First Birthday

Hadley's First Birthday

We had an ice cream theme for Hadley's Birthday. We had ice cream sundaes, cupcakes shaped like ice cream cones and rice krispies in the shape of ice cream bars. My mom made these absolutely adorable ice cream cone decorations and an ice cream cone pinata! Hadley had a blast even though she had NO idea what was going on or that she was the guest of honor.

12 Months

The big ONE!

I can't believe its finally come time to do the big ONE post!!! And yes, I realize I am about 3 weeks late. Haha Life has been crazy and busy this past month! Lots of firsts! Some good and some bad! Here is a few facts from this last month. 

~ 18# (9%)

 ( I had guessed last month she had gained a little weight 

but the doc visit for her 12 month she was still at 18)

~28 in (36%)

 ~ Walking like a pro and trying new things like stairs. She goes up just fine but we are working on the coming down!

~Starting to say more words: Hi, Dog, Mamma, Dadda

~ She waves hi and bye and signs "all done"

~She now has 6 teeth with a 7th about to come through. 

~Hadley has decided her Grandma ( Byers) is her FAVORITE person ever!!! (unless mommy is holding another baby)

~ She has found a love for baby dolls; holding them, feeding them bottles, and pushing them in her new play stroller. (you don't have to teach a girl to be a mommy)

~She has tried gobs of new foods and is officially done with formula! (hallelujah!!!)

~She celebrated her first Halloween and dressed up as a cow! ( last year she spent Halloween enjoying her last day in Mamma's belly)

~ She has started showing her stubborn side and throwing little fits when she doesn't get her way.

 

 ~She took her first and hopefully last ride in an ambulance.

~She had her first EEG, IV, and CT scan. 

~She had her first and hopefully last seizure.

On October 30 around 7:10pm I (mom) received a call at work from Joe (dad) that Hadley was having a seizure. I told him to hang up and call and 911 and that I would be there in a minute. I clocked out and then ran out the door. As I drove home quickly but safely I cried, prayed, and tried to calm myself down. I prayed that it was a febrile seizure and nothing else. When I finally got home I walked in to Joe holding Hadley while she sobbed with two paramedics standing in my living room. I took Hadley from Joe and noticed right away how limp her body was. She was breathing fine and crying super hard but she didn't move much at all. This made me nervous. They didn't think she had a fever and suggested we get her checked out even though they thought she was fine. About that time the ambulance arrived and we loaded Hadley up in her carseat. I rode in the ambulance while daddy drove the car. The ride was a very uneventful ten minutes. Once we arrived at the hospital they put us in a room and started examining her. She did not have a fever at this point either so they decided to go ahead and draw labs and do a CT scan. They staff was great but it was still VERY hard to stand there while my baby looked and me crying to help her when they started to wrap her up and poke her! As a nurse I understand the need to have these things done but as a parent it was very hard to watch. They got some blood on the first poke but the IV blew so they decided not to worry about it for now. Unfortunately, her blood in the tubes clotted and they needed to get another sample. So they wrapped her up again and got the IV on the second try.

 About that time my mom got there and Hadley wasted no time reaching for Grandma. She was the only safe person at that point.

Next we had to do the CT scan which meant laying on a bed wrapped up and put into a scary moving machine. What made it so hard to watch was that Hadley didn't understand anything going on and why her parents weren't helping her! Everything came back normal so we were able to go home around 11pm with the plan to follow up with a neurologist and our pediatrician.We had a 12 month well baby appointment where everything checked out perfect.

Then we had an EEG in which we had to deprive Hadley of sleep. We were allowed to let her have 5 hours of sleep the night before which was not much for a baby who is used to 12. She did super well though and passed that with flying colors. So at this point we have no cause for the seizure but we are okay with that and are just hoping it was a fluke and NEVER happens again. Of course we worry a little more since Joe has a seizure disorder and has to be medicated to control them. Hopefully that is the last of that type of excitement.

11 Months

T-Minus 1 month until the big ONE! I am absolutely amazed at how fast this first year has come and gone. Today I have been reminded yet again to cherish every second with my sweet baby girl. This has been an exciting month with changes that make my baby seem less and less like a baby and more like a toddler.

~Weight 18.5#

~You are now officially a walker. You walk everywhere you can and if you fall you find the nearest thing to aid you in standing back up.

 It is next to impossible to take a picture of a little girl who is now capable of walking.

~You now don't  hate your carseat but you do fall asleep basically every time we get into the car. Usually about 5 min before we get where we are going.

~ You still only have two teeth but you are managing to eat almost anything mom and dad eat. You don't however like peas, or avocado.

~Your new favorite game is "I'm going to get you" you walk or crawl away as fast as you can and then just giggle when we catch you.

~You started saying MAMA!!!! Finally! We think you are starting to understand what certain words mean to, such as dada, mama, ba (bottle), and hi. We are starting to teach a little bit of sign language.

~You are starting to learn to pick up your toys when it's time for bed. (of course with a lot of help and encouragement.)

~You LOVE puppies. When you see a puppy you make a low moaning sound. It's pretty entertaining. 

Our little baby is growing so quickly! We love you sweetheart from the top of my nose to the bottom of my toes!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Size of baby: The size of a Plum

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 0 been throwing up quite a bit

Maternity Clothes: I do wear maternity pants because they are just WAY more comfortable. I can still fit in some regular pants but I prefer the stretchy ones!

Gender: Gender revealing party scheduled for November 3. YAY!

Movement: YES!!! It's so amazing! I been feeling it almost everyday!

Sleep: Not good. Between nightmares, and waking up randomly I feel a bit sleep deprived. 

What I miss: Not feeling sick all the time. 

Cravings: Random Things and Random Times, mashed potatoes, skittles, broccoli

Symptoms: Nausea, throwing up, headaches, nightmares and exhaustion.

Best Moment this week: Starting to feel that little one move around. It's by far the best part of being pregnant!

16 Weeks with Hadley

16 weeks with Baby #2

I look like a hot mess with this one. That's what happens I guess when your life revolves around a baby and not taking pictures of the growing bump. Haha

10 Months and 12 Weeks

10 Months

Hadley Ann

You are 10 months old and getting closer and closer to the big one year! I can't believe how much faster time seems to move when you bring a baby into the world. And before too long there will be two babies in this little family. Many things have happened this month and I will try and recap the important ones!

~Weight 18#

~ Crawling most places but the walking has begun

~Taking a few steps ( 5 is the current record)

~Moved up to a big girl carseat, and you HATE it!

~ You are continuing to try new foods and love french fries and most table foods. 

~You are getting more and more of a personality everyday and it is so fun to see you have an opinion and play with you.

~ You have become fond of the church nursery which is such a relief unless of course mom is in the nursery and holding another baby, then the jealousy comes out.

~You have started giving kisses back which just lights up mom and dad. 

We love you baby girl and can't wait to see what is next in your little life!

Here are a few pictures of my big little girl!

Not sure why this is sideways but I couldn't figure out how to change it. ha

Sweet smiles!

The "scary" pillow!

 On a totally different note, Baby number 2 has been cooking for 12 weeks!

12 weeks with Hadley

12 weeks with baby #2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 12 Weeks

Size of baby: The size of a Plum

Total Weight Gain/Loss: ~3# been throwing up quite a bit

Maternity Clothes: I do wear maternity pants because they are just WAY more comfortable. I can still fit in some regular pants but I prefer the stretchy ones!

Gender: Don't know yet. However, I do want a girl and have a feeling it might be. But of course daddy wants a boy.

Movement: Not sure. I have the feeling a lot but I felt it before I was far enough along to feel anything so I think it is mostly my imagination. ha

Sleep: Not good. I've started having nightmares which makes it hard to sleep on nights when Joe is working.

What I miss: Not feeling sick, and the healthy kick I had started that has gone out the window with being so sick.

Cravings: Mashed Potatoes

Symptoms: Nausea, throwing up, headaches, nightmares and exhaustion.

Best Moment this week: Getting through the first trimester! Out of the danger zone and praying the nausea and vomiting gets a little better.

9 Months

Hadley Ann

9 Months Old! Wow, can't believe one year is approaching so quickly! Sweet baby  girl, you've now been outside of Mama's belly longer than you were in! It just completely shocks me every time I think of all the changes happening and how quickly you are growing. I used to want you to stay small and stop changing so much but I am ready for the next step, the walking!!! And it is very quickly approaching. But lets take a step back and see what you were up to this past month.

~17.9 # (19%)

~27 5/8 in (64%) Getting Longer and Leaner

~Crawling EVERYWHERE

~ You are pulling yourself up on anything you can

~walking around furniture and with hands but you are too scared to let go although I'm sure it won't be long at all.

~you've started saying the syllables dadadada but not in reference to your daddy yet

~You are quite the bully in the church nursery, as in you take other kids toys but we are working on the concept of sharing

~ You switched over to all formula this month and are doing just fine

~You get to experience new foods almost everyday and you are LOVING it!

~You went on your first camping trip and did pretty well with everything except taking naps

~You were able to experience your first trip to the condo with Mama's family and you loved spending time with your cousins who doted over you the entire time.

~You are a water bug and love the water

~You giggle more and more and it just lights up the world

We love you more and more sweet girl and can't wait to see what you will do or say next! Enjoy these next few months baby! It's getting harder and harder to take pictures with you in one spot, you just can't seem to stop moving!

Won't be an only child for long! We are expecting an unexpected surprise!

8 Months

Hadley Ann Struska

Wow, you are 8 months old today! You are 2/3 of the way to being a year old. It's unbelievable how much more you notice time going by when you have a little baby. And you also notice the slightest changes in that little person. You have reached so many milestones this past month you seem to be turning into a toddler quickly. 

Brazilian Bath

 ~Weight16lbs

~Size 2 Diapers

~Mostly 3-6 month clothes but also some 6-9 month

~The biggest thing you did this month was go out of the country. We had a 3 hour flight to Washington and then a 9 hour flight to Brazil and back. And you did spectacular. I still can't believe how well you traveled. You were so good and slept most of the flights. You had so much fun meeting your cousins and aunt and uncle. 

~You also managed to master crawling while we were gone, even though you weren't allowed to be down much because of the floors

 ~You have started pulling yourself up on EVERYTHING you can. You even take steps with your walking toy. I tried to get a video but you were very stubborn and stopped every time I tried.

~You continue to try new foods and eat fairly well. You had your first french fry and more ice cream than any baby should consume while you were in Brazil. 

~You are now able to entertain yourself for awhile by yourself with a bucket full of toys. 

~You have started being much more vocal but no actual words yet.

~You still love your paci and are really starting to bond with your bottle.

~You love swimming.

As you can see she is very active and has no interest in sitting there for a picture or two.

.

~You like the people you know well and are pretty shy around the ones you don't know.

~You love to laugh and are turning into such a sweet little girl with a hint of stubbornness and attitude. 

Me and daddy were just talking about how much we LOVE our little family and how we can't remember what it was like before you, nor do we want to. We love you to the end of the earth and back!