So much to be thankful for

On Thursday we celebrated our first Thanksgiving with Hailey. After experiencing a pregnancy loss prior to having Hailey, it has made me that much more thankful for this beautiful blessing in our lives. She truly is such a miracle; every time I look at her I just can't believe that Anthony and I created such an amazing little being.

Hailey is almost 2 months old, and she has changed our lives in so many wonderful ways. As I type this blog, she is curled up in Anthony's arms with a pink fuzzy blanket wrapped around them both. Hailey turned Anthony into a daddy, and for that I am so thankful because it has made me love him even more than I already did, if that is even possible.

I just love my little monkey baby so much that I can't even put it into words. I love being a mommy and I love the happy little family we have all become.

I am also so very thankful for all the love and support in my life. I have an amazing, loving family that has helped turn me into the person I am today.

Well, this has turned into one big random, rambling mess but what I am trying to say is that I have so many blessings in my life and I am thankful today and every day for them.

So much to look forward to

The first few weeks after Hailey was born I found myself very emotional and often crying about the fact that she would never be so little again and that she was growing so much right before my very eyes. I wanted my tiny little baby to stay tiny forever and never grow up! Of course the first few weeks were also very rough with the lack of sleep and lots of crying and trying to figure each other out, so then I started to think maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she didn't stay in the newborn phase forever.

Within the last few weeks Hailey has been changing so much and doing new things and its made me realize how much I have to look forward to. Every day I get excited to see her smile at new things, recognize me and make faces at me, and "talk" more and more every day.

Hailey has completely outgrown her newborn clothes and diapers, and at just over 6 weeks old I think I have to officially say that she is no longer a "newborn." But I enjoyed every moment (even the sleepless ones!) of her being a newborn, and now I'm so excited about all that's to come: more cooing and jabbering, seeing her try new foods and watching the funny faces she'll make as she discovers all the flavors, watching her learn to crawl and then walk, hearing her say "mommy" and "daddy" and "I love you" for the first time, and the little girl giggles and smiles.

She is growing and changing so much every day that I can already sort of picture how she will look as a little girl. I can't wait for her to interact with me, to hold my hand and kiss me back. It brings tears to my eyes to imagine her as a little girl holding her newborn brother or sister one day.

Today I laid Hailey down to try and get her to take a nap in her crib. Thus far she's been sleeping in a bassinet in our room, but I realize before I know it she will no longer fit in there and will have to start sleeping in her own room. As I tried to soothe her to sleep I told her how she's getting to be a big girl and will have to start sleeping in her big girl bed in the next few months. I told her mommy would be sad about it, but she would learn to like her crib and promised that Mr. Glow Seahorse would help her fall asleep every night. Just one of the many big changes we have ahead of us in the next few months.

While it's hard to realize that she will never be a tiny little newborn again, I'm trying to enjoy every day with her and what it brings, because it's true that it all does pass by in the blink of an eye and I don't want to forget any of it.

Photo shoot success!

Hailey was in a very happy mood today, so after a bottle and diaper change I decided to try another photo shoot I've been meaning to get to for a while. Today we had much better success and no screaming!

"What am I wearing mom?!"

"Well, I guess I do look pretty cute!"

Pretty, pretty princess

Photo shoot = FAIL

I've been meaning to take some cute "professional" (as professional as I can get at home anyway) photos of Hailey, so I tried recently after her bath, and let's just say it didn't go so well!

She was definitely NOT in the mood to have her picture taken!


Binky to the rescue:
We are scheduled to take some real professional photos and Christmas pictures at JC Penney next week. I'm crossing my fingers she's not cranky and feeling more photogenic that day!

Just as proof that she's usually more photogenic, here is a photo where she's showing a hint of the smile that she's flashing more and more to mommy and daddy every day:

1 month old!

Is it possible that Hailey can be 1 month old already? Oh my goodness the time is going by way too fast, but I'm enjoying every moment of it. Hailey has already changed so much in just one month, but she is still the sweetest, cutest little baby.

Yesterday I took her into work to meet all my co-workers, and she was such an angel. She was awake and alert the whole time, just looking around and hardly making a peep. Everyone was so impressed by how alert and well behaved she was. I was a proud momma!

Just in the past few days Hailey has become so much more smily and is starting to make cute baby "talking" sounds. Last Sunday I decided to leave Hailey alone with daddy while I got out on my own for the first time, just a little "me" time. Of course I used it to go shopping for cute new clothes for my baby girl! When I got back from shopping Hailey was hanging out in her swing (daddy survived quite well I might add!) and I went and knelt down to talk to her and her face completely lit up into the biggest smile, completely melted my heart!

To celebrate her 1 month birthday, here are some great pictures of my little cutie!