{phone dump friday}

This week the weather has been absolutely gorgeous, but last week we had even better luck with almost constant rain showers that led to some pretty spectacular puddles.

Asher is a lot of things - loving, cuddly, smart, funny, tall and skinny...but one thing he's not?  A morning person.  Carefully hand over the milk and step away slowly.  Don't want to spook him.

Hadley's still working on sitting up without support.  She manages a few seconds at a time, but that's it.  In the meantime she has completely mastered rolling over.  Today I found her in completely different places than where I laid her down {usually crying because she made her way from carpet to hardwood or rolled under a couch}.  She sees toys and goes for them!  I have to start being really careful about Asher's little toys - she's determined and only has eyes for his things, of course.

Asher asked me what this is.  I told him it was a phone and when I put the receiver to his ear he jumped at the dial tone like I'd stung him.  Crazy cell phone generation...ha!

Asher held Hadley!  Asher held Hadley!  {I think this is only the 3rd time this has happened.  ever.}

Last Saturday my parents watched the kids so Drew and I had the day to do some shopping.  I braided back my bangs and let the Carolina blue sky shine through mini's sun roof.  Good times!

On Memorial Day Asher and Drew went out to run some errands and came home with this beaut.  Someone convinced Daddy to go to the toy store, then someone else convinced Asher to leave with this plane.  ha - they are quite the pair!

A play date at the lake was so fun for Asher.  He was seriously bummed when we had to leave - and I was seriously impressed with his feats of strength.  

"Mommy, I'm throwing this stick in the water!"

Ever need to entertain your baby in Target?  Just stick a pinwheel in the cart!  Thanks dollar spot!

Target also threw this floppy hat in my path and I had no choice but to take it home.  I've been wanting one for the hot summer quickly approaching us so, hey, why not?  It does make the baby cry, but we're working on that and hoping for the best.  :-)

Happy weekend, friends!

tiny dancer {take 2}

I worked a little magic on Hadley's drooping tutu that I posted about here and got it standing up a bit more.

Ahhh - love a sweet little ballerina!

front porch sitting

Hadley likes to people watch.

I repainted her little Goodwill find rocking chair last week and now it's her favorite place to sit and watch the world stroll by.

While I was taking a few pictures of her sitting pretty Asher wandered over and said he wanted to give her a kiss.  He gave her a slow motion head bonk instead...

She {and I} couldn't believe he did that!

Big brother tried to redeem himself by giving her some gentle head pats...

but then he stole her headband.

This boy!  I swear - he's too much.  ha!

We love him anyway, though, right Hadley?

After the troublemaker wandered off we were able to finish our people watching in peace.  :-)

hadley fern {seven months}

Hadley Fern, you are 7 months old!

This month has brought a lot of new fun for you!  A few weeks ago you rode in the swing at the park for the first time and loved it.  I can see a lot of swinging in our summer plans.

Hadley, you also l-o-v-e food!  At your 6 month doctor's visit they recommended you start solids to hopefully gain a little weight {tiny baby is only in the 3rd percentile of weight}.  After a few false starts you figured out what the tasty stuff on the end of the spoon is for and now you're a fan. So far you've tried bananas, sweet potatoes, green beans, pears, and carrots.  You love it all! Typically you eat twice a day at lunchtime and dinner.

You're still nursing about 5x a day {6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm} and once at night {3am} about 3x a week.  The other nights you sleep straight through.  Those are my favorite.  :-)

As far as sleep goes, you're great at night - sleeping from 6:30pm to either 3am or 6am.  Daytime is a different matter...  You continue to be an inconsistent napper and often end up crabby because you're just so tired.  I'm trying to be more strict about nap times, but with Asher's on-the-go schedule it can be tough.  Right now we are trying to take naps at 9am, 1pm, and 4pm. You often get at least 1 good nap a day, but whether it will be in the morning or afternoon is anyone's guess!

Hadley, you are getting very active. You can easily roll in both directions now.  Many times throughout the day I'll find you in a different position than you were in just a minute before. You love to sleep on your side and have mastered rolling up on your side and stopping there to sleep.  It's so darn adorable!  You still aren't sitting up unsupported, but we're working on it.  :-) I know you'll get there in your own time.

Last week you got 2 teeth!  They are side-by-side on the bottom gum.  I haven't been able to get a good picture of them yet, but hopefully soon.  So far you are aces at teething.  There has been a lot of chewing on everything and a good deal of drooling, but you only had 2 nights of crying from pain.  A little rocking and Tylenol seemed to take care of that and you were right as rain.  Let's hope the rest of your teeth come in this smoothly.

Everything and everyone catches your gaze.  It has become absolutely impossible to feed you with anyone else around.  They get your full attention!  You crane your neck and practically go upside down to see who's around.  Sweet Hadley, you always want to be a part of the conversation and have started squawking in with your own opinions on the subject.  :-)

At 7 months, Hadley...

• weighs 13 lbs 5 oz
• wears size 6-9 month clothes
• wears size 2 diapers
• hasn't worn any shoes yet, but has a teeny tiny foot
• loves to eat both food and mama's milk
• adores her big brother and thinks he's hilarious!
• has 2 teeth
• sleeps about 12 hours at night and {tries to take} 3 naps 
• rolls back and forth easily
• loves her play mat and bouncy seat, but hates the Bumbo
• gets a bath every night and loves to splash all over

Hadley Fern, you are a whole month on this side of being a year old and I don't like it one bit.  You are getting so big too fast little lady!  There isn't a day that goes by that Daddy and I don't thank God for bringing you to our family.  We're excited to see what you will do next, but enjoy each little moment with you.  Thanks for being our sweet girl, Haddie.  You are such a special, important part of this world! 

{phone dump friday}

Did I tell you all my phone got dropped a few weeks ago?  Yeah, major drop and a screen crack.  Darn it!  The phone works fine, but the camera is often unhappy.  My plan gets renewed in July so I'm waiting until then to replace the thing.  That means my main source of photos is on the fritz!  Nooooo.  Phone dump Friday will live on - but it might be a little weak for awhile.

I made a couple shirts for friends whose kiddos have birthdays this month.  I can't believe this is the best photo I got of the dog shirt - need to get better about that, but I was in a hurry to get it packed up and in the mail!

I just love this Minnie.  But really, who doesn't love Minnie?  :-)

I made chili and corn bread for dinner last week and Asher asked for sprinkles on his muffin.  It seems like there are SO many times throughout the day when I need to tell him "Stop!" "Not now" or "Don't do it, Asher" - that I said yes to this silly request without any hesitation.  Hey, he's only 3 once!

Hadley is having her pictures taken on Sunday by the photographer who did her newborn shoot, so I've been testing different outfits to see what we want to use.  I found this adorable lace romper at Target and thought it might be cute in front of the quilt I made for her.  Thoughts?

Since Asher had his last day of school yesterday we took his teachers their gifts on Tuesday.  I was a little behind since last week was technically teacher appreciation week, but oh well.  Once again, this is the only picture I took - pathetic.  We put together a Tervis tumbler filled with an individual face mask, lip gloss, and Extra Dessert Delights gum.  Summery {all yellow!} and fun!

I've been having some fun in the sewing room lately trying my hand at making clothes {yikes!}.  I started simple and made a diaper cover for Miss H.  I'm on my 3rd one and still perfecting it.  Can't really see myself making clothes full time - it's really hard!  Hadley didn't seem to mind the imperfections, though.  :-)

Last Saturday we had breakfast at the Farmer's Market and Asher loved playing in their little stone animal barnyard afterwards.  Not exactly sure where this gator fits into the farm, but Asher liked him anyway.

Hadley has become a 100% side sleeper!  It's amazing how instinctual it seems.  She can rolls over both directions easily, but manages to stop herself on her side and stay there all night.  I think she just really wants the hair on the back of her head to grow in.  Me too!  ha!

We got a package of bows in the mail the other day and H couldn't wait to try them on.  She's quite the ham.  I love it!

Happy weekend, friends!

his last day

Today is Asher's last day of preschool.  My little big guy finished a whole year of school already - I can't believe it.

It really seems like just yesterday I was taking him in for his first day.

When I took pictures in September I didn't expect to see much difference in May, but he has grown a lot!  Look how much smaller his backpack looks now!  {sad}

                                                {sept 4, 2012}                {may 23, 2013}

No, seriously, look how much closer his head is to the doorbell now.  Exactly how much did this boy grow in 9 months??  It's like he started the year as a toddler and now he's a boy.  Ok, I'm actually getting sad...moving on.

Going to school has been great for Asher.  It's given him a ton of confidence and a new sense of independence.  He loves coming home to tell me all the fun stuff he did that morning.

And he loves talking about his friends.  He's such a social butterfly.  :-)

I don't think he truly understands that school is ending for the summer.  I hope we do ok together full time again - ha!

I feel, without a doubt, like starting A in school this year was the best choice for him.  He's all signed up for a 3 day a week program next year and I know he'll thrive in it like he did this year!

I'm glad some things haven't changed - he still loves to hold my hand.  :-)

Way to go on finishing your first year of school, Asher!  You are doing amazing things already - just don't be in too big a hurry to grow up, ok?

Daddy and I are so proud of you!