Dear Hayden,

We are purse people!

Mama

Hayden

Love you,

Mama

Dear Hayden,

We spent this weekend in California celebrating the life of your great great grandfather, Poppie. It was a good weekend because we got to spend it as a family. Poppie lived a long life. He was married to Grams for 75 years and had the rare opportunity to meet his great great granddaughter — you! It is a lucky thing to live a lot of years, and to have a lot of life in them! We will miss Poppie, but we know he was finished here on Earth.

Love you,
Mama

You at Poppie’s Spot

Walking with Madison and Auntie Kim after the service

Exploring with Auntie Jill

Playing with Charlie, Grams and Poppie’s Dog

Playing the Piano

Talking with Dad and Poppie in January

Dear Hayden,

We spent yesterday and today in Flagstaff. I happen to know the mayor of Flagstaff, Sara Presler. She’s a good friend of mine from college. In fact, she stood up with me when I married your dad. I think she’s a great choice for mayor because she tells the truth, isn’t afraid to speak up and cares about things that matter. Anyway, I took some pictures of you sitting at the mayor’s desk and sitting with the mayor!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Just a little update for you! You have such a personality! Here are a few pictures of you doing what you do!

Love you,
Mama

Sweet Face!

Eating Dinner

This is what we call the “Food Do”

Here you are watching the kitties outside

Dear Hayden,

Today, you turned one! It has been such a fast year, and you give us so many reasons to celebrate! We had some friends of yours (including Grandma and Grandpa) over to celebrate with you!

Love you,
Mama

Your Party Clothes

Birthday Cupcakes

Making a Wish

Opening Gifts

Flying with Grandpa

Watching your Slideshow before bed

Dear Hayden,

Today we had a small celebration for your birthday because Nana and Papa won’t be here on Sunday to celebrate. We had meatloaf for dinner, which you love, then you ate part of a birthday cookie, and then they gave you some awesome presents! They will be on vacation for a couple of weeks, but they’ll be thinking of you on Sunday for sure!

Love you,
Mama

Meatloaf Face

Birthday Cookies

Birthday Cookie

Birthday Cookie Hair Do

Opening Birthday Gifts

Dear Hayden,

This weekend, we took a road trip to California. It was your first road trip! While we were there, I went to a meeting, so Dad took you to the Los Angeles Zoo. It was your first trip to the zoo. You absolutely loved it! He said you pointed at all of the animals and kicked your feet (that’s what you do when you’re excited) all day! We went to visit Grams, too. It was sad to be there without Poppie, but it was good to see Grams and give her a hug and a kiss and spend the day with her. On Sunday, we went to the beach. It was your first trip to the beach, and you loved that, too! As the water came near, you started jumping and screaming; you were so excited!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today is Grandparent’s Day. Basically, the day you were born, you won the grandparent lottery.

Love you,
Mama

Grandpa

Grandma

Nana and Papa

Dear Hayden,

I can’t believe you’re turning one this month! It’s so exciting and completely unbelievable. It’s been the most amazing year of my life ~ it’s still incredible to me that somehow in the benevolent arrangement of things, I get to be your mom.

Love you,

Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today you got to play with your friend Alex. You were having such a good time that I decided I had to take pictures!

Love,
Mama

Hanging Out

Sticking Cheerios in the table crack and watching them hit the ground!

Playing with the ball popper