I’m a romantic at heart, married to a foodie who shares my love of new wave music and different cultures. I'm a sweet mama to twin girls and a silly boy, who light up my life and keep me on my toes! I love brunches and spa days with my besties and jet-setting around the world - my fave travel spots are Paris and Italy! I love making things pretty while keeping it simple, and finding excuses to gather and entertain at home. I love to share inspiration for a beautiful life and support other sweet mamas and bosses struggling to do it all while maintaining their identity and sanity. xoxo Haydee (iDay, like Friday!)
Finally, after what has seemed like an eternity, our baby girls were released on Thursday February 25th. That date alone has proven to be my lucky day in so many ways already. On February 25, 2004, I closed on the purchase of my new home in Phoenix; on February 25, 2005, I met the man who would become my loving husband; and on February 25, 2010, my precious girls came home from the hospital with us. We are so blessed, and happy.
We have settled in–or better said–they have settled into their routine very well, and although we are tired, we have managed to sneak in naps throughout the day and are getting pretty good at taking care of them together. It is only Day 3 of their time with us, and we’ve already gotten them on a 3 – 4 hour feeding schedule. They also love sleeping in their slings when we are busy with other chores around the house.
They love us, and each other, so much. You can see it in their eyes. When they sleep next to each other, it’s so precious. They stare at each other dreamily at times, and it’s just the sweetest thing.
We will post pictures soon. I know everyone is dying to see them already. Thanks again for helping us through this long journey, and we look forward to sharing many sweet moments with you in the future.
Valentine’s Day this year was especially nice for us. We went to the Mission in Old Town Scottsdale for a delicious brunch, and then went to see ‘Valentine’s Day’ at a matinee showing. As nice as those experiences were, though, they were not the highlights of our day.
The best part of our day was visiting with Eva and Zoë. They started Eva on bottle feeds during our visit. She really took to it quickly, and was able to finish half of her full feed during her first feeding session. We are so happy and proud! She is going to be a fast learner, it seems. Zoë will follow, soon enough. They expect her to start bottle feeding by Friday. In the beginning, they will feed from a bottle once a day, and then gradually move to once every twelve hours, and eventually build up to taking every feed through a bottle. Once they can feed from the bottle exclusively, they will be ready to come home. During this process, I will also have them experiment with breastfeeding, but I can work on that more once we bring them home. As they progress, we are just happy to know they are getting closer to being released.
Another big event was that they are now co-bedding. They were moved to a crib, together, on Sunday evening. Last night (Tuesday 2/16) when we visited them, they were finally together again. We carried them each for a while, and when we put them back in their crib, it was so heart-warming to see them look at each other in such a peaceful manner. We are sure they have missed each other so much…
Our baby girls are nine eight weeks old today, Wednesday February 17th.
It’s been a while since I last posted something in my ‘Diary’. I thought I’d take advantage of the upcoming Valentine’s Day ‘holiday’, and recommend a few spots I’ve enjoyed in the past. Good luck trying to get into one of these hot spots this weekend!
Tres Romantique — Coup des Tartes
Victor took me here last year, to celebrate my birthday. The mood is very intimate and cozy, and the service is great as well. The food was simple, yet elegantly presented and tasted delicious. The highlight of our dinner was the warm chocolate cake the waiter brought us for dessert. The memory was captured forever with a complimentary photo they took of us that night.
Churros and Sangria, Anyone? — Barrio Cafe
On a much simpler, much more relaxed note, this is a great spot for dessert or pre-dinner drinks. They have the best sangria in town, and it is best served with their warm churros filled with caramel sauce. This is a great spot to start, or finish, the evening.
More Swank for Your Buck — The Mission
I only needed to go once to declare this one of my favorite spots serving Mexican food. The decor is glamorous, even swanky, one would say. What’s great about the experience is not only how beautifully their food is presented, but also how it tastes just as great as it looks. The chef is influenced greatly by French cooking, and this is obvious in the delicate sauces that balance his dishes and bring out the flavors in all his plates. This is the spot we’re hoping to get back into on Sunday, if we’re lucky.
Great Sunday Brunch – T. Cooks at the Royal Palms
This is a great spot for brunch, and is often voted one of the most romantic restaurants in the area. I read somewhere that wedding proposals are all too common here, so ladies beware…lol. On a more serious note, this is one of those places where everything is perfect, every time. You will be treated as if you’re the only table your waiter has, and the food will be awesome, no matter what you order. I find this to be one of the few expensive restaurants in town where you actually feel like the food and service are worth the higher cost. Also, take time to enjoy the beautiful outdoor seating area while you’re there. It is made for lingering…
I hope I’ve given you enough ideas to put together a nice day out with your Valentine this year. We are keeping it low-key this year. Brunch and a movie is the way to go, for us.
Have a sweet Valentine’s Day and feel free to share your favorite spots and experiences, too.
xoxo
Today, Eva and Zoë are 50 days old. It seems only yesterday I was admitted to the hospital, due to complications in my pregnancy. I remember being so scared and thinking we might not even make it past the first night. Patience and prayers got us through it all, as well as support from our dear friends and family.
The past seven weeks have been full of all sorts of emotions. We feel such joy when we visit our precious girls, anxiety with each update from their doctors, and such emptiness when we are sitting in such a quiet home. Everyone says to enjoy this time while we can, because soon we won’t have any free time anymore, but we’d give anything to simply have them home with us, and hearing their little cries will be music to our ears.
Now that I am driving again, I visit Zoë and Eva nearly every day, for hours on end. Whether I’m changing their diapers, taking their temperature, holding them in my arms, or simply enjoying their tiny grasp on my fingers, I always feel such love for them. Their tiny presence has changed my life forever, and every day I’m grateful for the tiny steps they’ve taken to bring them one step closer to coming home with us.
They are strong little fighters, and are such happy babies despite everything they’ve been through, both during my pregnancy and in the NICU. It’s unbelievable how calm and mellow they are, even when the NICU seems to be a sea of chaos full of screaming babies. When we visit them, nothing else exists but our perfect little family of four.
That’s why today as I reflect, all that comes to mind is “You make my heart smile”. This is dedicated not only to my two precious angels, Zoë Elyse and Eva Grace, but also to my loving and, always supportive, husband, Victor.
{how sweet life is} 