Weekend of Love

Valentine's Day, like most holidays for me, is usually nothing special. Yes, it's a day to express your love but most Valentine's Day in the past have been spent at home alone! Dan usually has to work so I'm left at home doing nothing. This year was a little different!

Finally after many many years of spending this love holiday alone I got to spend part of it with the love of my life! Dan got out of work earlier than normal and my parents were kind enough to take Hayden for the night, giving us time to spend together, just the two of us! We didn't do anything crazy, but we did get to sit and eat a tasty dinner that Dan cooked and watched a movie together! I missed my baby like crazy, but it was nice to have some time just us two!

New Years Eve Celebration!

Looking back at the past year, it has been more memorable then I ever thought it could be! What an amazing year! Watching my baby girl grow up before my eyes this past year has been wonderful! Becoming a mother is by far the greatest thing to ever happen to me! I love waking up each morning (even if it is at 5:30 am Sunday-Saturday with no break in between!) and the first thing I see is my little princess reaching out for me and calling out "mom"!

I love this picture! Hayden didn't know why my friend C was tying her scarf around her head.

Here's to a Happy & Healthy New Year! Hope 2010 brings us as much (if not more) joy & happiness as 2009!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas Eve

(I know it's not the clearest picture, but here is our Christmas tree all decorated and presents all wrapped up!)

Well, it's finally here! It's Christmas Eve and I'm so excited! I can't wait until tomorrow morning when we go downstairs and see Hayden open all her presents. I'm not really doing any presents from Santa this year since she doesn't really understand it yet, but maybe next year. We also only got her 2 toys and some clothes. I know my parent's and in-laws will have plenty of toys and goodies for her, so I didn't want to over do it. Plus, her birthday is next week too, so I'm sure she'll get more than enough toys from both events!


We did take Hayden to see Santa on Tuesday night at the mall (finally!). Unfortunately Dan couldn't come with us, but Hayden did pretty well considering... She was so excited when we first got to the Christmas village at the mall. She saw Santa and was trying every way possible to get through the fencing and rope to get to Santa. There was a decent size line to wait, so Bianca and Jeremy went and got their last minute shopping done while I waited in line with Hayden. She was pretty well entertained by the other kids running around and she tried to join in the fun as best she could. It was more like she walked around and around the stroller and made faces at the other kids. Very cute!

Finally it was getting close to our turn and we could just barely see where Santa was sitting from where we were. Hayden tried desperately to lean forward to see Santa. Then it was our turn to go up. I put Hayden down to see what her reaction would be. I didn't want to force her to sit with Santa! She shocked me! She walked all the way from the entrance to the Christmas village all the way up to Santa with the biggest grin on her face! I wish I could have captured it on film, but they don't allow cameras in that area! Once she got to Santa, she just looked up at him in absolute amazement. Then it happened, Santa reached down to pick her up and she lost it! She started crying and screaming bloody murder! She was doing so well, I guess she just wanted to see Santa! So I sat on a stool and put her on my knee while Santa sat behind us. He would leave forward just in time to take the picture and sit back before Hayden turned around to look at him. It worked out pretty well, but I have to say, her picture came out pretty funny! She's not exactly smiling, nor is she crying. She's just trying to figure out what the heck is going on! I need to scan the photo on the computer, and as soon as I do I'll post it here!

Dancing Queen

While out doing our last bit of Christmas shopping this week, Hayden needed a little entertainment to keep her happy. Luckily I had Bianca and Jeremy with me to entertain her while I shopped. Her new favorite thing is dancing. Here she is listening to Bianca's cell phone ring tones and dancing to the music.

I think the funniest part about this clip is that she gives the phone back to Bianca when the music is done for her to put on another song! She's so funny!

Winter Wonderland

Finally, after how many years we finally got a GOOD amount of snow in Philadelphia! YAY!!!

My neighborhood got 22 inches of snow and I was in HEAVEN!!! I love the snow and constantly laugh at how crazy everyone gets around here whenever they predict any precipitation! It's like they think that all the bread and milk will run out and they'll never be able to eat again! I had to go food shopping of Friday anyways and once I got to the super market, it was a complete frenzy! You couldn't walk through the isles there were so many people! And the lines... Let's just say I didn't get out of there right away!

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to find that everything was covered in snow! Hurray! I brought Hayden to the window to see the snow and she just started flapping her arms like crazy, it's something she does every time she gets excited about something. My original plan was to have Hayden go down for a nap around 8 and then get her up and ready to go to her gym class at 9, then come home watch the snow and maybe some cartoons, then wake up daddy and go out to lunch. Well, I put Hayden down for her nap at 8 and I though I'd take a little cat nap too... 3 1/2 hours later we both woke up! I guess we were both more tired then I had expected, so we missed her gym class, but I don't think I would have wanted to drive in the snow. Too many crazy people out there on the road that don't know how to drive in the snow, I didn't really want to take my chances with them! So then we watched and episode of Handy Manny (one of Hayden's favorite TV shows) and woke dad by jumping on the bed.

We decided to venture out in the snow to get some lunch. I'm so glad we did. It was beautiful outside! I love seeing everything was covered in snow. It seems like everything is just so peaceful when it snows!

Here are some pictures we took on our way out to lunch. I think we were the only people who decided to go out in the snow! We had the entire restaurant to ourselves basically and the whole parking lot too! Only time we've ever had our choice of parking spots in Suburban Square!

After we got home from lunch, Dan had to go in to work. What crazy people decide to open their restaurant during a blizzard? Can someone answer that for me? Well, my husband's boss' did, so Dan had to drive in to work just so that 12 people could come an eat dinner! 12 people! It cost them more to pay their staff then the amount they profited from staying open! Oh well, enough ranting, it'll get me nowhere! So after Dan left for work, Hayden and I went outside once more to play in the snow! I love our little patio! It's just perfect for us to enjoy with very little maintenance! Hayden was a little hesitant at first but then fell in love with the snow. She couldn't get enought. She took a big face plant into the snow at one point (pictured above) and I thought she would be done after that! But no, my darling snow bunny wanted more. She just shook the snow off her face and continued to giggle and play. She even started crying when I took her in because her little face was all red from the cold.

We got out presents all wrapped up and under the tree. Hayden loves to go and pick up the presents. She doesn't open them, she just wants to look and then give them to me or daddy. She's such a sweet kid! Here are some pictures of her playing with the presents and the remote after playing out in the snow!

I hope we get plenty more snow days this year. We'll have to pick up a comfy snow suit for Hayden so she doesn't freeze her little tush next time we go out to play! Well, until next time!

Decorating the Tree

Our tree is finally decorate! Yay! I was so hoping to be more on top of things this year, but yet again we didn't get our tree up and decorated until the week before Christmas. Well, at least it's up, right?!

We did most of the decorating while Hayden was sleeping. Dan and I like to decorate together, it's something we've done since we moved into our first place. So most nights he gets home too late for me to stay up and wait, but Tuesday night he got home early enough that I was able to stay up and wait for him to decorate our tree! Hayden woke up in the middle of us decorating, so I brought her down to see what the tree looked like. She was in aww! It was so great seeing her eyes light up at the sight of the tree!

Last week she got the opportunity to help my parents decorate their tree. She was privilaged enough to get to put the star on the top too! Here she is with my dad putting the star on the tree...

Is it Christmas yet?

Last night I did my last bit of Christmas shopping! The family presents are done, but I have a feeling that I'm going to end up at the toy store next week to pick up some more small toys for Hayden. I'm trying my hardest to pace myself, her birthday is about a week after Christmas and I still have to get her something for that day too! It never ends!

So now I'm just waiting to receive my last few online orders and then have to pick up a Chinese polyana for our work holiday party tomorrow and then make some cookies for my friend's cookie exchange tomorrow too! Oh boy, tomorrow is going to be a busy day! I'll keep you guys posted on how everything goes!

Panic Attack!

I just about lost my mind yesterday! Dan and I went shopping for Hayden's Christmas present (with Hayden... what? she's not going to remember by Christmas what we got her anywasy!) and got her a new front facing car seat. She has quickly outgrown her old baby seat and is not ready for a "big girl" seat! My little one is growing up so fast! That's not what sent me in panic mode...

So we get to the car and I start making room in the trunk to put the massive box. We realize the box is going to be too big to put in to our little Subaru hatchback, so we were going to have to take the car seat out of the box. Then Dan decided that he wanted to give Hayden her present early. He felt bad having to put her back into a car seat the she just wasn't comfortable in anymore. I don't blame him, she can't really move, the seatbelt is too tight and she's just too darn big for it now! So after bickering about it in the Babies R Us parking lot for a few minutes, I gave in and we started to rearrange everything in the car again. We got the car all packed up and ready to go and headed back home.

Well, we forgot one thing in the shopping cart... MY DIAPER BAG!!! It's not just any diaper bag. Dan bought this bag especially for Hayden. It's a beautiful Coach diaper bag! Plus, it had my whole life in it! My iPhone with thousands of Hayden's baby pictures and all my contacts, my wallet with my drivers lisence, debit card, insurance card, etc, my digital camera, my keys... I didn't know what to do with myself! Of course we didn't realize this until we got home and I couldn't find my bag anywhere in the car.

So I ran inside and called the store right away, but they had no luck finding the bag in any of the shopping carts inside or outside! So I began calling my bank to cancel my card ASAP, my landlord to change the locks, Subaru to get the locks changed on the car. The entire time I was on the phone I was say a silent prayer asking that everything work out... Then I got a call from Dan. He had stormed out in a rage and just drove off to I don't even know where! Aparently he texted my phone offering a reward to anyone who finds my bag... no response. Then he called my phone...

An elderly lady answered the phone! She found my bag in a cart and decided to look inside to see if she could find a phone or number to contact to let us know that she found it. My prayer was answered! Aparently she had tried to turn my phone on but couldn't figure out how it worked. So when Dan texted, she didn't know how to reply, but when he called, an answer call button appears and she touched it and was able to talk to Dan. I'm so thankful to this kind woman. Not only did she find my bag, but she was kind enough to take care of it and not take anything!

I was so worried that my stuff would fall into the wrong hands. You never know, right? Well, the important thing is that everything is fine now. We were able to get my bag back with everything still in it!

Hayden had to make sure everything was in her bag!

Caught Red Handed!

I knew all my pens kept on disappearing!

She wasn't too happy when I took the pens away from here!

Christmas Parties Galore!

What a weekend! It think I've had my share of Christmas parties this year, but no, there's still more to come! From Friday to Sunday, I had one party after another to go to!

It all started at the Philly 1st Crhistmas party (not my home ward, Philly 4th, but my parent's ward). My ward's Christmas party was on Saturday, but I had another committment, so I went with my parents' to their ward party and we had a blast! I got to see some friends from the old "Broomall 1st" ward and Hayden saw some of her friends too! It was a really fun night. Here are some pictures of Hayden being her loving self! She's been extra loving lately wanting to give everyone hugs and kisses all the time. Here she is hugging her friends, which she hasn't seen in about a month or so...

Hayden simply loves her friends! She's just such a loving baby!

Hayden & Caroline! Caroline was a little tired and wanted nothing with Hayden's hugs! That's ok Caroline, Hayden still loves you!

She took these antlers from Caroline's stroller since Caroline didn't want to wear them!

I think her favorite part about the party besides eating cake was this balloon.

Our little Yaya! It was so cold and we left her hat at home (I know, I'm a bad mommy!) so here she is wrapped up in my scarf with grandma!

Saturday we went to our Little Gym class as usual, then lunch with dad and then I had to get ready super quick to go to my boss' house for his Christmas party. It was just a few people from work that report directly to my boss and their spouses. I work with a great group of people. The party was only supposed to be from 5:30 - 8ish, but we were there till about 10! I was the first to leave since I had to catch the last train back home or else I would have been spending the night! Dan unfortunatly had to work and couldn't get the night off, so I was on my own. I had a great time even though he wasn't there (I did wish that he could come, but work has to come first!) Hopefully next year Dan will be able to make it!

I had completely forgotten that Dan and I were invited by one of the customers at the restaurant to come to his Christmas party, so Sunday morning while I was getting Hayden her lunch and Dan was getting ready to go to work, he reminded me to make sure I had someone to watch Hayden that night. I asked him, "Why? Are we going somewhere?" He quickly reminded me that we had the Christmas party that we "have to at least make an apperance at!" Great! I was so looking forward to just relaxing Sunday night, but no we had to go to this party. It would be an insult to these people if we didn't show. So Sunday night I got myself ready and dropped Hayden off with my parents. The party was... well, to put it lightly... interesting! It was definitely an interesting croud of people. I'm just glad that we were only there for about an hour, then we both looked at each other and made a quick escape!

So that was our weekend! This coming week will be just as rough! I have my work Holiday party on Thursday, my dear friend L's cookie exchange the same night that I have to attend, my own Christmas Recipe Swap Friday, a Last Minute Shopping party (where I'll be displaying my jewelry if anyone is interesting in come!) as well as our usual weekend chaos! I hope I survive the week! Wish me luck!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We got the first snowfall of the season last Saturday. Wasn't really much, but enough to cover the ground and turn everything white! I simply love this time of year!

Christmas is just 2 weeks away and I'm just starting to get the decorations up. I promised myself that I would get everything done early this year, but so far I have failed myself! We got our Christmas tree and right now it's just sitting there, naked, in the living room. One of these days we'll get the lights and decoration on it, I promise! I did manage to decorate the rest of the house which is starting to really come together.

The Christmas shopping is another story. I'm about 10% done! I know, I really need to get my butt in motion! Guess I'll just have to go shopping the weekend! ;)

Let's Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessing we have. I am thankful for so many things.

I'm thankful for...

1. my family - Dan and Hayden are everything in the world to me. Without them I'm incomplete!
2. hospitals and modern medicine - Hayden started running a high ever suddenly on Wednesday afternoon. Her doctor's office was already closed for the holiday weekend, so I rushed her over to our local hospital. We were there for a while, but thanks to the caring doctors and nurses, Hayden and I were very comfortable while we wanted. Plus the doctors found out what was troubling my little muchkin and gave her medicine to make her better.
3. my parents - they are always there when I need them.
4. my siblings - no matter how much I fight with them, I love them to pieces!

My cousins came in from out of town. They aren't really my cousins, but I've grown up with them and they are family to me! Here's our Thanksgiving.

Rachel & Alysa

Laura & Jeremy

The Roasted Pig! (So yummy!)

Tio Egardo, Tio Eric & Gladys

My dad & Hayden

My apple pie (recipe on mommytlc.com)

The "kids" playing games

Cooking dinner

My turkey came out perfect!

Tio Egardo, Tio Eric & my dad

Rewind to Halloween

So I'm just now realizing that I never posted any pictures from Hayden's first Halloween! Oh wow, I'm really losing it now! Unfortunately most of Halloween was rained out for us, but we did get to squeeze some Trick o' Treating in before the rain came! Here's Hayden's costume!

Our little "Wonder Woman" was SUPER cute! And who would have throught that she would get her first kiss at such a young age, from non other than "Superman"!

We went Trick o' Treating at Suburban Square with mom & dad, then had some tasty mac and cheese for lunch at Plate. Her food was good, but let's just say we are never going back to Plate again!

Mac & Cheese face baby!

Yummy fingers!