Hailey is 8 years old!

When Hailey got up on her birthday she picked one present to open.

We went out to dinner at the Olive Garden to celebrate her birthday.

Hailey and Harper

Opening presents

Hailey and her new American Girl doll, Isabelle.

Hailey is now 4 feet, 3 1/2 inches tall!  When did she get so big?  It seems like she is almost as tall as me.

Hailey is in 3rd grade and doing great.  We are in our 2nd year of homeschooling and it is going very well.  Hailey is a very hard worker and a fast learner and does very well in school.

Hailey is a wonderful big sister.  She plays so well with Hunter- of course they have their moments, but they usually play very well together.  She is fantastic with Harper and is such a big helper to me.

I sure do love my little miss

Hunter and Hailey eating breakfast on our first day of school.

Hailey all ready for her first day of third grade.

Hunter all ready to start preschool.

Hunter and Hailey growing up way too fast!

Hailey

Hunter

Harper

Eating a yummy breakfast on the first day of school

Hailey all ready for second grade

I can’t believe how fast she is growing up!

Hunter all ready for tot school and Hailey all ready for second grade.

Hunter had his first real hair cut.  He was trying to figure out what was about to happen.

Hunter was not very happy about it.

After a few minutes he stopped crying and just sat there looking very sad the rest of the time.  He was so good, but his little face was so sad.

All done!

My handsome little man cub, looking much too grown up.

“My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass.
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.”
Karen Kingsbury

I didn’t get much sleep the night before, knowing that we would be heading to the hospital in the morning so you could finally be born.  I was nervous, scared and excited!  The morning seemed to drag on with the nurses doing various things to prepare me for your birth once we arrived at the hospital.  Then it was time to go to the operating room and everything seemed to be happening in slow motion, but finally at 10:25am on December 16th you were here!  I remember when the doctor held you up and you weren’t breathing and he calmly said, “Well, let’s get this baby breathing.”  A few seconds later you were crying and I knew you were okay.

You have changed so much over the last year!  You don’t look like a little baby anymore, but rather like a busy little toddler.  It seems funny to look back at pictures of you when we first brought you home and you were so small and helpless.  Now you move pretty much non-stop and keep us on our toes!  Hard to believe that such a short time ago you couldn’t even roll over, let alone run all over the house.

You love to play with any toy that you can push around- if it has wheels on it you love it.  And of course if it makes noise that’s a definite bonus.  You push your toys all over the house and love to chase Dottie with your toys.  You sure do love Dottie- you like to give her hugs and say “awwww.”  She is nervous about you, but she is very patient and loving with you.

You sure do love Hailey and Daddy.  When Hailey gets home from school your little face just lights right up!  You like to see what she is doing and you want to be wherever she is.  You are so happy when Daddy gets home from work.  You follow him around all evening and just love to play with him.  You are certainly daddy’s little boy.

You aren’t too sure about strangers.  You don’t like it when they talk to you… sometimes when we are out shopping you will cry when someone talks to you.  Getting your picture taken is pretty much impossible since you are very scared of the photographers.

I remember when I was pregnant and I found out that you were going to be a boy.  I wondered what I would do with a little boy.  I knew all about princesses and tutus and pink, but I didn’t know much about little boys.  It turns out that there is just something pretty special about little boys.  There is no way to put into words how much I have loved you since the moment I met you.  I still don’t know much about playing with cars and trucks and trains, but I know you’re going to teach me.

You are such a happy boy and such a good baby.  You have made our family complete and I can’t imagine our lives without you.  We sure do love you!!

Happy 1st Birthday Little Man Cub!

Love,
Mommy

You really grew up in the last year.  People have been commenting a lot lately that you suddenly look like you’re older.  It’s true too, you are just so grown up all of a sudden.  You are a first grader now and that just seems so much more mature than a kindergartener.  You have become very independent and can do so much on your own.  I know that’s how it’s supposed to be, but sometimes I miss you needing my help all the time.

You had a fantastic year in kindergarten  We were so proud of how hard you worked.  You learned to read, and once you figured it out you couldn’t get enough.  You just love to read and read!  Your teacher told us what a great reader you were and that you were reading at a first grade level.  When kindergarten came to an end you were sad- you didn’t think you’d like summer vacation very much.  At first we had to spend summer vacation doing school work because you missed school so much.  You did get over that and decided you actually liked summer vacation after a couple of weeks.

You’re in first grade now and you still love school.  You were very nervous about going back to school.  You didn’t think there was any way your new teacher could be as nice as your kindergarten teacher and you decided you’d be better off going back to kindergarten.  Thankfully I convinced you to give first grade a try, and you love your teacher.  You’re doing great so far in first grade and you are such a hard worker.

I think the biggest event in the last year for you was becoming a big sister.  You are an absolutely amazing big sister.  Hunter lights up whenever he sees you and you are so good with him.  When you hear him cry you always try to help make him happy.  You give him tons of hugs and kisses.  You play with him, entertain him, and love him so much.  Being a big sister has not been without challenges.  Sometimes you tell us that Hunter gets more attention than you or that you feel left out.  We try to make sure you know how special you are and how much we love you.  I know that being a big sister can be hard but you are most definitely the best big sister ever!

You are still a girly girl.  Your favorite things to play with are Barbie dolls and princesses.  I love to listen to you in your room playing with your dolls.  Your imagination is amazing and entertaining.  You love pink and purple and dressing in skirts and dresses.  You love coloring and drawing.  Sometimes you spend hours in your room coloring pictures.

You still light up my world.  I can’t imagine a life without having my little miss.  I love watching you grow and learn and turn into a young lady.  You are my world and I’ll love you more than you will ever know.

I love you Little Miss!!  Happy 6th Birthday!

Mommy

Hailey eating her breakfast before school today- she had peanut butter toast, sausage, and some milk to drink.

All ready for school and showing off her new outfit.

The Ariel lunch box

Rapunzel book bag

All ready to go to first grade.

Sitting in her chair in her new classroom.

Rich and I took Hailey to school for her first day (Hunter came along too, of course).  She was worried and not sure she really wanted to go to first grade.  She thought she was better prepared to go back to kindergarten again.  She didn’t think it would be possible for her new teacher to be as nice as her teacher from last year.  I reassured her that she was indeed ready for first grade and that she would find kindergarten boring this year since she already knows all of that information.  And I told her we should give her new teacher a chance to see what she thought of her.

This morning Hailey told me she was feeling excited and shy about going to first grade.  When I picked her up from school she told me she had a great day and that she really likes her teacher.  It turns out that her new teacher is indeed very nice.  Hailey said her favorite thing she did today was coloring.  She also enjoyed the stories that they read.  She is glad that some of her friends from last year are in her class this year.  I know she’s going to have a great year and I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes this year!

Eating peanut butter toast and sausage for breakfast (and her vitamin too) on the last day of kindergarten.

All ready to go, with her Smurf lunchbox.

Only hours away from being a first grader… sniff sniff

Hailey wanted to pose with Rich on her last day.

And she’s off…

At the end of the day:

Now an official first grader, opening a gift for a job well done in kindergarten.

Hailey told me that on the last day of school she felt sad

Hailey’s last day reminds me of the book by Karen Kingsbury- “Let Me Hold You Longer”

Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket,
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?

Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.

I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…

The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…

The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…

The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.

The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God,
to every precious last.