Faux Birthday

Having your birthday on Christmas would be the pits.  Richard’s Birthday comes in second place for the crumbiest day to have your birthday, New Year’s Day.  Everyone is off work, which you think would be awesome.  Not awesome.  It is too close to Christmas so you don’t need anything else as far as gifts go and basically everyone forgets it is your birthday because they are trying to recover from the night before.  I feel bad every year when Rich’s B-Day comes and goes like a regular old day.  Trust me, I have tried to make it special and it never pans out.  This year I decided it would be a fun tradition to celebrate big when his half birthday rolls around (July 1).  Unfortunately we aren’t going to be together at that time therefore I chose a random day that worked best for him and I to celebrate.  March 29.  That day happened to be the last school exam he will ever take!!  Two birds with one stone.  I got him some fun little cheap things he needed and re-wrapped his Ipad that he got on his actual b-day.  He has been talking about trying Shepherd’s Pie for a very long time.  I have been avoiding it because this dish seems like a bunch of crap thrown into a casserole dish.  I was pretty spot on with the description and he loved it.  I also attempted to make these little cakes (http://ohhappyday.com/2012/02/mini-cakes-diy/).  It was a total fail.  Two of them overflowed in the oven, causing A LOT of smoke and our fire alarm to go off.  One made it through the baking stage and came out resembling a slouchy hard piece of fudge. He tried to make me feel better by taking a bite.  That made me even more mortified, afraid he was going to crack a tooth or something.  We ended up going out for dessert.  Thank you McDonald's chocolate dipped cones.  I think I will continue with this tradition and hope it makes his Birthday a little more special than it has been in the past.  Happy Faux Birthday to my hubby!

Where's Henley?  Wrapping paper is the ultimate baby gift.

He loves it when I take a picture of just him :)

6 Months & Easter Time

Six months have come and gone and I cannot believe how fast time flies.  Every stage Henley goes through, I find myself saying that I don't want this stage to end.  The greatest part about it is every stage gets better and better.  Currently Henley is in to:

1.  Sitting up by herself

2.  Holding her own spoon while being fed with another spoon

3.  Saying ba-ba-ba-ba and ma-ma-ma-ma (too bad she doesn't link the ma-ma to me)

4.  Loves fighting naps

5. Hates getting dressed.  She would live in a diaper if I let her. 

6.  Sticking her tongue out is her new favorite pastime, along with playing with her binky

7.  Side sleeper at heart.  We finally grew out of swaddling (rough, rough transition) and she will only sleep on her side.

8.  Loves her jumper bumper.  In fact she enjoys anything that allows her to move on her own.

9.  Mesmerized by watching other kids play.  We thrive at play groups.

Her first Easter was pretty uneventful.  We went to church which would have been enough, but our neighbors were having an easter egg hunt and we decided to join.  It was deceivingly cold and windy.  Once snot started running into Henley's mouth, we called it quits.  She had picked up one egg which tells you how long we were there.  

 Freezing our buns off.

 Thanks Grandma Hanks for the adorable Easter dress.  

 This picture cracks me up.  She was very busy talking.

Escapades With Dad

Might I preface this post with a disclaimer.  I promise we get dressed every day and I do put headbands on the babe.  However, whenever Richard is home it is typically on the weekends or late in the evening and she has had enough of regular clothes and something on her head.  Moving on.

These two are little buddies.  I swear every time I turn around the hubby and Henley are attempting a new trick, a dance move, somewhere new in the apartment to sit, etc.  She goes along with it like a champ and is as content as can be.  Below are a few examples.  (All events were highly supervised).   

Twinners.  They look so much alike.  He ruled the gene pool with this child.  PS...loving 3rd year of podiatry school.  I have seen him more this year than the other two years combined.  

 Let's just see if she fits in the diaper bag.  In case of an emergency.

 Giving kisses

 She is ready to bring her A game.  I can just see her saying "Bring it on."  Skills to pay the bills.

 Rolling around in the office chair

 Got out of the shower one night and Rich was putting her on top of the fridge.  Just because.  

 Their most favorite trick of all.  Quite masterful.

And sometimes she likes me too.

Blessing Day...Back in December

Clear back in December we blessed Henley while visiting Utah so all of our family and friends could be there.  I am just real slow on the blogging front.  It was an amazing day and Richard did such a good job on the blessing.  He was extremely nervous and I can't blame him.  I have no shame is saying that I am soooooo relieved that I didn't have to do the blessing. My only job was to make Henley look cute which I could do. 

The day was extremely hectic and I didn't really get any pictures that I liked.  Trust me, my first choice of a family photo wouldn't be in front of an ugly pantry door, but I'll take what I can get and that's all we got.

She looked very cute thanks to Melinda for finding her dress at Gap and for my friend Jackie for making a headband to die for.

 Even the tights can't contain some of the thigh rolls.  Love it!

We tried to get a Hanks family photo that day for a Christmas card...I would say it was a major fail.  I look GIGANTIC compared to everyone else.  Not to mention a little Cruela Devil thing going on.  Also there are some really red faces in this picture.  Basically, we look bad.  Next year Mom.  

Adventures in Iowa

We have been busy out here in old Iowa.  Rich's schedule has been much lighter this semester.  Hallelujah!!  We are trying to eat at all of our favorite restaurants before we move (yes it has already been 3 years...we can't believe it).  So we hit up Zombie burger.  Super filling and fattening.  Just our kind of place.  Rich ordered the Trailer Trash Burger which had an egg on it and fries.  I can't remember the name of mine but it had all sorts of ooey gooey blue cheese on it.  Divine!

Below is Henley before feeding time.  The girl gets just as excited as her mom about food.  Basically the only thing I passed on to her.  Awesome.

Cosmic bowling.  The scores show how terrible we are.  My first 5 bowls went straight into the gutter. The system gave me one pin though on the first bowl probably because it felt bad for me.  The cosmic lights were a little much for Henley.  She was whizzing her head around so much at one point, I thought it might pop off.

For Valentine's Day we hit up Cheesecake Factory.  I can't get enough of that place and their Chicken Di Pana.  Henley and Richard were dream dates.

We went with a few friends to the YMCA and Henley got to sport her new flamingo swimsuit.  Probably the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Henley's V-Day outfits below.  She was smiles all day until I turned the camera on.  Then it was all stares and blank faces.  

Christmas In A Nut Shell

• We weren't planning on going home for Christmas this year.  Had a baby.  Made it happen.  Three weeks of awesomeness in Utah.
• Visited the Hanks' first.  Niccole finally meets Henley.
• Hanks' white elephant party.  Always some good inappropriate gifts brought.
• Rich's Christmas Eve flight was cancelled due to a "sick" crew member.  Lots of tears from an emotional wife.  
• Mustache growing contest...you can't see Rich's mustache in any pictures.  Next year they will have to do a neck beard contest so he can actually participate.
• Christmas Eve: lots of food, games, ping pong competition and more food
• Christmas Day: split between Hanks'/Bell's - tons of gifts and the whole side of the Bell's met the babe.  It was a little stressful for me, however Henley handled it like a champ.  Favorite gift was some clip in bangs believe it or not - I still can't figure out how to make them look cute in my hair.
• Swimming and sledding multiple times
• Henley's blessing (I'll post more about that later)
• New Year's chaos at the Bell's.  I had a really hard time staying awake until midnight.  Apparently I'm 80 years old.
• Ombre'd/melt my hair.  Still unsure if I like it and I don't have a good picture of it because I'm stubborn.
• Colds and the flu.  Not a Utah trip without it.
• Loved every minute of it.  Bitter sweet leaving Utah behind and heading back to Iowa.

A Month of Firsts

 First time looking like a Kardashian baby in her leopard print.

 First time experiencing snow.  She wasn't sure what to think of it.

 This picture really isn't a first since she is constantly drooling.  Just a really cute picture.

First and last time falling asleep by the Christmas tree.  She usually ended up talking to the tree and laughing.  They had a hilarious and special relationship.  

 First time to see Santa Claus which she was indifferent/unimpressed with.  She kinda blends in with Santa's shirt.  Who knew he would be wearing a long sleeved Christmas shirt from Walmart?  What happened to the red soft coat with white fur on the sleeves?!

 First time she was pleasant after putting her in the "straight jacket" before bedtime.

First time she realized her voice was making the loud screaming noise.  Ever since then it is hard to get her to stop babbling.