Categories
Kids/Parenting

Hayden’s week in pictures

Hayden saw me with the camera and demanded it. I told him I just wanted to take a picture of his shoes first. So he obliged me thusly:
new shoes for Hayden
The shoes were also Ryan’s and/or his younger brother’s.

Last night I (finally) cut his hair. The shaggy boy before:
Hayden before a haircut, March 2008
(Can you tell we let him have a red drink with his dinner?)

And after:
paul simon on bookends

Okay, you caught me. That’s Paul Simon 40 years ago. You can’t tell in this picture, but Hayden’s hair is almost that short in the front:
Hayden after a haircut, March 2008
I’m not sure why Hayden’s making his Blue’s Clues sign, but okay.

I got him up this morning and was a little surprised to find a little boy in the crib instead of my shaggy toddler of yesterday!

Categories
Ryan/Married Life

Meme time: Ryan.

My sister tagged me, and today is a great day to talk about my “DH.” (See #3 for the reason why.)

1. What is his name?
Ryan.

2. How long have you been married?
Going on four years.

3. How long did you date?
Well, let’s see. . . . from the day we met to the day we married was 325 days. Our first date was 256 days before our wedding. We were engaged (with ring) for 94 days.

And today is the first anniversary of our first kiss! It’s true. Our first kiss was 144 days before our wedding.

4. How old his he?
29. Seriously.

5. Who eats more?
Usually Ryan. Sometimes Hayden, if it’s macaroni and tuna, especially 😉 .

6. Who said I love you first?
I did. Grumble. I contend, however, that he felt it first but was afraid to say it. We had only been dating for a few days, so he has an excuse.

7. Who is smarter?
I’m smart enough not to answer that question. He would say me, but I think we have the same college GPA. Good enough?

8. Who does the laundry?
In fits and starts. Lately it’s been me, but at times it’s been mostly him.

9. Who does the dishes?
Ryan washes the dishes, I unload the dishwasher. But we’ve just arrived at this arrangement. Here’s hoping it lasts.

10. Who sleeps on the right side of bed?
We both do. The “right” side of the bed? Sitting at the head of the bed, facing the foot of the bed, I’m on the right. Standing at the foot of the bed, facing the bed, he’s on the right.

11. Who pays the bills?
Autopay, mostly.

12. Who cooks dinner?
Usually me unless I’m feeling lazy or not so good.

13. Who is more stubborn?
Dunno. Maybe me?

14. Who proposed?
Ryan, of course.

16. Who has more siblings?
Ryan—he’s fourth of five, I’m first of four.

17. Who drives when you are together?
Usually Ryan, though I’ll do it if I feel like it, if he’s too tired, or if I know the way and don’t feel like navigating.

18. Who has more friends?
Real people: I would say he does. “Imaginary” Internet people (no, not you, you’re real): probably me.

19. Who wears the pants?
Most days, we both wear pants. But neither of us wore pants for our wedding:

Categories
Kids/Parenting

And some pictures

He did this to himself
Hayden Potato Head
Yeah, those are Mr. Potato Head’s.

Hayden ready for school
He added the hat himself.

Hayden ready for school
His Mickey backpack (and the reason why he says “ba’ pa'” when he sees Mickey on TV)

Little boy/very small man
His hands in his pockets and his pockets in his pants

Little diva
No pictures, please

A favorite game: Night night!
Nai nai! And Tee! Hayden loves to mug for the camera, even while pretending to sleep.

peek
Peek.

It
It’s a glove monster!

Categories
Kids/Parenting

The Hayden World News

My little boy is twenty-two months old now! As we approach the two-year mark, I often find myself surprised by my little boy, how much I’m finally beginning to accommodate to being a mother—and how much further I have to go in that regard. I sure did think I’d have a lot more figured out about motherhood at this point—I supposed that just goes to show you how much we all “know” about raising children until they come along.

Hayden has had some fun firsts lately, so let’s share!

Hayden at the Pacific

First “catch”
No idea how this one happened, but the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Hayden caught a ball that was thrown to him! Don’t worry; he’s not an athletic prodigy. He just got lucky. I don’t think, however, that he was nearly as impressed with himself as I was.

First trampoline ride
Every once in a while, Hayden got up the courage to attempt to jump while holding my hands (or Daddy’s). But mostly he was content to sit on the trampoline at my sister-in-law’s house and be bounced, giggling all the while.

First “jump”
A few days after we arrived home from our trip, Hayden was ready to attempt to jump on his own. Now, it’s notoriously difficult to learn to coordinate your feet to leave the ground simultaneously. Again, Hayden’s not an athletic prodigy (yet, I guess I should say), but he did get both feet off the ground, if just barely. Even better was his landing. Almost-two-year-old + first jump + footie jammies + tile kitchen floor < happy ending (but he was fine!).

Hayden loving up one of his Christmas presents

First canines
Hayden has gotten his first (and second, third and fourth) canines in the last month or so. As always, we’re hoping that this means an end of grumpiness.

First day without naps
Hayden went an entire day without a nap at my sister-in-law’s house. Too much excitement with all of my husband’s family there, I guess. As long as we kept him eating, he was pretty happy. Though his stomach was tight as a drum when we finally put him to bed (at about eight, which is later than his usual bedtime. He cried a high-pitch cry for about 90 seconds). This has not set a precedent, however.

First time blowing bubbles in the tub
But he seemed to enjoy watching me lean into the tub and blow bubbles just as much.

Hayden likes to play with bubbles!

First time opening a doorknob
This one I didn’t discover at first. Hayden had been out of the room for an awfully long time, so I went looking for him. I got about ten feet and I could hear running water. (You can bet the water wasn’t the only thing running at that point!) Hayden had opened the door to my bedroom—and turned on my bath. The tub was half full of water! We were just happy he didn’t try to climb in (although we weren’t very happy that he apparently stuck Ryan’s phone under the faucet).

That’s my boy!

Categories
Kids/Parenting

Happy Feet

Okay, Michelle, I know it’s not your favorite, and honestly, I’ve never seen the movie, but there’s no other way to describe these:

Hayden

So now instead of smelly feet or stinky feet, Hayden has smiley feet!

Ryan asked me why I did this to Hayden (again) today. Because it makes us happy! Hayden thinks it’s funny to have the faces down there. Drawing them is fun because they tickle. And they make me smile whenever I see them.

What other reason do you need?

Categories
Kids/Parenting

Catching up on photos

I take pictures of Hayden all the time—including many that are specifically staged for blog posts. (Insert sheepish grin here. What can I say? I think about you guys all the time!)

Unfortunately, I very rarely think to post those pictures. Worst case scenario: I’ve taken a weird picture of Hayden which he did not enjoy and now I can’t remember what it was I was going to say….

However, these pictures will not suffer that fate!

Hayden is a vulcan
It’s true. My son is a vulcan. Look at those eyebrows. All he needs are pointier ears.

Hayden driving a car up the wall
Finally! He drives someone else up the wall!

And yet another reason why people pick Hayden out as his father’s son:
Hayden wearing Ryan

Where did this shirt come from?
back of Ryan
Oh.