Dear Hadley,

I apologize for being a few days late on this letter this month. As I’m sure you will soon come to realize, your birthday falls at the absolute busiest time of the year! Anyway, just four days ago, you turned ONE. One. year. old. How is that even possible?!?! It truly seems like just yesterday that we were bringing you home from the hospital, wondering how in the world those nurses let us take you home since we had absolutely NO idea what we were doing! ;) 

I have had a few days now to reflect on our year together. To be completely honest, in probably every other year of my life, I would be able to list off close to an equal amount of highs and lows…but from this year, thanks to you, all I can think of are highs. So, here is just my short reflection of what has definitely been the best year of my life (again, all thanks to you) to date.

We have been so incredibly blessed with a whole year of perfect health for you. Not even a runny nose! I know that cold and flu season is upon us, so I am preparing myself that our lucky streak may soon end. But, you are tough and I know that we can get through whatever may come!

Like I mentioned earlier, when your Daddy and I left the hospital with you, we felt like we knew nothing. I am not exaggerating. In the hospital, it was great because we had nurses helping us and guiding us… but after only two short days, they turned us loose with you. I have never felt so unprepared in my life (and I know your Daddy felt the same way). But, guess what? We learned. And I feel like we did a pretty dang good job, if I do say so myself. ;) We grew up and learned right along with you, of course with plenty of help and advice from our parents, family and friends. Learning to be a parent has been the most fulfilling job of our lives and we are still learning something new every day.

It was especially amazing for me to watch your Daddy with you in those early days… he was so nervous that he was going to break you, or do something wrong. But instead of just deferring the duties to me, he took the reigns and made sure that he learned, too. He even took over as “chief bather”—his special one-on-one time with you every day. Sometimes I will stand outside the bathroom door and listen to the two of you during bath time. He is so silly and you LOVE it…there are always tons of giggles. I swear I fall more and more in love with him every day, just from watching him with you. He loves you so much, and anyone around you two can see that.

I can’t talk about the high points of this year without at least briefly mentioning what a great sleeper you are and have been. From the very beginning, you slept 6-7 hour stretches, which quickly became 9-10 hour stretches… and then (and still now) 12-13 hour stretches. Naps have also been a breeze for the most part—you really just love to sleep (you most DEFINITELY get that from your Daddy!). To say we have been lucky with you being a great sleeper is the understatement of the century. So thank you, baby girl, for making that part so easy on us!

One of the most special times came just a couple months after you were born, when you flashed us that first smile. Talk about heart melting. It sort of felt like confirmation that you were indeed happy…and that you loved us as much as we loved you! I can also say that even now, a year later, those smiles still make me melt inside a little. And then there were the giggles. When those started, we became infatuated with making you laugh. Still now, whatever we find that makes you laugh, we will do over and over and over because it is the BEST sound in the world. You are such a sweet girl!

One of my favorite memories from your first year is when we went on your first beach trip with the Aldridges—we got to spend a whole week in Cherry Grove with your Mamaw and Papaw, Aunt Heather, and Great-Grandma and Grandpa Aldridge. I am not sure who enjoyed it more, them (getting to spend a whole week with you), you (having someone to play with you 24/7), or us (having SO much help that we started feeling guilty that we weren’t having to do anything!). Anyway, you loved the beach and we all loved getting to spend such precious time with the family. I know that the photos from that trip will be some that we look back on with the fondest memories. 

Speaking of grandparents and great-greatparents, watching all four of your grandparents and all six of your great-grandparents with you has been the sweetest thing. They all ADORE you, little miss. There is no way I could ever adequately explain it, but I hope that one day when you look back on the photos of you with them, you will be able to see the love and adoration. We have tried to make a conscious effort to make many trips home to see everyone and to invite them up to our house to see you…but hopefully it won’t be too long until we will be back “home” (just somewhere closer to our families) and you will get to see them even more. It is so important for us for you to grow up knowing the importance of a close family…and you are beyond blessed to have one of the BEST (though sometimes crazy, haha) families there is. 

I could talk about your physical developments all day, but I’ll try to keep it short. Life changed a lot for us shortly before you turned 6 months old, when you learned to sit up on your own. Play time changed drastically, since you were able to sit and play with your toys. And then (it seems like it was almost overnight) came the crawling, and pulling up to standing. This made me nervous, since you would pull up on anything you could get your hands on, sturdy or not. You got the hang of that quickly, though, and soon began exploring the world around you. You are SO curious about what everything is, how it works, what it tastes like… you are happy as can be when I just let you roam free and let you check everything out. Most recently came the walking! You are still learning and getting better at it, but you show little to no fear, which of course triggers the fear in me (so many corners, ah!), but I am making an effort to let you go and explore, even if it means the occasional bruise or two. I want you to grow up to be independent and tough, which you are already proving to be.

The most recent exciting development is just how extremely aware you are of everything around you. You have an excellent memory, and are learning several new words every day (most recently “bear”, “Ralph”, “Bekah”, “all done”, and “whoa”), and it is SO MUCH FUN! If we ask you where your bear is (only one particular bear, though), you will go find it, and you know who Ralph, Mama, and Dada are and will point to us if we ask you to. The sweetest thing you have learned lately is to give kisses. You will kiss anything/anyone if we ask you to (Daddy hopes this isn’t a problem later…), and you will do it a lot even if we DON’T ask you to (your bear and I receive the most kisses, for sure). I can’t even imagine how it will feel when I hear the first “I love you too, Mommy”… just the thought brings tears!

Finally, the biggest “high” I can think of from your first year is simply how we have grown as a family. We have started traditions that I hope to carry on for many years to come. We have determined what things are important to us as a family, and what ideals and morals we want to stand for and instill within you and our future children. Most importantly, your Daddy and I have fallen more and more in love with each other and with you with each passing day. I hope that you will always feel the love coming from us and that you will grow up to love others and God with your whole heart and without reservation. I also hope you know that your Daddy and I will always be here for you no. matter. what. and that we will always be your biggest supporters. You are the light of our lives and by far the best thing that we have ever done! 

I have said it over and over again, but I still can’t believe that you are one year old. Happy birthday, and thank you for blessing us by just being you, sweet Hadley Jo. I love you to the moon and back, and cannot wait to see what the next year brings us—if it brings half as much joy as the first year, we will be the luckiest little family in the world. 

Love,

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

It is so fitting that your “monthly birthday” this month falls on Thanksgiving. I can’t imagine anything that we are more thankful for this year than you! Because it is Thanksgiving, I am going to take a little different approach to my monthly letter than usual and let you know what I am thankful for on your 11 month birthday and very first Thanksgiving.

First off, I am thankful for our little family. We were already pretty blessed when it was just your Daddy, Ralph and me, but adding you to our family has brought more happiness, love, laughter, and joy than we could have ever dreamed of. We say it all the time, “What on earth did we do before Hadley was here?!”. The answer to that question is, we were really lazy. We prayed for you for so long, sweet girl, and God went above and beyond when he blessed us with you.

I am beyond thankful that I am lucky enough to get to stay home with you. It is hands down the best decision I have ever made, even though it has definitely involved some sacrifices. No sacrifice is too great, though, if it means I am able to spend my days with you. We have so much fun!! You are quite literally attached to my hip the majority of the time…a Mama’s girl through and through. You are my mini BFF, and I can pretty confidently say that I am your best friend, too. Fingers crossed that this lasts a long time, because I can’t imagine it being any other way.

I am thankful for your smiles. And your laughs! Especially the ones that come from deep down in your belly. Nothing is better than the huge grins I get each time I come to get you after you wake up. And those laughs—there is no. better. sound. in the world! Sometimes your Daddy and I will do the same thing over and over and over as long as you will keep laughing. Those are the moments that I know we will remember forever.

Speaking of your laughs, I am so, so thankful for your Daddy, who gets you laughing like no one else can. (He is the person you are looking at when you are cheesing in all these photos!) You love him so much, and it is no secret that you have the most fun with him. You light up each day when he gets home, and you can almost see his heart melt when you do. ;) I am thankful that he supports us and works so hard for both of us. I am positive that he is the best Daddy and loves you more than he ever thought he was capable of. I hope you find a man just like him one day (I don’t think there are many out there, but you will be the luckiest girl in the world if you do).

I am thankful for your personality. You are one-of-a-kind… sweet, mischievous, smart, wild, bashful, scheming, and snuggly, somehow all at the same time. You keep us on our toes, that is for sure. You are so full of wonder and delight in the smallest things… a great reminder to us to always live in the moment. And you definitely keep us laughing all of the time!!!

I am thankful for your grandparents…and great-grandparents! You are so lucky to have four grandparents who basically think you hung the moon and SIX great-grandparents who feel the same way. They are a huge support system for us and I am so grateful for their unending love and support. From the advice, to the gifts, to the babysitting—you are one super lucky little girl to have them all!

Finally, I am just so very thankful for you. For this life. You and your Daddy are my whole world, and what better day to reflect on this than Thanksgiving (though I seriously feel like my heart could burst from being so full on any given day). Thank you for being you, and for making this life so great.

One more month until you are the big o-n-e. I can’t believe it. I can only hope the next days, months, and years are as amazing as the first 11 months have been. I am one thankful mama.

Love,

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

You are officially into double digits! I can’t believe I am the mom of a 10 month old.  I probably think or say about 5 times a day, “can’t she just stay this way forever?” or “does she HAVE to grow up?!”. The stage you are in right now is SO. MUCH. FUN. I never want it to end!

Literally the day after I posted your 9 month post, you started full-out crawling (as opposed to the hybrid army/spider crawl you did for a while), and you have not looked back since. You are lightning fast, and if I walk from one room to the next even for just a second, you are right behind me…my little shadow! You continue to pull up on everything within your reach, and are really “cruising” (someone just told me that is what it’s called)—walking around everything while holding on, going from the table to the couch to the chair to the jumperoo to the recliner. You do a great job walking while holding on to our hands, and it is one of your favorite things to do. You are also standing by yourself now for short periods…and you get so excited when you do it that you start clapping and that makes you lose your balance and have to sit down. Pretty darn cute. :) No signs of taking any steps yet, but I feel like you are getting closer and closer… I am not sure I am ready for that! Again—time: please slow down!

You are (knock on wood…) a great eater. Even the two foods you had earlier decided you weren’t a fan of, bananas and avocados, you love now! The only thing I can think of that you do not like are tomatoes, which you just tried for the first time last night. Your face was hilarious…but we are going to keep trying them! You love meal time, and those are my favorite times of each day. You are so happy, so curious to try each new food, and you love to feed yourself (AND Ralph…….) and get excited when you try something that you like. You have decided that you are pretty much over all the million purees I have made you…but I am still trying to feed them to you to use them all up! You usually only put up a fight for a few seconds and then give in; you just keep trying to grab the spoon and feed to yourself. Miss Independent…just like your mama!

Your favorite word is (still) Dada. You say it all the time. To your Daddy, me, Ralph, the pizza delivery guy…whoever. We have this conversation at least 15 times a day: 

Me: “Hadley, say Mama.”

Hadley: “Dada.”

Me: “No, MA MA MA MA”

Hadley: “DAA DAA DAAA DA.”

Me: Sigh.

Your Daddy finds this hilarious. One day soon, can you PLEASE just say it for me? Pretty please?! :) You also will proudly say “all done!” when you are finished eating, and it is seriously cute. “Heeeey” is another favorite, and “bye bye”, both while waving (though you never do it when I ask you to say it to someone… only when you want to!). You love to repeat sounds or noises that I make (all but Mama, of course) and I love to hear you having conversations with yourself. Whatever you are saying, you are saying it with conviction! I love hearing you discover your voice and new noises you can make!

Lately, tons of people have asked me, “is she always this happy?!”. I always say, “I hate to say it, because what if I jinx it, but yes!”. It’s true, sweet pea…you are one happy girl. You grin, clap and belly laugh for everyone you meet—I can’t tell you how many people have told me “she just made my whole week!”. It is so sweet to see you lighting up so many others’ lives the way that you do ours. People also always tell us how expressive your little face is! You know how to work those little eyebrows and come up with the cutest, most hilarious expressions. You keep us laughing all the time!

I never knew that being a stay-at-home mom could keep me so busy (and tired)!! We are having a blast, though, and I wake up each day excited to see what new thing you do or what way you are going to make me smile and laugh. You bring me so much joy, I sometimes feel like my heart is literally going to burst…I am in a constant state of euphoria with you. You are my best friend, already! (And I would say I am yours, too…though you sure do have a special place in your heart already for your Daddy). I am so proud to be your mom and I cannot wait for our relationship to develop even more as you grow.

We are almost to a year (!!!) old. I don’t know where the time has gone, but I don’t want to blink, because before I know it my baby girl is not going to be a baby anymore! It makes me tear up just to type that. I am so proud of the sweet, beautiful baby girl you already are and I can’t wait to be here for every step of the way as you continue to grow into an amazing little girl!

Happy 10 months, gorgeous. Your Daddy and I love you to the moon and back!

Love, 

Mommy

P.S. We did your 10 month photo shoot yesterday on NC State’s campus. Your Daddy and I had so much fun taking you around campus to all the places we used to go during our time there. In fact, the belltower right behind where you are sitting in one of the pictures above is where your Daddy so nervously sweetly asked me to marry him almost exactly 6 years ago. As we walked around, we talked about how much we were sure things would change “before Hadley goes there”… you are going to want to be a fellow Wolfpacker, right?!?! (I promise we will love you no matter what! ;-))

Dear Hadley,

You are officially 3/4 of a year old! This has been the fastest 9 months of my life, no doubt. And the busiest…from trying to keep up with you! In fact, I think the more accurate “9 months” photo would be this one:

That photo probably sums up the last month the best of all…you are into everything! In the last month, you have mastered: crawling (if you can really call it that…it’s more of an army crawl than a “real” crawl), pulling up on everything (seriously if it’s within your reach you will pull on it until you’re standing), and clapping (this one is so cute!).

On top of all that, you even popped two more teeth this month! Much like the first two, there weren’t even really any signs of them coming…they just appeared one day. You really couldn’t make this any easier on us, and I don’t say that to brag—I say it almost in disbelief! I am not sure what we did to deserve such a sweet, easy baby, but I thank God every day for you, sweet girl!

Your personality continues to blossom. Your Daddy said to me tonight, “You can really tell now that she loves us. We love her so much, and now it’s obvious that she loves us, too.” It is true! You light up any time you see me or your Daddy. Talk about melting our hearts…sheesh. You are starting to act bashful sometimes when people talk to you; you will bury your head in my shoulder and then peek over and smile at them. I can’t wait to see if you grow to be more outgoing or a little shy—your Daddy and I can be both at times. One thing is for sure…you know how to flash that little grin at the perfect times, and no matter what we have going on, everything else melts away…..

You are really the happiest these days when you are on the move. No more sitting still and playing quietly…you are on the go ALL the time! I am not sure when you will start walking (I am not in any hurry for this), but I can tell that when you do, you are going to run me all over the place! I already can’t turn my back on you for a second because that’s all it takes for you to be into the next thing. ;)

The next thing to note from this month is that you absolutely love listening to music. We listen to music every morning while you eat breakfast, and just recently you have started “singing along”: “baaa baba baaa and laaaaaa la la la” and just squealing and clapping. You love for me and your Daddy to sing to you, and we make up silly songs about whatever we are doing—changing your diaper, getting you dressed, eating, Ralph…you name it, and you love it as long as we’re singing. I still have my fingers crossed that you inherited the Kirby pipes!

You continue to surprise me and prove me wrong in situations where I’m sure that you’re going to have a meltdown or not cooperate.  Just last week, we went to our first MOPS meeting (yay for new friends!), and I was nervous all week about how you would do because I knew we would be there during your normal morning nap time, and I was sure that you were just going to fuss the entire time. I dropped you off around 9:15, and when I picked you up at 11:30 the ladies told me that you had slept for an hour and played the rest of the time—you didn’t so much as fuss one time! And when we went to your first NC State football game last weekend, I worried about how you would do with the heat, the noise, the crowd, etc., but you were pretty much perfect the entire day—even napped for about an hour and a half in the car! Thank you for the reminder that you are able to adapt to situations even when I think otherwise. :)

The most exciting bit of news from this month is that I am OFFICIALLY home with you now! It was bittersweet for me to leave my job, but I can honestly say that I already know it has been the best decision I have ever made to be here to soak up every minute with you. Each day brings something new and more exciting than the last… even if it’s just the “little things”, I am trying my best to remain cognizant of the fact that one day I will look back and they won’t seem so little; these will be some of the best days of our lives. And those times that you finally give in and decide to snuggle with me until you fall asleep? I breathe you in, and enjoy every.second. of it. I realize that these nine months have flown by so quickly, and unfortunately there is no stopping or slowing time…so I am doing my best to remain present in every moment.

So happy 9 months, Jenks (as much as I fought it…the nickname has stuck. Blame your Daddy!) Thank you, sweet girl, for another amazing month. Thank you for lighting up our lives and so many others’, without even knowing it. You are our precious gift, and your Daddy and I love you more with each passing day!

Love, 

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

Happy 8 month birthday, sweet girl! 8 months old sounds so much older to me than 7 months—your first birthday is just around the corner! Perhaps it sounds so much older to me because you SEEM so much older to me lately. You are becoming less and less a baby and more and more your own little person. You are smart, independent, curious, and hilarious—you keep us laughing all the time.

You are so independent, and into everything now. Your latest development is that you are starting to pull up on things—my shoulders when you’re sitting on my lap, the coffee table if it’s within your reach, the crib if you’re sitting up in it… so here we go! You are so curious about everything around you. Your increased mobility combined with your intense curiousity is giving me a slight panic attack…..! You like to closely study every new thing you see and can get your hands on, and you also love to feel any new textures/fabrics (I say perhaps you have a budding career in textiles?! Daddy says that’s fine with him, they have that major at NC State!). 

Your laughter is contagious. The last few weeks, your babysitters/our houseguests have all said something to the effect of, “how could anyone ever be in a bad mood when you hear those giggles?”…and it’s true. There is no better sound in the whole world. You giggle the most when you are jumping—whether in the jumperoo, doorway jumper, or with our help on the bed or couch, you think it is the funniest thing. I am talking deep, can’t-catch-your-breath, belly laughs and squeals. Promise me that you will always laugh like this? Laughter is so good for the soul.

Speaking of your babysitters/our houseguests, this is the last week that you will be with them, after this week it is just you and me, girl! :) The resounding sentiment from all who have stayed with you has been that you are “the easiest baby on the planet” and that “all you do is sleep!”, ha! Your Aunt Jennifer said that she feels like she only really got to play with you for 2 or 3 hours a day because you sleep so much. They all talked about how easy you are to read—it’s obvious when you’re ready to nap, eat, etc. I am so glad that you made it so easy on all of them, because it kept me from worrying about you (much) when I was at work. I know you enjoyed all the QT you got with Daddy, Meemaw, Pop, Mamaw, Papaw, Aunt Bekah, Uncle Kyle, Aunt Heather and Aunt Jennifer, but I’m pretty certain that they all enjoyed it even more. You are one extremely loved little girl, and we are so lucky to have them all in our lives!

You love to “help” me do things. Any chore I have to do around the house, you love to be right there with me. Vaccuming? I’ll wear you in the baby k’tan and you reach down and try to help hold the handle. Folding laundry? I’ll fold it while I sit with you on your playmat and you reach out and “pet” the clothes and knock over my piles. Going to get the mail? ANY excuse to go outside makes you happy.

You continue to “talk” to us, more and more. “Dadada”, “lalalala” and “gagaga” are your favorites, and all three words can mean anything from daddy to mommy to Ralph to plastic bag. ;) We have been working on some sign language, and I can tell you are starting to really pay attention when I sign the words “more” and “all done”, so I am hoping that you will catch on and let me know when you would like to eat more or when you’re full! I’m still holding out for you to say “mama” but it appears that the “m” sound must be harder for you to say. Your Daddy is not so secretly happy that you say “dada” all the time!

I am so excited about the next chapter in our lives together, sweet girl. We are going to have so much fun together! I am especially looking forward to being there for more of your firsts, and watching you continue to grow and learn new things every day. And maybe (hopefully) you and I will meet some more mommy/baby friends, too. :) It is going to be an adventure for sure…LET’S GO!!

I thank God for blessing us with the miracle that is you every day. I am so very proud to be your mommy! 

Love,

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

Wait a minute, wasn’t it just yesterday that you turned 6 months old?! Time is really flying. Lately, I have come to the realization that my little baby really isn’t so “little” anymore…and I’m torn between being excited that you are growing and learning to do new things and being so sad that the “little baby” stage is over! You are getting SO big, and your Daddy and I are loving watching you become your own little person. You are still making things very easy for us—eating great, sleeping  and napping great, and freely giving us as many smiles, laughs and squeals as you possibly can.

Your personality is most definitely continuing to blossom. You know how there are some babies who “just chill”, aka just lay around and are content just watching what’s going on around them? Yeah, that’s not you. Not at all. ;) You demand prefer to be stimulated at all times—you love playing with your toys, but you get bored with them after a few minutes and we have to give you something new. I have quickly learned the art of putting toys away for a little while so that you forget about them, and when you start to get bored with one—voila, it’s new to you again! You still love to jump (in your jumperoo or doorway jumper) and will just laugh and laugh while you jump. You also get in moods where you aren’t happy unless we are watching you jump and play—perhaps this means you are going to be a performer of some sort?!

You are sitting up like a champ these days and that is definitely your preferred way to play now. Playtime definitely keeps you very busy these days—you love to sit surrounded by a bunch of your toys and will reach for and play with every one of them before getting bored. You love to pick up and drop things (especially when you’re in your highchair) and will do it as many times as I will bend down and pick them up for you. You aren’t quite crawling yet (but I can tell it’s coming soon!), but you are definitely on the move! Gone are the days when I could set you down and walk out of the room for a sec…because that’s all it takes you to scoot yourself across the room.

This month was a big month for you: at 6 months and 2 days old, you got not just one but TWO teeth! They finally broke through the second day of our beach trip, and while I was nervous that you would be fussy and/or lose sleep over them, etc…you really never missed a beat. And your little teeth are TOO cute (except for when you bite me while eating…and then laugh. Not funny!!). I think that your top teeth are not too far from coming in, too… if the drooling/chewing on everything are any indication. You’re just so big!

One fun development this month is that you L-O-V-E your big brother, Ralph. I am serious, you are infatuated by him! Any time he comes around you immediately start the squeals and smiles (he is pretty funny looking, ha!)…and when he comes up to you and starts sniffing you or licks your face—forget it. Full on, huge belly laughs. I am SO glad you love him so much, and so glad that he loves you, too. He will sit and let you pet him and pull on his ears and tail until your heart’s content, and on the rare occasion when he decides he’s over it, he’ll just get up and move out of your reach…but watch out Ralphie, you won’t be able to do that for long as baby girl is on the MOVE! ;)

One sad bit of news from this month is that I had to go back to work a couple weeks ago. There were lots of tears the first couple of days (and a few random days since then), because I really can’t stand to be away from you all day long, especially at a time when I feel like you are changing and learning new things almost constantly! The good news is, it is only temporary (only 5 more weeks!) and you are also getting to spend a lot of QT with your grandparents, aunts, Daddy and Aunt Jenn! They are all absolutely loving spending so much time with you, and of course I know you are in great hands, which keeps me from having to worry about you while I’m at work…but I sure do MISS you while I’m there! Each day, I cannot drive fast enough to get back home to you. And to be honest, it doesn’t seem like you’ve even noticed I’m gone! Like I said, only 5 more weeks and it’ll be back to being just me and you, sweet girl, and that time cannot come fast enough. 

I think I say it every month, but this is my favorite age thus far (maybe every age will be my favorite?!). You’re incredibly sweet, smart, and so interactive and FUN…I just can’t get enough of you. You are keeping us very busy—we say all the time, “what in the world did we do with our time before Hadley came along?!”. I really don’t remember, but I will say that I know our lives are so much happier with you in them. It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when we see that little grin (and two little teeth!) and you reach out for us to hold you. 

So, happy 7 months, baby doll. I love you more than you will ever know!

Love, 

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

Well baby girl, here we are, you are SIX MONTHS OLD today! Half a year! I’m not sure how it’s possible that six months have gone by already. What a ride it has been! An amazing, exciting, exhilarating, FUN ride.

You are…so many things. You are laid back, go with the flow, happy as can be. You like everyone and will give that little grin (your Daddy pointed out recently that your grins all start with you crinkling your nose) to anyone who talks to you. You are impatient (definitely an inherited trait, sorry about that), and you like to be (and sometimes demand to be) entertained. You are difficult at times, because you get bored very easily. There are times when nothing is really “wrong”, you just want 100% of my attention in order for you to be happy. You are SO smart already. I love watching those little wheels spinning as you take in everything around you. You are quite chunky—it’s mostly in your thighs—but don’t worry, so was I back in the day and I grew out of it. ;) You are extremely independent, and don’t seem to be scared of anything—I think we may have a little daredevil/thrill seeker on our hands. You also have the sweetest disposition, which I’m so glad you inherited from your Daddy. You are so many things all rolled into that cute little body…it’s crazy to me the things I can pick out that I know you got from me or from your Daddy, and I can’t wait to see how those things change and develop over the next months and years.

You are passing all your milestones with flying colors—you’re sitting up, rolling over in both directions, eating solids while still nursing like a champ, repeating sounds, sleeping 12-13 hours a night and napping great, and giving us great big belly laughs pretty much on demand. I never thought that so many seemingly small things would bring me so much pride and joy, but they do! I am enamored by your every move, and could not be more proud of all you’ve accomplished and how you have grown in these first six months. I tell you all the time to “stop being so big!!”. As cliche as it sounds, I just can’t believe that my “baby” is growing up so fast. Before we know it, the milestones I’m writing about will be starting school, your first boyfriend (Daddy says not til you’re 30!), getting your license, going to prom…ahhh. I just want to press pause!

You continue to light up our lives. Everything we do revolves around you, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Your Daddy and I wonder what we ever did before you were here—it’s hard to remember a time when you weren’t around. I know one thing is for sure, our days are so much brighter because of you.

You have taught me so much in just six short months, Hadley. Aside from the general parenting knowledge/skills, you have taught me to be patient (at least more than I was before!). You have taught me that things will happen in your time and not to rush things or wish any time away. I have learned to slow down and enjoy every minute. Most importantly, you have taught me what it means to love unconditionally, and to put someone else’s needs before my own 100% of the time (those who know me well may have thought that would never be possible!). I actually am not sure who has grown more in this six months, you or me!

So, thank you, Sweet Pea, for an awesome six months. Thank you for being you, for brightening every day, and for helping me to strive to be a better person, one who is worthy to be your mom. I thank God for you, your sweet Daddy, and this amazing life every day!

Love,
Mommy

Dear Hadley,

You are 5 months old today. Almost half a year! I can honestly say that if I could just freeze time right now for a while, I would. This is by far my favorite age thus far. You are eating well, sleeping well, so interactive and fun, and are just generally a joy to be around.

When people are around you, they all say to me, “she is SUCH a happy, good baby!”. They are right! I am not saying that we haven’t had our share of rough days, but you normally reserve those for the times when it’s just us, haha (not sure if that’s a good or bad thing?). For the most part, you freely give those precious smiles and giggles to anyone who talks to you. An older woman at Target today thanked me for letting her talk to you; she said your smiles made her week! You truly do brighten the days of everyone around you, especially mine!

You are so independent already. I imagine that I was much the same way as a baby. You want to hold everything yourself, and touch and examine anything you can get your hands on. I can just see those little wheels turning in your head. When we fed you avocado for the first time last week, it only took a couple minutes before you were reaching out to grab the spoon and bring it to your mouth. So big! I have a feeling that when you start talking, we’ll be hearing “I do it” quite a bit…

I will admit that I sometimes worry that you will be fussy or not cooperate for certain things…but you almost always prove me wrong. When we went to church with your Mamaw and Great Grandma Aldridge for Mother’s Day and you woke up right as we were walking into the church, I was positive that you’d be fussy within 10 minutes and I’d spend the rest of the church service trying to entertain you outside. But, you stayed awake the entire service, smiling and playing with your toys and didn’t make a peep! And when I finally decided to take the plunge last weekend and put you to bed without swaddling, I was sure we’d be up all night and that it would be a terrible transition. But again, you slept 8 hours the first night, 11 the second, and 12 the next two nights…hardly even missed a beat. It just shows that YOU were ready, it was ME who wasn’t. I guess I should have more faith in you, huh? Feel free to keep surprising me! ;)

You will be sitting up on your own before we know it. You can already do it for short periods, but just need to work out the wobbles and you’ll be set. You still love to stand up with our help, and you just giggle away in your doorway jumper and in your swing! I think you are going to be a lake girl, like me, because you absolutely love to be outside and looking out at the water. We’re going to have a great summer between our beach trip and lake trips…I can’t wait to experience it all with you!

Your Daddy says that he can’t wait to get home from work every day to see you. As soon as he walks in the door and you hear his voice, you greet him with the biggest smile. There’s no mistaking that you are a Daddy’s girl already! You already have him wrapped around your little finger, baby girl—I’m sure you’ll figure out how to work that to your advantage the older you get…

I can’t explain the joy you continue to bring to my life. Sometimes, when you fall asleep on me and are super snuggly, I do everything I can not to move. I sit and smell you, listen to your sweet breathing, and sometimes just cry thinking about how much I love you. When did I become such a sap?! I never could have imagined how much I could love you, and it somehow grows each day. Time is just passing so quickly…and I am afraid to blink because I don’t want to miss a thing (we won’t talk about me going back to work, even if it’s for a short time, I can’t imagine spending my days away from you!). The smallest things bring me so much pride and happiness.

So thank you, sweet H, for being you. Our sweet, smart, independent, happy, BIG 5 month (!!!) old girl. Your Daddy and I absolutely adore you!

Love,

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

Happy 4 months, sweet girl! Month four, much like the first three, has flown by. I feel like SO much has changed in just one short month. Your Daddy said it to me just the other day—“it’s like she actually knows what is going on now”. It’s true. You are so engaged with us all the time now, and it seems like you don’t want to miss a thing—so curious about everything! I love watching you just take everything in; it is all so new and exciting! You have the cutest little personality blossoming—so perfectly sweet, inquisitive, impatient, smart, and adventurous, all at the same time.

I can’t wait to find out what percentiles you are falling into these days when we go for your 4 month checkup this week. You are somewhere between 15.5 and 16 pounds and 25 inches long—you are already filling out 6 month shirts and dresses quite nicely, though your chunky little legs are still quite short (perhaps you get this from Aunt Bekah & Aunt Heather?). If it wasn’t for your thighs, you could still fit in most of your 0-3 month pants! When people see you, whether it be for the first time or just the first time in a while, they all say the same thing—“it looks like she sure likes to EAT!”. And it’s true, you do, and you have the rolls to prove it! You have made breastfeeding look textbook easy, and I am so thankful for that. 

Another thing you love to do is SLEEP. You most definitely get this from your Daddy! You have been sleeping for anywhere between 11.5 and 12.5 hours for the last month or more, along with a couple naps each day. Some of my friends with babies several months older than you still don’t even want to discuss your sleeping schedule with me because they are so jealous! I most definitely not take it for granted and hope you choose to keep it up. ;)

These days, you are the happiest when you can see what is going on—whether it be standing up or sitting up (with help). And no one can hold you facing toward them with you looking at the wall or the back of the couch without you putting up a fight, but really, who would want to look at the back of the couch anyway?! Your Daddy thinks that this means that you are going to be into everything and are never going to want to sit still…sorry, but I think that is something you got from me! There is nothing wrong with wanting to be entertained—and I’m still coming up with new ways to keep you occupied. Let’s just say I’m glad there are no hidden cameras in the house!

You love to talk to us in your own little language—sometimes I swear you know exactly what you’re saying, if only I could understand it! Nothing makes me happier than hearing the sweet sound of you cooing or seeing that little grin. And when it turns into the full belly giggle? Forget it. If we find something that makes you giggle, we will do it 1,000 times if it keeps you giggling. Sweetest sound in the world, precious girl! 

Thank you, big girl, for continuing to light up our lives. You make even the smallest things so exciting (so many firsts!) and make even our worst days bright. I can’t wait to see what surprises and joys the next month brings! I love you more than anything!

Love,

Mommy

Dear Hadley,

3 Months! Ahh! Based on what I’ve read, 3 months marks the point where you are no longer considered a “newborn”. You are officially an “infant” now! Part of me wants to go on and on about how sad this makes me, because you are getting SO big SO quick, but another, bigger part of me wants to celebrate. We have come so far, baby girl! And you are growing and learning and continuing to light up our lives even more than I thought possible. So, instead of lamenting that you are no longer a “newborn”, I am choosing to rejoice in all that you (we) have learned and accomplished thus far.

The biggest joy for me in month three has come just in the last week or two—the giggles! I thought the smiles melted my heart, but the giggles? Oh man. It is definitely the cutest sound I’ve ever heard. And just about anything can make you do it—you giggle when your Daddy and I are talking to you, when I’m changing your diaper, when you’re naked (LOTS of giggles then), when you’re in the tub, when you look in the mirror, when you play with your toys, and when you hear music. I LOVE these laughs—they come from deep down in your belly, overtake your whole body and make you lose your breath from laughing so hard.

One thing that people (our family, friends, church members, etc.) have said to us over and over is “wow, she really knows her Mama!”. If someone else is holding you, as soon as you hear my voice you lock your eyes on me—and don’t take them off of me! Also, there have been several times when you have been inconsolably fussy, and no one (not even your Daddy) can calm you down, but as soon as I take you, you stop. Completely. And sometimes even start smiling! From fussing to smiling in approximately 5 seconds. This lets me know that a) you love me and b) you sometimes just fuss to fuss, and to see if you can get me to cave in. Sneaky (but cute!) little thing. 

You are still growing like crazy. You are a little over 14 lbs and almost 24 inches (2 feet!) tall. And boy, do you have some thighs on you, girlfriend. Your Meemaw made it a point to take your pants off and show everyone your thighs this past weekend when we were in Union Grove… I asked her how she would like it if I made her take off her pants and show everyone her thighs! ;) I really LOVE all your rolls, and don’t worry—you’ll grow out of them, I did! :)

I can’t wait to see what the next few months bring. I pray for your continued health, for you to keep growing big and strong just like you have been, and for you to know just how much you are loved (a LOT, by SO many people!). I also pray for many, many more giggles. The kind that make your whole body shake and make you have to catch your breath. I can never have too many of those!

You are one happy girl, Hadley. And you make my life (and your Daddy’s) so much happier. I read a quote this week that a friend posted that rings SO true to me right now: “A little child enters your life and fills a special place in your heart. A place you never knew was empty.” This hits the nail on the head. You fill a place in my heart with so much joy that I feel like it will overflow! So happy 3 months, beautiful girl. I love you with all my heart!

Love, 

Mommy