Happy Birthday Eli

Happy Birthday to the very best cousin and nephew in the world! We LOVE you so much Eli and are so excited to celebrate this day with you.

Lillian @ The Park

The weather was SO nice yesterday that Lillian and I just had to take advantage of it so we headed to the park. There were a bunch of bigger kids on the playground and Lillian pretty much spent the whole time following them around trying so hard to get in on whatever "big kid" game they were playing. These days Lillian can handle any obstacle that the playground can throw at her. She no longer reaches for my hand to go down the slide or to climb the stairs. She doesn't need my gentle reminders to slow down when running down the ramp or to watch out for the bigger kids swinging. While her physical development and independence is a HUGE milestone in her own life, for me it often feels like a painful reminder of just how quickly she is growing up. But I can honestly say that I am very proud of the little girl that she is becoming. Lillian is kind, compassionate and very nurturing; just ask her cousin Eli. She is spunky and energetic and there is seldom a moment when she is not getting into something. I like to say that she has her Mommy's spirit and her Daddy's kind heart. I can't help but to look at her a feel incredibly blessed. God has given Shaun and I more than we could ask for and way more than we could ever deserve. Getting to spend these cool Fall days running around a park with my little girl is just the icing on the cake.

getting SO big...

always on the go...

Shaun Throwing Lillian

At the Park With Eli

Today Alli and I went to Kid's Market on Lakeshore and then went to pick Lillian up at PDO. She was so excited to get in the car and see Aunt Alli and Eli where with me. On the way back to drop Alli and Eli off we made a quick pit stop at this great park that is right beside their house. Lillian and Eli had a blast playing together, and of course a trip to the park always makes for a great afternoon nap!

giving Eli kisses

Lillian goes crazy over this swing

Lillian and Daddy's McWane Adventure

While I have been sick and in bed, Daddy and Lillian have been going on one fun adventure after another. On Monday Shaun took Lillian to the McWane center, and when I called to check in on them I was not sure who was having more fun; Shaun or Lillian? Of course I reminded Shaun to take LOTS of pictures so I could blog their outing and like always most of the pictures were of the back of Lillian's head! It is so hard to get a decent picture of this child; she is just always on the go! Both Shaun and Lillian must have had a really good time, because after they got home both of them took at pretty good nap.

In My Daddy's Shoes

Random Pics

I was going through our camera today and found some pictures that I never got around to blogging. So I thought that I would share them..

This was from last week when Lillian was sick...

it was weird because she never just lays around.

look at that crazy hair!

@homewood park- one of our FAVORITE places.

on her way to Mother's Day Out...

golfing with Daddy @ McWane

always trying to go through people's purses

Mommy Has Been Quarantined

This past Friday I was feeling pretty bad when I woke-up, but I just figured that I had a virus or some bug. It finally got to the point that I was so sick that I couldn't watch Lillian anymore and had to call Shaun to come home from work. Alli ended up coming over with Eli to watch Lillian so that Shaun could take me to the doctor- yes it was that bad that I couldn't even drive. Turned out I not only had Swine Flu but also pneumonia. Dr. Weisberg told me that there was no way that I could be around Lillian for the next few days. Not because he was worried about her getting the flu, but because the particular stand of pneumonia that I had was so dangerous for a child her age. He told Shaun and I that "maybe Monday" I could be around her again. He did go ahead and prescribe Tamiflu for both Shaun and Lillian just to be safe. Between feeling so sick and knowing that I could not see my little girl for three days, I just broke down. I don't think that I have ever cried as much as I have this weekend. It is one thing to leave you child when it is your choice and you have planed it out and everything. But this was forced, and I could not even say good bye to her really. Not to mention that this is the FIRST time that she has ever spent the night or even five hours away from Shaun or I. Thank God I have Alli and Korey who I trust more than anything. And who I know love my Lillian like she was their very own.

Alli and Korey are so sweet, and they even went out on Friday and bought a web cam so that we could Skype each other and I would be able to see Lillian. Shaun has been going over to Alli and Korey's so that he can spend time with her and even put her down for bed Friday night and then again for her afternoon nap today. It is times like these that Shaun reminds me of just how dedicated he is to "his" little girl. We live 30 minutes away from Alli and Korey and I know that it be much "easier" for him to just say, " we will see you Sunday or Monday Lillian" and then stay home with me. But Shaun has gone back a forth a few times to check on Lillian and to spend time with her. When he came home today I made him tell me every detail of every second he spent with her. I just miss her SO, SO, SO much and hate being away from her. Our home seems empty without her here. But I only have to be quarantined for a few days so I know she will be home soon. And until then I am just thanking God for Skype!

Our Little Girl's First Day of School!!

Lillian's first day of school is in the books... and she did fantastic. Melissa did well too. We dropped her off a little after the drop-off time so that we could walk her in. Otherwise, they take her from your car, and we thought that would be too traumatizing for our little angel sent from Heaven. Anyway, we dropped her off and she started to cry, so we just turned around and left hoping she would calm down soon. We thought that staying a little to calm her down would make it worse for her when we did leave. Melissa was upset, and the teacher noticed. She called us about 20 minutes later to let us know that Lillian perked right up shortly after we left and was playing with her new friend Winn. This was just what Melissa and I needed to hear. We decided to have a fun lunch date, so we went to Vestavia Bowl for food and bowling after running a few errands. We received another call from the teacher about noon letting us know that Lillian had been doing wonderful, but she was getting a little tired and upset. So, we went ahead and picked her up early. She smiled and laughed when she saw us coming down the hall... what a little faker! Anyways, the teachers said she did wonderful, especially for a first day. Her report for the day is below. Click on it to make it larger so that you can read all of the wonderful things that Lillian's teachers had to say about her and her first day!!

Lillian, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and LOVE you more than you will ever know! You are one of God's greatest gifts and we are honored to be your parents.

Football + Labor Day = One Busy Weekend

This past weekend was a very busy one for the Hays family. Saturday morning I left Shaun and Lillian sleeping and headed over to Alli and Korey's house so I could help them set up for their garage sale. Despite the rain it was actually a HUGE hit thanks to one very enthusiastic customer. Then I had to head home to get ready to go over to Meredith and Travis' house to watch the Auburn game- War Eagle! Of course Lillian and Bailey had a great time playing together, and we were sad when we had to leave at half time so that we could get Lillian home in time for bed. Sunday we had lunch at the Long's house and then went to Rooms -To- Go Kids to scope out some BIG girl furniture for Lillian. We are planning on moving her to a "big girl" bed within the next six months and just wanted to see what we could expect to be spending.

Labor Day we had my grandparents, Alli, Korey and Eli over for lunch and Shaun cooked some very yummy hamburgers. Lillian and Eli had a lot of fun playing with each other and spending time with their Great Grandparents. After everyone left Lillian was worn out -which is a rare thing- and she took a 3 hour nap!!

Oh, Lillian will also be starting her VERY FIRST day of Mother's Day Out tomorrow!! Technically she was suppose to start last Friday, but Friday morning rolled around and I just couldn't do it. I thought to myself, "I could take her to Mother's Day Out or I could continue to cuddle her on the couch and then go to the park!". Needless to say I chose the latter of the two. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to let her "go", but I have been having nightmares about carpool so who knows what will happen.

**Also on a sad note... Moxie went to live at a new home this weekend and so far everything seems to be working out. As much as we LOVED Moxie she was just to much for our family right now. A wonderful woman who teaches at Valley in Pelham took her, and she will be able to give Moxie the attention she deserves. Still, Shaun and I are both missing her right now.

our little monkey keeps us on our toes

she would not let us get her dressed after her bath...

because she didn't want us to take the towel off her head.