Dear Hayden,

Your Auntie Em came to visit this week! Technically, she’s not really related, but we’ve been friends since we were little girls, so she may as well be! She spent a lot of time hanging out with you and getting to know you and she thinks you’re pretty amazing! It will be important for you to know Emmie because MUCH later she can tell you all kinds of strange stories about me… things I’m sure you will find entertaining! It’s been so exciting for me to have her here because she has been with me through every stage in my life, so it makes sense that she would be here getting to know you!

Love,
Mama

You and Auntie Em!

Dear Hayden,

Happy 1st Halloween! Your dad got you a very cute lobster costume, so you’ll be wearing that tonight as we head to the Pumpkin Festival at church! In a few years you’ll be able to trick or treat and do all the other fun stuff they have to do there, but this year, you’ll just hang out with us and be our little lobster. You have been given some other really cute Halloween outfits that you’ve been wearing this week to celebrate as well!

Love you,
Mama

Our Little Lobster

‘Lil Miss Chevious

Halloween Peek-A-Pooh

Dear Hayden,

God created your inmost being; He knit you together in my womb. I praise Him because you are fearfully and wonderfully made; a work of art! (I borrowed that from Psalm 139) Never forget that you are made in the image of God. If you could see yourself now, you would know that for sure! My heart breaks when I think about some of the things you will face in this world — namely the criticism of those who will not make the choice to look into your soul, but who will instead judge you with no power or authority to do so. It is my prayer that you will hold fast to the knowledge that you are God’s. His fingerprints are all over you. I also pray that you will choose to look past the exterior of others, to see the truth in them. No amount of outer beauty can cover up inner ugly. Remember that.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

My gosh, time is passing so quickly! I can’t believe you’ve already been with us for 5 weeks. It seems like just yesterday we were meeting you for the first time. You are a very sweet baby, and we are very lucky parents! We went to the doctor for your 1 month check up and you weigh 8 lb. 4 oz.! You are growing so fast; you will soon be out of your newborn clothes and wearing the 0-3 month stuff! Here are some pictures I took while you were hanging out with your dad!

Love you,
Mama

5 Weeks Old!

5 Weeks Old!

Dear Hayden,

Today we had newborn photos taken. You are so precious!

Love,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Tonight Madison got to hold you for the first time! She is absolutely enthralled with you!

Love,
Mama

With Madison

Dear Hayden,

Today, your birth announcement went out. Jackie took the picture and designed it for us. It turned out great! We’re excited to tell the world that you are here!

Love you,
Mama

Your Birth Announcement

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us; still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

-Washington Irving

Dear Hayden,

This is the kind of mother I hope to be.

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today, you met Uncle Ramsey, Aunt Lisa and your cousins, Charlie and Alex. It was fun to have everyone here and they think you are quite adorable! Soon you will have another cousin, too — due in January! Here are some pictures from our time together!

Love,
Mama

With Uncle Ramsey

In Aunt Lisa’s Arms… Alex is getting to know you, too!

Grandma and Grandpa with ALL 3 of their grandchildren!

Dear Hayden,

Yesterday we gave you your first real bath. We have been sponging you off, but your umbilical cord finally fell off so we were able to give you a real bath. You HATE being cold, so you didn’t like it at first. As soon as you got used to the warm water, though, you were happy in the little tub. Your dad took a ton of pictures. Here are a couple of them.

Love you,
Mama

Your First Bath!

After the Bath, Warm in a Towel!