Look what I can do!

Haley has a few new feats to share :) This last week she learned to wave her hand good bye and clap. It was pretty funny when she started to wave because she turned her hand in to look at it as if to say, "What are you doing hand?" She only does it with her right hand for now, maybe that's a sign she will be right handed. And she is starting to try to repeat actions after us. If we clap, she starts to clap. Today Grandma Jean was twirling her glasses and Haley started to twirl her toy. She is such a character.
She is also getting good at scootching. Still not crawling yet but she is getting oh so close. And now she is pulling herself up on stuff. I left her on the floor while I was vacuuming the other room and when I came back in she was on her knees trying to pull herself up on the coffee table. I expect lots of bumps and bruises in the next few months as she learns how to crawl and walk.
I also think she is teething but no teeth yet. She has had a slight fever and drooling like a champ. I thought she drooled a lot before but boy does it just gush out of her mouth now. She has been a little fussier then normal and EVERYTHING goes straight for her mouth. I have a hard time wrestling away the wash cloth at bathtime. So I'm on tooth lookout!
Enjoy the pictures.

Waving "Hi" in her little bikini (I couldn't resist the bathing suit when I saw it!)

Hanging out with Uncle Mark

Pulling up all by herself

Busy week

Haley has been showing her personality lately. So far she seems to be a very happy girl 98% of the time. She has been trying to talk a lot more and she is trying her best to get moving. She managed to squeel while I was changing her diaper at the ball field and it echoed really loud in the bathroom. She thought it was so funny and kept doing it over and over again. I was laughing so hard and proud that she learned to repeat the act when she thought it was fun. However, she did manage to squeel today in the movies as well...oops. She also had some firsts this weekend, like getting in a limo (Uncle Nathan went to prom), eating cheerios, getting in her new pool float, walking on grass, going to the movies, and the biggest one...meeting her only first cousin Matt.
She is also really close to crawling. She manages to get up on all fours and do the rocking motion but can't quiet get there. Soon enough she'll be moving all over the house.
Enjoy the pictures and movie clip :)

Haley enjoying walking in the grass between the baseball games.


Trying out her first Cheerio...It's stuck to my finger mom but I'll smile anyways
Her first limo ride...um...is anyone coming along with me?

Playing with her cousin Matt. She tried really hard to pull herself up on the stool and got really close.

I'm ready for the pool

Hey, this is fun...too bad it's pretty cold still. I think I'm going to be a water baby.



This video is kind of long but I took it today after work. She got up on all fours by herself and tried really hard to crawl. She has also figured out how to go from laying on her stomach to a sitting position this week.

Mother's Day

Ah, what a good weekend! Friday we saw Uncle Nate's team win again and got to the game just in time to see Uncle Nate hit a double, yippie! Saturday we hung around the house for awhile then went to Melissa's wedding (Lee Ann's daughter). It was fun and Haley did pretty good but she did manage to fart during the entire ceremony. Very lady like huh? And of course with my forgetful mind lately I managed to forget the camera but at least I remembered the diapers and baby food :)

For Mother's Day we went to the lake and relaxed. Matt took Haley swimming and she loved it, especially kicking her feet in the water. She wasn't too sure about getting all the way in, probably because I didn't have the swim diapers and hers weighed about 10lbs once it got wet! Haley got me a day at the spa for my present, which I could really use, and Matt cooked a nice dinner. The only thing I didn't get was a nap but I'll take wathcing my happy little girl anyday over some much needed sleep. What a great first Mother's Day:)

It might be hard to see but that's a smile!

Hi mom! This is a really cold bath Daddy is giving me!

7 Months Already?

Wow, time has gone by so fast, but we are enjoying every minute of it. I cannot believe I am a mother to a 7 month old! When did she get so big? She is at a really fun age now where she engages with you and makes us laugh every day. The other night she was getting a kick out of Matt making the duckie "fall" in the bathtub and splash water on her. She had one of those belly laughs that just melts your heart as a parent. Those are my favorite times and I always try to slow down and enjoy them while we can. Overall this week nothing too excited happened, just life as normal at the Vara house.

Here are some of Haley's stats @ 7 months.
Weight: about 16.5 lbs Height: 25-26 inches
Favorite food: Mac & Cheese and anything with veggies.
Least favorite food: Tart fruit and Pineapple glazed Ham
Favorite toy: Her jumparoo still and anything she can put in her mouth
Best Friend: Buster, but I think Uncle Nate is a close second. Nathan plays with Haley every morning before he heads off to school and does this dance,"Shake your booty" with her that she loves. I think she has a soft spot for Uncle Nate and his goofy faces too!

Here's a few random shots from the past week

Haley trying to figure out the sippy cup. She can grab it great but can't figure out what end goes in her mouth


On the floor playing with me & Matt before bedtime


Uncle Nate up to bat. His team, Montgomery High School, is in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Uncle Nate got a hit! (I'm practicing action shots with my new camera)

El Paso Trip

Haley made her first trip to El Paso and was able to visit with lots of people! She did pretty good on the plane, except she managed to throw up on me on the way to changing a stinky diaper. Good thing the plan was pretty new and came complete with a changing table in the bathroom. Of course I didn't bring an extra outfit for me or her so we probably smelled the whole flight :) What a way to start off a trip!
Once we were in El Paso Haley had a good time meeting all her family and friends. I was a little worried she would be clingy but she was great. She was always willing to go to new people and only wanted me when she would get tired. She saw her first wedding, which of course made me cry just thinking of the day when Haley would get married (funny how you think about those things once you have kiddos). She enjoyed the reception but went home just before the dance so Matt and I could enjoy ourselves.
The long weekend went by fast but I know Haley had a good time. And I'm sure all her relatives, especially Grandma & Grandpa Vara and Unlce Michael really enjoyed spending time with her.

Getting ready for her first airplane ride. Nobody said you can't eat the ticket after you board.


Playing with her new friends. I think she fits right in.


Boy Elmo is fun - he was dancing


Grandma feeding Haley some good food


Matt's Godmother with Haley. Haley kept trying to bounce like she was in a bouncer.


Playing with her 2nd cousins (Matt's cousin's kids), Ben and Sophia. They just moved to El Paso from Boston.


Haley and me at the wedding reception


Our family (I'm not dropping her. I didn't know her dress was caught in my hand)


Haley and Grandpa chillin'

Steam Roller

Haley has been recovering from a severe cold since the beginning of last week. Good thing she is finally getting better with just a mild cough and stuffy nose now. Even being sick didn't stop her from smiling and laughing. Her newest feat is rolling over and over and over and over. She rolls from one side of the room to the other. And when she hits an obstacle like the couch, she just rolls back the other way. She would be great at the game steam roller.

Today while I was folding her clothes I put out her stacking cups. She loved to pick on up and try to eat it. Then throw it down and go for another color. I was amazed watching her reach for her cups and try to figure out how to get them if she couldn't reach, hence the rolling.

Look at all my cups (they were all neatly placed until I got a hold of them)!

Hmmm...I want that purple one

got it...boy it tastes good!

Tomorrow she is taking her first airplane ride to El Paso to visit Grandma and Grandpa Vara. I know they are very excited to see how much she has grown and I bet she'll have a blast with the Vara side of the family. I'll post pictures of her trip when we get home.

Texas Bluebonnets

Spring is one of the best seasons here in Texas. The weather has been beautiful and the bluebonnets are finally out. Last weekend we found a great patch in Montgomery and took some photos of Haley. It was really sunny so it was a hard for Haley to open her eyes wide but she managed to on occassion. She was more interested in grabing the flowers when we would sit her in the middle of the patch, though. We tried to get Buster and Cade (my mom's schnauzer) in a few photos but two dogs, a baby, lots of people and bees didn't make for a good picture.





This video is from a couple of weeks ago when we bought Haley a ball. She had lots of fun with one at Uncle Mark's house. She gets a kick out of it but can't figure out how to get it in her mouth yet!

Haley has come down with her first cold this week and it's so sad to hear her cough. She doesn't seem too bothered by her stuffy nose and coughing yet but we're keeping an eye on it. Hopefully she will get better soon :)