9 months old!

Ok, so its taken me a few days because I had hoped to have time to air down and make it a good one...well thought put and all.  I guess its that time of year and I do have a 9 month old BUSY little boy...we leave town tonight so I'm posting pics from my phone to ensure the memory is posted!

Also thought I'd add a shot of my little wolverine!  He was too captivated by his Baby Signs video to look at the camera!

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ACC Mascot Time!!!

Had a great time at the ACC Football Championship Game.  Haden enjoyed his first big time game as well!!!  We loved hearing Dierks Bently and love the connections we have (aka: Aunt Amy) who get up VIP close-up seating.  Surprisingly, Haden slept through the whole concert even though it was loud and we were close.  Haden also got to enjoy the box seats we were lucky enough to get.  Nana, Papa, Holden and Alle enjoyed keeping him busy and Haden eventually fell asleep on Papa.  He is such a trooper and is a great baby!!!  Just goes with the flow!  Scott and I took him to bed at half time, watched the rest of the game on TV and crashed ourselves. 

Before the game we enjoyed FanFest as well and took many photo opportunities with the beloved mascots!!!  A few important ones are missing though...

 The Clemson Tiger

 Georgia Teck BUZZ

 UVA Cavalier

 BC Eagle

UVA Hokie

Sneek Peek

Our Moments Christmas Card

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Ordered the Christmas Cards today!!!  Here is a sneak peek - well - I guess it's pretty much the whole thing :-)

Turning 30...

I don't actually feel any older but yes, today I leave my 20s behind. I feel like I'm embarking into the "living my life" portion of my trip here on Earth. I mean, my 20s were spent creating my life...now I've got to go live it!! At 22 I graduated college and started my career...at 26 I walked down the isle and started my marriage...at 29 my son was born and we started a family. Now is the time for me to embrace these gifts and enjoy them! I am happy with my life and am eager and excited about all that is still to come! Ready or Not 30s...here I am! And I plan on sticking around for about 10 years...maybe more ;-)

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8 months old!

First of all - this kid NEVER stops moving!!!  He is in constant motion!!!  I'm really in for it whenever he learns to walk, which isn't too far away.  Just yesterday he decided to hold on to things with only 1 hand after pulling up to standing.  He is just a ball of energy and I love him too much!!! 



8 months...I can't believe it!!

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7 Months Old!!!

And I swear...they do not make a happier baby anywhere... Haden never stops smiling and laughing!  We couldn't love him more - but somehow we do each day!

7 months has brought about crawling, climbing, pulling himself up, venturing EVERYWHERE, moving to 3 meals a day, standing, and so much more.  He is growing and changing so much each day!!  Life just gets better and better.

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Haden!

What I've learned in 6 months...

* I am a MOM...first

* There is just too much to worry about

* Haden has to be the cutest baby EVER

* Baby food goes everywhere when Daddy is in charge

* Grandparents are WONDERFUL

* The worst part of my day is leaving him in the morning

* The best part of my day is picking him up in the afternoon

* Mrs. Cheryl (daycare) loves Haden as much as his family does

* Diaper rash is HORRIBLE

* I have to let some things go

* Nothing sounds more beautiful that when Haden laughs

* There is never enough money

* Seeing him smile make me smile - every time!

* When grandmas stay with the baby - they help with housework too!

* Dinner is way less interesting now that there is no time to cook

* That's okay

* I'm always over prepared...and also under prepared

* My house is not ready for him to be moving as much as he is

* TOYS are EVERYWHERE

* I keep buying toys

* Things don't always go according to plan

* Often times things are much better than expected

* Haden is ALL boy, already

* God gave me a BIG responsibility

* I'm glad God chose me for Haden

* I need a maid

* He is growing up WAY too fast!

Haden - We love you very much!   You truly are a blessing!

Face Dive!!!

We're sitting up!!!

5 months old!

Happy 5 months little boy!

Wow, how life has changed in 5 short months...loving everything about it though. This little boy is so much fun!

He can't help but smile ALL the time. You just have to look at him and you will soon get a big gummy grin! He loves kisses and will laugh and laugh when you give kisses in his 'sweet spot' (you know, right in their necks, right where they smell sweetest!). He has started rolling and scooting all over the place. Sitting up on his own is right around the corner, I just know it!! He is now eating dinner with us every night...a little rice cereal and either a fruit or veggie. We think pears and sweet potatoes are his favorites, while peas seem to not taste so good.

We find him all over his crib now...busting out of his swaddle and doing okay sleeping partly out of it. We are still waiting for the day when he sleeps through the night but we know we'll get there soon.

I'm trying hard to enjoy these last few precious minutes of summer as it is quickly coming to an end. I will miss my little guy soooooo much!

Life just doesn't get better than when spent with my baby boy!

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doing a little decorating...

So, in an effort to make this whole helmet experience a LOT more fun my dear friend Rory helped me out by sending me all these Mickey Mouse transfers in different sizes. I got to decorating a little at a time to make sure I liked it and didn't feel like I was 'mucking' it up. Well...this is how it turned out! Not bad! And I must admit...he does look so stinkin' cute in his little helmet!

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Deedle - y - Dum!!!

Deedle - y - Dum...

Favorite way to play with grandkids by both Nana and Papa.

Nonnie (Papa's Grandmother) loved doing this with all her grandkids and great-grandkids. It's now being passed down for many more generations to LOVE. Haden just laughs and laughs when Nana does it!!! Love this kids laugh!

This Mom Gig isn't Easy...

My son is perfect, and in my eyes he always will be. But, yesterday we went to see a plastic surgeon about Haden's 'flat head'. She said on a scale of 1 to 6, his flat head was a 6. He had it bad. Poor boy just loved to sleep looking straight up, I tried to turn his head this way or that since he was born. Every time I would go back in to check on him...his face was pointed straight up. So, as hard as I try to not feel like it's my fault (and I know it's not), I think any mother in my shoes would be wondering, like I am, "What did I do wrong?"

Anyway, Haden now has to wear this helmet. They say 4-6 months should correct his little head. We go back in 8 weeks to see how much progress has been made (and hopefully if he won't have to wear it as consistently - maybe just when he sleeps and when he is in his carseat). As much as I feel like this sucks...I know I have to hold fast to the knowledge that this is what is best for him. Be honest with yourself though, when you see a child like this out in public your first though is, "There must be something wrong with that child." It is what I always thought. Scott's Aunt Sara gave me good advice and reminded me that there is nothing wrong with my child, some mothers have to deal with much worse than this. My cup is 9/16ths full. I keep telling myself it's just like having braces...nothing is wrong, we just have to fix what isn't straight.

Today, however, it was a little hard. We took him out in 'public' for the first time (just to Big Lots, but still 'public'). The inevitable question is...do we keep the helmet on him or take it off while in the store? We chose to keep it on. Scott tried to make me feel better by grabbing his plastic Tigers helmet so that they would both have one...I didn't let him wear it in the store. But it did make me smile and he is wonderful for trying!

So, when Haden wears his helmet...gone are the days of sweet smiles from onlookers and I bob my son around in the carrier...gone are the sweet comments on how beautiful and wonderful he is. Now we get quick glances while others avoid our eyes. They think something is wrong and feel sorry for us. I know I will get used to it but it still doesn't make it easy. I also know he will NEVER remember any of this and it's all me. Of course we will show him pictures (and probably poke fun at him) from this time in his life. It will soon be a distant memory and my son will have the 'perfect' little head he deserves!

I am trying to find the fun in the situation though too... see below :-)

And while he does have to wear a helmet, I think he definitely makes it look good!!! He is still my sweet, smiley, lovable little boy and that will never change. Scott wants to put 'wings' on his helmet like the Michigan football players have...Aunt Rory is making little Mickey's for me to put all over it. Of course I went with Mickey Mouse!!! If he has to wear this for a while and get the larger size (pray not) then we will decorate #2 with sports stuff!!!

So for now, my kid has a helmet...it could be worse :-/

...and I pray it never is...

Meeting Mickey Mouse!

Haden took his first trip to Disney World this week! What a lucky guy to get to go at only 4 months old (thanks Aunt Kelly and Uncle Josh)! But boy was it HOT! He was such a trooper getting strolled around with a fan blowing on him!

We still had a great time and Haden even enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean, Muppets, the Great Movie Ride, Country Bears Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, the Safari, Festival of the Lion King and It's Tough to be a Bug! Although I think he slept through half of them :) The best was meeting Mickey and Minnie! Haden loved them and when Minnie went to kiss him he tried to eat her nose!

We got tons of pictures and when we went to leave, Minnie wouldn't let go. She kept looking back at Mickey as if asking to keep him! Mickey pulled her back and gave her a big hug to let her know it would be okay!
We had a caricature drawn of Haden to put in his room! I love how it turned out!

And Mommy is a BIG fan if Haden's first set of ears!
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1st Baseball Game

Mommy and Daddy took me to my FIRST baseball game today!!! We had such a great time! We were joined by Alle, Holden, Aunt Amy and Uncle Scott!!! We actually have them to thank for the tickets! Thanks :)

I may be little but I am a BIG fan of Guilford the Mascot and the Greensboro Grasshoppers!!!

Happy 4 Months!

Happy 4 months, little boy. You are now 13 lbs 10.5 oz (25%), 24 in long (19%), and your head is 41 cm (20%). Wow have you ever changed our lives! We are loving every minute of it!!
You are now eating rice cereal and so far have had apples and squash. You love to be talked to and laugh when mommy sings to you (am I that bad?). You are rolling from your back to your belly, and when you get there you can only take it for a minute or two before getting frustrated. You love play time and stretching out on your play mats!
You are the apple of our eyes and both mommy and daddy are head over heels in love with you. Keep growing little boy, be strong and smart, accomplish your dreams, and know that we both are your biggest fans. We love you, Haden!

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Happy 4th of July!!!

Haden celebrated many 'firsts' this weekend!!!

-First flight!!! (he did GREAT)

-First trip above the Mason Dixon line!!! (aka: to the North)

-Met Great-Grandma (Mana)

-First time meeting TONS of mommy's family :)

Some cousins...

Sporting the Chicago love!!!

Surviving the first flight!

Having Kelsey help choose a Cubs or Sox pacifier!!!

Playing with Elle!!!

Last Thursday, my mother and I decided to brave Haden's first flight together!!! We flew from RDU to MDW in Chicago and then stayed with my grandmother in Hobart, IN. We knew he would do great but were relieved when it actually happened. We got to introduce my son to all the Larsen side of the family! It was so much fun getting to celebrate the 4th of July weekend with all of them around. We had a wonderful time and wish the trip could have lasted longer. Love everyone up there so much!!!

We had many adventures including time with the "Great"-Aunts on Friday, a trip to the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm on Saturday (We actually saw a baby cow being born!), then a big family get-together Sunday! We flew back this morning (highly recommend - not many people were traveling today)!

Scott missed Haden quite a bit though (and we missed him quite a bit too) and we were all glad to be together tonight to share the 4th as a family :)

3 Months Today...

What does 3 months have to offer...

These last 3 months have given me more joy, more fear, more love, more worry, more happiness, more concern, and more peace than I ever thought possible. My son is my greatest accomplishment and gift to date. He is thriving, growing (12 lbs 12 oz), grabbing, rolling, kicking (like crazy), smiling and laughing! He truly is a happy baby. He even smiles in his sleep!

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