7 Months Old!

Xander is now 7 months old, and is sitting up without support! He loves to play on the floor with all his toys.

Playtime sure is exhausting!

Daddy's Business Trip

Xander decided to help his daddy pack for a business trip to Las Vegas...

... Unfortunately, Xander ended up staying behind - but he and mommy did get to have a slumber party at Grammy's house for two nights!

Solid Foods!

In the middle of December Xander started eating "real food." He started with rice cereal. He was a really good eater and cooperated with us rather well. I thought it was going to be a lot tougher introducing solid foods, but he took to it like a champ!





THEN he discovered the spoon. He no longer wishes to sit and be fed - HE wants to control the spoon!! MONSTER! Oh - and he just got his first tooth yesterday!

Happy New Year!

Unlike most years in the past, Paul and I stayed in town for New Year's Eve. We went to a New Year's party at the Bushmeyer's house in Monrovia, rang in the New York new year and then went back to my parent's house to ring in the new year in our time zone. We all barely made it to midnight (except for Xander - poor guy just couldn't make it) and then went to bed. Here's to a wonderful year full of joy and a bunch of Xander's "firsts" - first tooth, first step, first word, etc...

Christmas

This year we packed up the car and set out for Bayside, California to spend Christmas at Kim & Erik's House. It was a long drive and took a lot of time, but it was nice to have the whole family together for Xander's first Christmas. On the way home, we stopped in Livermore to visit with Paul's family for a couple of days. Paul and I both took the week between Christmas and New Year's off, so it was nice to have some family time.

Xander's First Christmas

Xander really enjoyed sitting in Cairo's new dump truck!

Thanksgiving

As is tradition, we spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Santa Maria with my grandparents, parents and Kim, Erik and Cairo. Here are a lot of cute pictures of Cairo and Xander together – with the traditional Thanksgiving Eeyores.

Cousin Cuddles

Happy Babies

Happy Thanksgiving!

Little USC Fan!

Handsome Boy (wearing what Paul refers to as his "Lumberjack shirt")




While in Santa Maria, we visited Waller Park (more commonly known as "swing-swing park"). This is the same park that Kim, Danny and I played at as children. Unfortunately, the pony ride wasn't open when we were there, but we got to see ducks and squirrels and dog-dogs. We also visited a playground area and played on the slides (aka "weeeeeee's"). What a fun day!

The Hazen Family at the duck pond at Waller Park

The Hazen men enjoying the playground at Waller Park

Xander and Cairo with their great-grandparents, Nana & Papa, at Waller Park

Halloween

For Halloween this year, Xander dressed up as Darth Vader. I joined my mom, dad, Kim and Cairo down in old town Monrovia to "trick-or-treat" up and down Myrtle. We didn't really collect any candy (they're too young for that and WE definitely didn't need it!) but it was fun to see all the kids dressed up in their outfits. Cairo was a purple and green fairy - she was gorgeous! After that, we went back to my parents house and I waited for Paul to get there before we took Xander out to visit friends and family in Monrovia. Xander was a little fussy at first, but after a bottle and a little nap while we were touring the house of horrors at Auntie Brenda's, he was back to his charming self.

"You come here often?"

"Quick, take the picture!"

"Let's just get this over with."

Like Father Like Son

This is how Xander spends his Sundays with Dad...

Mini-Romo

showing love to his homies...

Westsiiiiiiide!

The Many Moods of Xander

Within 60 seconds, these were the many moods of Xander.

Happy

Drunk

Surprised

Content

who knows but it's funny as hell

Baptism - September 14, 2008

Alexander Wallace Hazen was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith at Immaculate Conception Church in Monrovia, CA on September 14, 2008. Xander joined his cousin Cairo Raine Dedini for the occasion as both received their first sacrament. We were honored to have Jamie Jon Biggle (Heather's cousin) and his girlfriend and longtime family friend Carri Marie Musser as the Godparents to both Xander and Cairo. Xander was asleep for the entire service. He wore the baptism gown originally worn by his great-grandfather (Bob Steis) and also worn by his grandmother (Diane), mother (Heather), Aunt (Kim), and Uncle (Danny). He is the 4th generation to wear the baptismal gown. Here are some pictures from the event.


All Cairo needs is a camera pointed in her general direction and the Cheese face is in effect.




Jamie making sure he doesn't drop his godson as he prepares for the baptism.






Xander slept through it all...





ISN'T HE CUTE?????




Xander with his parents and godparents.







Xander with his grandparents.




And finally, the great-grandparents.

Let them eat cake!

The Happiest Place On Earth

On Heather's 30th Birthday and the day before his baptism, we decided to take Xander to Disneyland on September 12th-13th, 2008. Just over two months old.

Look at how excited he is for his first full day at Disneyland!

Forget Mickey Mouse, Beer is what makes this kid happy!

Although he'll never remember it, his very first ride at Disneyland was quite memorable. We took him on the Winnie The Pooh ride and as luck would have it, it broke down and we got stuck on it! After a few minutes they finally pulled us out of the carts and we had to walk the rest of the way out of the ride! Here he is on his first ride before it broke down.

Even Mountain Dew couldn't keep him awake after his long day at Disneyland!

I Shall Call Him Mini-Me

The Hazen Men

Xander's First Road Trip

Xander took his longest excursion to date when on August 22nd, 2008 we made the trip up to Livermore (Paul's hometown) to visit friends and family in the area for the weekend. Xander met for the first time Aunt Katie (Paul's sister), Uncle John, and cousin Jason and spent his first night in a hotel.

Here's Xander with his Auntie Katie

Visitors

We've been a little behind in updating the blog over the past five weeks. Here are some pictures from when Auntie Kim and Cousin Cairo came down to visit a few weeks ago. Nana and Papa also came down to visit during that time. It was really nice to have everyone together.