4 Weeks Old!

Hadley is 4 weeks old today and in 2 days (7/18/09) will be a month old! It is so amazing how fast this first month has gone by. Chris and I have really noticed Hadley growing lately. Just in the last couple days we feel like she is looking bigger and more sturdy. She has outgrown pretty much all of her newborn clothes and is now in her 0-3 month clothes. She's still in newborn diapers as of today, but I think we need to bump her up to the next size soon. She is such a good baby...a great sleeper and eater. We are getting our schedule down. She even sleeps great at night...her record so far is 7.5 hours straight! She loves her swing, which we love too! She is also able to track us with her eyes and seems to respond to our voices. We love our baby girl so much and still can't believe she is our daughter!!! Does it ever sink in?!

I took this picture of Hadley on Tuesday before we went to a baby shower that my work threw for us...isn't she so cute in her skirt? That is the first skirt she's ever worn! :)

Palouse Falls

On July 6, we decided to take our first little day trip as a family. I was really having some cabin fever and needed to venture out of the house and since Chris has 4 days off in a row right now (he's working 3-12 hour shifts), we decided it was a good time to go! We drove to Palouse Falls, which is only an hour and a half from our house. We timed it right...fed Hadley before we left, she slept the whole way and fed her when we arrived at the falls. She was a trooper and pretty much slept through it all! It was just the right length of a trip for us and really built our confidence that we can get out and about with Hadley. Chris tried out the Baby Bjorn front pack and absolutely loved holding Hadley in there. This will be the first of many trips for us as a fam!

Newborn Pics

I am slow to post these, but finally am! I am pretty much slow to do anything these days but take care of Hadley! :) We got the rest of her newborn pics and were SO happy with them...we have quite the little model on our hands! Hadley is the most precious little girl and is just getting cuter and taking up more of our hearts every day. Here are some of our favorites, but you can see all of them here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2031457&id=1248574576&l=472f58392a

4 Year Anniversary!

4 years ago today, Chris and I got married at Snoqualmie Falls. It was such an amazing day with family and friends and one we will never forget. It is hard to believe 4 years have passed already and is amazing to think about all that has happened since we've been married. We have lived in 4 different cities, owned and sold a townhouse, both have changed jobs, Chris is about to earn a 2nd Bachelor's degree, we got a dog, and we now have a daughter. I could not have asked for a better partner than I have in Chris. This year there will be no extravagant celebration, just a normal night at home together as a family, taking care of Hadley. We both agreed that we wouldn't want to be doing anything else! Life is good...we are so blessed.

Here are some pics of our wedding day...

A Big Day

Today was a big day for all of us in the Linderman house...it was Chris's first day back to work since Hadley was born two weeks ago. He works 12 hour shifts at the hospital right now, so that was 12+ hours of me taking care of Hadley all by myself! And I get to do it for the next 2 days as well! WOW is all I have to say. Any new moms out there probably got lots of advice from people before they had their baby, just like I did...one piece of advice I got while pregnant that sticks out in my mind was "Get lots of rest now because you won't get any after the baby comes!" Well, I wish it were that easy and we could store up rest...I tried my best, but I have to say I'm all out of it. :) It was a very busy day and I felt like all I really accomplished was nursing, changing diapers, changing her clothes from diaper disasters, etc., etc. We made it though, and when dad got home we ALL were happy campers! I have to say I have so much more appreciation for mothers out there...especially for my own, who's birthday is today as well! Happy B-Day mom, we love you so much!!!

It was also a big day because Hadley's umbilical cord finally fell off! We all were excited and got to try out her new bath from Grandma Holly. It is called a "Tummy Tub" and is new to the states...my mom saw it on the Today show awhile ago. It is a European thing and supposedly mimicks the womb so the babies love it. http://www.bathedwithlove.com/ We were a little nervous because it is basically just a bucket and a little awkward at first to keep a hold of Hadley's head. She didn't seem to mind at first....but then we all got a little uneasy when she yanked her head forward and her chin & mouth went under water! She is a strong little girl! We will try again sometime soon, probably in a few months when she is a bit bigger and can keep her head up on her own...

In the Tummy Tub for the first time...

All fresh and clean...without that stinky umbilical cord!

Another first...she held her pacifier for the first time!

She took it out of her mouth and held it in her hand. She is so advanced! :)

Newborn Pics Preview

Yesterday, Hadley had her first professional photo shoot! She did awesome...with the exception of peeing on both Chris and I full force multiple times in the shoot because she was buck naked. It was pretty hilarious...all we could do was laugh! We had a space heater cranked to keep her comfy, so we were smelling good covered in sweat and Hadley pee! :) Here are a few preview pics from our photographer, Brittney Kluse. She just posted these on her blog, so I had to share too! We know my fam is going to LOVE the pic of her in the PLU beanie...SO CUTE and just like the beanie Great Grandpa Frosty wore coaching football! I will post more once we get the rest. Thanks so much Brittney! http://brittneyklusephotography.blogspot.com/