7 Months

Hadley Ann

7 Months

Each month seems to go by twice as fast as the last and you seem to change twice as much each month. My love for you changes too sweet girl, it grows more and more each day which I can't seem to figure out because I love you with my whole heart! You are such a sweet little thing who LOVES your mamma. I've been trying really hard to enjoy every moment I have with you, even the moments at 2am. I hate being at work and missing out on parts of your life so I try to take advantage of every moment. That and I seem to be the only one who can comfort you in the middle of the night.

~15.5LBS

~size 2 diapers

~mostly 3-6 and 6-9 month clothes, however some 0-3 still fit and most 6-9 are still big. 

~you are almost crawling. You are able to get up on your hands and knees and rock. We've caught you crawling a few inches but nothing consistent yet. I know you will get the hang of it in no time.

~You still roll all over the place to get where you want to go

~you've started standing a lot more with help. You will even hold onto furniture and stand there. 

 

~You got to add two more states to your ongoing list. You visited Houston, TX and got to meet some of mommy's dear friends, and you went to Topeka, Kansas to see your cousin Candyce graduate 8th grade.  This month you will be able to add another country to your list. Hadley you are becoming quite the little traveler. (we are just praying you do well on the 8 hour flight to Brazil)

~You developed your first AND second ear infection this month. Not really a milestone to be proud of but that is life. You didn't develop a fever but you pulled at your ears and were a little bit more fussy with the first one. 

~You have started reaching out your hands when you want to be picked up.

Love You Sweet Hadley Ann

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