New Mom

I have read Kelly's Korner for quite awhile and linked up to her 'Show Us Your Life' one other time but I really like this topic so I thought I'd link up again. This week SUYL is all about new moms, which I find very appropriate for the week before Mother's Day. Last year I celebrated my "first" Mothers Day with a sweet baby girl living inside of me that I was already the mother of, but this year I get to actually celebrate being a mom of a sweet baby I am able to hold and love on. 

I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. I ALWAYS loved holding the babies and being in the nursery at church and as soon I was allowed to I started babysitting. I probably would have paid the parents to let me babysit instead of being paid if I had to, but of course I didn't tell them that. I became an aunt when I was in high school and I just adored my niece. I would show her picture off to anyone that would look. I went to nursing school to be a nurse and maybe eventually a midwife. My dream is work in pediatrics or the OB, which is proving to be a lot more difficult to get into than I thought it would be.

I got married in June of 2009 and from day one I secretly hoped I'd get pregnant even though we had talked about waiting for at least a year. God knew that waiting that one year wasn't quite enough time and in March of 2011 I found out I was expecting. I was in absolute shock. I figured because I longed to be a mom so much that I would probably struggle with getting pregnant and that I would have to wait a long time, but that wasn't the case and sweet baby Hadley was born on November 1, 2011 plunging me into motherhood. I had always thought I had somewhat of an  idea what being a mom was from babysitting and living with my niece and nephew. I also thought I knew what it was to love someone unconditionally despite what people told me, I thought I knew. I HAD NO CLUE! haha Mother hood is the hardest job I've done (even harder than nursing school at times) but it is also the most rewarding. I never could have imagined the amount of love a baby could bring. 

When Joe and I were dating and talking about the future I remember him telling me that he would want me to stay at home with our kids if it were possible because that is how he was raised. At that time I thought he was completely crazy. I was NOT going to stay at home. I went to school for 4 years and worked hard to earn my nursing degree, there was no way I was going to give all that up just to stay at home. Well little did I know how much I would LOVE to stay home with my baby. Unfortunately at this point we can't afford that but hopefully someday. 

I have learned so much in these short 6 months that I had no clue about before like babies, sleeping, breastfeeding, immunizations, and mostly how selfish I was before. Now, I am still selfish and will probably always struggle with that but there are some things I've had to give up whether I wanted to or not, like sleep, clean clothes, peace and quiet, a clean house but of course like any normal mom I wouldn't trade any of it for my sweet baby girl. I try really hard at night when she is fussing and all I want to do is go to sleep to pray for her and to thanks God for giving my the opportunity to raise her. I try so hard not to ever take that task for granite because I know not every "mom" gets the opportunity to have a baby. 

This Mother's Day as I thank God for the opportunity to be a mom and to celebrate I also thank him for the wonderful Mother and Grandma's. I've learned everything I know from them. I miss my Grandma's like crazy and I wish they were still here to see me as a mom. I also thank God for an awesome Mother in Law who raised my husband to be be who he is. Thanks Mom's!!!!

6 Months

Hadley Ann
6 Months
Half Way to One Year!!!!!!
Baby girl you are growing at the speed of light and while I'm excited for each 
new stage it saddens me every time you leave a baby stage!!! So far this month 
has probably been the one with the most changes. Let's see what you've been up 
to. 
-growing of course
-14.5lbs (31%)
-25.75in (64%)
- size 2 diapers
- 0-3 and 3-6 clothes. You are still tall n skinny so pants get short before 
they even fit your waist. 
- you are rolling ALL OVER (you may not be crawling yet but you sure get around)
- sitting up all by yourself
- you've really started grabbing at things and playing with your toys. 
- you are totally a momma's girl and have major stranger anxiety
-you are finally getting the hang of eating food. Sweet Potatoes are your 
favorite. 
- you LOVE yogurt melts and puffs and even though you are technically too young 
for them, you do very well eating them. 
- you always sleep with your taggie blanket
- you still love your paci but you go back and forth between your hands, paci, 
feet, and anything else close enough to chew on. 
- speaking of you have officially discovered your feet and you are a big fan!
- you are talking more and more developing your personality and showing us your 
attitude.

5 Months

Hadley Ann Struska 4~1~2012 

You would think it would be easier to update my blog more than once a month. Ha Oh well, working full time, being a mom 24/7, church and other activities are filling my life. I can't believe how time just keeps flying. This past month was a month of many obvious changes. Hadley is growing up. (even though she is still on the small side)
Hadley's Highlights:

~Continues to wear size 1 diapers (hoping that changes really soon so we don't have to buy more and we can start using up the 5 large boxes of size 2

~Wearing 0-3, 3, and 3-6 month clothes. The 3-6 are mostly for length.

~Sleeping through the night again! HALLELUIAH!!!

~Starting to talk a lot more

~Rolling over more and more

~Starting to schooch her butt up to crawl

~Working on sitting up. (She lasts for about 10 seconds)

~Starting to grab at things and just see things a lot more

~Developed Church Nursery Anxiety :(

~Possible starting to suck her thumb. She does it a lot one day then not so much the next. However she still enjoys her paci and her hands. If she could get both hands and her paci in her mouth all at one time, she would.

~Loves her Taggie Blanket

~Sleeps on her side or belly (she rolls over by herself)

~Recognizing people she knows. Ex. Grandma, Grandpa, Friends from Church. Which also means she's developed a little bit of stranger anxiety. 

~Started eating solid foods other than rice cereal. She's only tried Carrots so far and seems to enjoy them enough.

~Took her first flight and long car ride and did exceptional! Flew to Indiana to visit Aunt Becky and Uncle Roger with mom and Grandma, then drove to Iowa to visit Josh, Mick, Mia, and Jace.

~Hadley is developing such a littler personality and we are absolutely in love with her! (that personality has a little bit of attitude that we are starting to see coming through too)

Love love love her eyes in this picture!!!

First actual trip to the zoo where she got to come out and see the animals. She was less than impressed as you can see. She fell asleep shortly after this and slept most of the time we were there. haha Someday she'll enjoy it.

 Side note: This post would have been up much earlier in the day but I realized when uploading the pictures that we took the calendar pictures on March, not April and Hadley was taking a nap. So we had to wait until after church and had to change her back into  her dress. Oy haha

4 Months

I can't believe my little girl is already a third of the way through her first year! YIKES!

4 months brought another round of shots and new stats.

~weight 12# 14.4oz (45th %)

~height 24 3/4in (80%)  You are still on the tall side.

~wearing size 1 diapers

~wearing some 0-3, 3, and 3-6 month clothes. The 0-3 are getting small but the 3-6 are still a little large

~you are really starting to smile more and have even started giggling which just sends daddy and mammy into fits of giggles.

~you absolutely LOVE bathtime, I think you would stay in there all day if we would let you

~you have rolled over a few times, but most recently you have started to roll over in the tub when I cam trying to wash your hair. Crazy baby!

~I decided at 4 months to start putting you in the nursery at church. I don't think you have lasted even one service yet without having a meltdown and needing your mamma. Hopefully someday. 

~you've started waking up some during the night so the doctor suggested we go ahead and try a little cereal. You've had cereal twice now and you did pretty well actually. I think you are going to be a champion eater. 

There have been so many changes this month I can't remember them all. It has been a busy but very fun month. You will get to experience your first plane ride later on this month. We love you so much baby girl!

Valentine's Day

I know it's a little late but here is my Valentine's Day post. This was the first time having a sweet little girl as my Valentine. Here are a few pictures of Ms. Hadley from the week of Valentine's!!!

Dinner at 

Olive Garden

Working, working, working.

        I love to read other blogs especially about mothers and their stories of life. One I particularly enjoy is Kelly's Korner. Every Friday she does a 'Show us your life' post that allows readers to link up their own blog. I'm a few days behind but her last "Show us your life' post was for Working Mom's. I thought that since this is such a big part of my life that I would link up and give a little information about my life working full time and being a mom. I am so very lucky to have a husband who helps out so much. Due to the INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUS HIGH cost of child care we try to watch Hadley as much ourselves as we can.(Don't get me wrong we have an incredibly sweet, caring, trustworthy lady from church watching her on the days we can't.) For the most part I am able to work Mon, Tues, and Sat. Therefore we only have to use a sitter two days a week. (I work three 12 hour shifts a week) Joe is able to watch Hadley since he works Mon-Fri. I also have an incredibly generous, loving mother who helps us out throughout the month by coming down and watching our sweet baby. This is such a huge blessing. Not only is it free but Hadley gets special one on one Grandma time and we get our house cleaned and supper made. She definitely goes above and beyond in every area. I hope I can be half the mom to my kids! My husband also makes sure to have supper ready when I get home on the days I work. I would say I am pretty lucky.

Grandma and Hadley

       I work as an RN at an Acute Specialty Hospital. It is a fun job with a lot of interesting experiences. I enjoy my job but would much rather be at home raising my sweet baby. Hopefully someday we can make that happen. Working brings certain difficulties to the home, such as doing housework, cleaning, and just running a home. On my days off that is the LAST thing I want to do. I would much rather spend my time hanging out with my sweet baby girl. So needless to say our house is not NEAR as clean as it was before having a baby not to mention there is baby stuff EVERYWHERE!!! haha But I absolutely love it and wouldn't trade being a mom for anything.

Grandma and Hadley matching!

       As a nursing mom I also have to find time to pump while I am at work so that my baby can eat. Being a nurse can make that a very difficult task on some days. Even finding 10 or 15 min can be almost impossible. I do the best I can and so far it has been working out. Which is good because formula is another thing that is ridiculously expensive. I hope to someday be able to stay at home and work on a PRN schedule. I want to be the type of mom who is there when the kids leave and home when the kids get home from school. I also want to be able to be involved in the classroom and go on field trips. My  mom worked part time and was able to be involved when we were in school and I really enjoyed that.

Hadley visiting me at work.

      I have huge shoes to fill if I ever want to live up to my mom's reputation but I will do what I can to be a good mom to my sweet Hadley.

~If anyone wants to donate a million dollars or so to me I wouldn't turn ya down! ha


 

3 Months

Hadley you are 3 months old. Each day just seems to fly by! You are growing so fast and changing every day. You are beginning to hold your head up so well. It is only a short time until you are sitting up all by yourself. 

~You are still wearing size 1 diapers

~You are wearing 0-3 months and 3month clothes. 

~You are still sleeping so well. Anywhere between 6-8 hours.

~We painted your toe nails for the first time

~You stayed with the baby sitter for the first time and we both survived

~You love sitting in your vibrating bouncy chair. You just smile and smile at the animals

~You still LOVE to snuggle, especially with your mamma

~You are becoming such a sweet little girl. As much as I don't want you to keep growing, I can't wait to see what you will do next. I love you sweet Hadley Ann.

 ~Oh and you are an excellent spitter upperer, hence the wet shirt.

This one was daddy's idea. Such a sweet baby!