Ridin' the River

So we have some friends with a pontoon boat who invited us out for a Sunday afternoon cruise. It was Jadyn's first time on the water - how could we NOT document it?

Um, I'm not exactly sure where I am, what I'm doing, or what this big yellow thing is I'm wearing...but at least I have my paci with me.

Maybe I should use this thing to call Omi and Opa and tell them what I'm doing!

Hello? Omi? Opa? Hello? Anyone there? Oh, this thing is just a toy! Oh well, I guess I'll tell them when I see them next week.

Hey Mama, I wanna see what Dada is doing. Think he'll let me help?

Oh, he's driving this rig! I don't know if I'm helping but I like hanging out with my daddy!

Not only am I having a blast, but I also add an exponential amount of cuteness to this watercraft!

Just chillin'

Sometimes I kick my foot up, relax and hang out, just enjoying my bottle.

"This is how I roll."

Baby Jail (aka The Reason We Removed the Crib Bumpers)

"Hello, world!"

"Hey, check me out! Using my very own feet!"

"What, was I NOT supposed to use my feet??"

"I really need this teething toy. See, you can't tell, but I'm getting my second tooth right now!!"

Figures

Ok, so I carried her inside me for 9 months. Then I let her attach herself to my chest with regularity for the first several months of her life. I feed her, change her, dress her and play with her. I lay awake at night praying for her. That's my job and my joy - I'm her mother.

Her first word? "Dada."

All of a sudden...

She's growing up too fast. Today her first tooth broke through. I can't believe it.

Oh, and she crawled today. Oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH!

Because Omi Asked



Sitting up playing with toys like a big girl. I love this picture - especially the bib: Spit Happens. If you know Jadyn you know is it's especially appropriate for her.



Sometimes I see her in pictures like this and I flash-forward to what she'll look like in 2 or 3 years. Admittedly, it sort of freaks me out.

"Oh my gosh, I have a hat on my head!"

The cuteness is paralyzing, is it not?
One of my favorite things about Jadyn is that she is such a happy baby. Because smiles come so easily for her, I am reminded to have a more positive outlook on life.

BY POPULAR DEMAND - MORE PHOTOS! (Ok, so what if in our world "popular demand" means "Omi wants to see"?!)

Here we are at the "Wings Over Columbus" air show at the Air Force Base. It got a little loud at times but we had a fun day. See, Jadyn got to play "airplane" with a little help from Daddy. Also notice the patriotic bib. Can't be her daddy's girl without loving the USA!

Little Jadyn at 7 months. The hat is WAY too big for her, but it came with the outfit so of course I HAD to get a shot of her wearing it. Don't you just love that smile?

Her very first Easter Egg Hunt. She even got to meet the Easter Bunny. I think she just thought he was a giant cat with long ears.

Cuteness Personified
See, we just can't help but take pictures of her. It's like the camera is naturally attracted to that adorable little face!

This was taken at a recent March of Dimes event. Our friend Alex Hocutt was the area MoD ambassador and we raised money and walked to support him and his family. Isn't that hat just the cutest? And noticed how captivated she is by the balloon. I don't think she'd seen one before.

I took this while Jadyn was having some floor time. You can't tell in this one, but she was sitting up and leaning over. I'm telling you, she's a camera hog. If she sees ANYONE get out a camera, she looks toward it as if she's the only person anyone would ever dare to photograph.

What I love about this picture is that you can see not only her milestone of sitting up, but her vibrant personality. This is what she's like most of the time. She's such a happy, gregarious baby.

The other night after we fed her supper, we gave her a bottle with which she feeds herself. It's been a great developement. Anyway, eventually we noticed she seemed kind of quiet. We looked over and saw that she had nodded off to dreamland while still in her high chair. Of course we were obliged by the "how to be a good parent" handbook to get a shot of this.

This is a comparison study. The top was taken in October 05. The bottom was taken last night (April 06). What a difference 6 months makes. Last night we took the hammock feature off and Jadyn sat right in the tub. She seemed to love it, as indicated by the look on her face.

So that's a photo update of our sweet "punky". You may now post your ravings. Thank you.

6 months and counting

So, on Wednesday Jadyn had her 6 month check-up. She wound up seeing the nurse practitioner instead of her usual pediatrician. I use the term "usual" very loosely, because she's only seen him for about half of her scheduled appointments. He's been either sick or on call with a delivery or something else the rest of the time.

Anyway, she's topping the scales at 14.2 pounds (10th percentile) and is 23.5 inches long (5th percentile). Further proof that she is still a peanut. Shots went as well as I could have hoped - even a little better. Typical screams only lasted a few seconds and she was quickly mollified.

We've been giving her solid baby foods now, and she is thankfully not a picky child. The only things she pushes away are meats (not combined with other foods) and peas. That's ok by me, she still eats combo foods including plenty of other proteins and veggies, so I'm thankful.

If only I could get the technicolor spit-up to stop.

Peak-a-boo is a big hit, as well as pretty much anything I sing to her. Oh, and she's rolling now. The other day I had her playing on the floor and I stepped into the kitchen for the slightest of moments. I came back and she was not where I put her. She was UNDER THE COUCH! Sheesh! She can stay sitting up if I help her get her balance, and so far she can stay that way for almost a minute before a toy lures away from her center of gravity, and then it's TIMBER!

We seem to be mastering the art of napping in the crib instead of the swing. This is a very good thing, since I know she will eventually outgrow this "prop". When she shows signs of fatigue (and I have a good sense of when to expect this), it's off to the crib. She sometimes fusses or even cries but she'll sleep for up to 2 hours at a time. And lately, it's 12 hours at night. HALLELUJAH! (Ok, I know, I know, I'm bragging. But I'm so gosh-darn grateful!)

People continue to tell me that she is the "easiest" baby they've ever seen. All I can hope for is that 1)it stays that way, and 2)the next baby, should there be one, is not the complete opposite.

Ya wanna see some pics now, don't you? Come on, admit it.

This is Jadyn enjoying the Jumperoo that Omi pitched in to get for Jadyn. She LOVES it. The tongue sticking out is pretty commonplace. Especially when she's having fun.




This was taken a few weeks ago at a picnic with our church small group. That's her "Aunt Sassy" holding her. Aunt Sassy is most often heard saying, "She knows me! She loves me!" And we figure it's pretty much true.

Playtime
Here are pictures from Saturday where Jadyn had some fun playing on the floor and in her suspended jumper. As of Saturday, she was six months and eight days old.

Tie Dye Full Effect
The tie dye shot posted last month doesn't show the entire story. Mommy went out of her way to make sure Jadyn was properly attired in tie-dyed stuff, down to a burp cloth, headband and bib.

The tie dye shot needs a little explanation. We were at a church Super Bowl party where the small groups set up individual areas with different themes. Ours was "retro," largely a 70s setup, though the tie-dye concept probably bleeds a little from the 60s. One of our small group people had a blond wig which he passed around and it eventually wound up on Jadyn's head.
The other shot is of Jadyn playing in her exercise disc.

A parent's prayer
Sorry, no pictures this time, although I'm sure we can provide some in the near future. Jadyn's been having a ball with her exersaucer, making it bounce up and down and generally pleased with herself in doing something constructive.

Lord, when I'm out of sorts, upset over something in the scheme of things won't really matter an hour or even 100 years later, I pray that somehow, some way I find a way to express this displeasure in such a way as to not pass this along to my daughter.
You've given her such a beautiful, loving, warm soul and I want no part in dampening or diminishing it. I don't want to see my frustration and anger staring back at me in a few years or even ever. So Lord, help me to foster that loving, graciousness you've given her and not transfer to her anything that will keep you from shining through. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Withdrawal

Ok, I know you're going through withdrawal since I haven't been posting any pictures lately. (Yes, admit it, come on!) So here are some great photos of tiny face, who is becoming not so tiny.
(Most of these were taken by my good friend Martha.)

WARNING: THE CUTENESS COULD MAKE YOUR HEART BURST!

PICTURE PAGES

I haven't posted any photos for about 2 weeks, and I tried several times to post some today to no avail. So, take a look at the "flickr" tag to the right. I'll get it figured out sometime. But not right now. Time to get tiny face ready for the pool. (She's able to go since she can hold her head up. Woo-hoo!)

4 Shots of - well, not tequila!

Jadyn had her 4 month appointment today. 11 lb 13 oz, 23 inches, 10th percentile on both. In otherwords, she's basically a tiny little peanut. Believe me, Paul and I were NOT expecting a tiny child, but alas, she's teensy.

Poor child laid there happily babbling to the nurse who stood over her with those instruments of parental torture, vaccination needles. After the shots were over, the screaming was molified by feeding, but my heart still stung from the echoes of painful shrieking. It was one of those times when I had to exert every bit of my will to not yank the nurse back by her braid. I had heard that moments like this bring out the "mama bear", and I felt it some last time she had shots, but for some reason it was worse this time around. At least Jadyn went off to sleep shortly thereafter.

Oh, and we get to do it all again in 2 months. Joy.

Roly Poly

So Jadyn has been waking up earlier than usual the past few days and we've been attributing it to a slight cold she picked up. I kept praying that this 5:30 AM wake-up call was going to be short-lived. (I know, that's normal for some of y'all, but 'round these parts, it's usually a 7 AM rise and shine.)

Sunday morning Jadyn seemed fussier than usual so Paul finally went in to change her and bring her to me for her breakfast. When he brought her in, he said, "Uh, she was on her tummy..." in a mildly concerned tone. He's been indoctrinated enough to know that tummy sleeping is a dangerous, scary thing. Ok, not so much at this point, but the books make it sound like the moment your child falls asleep face-down they're dead meat. Anyway, his obvious main concern revolves around her sleep safety.

My first response: "She rolled over?? And I missed it?!?!?"

Maybe I need to get my priorities straight. That, or hook a camcorder to her crib railing.

Tummy Troubles

Jadyn is not a big fan of tummy time. As I type, she's being fussy because I insist on putting her on the floor on her tummy every now and then. She's gonna have to get over it if she intends to move on to higher functions, like doing 100 push-ups in gym class, hiding things under her bed, and - oh yeah - crawling.

4 Months

Our sweet girl is 4 months old today. She has official transitioned out of the "vortex of need" phase and is mastering the fine art of making Mommy and Daddy smile. She laughs now, sometimes squealing when we tickle her. Anything that gets in her hand goes directly to her mouth, so we're gonna have to be careful what gets near her hands. Lately she's taken to grabbing Daddy's tie and sucking on it. Icky. She's able to stay in a balanced seated position for a few moments at a time, and she likes being upright and propped with pillows so she can get a new view of the world around her.

We go to the doctor next week for a height and weight check, shots (yuck), and I'll ask a few questions, like what to expect next, why she spits up for up to 3 hours after she eats, and how soon do we start thinking about cereal.

You know those commercials that say, "Having a baby changes everything"? I used to hate those because I wanted a baby so badly. Now I realize how true they are. And I loved it.

A Grand Parental Visit

Jadyn was dedicated at church this past Sunday (a story best told in a separate blog) so the maternal grandparents came to witness the event. They haven't seen Jadyn since she was 10 days old, so obviously she's changed quite a bit. They were here 5 days and it seems like that's all it took for her to bond with them. She seemed to miss them after they left. Maybe because she was held by someone for most of the time they were here. But it was fantastic to see them love up on her.

When they left, I told Paul, "I want to be closer to them." Not just for the babysitting options, which would be nice, but so that Jadyn can grow up knowing her Omi and Opa (their monikers of choice). I grew up knowing both sets of grandparents, and while there was some dysfunction in those relationships (which is probably true of everyone), I cherish the memories I have of those times. She already is missing out on her paternal grandparents, who have both passed on. My parents are the only ones she will know, and I would hate for them to be little more than strangers who send $10 in a birthday or Christmas card.

Anyway, thanks, Mom and Dad, for making the trek down her to see our little Punkin. It really meant a lot.

Merry Christmas! We've had a wonderful time seeing family and friends in Alabama, all of whom got to see Jadyn for the first time. Jadyn spent her first Christmas where her Dad grew up and as far as we can tell, she had lots of fun!

3 Months Old

On Dec 10 Jadyn turned 3 months old. Time is just flying by, and yet it feels like I can't remember life before she was born. Anyway, here's her Christmas photo. We'll do the obligatory "First Photo with Santa" later this week.

Another First

Well, it was bound to happen sometime. Jadyn has her first cold. Not too bad so far, but I'm keeping a diligent eye on her. Man, she hates that bulb sucker thing!

First Christmas Parade

Here's a few snapshots of her at her first Christmas parade, here in Starkville. She really got a kick out of the marching bands. I think she loves music, which tends to be predominant trait on my side of the family.

Now That It's Getting Colder...



Isn't she cute? We got her this hat a few months ago and I've been anxiously awaiting a chance for her to wear it!

An Open Letter to Folks in Stores Who Stop to Comment on My Baby

Pink=Girl Blue=Boy

Sincerely,
Jadyn's Mommy

2 Month Check-up

Jadyn weighs 9 lb 7 oz and is 21 inches long (apparently the hospital measurement at birth was inaccurate, she was only 18 1/2 inches rather than 20). She's healthy and looks good, other than a possible allergy to the cats and a tad of reflux, which explains the spitting up after every meal.

She got 4 shots, and handled it relatively well. She only screamed for the first 5-10 seconds after each one. But she got very angry when food wasn't there when she wanted it immediately after the whole process. I have a feeling she'll be tired, hungry and a bit grumpy today, and that's perfectly understandable after being stuck 4 times!!!

She's my little trooper!

Energy booster:
When this little girl smiles, it sends a whole packet of emotions through me - I wish my parents could see this; Evidence of what we waited for for so long; Why I can't I be with her all the time?; I lose several hours of sleep - for THIS. And yes, it gives me a little shot of adrenalin. I love you sweetie! I'm glad you're here. This can also serve as her two-month-old picture since she's now eight weeks old.

A MIRACLE MACHINE!

I had been wanting a swing for Jadyn and I finally got a used one from ebay. (I figure, new is not necessary in some cases, and this one works great.) Anyway, I am SO glad I did! She loves it! Finally I can get things done during the day!

See how happy she is??? Er, maybe content is a better word!

Becoming Famous Already!

I submitted Jadyn's photo for the ivillage.com baby photo gallery, and it was selected! Click here to see her among other cute babies.

This is the photo I used: