13 Years Ago Today

13 years ago today J and I went on our very first date. Jon Feld tagged along and we watched a Rob Schneider movie. Somehow that hooked me and here we are today.

Tonight we went out to dinner with the Babyness. She woke up pretty late from her last nap so I nursed her before we left and packed some solids for her to eat at the table with us. Her reflux must be feeling a lot better because this girl can EAT again. She scarfed down the entire container of butternut squash and oatmeal and was panting like a puppy dog for more.

This picture makes it look like she was screaming or unhappy or causing a scene, but she was NOT. This face is in response to me asking "more?" She would pant and kick her legs and open wide like this. Otherwise she was an angel just looking around staring at people like her daddy does.

Barely even made a mess, she wanted ALL of the food in her mouth tonight.

13 years ago I never imagined we would be where we are today, but I don't think either of us could have wished for a better life. Happy 13 years, Husband. Here's to many many more to come.               

Christmas Day

Today we got to experience Christmas morning with our very own baby. It was just as magical as I had always imagined. Hailey rocked her matching jammies and was mesmerized by her cousins zipping around the living room. Nonie and Papa, Gram and Aunt Heather and Uncle Chris spoiled her, she's going to be in heaven with all the new things to wear, play with and chew on. We finished presents, headed home for a quick nap, then visited Gramma and Papa, came home for a nice 2 hour power nap and back to Nonie and Papa's we went for Christmas dinner. J and I scarfed down our food and headed home mid dinner because Hailey had had enough Christmas. She fell asleep while we were still coming down Wykoff. Merry Christmas, sweet girl. You were the best Christmas gift we could have ever asked for.

Hailey's First Christmas Eve

Today Hailey experienced her very first Christmas Eve! She was such a good girl, as always, and she loved eating the wrapping paper. Even though she was a little too tired to play with any of her new toys tonight, Gramma and Papa and Uncle Greg and Aunt Kelly loaded her down with so many new things to play with and wear she is going to be amazed! At dinner Hailey sat at the table like a big girl while we ate yummy beef bourguignon and loved watching Hanny and cousin "Kinzie" run around after. You were such a sweet girl this year Babyness, we can't wait to watch you again next year!

Goodbye My Saydee

Yesterday was a tough day. We had to say goodbye to our sweet Saydee girl. She was beautiful and kind and loyal to her core. She fought a hard battle against Cushings Disease but was sweet and loving til the very end. We love you my Saydee girl and will miss you everyday.

Shots

Hailey had her 6 month check up today. She took her shots like a champ and moved up to the 6% for weight! It's been a tough week for our sweet girl, after five long days she finally pooped so hopefully now her reflux meds can start helping her feel and eat better again.

6 Months

I can't believe Hailey is 6 months old today!

Favorite things: Eating her hands and feet, her puppy friend, and apple juice.

Least favorite things: Pooping, her carseat, and reflux. 

Height: 26 in.

Weight 13 lbs. 5 oz. 

Head circumference: 43 cm.

Happy Birthday, Baby Daddy!

Happy birthday, Husband! You are the most amazing husband and an equally amazing daddy to Hailey. You take such good care of both of us and we appreciate you more than you know. I am in awe of you every single day. The love, care and patience you have for our sweet Babyness is such a beautiful thing to watch. I love you so much and am so thankful to have you as my baby daddy!

Sandifer Syndrome

The past few days have been pretty scary around here. Hailey started grunting/convulsing, she has had an episode or two like this before that we thought were from constipation, so I gave her a glycerin suppository. That didn't seem to help, she continued to grunt and stiffen, then became very lethargic. I rushed her to the ER where she projectile vomited all over me, herself and the floor, then became lethargic again. They ran bloodwork, did an X Ray and couldn't find anything wrong. After 5 hours in the ER and a few naps in her daddy's arms, she seemed a bit more like herself, so we came home. She nursed, went to bed like normal, slept great and woke up her normal happy, giggly self. We got ready to go to her follow up appointment and she started the grunting/convulsing again. We ran to the doctor, didn't even check in just yelled to the nurse that we needed to see Dr. Molina right away. Dr. Molina ran in and checked her, looked at all the videos I had taken and took them to the Chief of Pediatrics who confirmed her theory that Hailey likely has Sandifer Syndrome. Sandifer Syndrome is an extremely rare condition (1% of infants with GERD have it). It's basically bad reflux that causes her body to stiffen her limbs and turn her head as a sort of defense mechanism against the pain. It is often misdiagnosed as seizures. She was prescribed some medicine for the reflux, but we are also going to get her an EEG to rule out actual seizures, since I had them as a child. Unfortunately the reflux medicine is unflavored and Hailey hates it. Hopefully we can figure out how to keep the medicine in and it helps her to never have one of these scary episodes again.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We got festive this weekend in the Santopadre house. We put our tree and all of our decorations out, had the Christmas music going and took some pictures for our Christmas card. Hailey and J read her very first Christmas book together, and I finally got our card made and sent in for printing. Christmas is my very favorite time of year and I can't wait to share it with our sweet girl!

Here are some of the pictures that didn't make the cut for our card. 

Happy Thanksgiving

This year, although we have so much to be thankful for, one thing in particular stands out. The holidays have been difficult for the past few years, with the pain of infertility and the fear of loss when we finally became pregnant. Tonight we drove home from a day full of family and food with a sleeping baby in the backseat. J and I couldn't help but think how lucky we are. Hailey has changed our life in so many ways, she has filled our hearts with more love and happiness than we ever thought possible and has made us truly grateful for all we went through to get her. We love you sweet girl and are oh so thankful for you.

Girl Meets Santa

We took Hailey to meet Santa for the first time! She was unimpressed, but was a sweet girl and didn't even think about crying. Hopefully she loves Santa and isn't deathly afraid of him like her mama was.

A Day of Firsts

Hailey had a big day today! First of all, we switched out her infant carseat for a convertible because she was just so unhappy in the infant one. She loves it and looks like such a big girl in it! She played on carpet for the first time and was very impressed AND she sat all by herself on that carpet! She also tried avocado, and LOVED it! She was opening her mouth wide like a baby bird, ready for each bite!

Her Daddy's Girl

Hailey had her first vegetable today and she's definitely her daddy's girl. She HATED green beans! The look on her face was priceless. I'm hoping if we keep at it she will learn to love veggies like her mama!

5 Months

Today Hailey is 5 months old! She is getting so big and is so alert lately. Just when I think I can't possibly love her more she goes and does something new and adorable and melts my heart even more. We love you so much sweet girl, keep being amazing!

Favorite things: Putting EVERYTHING in her mouth and playing peekaboo. 

Least favorite: Any "disruptions" while she's eating. Mainly Mama trying to talk or eat.

Hailey's first Halloween

We survived Hailey's first Halloween! She was an adorable pumpkin and got to visit with all of her cousins! She didn't do any actual trick or treating, but we can't wait for next year when she can go up to doors and say "trick or treat"!

Weigh in

Today was the big weigh in! I was so nervous. We put in a lot of work feeding, pumping and eating solids, and our hard work paid off! Hailey weighed 12 pounds exactly! And her head grew 2 cms! Lucky for us she loves going to the doctor, she was such a good girl, and came home to take an almost 3 hour nap! Now if only we could get you to sleep through the night we'd be in business, girlfriend!

Weight: 12 lbs.

Head circumference: 41.5 cm.

Solids

Today we tried solid food for the first time! I am trying my hardest to get my supply up, we're feeding extra, but the doctor said we could introduce some rice cereal or baby oatmeal if Hailey was interested for added calories. We chose oatmeal because its supposed to be less constipating, and with her current poop situation we didn't want to chance it. She did so well! She was very interested in why we were putting something in her mouth, and she was smiling and giggling. I'm not sure how much oatmeal actually went down her throat but it was a good experience!