Back to work I went...

Well...

This was my first week back to work. It seemed to go okay. I drop Hayden off at my neighbor Lori's house at about 6:30 am, and then head off to work. Josh has been getting home around 1:30-2:30 and I get home around 3:30...so at least she isn't there for too long. I'd say the most difficult thing is the look on Hayden's face when I hand her off to Lori in the morning. It's that look of..."Mommy...Where are you going???" I hate that part. But, it is very rewarding to come home and look in her face and say "Hi Baby Girl!" and I get a HUGE smile! I love that part. I cried every day I left her...most days at school...especially when people asked me about her. Oh well, it was a 4 day week, which was nice. This next week is a 4 day week as well. It's a good transition for me I think.

Anyway, here are some updated pictures from this past week. Enjoy!

I just got brave enough to pull out the Bumbo seat...she actually likes it!

She is now holding onto things, like her Lamby (as seen above)...and CHEWS on them!

Daddy and Hayden during story time. He's reading one of MY favorite books. SkippyJon Jones!

Look guys...I'm a big girl! I can hold my head up REALLY high!

One of my favorites...such an attitude look!

Another milestone for Hayden!

Yesterday, Hayden decided to FINALLY roll over from her belly to her back again! About 2 weeks ago, she randomly rolled over, but I wasn't able to get it on camera. Well, yesterday, while she was having some tummy time, I was smart enough to get the camera out and was able to take pictures and video her rolling over for me twice! I really wanted to post the video of her rolling over, but I can't figure out how to do it. Maybe if I can get Josh to show me how, I'll post it later! So, to tide you over, here are some pictures!

Happy little girl playing on the floor!


Bruin was overseeing playtime...


Hayden JUST about to roll over!


After I put her back on her belly...she was VERY proud of herself!


Look at how well she holds her head up!

The weekend...

Well, we had a somewhat busy weekend...

Saturday, Josh's cousin Katy and her friend Ashley came to meet Hayden. She absolutely loved her! Then, my mom came over to spend the night...we watched some crappy TV, ate Zito's Pizza (YUMMY!!!), and played with Hayden!

Sunday, Mom and I went and got Coffee Bean, spent too much $$$ at Target, then came home to watch The Super Bowl and eat wings! We were all quite happy that the Steelers won!

Needless to say, I also spent the day thinking about the fact that at this time next week, I will be going back to work. This is a very depressing and heartbreaking thought for me. I know there is just no way possible that we could afford me staying home, but I can't help feeling really sad. I have a horrible fear of missing all of her "firsts," coming home and Hayden not wanting to come to me, and simply not being the one to raise my daughter. Hopefully some day I will be able to stay home with at least one of our kids...

Anyway, here are some pictures from this weekend:

Katy, Hayden, Josh, and me

Hayden with her 2nd cuz, Katy

Hayden sleeping on her Grandma with her shirt strings tangled in her hand

Apparently this is the comfy way to nap on Grandma!

Hayden and Daddy...sleeping.

Hayden can't take her eyes off of the Super Bowl to smile at the camera...

she LOVES to watch TV!

And yes...this is what Hayden does while watching TV. Drink beer.

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High School Tag!

Saw this on a friend's blog...Enjoy!

FILL this out about your high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! Re-post with the name of high school and graduating year.

Newport Harbor High School 1999

1. Did you marry someone from your high school? No!
2. Did you car pool to school? Not high school...I either got a ride from my mom, walked, or drove (after Sophomore year).
3. What kind of car did you have? '88 Jeep Cherokee...SO cool. Haha!
4. What kind of car do your drive now? 2004 GMC Envoy
5. It's Friday night...where are YOU (then)? Cheering at a football game...then home...then out to some party...and then the Taco Bell parking lot when the party got broken up. Wow...we were SO lame!
6. It's Friday night..where are you (now)? Hanging out and relaxing at home with my husband and daughter. It's all about family time now!
7. What kind of job did you have in high school? Many!! During a couple of summers I worked in my Dad's office as a secretary. That sucked. I also babysat here and there.
8. What do you do now? I teach 1st grade (for now...)
9. Were you a party animal? Well, I went to the parties, but generally played the roll of "Mom" and "Designated Driver" and took care of my friends.
10. Were you considered a flirt? Not really. I was kinda shy actually...
11. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Nope.
12. Did you get suspended/expelled? Nope.
13. Can you sing the fight song? what fight song? Oh geez...yes...one of the many perks of being a cheerleader...we learned a lot of that stuff!
14. Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Naasz...Psychology and Sociology teacher. He was awesome!
15. Where did you sit during lunch? Haha...I believe it was called "Surfer's Alley"
16. What was your school's full name? Newport Harbor High School.
17. What was your school mascot? Sailor (or Tar...another word for a Sailor)
18. If you could go back and do it again, would you? NO! It was great while it lasted...now it's time to MOVE ON!
19. What do you remember most about graduation? Not being too thrilled with who I had to sit next to. Haha!
20. Who did you go to prom with Senior year? Tyler Caffey...boyfriend at the time.
21. Did you have fun at Prom? Sure. Honestly, I don't really remember too much about it, so it must not have been too eventful.
22. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? Not really. I haven't seen/talked to him in YEARS.
23. Are you planning on going to your 10 and/or 20 year reunion? Not sure. I'm still deciding that.
24. Do you still talk to people from school? Only the select few who are really worth it. Like Sarah said, Facebook is amazing for keeping in touch with people whom you wouldn't otherwise be able to keep in touch with!

Okay - now your turn. What do you remember?

We took a trip...

...to Iowa! We thought that since Hayden had her 2 month well-check and shots, it would be ok for her to fly! My Grandpa Vogel (Hayden's Great-Grandpa) is very lonely since my Grandma passed away on Nov. 20, and we though it would bring his spirits up a bit if he could meet and spend some time with Hayden! I have to tell you, it was the BEST idea! She is still young enough that she really slept through most of the flights...she didn't cry...she LOVED being carried around in the Baby Bjorn in the airport...she was SO interested in all of the sights and sounds...and got MANY compliments on how well she did! Hayden and her Great-Grandpa had some wonderful bonding time...he wanted to hold her the second we walked in the door. He would talk to her, play with her, and rock her to sleep. We even caught him lying on the floor with Hayden one night while we were cooking dinner...she was playing with his hair and holding on to one of his fingers! Keep in mind...he is 87 years old and can barely walk! It was quite interesting getting him off of the floor...

Anyway, we are very happy to have taken the trip. I could NEVER have done it without my mom and Josh with me. How do you breastfeed a baby in an airplane with people sitting RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!???!! Not quite sure how that is supposed to work...so luckily we survived!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

The cemetary where Grandma rests peacefully...her grave is on the far left/middle. She gets to see the sunrise every morning and has an AMAZING Iowa farm country view!

My new goal is to ACTUALLY BLOG!

Merry Christmas!

In a dress of MINE from when I was 6 months old!

Have a Beary Merry Christmas! (SUPER cheesy...but cute!)

Look at my dimple! (Yes...only ONE!)

My little chunk...at 11 weeks old!

My baby girl's beautiful blues!

Daddy playing...well...Daddy!

Hayden Jo taking one of her morning naps in her carseat after a trip to Starbucks!

If you ignore the red eyes...check out the red hair! (I think it's the lighting)

Chillin' with Grandma...

I have this all set up...and yet I NEVER use it! I should have been doing this for the past few months while I have been at home with Hayden, and not starting it up when I am going back to work in just over a week. Oh well, I guess it will be something I will have to do at night or on the weekends!

So, as for the Hayden updates...

She will be 11 weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe my little baby girl is seriously almost 3 months old! She is smiling all the time...cooing and "talking" whenever we talk to her...loves staring at herself in the mirror...plays on her playmat a TON...rolled over from her tummy to her back on Monday 1/25 (but hasn't done it since)...is in love with her "paci"...sleeps in her crib in her own room as of Friday 1/22...is growing out of all of her clothes...weighs about 14 lbs. and is about 25 in. long (according to measurements done by Mommy and Daddy)...is TEETHING (yes...at 11 weeks...I got my first teeth when I was 10 weeks old)...slept through Christmas morning...typically sleeps from 10-3, eats, then back to sleep til about 7 (though we have had a few nights where she slept for 6 or 7 hours straight!)...loves shoving her fists into her mouth...takes a bottle wonderfully (thank God since I have to go back to work in a week)...and is the most lovable and adorable little thing on the face of the Earth! Josh and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful and healthy baby girl...we simply have NO complaints!