We're still here

Just wanted the friends & fam to know we're still here. It's just been a crazy few weeks. I realized that I have not slept more than 4 consecutive hours since September and it has been seriously impairing my ability to ... well, to do ANYTHING! It's been pretty much survival mode. So that has meant #1-Whatever Hailey needs #2-The Gym. Pathetic!

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Hailey seemed to be doing a lot better in the sleep department, and then it all just started falling apart. We are big "Babywise" fans and follow it well ... except the part about getting her to sleep on her own. The sound of her little cry is like a dagger in my heart! I was trying everything ... and I mean everything to get the results we desperately needed without causing her even the smallest amount of frustration. After exhausting my options -- the No Cry Sleep Solution, Baby Whisperer, etc. I knew what we had to do ... let her "cry it out" a little. We're very blessed to have many friends and neighbors that really encouraged us to just tough it out for a couple of days to solve our sleep issues once and for all. So out of desperation this week, we did it! Well, I guess I did it, since Aaron was actually away for the first 4 nights. Lucky man! We reluctantly let our little angel baby CRY and try to figure out this whole falling asleep thing on her own. Gut wrenching as it was, it actually WORKED like a miracle! Seriously, I stayed up about 5 hours past when she went to bed waiting for the hourly wake up where she freaks out because she was no longer being held, cuddled, yadda yadda yadda. Well it just didn't happen! She slept 13 hours that night, waking just once 10 hours into it because, hey, a girl's gotta' eat! I was totally convinced she would hate me in the morning. But no, she awoke all smiles and coos. She is like a whole new baby. This kid was cheerful before, but now she is downright giddy for about 90% of her waking life. We've been able to duplicate this blessed success every night since with less & less fuss. She welcomes being able to just unwind and rest in her bed with her binky & lovey for naps & bedtime. We are actually going to a concert this week without worry that she'll make my Mom miserable. So glad I didn't waste $75 on those tickets!

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THANK YOU EVERYBODY THAT CARED ENOUGH about our little family to push us a little! You must've known how much we needed some serious encouragement in this department.

You may have just saved our marriage! :)

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Please forgive the goofy, over the top tone of this post, but we are downright DRUNK on sleep this week! In fact, I think we'll be turning in now with a pretty good chance of getting at least 8 hours. I almost can't believe it.

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A few pictures of a new, well rested little munchkin.

Rollin' with our gnomie

Hailey started rolling over this week and it has been very exciting for her. The first time, it was a bit of an accident and it scared the trash out of her! By the third time, she rolled right onto her tummy and looked up at me with a huge, proud smile. A couple of days later she was rolling from her back to her tummy and back again with no worries. The pediatrician says rolling over is no longer an official milestone. But it is still very exciting for us. We like to pretend she's some sort of genius baby. I'm a total slacker mom, so the big downside for me is that I have to be all kinds of vigilant now ... bummer. Just when I thought this baby thing was getting easier.

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Aunt Kellie is a big hit with Hailey. We love Kellie because she is such a germophobe that we know her hands will always be clean.

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You may ask why I would post such obviously terrible pictures. Well, that would be because out of the literally 50 we took, these would be the best. Nonny was so cute to buy "samers" for the girls thinking we could get a few cute pictures on the one day they'd all be together. BB&B were in town so we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. These two pics pretty much tell the story of how that went. I'm sure glad we didn't try to take them somewhere and pay for pictures or we would have been sorely disappointed! Like Mom always says "It was like putting socks on a rooster."

. Ah, the much sought after "cherry hat." I got Hailey a bunch of Gymboree's Cherry Pie line. Then I found out there was a HAT, complete with cherry stem on top. It was still too big and didn't go with these clothes, but she had red on so I just couldn't resist one picture in her cherry hat. Holly even keeps an eye out for cherry stuff for her. Now I just gotta' wait for her to grow into all of it. .

The Bebe Pod has to be the coolest invention ever. Yeah, I think we'll keep her.

Some pictures just for fun

Okay, so this one is of cousin Elizabeth. I loved it because I was trying to take a cute picture of her when she was on the computer. I asked her to look at me and she told me "I'm too busy!" and waved me away. There was just something about a 3 year old "too busy" on the computer that was so adorable to me. Apparently we chose the right mobile. Hailey digs it. P.S. These cute jammies came from Aunt Holly. She introduced me to Crazy8 and we're lovin' it! She wakes up so happy and it lasts for all of 30 minutes until she realizes she is wet, dirty, hungry, bored or just tired again! Whaaazzzzuuuppp!? Daddy sure knows how to dress a little lady. You just buy clothes fit for a 45 year old divorcee with a Harley & get them really small right? She could barely move for the sake of fashion in her lovely leather biker jacket. She is such a good sport.

Per your request

We've had some requests for more pics of our little princess. Today I actually have about 2 minutes to throw a few of them out there for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy. I know WE sure do! . Even when she's mad, she's pretty sweet. It was a fun 1st Christmas.