Palm springs

Time for our annual trip to Palm Springs!  Grandma and Papa H own a home down there.  This is Kayda's first trip and first airplane ride.

She was an absolute champ.  I can't remember much fussing at all.  Of course she had 4 doting adults to visit on the plane.

 Getting ready for her first swim!  This little girl has had so many baths so she at least knew the feel of floating in the water.

 She loved wiggling around in the water!

 Aunt Anna, Uncle Scott and Peyton came down too.

 Look at that beautiful smile. She is so enchanting!

 She had a great time rolling around on the floor and playing with everyone.

 What's a pool without a cannon ball?

 We gave up on the little top after that first swim.

 She got so tired with all the swimming.  She fell asleep in my lap wrapped in her towel.

After Daddy got changed he took her from me... Then took a nap too.  

 Time to swim with Grandma!

 We spend a lot of time downtown in Palm Springs.

And of course she passed out in the stroller for a while.  I love how her hat sank down over her face.  Look at those pouty baby lips!

Seattle Aquarium

We went with most of Daddy's family to the Seattle Aquarium.  Kayda is so little she spent the majority of the time tucked happily into the front carrier. 

 

Kayda's First Christmas!

Considering Kayda isn't even a month old, this Christmas was pretty relaxing.  She is a pretty easy baby.  Since I'm writing this years later, I really don't know why I did black and white.  She had a beautiful complexion!  At the time our Christmases tended to be brunch at Baba's house, gift exchange with Mommy's family, and then a gift exchange with Daddy's family.  You got to see most everyone on that day!

Bringing Kayda Home and the first week

With the snow storm the day before I was incredibly anxious to get home.  We were discharged from the hospital around 5pm, not even 24 hours after you were born.  Driving with a new baby is incredibly stressful, driving with a new baby in the slush is even more so.  I probably got on Daddy's nerves pretty badly considering I was crazy paranoid that something would happen.  Fortunately, we made it home without any mishaps.

 I bought a "coming home" outfit.  It was a size newborn, tights, the dress, a little sweater.  It was all HUGE!  Regardless I dressed you up, just to bury you in cozy blankets for the drive home.

 Since people didn't get to see you at the hospital we had visitors after you were brought home.

 Peyton was a little curious.

 Kayda has three "angel kisses", they are the red marks on each eye lid and across her forehead.  They become more pronounced when she cries.  They are actually just sensitive capillaries.  She should out grown them.

 Kayda is not a hard baby, during the day.  The first night home was a challenge.  Daddy and I had no clue what to do.  I could just NOT get you to sleep.  I ended up having Grandma G come help me after that first night, I was so exhausted and overwhelmed.

 I've changed diapers before.  I babysat plenty of times.  They were always on older babies though.  Changing the diaper of a newborn, with a healing umbilical cord is pretty intimidating.

Of course, we had to go show her off at Daddy's work.  She was super cooperative since she isn't a fussy baby. 

 Kayda is quite happy to be in anyone's arms.  She has four grandparents that all love to snuggle her.

 Kayda has some long, skinny fingers!

With the oldest cousin!  Nathan is such a sweetie!

Bringing Kayda Home

***Yes I know that some of these pictures are not oriented correctly.  No matter how many times I reload them , oriented the right way the program keeps flipping them.  It's going to be a common theme with these older pictures it seem***

The day after Kayda was born we pushed to go home... HARD.  The snow and ice was making me really anxious and I didn't want to stay another night at the hospital.  So we took her home that evening, not even 24 hours old.  

 We put her in her little newborn dress for the special occasion... which was absolutely giant on her.

 The ride home was so stressful.  Between the roads being slick, being in a car (not an suv) and driving the first time with an infant... Everything is scary with your first baby.

 Of course people came to visit as soon as they were able.  Papa H.

 Aunt Anna, Uncle Scott and Peyton.

 Papa G.

 Grandma H

 Grandma G of course, they were pretty familiar with each other by then.

The first diaper change at home.  Holy cow I cannot express how hard it is to adjust to having a baby.  No matter what you do they do not want to sleep unless you are holding them.  The first night home was TERRIBLE.  Daddy and I were so absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed by the next morning.  Fortunately we got some help from Grandma G the next night.  I did not expect it to be so difficult.