Today you turned 3 months old! I cannot even believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was waddling around with you dancing around inside me, and now, here you are, the big 3-0 (3 months, 0 days. Your mama is the BIG 3-0)!
This has been another big month for all of us, full of many more firsts. You spent your first night at your Mema and Poppie's house, giving your Mama and Daddy a date night and a FULL night's sleep -my first since you were born (although I have to admit, I woke up once or twice checking for you...). You and I were in a car accident. It was your first one, unfortunately not mine. We were both okay, just kind of shaken up. Okay, you were MAD, I was FREAKING OUT. Both in full-on capital letters, just like that. All in all though, not the worst accident ever, and at least now we've got that under our belts and, fingers crossed, behind us. You even managed to sleep a full 8 1/2 hours for the first time the other night. Only, you started it at 8pm so Iwas still up at 4:30 with you. It's a good start, though and I'm not complaining. You also starred in your first movie, Get Low.
Your biggest first for the month had to be your first day at daycare when I returned to work a couple weeks ago. Honestly, I have to say that going back wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it would be for either of us. The anticipation is what was so terrible for me. I started back on a Friday, and the entire week, I'd wake up with dread in the pit of my stomach, thinking, "only 3 more days left", and then I'd scoop you up from your bassinet, let you nurse to your heart's content, then cuddle up with you as you dozed on my chest, breathe in your wonderful baby scent and nuzzle the top of your fuzzy little head. We'd linger in bed, clinging to one another, just as long as we could stand it, and enjoyed every minute together. Those were some good days, my wee one. As your Poppie would say, "Good times, good times..."When I dropped you off on the first day, I handed you to Mrs. Lisa, and you immediately began to curl that lip out (a trick you've mastered this month), and I began tickling you and talking to you to get you smiling again. I told you I couldn't leave you crying the first day, but I could leave you laughing. And so I did... Daycare has actually been really good for you - Mrs. Amy and Mrs. Lisa are both wonderful, and they adore you so much. You really enjoy all the swings, bouncers and other babies to play with. A couple weeks ago, they discovered you enjoyed the excer-saucer activity centers, and since then you spend a good part of each day playing in those. 
You especially love it if they put another of the babies in the other excersaucer so you can watch each other. They tell me you just laugh and coo and babble away! They're amazed at how well you hold yourself up, and how talkative you are already. 
You come home each day so worn out that you sleep really well, and are in such a good mood! I love the place so much - the teachers are wonderful, it's minutes from work, and best of all, they have webcams, so I can check in on you anytime I want!! Thank goodness for all your hair - it makes you easy to spot!
You especially love it if they put another of the babies in the other excersaucer so you can watch each other. They tell me you just laugh and coo and babble away! They're amazed at how well you hold yourself up, and how talkative you are already. You come home each day so worn out that you sleep really well, and are in such a good mood! I love the place so much - the teachers are wonderful, it's minutes from work, and best of all, they have webcams, so I can check in on you anytime I want!! Thank goodness for all your hair - it makes you easy to spot!
We have also begun testing your dairy allergy this month. The only way to do it is through diet changes, so your Mama has been enjoying some much-missed goodies, like milkshakes, pizza and regular bread! Yum! I was so nervous that it would affect you and make you start screaming every night again, but after two weeks, we can't tell a discernable difference! I'm still holding my breath because it can take a few weeks to build up in your system, but this experiement has been very positive (and delicious)!
You are such a lovely little doll. You love to laugh and coo at your family, and if we talk to you, you love to talk back to us, saying, "oooOOOHHhhhaa", or "EEEeeaaaahhh", or "ooohhhWWWhhoo". You kick your little legs all the time, and your little hands have gotten so good at holding things. You love playing with your toys - your rattles, your dragonfly that hangs on your carseat is a special favorite (you'll grab one of his little feet and try your best to wring him off his perch), and your little lamb (a Valentine's present from your Mama). 
You do so well sitting up, you can aaaaalmost hold yourself up, and I can tell you want to so badly. Last night, while we were visiting our new house, I held you by your arms and let you stand yourself up on the hardwood floors, and you imediately began taking little steps! 
You're going to be a mover, girlie, that's for sure! I love your determination. I can just see you concentrating so hard when you are trying to reach for a new toy, or when you're balancing yourself standing in my lap. You have such a sweet, cheerful spirit, but you never mince words when you're mad. You tell us immediately when things are not to your liking, but you're quick to settle back down and start laughing again once we rectify the situation.
You do so well sitting up, you can aaaaalmost hold yourself up, and I can tell you want to so badly. Last night, while we were visiting our new house, I held you by your arms and let you stand yourself up on the hardwood floors, and you imediately began taking little steps! You're going to be a mover, girlie, that's for sure! I love your determination. I can just see you concentrating so hard when you are trying to reach for a new toy, or when you're balancing yourself standing in my lap. You have such a sweet, cheerful spirit, but you never mince words when you're mad. You tell us immediately when things are not to your liking, but you're quick to settle back down and start laughing again once we rectify the situation.Hayden, you are such a joy to me and your Daddy. You fill my life and heart up in a way I never knew was possible. I delight in every new milestone you reach, each new accomplishment and talent you learn. I couldn't ever tire of playing with you, of looking at you, of hearing your sweet voice. I think when I gave birth to you, you took my heart with you, and I won't ever be whole again. Part of me belongs to you always now.
All my love,
Mama
This is Hayden in her first cloth diaper ever, at about 5 weeks old. We'd just had a bath, if you can't tell from the Don King 'do she's sporting...
Even now, I can't believe that I am doing more laundry than ever and actually ENJOYING it! But seriously, when you're cleaning itsy bitsy socks and teeny tiny shirts and these puffy, easter-egg colored dipes, how can you not? It's the next best thing to actually getting to dress the little squirt in all these cutie-patootie clothes!
Here's a left hand view of the kitchen, with the refrigerator surround and island in place. You'll have to ignore the light - that's where our Tiffany lamp will go, but the shade is put up for safe keeping. I think I'd have a coronary if someone put a ladder through that glass... Ouch. It hurts to even think about it! 
This is a close up of the cherry cabinets, which will be the feature around our stove. They go perfectly with our floors, and the wood is so beautiful! I could marry these cabinets, I'm so in love!
Here's a non kitchen-related shot of our stairway in the great room. They're working on the wrought iron railing, and it's another piece we've been itching to see fall into place.