3 Years

On July 5th Cade and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary

We happened to be in California at the time. That morning we headed to Launga Beach to eat breakfast at The Cottage. Jadyn came with us and it was fun to spend the day with just the three of us.

After breakfast we headed down to Newport Beach. We hung out with our friends, the Aalona/Gallagher's, for a bit at their beachhouse.

And of coarse took at stroll down the boardwalk and peir.

That night my sister watched Jadyn while Cade and I went out to dinner. It was such a fun day!

I can't believe we've been married for three years and that we are now a little family of three. I feel so blessed!

Summer

Our summer has been full of campfires, tents, swimming, beaches and hanging out with friends and family. Everything a good summer should be. 

Here is a picture of Jadyn on her first camping trip to Currant Creek with Cade's family. 

Lucky for us Jadyn doesn't mind sleepling in a tent one bit.

9 Months

Nine Months Old

Weight: 16 lbs. 10 oz (15th%)

Height: 26 in (15th%)

We love our happy girl!

On June 30th Jadyn turned 9 months old. Here are some new things she is doing:

• Picks up food and feeds herself. I thought that was a pretty big accomplishment when she started using those little pinchers. She will sit in her high chair and feed herself Puffs all day if I let her.
• The middle of June she finally started sitting up without me having to worry about her.
• String cheese, cottage cheese and deli turkey are her new favorite foods.
• New tooth poked through...making that 3. With a few more about to arrive any day I think.
• Acts sooo suprised when she sucks anything out of her sippy. Its almost like it scares her. She definately needs more practice.
• Gives herself kisses in the mirror.
• Mimics me when I make popping noises with my mouth.
• For some reason she thinks I am funnier everyday. I could listen to that giggle of hers all day long.

8 Months Have Come and Gone

I cant believe this little Lovebug is getting so big.

Man time sure does fly. I stumbled upon Jadyn's preemie/newborn clothes the other day and found myself sifting through them amazed at how little she was. Can a baby really fit in newborn clothes? It doesn't seem likely now that I have this chunk-a-lunk on my hands. We've even got to experience her tinyness a little longer than most parents. About two more extra months that is.

For now here are some things I want to remember about 8 months (adjusted age 6 months):

Accomplishments lately:

- Sitting up...Well for a few minutes that is. She has just started taking off lately and can even recover when she starts to tip. I feel like we have been at that tipsy sitting up stage forever...at least two months. Note: she does remarkably better when her helmet is off. We will just have to keep practicing.

- About a month ago Jadyn started sprouting two little bottom teeth. They are cute little stubs now and I love that little smile. I have to watch out though she is a little biter.

-She will hold her bottle now through a full feeding but hast to be in the mood and mostly wants mom to do it

-Overcame her frist sickness (bronciolitis and an ear infection)...I don't know if thats an accomplishment but I'm just glad she is doing better.
- Only wears her helmet at night time and naps. HORRAY!

Things she loves:

- J's new favorite thing is swimming. We've been a few times now and she just loves it. She gets so excited she will kick those little legs and get those arms moving so fast. She is usually all smiles as soon as she hits the water

-Continues to love reading books. She will now turn the pages of her board books all by herself.

-Loves to play outside.

-Loves pretty much any food you give her. Also loves to try and grab her spoon when eating (which mom doesn't love)

-Loves to dance with mom or dad. You put music on and give her a twirl around the living room and she thinks this is the greatest thing ever. 

- Loves songs. If she is grumpy you just start singing her fav "Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree" and a smile will come every time.

-Loves her Daddy. When he gets her ready for bath time at night I can sometimes hear her giggling away at him.  

Cali

Jadyn and I took off for a week to visit Brent and Lindsay and escape this UT weather. At first I thought a week away was going to be too long but it flew by WAY too fast. We missed Cade but sure did have fun in that California sun :) Jadyn got to experience a lot of things for the first time. She surprised me by how well she loved everything. She was even good on the airplane.

First time at the beach

 First time feeling the sand between her toes

First time swinging bt herself

First Angels game

 First Carousel Ride

First time swimming

 And her first airplane ride! Which I totally forgot to take a picture of. Sad!

You can't tell from this picture, but Jadyn especially loved being entertained by these cute Cali cousins. She got lots and lots of attention.

Can't wait to go back in July!!!

Happy Easter

For Easter we went to my sister Heather's house to meet up with with some of the family. They live on a Ranch in NV and it was so nice to be out in the fresh air.

Jadyn loved being outside. 

 She got to hang out with cousins

 Went on a wagon ride around the Ranch.

 Spent some time geting to know these horses. They would come up and sniff Jadyn whenever we would walk by.

First Easter Egg Hunt:

Jadyn is the little one on the end. (I don't think you can miss her and her helmet...poor girl). I think she liked her Easter basket. She would carry it around everywhere. Here she is with some of her cousins that made the trip.

 Ready to find some eggs...

 She somehow decided she could sit up all by herself in the grass.

 Checking out the loot.

Easter Morning

Jadyn didn't get a lot in her basket. (The Easter bunny needs to do better next year). But she did get some new binkies and two new dresses.

 Ready for church

 We had so much fun and hope to go back soon.
Happy Easter!!!

We Did It

I had such a hard time when I learned that Jadyn had Plagiocephaly and would need a helmet to help shape her head. It wasn't a huge shock since her head got pretty flat on her right side when she lying in her hospital bed for so long. But I thought that by me working diligently on the left side when she got home this would help shape it. I was wrong. All it did was make it very odd shape.

The first time we went to the Dr to get her head scanned, I walked in and saw a baby wearing one and walked straight back to the car telling Cade that I couldn't do it. I was worried about how she would handle it but also was afraid of how it would make her look and all the stares and questions I would receive. I guess it was somewhat of a pride issue. I joked that when we got the helmet I was going into hiding for a few months. I didn't think that I would take many pictures and definitely wouldn't blog about it. But that has all changed somehow. Ever since she started wearing it I have embraced it and CUTE little face of hers!

She has handled it like a champ! She wears it 23 hours a day and doesn't seem bothered by it at all (except for the first several nights, she would wake up like 5 or 6 times but would go right back to sleep). She now thankfully pretty much sleeps through the night again. I learned that I don't even mind the stares either. I get asked whats wrong with her head about a millions times from children, especially at church, but I would be curious if I were them too.

So here's to 2 1/2 more months of this thing. Bring it on!