What's In a Name?

Names you currently go by (and answer to):

Hadley - obviously
Hads
HP
Hadley Bear
Baby Bear
Jelly Bean
Nugget
Nuggalita
Little Buddy
Angel Pie
Angel Face
Turbo
Turbo Nugget
Thunder (only your daddy calls you this one)

I think there may be more, but this is all I can recall at the moment......

iloveyoumadly.
mama

SHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

You wanna know a little secret? You're going to be a big sister. :-)

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Eighteen Months

Oh my GOSH! How can you be 18 months old already? That is such a big milestone. It is funny how much can change in a month. I was just re-reading the last post and started laughing about the biting and kicking. It was all so new then..... Somehow we've adapted as it has become a part of daily life. Usually only the changing table now, though. :-)

Your vocab still hasn't changed much - you're stubborn and it's funny. We ask "Can you say CUP" and you nod. But you are getting much better at communicating your wants and needs. Just the other night you and I were on the couch rolling around (one of your favorite activities) and all of sudden you stopped and said - clear as day - "Bath?" You knew it was time to go upstairs. Truth be told, I was actually going to skip the bath that night, but since you asked up we went.

You also know when you're ready for bed now. We no longer sit in the rocker - instead we pull your pink blanket down on the floor and we read a little, play a little...and now you point to your crib when you're ready to lie down. It's so easy!

Nana arrives tonight. She is staying with you this weekend because Daddy and I have to go to Salt Lake City for work. So tonight - in honor of your "half" birthday - we are having super special monkey cupcakes from Whole Foods. Your Mama sure must love you.

iloveyouMADLY.
mama

Seventeen Months

You'll notice I am a few days late.... with good reason. We were on vacation last week when you turned 17 months old! We were in Minnesota visiting Grandma and Andpa, and Nana and Papa. You had so much fun. It was an interesting week for us all as a family, as it has been a while since we had all been together 24-7. Needless to say, by the end of the 10 day trip I think all three of us needed a break from each other.

You didn't sleep so well - I think that might have been the issue. We all had to sleep in the same room at Nana's house, and you would wake up every night at 3:00 a.m., realize we were sleeping right next to you, and want to play. So every night we were up together (OK - let's get real: you and I were up together) from 3:00 to 5:00 a.m. It was great to earn all those points in the snuggling department, but you're somewhat of a restless sleeper.

Your vocabulary EXPLODED while we were away. You learned to say "Daisy" (Nana and Papa's dog), "Nana", "toast" and one other word I can't remember..... oh. Right. You learned "Oh Shit." We'll leave it at that for now.

17 months seems have brought a little terrible-twos precurser, as well. You're a little too into hurting your daddy and me. Punching, hitting, kicking, biting - these are all part of your reperatoire. So is the "Time Out" corner. I am not really sure you grasp the concept of a time-out, but since neither of us really know how to punish you for hurting us, this seems to be the best solution. It's actually kind of funny - you just sit there with your hands in your lap, sometimes you play with your feet, but really you just sit and stare at the wall until we tell you it's OK to get up.

I am thrilled and excited about how fast you're growing up. And yet all I want to do is put you in a little jar to keep you where you are. Every new phase brings such great rewards, and yet I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad to see my baby grow up. You are such a precious gift. Biting and all.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Quick Release

Apparently the fear of being left alone at school has subsided for you. I dropped you off on Wednesday, and for the first time since you started in the Tod I room you didn't cry. In fact, you looked at me and waved good bye - as if to say, "It's time for you to go Mommy." I took my cue and left. I MADE IT THROUGH MY FIRST ROUND OF SEPARATION ANXIETY. Go team!

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Make Believe....

I picked you up at school the other day - daddy was out of town for work. I found you in the Tod II room with Rachelle and Kashia, and you were in the play kitchen. Aside from the SAND THAT WAS ALL OVER YOUR FACE (I swear you exist on sand pies), you had a phone resting on your shoulder as you pulled something out of the oven on a tray. It didn't even phase you that I walked into the room - you saw me, smiled and continued on with your domestic duties. It killed me. So the very next day, I went out and bought you a kitchen of your very own for our house. :-) Nothing is too good for my baby bear.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Sixteen Months

You'll note by the date that this is a bit late this month. I apologize. Our internet was out at home this weekend so I didn't get to write you my letter on your actual birthday. Somehow I doubt you will care years from now as you read this...

It's been a crazy month. You are well adjusted in your new room at school, with a few exceptions:

Exception #1: since you spend a majority of your day outside in the sandbox, you have developed a lovely rash on your bottom from the CRAPLOAD OF SAND that accumulates in your diaper. Did I mention the CRAPLOAD OF SAND that comes home with you everyday? I think I washed your sheet 5 times last week alone. Anyway - it doesn't seem to be going anywhere, so I am taking you to see Dr. Cohen this afternoon to see what he thinks we should do about it.

Exception #2: you have a frenemy at school. And it happens to be the daughter of a mother I don't like very much. I wonder if they're connected in some way? Maybe I've secretly put my feelings for this mother on you, and in turn she lashes out? To make a long story short, this lovely little girl seems to think you taste good. So she bites you. A lot. Your daddy and I were very worried about this, as your behavior seemed to change last week when you received YOUR THIRD BITE IN TWO WEEKS!! You became very afraid of getting hurt. And you repeatedly showed us your arm where she bit you. I was all ready to pull you out of school, as any normal over-reactive parent would do, when I received a call from Andrea (the director of your school). She assured me that this is not affecting your behavior at school, and other than getting pissed when she bites you, you seem totally unaffected. And she giggled when I told her about you showing us your arm and pouting. She said you have us wrapped around your finger......

Summer is in full swing. You absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE to be outside. You've learned to drink from the hose, run through the sprinkler, eat watermelon slices and bend over to smell the flowers in our front yard. Oh - and this weekend we took you to Boulder Res to build sandcastles and play in the water. YOU LOVED IT!!! I think we'll spend lots of time there in the coming months.

I know I say this a lot, but I really do have so much fun being your mama. You are such a good baby - so full of life and love. I couldn't ask for anything more. Just thinking about you now makes me swell with pride. Thank you so much for choosing me.

iloveyoumadly.
mama