Happy Christmas!

I wasn't quite up to par on Christmas morning but I was much more myself and even slept through the night!  Medicine must be working.  After breakfast we opened presents as a family and from Santa.  I couldn't wait to dive in! 

 Here's me totally excited about big Lego's!  Just couldn't figure out how to unzip the bag.

 Here's me telling my brother Kato that he can eye my present but he has his own. 

 One of my favorite presents was my pirate wheel for my swing set! 

I loved turning it around and round and I can't wait to play with it this summer.

 We went to Great Aunt Patty & Uncle Butch's house for lunch and more fun.  I really enjoyed the playing with the paper, bows and boxes.  Just as cool as real toys!

 One of my favorite parts of the day was playing with my "boy" cousins; now if only I could get a DS like the big kids I'd be set too.  I was pretty happy they let me in their circle!  I'm one of the guys now.

 I really loved the Jedi lightsabers my cousins Jackson & Ben got...maybe I'll get one someday too.

Here's the Prestegard / Larson family; isn't my cousin Hannah cute!

 After lunch we drove down to Waterloo, IA for the Sergeant Christmas.  I had a really good nap on the way down.  It was fun going to Great Aunt Becky & Uncle Jeff's and having more fun & food with family.  I even got to try Aunt Becky's famous chocolate pie!  The next day my Great, Great Grandma Simmons came over for lunch with my Great Grandma & Grandpa Schaefer.  The best part was we got our 5 generations picture.

 Here's me getting my very first model tractor, a John Deere of course, from my Great Grandma & Grandpa Schaefer.  It even came with a trailer.  Note to self the trailer is not meant to ride and will not hold my weight.  I may or may not have tried sitting on it but going forward will not do again as I did fall over!

 My Uncle Jared & Aunt Ashley got me a really cool dinosaur robe with matching reptile slipper feet!  Although my hood fell off in this picture I still look pretty stylish.  I love wearing it and Dad says I even look like a miniature Hugh Hefner!

We made it home on the afternoon of the 26th and I was excited to be home; as you can see I'm all tuckered out.  Hope everyone had a Happy Christmas and thank you to everyone who celebrated it with us and for spoiling me again.  I had a wonderful Christmas because of all of you!  Love, Hayden

Christmas Eve Blues...

Well the last day or so I haven't been my self and then last night I (*and in turn Mom & Dad) didn't sleep very well either.  By 9:30ish a.m. my temperature was up to 103.3 degrees and I wasn't a happy guy.  The weather & roads were kinda poor so Dad drove Mom and I to Urgent Care to get checked out.  Sure enough I had my 4th ear infection since October!  They are trying to hold off on tubes to see if more chronic and for me to be a bit older but man I hate getting them.  The upside is I got put on the really tasty pink bubblegum medicine again which is a bonus.  I kinda get cranky when Mom & Dad won't let me have more then my dosage.  Oh, well.

I was bummed I couldn't go to Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard's for Christmas Eve dinner so Dad & Mom tried cheering me up with fun Christmas P.J.'s to help welcome Santa.  I secretly even appreciated the fun Santa hat although I think I left it on only because I was tried and it was about time for bed.  I just hope with the bubblegum medicine and all the napping I did today (*took 4 total!) I'm in better spirits tomorrow for Christmas.  Can't wait to see what Santa brings.  So excited.

Note that my Uncle Keith thinks that although I'm cute and all I may look a little bit like "Where's Waldo"...I hate to admit it but he may be right!  I think Waldo even wore a similar hat.  Yikes!

13 Months!

Since turning 12 months my biggest change over the last month has been my diet.  I started switching over to whole milk and I eat a lot more meats and grown-up food.  For example I had tacos for the first time on Dec. 13th - they were delicious!   I even had my own "kids meal" when we went to the Wedgewood Cove Country Club in Albert Lea on Dec. 17th that came with sweet potato fries.  I ate them right up.  My other big change just started on Dec. 14th at daycare...I'm down to 1 nap a day.  So far I love the extra play time but I do get a little tired sooner at night & tend to cat-nap on the ride home.  I started going to bed around 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. or even earlier when Mom & Dad say its needed!

 Here's me playing peek-a-boo at bath time and did I mention I've figured out how to stand up in the tub! 

 I'm now up to size 5 diapers so the above is after bath time with my last size 4...Mom really liked these diapers as they were the special "jean" ones by Huggies.  As you can see they even have their own "pockets" and "stitching" on them.

This past week I've also been busy with friends &  family.  On Dec. 18th I hung out at my girlfriend Ava's house for a play date & they gave me my first Christmas present - a John Deere dump truck - it is awesome!  On Dec. 19th after church we had lunch with Great Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard and they even had some fun toys for me to play with.  That night our good friend Kim Johnson came over to play & even brought me some really fun musical Christmas books. 

On Mon., Dec. 20th we had an excellent time at our neighbors, the Courier's, for their annual Winter's Eve Party.  As I was only a month old last year this year it was more fun to explore everything & cruise around meeting everyone.  It snowed too much for me to walk in their Hundred Acre Woods but can't wait for a warmer day to take a tour.  They gave me my very first Tigger so I know he'd like to bounce around with me out there.  As for this week I'm looking forward to Christmas gatherings and I'm pretty proud of myself that today, Dec. 22nd I've officially learned how to get up & get down the ramp & stairs on our activity center at daycare.  I LOVE to play king of the mountain at the top!

Happy Birthday Mom & Happy St. Nicholas Day!

 As you know for my first birthday I got my very 1st tractor...here's me enjoying a ride around the kitchen.  At this point I have reverse down more so than going forward but hey, I get around and I know how to get off of it without falling.  One milestone at a time!  Looking pretty good if I do say so myself.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, our friends Steven & Mandi welcomed a daughter and my latest girlfriend, Addison Laura.  I got to meet her on Sat., Dec. 4th for the first time and she's beautiful!  I can't believe how petite she is weighing around 6 lbs.  Mom said that I was only ever that little in her tummy.  Hard to believe I was ever that little at all but it was only a year ago.  Time flies by when you're growing & having fun!  Welcome baby Addison & congrats to Steven & Mandi!  We are so happy for you!

On Sun., Dec. 5th Mom celebrated her birthday.  Dad, Mom & I met our good friend Jennie for food and fun in Rochester, MN.  We had dinner at a Japanese Steak House and it was soooo cool!  As you can see I'm too busy watching one of the chefs start stuff on fire to take a picture.

Here he is making our food and starting it on fire right in front of us!  I giggled a little bit, wasn't scared at all, and was a little sad when the fire went out.  You can even see Mom's birthday drink they brought her in a little Buddha glass.  We even got to take him home!  I did get to rub his belly for luck too.  Dad surprised Mom with a special date night on Tues., Dec. 7th with tickets to the Mannheim Steamroller Concert.  Nice job Dad!

On Mon., Dec. 6th we celebrated St. Nicholas Day.  Mom & Dad told me that Saint Nicholas Day reminds us that Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Christ or in Hayden terms - we're getting ready for Jesus' birthday party!  Granted the love of Saint Nicholas, while great, pales in comparison with the love that Christ has for all of us still a fun day of celebration.



As my first St. Nick's Day, I remember, I was surprised to find out you get presents!  I was even more surprised when I opened a gift from Grandma & Grandpa Sergeant that was a book that they recorded for me!  Yep, they read me "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  As you can see in the above picture I'm a little confused where the voices are coming from but then I got into reading it with them.

Here's me turning the pages & listening to Grandma & Grandpa on my own.  Thank you for such a special present.  Notice my PJ's say "What Santa Doesn't Get Me Grandma Does"...I think that may be a small prediction for what is to come for Christmas!  Dad & Mom said they are a little scared!

Here are some fun out takes from the past week...as I'm more mobile I seem to get myself in strange predicaments.  Like getting myself stuck under my highchair.  I thought going under it was a good idea at the time...who knew highchairs were so tricky!

Here's me wearing Dad's hat...I'm so cool!

I'm also a little mischievous...

Yep, definitely full of mischief! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This last week was a little touch and go.  On Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, I got my 3rd ear infection since the beginning of October and we weren't sure we'd be able to go to Waterloo/Jesup, IA for Thanksgiving.  I stayed home all week and by Thursday, Nov. 25th, Thanksgiving Day, I was a little better so we thought we'd head south. 

I got to see my Uncle Adam and Aunt Audra, I've missed them a lot, and even got to play with Grandma & Grandpa Vogel's cat!  Yep, pulled his tail and everything and he actually let me.  I really enjoyed wrestling with Grandpa and exploring their new home.  Even ate my first real turkey and Uncle Adam helped me make my sweet potatoes even sweeter with extra brown sugar!  It was awesome.  Did I mention I really like pumpkin pie too?

Great Grandma and Grandpa Kress and Great Grandma and Grandpa Vogel came to visit and play with me too.  Here's me and my Great Grandma Wilda Kress having a really good time with lots of giggling.

On Friday, Nov. 26th we had dinner at Grandma & Grandpa Sergeant's with my Great Grandma & Grandpa Schaefer.  We played and explored a lot there too!  Here's me and Grandpa Scott.  I'm showing off my new puppy dog hat.  I'm not as fond of it as Mom is only because it has a strap that won't let me pull it off.  I think that's why she likes it.  Very frustrating though.  It was a fun & relaxing Thanksgiving and I hope yours was too!

Santa!

On Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, I got my 12 month pictures taken in the morning and then in the afternoon I went with Mom to meet our friends the Grunden's.  We started with meeting Santa at Drummer's Garden Center and I was a little unsure about him.  I did fine at first but then as you can see got a little frightened...

 A little upset to I totally want my Mommy to get me off this guy's lap!

  

I just wasn't completely sure about him and as you can see I don't think he was completely sure about me!

After pictures we played at the Grunden's for a little bit and got bundled up for the North Mankato Winter Festival.  They had games, lighting of the Christmas Tree and a parade!  Either way a good excuse to wear my snowsuit & boots for the first time.

Here's Mom, me, Stacy & my Mankato girlfriend, Katelyn, all bundled up and cuddling at the parade.  It was pretty cold and we ended up going to the car early to warm up.  We did get candy and trinkets at the parade though which was pretty fun!

After the parade we warmed up with hot chocolate and grilled cheese at Culver's.  Yep, got my first fast food meal!  I even shared a vanilla custard with Katelyn.  Yummy!  What a way to start of the winter / holiday season.  I can't wait until I'm a little bit bigger and can go on the rides & jumping play-yards too!  As you can see I tried to take pictures like Mom with my John Deere camera Uncle Byron got me.  It lights up & makes fun sounds but I don't think I captured any pictures.  Still pretty neat though.

My 1st Birthday!

Good morning birthday boy!  You Party Animal!

We had a huge blizzard the day before so we were a little worried about my party but we were able to have it!  My First Birthday party outfit...all ready for cake!

Me and my Mommy & Daddy!

At noon on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, Mom & Dad threw me my 1st birthday party!  The party was at the old Benco building in Frost, MN (*so we could fit everyone comfortably) and we had a lot of loving family members in attendance.  We had a 1st birthday jungle theme with lots of blues and greens and even my own personalized sign!

 Mom got sentimental and even hung clothes from Newborn, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months to show how I've grown.  At 12 months I'm now wearing 24 month or 2T size clothing.  So big!!!

 Here's one of our place settings with two of my favorite things of the day.  Animal cracker party favors and a birthday horn I got to play with...

 Here's me and my cousin Hannah playing with our horns and she's being an awesome role model and showing me how it's done!  I made it work once or twice; I think?

For lunch Mom & my Grandmas made BBQ Pork sandwiches with all the fixin's, cheesy potatoes, 5 bean hot dish, veggie & Ramon salads, chips, fruit with dip and what seemed a ton more!  During lunch we watched a slide show Mom & Dad put together of my first year which was really fun.  Mom had to watch it a head of time so she wouldn't cry in front of everyone but I think she still got a little teary eyed, of course!

After lunch I got my first taste of cake! We got my cake from Hy-Vee and it was white with chocolate marbling. We had vanilla ice cream too but I was too busy eating my very own cake to notice. Well I ate the frosting the cake was just ok. I can't wait for someone else to have a birthday so I can have more!

After cake we got to open presents and I was completely spoiled and got some amazing gifts.  Some of the very cool presents I got included my 1st sled from Uncle Jared & Aunt Ashley, a hand stitched stocking from Great Grandma Betty, a homemade wooden train set from Great Grandpa Richard, my 1st tractor from Grandma & Grandpa Sergeant, a personalized name book from Grandma & Grandpa Vogel, my first Radio Flyer wagon from Grandma & Grandpa Prestegard and even my 1st 4-wheeler (*just like Dad's) from Aunt Jenni, Uncle Kyle & cousin Hannah!

Here's cousin Hannah and I racing with the tractor & 4-wheeler.  We kept taking turns riding each one.  I'm not as skilled as she is, yet, but will work on it; she's fast!  The best part they each make lots of noise!

 My new train set; can you believe Grandpa Richard made each car?  I love the Engine as it has an Iowa State sticker on it!

I loved that I got to play for awhile and then we had to clean-up - yuck!  By the time everything was done I was a tired, worn out boy.  We weren't even a mile on the road and I was fast asleep.  What a big day!

I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that helped celebrate my 1st birthday.  I am truly blessed with the best family and friends ever.  Thank you!