Hayden

On Christmas Eve, my nephew turned ten months old. I really cannot believe he’ll be a year old in less than two months. It’s so close that we’re starting to plan his first birthday party.

Ready for the candlelight service at church. Look at that hair!

He came to my house for the first time since he was born. (Well, he has come in the past, but it was for short visits, and it was when he was still very tiny.) Our house isn’t baby-proof and I wasn’t sure how the cats would react around him, but my sister and Hayden came over for a day, and I think they had a good time. Mostly, the cats seemed scared, and Hayden was okay with the cats as long as he could see them. As soon as they were out of sight, he started crying (until he forgot about them).

Since this was his first Christmas, my parents bought him a bunch of toys, and he loves every one of them! Husband and I gave him a sit-to-stand walker and some clothes. (Next Christmas, he’ll be almost two, so I think he’ll have a better understanding then.) He really likes the walker! He started running with it as soon as we set it up, but I think he gets ahead of himself a bit. Luckily, the front of the walker also comes off to sit on the floor, so he can still play with it while sitting.

Christmas Day! (He didn't want to let go of the handle for the walker I gave him.)

I feel like he has grown so much in just the past week. He now has six teeth and one or two more coming in. (Only two are on the bottom–the rest are up top.) He started standing on his own this weekend and even took a couple steps (!) so I have a feeling he may be walking before his first birthday. It’s sort of bittersweet. I’m looking forward to when he can run and jump into my arms when he sees me, but I love the stage he is at now.

Hayden & Mommy -- the day after Christmas. (My sister is wearing a headband I made!)

When I walked into their house yesterday, as soon as he saw me, he started saying “Muh! Muh! Muh!” (his name for me) and reaching for me. I seriously love those moments.

P.S. I may be getting a carseat specifically for my car in January. Any suggestions for a safe, convertible carseat?

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Remember the last time I posted an update on my nephew, Hayden? He was five months old. Can you believe that he will be TEN MONTHS OLD on Christmas Eve? I mean, seriously, how fast has the time gone? Remember when he was born? I can’t believe all of that happened nearly ten months ago. At the same time, I feel like he has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It really is a special bond, and I never imagined I could love someone in such a way.

Since the last update, Hayden has grown so much. He crawls now, and he even pulls himself to a standing or sitting position (though he can’t stand without holding onto something yet). He has four teeth (and more coming in). He is starting to really converse with us. He copies what we say, and he now says, “choo choo” (for the trains that go by behind their house); thank you, though it’s more like “tank oo.” He calls me “Muh.” (Everyone calls me “Aunt Merr” for him, so he’s picked it by calling me “muh.”) He yells for his momma; he laughs all the time; and he loves Olivia the pig.

My sister is still breastfeeding, but Hayden also eats a variety of baby foods. He also eats “big people” food like mashed potatoes. My parents even bought a blender so he can have even more homemade food. I still cant tell what color his hair will be (sometimes, it looks blonde, and other days, it looks reddish or darker), but it looks like his blue eyes are here to stay! (My sister has blue eyes. My brother, my dad, and I also have blue eyes.)

I love buying gifts for my family at Christmas, but I’m even more excited about buying gifts for Hayden this year. Since he’ll only be ten months old, I’m only buying a couple toys. Most of his gifts from me will be cute, little clothes. For toys, I bought him a sit-to-stand v-tech learning walker and I’m hoping to get him some stackable blocks and maybe a few books that we can read to him.

I’m so grateful that I live just fifteen minutes from him. I try to visit several times a week, but even if I don’t see him for a few days, I feel like I’ve missed so many changes. It’s always fun to see his excitement when he sees me walk through the door, though. He squeels and reaches for me, and his big grin can make any day (good or bad) one hundred times better.

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My nephew’s personality is seriously exploding lately. He is probably the funniest person I know, and I don’t even think he realizes it. He makes silly faces and he copies the faces we make. He does fake coughs and then giggles about it. He is so in love with his momma (he’s looking at her in most of these pictures), and he thinks she’s the funniest person he knows.

When I visit (which is as often as I possibly can), he’s often taking a nap. As soon as I see movement, I make my way to him, and he looks up at me with his big, blue eyes as a huge grin spreads across his face. He kicks his feet and throws his arms in the air for me to pick him up. I love that he recognizes who I am, and that I can see his love for me. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen–the love a baby can feel for a person.

He’s constantly rolling over now. He rolled over when he was four months old, but he only did it once or twice. After a couple weeks, he finally rolled over again, and he’s been rolling over since. He does it with ease now. He’s also putting everything in his mouth. His fingers, his toes, his rattles, our shoulders. He drools like crazy, and I think he has some teeth ready to come through his tiny gums. (I’m so used to his gummy smile–I can’t imagine how his toothy smile will look!)

Sometimes, I can’t get over how much he still looks like a baby. I’m often taken by surprise, though, at just how grown up he can look. Even at just five months old, I think, how is it possible that he is so grown up? When I hold him I tell him that I won’t be able to hold him much longer because he’s getting so big. Then I pause for a moment and say, Nah, I’ll be holding you until your twenty and older if possible. and he grins and giggles as if he understands.

When I’m holding him or rocking him to sleep, I sing or hum “You Are My Sunshine” until his eyes close. I tell him about my Granny and Pawpaw (his great-grandparents). I tell him that if Pawpaw were alive, he would tickle Hayden until his sides were sore. I tell him that if Granny were alive, she would sing to him and throw him surprise birthday parties that only include him and her. If they were alive, they would always just be a phonecall away and would probably be by his side in a heartbeat if he asked. Since they aren’t here, I’m going to be all of that for him. I’m going to tickle him until his sides hurt; I’m going to sing to him and throw surprise parties. I’m going to be just a phonecall away, and I’m going to always be there in a heartbeat when he asks, because honestly–the love I have for this baby is more than I could have ever imagined.

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