Halloween 2014

Sweet Halen girl- 

Halloween was so much fun this year! First, daddy picked out some awesome pumpkins! We carved a friendly Jack 'o Lantern just for your first Halloween. And we watched lots of silly Halloween movies that night like: Hocus Pocus, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Adams Family. 

You were a purple octopus...YaYa made your outfit and it really couldn't of been any cuter! It was mommy's vision and YaYa made it happen. I loved every single bit of it, and you had so much fun!

Luckily, Halloween was on a Friday this year AND mommy got off work early. So I quickly picked you up from Ms. Lyn's house and went home. We got our supplies and our costumes ready and went over to the Mobley's house. Mommy made witch finger cookies and caramel dipped grapes! Yum! 

We took pictures of you and Jaxon in pumpkins...so adorable! You kept trying to eat the pumpkin, silly girl. 

Then we got ready, ate some yummy foods and  hung out at the Mobley's. Eventually, we walked down to the middle of their cul-de-sac and ate chili, drank spiked apple cider and hung out by the bonfire.                                               

Then we took you two trick-or-treating in the next cul-de-sac over. It was so much fun! You two were just so cute. We put you in the wagon and then rang the doorbell at different houses, everyone thought you guys were adorable. 

PaPa & GiGi came to visit too! 

Then YaYa and Julie showed up!

Unfortunately, daddy had a football game and he was so sad not to be there. But, he was the first one to see his little girl dressed up as a purple octopus! 

Playing with Jaxon was really fun and cuddling by the fire was a perfect end to the night. 

Next year will be even better! Mommy is thinking a peacock costume would be the best for my lil walking machine! 

I love you Halen Rae Carol! 

Love always, 

Mommy 

Five little months sitting on a fence... our little pumpkin

Dear Halen,

You are in your fifth  month of life. On the day you turned five months you sat up!
Amazing timing you had my dear. This month is extra fun because fall has started. We love October, the weather starts to cool down and feel wonderful outside. Mommy loves to start baking and cooking with pumpkin. We've taken you to the park a few times by our house, you love the swings! You and I have started going on more walks outside.

You are doing so awesome in your swim classes! You are so strong, you splash like crazy, drenching your mama, you kick your little feet and like to say hi to the other kids in your class by grabbing their hands. Sweet girl.











We went to your first football game the other night, it was mommy's school versus daddy's school. Daddy's school won: Westwood. PaPa, GiGi, Crash, Dana, Daren, Piper, Rachel, Adam, Brooklyn, and YaYa all came to watch the game. We had so much fun together! You even nursed and fell asleep! Even with the band  playing and crowd cheering.

You are sitting up really well now and starting to grab things in
front of you, like, mommy and daddy's food and drinks. You are so ready to eat. Only one more weeks and we will introduce food into your diet. Mommy wants to keep you really healthy, I am thinking of starting with avocados, oatmeal, squash, pumpkin and bananas. I think you are going to love it! We've already tried putting you in your highchair and you do great in there.

Here you are with PaPa at your cousin Crash's 2nd birthday party! 

I am very excited for your first Halloween! You are going to be an octopus, mommy is going to make your costume. (I can do it!) We are going over to Miss Traci's house to play with Jaxon and trick-or-treat in their cul-de-sac. It'll be so much fun! I can't wait to take pictures with you all dressed up.

We are also going to a pumpkin patch this weekend, you are going to be so adorable in the pumpkins.

You are finally feeling better from being sick. OH mommy forgot to mention....you got your FIRST TOOTH!!! Daddy discovered it at the Curby's house. He got teary eyed...sad that his baby girl is growing up. What a huge milestone! And then we moved your pack n play into the Man Halen room to help transition you to your room. You had a few rough nights but then mommy discovered that you like sleeping on your belly. So alas, we all got sleep! Seven hours one night...mo
mmy woke up in a panic and went to make sure you were breathing. Then five hours last night, daddy checked on you that time.

We just love being a little family. So much fun. You are in one of the best stages of life. You smile, giggle, play, and snuggle with us. You have started reaching up for us and jump like crazy in your "Johnny jumper" so fun!

Here is when you come to visit me every so often to have lunch where mommy works! I love your visits, they brighten my day. 

We know each new month will bring fun milestones and memories we'll make with you, but sometimes we sure do wish we could freeze time. Hopefully we'll get some great family time this week together. Raykobrew is on Saturday, this will be your first appearance sans womb, it'll be fun to play with your best bud, Piper June. We had a great time at Raykobrew!

Here are a few other moments we captured of you this month:

Go Broncos!!!



With YaYa on mommy's birthday!

You were my birthday buddy! My 30th birthday was awesome because I had the greatest gift of all, my beautiful daughter.


My lil workout buddy!

Deborah captured this gorgeous picture of you at my 30th birthday party!

We went to Jennifer's baby shower for lil Robert Jr.! These friends I've had for 27 years. Mommy looks forward to seeing you make friends of this magnitude in your life.

We did the ALS walk on October 18th for your Grandma Carol! There was a great turn out and we raised a lot of money. This is a very important event for our family. Grandma Carol is so important to us and daddy and I want to raise you with wonderful memories of her.

Here's our team: Carol's Angels at the end of the ALS walk with your Uncle Matt, Uncle Chase, cousin Crash, DiDi, daddy and I.

 Sometimes mommy wears you when I am trying to clean up the house. You and I have one of the greatest bonds I could ever have hoped for.

 Daddy loves to wear you too! Here we were walking around the Domain.

You are finally able to fit into mommy's pink mocassins I wore when I was a baby. Gosh darn you are SO cute!!!!!

We love you Halen Rae Carol. You are mommy's favorite pumpkin and daddy's favorite muffin.

Love always,

Mommy

Sick a loo my darling

Well the time arrived...you got sick for the very first time. Daddy and I were hoping this day would never come. Last Thursday night you started to sound congested and had trouble breathing through your nose. So mommy sat up from 1:30 a.m. til morning with you so you could sleep upright (easier for you to breathe). Then on Friday I got done with work early so I could pick you up. When I brought you home, same thing, congestion. You were a phglemy mess. We propped ourselves up in bed and you slept all afternoon. YaYa brought over some essentials for our sick baby girl... the Nose Frida (it has a little tube and I suck boogies out of your nose...you hate it!), nasal saline solution, probiotics, a vaporizer, and dinner. You DID NOT like anything going in your nose. But poor darling you couldn't breathe! Every time you tried to eat, you had to stop and breathe out of your mouth. So Yaya helped me pin you down so I could get the saline in your nose to loosen up all that yucky stuff and then I would suck it out. Boy are you strong! You are one determined little girl. You fought us, but mommy knows best, I finally got the boogies out of your nose. We had to sleep sitting up in a chair for the next few nights so you could breathe better. Mommy was exhausted but had to take care of my girl! You are getting better but still stopped up. We ended up taking you to the pediatrician on Saturday morning, just to make sure you didn't have an infection. Luckily, the doctor said you are all clear, just have a cold. So we snuggled and took care of you all weekend long.

Just when we thought you were in the clear you started to act sick again. Your eye boogies and nose boogies turned green... so mommy was afraid there was an infection. :( The following Thursday night you didn't seem right. Early Friday morning, you were burning up. I just knew you had a fever, I took your temperature and it read 100.3. So I decided to call in sick to work and schedule an appointment with your pediatrician. I took you with me to my school at 6:30 am to get my sub plans together and then I stopped at Starbucks to get coffee and oatmeal to help keep me awake since we were up most of the night.

 Luckily, we got in with our doctor, Dr. Moore. At first the nurse took you temperature via temporal and it read 98.6, my mom-tuition just told me that was wrong. So I requested a rectal temperature be taken. And sure enough it was 100.7. Sweet baby girl. Dr. Moore found that you had an ear infection in your left ear and an eye infection. She prescribed you antibiotics and told me to give you Tylenol to keep you comfortable. I gave you a dosage of Tylenol right away because I knew you didn't feel well. Then I finally got some antibiotics in you. We went home and you slept on mommy and on mommy and daddy's bed all day. At one point I went to give you some more Tylenol, I gave you half the dosage and all of a sudden you started throwing up, everywhere. All over mommy and yourself. I had never seen you throw up before and I wasn't sure what to do. I just stood there, in the kitchen to let you finish. Then you seemed much better. We spent several more nights sleeping upright, and you had to take your antibiotics twice a day for 10 days. We just took your last dose last night. You did not like taking medicine. We hope you aren't sick again!

Any time mommy does something and you don't like it, just remember I am doing it because I know it's best for you. I would never ever hurt you and neither would daddy. We love you so much and always want you to be happy, healthy and enjoying your life.

xoxoxoxo Mommy & Daddy

A day in the life of Halen

My blue eyed girl. You are the light of our world darling Halen. Every day daddy and I are more and more in love with you. From the moment you wake up, you smile ear to ear. You gurgle a language of your own and your eyes shine with happiness. You've changed our lives so much and we are forever thankful to the Lord above for sending your sweet self into our lives.

We love being our little family. Our daily routine usually goes: I set my alarm for 5:50 a.m. and when it goes off, I am reminded that I am a mommy. And not only that but I am YOUR mommy. My heart skips a beat and then I shower you with kisses. (You are usually sleeping in our bed at this point.) Then daddy cuddles you as I go make coffee and get dinner ready for the crockpot. Then I hurry back to bed so I can get some snuggles. Daddy gets ready for work while you and I stay cozy in bed. I turn on Joyce Meyer to receive some of the Lord's word, to inspire us for the day ahead. Then I put on Good Morning America. Lately, I have been reading you a story, each day,  from a Children's Bible

Uncle Bill gave us. Today we read about the Tower of Babel. We play, giggle, talk and I cover you with a million kisses. Then we get dressed for the day. I usually put you in your Exer-Saucer for a few minutes to play while I get my lunch together.

Then if it is a Monday you go to YaYa's house, yesterday you were there. You played, watched Lil Buds, went on a walk and had great feedings/naps. Yaya loves hanging out with her Halen! Today you are with Gigi and Papa. Gigi comes over in the morning to play and then takes you to Papa's condo. Sometimes she takes you to the music class at the library, which you love. I pick you up in the afternoons. Gigi is smitten over you! And Papa loves watching you grow, he can't wait til you are walking and talking. Wednesday-Friday you go to see Ms. Lyn around the corner from our house. Ms. Lyn keeps six kiddos (including you) at her house, you guys play, dance, watch Mickey Mouse Club, and sing songs. You are always happy when I pick you up from Ms. Lyn's house.

After I pick you up, we come home and feed, play and more snuggles. I love seeing your face light up when you see my face! Sometimes daddy can pick you up, he loves that.

Then around 7-8 you start to get drowsy and fall asleep. Daddy and I watch Jimmy Fallon and then we go to bed too. Sometimes I put you in your pack n play to sleep but if you fuss, I bring you in bed with daddy and I. We love having you near us in bed, you sleep better that way anyways.

Then I say my prayers thanking Jesus for sending such a wonderful creature into our lives. I thank the Lord for our health, our blessings and ask for guidance and clarity to make the right decisions.

Fall is around the corner! So many fun things to do. I love how it feels my life has a new purpose and I love getting excited to introduce you to different things. I am so excited for your first Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, to see snow in Colorado, watching Disney movies, take you to a pumpkin patch, to bake with you......... so many fun things ahead.

Love you cutie tootie!

Fourth Month

My darling Halen girl-

I cannot even express how much I adore being your mommy. Staying at home with you for 15 1/2 weeks was glorious. I had to go back to work when you were almost 16 weeks old, I am an English teacher for high school kids. I do love my job but being away from you is difficult. YaYa watches you on Mondays, PaPa and GiGi watch you on Tuesdays and Ms. Lyn watches you Wednesdays-Fridays, she has an in-home day care right by our house. This is the morning of your first day at day care! You did so good but, of course, your mommy cried. I loved picking you up after work that day!

You are so smiley and happy most of the time. We love your smile. You learned to flip over not to long ago! Every time I put you down on your back you automatically flip to your belly. And you prop yourself up so well now! You also LOVE grabbing on to your toes.

You are still loving your swim lessons, Brooklyn, our neighbor joined us. Daddy and I can't wait to see how you do in the Waterbabies class. You love swimming! We swam at Jaxon's pool, the Curby's pool, and the Bolton's pool all summer!

Here you fell asleep on the raft, you were so comfy!

I can't believe you are four months old. Seems like yesterday when daddy rushed me to the hospital and then we brought you home.

Our sweet girl. Daddy sure does love you. He dances with you around the house to George Strait, I've caught tears running down his cheeks a few times. Proof that he is undeniably in love with his baby girl.

We asked your Enna to be your Godmother, she happily said yes! We are hoping to baptize you when you're six months old around Thanksgiving.

You are now sleeping in the regular pack n play, still in our room. But you end up in bed with us every night. We're still trying to figure out a bed time routine and you're figuring out life. I love cuddling with you in bed. The other morning we woke up together and just stared into each other's eyes, I felt like my soul was opened up and my heart just filled up with your sweetness. It was one of the most pure, revitalizing moments of my life.

You see your friend, Jaxon, a lot. I would take you to story time at the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays during summertime.


We have had a few mama playdates with all our favorite friends. You finally met sweet Cora! She is such a doll, you two will grow to become great friends one day.



Mandalee came to visit us from Dallas, she loved meeting you!

Here is Piper at 7 months, Cora at 5 months, you at almost 4 months, and Jaxon at almost 8 months!

Your Neicey loves you to pieces! Every time she sees you she wants to hold you and love on you.

You love you Exer-Saucer! You play and play in there all by yourself.

You also love the jumper!








Daddy started football season, so we will be going to football games and rooting for him in the stands. You watched your first Michigan football game the other day too! We won. And daddy was happy to share a pre-season Denver Bronco game with you too.

You've been an absolute delight. You've enriched daddy and my life with so much joy and happiness. Every day I wake up so in love with the life your daddy and I have built and the family we've created.

First of many times you'll be on daddy's shoulders!

Labor Day 2014
Taking a walk as a big girl without the carseat!




Taking a bath!

 Your DiDi brought you this adorable onesie from Maine!

 Your first time on the swings at the park by our house!!

Thank you for being you my darling girl. I'm excited to see what this new month of your life brings.

Love always and forever,
Mama