So, Hailey
has been saying “Da-da” for quite some time. She says it a lot, but it also definitely means Tyler. She will sometimes scream it when he comes in th door or whisper it when she wants to get his attention. This doesn’t bother me so much since I know it’s most babies first word. But usually Ma-ma follows. Not for Hailey. She refuses to even make the “m” sounds. Again this wouldn’t bother me so much if she hadn’t just started saying dog “do-do” It is clearly different than da-da and is said when she sees real dogs or dogs on tv. It is even said toward cats, but we’ll work on that later. I am just wondering at what point should I be offended. I think maybe she is doing it on purpose. Just to make me a little crazy!!
Posted by Ida Marie on 08.03.2009 at 8:28 pm// Tagged: Hailey //
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I took Thomas shopping today for a new outfit to wear to his first day of school. I had been meaning to do this, but it had gotten away from me. After talking to my mom this morning she went through the check-list of everything a kid needs before their first day of school and it was revealed that I DID NOT have something new for him to wear. She told me to go buy him something on her dime to which I quickly agreed.
So this afternoon the kids and I loaded into the car and headed to the mall. I headed straight for Old Navy knowing they would have exactly what I wanted and I could be done fast. For the first time ever, they totally let me down. There was not one pair of shorts to be found in Thomas’ size with the exception of a red plaid pair. Not being a person who loves red, I dismissed them. There were plenty of jeans, khaki pants, SWEAT PANTS!!! But not one pair of shorts. I understand that the weather is getting cooler in some parts of the country, but COME ON, this is FLORIDA!!! It is still blazing hot.
It would seem that retailers would understand that sometimes people still need temperature appropriate clothing while it is that temperature. Not everyone buys their wardrobe a season ahead of time. I don’t know anyone who buys their clothes a season ahead of time.
We did end up finding something at Gymboree so all wasn’t lost.
Posted by Ida Marie on 08.02.2009 at 8:17 pm// Tagged: School, Thomas //
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Thomas starts Pre-K on Monday. As in the “grade” before he starts kindergarten. As any mother can attest to, this seems completely mind blowing. I look at him and I know that he is older, but I am just not really sure how it happened. I have gotten where I enjoy him so much in a way that is new. He is becoming such a real little person that has his own thoughts, ideas, likes, dislikes, and sense of humor.
The other day we were in Target and he picked up a snack pack of mandarin oranges. I was checking out and he held them up and asked me if we could buy them. I told him “no,” and he looked at me and said, “but mom, I loved these when I was a kid. I’d really like to get them.” The check out girl and I totally cracked up. I still didn’t buy them because he doesn’t actually like them. Then the next day he told me about something that he did when he was a kid and then said “because I’m not really a kid anymore, I am a big boy.”
He went with my mom up to Cedar Key for a couple of days and on the drive up he looked out the window and said, “Yep, we’re in the middle of nowhere, we’re almost to Meme and Papa’s house.” Not sure where he got that from, but he IS right.
It’s the things like these that keep me going on the days when he is acting like a boy trying to figure out who he is. Those days when I think about wanting to sell him I just remember the times when he keeps me laughing and I choose not to put him on e-bay.
Posted by Ida Marie on 08.01.2009 at 7:50 pm// Tagged: Thomas //
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Tomorrow will be August 1, 2009. In August of 1979, 30 years ago, my mother was due to have a baby boy at the beginning of the month. Two weeks later on August 15th, her baby girl (not boy) was born. So in honor of my 30th birthday month I am going to try and post every day. I have so many adorable pictures of the kids to put up and I hate that I am so behind on Hailey. I hate that the blog world is missing out on pictures such as this:
So here’s hoping I can keep up with it. And with Thomas starting back to school (pre-k, oh my gosh!!) on Monday I have high hopes!!
Posted by Ida Marie on 07.31.2009 at 8:06 pm// Tagged: Uncategorized //
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Dear Hailey,
So I am about 2 weeks late on writing about your 9th month. I would love to blame this on a lot of things, but have no real excuse. We have been changing my computer around which is what I will blame the lack of pictures on. As I have said for the past few months, you are a joy to be around. I can’t imagine you not in our lives. You make us laugh daily and your smile is contagious and spreads to everyone around you.
You are a true mover and shaker. You are not happy unless you are on the go. You have perfected crawling and are really fast. And you are as loud and talkative as ever. (you get that from your father.) I took you to the doctor for your 9 month check up and you continue to be on the bigger size. You are 20lb. 10oz. (75%) and 30″ long (above the 95%). When the nurse gave you your shot you started acting like you were going to cry. You had been playing with a pen so I picked it up and handed it to you. Once you grabbed it you started talking to it and all was well. No tears for you. Such a brave girl.
Your favorite person right now trades off between Daddy and Brother. When you see Daddy I can barely hold you because you try so hard to get to him. To say he thinks this is great is an understatement. He tries to hide his pride, but can’t really. :) You squeal whenever you see either one of them. Most of the time Thomas loves this and loves you. Sometimes he just really wants you to leave him alone. You don’t. And in the end he is okay with that because you are one of his favorite people.
You also eat!! (which probably explains your size.) After having your brother I kind of got accustomed to a baby that doesn’t eat. So I am still sometimes in shock by the fact that we haven’t found anything that you don’t love. You eat all veggies, fruit, meat. Really anything we feed you. It’s amazing.
It amazes me how fast you are growing. I am trying to take in each moment because I know I will turn around tomorrow and you’ll be heading to college. I don’t want to miss a moment of this sweet time. I enjoy being with you so much and cherish the time I have loving on you. I can’t wait to see what your sweet personality turns into!!
Love, Mommy
Posted by Ida Marie on 07.27.2009 at 9:18 am// Tagged: Uncategorized //
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Hailey turned 8 months today. She pulled herself up to a standing position for the first time. She has been pulling up to her knees for about a week. Thomas pulled himself up to a standing position the day he turned 7 months old. One month behind. She is catching up though. She crawled a month and a half after him. She gained 2 weeks. She can go up the 2 stairs in between our living room and dining room. She can also go down them… just usually not in a very graceful way. She has yet to get hurt though. I am thinking it will just be a couple of weeks before Tyler and I start cursing the tile floor again…
Posted by Ida Marie on 06.14.2009 at 7:52 pm// Tagged: Hailey //
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Max’s mom and I joke that we one day hope to love our children as much as they love each other.
These pictures are from their end of the school year performance. They sang “All you need is love” by the Beatles. The backs of their shirts said best friends forever and they had drawn a picture of themselves and their best friends. Obviously Max and Thomas both drew pictures of each other.
These two boys make my heart happy. I love them!! (Just not as much as they love each other! :))
You can see the video of the performance by clicking on the end of the school year video on the right.
Posted by Ida Marie on 06.08.2009 at 8:20 am// Tagged: Friends, School, Thomas //
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My life has been filled with many wonderful mothers. My mother is an amazing lady who gave so much to my brother and I. I like to think that we know how lucky we are, but I don’t think that we always do. Like all children we take her for granted. My grandmothers are amazing women. Both were involved in my life and cherished me. My maternal grandmother is also able to love and cherish my children as well. I have aunts who have also shown me how to be great a great mother. None of these ladies have had easy lives, but through all that life has thrown at them they have come out on the other side as shining examples for the girls in my family to follow.
As an adult I have also had many amazing mothers in my life. My mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law are both women that I would love to learn so much from. They each give so much to their families. I have friends who have taught me both how to be a calm mother to my babies and to deal with the toddler stage in a way that will hopefully shape the heart in a permanent way. God truly has blessed me with many women whom I can learn a lot from, but without these two, I would not myself a mother.
On this Mother’s Day, I am not only thankful for the women who have made me the mother that I am, but also for the 2 who make me a mother. I know that they will also take me for granted most of the time. They will not always realize the sacrifices that I make for them. They will not fully “get” what I do, but that is not why I do what I do. I do it because I love them with a love greater than seems possible. I love them with every fiber of my being. And that, more than anything else in their life will be what will let them look back and be thankful for the impact that I had on their life. My hope for them is that I teach Thomas to appreciate his mother-in-law and the mother of his own children. My hope for Hailey is that she learns to be a good mother from the example that I have set.
On this Mother’s Day I am grateful, grateful for the past as I look at the shining motherly examples in my life. Grateful for the present as I look at the two beautiful babies that make me a mother. Grateful for the future when I get to see my own children becoming mothers and fathers themselves.
Posted by Ida Marie on 05.10.2009 at 4:45 pm// Tagged: Family, me //
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Little Hailey Bug,
The fact that a half a year has gone by since your birth is baffling to me. I honestly don’t know where this past 6 months have gone. But they have gone. And you have enjoyed every single one of them. To just say that you are happy isn’t quite the right description. It doesn’t do your personality justice. You are happy! But you are so much more than happy.
We started food with you about 3 weeks ago. To say that you were not a fan is putting it mildly. You said “No Thank You!” and you said it loudly!! We just kept trying. About a week later you decided that it was not in fact poison, but something that you could probably tolerate one day. Now, you eat 3 Stage 1 jars without even blinking your eye. Which may shed some light into the fact that you are still our very big girl. You weigh over 18 lbs. (90%) and you’re over 27 in long (95%). You just refuse to stay small!
Your personality is contagious. I think that when we go places and people don’t know you they get a reaction that they are not expecting. No matter who is talking to you, you get excited. They do not have to be a familiar face for you to love the fact that they are talking to you. If I am holding you, you start bouncing. You love to bounce. That is how you show your excitement. People just love you. I was in a meeting at church the other day and you were kind of over being on my lap so I put you on the floor with your wipey case and you could not have been happier. You rolled around and smile at everyone and played with the wipey case and just had the best time. I don’t think one person left without telling me how adorable you were.
You have also recently really found your voice. And like the rest of your family you LOVE using it. Your favorite thing to sa is “ahhh daaa daaa daaa.” Your favorite noise to make is a growling noise. You love talking it people and getting their attention. The new love for you voice helps in getting your desired result.
You still continue to think that your brother is the funniest person out there. I mostly agree. The other day we were in a store and you were infant carrier facing Thomas and me. You were looking at him and just started laughing. I said, “Look buddy, Hailey is laughing at you.” He replied, “But I’m not doing anything funny.” He then looked up at you and said, “Hailey, I’m not doing being funny right now.” To which you then started laughing harder.
In the past month you have gotten your 2 bottom teeth. The first one came with no real teething symptoms other than drool. And boy do you drool. The second tooth, however, made you very crabby. I could see it under the gum for days before I could actually feel it. This made you not sleep as well and less content. Although, your “less content” is still pretty pleasant. 
It really is such a joy to be your mommy, little Hailey Bugger. More than enjoying getting to dress you, putting bows in your hair, picking out pretty shoes, I enjoy just hanging out with you. You are such a fun baby and you have such a sweet disposition that I would love you even if you weren’t mine. The fact that you are is just an added bonus.
Love, Mommy
Posted by Ida Marie on 04.20.2009 at 8:37 am// Tagged: Hailey, Monthly Letters, Parenthood, Uncategorized //
2 Comments »
has been saying “Da-da” for quite some time. She says it a lot, but it also definitely means Tyler. She will sometimes scream it when he comes in th door or whisper it when she wants to get his attention. This doesn’t bother me so much since I know it’s most babies first word. But usually Ma-ma follows. Not for Hailey. She refuses to even make the “m” sounds. Again this wouldn’t bother me so much if she hadn’t just started saying dog “do-do” It is clearly different than da-da and is said when she sees real dogs or dogs on tv. It is even said toward cats, but we’ll work on that later. I am just wondering at what point should I be offended. I think maybe she is doing it on purpose. Just to make me a little crazy!!
