the playhouse.

Hayden did receive one extra special "birthday present" this year. It was more like a gift for both of the kiddos that just happened to come about during Hayden's birthday and be more Hayden-friendly.

That present is our new playhouse.

We had Josh with Natural State Treehouses design and build us a playhouse in our backyard. It took about two weeks to construct and it is amazing!

There were even two online articles written about it - well really they were written about Josh and his business and they just happen to feature the design/build of our playhouse. You can find those articles here and here.

Needless to say, we are all very happy with the final product. Especially Hayden.

hayden's height - a tradition.

Since Hayden was 1, we have been measuring and documenting his height by marking it on his armoire with a black Sharpie. So far we have had 6 measurements (at 1-year, 18-months, 2-years, 2.5-years, 3-years, and 4-years). This week marked our 7th measurement: 5-years-old.

Here they are.
Oh, and another part of this process involves us taking pictures of us documenting his height. Does that make sense? So every time we mark his height, we take pictures while we do it.

Here are those pictures:

1-year-old18-months-old2-years-old2.5-years-old3-years-old4-years-old5-years-old

Some day, we will make a little photo album of these pictures (or something like that). I love doing these dorky little things. It makes me happy and I like to see how he has grown. Such a big little boy!

the white-button down shirt. a tradition.

When I was pregnant with Hayden, I read an article in a magazine that depicted a family’s tradition with their daughter.

Beginning with her first birthday, they dressed her in her grandmother’s vintage bathing suit and took a picture. They did this every year as they watched their baby daughter grow from a toddler, to a child, to a young woman.

It was amazing and adorable and I thought it was a wonderful way to show in photos how their daughter had changed and grown.

When Hayden was born, I tried to think of a way that we could accomplish the same tradition with him. I wasn’t about to put him in a pair of my Grandpa’s old swimming trunks (not to mention the fact that I didn't have any). That simply was not going to work.

Randy and I talked about it. We wanted the item to be something simple, yet classic. Something a boy/man would wear that would convey timelessness and class. The answer: a men’s white-button down shirt (from the Gap no less).

the first picture (1.23.08)

the second picture (1.23.09)

the third picture (1.23.10)

last year's picture (1.23.11)

this year's picture (1.23.12)

this year's picture (1.23.12)

this year's picture (1.23.12)

this year's picture (1.23.12)

this year's picture (1.23.12)

We plan on continuing this tradition annually until Hayden is at least 18 (or until he refuses to participate).

I have to say that I am SO glad that I saw that article. To see the progression of age in this manner is truly remarkable and makes me smile.

birthday celebrations.

To begin the birthday celebrations, we went over to Randy's mom's and aunt's (Nana and Nini) house on January 21st.
Then, on January 22nd we went to Boingo Bounce for the actual birthday party.
On January 23rd (Hayden's actual birthday), Hayden woke up and opened presents from myself, Randy, and Harper.
Later that evening we went over to my parents' condo and wrapped up the festivities.
I think Hayden had a very happy birthday indeed.

i have a 5-year-old.

Five years ago today, on January 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 am, our son, Hayden Samuel Werner, was born. Weighing in at 7 lb, 12 oz. he was 19.75" long. He is now our little man, and he is amazing and wonderful in so many ways.

Happy birthday Hayden.