we love you Joe ...

There are no words for the pain you feel when you lose someone so close to you. Joe you lit up our lives - you took a piece of us with you and we love you more than we could ever express ...











article link below ...
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/FOSTERS01/107270408/0/NEWS24

take me out to the ballgame

Yesterday Hailey watched her Dooda, Uncle Matt and Laura play ball. She was the cheerleader and did a great job. She kept yelling ... go, go, go Dooda! It was so cute!





Since the weather has not been cooperating this summer we decided to make the best of the rainy, cooler weather and Hailey and two of her friends went puddle jumping. Hailey loves to "jump", but to her jumping is bouncing so it was quite funny. She has also learned to twirl and will go in circles with her arms out if you ask her.

week in review

Well, I have been without my camera and laptop for a week (long story), hence no pictures or update, but I am now back in action.



First of all, I want to say Happy Birthday to Luke! He turned 6 on Thursday. On Tuesday we celebrated his birthday with an ice cream bash! As always the kids had a great time playing with each other. Since Hailey is talking more and more now they kids had her go around the table and say each of their names. She did a great job and said every single one! One of the main reasons we moved back from Maryland was so Hailey could grow up close to her family/cousins and each time we get together I am reminded of what a great decision that was :-)



Well, Hailey is now officially a 2 year old and lives up to that well :-) She LOVES the word no and says it passionately. No, no, no momma is heard loud and clear around our house. She also loves to pick out her own clothes and shoes. At least as she gets smarter I do too, so I have learned to pick out what I want her to wear and have it within her reach so when she goes in her closet she picks what is within her reach and we are both happy! I am well aware that before I know it she will be on to my game, but in the meantime I am still a step ahead!



This past week I unexpectantly came down with strep in the middle of summer! Go figure! Thankfully, I have now been on antibiotics for 3 days and both Hailey and Tim are still feeling well so lets hope and pray they stay that way.

Hailey is also trying to break through her last few teeth, I think she has about 4 left. These ones seem to be giving her some trouble and her binky has become her teething toy. So far she has poked a hole in one. She is also waking up crying at night so I sure hope they come through soon!

On the reflux front, I think we may be ahead of the game. She has been on her new medicine I believe for about 2 weeks and we have nothing to complain about. Actually, I think my mom's theory has been proven correct because since she has been on the new medicine her appetite has decreased. Which to some may seem like a bad thing, but with Hailey all this means is maybe pushing away a bite or two when she used to cry after eating a full meal like she was still starving. To us this is an accomplishment. I think maybe some of the eating may have been due to reflux/medicine.

This Thursday she goes in for her 2 year check-up so I will soon have an updated weight/height. I am sure it will be a far cry from the 2lbs, 15.5 oz she was 2 years ago. She may even hit the 25lb mark. We shall see!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Hailey!

Today Hailey turned 2! (Don't ask her though because she will tell you she is 3 :-) She had a monkey/zoo themed birthday party and it was loads of fun!


My sister-in-law Robin made the cake, isn't it cute!!











Thankfully she took a two hour nap before her party and did great the whole time. I think the presents were a little overwhelming, but she was able to get her energy back after a refreshing dip in the pool and became a wild one.





Thanks to everyone who came and made her 2nd birthday a day to remember!

vacation

Since Tim had to ask for time off for Hailey's birthday (he works weekends) we decided to add a few days and spend some quality time together. Tuesday we visited our friends in MA and Hailey played with Sidney.



Tim had to work Tuesday night and sleep a little on Wednesday, but after he woke up we headed to Coldstone Creamery (umm, umm good) and the Mall of NH. You will notice a theme throughout our vacation - trains! Those of you who know Tim know that Hailey never had a chance not to like trains. In the mall there is a little train for the kids to ride. I felt like my baby was going off to school She walked up, waited in line, handed the lady the money and hopped on the train all by herself grinning and waving at us the whole time.



Thursday we took her up to N. Conway, of course we had to stop by the Conway Scenic Railroad and then off we went to Storyland. She loved it and even rode the flume ride. When you get to the top it pauses and she looked at me and said all done! Then down we went - I think she didn't know what happened. After we were down the hill she looked at me and said - "mommy, I all wet"! It was so funny!




Friday we went to Weir's Beach and again a train was involved. They have a nice scenic railroad that goes along the water and the whole time we are at the beach Hailey is yelling "ride, mommy, ride"! She scares me in the water because she thinks she can swim. She just lifts her legs and starts kicking. I better sign her up for lessons soon.



It was great spending time together because with Tim's schedule we only get one full day together every other week. Hailey has really enjoyed the time and anytime either of us disappeared she would yell for us to come back. I want daddy ... I want mommy!



Today my little baby turns 2! She gets the idea that this is her birthday and tells me she wants cake. Her big "monkey" party is at 2pm, right now I waiting for her to wake up so we can get ready. I will update later!

beach days and fireworks

We have had a fun-filled week of beach days and fireworks. On the 4th we went to the beach with family and friends, but the fireworks were cancelled due to rain so we went back to see them the next night. Hailey did great the entire evening and loved the fireworks. It was nice to actually have her sit in my lap and enjoy them since the girl never sits down :-)



As I have said before Hailey is quite the little socialite. While at the beach she walks up to another little girl and starts playing with her. The mom asked Hailey's age and we realized the girls are only 10 days apart. My mom then commented on how small the other little girl was (her and Hailey were almost the exact same size), come to find out the other little girl was a 31 weeker! You don't usually run into other preemies like that so it was fun to talk with her and thankfully both our girls didn't have any long term issues.

Hailey and her "Unca Matt"






The night of the fireworks the brakes froze on our car so Hailey and I had to ride home with Deb and Elijah. This picture was taken around 11:30p ... the kids were wiped and so were we!!!!



Yesterday, we celebrated Kaylee's 6th birthday at Dean & Cookie's camp. The kids had a blast and Hailey went in her float for the first time. She loves the water, but hates the confinement of her float. Once she got used to it she loved it. She also had her first boat ride and did wonderful. Actually, the only hassle was getting her to actually sit down! She wanted to walk around, but that wasn't going to happen :-)

Sadly, I have no pictures from yesterday because forgot the camera!

Next week, I work Monday then I am off and we are on vacation - yeah! We are taking Hailey to Storyland and traveling to North Conway, NH. Then Saturday my baby will be 2! We are planning a big monkey bash! Lots of pix to follow ...

camp

Yesterday we took Hailey to Cookie and Dean's camp. This will be the first of many trips during the summer. She had so much and is definitely a water baby! The scary thing is she has no fear of the water or depth perception so we had to veer her back to the shore many times because she would have just kept walking out into the water!






She was able to see her cousins (actually 3rd cousins - can you believe that?) Kaylee and Amber. Yesterday was actually Kaylee's 6th birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY - but we are celebrating Saturday back at the lake. Hailey LOVES them and had loads of fun.