"Hop" on Over!

Nani and Papa wanted to make sure that the girls are prepared to come visit them, so they got each of them a rolling suitcase/backpack/doll holder with removable stuffed animal.  Abigail has the frog backpack, and Hailey has the bunny backpack. 

These are sooooo cute and plush and soft, and Abigail absolutely adores hers!  She keeps alternating between rolling it around the house and wearing it like a backpack.  When she wears it like a backpack, she'll turn around and pop out her hip to show off the frog - such sass!  She made a joke yesterday when she said, "Nani, where frog?" and Nani replied, "I don't know.  Where is the frog?"  Abigail proceeded to jump/turn around and exclaim, "Here it is!" while ridiculously laughing.  Such a perfect, useful gift for a two year old!  (Hailey likes hers, too!)

Abigail posed with her backpack, saying, "Camera, Mom.  Picture."

Taking out Hailey's bunny.

Modeling the multiple uses!

Snow Day 4

I'm kind of getting used to this.  Work one day, off six (if you include the weekend!).  I am SO glad Robby works in my district now, because I love having all the same/extra time off.  It's nice!

This morning when we woke up, we had about 4 inches of snow on the ground!  This is more like what I am used to seeing whenever school/work gets canceled because of inclement weather.  Naturally, we had to take Abigail out to play in the snow! 

Last year, when it snowed about a foot of snow, Abigail was just 15 months old, so she didn't really get to play in it.  This morning, Abigail had a BLAST playing in it!  We played until our faces were red, and when we came in she cried to go back out.  Of course, when we went out this morning, it was still only 20 degrees, so we couldn't stay out long.  Also, the sun was out (it's supposed to get to 32 degrees today - oh my word, it will feel like a heat wave, I am sure!), and it reflected off the snow, so it was as bright as all get out.  I could barely open my eyes!

Abigail's favorite thing was to make foot prints in the snow and to wipe off the snow from the bushes in our yard.  She found one tiny flower (weed) sticking up through the snow and yelled, "FOWER!"  She tromped over there and plucked it immediately.  That girl loves picking flowers.

We also took Hailey out in it, just for the experience. She had on three layers of clothes plus a hat and blanket, and we were only out there long enough for her to see it. She barely caught a glimpse, though, because of the brightness.

Snow Day 3 - A Record!

Wow, three days off due to snow/ice!  I cannot believe it!  Today is a little warmer, 19 degrees outside (wind chill 4 degrees)!  We're going a little stir crazy today, since we haven't been out of the house since Monday night...I think I may even have to break out the Play-Doh for Abigail!  (Gasp!) 

To burn off a little energy, we bundled up Abigail (socks, leggings, blue jeans, long sleeve onesie, sweatshirt, lined jacket, fuzzy hat, mittens, and boots) and sent her outside for about 15 minutes of play time.  We didn't let her stay out any longer because her nose and cheeks were getting rosy red!  We put on Chance's jacket, too, and het got to run around a little bit.  Robby had fun chasing them on the ice; the snow that we did get (only about 1" and it doesn't even cover all of the yard) has frozen solid into an ice block, so it was very slippery! 

While they were outside, Hailey and I spent a little alone time together, and she was "talking" up a storm!  Of course, every time I tried to take a picture, it didn't come out right to show her really talking.  Sigh.  In time, I guess.

Look at all that fuzzy hair!  I love it!

Snow Day 2

Another day off!  The roads were still icy today and last night (wind chill -12 degrees last night!), so we got to spend today staying home, staying warm, and staying safe.  The energy consumption in Texas has been at an all time high, so they've had to initate rolling blackouts throughout the state.  Rolling blackouts in 12 degree weather = brrr cold.  We've had to bundle up for sure!  Luckily, we've only had one blackout so far today, and it has been light enough outside that it wasn't dark in our house.  The only thing we can really do today is nap again!  (Oh darn!)

Here's a picture of the girls "hibernating."

Snow Day - Slow Day

We've had the day off due to inclement weather - a snow/ice storm! - and all we've been doing today is catching up on our sleep.  It's nice to have a day just to lounge around and recharge our batteries!

Here's a picture of Abby putting Daddy down for a nap!  Whenever he puts her down for a nap or to bed, he lies down with her and always ends up falling asleep, too!

  

Of course when I went in to get a picture of sweet Hailey Kay snoozing, she was wide awake! She didn't make a peep! She's such a sweetie!

Time to Catch Up

Wow, things have been busy these past few months.  Our family of three has joyously turned into a family of four, and we have spent the past few months getting to know our new daughter, Hailey Kay Roden.  Now that Hailey is 12 weeks old (a silent, amazed "ALREADY?!" has just escaped my mouth), I figure it is time I get back to updating my blog.

I'll be posting entries about everything in between 28 weeks pregnant and an almost 3 month old baby, so new posts will be a mix of old and new.  It'll be confusing for a while, but I really don't want to miss any of the details I remember about those precious few months.  I plan on turning this blog into a book one day, and I want it all there!

It's (Semi) Official

Hailey Kay

The decision.  After months and months of debate, we have finally settled on a name!  We made the decision on September 6, 2010, on our way to the dog park!  Ha.  Sounds like a trivial decision, but believe me, it wasn't.  I was tired of calling the baby "Baby" or Hannah-slash-Hailey, and when my mom said, "We'll just call her Slash," that was the end of that!  I needed a name.  Even though it took nearly 7 months to decide, and it was always between Hailey and Hannah, it came down to Hailey! 

Robby really preferred Hailey over Hannah, and to get me to finalize my vote, he kept mentioning Hannah Montana, the teen pop star. I guess that finally got to me when I was talking to a few people and said something about I want to paint the baby's room blue, not pink, but I didn't really think that went well with "Hannah" and someone said, "Hannah Montana loves blue!" For Robby to make the connection is one thing, but for someone else to...well, that was enough for me!  I don't want that attachment to her name for her whole life...or even the childhood/teenage years.

Her middle name is a family name - my mom's middle name in fact. Once again, I preferred another, but Robby picked this one, and I just couldn't argue, could I? Ha. I told him he was just trying to get a good Christmas present! (Joking, of course!)

The meaning.  One of the reasons it took me so long to decide on what to call her is the meaning of the names.  We have been prety sure since about July that her initials would be HKR, no matter what we decided, but we didn't know which way we'd go.  Hannah = gracious/from the grace of God, has Hebrew etymology (like Abigail) and is Biblical (also like Abigail);  Hailey = from the hay meadow and is of English origin.  It wasn't until Robby found an alternative meaning "Natural" that I could accept it as an option.  I just put too much emphasis on words!  When I think of "natural" and all that could imply, I like it.  I'll just pray that she has a generous and loving soul, and that should take care of that!  Kate = Pure;  Kay = joyous, both of which I like. 

In the end, her name, Hailey Kay means Natural & Joyous!  I think she'll be a beautiful person, inside and out!

I am so happy to be able to call her by her name now, and we can get Abigail used to hearing it as well.  I know I'm now in the home stretch (yaaaay!), and it's finally getting real.  Just about 10 weeks until Hailey gets here!

Here's Hailey's "house" at 28 weeks 5 days!