Dance Class

Adlee was lucky enough to start dance this week!  She was okay when I left her there, BUT was crying when I got back.  Hopefully next week we will see no tears - she did say she wants to try again so we are hopeful!  Here is a picture of her in her cute little dance outfit, a video showing us what she learned at home, and a picture with some friends at dance!

FOOD!

Hi - my name is Holden and I LOVE FOOD!  Graham crackers are my newest favorite!

Eight Months

Holden Thomas - 8 months. We cannot believe how fast time is going. You are the most curious and loving boy I know. You love kisses and will just cuddle in whenever we need a little hug from you. You have one tooth so far and still drool constantly! No signs of crawling but you roll and roll as your form of movement and to get to objects. You love the bath, your butterfly toy, FOOD, and your sister. You giggle all the time when someone does a duck voice or when your sister says "puppy". You have added so much joy to our lives. 

7 Months

7 months! Holden is sitting up and loves to eat. Squash and sweet potatoes are his favorite. He explores EVERYTHING - which usually means something ends up in his mouth. He is drooling constantly - hoping this means teeth are coming soon. He kicks his legs like crazy when he is excited, smiles at everybody, and has learned how to use his voice when he wants something! We love seeing him and his sister interact now.... Adlee has taken the role of caretaker quite seriously and Holden seems to love all the attention. Lucky us Holden Thomas.....lucky us.

First Day of Daycare 2014

We are so lucky to be going back to Kim's this year.  I have enjoyed being home with both the kids these last six months, and to be honest - I was dreading the moment I had to go back to work.  Luckily - knowing we have an amazing provider for both our little turkeys made the decision much easier.  Adlee was more than excited to see her friends and show off her baby brother to Kim.  Here is to another great year!

Holden's Six Month Photos

Six Months

A few weeks late and no sticker as they are at the new house - I'm sure he will forgive me one day
This little guy is quite the charmer. He smiles for days and loves to eat. We just started cereal with him and he can't get enough! He LOVES his sister and she is our go to when he needs some calming. He is starting to sit up and really beginning to giggle at all the funny things his daddy does for him. He drools all the time and will put everything in his mouth to chew on, but still no teeth. He is a very relaxed little guy and we love him to the moon and back. Happy 6 months H.T.! 

Five Months

Is it possible?  Has this little guy been in our lives for 5 months already?  Oh - how we love him so.  He is an average size baby, but if you compare him to Adlee at this age he seems huge to us!  He LOVES baths - I will even throw him in the tub just to calm him down.  He talks all the time and will smile back at anybody.  He is at the age where he recognizes people and will put on quite a show if you leave the room and he doesn't want you too.  He is sleeping a lot still and when he is overtired - watch out!  He can wail like a siren!  He loves his jumper and playing with his blankies and anything that makes noise.  He is still going to PT but makes improvements everyday!  We are so proud of all his hard work.  He is tracking well, making eye contact and grabbing like a champ.  We are really working on rolling right now - can't wait to see him on the move.  He is eating about 3-4 ounces at a time and takes amazing naps all while sleeping through the night!  I know it makes me happy - the whole family really ;)  We can't imagine life without him - he is the perfect addition to our family!

 

Who is Who?

Looking at Holden I keep thinking of how much he looks like Adlee when she was a baby.  So - I decided to compare some pictures.  Although I can definitely see a difference now..... I can see a resemblance.  Can you?

Happy 4 Years!

Happy Anniversary to us!  Four years, two kids, and not one boring moment. 

Holden - 4 Months

Time needs to stand still for a little bit.  If I thought Adlee grew up fast - it is even  more so with Holden.  To say this little guy is perfect would be an understatement.  He is so easy, fun-loving, and best of all (for mommy) he sleeps!  He weighs in at over 13 pounds (40th percentile), and was in the 20th percentile for height (you don't have a chance buddy).  We think he is huge compared to his sister but is pretty average.  He eats about 4-5 oz. at a time and loves to snuggle while doing so :)  Holden loves taking baths with his sister, hearing his daddy's silly voices, and smiles at just about anything.  He is reaching all of his developmental milestones a little late so he has been seeing a physical therapist.  They have given us so many ideas and suggestions to keep encouraging his little baby skills.  We are working on tracking, rolling, and reaching/grabbing right now.  Adlee loves to help us with these activities and is a big helper!  We have never imagined we could love anybody more than his sister and then he comes along and makes our hearts even bigger and fills them even more.  He is so relaxed and easy-going.  The perfect addition to our family.  We love you big guy.

Brother - Sister Love

Holden's Newborn Picture

It's a BOY!! Welcome to the World Holden Thomas Hicks

He is here.  Our sweet little peanut is here.  He arrived over four weeks early but came out screaming and healthy as can be.  We are overjoyed to meet him - we can't imagine our family without him.  Weighing in at 6lb 3oz and measuring at 19 1/2 in. long he was perfect - the moment they called out "It's a BOY!" will be forever imprinted in my mind.  I cried like a baby - Dan was all "proud daddy" and I just kept thinking how happy I was that he was here.  How beautiful and amazing this tiny little miracle was.  Truly - the whole story is one I will never forget.

We started out the weekend in Milbank.  We went to see Dan's dad as he was recovering from a minor heart attack.  Dan wanted to make sure he was following doctor's orders!  I told him before we left that this was going to be the last trip we made before baby #2 came.  With little Miss Adlee coming early - I didn't want to take any chances.  I woke up Sunday morning around 4:00am with some cramping.  I had been having that on and off so didn't think much of it.  I got a few more hours of sleep and woke up to cramping again.  I really took it easy that morning.  We didn't go to church and I stayed with Adlee while Dan had a business meeting with someone in the area.  I called him about an hour after he left and told him he needed to come back and get me and we needed to head back to Fargo.  I had a feeling I was going into labor and to be quite honest I was scared.  I knew it was really early, we were two hours from Fargo, and I had a car ride with a two year old to endure!  We got in the car and I still only felt cramping and tightening in my stomach.  I started timing my "contractions" (if you can call them that - they felt to mild to what I had with Adlee) and they were about five minutes apart.  The car ride went surprisingly fast and within two hours we were back home.  I tried taking a bath and laying down but they continued.  We decided to go in and had Uncle Steve and Brooke come over to be with Adlee.  I was monitored and checked and was at 5 centimeters already.  They called my doctor and it was decided that we were not going to stop labor and we realized that we were really going to be having this baby!  After being admitted at about 5:00pm I can honestly say that the pain was still not severe.  I labored until about 10:30pm when they checked again and said I was at about 8cm.  It was my last chance to get an epidural.  I honestly didn't think that I needed one.  So far my body had handled the pain easily and I thought I could do this on my own.  That is where Dan comes in and I will always love him for this statement, "Please get an epidural Kiley....Please".  Well I decided to and boy was I glad.  I could feel the contractions getting worse as the anesthesiologist worked her magic.  At about 12:30am I knew it was ready to meet this little one.  The doctor and the NICU team came in and we began to push.  After 10 minutes of pushing and at 12:49am our sweet little boy was born.  Honestly the moment of meeting him was so exciting and we were so anxious to meet our little one - I can't imagine any better feeling.  He was checked over and after finding his weight to be good, his lungs fully developed the NICU team was able to leave.  His labor was full of bets on boy or girl (between his dad and I), the 2014 Winter Olympics, Dan going on so many ice water trips I can't even count, and checking in on Adlee with Uncle Steve.  It was perfect.  Everything was perfect.  I couldn't wait to tell everybody.  I couldn't wait for Adlee to meet him.  I couldn't wait to spend every minute with him.  I couldn't wait to see Dan be a daddy to a boy.  I couldn't wait to bring him home.  I couldn't wait to have all those "firsts" with him.  Trust me - we both know how lucky we are to have not one but two healthy children.  We felt beyond blessed to have another life to love and cherish in our family.  So - we present Holden Thomas.  Born on February 10, 2014 (His Grandpa John's birthday). 

One more picture before the big arrival. 

The best feeling in the world.

It's a boy!

Proud daddy!

What a long day of labor and fluids can do for you :)  Holden looks so sweet here though and I had to share our first photo together!

Adlee meeting her little baby brother.  She fell in love right away too.

First family photo.

Nana meeting her grandson for the first time.

Adlee got a little jealous and needed a picture too :)

Brooke and Holden

Uncle Steve and Holden

Auntie Kasey and Bentley with Holden.

Bentley brought Holden a new toy.

Grandpa Hyland with his newest little grandson.

Nana and Grandpa with all their grandkids!

Adlee wanted to hold him - she remembered he was in the room!

Taking peeks at her little brother.

Celebrating my 30th birthday in style! 

Holden's poor little heels.  He had to be poked so many times for bilirubon checks and blood sugar checks. 

We spent another night in the pediatric unit as Holden needed to be under the lights for high jaundice levels.  It was hard to not hold him for a full 24 hours while he was under there - but happy we were with people who knew how to care for him.

Yea!  We were able to go home after only one extra day.  Holden was determined to get home to be with his sister!

Finally home and happy.  This peanut has my heart!