Things I've Learned

In the past couple of weeks I had no idea how much I would learn so fast! The mother in me has come out in full force. I’m so glad for my own mom who has helped me learn so much. I’m so grateful for Cory too who has helped me keep my sanity when being a mommy has been stressful and frustrating. Hayden is getting so big; it’s amazing how much they change in just a few days and weeks. I love that he knows who I am and knows my voice when I walk into the room. I love him tons.

**Things I've learned about mommy hood and Hayden: **

*Going out anywhere is like taking a weeklong trip to Disneyland. It takes preparation, planning and patience. There is a ton to pack: bottles, extra clothes, diapers and diapering accessorize, blankets, extra everything....And even after you think you've gotten everything ready to go....there is always something that happens right before you leave.
-A major spit up production
-A major poopy diaper
-A super fussy baby
-Realizing something smells like spit up and it’s me from the spit up that was shared with my shirt

*Hayden loves laying on my chest and cuddling.
-He loves when I stroke his cheek and down his nose. His eyes close and he usually drifts off to sleep.

*Hayden would eat and eat all day if I would let him. He is a good little eater. Bottle, nursing, formula...whatever. Im good at knowing his hunger signs vs his sleepy signs now though. I think he gets hunger confused with being over tired sometimes. I hope I can keep nursing him though, I don;t know if I'll be able to keep up. He isalready 10 lbs 10 oz!

*My personal hygiene is at the very, very bottom of the "to do" list. Gross, I know. But in between nursing every 2 hours, trying to sleep when he sleeps to get caught up on missed sleep the night before, changing diapers, etc.... There is no time until Cory comes home for back up. And by that time its 6 pm, so why do my hair and makeup at that point? And why really get dressed when I’ll be nursing just a few hours later?

*Hayden's tummy DOES NOT like it when mommy eats chocolate or to much dairy products. He gets a bunch of gas bubbles and it gives him a major tummy ache. I never wanted Chocolate or milk until I couldn't have it anymore! Bummer.

*Ridiculously hot showers have never been so amazing! That is my time to kinda relax and feel like a person other than a walking, talking cow. Cory comes home and then it’s in the shower I go. At least not all of my hygiene has gone out the window.

*Hayden loves to suck. His binky, his fist, my finger, a bottle, an arm, whatever...

*Hayden also doesn't mind bath time anymore. He screamed and cried the whole time the first couple of times. But, I think he actually likes it now.

*Nothing is better than a clean baby. That clean, baby smell is fabulous! Erin and I are going to figure out how to bottle it. :)

*Hayden makes the funniest little faces. He gets that from me. I am very expressive with my face and so is he. He smiles a lot when he sleeps too, it’s pretty cute. I can't wait til he can smile at me, and I know it's at me, for me, and on purpose.

*Hayden also makes the funniest little noise when all is right in his world. My mom calls it his "purr." When he has a full tummy, a clean diaper, swaddled up tight and is being held and rocked and cuddled he makes a noise that does sound like a purr. Hmmmmmm Hmmmmmmm Hmmmm....

*While the natural instincts of being a mom have come out. So have my mama bear instincts. I am so, so protective. Especially right now against germs. I’ve turned into a germaphobe. Hand sanitizer is my best friend. When we have gone out (which has only been twice) I am so paranoid about people or kids who might be sick.

*Hayden also hates, hates, HATES tummy time. If anyone has any suggestions to make it more tolerable let me know. He is good for the first 5 min but anything after that and he is done. I'm hoping he gets more, more, more use to it like bath time.

*As much as I get cabin fever, it's so, so hard for me to leave him. It's like a double edged sword. There are sometimes I just want to get away and take a break out of the house, even if its just for a few minutes but then the whole time I'm gone I am so worried about him. He's all I can think about.

My world now utterly revolves around him and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love him so much and I wouldn't have it any other way. He is such a sweet, funny, handsome and special little boy. I am so lucky to be his mom. I'm glad Heavenly Father trusts me and Cory enough to be his mommy and daddy. I love you Hayd!

Daddy's favorite outfit

This is a face I caught, I'm not quite sure what he was doing...it might have been before a sneeze


I love this little onesie

You can kinda se his little dimple in his chubby cheeks on the left side

January 11, 2009

Cory and I celebrated our one year anniversary about a week ago. Cory surprised me and brought me home some sushi and we watched a movie together(with Hayden). It was so nice just to hang out with our new little family. My mom also had frozen the top of our wedding cake, because its a tradition...so we had a little piece of year old wedding cake :) It wasn't to bad...

I can't believe its been a year already. So much has happened and changed. We've moved from California, to Texas to Utah, and I never thought a year ago I would have a 2 week old baby on our anniversary. Im so grateful for Cory, he is such a great husband and daddy.

I love you so much Cory! Thanks for everything you do for us. I can't wait to see what this next year brings. I'm so glad that we are a forever family. Love you.

Holy Smokes....

So it’s been seriously forever since I've blogged. Hayden has kept me very busy. I knew I would be tired and sore from my c section but I had no idea just how exhausting it would all be. I nurse and eat and sleep when Hayden sleeps, so all that doesn't leave much time for anything else. But I think my body is getting use to being up at 2 and 4 and 6 in the morning and I can function more in the evening. You moms out there with a toddler running around with a new baby, or if you have 2 new babies are AMAZING!!! I don't know what I would do. You mommies are for sure super heroes...

Hayden is doing great. He had his 2 week check up about a week ago and was 9 lbs 4 oz and grew a half an inch! I think most of his weight is up in his cute, chubby little cheeks. Cory and I love him so much. It’s amazing to me how fast he is growing and changing. He doesn't have that little newborn look anymore. He is already so big.

Nursing is getting easier and better every day. I hope I will be able to keep up with him, he eats so so much! I have learned lots already too. Chocolate and nursing with his little tummy is a big no no. And milk products aren't super awesome on his belly either. I never really wanted chocolate until after I couldn't have it anymore...

I want to try and be better about blogging about everything. Because one it keeps me sane and is kinda my social outlet while I’m stuck at home for the next little while and two blogging is kinda like mini journaling for me.

Here are a few pictures; they are from my phone so I’ll have to get up the ones from my camera up soon.

These are a few pictures from the hospital:

My 17 yr old brother Travis got him this Jordan beanie for Christmad, it comes with matching little socks and a onesie with a gold chain on it. It's pretty funny. As soon as he fits in it I'll get pictures up.

He loves being in his swing.

Hayden David Hamilton - Dec. 28th, 2008 - 8:41 am

Hello everyone! I have been M.I.A. for quite a long time.... that is because I finally have my little guy here. He was born on December 28th at 8:41 am. He was 8 lbs and 13 oz and 20 and a half inches long. He is quite the big boy....He is so perfect and I love him so much. Cory and I are so excited to have him here.

The delivery scoop.......

I had been having a headache of and on all week. And my feet, legs, hands and pretty much everywhere was getting super swollen. We went to the Doctor the 23rd and he said I still wasn't dilated and Hayden was still super high. I felt like I was gonna be pregnant for the rest of my life! Cory and I had a really nice Christmas, which I will have to post about another time... I was feeling super large and in charge and terrible. Then on the 28th I woke up at 2 am with a SUPER MONSTER of a headache and super nauseous. My upper belly was killing me... I then started to throw up... I threw up 3 times and felt so terrible. I was dizzy and my belly started to hurt more. Cory called the on call doctor at the hospital and he said for me just to come in. I went into the hospital feeling ridiculous because I thought they would tell me that I just had the flu and to go home. But the nurses were all super worried about my killer headache and how swollen I was. Then when they checked my reflexes you could barely touch me and my legs would go flyin. I also was dilated to a 1 and was having pretty consistent contractions. My urine came back with protein and blood in it. My blood pressure was all over the place; low... then high, then ok, and high, and higher, and then low again.... My doctor diagnosed me with PIH, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. This is the bodies and the baby’s way of telling everyone, “Hey! I'm done in here! Get me out!!" The only cure for it and all my symptoms like the headache is delivery of the baby. The doctor asked me if I would be ok with a C-section and I didn't care at all I just wanted him out of me. 30 min later I was in having a C-section. I had a towel over my eyes the whole time because my head hurt so bad. The spinal block and everything went smoothly and didn't hurt at all. Cory watched the whole thing. Everyone was so shocked at how big he was. It’s no wonder now why he wouldn't drop; he was too big for my body to drop and me to deliver. I was in the hospital for 3 days and Hayden and I are both healthy and doing well.

I am starting to get the breastfeeding thing down and so is Hayden. I knew it would be hard, but I didn't realize just how hard and frustrating it would be. Things are going as normal as they would with any newborn I think. Hayden sleeps, eats, has messy diapers and then sleeps again. He is not awake very much and is a pretty good, easy tempered baby. But he is good to let us know when he is NOT happy with something. He definitely has really good lungs. I am pretty sure I have the cutest, most beautiful, and handsome baby boy ever! I love him so much. I feel so blessed to be his mommy. He is a very special little boy.

Hayden

Uncle Trav

Aunt Mandi

Grandma Tracy

Grandpa Hamilton

Dave!

Chubby cheeks....

Cute little smiles....

all snuggled up