To be a kid again....

March 24, 2008

Hayden and I had the GREATEST day today!
We had no where to be so we had
a fabulous play day that
was totally "melt down" free!

It made me think that we should be a bit

more like kids some days.
Go with the flow.
Take things as they come.
Stay in our PJ's all day.
Giggle.
Laugh.
Snuggle.

Our first order of business was to
"grow" the capsule animals
that the Easter Bunny brought Hayden.

The anticipation was almost
too much....

He gave each little animal a
hug and a kiss as they
were born.

What is this one?!

Our next order of business was to
sort the laundry.
So much for a day void of ALL chores!
Folding laundry (boo!) turned
into Mommy building a cool fort (yay!)

A hilarious game of peek-a-boo
was next on the list.
We both laughed 'til our sides were sore.

Next, another snuggle.

Happy Easter!

March 21, 2008
Happy Easter!
Oma and Opa spent the day
at our house and we had lots of fun!

"Okay little bunny, this is only
going to hurt for a moment......
I'll start with your ears!"

This is the result of our son diving
into his candy, not realizing
that chocolatey treats are often disguised
in pretty, but yucky, foil!

Mmmmmm....chocolate!

Now, because Mommy posted this
"bass-ackwards,"
here is the footage of the big hunt!



Mommy had to hide the Easter basket so that
she can control the daily sugar rush!
But when that sweet little face asks me for
a daily treat from his basket,
my response is always the same;
"okay, just one, as long as you share
with Mommy!"

I'm 23 months old!!

March 20, 2008

What a little man Mr. Hayden is turning out to be.
(Please excuse the bed-head.)
We have our challenges some days,
but most days are pretty amazing
with this little guy.

I'm amazed that I can now have a
conversation with my son.
I can ask him a question and he'll either
respond with "sounds good" or "no."

He listens.....sometimes.
We say one book or one Dora episode,
and he always negotiates for two.

He likes to "pick."
Juice or milk, Goldfish or raisins,
brown shoes or black.....
....doesn't much matter as long as he
calls the shots.
At least he says "peas" and "sank-you!"

He can tell us what he wants....sometimes.
With all of the words he is learning,
sometimes we just don't know
what he is asking for!

He is going to be tri-lingual.
He was counting in Spanish the other day.
Uno, dos, quatro, cinco, ses....ocho, nueve....
No big deal.
Just counting my cheerios.
And the Dutch words keep coming too.
It's crazy!!

He is stubborn as an ox....ALL THE TIME!
His way, or no way.
I hope it won't always be as hard
to get him to do what we want or need him to.

Who am I kidding?
What about when he's a teenager?
Good grief.
Thank goodness he's small
for a few more years!

Hayden recycles!

To the naked eye, this may look like some
kind of abstract art.
Not quite.

After finishing his "zinzins" (raisins,)

Hayden walked over and placed the empty
box on the kitchen stool.
I just watched in amazement.
This is where Mommy and Daddy put
all of the recyclables that
are on their way to the garage bins.

This is a true testament to the fact that
kids watch everything we do.
I guess it's a good thing he caught us
doing something good!

It's a good thing he's NOT following in my footsteps!

He passed!!

We had our last swimming class today,
and I am SO happy to report
that Hayden is quite
the little splasher!

Hayden was the class clown.
He would sing the silly songs on command,
splash around like a wild man,
and "1-2-3 jump" from the side of the pool
like nobody's business.
We do have a few things we need to work on
before graduating to "Bubbler" status;

1. In one class, he refused to don the life jacket
and float on his own.
2. He would rather drink the pool
water and announce how "yummy" it is
instead of blowing bubbles
like he is supposed to!!
3. He doesn't love to put his face in the water
(he gets that from me) but he
is happy to be dunked?!

They really supported
his enthusiasm
and his new love for the swimming pool,
and Mommy is VERY proud!!

the Match game

March 16, 2008

Today we had a lazy day at Oma and Opa's house....
....I ate my weight in candy and cookies.

In the afternoon, Brody stopped by to play.
To our surprise, we were wearing
our matching sweaters.
(I swear, we didn't call each other this morning!)
We do look pretty cute.

We shared cheerios, and juice for a snack.
Oma and Opa bought us these new chairs.
They match too!

We ate one healthy thing today.
We shared a banana.

*~*Sigh*~*

My little boy is growing up so fast.

We were playing at the park this morning,
and he was running around
like he loves to do.
Up the stairs and down the slide,
all by himself.
Through the tunnel
with a big goofy grin,
all by himself.

I just sat on the swing and watched
him in action.
He didn't need my help.
Cool. Sad? Yay!

After about 20 minutes,
I suggested that we go back to the house
soon for some hot chocolate.
He looked at me with his rosy cheeks
and runny nose and said,
"sounds good!"

Who are you, and what did you do with my baby?@#!

So, we started off for home.
He insisted (of course he did....do you know my son?)
that he walk beside Zeus and hold the leash.
I discreetly held the leash too,
but Hayden was very proud to be doing
such a big boy job all on his own.

What a character.
This is just one more reason why I am so VERY grateful
to be a stay-at-home mommy
for my little man.

My morning routine

March 11, 2008


Good Morning Smiley!

Hayden and I were going about our morning
as we always do.
Cookie and milk, a little Dora,
and Mommy was making coffee in the kitchen.
Hayden was getting extra comfy....

......in Bella's new cat bed!
He looks as if he thinks it was
made just for him!

Nothing like a little 'down-ward dog'
to start the day!
Or maybe he was imitating Bella's cat stretch?!

What a great place to have some Cheerios and milk!

I was overdue to have my ears lowered!

I forgot to post pictures of
Hayden's latest haircut.
Number 10 or 12 maybe??

Whenever Grandpa Jeff goes for a haircut
he announces that he is having
his "ears lowered......"
Hayden was in desperate need!

Pre hair cut.....looking a wee bit shaggy!!

After a session with his stylist,
Hayden is coiffed
and handsome as ever
(and much happier!)

It's so cute that he is "blessed"
with cowlicks, just
like his mommy and daddy.

He's priceless in any language!

March 6, 2008

Hayden is not only learning new words and phrases
every day, he's also increasing
his Dutch vocabulary....it's so cute to hear!



For those non-Dutchies out there.....
"LOS" means "let go."
We call Zeus "Zeusje" (sounds like Zeusche)
and Hayden hears Zeus-ee!

"Wub-you......"
makes me get a bit teary every time he says it.

As for the "rainbows" and "sky,"
just a little something he has picked up from
somewhere. (Incidentally, there were
no rainbows so he must be developing
a great imagination too!!)

Big shoes to fill!

March 2, 2008

It's big fun to tromp around the house
in Daddy's Birkenstocks!

And just so you know.....
Hayden goes for another haircut tomorrow.
I lost count around numbers 10 or 12.

I hear Home Depot is hiring....

I'm not sure how Home Depot would feel
about a nudist working for the company....
....but he is a very hard worker!
(Maybe he could just wear a tool belt!!)

And by the way, he did have
his safety goggles on!

I am blessed

It's amazing how quickly life can change.
As I went about my day on Saturday, I wish I could tell everyone that today was different.
Today, a precious baby boy was born to two of the most wonderful people in my life.
What an amazing little family they are going to have.....

....and I feel so blessed to be a small part of it.