Christmas morning!

Guess who's been good! Hazel! Hagen? Questionable. He has been good for the most part! Well, now that I think about it Hazel is questionable too...but getting better.

Here is sweet Hazo lounging around in her PJ's checking out her loot!

She got a car!!! She loved it. Her favorite toy by far was the mirror that you prop up on the floor. So cute to see her checking herself out!

Hagen gave us a present of sleeping until 8:30! I have to check but I think he did it last year too! It was nice. Ryan, Hazel, and I were up and we put the music on, got the camera ready, fed our horse dog, and just waited for him to awake!

He got a bike, more train tracks, a hand held video game, 4 talking dinosaurs (from the show Dinosaur Train), lots of play food and plates, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, a puzzle, Cars Memory, etc. He went straight for his stocking though because he knows Santa leaves candy in there. Gummy Lightning Bugs! Who says we don't prepare healthy breakfasts in this house...

He was so excited. Christmas is so fun with a toddler! He was SO ready for bed last night he hurried up to brush teeth, etc. It was fabulous! We set out reindeer food, put Santa's cookies out, and cleaned up our toys so Santa would have room to put things!

I had to make reminders to put Kirby (Elf on the shelf) away, stuff his stocking (always forget that one), eat cookies (usually this is not an issue but this year they were kinda gross looking as a 2 & 3 year old made them), etc. It was so fun!

This is the photo of Hagen when he first came in...doesn't he look big and old? :( Boo...he is growing up so fast.

Tata,

Carrie

Christmas Eve at Nana's!

What we do since we have all our family in the same area is do Christmas Eve at one parents house and Christmas Day with the other. Then the next year we switch! It is nice to not have to rush around Christmas morning to hurry to one house and then hurry and leave to get to the other's! This year Christmas Eve was with Ryan's Mom (Nana). Here are my two angels with Nana!
Nana got Hazel a doll...she loves soft things. I have a fuzzy robe that she loves to cuddle up in. The doll below was soft and she just grabbed on and hugged. It was SO cute!!

Here is the family on Christmas Eve...Hagen does not cooperate anymore. We have to say "Don't smile Hagen" and usually he will smile but not this night...he was done.

We had a wonderful dinner of Chicken and Green Olive crepes...so good! Hazel misbehaves after 6:00 or so and ends our nights early now. But on Christmas Eve and Christmas she behaved! Hagen got a basketball hoop, a truck, lots of military planes, books, clothes, etc. He was happy!

There was one incident that had to be taken care of. Hagen had asked Santa for a talking dinosaur for Christmas. It was all he asked for. I found one and it was perfect! Well, Nana got him the same thing. I saw it a week before Christmas. I told Ryan he had to break the news to her that I got one and she needed to return hers because it HAS to come from Santa...no exceptions. So she did...crisis averted. I would have been so upset if I didn't know about it beforehand and he opened it on Christmas Eve!

Next year we are going to figure out what we want to do for Christmas as far as giving some from us, and some from Santa. This year all the gifts were set out from Santa. We need some ideas!!

Here I am with my two dolls...Hazel is also sticking her tongue out...nice.

Tata,

Carrie

Cookie decorating and gingerbread house

Well, it wouldn't be the holidays unless a major appliance busted. In this case it was the oven! Perfect! I was preheating the oven to make a nutritious meal of fish sticks and Ryan noticed a glowing fire (picture a soldering iron) in the oven. The coil burnt through so it was not as major as I thought. It could have been bad but we just had to replace a part. Since it broke I got out of baking sugar cookies this year! That's not bad! Hagen had to get his tools out to help Ryan out...big helper I tell you...
Hazel is not sleeping as well as I previously posted. It was short lived. BUT she eats fast and goes back to sleep easy. Also during the day I can now put her in a swing or bouncy chair instead of holding her all day long. She got a mirror from Santa for the floor and she is in love with her profile. She can spend all day checking herself out. She will be 8 weeks tomorrow and is now smiling at us! LOVE IT! Have yet to get it on camera!

Ryan got a gingerbread house. It was a total disaster...20 minutes from the time it was out of the box to the trash. We got it all done and it collapsed. Hagen would have eaten the whole gross thing if we let him...had to pitch it!

Noah had us over for dinner and decorating cookies for Santa! Pia got the boys Christmas PJ's and they fought over who got what. So they each got the top to one and the bottoms to the other...happy as clams. I think they ate more icing that night then their whole lives combined...and that's alot!

We managed to get a kid photo with no whining! It was easy though because they hadn't decorated cookies yet, so a bribe was laid out and they took the bait. Hazel still has enormous eye balls...Noah did too so she may have beautiful big eyes like him! Cute... Emily is sporting Hazel's bow. She looked ridiculous in it...Emily loves her some bows so we lent it to her . She looked darling.

I have a few more posts to do before the end of the year. I start work on Monday...can't believe it. Hazel will be 8 1/2 weeks old. It feels very weird to me, but I'm ready. I just hope I am really ready because Ryan leaves Sunday night for a week...boo!!

Tata,

Carrie

Just opening up...

...I'm kinda down. The thought of going back to work is really making me sad. Let me first say it is not an option. Financially we need my paycheck. Plus I have a fabulous working situation with it being part-time, having benefits for me and the kids, and making pretty good money.

With Hagen I was in a very dark hole with PPD and I just knew that it was best for both of us if I returned to work. I was extremely stressed and felt lost. He was SUCH a good baby...it was almost like he knew that I needed him to easy so that I could take the best care of him. He hardly cried...he was a great sleeper, and just good.

Hazel is pretty good too just more demanding of me. BUT I am so in love with her! Breastfeeding is going very well, she is flipping cute as she can be, she has BIG eyes, etc. The night time is still a bit rough but is improving. When I said she was sleeping for 8 hours at night it was for a few nights...I jinxed it. BUT she eats fast and goes back to sleep so it is still good.

I trust where she is going to go while at work...they have told me that they will take big brother to go "check" on her throughout the day for the first week or so. They said it helps him make him feel like he is doing his big brother duties.

My Mom offered to keep her until she is a bit older (she will be 8 weeks old...yikes) but I am going to just put her in school. They can work on getting her on a schedule etc. and are very easy to work with...so accommodating. Plus I want to keep Mom rested for when I REALLY need her...like if someone is sick so that she can watch them and I don't have to use my time off.

So January 3rd it is...Ryan will be out of town that week so I am jumping in feet first and going with it.

Just had to "talk" about it... :(

Carrie

Christmas party, outings and sweet baby!

Hello! Alot going on in the Darney casa... Sweet Hazel is continuing to sleep better. She now wakes up once a night. The longest she has gone is 9 hours! She goes to bed early (around 6-7) and gets up between 3:00 - 4:00. She also is SMILING! Not consistently but every morning this week she is a happy girl and shows us her little gums. It is adorable. Not sure if her dimple will be that visible. You see it sometimes but most of the time you don't. We tried the bumbo seat...still a bit little for it and she is not really a fan.

Hagen is very interested in the breast pump. He is my cheering section and when I'm done always asks, "How many pumps Mom?" He has heard Ryan ask how many ounces and has turned the words around.
Noah spent the night with us on Thursday since it was Adam's work party. The boys played around in bed for an hour and then went off to sleep. The following night Hagen stayed at Noah's house. The sweetest thing is that they fell asleep holding hands. How adorable is that?! I'll try to get a picture to show. It is so sweet! They love each other. BUT they are fighting more and more...about toys, what cup they get, etc. Hagen is bossing quite a bit and Noah is starting to fight back. One thing that Hagen has picked up is shooting pretend guns and telling people they are dead...not very happy about that one. My brother said he pretended to shoot one of Santa's reindeer at his house...nice.

Ryan's company party was Friday night at Maggiano's. My parents kept the little lady for a few hours so Ryan and I could go. Pia got to see just how much of a handful Hazel is to put to sleep. BUT she didn't mind because she got to hold her while she slept for a few hours. Good thing she is cute. At Ryan's party I had 1 glass of Chardonnay...and woke up feeling like crap. I have lost it. I use to be able to drink alot more than that...not anymore. I was dragging on Saturday.

Saturday we went to Grapevine to ride the North Pole Express! It is like the Polar Express! It was so neat...we walked through a maze of Christmas trees while snow (bubbles) blew around. On the train a conductor came around and punched our tickets and then Santa came by to say hi! The boys were in awe...we dressed them like twins...we never do that but thought it would be cute! I love the photo above of Hagen shaking Santa's hand...Noah was mesmerized!

Hazel even got her turn with Santa! Look at that little chub. She is not a fatty at all but compared to Hagen she has some meat on her bones. Love it! We went to get cupcakes afterwards and walk around. It was such a nice day! Love that Adam lives so close and the kids can grow up together.

I did figure out that I will be starting back to work on January 3rd...it is earlier that I had hoped for but it's OK. I am just not mentally prepared to go back. I will be but just kinda panicking a bit. Dr. upped my meds a bit...I'm very anxious. I will be fine once I have a new normal set. It's just getting to that new normal part that freaks me out! Things I don't have to worry about? I like my company and what I do, I like Hagen's school and Hazel will be there, and I only work till 3:00 most days. Parts I don't like? Ryan going out of town...boo! BUT we will make it through this

Today I took Hagen on a date to see the new Yogi Bear movie...it was terrible but it was good for us to spend some quality time together. We came home and napped and then decorated a gingerbread house! The time it was out of the box and into the trash was 20 minutes. It was a total disaster. Lesson learned. I'll use graham crackers next time!

Ryan and I got in the attic to check out Hagen's baby toys. We are cleaning them up to put out for Hazel from Santa. I can not imagine buying all those plastic ring toys, etc. again and Hagen's are in good shape. MONEY SAVED...amen...

Lots to do this week...bake cookies for decorating at Adam's on Wednesday, call the electrician to fix (maybe replace) the oven, shop in downtown McKinney, Doctor on Thursday, Christmas Even and Christmas. Should be a fun week and then Ryan is off all next week! Woo Hoo!

Love,

Carrie

Random of "what's going on" in the Darney house!

Hi world! We're alive...I've just been focusing on things and trying to prepare for the next journey which is going back to work! I will be ready...I'm not nervous...it's more of I just want to get in a place where I have a set schedule and everyone is happy go lucky! Well, as happy as I can make it. It doesn't have to be perfect.

The thing is I don't know when I'm going back. I'm working with the maternity leave company we go through and it is a butt load of paperwork. I may start as early as the first week in January...I thought I had until the 2nd or 3rd week in January. Panic kinda set in...

With Hagen I started when he was 10 weeks...but that was no maternity leave.

Below is Ryan's view of life with 2! Cute huh?!
Hazel will be 6 weeks on Thursday...I have my 6 week doctor appointment (ba chicka ba ba...) on Thursday also. I hope to get things back to normal if you know what I mean. To have that piece of normalcy in life is nice. Ryan has been doing so much to make sure my life is as easy as possible. He gave me a spa day at Stonebriar Spa last night...1 hour massage, 1 hour facial, and 1 hour pedicure. SO sweet and SO appreciated! Problem? Hazel is attached to me and I am to her. BF'ing tends to make you not be able to get away. BUT I am going to!

Sweet baby below having some play time on her activity mat...

Yesterday my friends Andrea, Katie, and Jodi threw me a sip and see. They wanted to throw me a shower and I was adamant about not wanting one. I didn't need that much so I felt kinda greedy. I don't mind going to other people's showers for 2nd or 3rd kids...I'm just personally uncomfortable with it.

There were 23 ladies there and I felt SO loved! Hazel was good and was fine with being passed around. There were girls from high school and some of their Mom's. It was at Andrea's house and she had it all decorated for the holidays...it was beautiful!! Like Allison...she can decorate like no other!!

Check out Hazo's big eye balls...she always looks surprised.

Hagen is continuing to warm up to her. She was crying when we got him from school one day and he said, "It's OK Hazo...Big Brother is here" and then proceeded to let her watch Calliou with him as pictured below...OK...so it only lasted 3.4 minutes but I had the camera ready!

I've been pumping to save up for work so Ryan has been able to feed her some bottles! She is doing very well with either so that is one thing that I don't have to worry about. Now if she would only take a paci...that would be fabulous!

Doesn't she look like "too tall Jones" below? Daddy long legs? She doesn't crunch up like most little babies...she is all laid out.

Onto some random thoughts:

1. I sent Ryan to the store to get some cupcake mix so Hagen and I could bake together. Ryan stood in the cake aisle for a long time and finally had to ask a lady where the cupcake mix is. She had to inform him that cake mix is the same as cupcake mix. Moron...

2. The other day Hazel took a 3 hour nap in her swing! I did laundry, wrapped gifts, switched my closet, did a toy and book audit, and ate...it was a GREAT time to get things done and so happy she cooperated!

3. We have been making Hazel cry it out. She goes to bed around 6:00 or 6:30...she cries for about 5 minutes and falls asleep. Last night she slept until 2...that is almost 8 hours! WOO freaking HOO!!

4. Sista is getting the boot. She has been sleeping on Ryan's side of the bed. Daddy needs to move back in so Hazel is now in a pack and play...napping. They say it is not that the baby wants to stay...it's more of the mom/parent. I can see that so we are breaking her like a wild stallion this week!

5. Hagen is just adorable. He has alot of pent up energy lately though. Not terrible, but just a bit crazy. BUT there are worse things. I'm just happy to have 2 healthy happy kids (I think they are happy). Sometimes you just have to remind yourself that we all have off days. I think of this often.

6. With the holidays being here my older brother is on my mind alot lately. Not sure if all of you know but I have an older brother in Allen. He married a monster and she has succeeded at pulling him away from his family. It has been 3 1/2 years since I have seen him and they have only met Hagen once. He didn't know I was pregnant and I sent a birth announcement last week. I wonder if he even cares...or if she threw it away and he doesn't know...or if he is hurting. I'm so angry at him for letting her do this to our family ...BUT I feel good in knowing that I did everything I could do to salvage any kind of relationship with them. I sleep good at night knowing that I have done so...

7. I MUST finish shopping! I feel so behind!!!

8. Allison, I hope you don't think I am ignoring you. I do want my shades. I just feel like a total hermit lately and the thought of anyone coming into my mess of a house makes me want to hurl...BUT it's really not that bad and will be contacting you to come squeeze the babe...oh and squeeze Hazo too if you want.

Tata,

Carrie

Our weekend and the first bath with brother

Hello everyone! Well, the few people out there that read. Ha! Hagen and Hazel took their first bath together and no one drowned! Wow! Hazel quickly outgrew her tub and our sweet cleaning people got her a baby tub lounger. It is GREAT! It sits up higher so that the water is deep enough for Hagen but not for Hazo. She loves her bath...not getting out but being in it.
Hagen has nominated himself as resident hair washer. he likes to wash her long mullet. She doesn't mind. Also, before she was born Hagen picked out a duck for her and one for himself. You can see him trying to play with her. She isn't really interested.

It is Monday at noon right now and I just made Hazel cry it out a bit. It was horrible. It lasted 5 minutes and then I went to pick her up and she was immediately asleep. She is a bit difficult. SO cute and sweet, but I am having a very hard time trying to figure her out. Time will tell and things will be great and fine but it is a bit hard right now.

Saturday morning we had our family photos taken! The same girl that did them last year. She is in Mansfield and LOVE.HER. She comes to your area. She focuses on outdoor shots. She charges $200 but you get all of the photos on a disc. She will send them to you and you pick out the ones you want her to edit and then she sends them. Let me know if you need her contact info! I gave my brother a photo shoot for their 2nd baby gift. They had alot of things and didn't need much so I thought a photo shoot to use whenever was good...

Our photo shoot was in Downtown McKinney. It was windy so I'm sure I look like Medusa in them. Hazel and Hagen were GREAT! Hazel even let us lay her in a pile of leaves and just snoozed away. I will say that we had the blowout of ALL blowouts. We kept doing photos to hurry and finish. Well, it was so bad that it went up the side of her diaper and into her armpit! Man alive...it was crazy! We got her cleaned up and went to Spoons for breakfast. Pancakes and bacon for Hagen and I...it was WONDERFUL! We never go out for breakfast but it was so fun and I want to do it more often! I love me some pancakes!

Saturday night we had my company's holiday party! I know I have talked about how great my company is...well the parties are even better. They are all family events so the whole family attends. No babysitters, etc. They hire girls to come and entertain the kiddos with arts and crafts, we sing Christmas carols and you bring your instruments if you want, Santa comes and brings each kiddo a gift, we have a great dinner (special food for kids), we have a DJ with fun games, open bar, etc. Plus we can wear jeans! It is truly so comfortable...

This year Hagen was so excited! Santa came in and Hagen immediately looked at Ryan and said, "that's not the same Santa from the mall?!?" and then followed it up with "Let's go find his reindeer". He was totally calling our bluff. He is so smart.

Last night I put Hazel to bed at 7:00...that is her "I'm done" time. Well, Ryan heard her crying and went in there to rock her and turned the game on in the bedroom. Well I went in to check on them a bit later and Ryan was on the bed with her and they were talking. I heard her first real "coo"...it was aimed at her Daddy and was the sweetest sound! She just stares at him...loves him. Me? She looks at me and is like "whip out the boob lady"...she treats me like a piece of meat...so insulting.

That's all I got! Filing for maternity benefits, making spaghetti sauce (thanks Coco), making a shopping list for Christmas (because I suck and am SO behind), doing laundry, etc.

Hazel is a month old! Holy moly!

Tata,

Carrie