2009: A U-haul Odyssey

As you may be able to tell, we are now the proud owners of a new, modern video camera. The very first one we had, back when Kevin and I were tots and the one that filmed 90% of our home videos, was an enormous, shoulder-mounted black monstrosity that ate entire VHS tapes. Our second one was better, one that ate only dainty, miniature VHS tapes, but it was still pretty big and couldn't connect to the computer.

Enter the awesome new camcorder. It's tiny and shiny and silver, you can hardly tell it's in my hand, eats no tapes (it stores data on the camera's hard drive!), and uploads to the computer. We can jack it to the TV, or burn DVDs of the movies we make.

The most awesome thing is I can edit it using iMovie on my iMac. At first I was pretty intimidated, since I know next to nothing about video editing, but Apple helpfully provides editing tutorials on their website for novices like me.

But enough geek speak. Here's the very first video I edited, just for you guys. It may not be very cutting-edge, but Hadley got so excited when she watched the final cut that she forcefully peed through her diaper onto me. I'm not even kidding. I just got back from changing my clothes. How many of you can say that YOU get that excited?

(I also humbly credit the awesome Brown's blog for the inspiration. Everyone wants videos of adorable babies...I can only blab to you so much before you open Solitaire!)

**NOTE: Before playing the video, tell CCR to stuff it. At the bottom of the page.

Happy Father's Day!

This is Hadley's first Father's Day, and her birthday will be here in a week, followed closely by Dad and Kevin's birthday. So much to celebrate!

I joked with Mom and Dad about how this is their last first birthday. (We hope)

Lots of love out there to all the daddies. You are the ones who we ran to when Mom didn't let us have our ways; the ones who danced with us at weddings or Daddy Daughter Dances at school; the ones who protected us and gave each boy we brought home a stern eye, and each girl a careful welcoming; you were our Papa Bears, with a pair of big, snuggly arms to nestle into.

I'll never forget the things my Dad did for my brother and I, and now Hadley. He taught us how to ride our bikes. He took us swimming and walking. He brought us to work in the summers, even though we were loud and often bothered him in his office. He let us bring home countless cats, dogs, rats, hamsters, fish, a tarantula, and one time even a chameleon. He grills steaks for us every Sunday, a cigar hanging out his mouth like a Mafia don.

He faithfully drags us to Cardinals games, even in horrible Sun Devil Stadium, and Phoenix Suns games. I still love his standard uniform of a sleeveless cotton shirt (in order to show off his massive arms), shorts, and white Nike sneakers with white socks, complete with a baseball cap and sunglasses. You knew when he laughed, because he didn't do it often, that something was really funny. He powered through bad grades and high school drama with Kevin and I, coached Kevin's recreational football teams, let us "dog-pile" on him and whack him with pillows even when we had gotten big enough for some serious damage, and got up many many mornings at 6:30 am to drive us to school.

He supported both Mom and I when she became pregnant with Hadley. He quietly stressed for our future, wondering if Hadley would make it into this world, and if she would be whole and healthy. He worried that he wouldn't have enough love to give to her, that he couldn't split it one more time between the three of us. He drove Mom to the ER last Father's Day, late at night, because Mom was worried about Haddy; then, after spending hours there, he patiently left when she decided everything was okay after all.

He stood by me while Mom gave birth, and kept me from panicking with his cool attitude. (He'd been through this twice, after all!) He got up at 3 am and sat in Haddy's rocking chair, bleary-eyed and tired, and gave her the tiny bottles, and then got up 3 hours later to drive Kevin to school.

He adores Hadley. She truly is his little princess, the apple of his eye. He tickles her and holds her during NFL shows, kisses her and plays with her. He swims with her in her little floatie and carries her now extremely heavy carseats.

My dad is awesome. I love him so much. Hadley is lucky; she gets him all to herself while she grows up. I know I've given you some hard times in the past, Dad, but...I'll always be your little girl.

Happy Tuesday!

Doesn't that make you feel better?

:)

New Summer Pictures

A lot to report on! Hadley finally started crawling, and in about a day she became a crawling maniac, which confirms to me that she was just being lazy about it. 

She got her first real boo-boo as well, crawling and knocking her head on the coffee table. Crying, hysterical hijinks, laughing in about 10 seconds, etc. I called her egg-head for about 2 days because of the little lump on her forehead.

She also loves to show off her new trick: waving. It's so adorable sometimes I think one of my eyes will pop out or my hair will turn white or something. 

Yesterday was her 11-month birthday. Next month, on June 28th, is her real birthday! We'll have to plan it out...

Her little bunk in the cart while shopping. 

It's mattress-lowering time...

She's a giant!!! (first little chair)

Tropical baby

Bathtime baby! We tried to preserve most of your modesty, Hadley.

Hadley Says Her First Word

For a while, Haddy's been doing the kind-of babbling talking, when she latches onto a short word and repeats it. She's been saying, "Da da da da da..." for weeks now, and I never really put two and two together, until today. 

We were all in the TV room, watching a movie, and Haddy was perched on my lap. She was getting excited by the action on the screen and the music. Suddenly she turns toward my dad and shrieks, "DADA!" to get his attention. 

I was speechless! We all were looking at her, but Mom and Dad didn't look surprised or anything. Finally, I say, "Was that her first word?!" and they both said she'd been saying "da da" for a few weeks now. I knew she was doing it, but I thought she wasn't associating it with actual Dad. 

Both Mom and Dad were totally nonchalant about it. I'm sitting over here about to blow a lung with shock and excitement, and they were cool as a cucumber. Granted, they've been through it twice before. I practically wanted to have a party for her. 

Anyway, here are some new pictures! We've been swimming and she decided that she loves it. Also, she loves Popsicles. They make little mini ones for kids, and she gets one now and then if it's really hot.

Here's her first swimsuit. What a doll!

"Hmm...I should inspect this first before I make up my mind about it..."

Little bathing beauty!

She loves Gus! I think that thing was around when I was a tot, too.

She also really adores that hat. She goes everywhere with it.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

Wow, I hadn't realized it's been almost a month since I posted last. Sorry! 

PS: It would be very great if you could comment if you visit the site, since I'm starting to think only 3 people look at the blog...let me know you're here! :)

She just loves to type and bang away at a keyboard

If you've ever seen pictures of Kevin when he was a baby, it's truly astonishing how much she looks like him then, in this picture

Fell asleep in Dada's arms during movie night

She was so proud of herself, since we got just a booster seat instead of a high chair

After a struggle over toys, Lloyd the Llama killed Hadley.

New Spring Pictures

I kept getting this face every time  I looked over at her, during computer time...she's so funny!

Dad is starting the brainwashing early!

Silly rabbit, that purse is for Sissy!

This picture says two words to me: "help" and "me!"

They both have impish little looks on their faces