Hailey Update & Missing her Brothers

There is a reason God gave me three children.  Having Hailey here by herself for the last week has been exhausting.  Not to mention she misses her brothers and has been a "tad" cranky.  It is easier to run errands with only one, but I do miss my boys!  All in all, Hailey has been good with the boys out of town (They've divided their time between their two sets of grandparents.  Getting lots of time outside, and plenty of time with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.) 

I don't think I realized how much Hailey has changed and how much she is growing up until now.  Life with three can be busy :-)  One day, I dropped Hailey off at the child care at the gym.  I was talking with one of the employees and was watching Hailey.  She picked up a doll and walked straight to the baby swing, put the baby in it and started swinging her.  She found another baby and put her in the rocking chair and started rocking it.  She tried putting a baby in the exersaucer.  All of this fascinated me because we don't have any baby gear in the house anymore (as Hailey outgrows it, it's out of here!).  She was quite motherly with the dolls. 

Babysitting is definitely not in her near future!

Taking her baby shopping!

She always waves "good-bye" before she tears through the house with her shopping cart!

Hailey has also made progress with gross motor.  She isn't running just yet, but her walk is quite fast (try chasing after her!) and she moves her arms faster than some people run!  It is such a funny sight.  She has gotten good at changes in elevations (uneven sidewalks), up and down slopes and boy, can that little girl climb!  She has started somersaulting but she scares me since we haven't had the neck xray for atlantoaxial instability (AAI) which affects the top two bones of the neck.  I try to keep her from doing them.  Playing outside and trying to keep up with the big kids seems to be paying off.  She even did great walking in her flip flops (shhhh....no one tell her PT Abby!)

She was obsessed with these shoes this weekend. 

She looks like a girl on a mission.

I think the biggest surprise this week has been her speech and understanding of things.  Most of the time when we ask her a yes-no question, she has appropriately answered the question and added a head nod or shake.  She called one of the neighborhood children by name without being prompted.  She said it crystal clear (I had witnesses!!).  I needed to do dishes last night and I asked her if she wanted me to find a show on TV for her, she answered "Doc".  I asked "Doc McStuffins?"  "yesssssss" was her reply.  She's only watched it a few times so I was surprised that she said the name!  She has been adding a little diva to her personality, too.  However, since she has always been motivated with jewelry (to reach and crawl), some would say she has always had it in her.  She's just started covering her face with her hands when she gets in trouble.  She also started rolling her eyes at me if she doesn't like my answer.  She picks up her diaper and throws it in the trash.  I can ask her to bring me something and she will (unless it involves bedtime or medicine).  She does like to argue and negotiate. 

Maybe if I smile really big, she won't notice I'm emptying the wipes.

I'll cover my face now, she won't see me that way.

Dancing at the Mexican restaurant

She was so happy to FaceTime the boys!

We are never short on smiles in this house.

Even telling me "no" comes with a lot of drama!

This time with just Hailey has been nice because I don't think I realized how far she has come in different areas.  I've gotten more sleep without a certain 6 year old sneaking in our room every other night.  I'm definitely looking forward to the boys coming home tomorrow.  Hailey needs her motivators (and playmates) back and  mom is ready for the chaos, chatter and extra hugs...(I can do without the extra messes though!)

Spring almost here

Hello all...it's Hailey again.  I've taken over the blog tonight.  Mommy thinks she is getting sick so she is taking it easy.  Mommy said the weather in the Midwest is normally not like this in March so we need to enjoy it while it lasts because Mother Nature could change her mind.  I'm not sure what that means but okay...for now, it means we have lots of playtime outside. 

I've been driving around the cul-de-sac in my new pink car (until I fall asleep).  Apparently, I fell asleep and almost hit the steering wheel today.  Thank goodness mommy's friend picked me up while mommy got the stroller for me to nap.  Mommy was laughing too hard...I almost hit my head!

Big brother even pushes me around sometimes.

Mommy is excited.  All of her flowers started blooming...I guess that is a good thing.  I don't remember any of that from last year.

Mommy said that the nice weather makes the boys act a little crazy....we still aren't sure what big brother E was doing in the cabinet.  Mommy was surprised he still fits in it!

I didn't pay much attention to him....I was too busy enjoying my spaghetti.

Today, I had an evaluation with EI.  Mommy seemed to think it went okay.  They came up with new goals for the next six months.  Everyone was excited that I met all of the last ones.  I wasn't in the mood to do everything they asked me to do so I just made funny faces at them and gave my therapist L big hugs and kisses.  That seemed to make her happy but mommy seemed a little annoyed that I wasn't paying attention.  I decided to do some of it as soon as they left the house.  I can't show them everything at once.  They might get too excited!

After picking E up at school, mommy said we were heading to the park for a picnic.  E ate really fast to play on the playground.  He made new friends...he always does.

Mommy then said it was time to let me go on the swings.  She keeps showing me pics of all the other babies swinging and I was starting to get jealous, they look like they are having so much fun!  Mommy said my big brothers never liked the swings.  I don't know what was wrong with them.  It was so much fun...eventually!  At first it was different and I wasn't positive of it.  I wasn't in the mood for all the pictures so every time mommy put her camera down, I smiled really big because it was so much fun.  Here are a ton of them anyway...I think mommy is nuts sometimes!

Hope everyone else is having good weather and enjoying it!

Thanks Mom....what a great birthday present!

I've been having good birthday celebrations. Mom has even given me cake twice. Wow...it is AWESOME!  I wish they would give it to me all the time but Mom said not to get used to it.  I have received lots of good presents.  I have a baby stroller that they say I'm supposed to walk with.  I can stand but I'm not quite sure my legs know how to move once I'm up there.

I also got a really cool car to drive around outside while the big kids ride their bikes.  Mommy said something about it making me work on my core but I'm not quite sure what she's babbling about.  I just think I look good driving it :-)

My big brothers picked out clothes for me.  They thought I needed Minnie shirts for our trip to Disney this summer.  I liked them because they are sparkly.  My favorite gift was the wrapping paper.  I could have played with that all day but big brother Ian kept taking it away from me.  He said he was afraid I was going to eat it.  I just liked the sound it makes.

My birthday abruptly came to an end when my mommy woke me up at 5 a.m.  I like to get up early but my earliest is about 7!  Then she said I had to eat breakfast.  Really, mom!  I wanted to go back to sleep.  I ate all of my cereal and prunes and then snuggled with mommy on the couch.  At 7 she woke me up again and told me I had to drink my milk.  I never did understand why she made me get up and tell me I HAD to eat until later....  I think I saw mommy eating lunch but she wouldn't share.  No matter how long and hard I screamed and yelled at her.  She wouldn't get me more food.  She gave me some strange orange stuff.  It was okay.  I drank it because she wouldn't give me anything else.

Later we drove to Children's.  The nurses made me strip down to my diaper.  I really wanted to leave my birthday shirt on but they said I couldn't.  The nurse then squirted some yucky stuff in my mouth and I started to get really sleepy.  I don't remember anything after that until mommy woke me up.  I kept trying to go back to sleep but no one would let me.  Mommy said while I was sleeping they checked my heart.  The cardiologist said it looks great.  The patch is doing its job.  She also said we need to watch the pressure on my left side of the heart but the cardiologist isn't concerned just yet.  The audiologist also ran tests while I was sleeping.  She told mommy that I can hear perfectly.  I could have told her that.  I just choose to ignore everyone once in awhile.  I like to be by myself sometimes. Those brothers of mine are quite loud!  I was so very sleepy the rest of the day but Tuesday I was my old self again.

Well....that was until Mom told me I had to go to the pediatrician and I needed shots.  I thought this was my birthday week....yucky medicine that makes me sleep and shots...then they took blood from my big toe....not the best birthday presents if you ask me!  The nurse didn't think I could do a bunch of stuff but mommy corrected her.  Mommy seemed a little miffed at the nurse but quite pleased with herself when she corrected her.  I even added to it by 4 point crawling on the exam table in front of the nurse.  I guess that will show her not to under estimate what I can do.  My mommy was really proud of me then!  Her and my big brother started cheering.  Wonder what the big deal was?  The doctor said I'm growing well (I weigh 18 lbs 4 oz, but the hospital said 18 lbs 8 oz the day before) and everything else checked out.  Mommy seemed very happy when we left. 

I have more family coming this weekend.  I bet that means more presents and lots of attention!  I'm not sure what the big deal is about turning 1 but everybody seemed excited.  I saw mommy cry a few times and looked at me kind of funny but she always followed it by a big hug and kiss so I guess everything is okay!

It's time for my nap so I will talk to everyone soon!

Another birthday outfit.  Mommy said we will celebrate all week!

I think I'm very funny!

Ian wouldn't share the iPad so I decided to take it myself!