Sarah Pondering...: Hallé's "1st Year of 1st's!"

~Hallé Claire Hatke~

1st Dress and sunhat at the Hospital...

Carolyn brought us a beautiful preemie dress that I never wanted to take you out of. We took you to Tyson & Chi's wedding in it 3 weeks later and felt like we were carrying around a pink angel to show off. You wore home from the hospital some adorable little beach sandals with pink bows on them that we went out and bought as a family on March 7th after we went to the Ultrasound and found out that you were a little girl; "our Hallé Claire-Butterfly" as your sister got to name you that day when she waved at you on the screen and saw you playing peek-a-boo and sucking your thumb on the monitor.

1st Bath at home...

This is the same spot and same little tub we gave Eden her first "family bath on the floor" in....This time I think there was A LOT more soap and splashing involved....Thanks Big Sis!

1st Morning you were at home...

Eden was Sooo excited that she set up all her books and a little chair and your bouncy seat in the hall and just kept reading to you and showing you animals and things (this story time was also facing the bathroom so mom could get a shower with peace of mind knowing you were safe)

1st Stroller Walk...

Mommy was so happy to be getting us all out for some fresh air that we walked to the park(really I wanted to walk to Walgreens for some Butterfingers because my supply had run low. You can lol but I was serious... Yet I don't think my c-section or daddy would have been too kind about me walking that far in the heat!) Eden pushed her own stroller with her beloved "Char Bear" It felt like this magical moment of realizing I had TWO kids and I just wanted to stop everyone driving by and say "look at me, I'm out with two beautiful little girls - and they're MINE!!"

- I am so grateful -

1st Slumber Party...

Mommy and Daddy had to give you a "crib curfew" at a very young age because you and "sissy" would have snuggled inside the pink princess camping tent all night. Your sister adores you and you were very taken by any of her lullabyes she sang to you. Especially "You are my Sunshine" which we all sang to you the 9mo we had to wait to meet you!

1st "Dog Pile" with Dad and Sis...

(still hunting for the file with this pix...)

Still one of your favorite places to be and one of our favorite pictures ever!

1st Smile... (4 weeks old-I caught it on camera )

(maybe you just were smiling about the baby spa bouncy seat from the twins that sang while it was vibrating your bootie and massaging your back..mommy likes to think it was her!)

1 MONTH OLD...

(still looking for the file with this pix)

2 MONTHS OLD...

Mommy took this picture of you on a Sunday morning that she had alone with just she and you to get ready and take 2 month old photos.

The "Stamps" Story...I don't have a picture of this because I didn't have my camera at that time. A couple weeks after this photo you were in that bouncer out in the front room and I was on the computer in the bedroom. Eden came to me and said "sorry
mom I put stamps on Hallé." Thinking that she meant postage stamps because I had just given her stamps to mail some letters, I said "oh well, just please go take them off honey." A couple minutes later Eden came back in and said "sorry mommy
they won't come off!" At that moment I snapped out of my mommy brain fog and heard you making squirming noises and realized that you didn't sound like you were in the living room in your bouncer anymore. As I began to run from my
bedroom I look down and saw you (my little infant!!) laying sprawled out on the carpet-stripped down naked except your diaper (and you had been FULLY clothed with socks, shoes, onesie, etc.)...moved across the house by a 3 yr. old and
happy as a clam. It was then that I looked closer and asked Eden why she had taken all her arts & crafts "stamps" (not postage stamps!) and STAMPED all over your body; across forehead, cheeks, hands, arms, belly button, all over
your scalp, and then taken a purple marker and connected all the stampings with purple lines!!??!! Eden said "Oh mommy, I just wanted to make her beautiful!"
She knew that we were going out to a special dinner that night and apparently that was how she was getting you "fancy" to go out. Unfortunately the waitress thought you had a rash and another woman asked if you had a birthmark on your
forehead because the red stamp was a bit too permanent between your eyes! And there began
"The adventures of the Hatke Sisters!"

1st Dress-up Play...

1st Boating Day...

Even though we thought it was a wonderful idea to get to take you out on Papa's boat for the 1st time; your poor tummy did not think it was wonderful. A half hour into the ride after having nursed before we headed out, you started projectile vomitting all over me from motion sickness-Poor boo boo and we were only going slow because we were fishing. You still looked cute and we cuddled you anyways.

3 MONTHS OLD...

Grandma Jolene was just holding you facing out and walking around the house and this is how you took your nap on her that day that you turned 3 months old!

1st Giggle... 3 months old

Mommy and Eden made up a silly song "Hallé is growing BIGGER, BIGGER....and when she does grow we just say NO!! NO NO NO..don'tcha ever grow", and would jump up with our hands in the air! I'm sure if anyone else had seen us they would have thought of more things to say than just giggle!

1st Christmas...

(stilll hunting for this pix. also!)

You were "cast" as Baby Jesus in the Bethany Christian Assembly Christmas Production in Everett. Eric & Lisa were Mary & Joseph and got to cuddle you. It was humbling to worship our Savior & King with the hundreds gathered there that morning; you three that day were the representation that drew our hearts to cry out in adoration to the most perfect gift giver that ever existed. I love you Hallé, (& Eden!) and thank God for you as my most perfect "gifts" I've ever been given.

1st taste of baby food... 5 MONTHS OLD on Christmas Day!

You got some sweet potatoes and applesauce that you absolutely loved...it was kind of special to have had the anticipation to celebrate your "first food" on Christmas Day with everyone around watching you.

1st cracker at Hubby's Pizza with Mom and Dad...

There is actually a whole video of this being your first time out with just mommy and daddy and you and getting to know that you were a "big girl" in the highchair with the saltine cracker..you just kept stopping and cooing and giggling while you ate them...it was "cracking" us up!

1st NEW YEARS DAY "tea" PARTY...

In Eden's famous purple and pink walled room with the tent she insisted on sleeping in every night, so we disassembled her bed and said okay! "Cheers and Rears Forever!"

I feel like the most blessed mom in the world.

1st crawling...6 MONTHS OLD

You were so adorable and very focused on a big sparkly hot pink hair tie of Eden's that I was shaking just out of your reach. I caught a photo of you in motion, but the rocking back and forth to just think about moving forward was so funny and "lengthy" before this actual CRAWL/SCOOT happened!

1st sitting...

You loved this musical drum and to be able to play it the "fun" way was a huge motivation in you sitting this day.

1st Valentines Day...

Eden loaned you her "Char Bear" (that she named after Great-Grandma Char) for the Valentines Day Party we had with all the little friends over and lots and lots of heart bears around. We also mailed out hilarious black and white valentine photos cards from you and your sister, but I photoshopped in hot pink lipstick all over both your lips. It read "Sending Big Smooches your way on Valentines Day!"

7 MONTHS OLD...

Now you're a crawler (no more belly scooting!) "Thanks Daddy for the 10lb. carpet pad it makes my work easier..."

8 MONTHS OLD...

1st Moving Day...

You and your sister loved wrinkling up the packing paper to make noise and you would hide in the boxes if I left them turned over on their side. Eden tried to let you help decorate them with stickers, but it was nap time!

1st Easter...

(Matching Sister Dresses& the famous shot like your sissy in Grandma Jolene's big Purple basket)

9 MONTHS OLD... You always wanted to carry around a HUGE apple!?!

1st Walla Walla Balloon Stampede... Your sister Eden won the "cupcake walk" which included winning this miniature Hot Air Balloon that you both LOVED for weeks.