited to visit soon. However, it had my mind going and going as I started to think back on those first few days and weeks of Hailey's life. What a change comparing her to a newborn born only a few days ago. It amazes me how God created us and how each day Hailey learns just a little more about her world. She is so curious and excited to live life.

She is trying so hard to crawl but can't quite figure out how to move forward. It frustrates her so badly because she just wants to get going. She has figured out how to move backwards so I know it is only a matter of time. She has learned that people have names and that mama and dada are Kyle and I. I cannot even express the feelings I feel when she says mama to me. I never knew those words could mean so much from your child.

Monday I stayed home with Hailey because she had a fever. It really got me to think and evaluate where I am in my life and made me more aware then ever. I have ALWAYS dreamed of being able to stay home while my children are young. I have struggled more than I have let anyone believe by going back to work. Every day I tell myself that it is going to get easier, yet I find each day to get harder and harder. This isn't what I pictured when I painted my perfect life. Sure, it is exactly everything I wanted, just one small glitch of missing the important milestones in my daughter's life. Unfortunately for me, staying home is not an option and I am praying that it starts to get easier to be away from her day after day. After all, Hailey stays with family most of the week. What could be better than that? I spend my nights giving her all of my attention until she falls asleep. I just pray that summer comes quickly and I am off to be with her again.

Chelsea

Hailey Opening Halloween Present

Kyle's mom surprised us with a visit on Friday! She brought Hailey a Halloween present.

Here is her opening the present. I decided she will be a lot of fun at Christmas and made a note to myself to wrap things with tissue paper in bags. :)

Labor Day Weekend

Ahhh...the weekend is over and it is time to go back to work. We had a fabulous weekend with family! Saturday Hailey and I were able to just spend some much needed mommy daughter time. We had no plans other than to play play play. Kyle was busy mowing and working in the yard. Sunday we decided to hit the pool one last time before the summer pools were officially closed. Hailey had a blast splashing around! We also went to Harvest Festival and looked at the little shops in park. It was such a beautiful day and so nice to be outside enjoying the sun. Today Hailey surprised Kyle and I and slept until 8am. We were planning to go to the Windsor parade but had to hurry out of the house to make it on time. It was chilly outside and the wind was blowing like crazy. Hailey had fun though and really enjoyed the horses and fire engine.

I love those weekends when you have an extra day to be home. I will be counting down til the next 3 day weekend!!