fireball enjoying her bath time

Well needless to say we are really bad “bloggers”.  But we love the thought of having some way of keeping relatives that live far away and friends as well updated on our miracle baby.  Hadley is doing really well.  She is seven months and two days old today.  At her six month check up she was 95% for height, 75% for weight- which by the way has definitely changed since then, I’m sure she is at least 90% for weight now, she has many rolls :)  Oh, and she impressed the doctor once more with her strength.  We didn’t get to see Dr. Halpin her usual doctor.  It turns out Dr. Halpin was voted one of the best pediatricians in the Washington DC area so she books all apts. 3 months out.  Good to know she is such a great doctor, not so good for the Harmer’s who aren’t the best at planning ahead.  So I have Hadley’s nine and twelve month apts. booked.  The doctor we did see had to literally wrestle with Hadleyto get his stethoscope out of her hands so that he could check her heart. She thought this was hilarious and it went on for quite some time.  I was so amused that I didn’t think to step in and help the guy out.  I’m realizing I do that often with Hadley, I’m so amused and really just enamored  with her that many times I miss out on a moment when I need to step in and do something, even when it involves me. example-  She has a particular love for my hair. I’ve read a few places that this is one way babies feel close to Momma, by pulling on, tasting, smelling their hair.  Well Hadley does all of these constantly.  Sean has to unleash her grip on big wads of my hair pretty constantly.  And when he is not home and it is just me and Had’s sometimes I’m getting such a kick out of the fact that she loves me so much that she has to ravel herself up in my hair that I let her and then suffer the consequences when I realized she has just pulled a fistful out. 

More updates on Hadley

-She completed her first swim class with flying colors.  I’m proud to say she loves the water.  She is a little fish.  She was the youngest in her swim class and last Saturday the only girl as well, and she also never once cried!  Most of the time many babies would be crying, but not Hadley.  She also doesn’t mind floating on her back which supposedly many babies and children have issues with.  She thinks it is fun to watch Mommy and Daddy blow bubbles and she loves splashing.  She does not however like it when Sean or I swim and pop up in front of her, that really ticks her off.

Hadley and Sean at her swim class

-She loves older kids.  She already knows the difference between adults and cool college aged, teens, pre-teens, and on down.  Everyone younger than 21 is super cool to her.  She shows this by smiling, laughing, and trying to engage in conversation and eye contact with them. I was taking a walk with her yesterday and the cutest boy got off the bus and was walking towards us.  Most of the time boys really don’t pay much attention to Hadley, but this one stopped and said “oh she is so adorable!”  well let me tell you Hadley loved this attention from him and sat up tall in her stroller, stopped sucking on her feet, smiled, giggled, and batted her eyelashes.  It was hilarious and ridiculous at the same time.  I’m like “what am I chopped liver?”

-She growls all the time.  I’m not talking playing an animal for fun growling.  It is really strong and comes from a place of frustration or discontent and over the past several weeks she has begun to do it literally about everything.  If she is hungry she growls.  If she isn’t getting her food fast enough she growls.  If she wants me to pick her up, she growls.  If she is mad she is falling asleep, she growls.  I think she desires so desperately to be able to communicate with us and is frustrated that she can’t clearly that this is her way of doing so until words come.  We are teaching her sign language and supposedly at 8 months she will be able to begin using it and possibly the growling will subside a bit. 

-She has yet to sleep through the night.  And no, I haven’t felt right about letting her “cry it out”.  She is so strong willed and fiery about everything that if you leave her to cry for even just a few minutes she gets so upset she will throw up.  It is sad and disturbing and I’d rather not contribute to this.

-She is pretty much crawling. She can push herself up, move her legs, and get anywhere she determines would be a good place to go.  This usually is towards adult things like the breast pump, remote control, cell phone, my purse, my glass, etc.  How in the world do babies no what is not a toy and choose to go for those items above all else? 

-We call her a fireball because that is really what she is.  Spending any amount of time with her you will quickly see this as well.  She has a really determined spirit and a very alert and keen interest in everything- above all though her interest is in people. She can take or leave animals, toys, etc. but people, she loves and wants to know and be known by every person that walks by us in the store, swims by us at the pool, sits by us at church etc.  And she does seem a bit confused and possibly miffed when strangers choose to ignore her large blue eyes burning a hole through them. 

-The comment we get most about her when we are out and about is “wow, big alert eyes”

Hadley Grace decided it was time for a St. Patrick’s day photo shoot.  Since she’s at least 43.75% Irish, we decided she should wear this “Kiss Me I’m Irish” bib.  A special thanks to Grandma Debe for holding onto this bib for over 30 years, it’s directly from the blessed land of Ireland. 

Side Note:  We’re not professional photographers but we did jump up and down like monkeys, trying to get her attention and her funny bone!

We’re sorry for the delay but here’s a cute video of Princess Grace talking. Enjoy every second.

Hadley and Daddy time

I like to tell Hadley she is my favorite girl in the whole wide world.  She seems to like hearing that.  I don’t think there is anything wrong with telling your child they are your favorite, no matter how many you have

I can’t imagine it is a very good feeling to walk around your entire life and not know that someone out there considers you their “favorite”.

I adore her.  I was wondering what it would be like to have another child to love too, I guess double the love.

-Laurie

Hadley and Mommy time

Well I can’t really apologize for Sean and I and our lack of attention to the blog on Hadley, because we are busy loving her and getting to know her and trying to keep up with her already. 

Since I found out I was pregnant last February I have read many books on pregnancy and the likes, and some of them I have read over and over again.  One thing that all the books say is to not worry about having a clean house or staying on top of things the way you used to because your most important job now is learning how to be a parent to your baby and enjoying every minute of it because according to the experts they grow up way too fast.  I agree completely, with both sentiments.  You should see our bedroom, it looks just like my room when  I was a teenager. 

There are piles and piles of clothes that never get put away and our laundry basket never gets emptied, it just circulates dirty to clean, clean to dirty.  I have these lists I make in my head of what I will do when I get a little free time, possibly while she naps, but rarely do I get more than one at best two things accomplished.  That’s o.k.  because we love her and don’t want to miss a second of time with her.  Oh yes, and she could care less about her parents bedroom being messy, she just wants our attention.

So these are just some of the things we are learning about Hadley.  She loves books.  A friend of ours gave her a few books, one of which is called Richard Scarry’s Best First Book Ever!.  The first time I showed it to her she opened her eyes and mouth real wide and seemed to be mesmerized by it.  In fact I will post a few pictures of subsequent book readings with her and her exuberance for the book.  The other day I opened to the “playground” page in the book and out of nowhere she began laughing hysterically.  Unfortunately I can’t understand babytalk yet so I don’t know what caught her funny bone, but my personal opinion is it must have been the cat on the swing, it was swinging so hard it was flipping over the swing set. 

Uncle Matt reading to Hadley from her and his favorite book

Another thing Hadley loves is to have me or Sean sit right in front of her and talk to her and sing to her.  She will smile and coo and giggle.  There is nothing better than her smile.  I was driving home the other day from a meeting and I just pictured her smile and I started to laugh and smile too.  So most days when she is awake I am either singing to her, reading to her, kissing, or hugging her, and on the weekends Sean is doing this with her as well.  I feel so badly for all the babies who are shoved into daycare and miss out on this intense and precious one-on-one time with their parents and likewise for the parents.  I just can’t imagine missing out on these moments with Hadley.  I know some people don’t have the choice, so I’m thankful I have a flexible enough schedule to be with her most of her waking hours.

Alright I’ll post some more later. - Laurie

Sean and I both believe in the power of a name. God gave names and changed names for many of his finest in the Bible. Many times when he changed someone’s name it was to reflect who they would become as a result of knowing Him. So naming a child we feel is important and not a random decision.

We also felt the need to tie our child to her family in some way through her name.
My Grandma Martin has a wonderful memory and she has a gift for storytelling. So when I visit with her I always ask her to tell me stories about family members I never had the chance to know. She has oodles of hilarious and interesting stories. One day when she was telling me more about the family a name came up, Helen Hadley Hodill. When I heard the name Hadley it was as if a bell went off. I grabbed it and knew it would be the most beautiful name for a little girl. Helen who was a lovely woman was married to my great grandmother’s brother Phil who was a very loving and kind man. So for at least four years or so I have held the name Hadley in my heart, and Sean loved it when I told him. Hadley means “field of Heather” which I have been told is a “beautiful site, or thing”. Also Sean is 75% Irish, his Mom, Hadley’s Grandma Debe being 100%, so her name also ties her to her Irish roots, because as we know Heather grows on the green hills and fields across Ireland.
When we were praying about her middle name we were torn between Hannah and Grace. Hannah because Hannah in the Bible struggled with infertility for years before God opened her womb and gave her a son, Samuel. My story is similar in that we were waiting almost five years for Hadley’s arrival. I will write more about our journey with infertility some time later. But when we would say Hadley Hannah Harmer it sounded like a large mouthful and we weren’t set on it. One day Sean and I were talking about Grace and Sean reminded me his name is the Irish/Gaelic translation for John which means “God is Gracious”, at that moment we knew Grace would be her middle name a tie to her Father and exactly what she is a gift of Grace from God to Sean and I and all the other people she will touch in her lifetime.

So Hadley Grace Harmer- “ A beautiful site/thing, grace”. We experienced and learned about this thing called grace along our journey to finally become Hadley’s parents. And now we pray Hadley will grow in beauty and grace and that her life will reflect our savior.

 - Laurie

Photographs courtesy of Courtney Vogel
http://www.CourtneyVogelPhotography.com

I have said it is profound, and it is, to meet the child of your child. What an honor!

I have just returned from a great visit with Sean, Laurie, and their daughter, Hadley.

We had all kinds of firsts: first stroll in the neighborhood, first two week old birthday, first Thanksgiving, first bath by the fireplace, first singing of When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and McNamara’s Band.

Did I mention that Hadley is beautiful and has a sweet temperament? Did I mention what loving and caring parents she has? I have  visions of Sean carrying her in her carrier on his chest and Laurie snuggling her and making sure she has her darling hats on.

While I was in Falls Church, I was reminded of things to celebrate: a burp as well as all things biological.

Thank you so much, dear ones, for sharing this never-to-be-replaced part of your lives.

See you soon.

Love,
Grandma Debe

Hadley had her first doctor appointment today and the results are in.  Hadley is in the 95th percentile for her height (21 3/8″) and in the 75th percentile for her weight.  That’s my girl.  I asked for a bumper sticker that said “My daughter is taller than yours” but they were plumb out.  I’ll have to wait for the honor role stickers in a decade or so.  I regress…the doctor said she looks great and is doing “PERFECT”.  Oh, one more thing about our trip to the doctors.   Dr. Halpin placed Hadley on her stomach to check her back and Hadley lifted her head up and nearly did a pushup.   The doctor said “WOOO, Hadley is really strong!  Most babies aren’t able to do that until they’re at least 4 months old.”     Mom and Dad were beaming from ear to ear with pride.  

Hadley’s pre-pushup routine:

Well, we packed up our things, received our discharge papers from the hospital, and put Hadley in the car for her first car ride (she loves them…it’s like a magic potion that knocks her out!).  Anyway, we arrived home on Tuesday afternoon and have been trying to deal with the fact that Hadley is content to sleep during the day and more than willing to stay up during the night, which of course is an adjustment for mom and dad.  SO…if you need to call us, you can reach us anytime between 12am and 5:30am.  :-) 

One fun thing worth noting.  When we arrived home there were two surprises waiting for us.  There was a beautiful pink rose blooming in our front yard.  I think the Lord grew it just for Hadley.  The second thing was a litter of kittens in our wood pile…all I’ll say is the kittens welcomed us home and then ran off to hide elsewhere.  Nothing like a natural welcoming committee.

Below are a few pictures of our hospital departure.  I hope you enjoy.  We’ll try to get some video footage up here soon. 

Love you all.

The Harmers