"Word Nerd"

Hadley's vocabulary is EXPLODING. I LOVE it! As I sit and try to think of all of the things she says, I know I'll forget some. But, I want to remember the things she says and how she says them. So, in no particular order, our current vocab consists of the following words:

1. Mama
2. Dada
3. Gigi (sounds a bit like "she she")
4. Papa
5. Tucker (Tuck-errr)
6. Piper
7. Lily (her teacher)
8. Outside (Osiye)
9. Light (Liiiiigh)
10. Hello (heyo)
11. Bye
13. Purple
14. Poop (pewwp)
15. More (mo)
16. Milk ("Gilk")
17. Book (gook)
18. Again (gai)
19. Night Night (nih nih)
20. "Na Na" (No No-but she doesn't say this often-yay! She does shake her head "no" though)
21. Up
22. Done (da)
23. Uh Oh (we have this one down pat)
24. Diaper (dipah)
25. Nose
26. Eye
27. Baby (she is currently OBSESSED with babies)
28. Doggie (she had been using the word Tucker to describe all living things that weren't people, but she now will sometimes say doggie)
29. Puppy
30. Muah (to blow a kiss)
31. Moon
32. Blue's Clues
33. Wow
34. Wee
35. Bath
36. Hi
37. Mi (Mine)
38. Duck
39. Cheese
40. Down


I'm pretty sure there are a couple I'm missing. The other night Hadley was looking for Piper. Piper was in the backyard and Had started walking to the door saying "Piper" *which sounds a bit like a mix between Tiger and Cracker* in a sing song voice. It was too cute for words. It also sounded like she said where are you? But, I'm not 100% sure on that one.

I love that everyday Hadley has a "chatty" time. She just jabbers on and on about something. I'm sure she is solving the national debt crisis or figuring up a peace plan for the middle east. But, I can't understand most of it. Hadley, please always want to chat with me and tell me about your day. I dread the thought that there may be a time when you don't want to talk to me and you shut me out. Let's not roll that way, k? Thanks. Oh, and my child is obsessed with the phone. She loves them, loves to talk on them, thinks the world stops when the phone rings...it is insane.

Where to Begin

I have completely failed at documenting Hadley's life. Before she was born, I was convinced that I would be filling out her baby book daily-furiously documenting every day of her life. I haven't, not even close. In order to fill in the entries, I will have to review over a year's worth of facebook statuses. Despite that failure, there are a few things that I'm pretty sure I will remember all the days of my life...Hadley is an amazingly easy baby with a sweet spirit and cheerful disposition, she moves ALL. THE. TIME, and I love her so much it hurts.

I'm often torn between wanting to have a conversation with her to find out what she thinks and wishing away this time that is already flying by. Parenthood is amazing and exhausting, and I'm sure as she gets older the more exhausting it will get. We are so blessed because Hadley is relatively healthy-she meets/exceeds her milestones, she has a great vocabulary, her problem solving skills look like they will be more like J's and less like mine (thank you Lord), and she doesn't have any life threatening problems. But, the chronic ear infections, URIs, and such are getting old. This week we have a surgery scheduled, 2 in less than 8 months. I'm not thrilled, but I think this is necessary. Unfortunately, we are having trouble moving air and that could stand between us and surgery Thursday-its a little stressful, we're ready to be past this.

I've been thinking lately about how quickly time passes and how it is almost cruel to think that we are turning the calendar toward the last month of 2011. I graduated high school 10 years ago this past May and college 6 years ago. It is amazing to me to think that I've been Baylor Alum longer than I was a Baylor student. I feel 'right out of college' and I'm definitely not. I'm thankful for the changes in my life (good and bad) that have brought me to this season. I've learned a lot and grown a lot, but I still have lots of growing to do. We were in Waco last month for a special event. It was wonderful and I'm so glad we were able to go. But, I was reminded of the person I was as student. I was so passionate about so many things and was involved in amazing outreach, effective ministries, and felt so fulfilled by it all (in most areas of my life). I made mistakes that I'm not proud of, but definitely have seen how all of it has shaped me into the wife, mother, and person I am today. Good and bad, its all there. A huge part of me wants to dive right back into the ministries I served, do the things I did back then. But then I look at this beautiful little face that is beyond thrilled to see me come pick her up from school and hear the "Mama!" come out of that tiny little mouth. Its then I know that which I'm passionate about outside of my home can wait for the time that I mold this child with passionate purpose as her mom. One of these days, I'll get back to my roots. But, now is my time to comfort, play, and baby hold (okay, baby chase). Someday soon the ear infections, fevers, breathing treatments, and all of the antibiotics will be in our rear view mirror and there will be more that I can give elsewhere.

Can I also just say that I miss Brinkley like crazy? After we got home from vacation in August, we started a month long journey with the beag. I know he was just a dog, but I'm pretty sure I won't ever fully get over this. For the better part of a decade he was my constant. Brinkley was the one 'person' in my life that was happy to see me regardless of how I looked, smelled, or what I had done that day, he was a bed warmer, and the joy of my life covered in fur. Its been almost two months since I laid nose to nose with him on the floor of the "comfort room" at the vet's office. He was so sick and it happened so fast. I'm quite sure I left a part of my heart in that room with him. I find myself looking at other dogs, trying to find one to bring home. But, it doesn't feel right (I know it will in time). I don't want another dog, I want Brinkley back. I want the comfort of knowing that I know all about him and he knows all about us. He had us trained and he knew how we roll in this house. Somedays I have to remind myself that he won't be waiting for me when I get home. Today was one of those days, so was yesterday. I think it boils down to realizing that everything I learned about parenting I learned from a beagle. That should be scary, but it really isn't.

Never Gonna Catch Up, Reset, Go Again

I'm never going to catch up on everything that has happened since Hadley came into our lives. So, I believe that I will just start fresh from now.

Today is my Friday off, just in time! Unfortunately, Hadley is home with a virus that is causing her to run a fever. Her fever is currently under control, but only because of Tylenol and Motrin. We're a little concerned because she has just gotten over an ear infection and had to come home from daycare with a fever yesterday. So, we'll be taking it easy the next couple of days and try to get well before Monday!

Hadley turned 7 months on Tuesday. I don't even know where the time has gone. Everyday has been an amazing blessing and I am having a BLAST with her. What a sweet sweet girl that I am so undeserving of!

Work has gotten insanely busy and is strangely unimportant in my life after 5pm these days, not much more to say there.

We are gearing up for Easter around here. I LOVE Easter! For the past 10 years or so, we have been so busy on Easter Sunday that we end up going out to the Japanese Steak House for Easter lunch. It is a fun tradition-I loved it! But, this year, we wanted to stay close to home and worship at our church and with our friends. We are hosting Easter Lunch at our house this year. I'm trying to think of what to serve and what traditions we want to start with Hadley.

Pretty lame "come back" post, but its the most I've got for now!

Hadley's First Christmas and New Year's

Ok, so I definitely have some catching up to do!

 

Let me start with Christmas…

 

December was FULL of activities. We opened December with Cookie Baking Weekend at Gigi’s, we attended a couple of Christmas parties, met Santa, and prepared for the holiday. Joe and I built our annual gingerbread house on Christmas Eve and we took a dolled up Hadley Grace to Christmas Eve services at Gigi and Papa’s church.

 

We were very lucky to have Grannie come to Mom’s for Christmas this year. It was fun to have her celebrate Hadley’s first Christmas with us! As usual, we were tremendously blessed and Santa was good to everyone!

 

Hadley got a doll stroller/walking toy combo from Santa and Santa assigned Hadley her elf, Lola that will be with us each Christmas. Mom and I wrote a song for Lola, the Show Elf…I bet you know the tune! Hadley got a lot of teething toys in her stocking-boy does Santa know what he’s doing! Gigi and Papa spoiled Hadley with books, some sweet outfits, and toys. We bought her several toys as well-drums, maracas, a play kitchen (that sings in English and Spanish), some videos, and other assorted toys that she can crawl toward. We had a fun morning opening gifts and a great lunch that Gigi put together.

 

By Christmas, Hadley was rolling over fairly regularly, but by the first week in January, she was rolling all over the place! Normally, we go to Moody Garden’s Festival of Lights on NYE. But, I won’t lie, this year we were lame and stayed in. I played with Hadley by styling her hair and we were in bed by 9:30. New Year’s Day, we had my parents over for lunch. It was a nice, laid back, afternoon followed by a trip out to Moody Gardens. Hadley did great and enjoyed looking at the lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may be behind the times, and am not sure if this is really going to work…but, can I really email my blog for an update??? Seriously? Blogging may have become MUCH easier for me!

 

 

 

Callie Holland-Edwards

 

Waste Management

 

Ethics and Diversity

 

1001 Fannin Street Suite 4000

 

Houston, TX 77002

 

713-287-2515