Hayden's Firsts Part 3

The first weekend in June, Momma and you came to Richmond for the first time for Meg's baby shower. You had been to the doctor that day for your 4 month check up and you received 3 vaccinations (one was oral). You were feeling a little puney and so we gave you Tylenol for the discomfort and Grandad Gammon held you while you took a nap. Later you were feeling much better and helped to open Grandad's early Father's Day gift--you were fascinated with the curly ribbon.

At your doctor's appointment you weighed 17.8 pounds (only the 97th percentile) and measured 26 3/4 inches long (100th percentile) and your head circumference was perfect.


We hung the jumping seat over the door and you had a great time twirling about and bouncing. It was difficult to get a clear picture because you were moving about so much but you loved all the free movement.

You have such a good time with your Rain Forest jumperoo at home that Grandma bought the zoo version for her house. It seemed to throw you forward so that your eyes were too close to the blinking lights and the seat didn't spin as well as yours at home. When I came up to watch you this week, I brought the zoo seat with me and I think we have it repositioned so that your eyes will not be hurt and more use will hopefully make it slide around easier (or a little WD 40!).

Your hands became your favorite toy (until you found your toes--later on that) and you love licking, chewing, and sticking as many of your fingers as you can into your mouth. You have become a master drooler and Grandma thinks you are thinking about having a tooth or two pretty soon.



Hayden you are a blessing for all of us and you could not be loved more.

Like your Momma and Daddy, you need white noise to sleep. They (and you) use a box fan at night and you have your snuggly giraffe that creates several sounds that help you sleep. Sweet dreams little one.

Love always

Grandma

Hayden's Firsts Part 2

Dear Hayden, as you can see you are an expert at holding objects now and they generally end up in your mouth. You still love to play on your play mat and are a "baby in perpetual motion" with arms and legs flying in every direction. You have found your voice and love to laugh, chortle, and squeal. Your "conversations" are much longer these days and you still expect all of those within your sight to respond to you. It has been an amazing experience to watch you grow and reach many developmental milestones.

Grandma found sunglasses that have velcro straps and they seemed to fit better than the sunglasses with the plastic sides that go over your ears. But you still manage to put the sunglasses in a variety of positions such as the "Joe Cool" position above.

You sleep much better when you are swaddled, however you are like Houdini. Your arms and legs are supposed to be inside the swaddler but you manage to get your arms and/or legs out and take great pride in that accomplishment. Grandma has watched in fascination as one little hand and then the second slither out the top of the swaddler and you get a very cheesy grin when Grandma asks how you got out. Usually your arms find freedom but this week those long legs came out of the bottom. I am afraid that you are outgrowing the swaddler.


You continue to love your bathtime and as you can see you can hold your head up well.

You spend more time on your tummy without protest, although you let everyone know very clearly when you have had enough. This week you turned over several times from your tummy to your back. Grandma, Momma and Daddy were very excited but your look indicated that you did not see what all the fuss was about.

You love your jumperoo and you can spin your seat around 360 degrees and spend alot of time squealing, swinging from side to side, jumping up and down and playing with all of characters as you spin. Thank you Katie for all the fun!

Grandma is going to get ready to go shopping with Momma so I will close for now. You are beside me on the couch grinning and carrying on quite the conversation. Hayden Joseph, you are one happy baby and

I love you so much!

Grandma Gammon

A Lot of "Firsts" for Hayden Part 1

Memorial Day weekend 2011 (more to come)

Dear Hayden, Grandma must again apologize for not writing in a while but she has been quite busy with you! One of your first "newest" firsts came when Grandma came up to stay with you overnight. It was the first time your parents were going to be away from you for the night and Momma was a little anxious--Daddy may have been too but he did not say it. This picture was taken on Mother's Day when you were awaiting their return. Your shirt says it all --You are Bananas over Mommy.

We went out for an early dinner the day before Mother's Day and you were an angel in the restaurant. Your shirt says that you dig Grandma and Grandma digs you too!!

This was your first ride in the carseat in Grandma's car and apparently you enjoyed it so much you took a nap. Grandma fretted because of the silence and she kept reaching over the console to feel your softspot to know you were okay. Grandma needs to get one of the mirror devices that lets the driver see her prescious passenger! The twins loved this seat too and we are thankful that they shared one of their seats with you. The seat should be good for you until you are 4 and Grandma is really comfortable with it because she took the twins in and out of it so many times. We met Momma at school so that we could go the pediatrician because of a rash. Turns out the rash is from your hormones and dry skin. You weighed 16#8 oz

You were ready for the Kenturcky Derby with your sun hat during one of our walks. Your Grandad Gammon's horse did not win but we actually watched the race to see what happened.

For the Memorial Day weekend you, Momma and Daddy headed to Grandma and Grandad Conrad's house in Pennsylvania. You were able to visit with Aunt Sara and Uncle Bryan and Cousin Alex, Aunt Elizabeth and all of the Conrad men.

You seemed to love being the center of everyone's attention.

Grandma Conrad, her sisters and your Great Grandmother

The family dog seemed to be the only one confused by you--should I protect this being, eat it or just follow it about?
Getting ready for the party in your flag shorts and red collared shirt that Daddy likes to wear.

You had another first while in PA. You played in a jumperoo that hung from the door frame and you loved to jump and spin.

This blog edition was three times this length but I need to reboot the computer. So this will be part one of your amazing "firsts!"

I love you Hayden Joseph and thank you for bringing such joy to my life.

Grandma Gammon

Grandma is watching you nap as she writes this

Dear Hayden, I am not sure that I will be able to finish this before you wake up from your nap but at least I was able to upload some recent pictures of you. You continue to love bath time and I love you in your hooded duck towel.

Here you are with your first Easter Bunny. Your outfits were coordinated and you didn't seem to mind sitting in his lap at all.

Waiting in your dapper outfit to go see the Big Bunny.

Your smile melts Grandma's heart. And you smile a lot and have begun talking and get really excited when you converse. Your vocabulary is the usual for a 3 month old --"ahhh-ooooh" and "ga" etc. but we all love every word!

You began sitting in the bumbo several weeks ago. It helps you to gain control of your neck muscles. You have had excellent head control for quite awhile but this is the next step for sitting up by yourself. The pictures were taken within days of each other and you can tell that the weather could not make up its mind. In one picture you have on your plaid shorts and monkey shirt and in the next you are in your winter Steeler gear.

Easter Sunday was also a very warm day and you and Momma and Daddy spent the day at Uncle Tommy's and Aunt Debbie's house.

You met some new relatives including Uncle Brad. In poor Brad's defense you were already crying when he received you from Uncle Tommy and Aunt Debbie.

Aunt Brenda is holding you-glad she had the burp cloth! Sometimes Aunt Brenda can be a "klutzy" as Grandma so I am sure that Uncle Tommy said something about your safety!! but you look quite contented with Aunt Brenda. This was your first introduction to a family gathering and everyone wanted to meet you and hold you.

Grandma and Pappy had good times with you again and even came to visit you at your house on Easter Monday.

Then I came to stay with you while Momma and Daddy worked. Here you are in your Daddy's Garage ("cute and handy") outfit in your Bumbo and playing with the tool box that the twins, Anne Marie and Duncan, had given to you. You really like the tool box because it makes lots of sounds and music and lights up.

You like being read to and you and I have have fun reading your books together. This is a nursery rhyme book that sings, does numbers, and letters, and colors. I think your favorite part is the blinking red noseon the caterpillar. You look like you are attendong school in these pictures. The book is standing on the tray of your Bumbo. This week Grandma has been having a little trouble getting you out of the Bumbo--we may need a jumbo Bumbo.

The other night your Momma and I were sitting on the floor with you after you had done some frustrating tummy time. You were leaning back against your Momma and you suddenly used your tummy muscles to pull yourself into a sitting position. You did this over and over and your tummy muscles got quite a workout. There is only one problem, once you get into the sitting position, your head keeps you going forward so one of us had to catch you before you did a face slam into the blanket on the floor. But you are getting stronger and I don't think it will be long before you are sitting and turning over (at least from your tummy to your back because you get quite frustrated on your tummy).

When we are in the kitchen you love to talk and laugh at the giraffe on your bouncy chair. You have even started to squeal when you are laughing. So many changes in just three months.

You also carry on quite the conversation with your friend who hangs from the sunvisor on your carseat/stroller. You and I have tried to take a walk each day.

Last weekend Momma's friends from Richmond, Deb and Jess (and Jason and Troy) came to visit. You, as always, were fascinated by the turning fan blades. You all went out to lunch and visited before Momma's friends returned to Richmond.

Your Momma and Daddy went to a friend's surprise birthday party that night and I got to get you ready for bed, give your bedtime bottle, and read a beautiful book, Good Night. We actually read the book several times before you fell asleep. This weekend you and I will spend a night alone as Momma and Daddy are traveling to Maryland for another surprise birthday party. Your Daddy has a bunch of friends getting older around the same time it seems.

You have developed a strong attachment to the TV. You will even lay in your play mat and lean your head completely back to watch the TV upside down. Grandma has heard that TV is not good for children until they are 2 so she turns it off and you cannot figure out where it went. The other evening you were in your swing (you like it more now that you are almost too big for it!) and probably thought you had been given a gift--a direct line of vision to the TV. So Grandma could not help but put the remote in your swing with you.

Grandma found the sunglasses Momma had bought for you (your caps are still too big!) and we have been using them during our walks each day. Some days they stay in place and other days they are all over your head. But you are cute enough in them to be an advertisement for a sunglass company (of course Grandma is a little prejudiced).

Well love, I started this hours ago but we had a feeding and playtime and a second nap while I was writing this. Momma and Daddy are trying to get you into a routine and so far it is working out pretty well. You usually sleep until 3am and sometimes until 5 am! Every once in a while (as in last night) you wake up for a change and a snack at 1 am.

Momma is home now and you are cozy in her arms.

I love you very much Hayden Joseph and cherish each moment with you

Love

Grandma