Happy St. Patrick's Day!

No pinchin' going on in this house!

After her first taste of green beer.

We don't need a t-shirt invitation
to smooch on this cute face!


Hope your day was full of drunken clog dancing leprechans atop heather filled pots of golden peat bogs.

Mommy's Little Laundry Helper

We've started the chore training early.
(warning: you may need a Dramamine due to the shaky camera work. :)

Next week we'll work on dusting, vacuuming, toilet scrubbing...

Beets

She likes them. Plain, in all their magenta goodness.

(post beets with a vanilla wafer chaser)

Hangin' Heavy

Either baby clothes are heavier than I thought or we just have too many crammed onto one hanging bar. This is what we discovered at about 2:30 am when the bar and all the clothing on it came crashing down in Hayden's closet. Bryan and I sat right up in bed since we heard the commotion through the monitor. It took us a few seconds to determine that the house wasn't caving in and to decide it came from the baby's room. (The baby would have slept through the whole thing if Bryan hadn't had to go in her room to make sure things were alright. Amazing how she will sleep through a giant crash, but if anyone dares to walk within 5 feet of her crib she will sit right up and be ready to go. Needless to say, there isn't much checking on her during naps :)

I take the blame for most of the disturbance because I much prefer to hang the clothes than fold them and also campaigned for the use of a tension rod rather than try to customize a bar for the correct size of the closet. (what I don't take credit for is the sheer number of outfits our poor, deprived girl has...please blame that on friends and grandparents.)

BEFORE (and again when I got things put back)

AFTER

BTW--I'm pretty sure I heard a few ma, ma, ma's today while Hayden and I were rocking before her nap time. I'll let you know if this was a breakthrough or just a random tease.

Helpful Hancheys!

So last night Bryan and I had a meeting at church. It was the parenting class you attend prior to participating in baby dedication (March 29th). The class was from 6:30 to 8:00 and since Hayden goes to bed at 7:15 (and doesn't do well if you put her down late) we asked our sweet friends Lindsi and Patrick to hold down the fort for us. (There were loud guffaws and gasps when some of our other friends heard we were letting Patrick watch the baby, but we assured them that Lindsi was there and would have everything under control. Whew.)

Of course things went splendidly. Bryan and I learned some good stuff, Lindsi and Hayden had a great time and Patrick didn't break anything, so overall a successful night. Thank You Hancheys!

Lindsi snapped some pictures while she was here...

Thank you Lord for great friends! (and the cute pirate baby)

Peek-A-Boo

I know, I know...another video. But she is doing so many cute, new things! I just can't help myself...

Now you have to admit...that wouldn't have been the same in still, silent snapshots. :)

Playin' some futbol.

This may be the first video of Hayden "playing" soccer, but I'm sure it won't be the last...

Grocery Shoppin'

So yesterday... Bryan might have taken a day off, and we might have gone to the toy store and we miiiight have bought Hayden a new walking toy. SOOO fun!!! (It's amazing how much easier it is to rationalize purchases for her than for ourselves. And obviously she needed it.) She took to this like lightening. No practice, no faltering...just full speed ahead. She amazes us daily :)

So two videos in two days...

Raspberries Outside

The sun was shining and the temperature was in the low eighties so we just had to get outside for awhile! The wind was a little gusty (sounds like a hurricane on the video, though I promise it wasn't that bad :) so we didn't last long, but we got this cute video.

An Ode to the Daddy

10 great things about Hayden's daddy..

1. he changes diapers (wet, dirty or unidentifiable).

2. he can play for HOURS.

3. he is patient and steadfast in the face of my concerns and worries.

4. he does breakfast duty and is fabulous at it! (this includes Hayden's medicine, cereal, fruit, vitamin, teeth brushing and face washing. It allows me to shower and get ready for the day!)

5. he washes the dishes. (this by itself would be enough...don't tell him)

6. he doesn't "babysit" he parents.

7. he prays daily for our family and specifically for Hayden.

8. he "brings home the bacon" and will occassionally "fry it up in the pan" if needed.

9. he sets a great example for me to daily be in God's Word.

10. he wants to "be present" not content to observe or just pass the time, but available to soothe, tickle, discipline, entertain, teach, cuddle, love and encourage.

What more could a little girl ask for?

Thank you Lord for a dad and husband who loves and care for us!