MamaBlogga

Saturday was Hayden’s first birthday. Oddly enough, we didn’t get all introspective, or look at his baby pictures, or marvel how much he’s grown (so much). My mom did say, “Just be glad it’s not last year”—and I am (two words: spinal headache!). Plus, I don’t have to go through last year again. There were good times, of course, but it was a lot of work.

So while his birthday was a milestone, of course, it wasn’t like a “turning point.” I’ve been surprised to find that nearly every milestone in my life isn’t marked by a huge change (the one exception: becoming a mother was an enormous, instantaneous change!). As I remarked to one of the moms at the party, “It’s almost as if he’s been working up to this day every day of his whole life—as if he were only one day older than he was yesterday!” Life slips away so gradually.

Anyway, now for some pictures from Hayden’s birthday party!

Intrigued by his birthday banner! (This is actually after the party, but I thought it should be first!)

We decided not to torture him with a party hat, so he got this cute pin instead. (I pinned it on the shirt before dressing him; no pin pricks for either of us!)

With Uncle Sean and Jess’s present. (He liked the hangers the best, of course.) We opened presents throughout the party; it gave Hayden time to play with them and enjoy each one.

Let him eat cake. Aunt Jaime likes feeding him cake. He likes eating the frosting. He wasn’t very interested in cake. Probably because Aunt Jaime spoiled him on cake last week.

One of the baby guests: Miss Sadie. Like Hayden, she has excellent table manners.

Hayden with Nana & Grandpa McCollum’s gift: an adorable set of percussion instruments. I think they hate us . In the background, the other baby guest, Ethan, who is kind-of-but-not-really-related to us. (Long story made short: Ethan’s uncle is married to Hayden’s aunt.)

I haven’t had enough pictures up here lately. The rest of the week I’ll post pictures of Hayden playing with his gifts and his latest antics. And yes, I’ll try to get the video from the party online. No promises.

Last note: “Hayden and the new baby” is featured this week in the Carnival of Family Life #40.

I’m trying to stop calling Hayden “baby.” He’ll be a big boy this week. Besides, seeing him next to Landon, he’s clearly not a baby anymore.

It’s tough, though. “Big boy” doesn’t work as well for a lot of things. Just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

But he is a big boy. See:

He thinks he’s daddy with daddy’s phone and keys. I’m off to work, Mama! Too soon, too soon.

A few weeks ago, Ryan and I became concerned that Hayden doesn’t know his name. It could be that he doesn’t respond because he’s far more interested in whatever he’s playing with. Or it could be that we often call him by pet and nicknames.

The giant list of things we call Hayden other than his name (I came up with 51. Obviously some of them are circumstantial. (Note a young Hayden’s blank stare.)

• baby
• big boy
• boo
• booka
• booky
• bug
• bugga
• buggle
• crawlin’ guy
• grump pot
• Hayden Rossy
• Haydie
• Haydie baby
• little bug
• little guy
• little man
• little mister
• little one
• love bug
• misser
• mister
• mister boo
• nakers
• nakey
• nakey boy
• nursey boy
• pee
• peeka
• poo
• pooka
• pookely
• pookelypookelypoo
• pooker
• pookiepookiepoo
• pooky
• pooper
• poopie
• punkin
• punkin head
• punky
• small one
• standin’ up guy
• stink pot
• stinker
• stinker bug
• stinker pot
• stinky
• super duper pooper
• sweet baby
• sweetie
• sweetie pea

No wonder the kid’s confused!

(”Mr. Dobolina, Mr. Bob Dobolina” is a line from the Monkees song, “Zilch.”)

As promised, Christmas photos:

We call him “Mr. Quackers.”
The duck puppet, not the baby.

Work it, dahlink.

Delicious. (del.icio.us?)

Take the picture already, Ma!

The ball was a gift from Santa, too. I like his “little young man” outfit here (and the one on Christmas, too).

Okay, okay, I know that word means ‘delicious’ or ‘attractive.’ But come on, no other word sounds more appropriate for this timely (taken this morning) photo:

So what, you say? Look closer:

HAYDEN HAS HUGE TEETH!!!!

Coming soon, I promise: photos from San Diego including Christmas and the San Diego Zoo, and a response to Lindsey’s blog tag (even though when I last saw this meme you were only supposed to tag 5 people!).

I just realized that Hayden is eleven months old today… Happy eleven month day, little one!

Isn’t it funny how much your perception of your child changes over time? I thought he was the cutest baby when he was born. I thought he looked quite human-like. Wait… he is and he did. Nix the changing perception part.

Y’know how newborns can’t perceive that they’re distinct people from their mothers? It works in reverse, too, I think: mothers usually expect babies to be a.) just like themselves, b.) just like their (the babies’) fathers, or c.) both. That isn’t always the case.

I am reminded of this every time we’re out in public and Hayden is smiling at everyone he sees. Now that he’s started waving (which I think I still haven’t captured on video), he makes friends with strangers on a regular basis. Luckily, he hasn’t yet strayed from my or Ryan’s arms, but Hayden has absolutely NO stranger anxiety. I, on the other hand, don’t care for crowds or strangers.

He might grow out of it. But he just might grow up into his own person after all.