Ten Little Fingers Ten Little Toes X Three

Stationery card

2012-01-18T22:54:00.001-05:00

Damask Frame Girl Birth Announcement

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The Elves Have Arrived.....

2011-12-02T22:34:00.003-05:00

and they are already making a mess. The boys love seeing what things Leroy and Fletcher get into. And now this year Sue has joined them.

Stationery card

2011-11-23T23:32:00.001-05:00

With Love Christmas Card

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Thankful Thursday

2011-11-17T23:25:00.000-05:00

Molly's Stats

2011-11-14T23:19:00.003-05:00

At her one month check up this baby girl proves to be a big baby girl weighing in at 10 pounds 10 ounces (86%) and 23 1/4 inches long (98%) and a head circumference in the 90th percentile. She like her brothers was diagnosed with reflux and colic and started on prevacid which will hopefully make her more comfortable but she really still is much better than her brothers but she is coughing, gagging and choking so much the pediatrician fears she may aspirate and advised starting medications. She got her second Hep B vaccine and Hayden got flu mist and Landon his flu shot and everyone was so well behaved at the doctors office and the only tears was literally 5 seconds from Molly. I was shocked Landon didn't make a peep when he got his vaccination.

One Month Ago Today...

2011-11-13T21:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-05T21:48:00.000-04:00

What a great Halloween! Hayden enjoyed a variety of costumes this year thanks to Grammy's birthday gift of a box of dress up clothes. He was Mr. Incredible at school, a cowboy for trunk or treat and a fireman for actual Halloween. He was excited to wear costume paint for "soot" to complete his fireman's costume. Landon was cute as can be dressed as a dalmatian and quickly caught on that people would place candy in his bag when he opened his bag. Molly was dressed as an adorable baby girl (how original). We didn't make it to the zoo this year but are looking forward to returning next year but between Hayden's school party, trunk or treat and walking the neighborhood we weren't lacking for candy.

Family of Five

2011-11-04T22:30:00.004-04:00

So far so good. I hate to put that in black and white for fear that I will jinx how smooth things are going. Molly is an easy baby and Hayden and Landon have welcomed her into our family lovingly. Hayden loves to rub her head and kiss her forehead and give her "gentle hugs" as he calls it. He really wanted a sister and so far hasn't changed his mind. He comes home from Dede and Pawpaws and greets her first telling her how much he missed her and then at night he tells her he loves her and will see her in the morning. Landon was curious taking glimpses of her but not to interested at first. He would go up to her cosleeper and smile at her. If she lost her paci then he would get it for her and the same goes for those little socks that are oh so hard to keep on. He had told us to "shh" and then signs "baby sleep" when she is napping. I was worried how he would be with a baby and he has been just fine. His life continues pretend playing in his kitchen and vacuuming the floors when he isn't busy making music with his guitar.
The first week Jeff and I got to spend alot of one on one time with Molly as Hayden was sick and so Grammy and Peepaw kept the boys until fevers were gone. Landon still has a cold or allergies which he hasn't been able to get over in the past month. It seems to come and go and he has been so kind to share with all of us including his baby sister. So after getting into a routine with just Molly the boys came home and things are going well. Hayden and Landon are staying in the routine of going to Dede and Pawpaws three days a week which is great for them and for me. Hayden is a child that NEEDS routine and structure so this has been good for him. Landon will go with the flow but enjoys library day on Wednesday and playing with dede and pawpaw so he continues to go as well. This then allows me to be home with just Molly on these days and allows for me to catch up on some sleep during the day and get things done around the house. I actually have my Christmas decorations up and even have cooked some meals and cleaned the house. Mom and Dad came and painted the nursery and slowly I am getting my trucks and trains blue nursery converted into a pink polka dotted room accented with some cute owls. Not that Molly will be in her room anytime soon. She is sleeping in my room with me and Jeff continues to sleep in the boys room as Hayden still refuses to sleep alone although he has Landon in there now. Speaking of sleep... Molly is my first baby that will actually sleep without being held. That in and of itself is a miracle. She likes sleeping in her cosleeper and will go longer stretches in her swing. She actually passed out just laying on the floor after I changed her diaper. I couldn't believe that she didn't need to be held and shooshed and bounced and nursed to sleep. She doesn't appear to have reflux or colic... yet.... and I pray she doesn't get either. She did have 5 days of a bili blanket and bili tanning bed for jaundice which was a first in our house. She therefore got a paci much sooner than either of my other two as she wasn't a fan of the tanning bed. Daily heel sticks for the first 8 days of her life left her little heels red and sore but other than that she has been good. She wakes every 3 hours at night to eat and does let me get some sleep in between feedings. She eats great and keeps my little helpers busy with fetching diapers and filling up diaper pails. Did I mention she already has a paci? This has been the greatest thing along with swaddling. I wish I had allowed Hayden and Landon to have a paci sooner. There would have been alot less crying from everyone had I given in to the power of the paci. Again, we are thankful all went well and continues to go well with our newest addition and so thankful that her big brothers seem to love having her here and aren't ready to send her back yet.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

2011-10-30T22:40:00.000-04:00

Molly got her first bath at Grammy's house by Grammy. Her umbilical cord fell off in the first week but the poor thing didn't get her first bath until she was 10 days old. She didn't care for the first bath although I think it wasn't warm enough although it felt warm to me. I have since discovered Molly is much like her mommy and likes her baths very hot. No more tears since discovering that. She is like her brothers and loves bath tim.

Another Day at the Fire House

2011-10-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

Big Brothers, Hayden and Landon, showing Little Sister Molly the Fire House for the first time.

Welcome Molly Katherine

2011-10-20T16:40:00.005-04:00

Just Minutes after arriving into this World All cleaned up 15 Days Later

Who would have thought that the color pink would dot our house after being filled with a sea of blue. I certainly didn't. From the very beginning this pregnancy has been filled with surpises including seeing two lines on a home pregnancy test. Morning sickness should be termed all day sickness and it stuck around 23 weeks this time and the baby in my belly couldn't make up it's mind if it wouldn't to be head down or feet down. The baby flip flopped several times in the last few weeks of pregnancy that some commented it had to be a girl because 1. she was causing trouble already and 2. she couldn't make up her mind. I had prepared for another boy and was fine with having a house filled with trucks and trains and all boy things. I couldn't picture myself having a girl and felt the odds were we would be welcoming Nolan or Owen or maybe even Grayson. At 11 weeks while getting an ultrasound I saw a dry erase board at the hospital while getting labs drawn that said Welcome Molly Kate and then parked next to me in the parking lot was a car with a pink license plate that said Molly. Was this a sign from above or just a coincidence? Hayden was insistent he wanted a sister and was adamant their was a girl in my belly. These were the only things that made me think it might be possible to have a girl but really deep down I knew it was a boy. Fast foward to Saturday October 8, a week before my due date, and a scheduled induction came and went. The OB forget he had an out of town wedding and so D day was rescheduled for Thursday October 13 and much to everyones surprise he was a she. Induction started at 6:30am with pitocin and my water was broke at 8; fully dilated at 9:30 and ready to push but no doctor ready to deliver so we had to wait until 10 for him to arrive. Four minutes later and at 10:04we found out that our third and final baby was a GIRL! Who would have thought?! Certainly not me. I am still in disbelief as I was certain it would be our third boy. Boy oh Boy did She have us fooled. As with all babies she truly is a blessing from above and someone said it best when they said babies are the closet to heaven that we will get this side of the pearly gates. Feeling so thankful today that the Lord blessed us with a healthy baby and really His plan is best!

Family of Four... Soon to be Five

2011-10-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth Birthday Hayden

2011-10-09T23:02:00.000-04:00

Hayden had a great (early birthday) celebrating it at the beginning of october versus the end. I wanted to ensure the party was done on a warmer day as he requested a bounce house again and I also wanted the party over with before Baby K arrived. It turned out to be chilly but thankfully no rain. Hayden was so excited when the bounce house arrived at 7:30 in the morning. Of course on the day our kids decide to sleep in there is an unexpected ring of the doorbell four and a half hours earlier than planned. Never the less he and Landon peeked out the window and watch the men inflate the bounce house. He asked if he was four and continues to ask if he is still four at least several times a week. He is so excited to be 4! He had fun bouncing in the bounce house, hitting the pinata, opening presents and eating cake. I think I love birthday parties as much as the kids.
It's hard to believe he is already 4. It just seems like yesterday we were pacing around the house with him swaddled, crying from reflux and colic. It seems like he was just learning to walk and talk and was asking me to "hold you" and with outstretched arms saying "bup" as his way of asking me to pick him up. He still loves to cuddle and snuggle and loves to give hugs and kisses, is very sensitive and shy and yet is independent wanting to buckle his own seat belt and dress and undress himself. He has started calling Jeff, dad, instead of daddy and is trying to call me mom or mamma. Mamma is okay although I like mommy better but I don't answer to mom yet. I am wanting to be mommy for just a bit longer. He can fix his own drink and has outgrown naps although he occasionally will take one periodically. He likes to please and loves being a big brother. He is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his baby brother or sister and I know he will be such a big helper.

Big Splash

2011-09-30T23:29:00.000-04:00

Since we didn't make it to the beach this year and we didn't go to Holiday World we vacationed at a nearby water park for the weekend. The boys had a great time.. in fact we all did. They are such water bugs. Landon has no fear of the water and desperatly wanted to keep up with his brother. Hayden liked the water slides best and after riding down once with daddy he was ready to go it alone and that he did over and over and over. I was so glad that Dede went with us. I couldn't go down any of the slides so she jumped right in with the boys while I watched from the sidelines and got some great video.

Fall Fun

2011-09-30T22:34:00.000-04:00

A Fun Filled Day at the Local Pumpkin Patch. Hayden and Landon loved spending the morning with Avery and Aunt Emily.

Paint Spot

2011-09-29T23:48:00.006-04:00

My china cabinet continues to collect beautiful plates made with love. Thanks Grammy for going with us so that we could get some great plates. Hayden made a spider for halloween and Landon made a turkey for Thanksgiving.

The Lake

2011-09-29T23:37:00.006-04:00

In keeping with our annual tradition of a weekend at the lake with great friends we enjoyed our time at Cumberland. Hayden loves boating as much as I do and we had great weather. It worked out that Keith and Emily were spending the weekend on a houseboat and we meet up with them. This was the highlight for Hayden who went down the slide on the back of the house boat several times. I was surprised that he went down the slide that was on the roof of the boat and surprised that I didn't try to stop him. I tell you that boy isn't afraid of the water. During our weekend get away we went fishing and both Kayla and Hayden caught fish. Hayden had his own pole and wanted to catch a fish all by himself with his pole. He caught one with Jeff's pole but according to him that didn't count so he kept casting his line with his little pole and caught one. Next year Landon will get to join us for the first time as our rule is that you have to be 2 years old to go. It will be interesting to see what he thinks of his first boat ride. This year he got to spend the weekend with Grammy and Peepaw.

We have a Preschooler

2011-09-29T22:57:00.006-04:00

Hayden's first day of preschool was with much anticipation and excitement. He picked out a cars backpack and filled it with all his school supplies. He was very eager to tell everyone that he was starting school but come that morning he was filled with apprehension. Thankfully he is attending school with Kayla and this has helped so much with the transition. She is one of his best buddies and along with that comes security and comfort. On the first day of school Jeff went to Dede and Papa's house and had breakfast with Hayden then he and Pawpaw drove to Dianna's house and followed Kayla to school. This helped as Hayden was able to go in with Kayla. He had a great first day until it was time for carpool pick up and upon dismissal he was mistakenly called Kaiden and this upset him greatly. Dee Dee and Pawpaw picked up a crying Hayden and this was the focus of his day. He was worried they were going to call him by the wrong name everyday. He come home from the second day of school excited that the teacher got his name right but low and behold the following day he says he was called Aidan and we were right back where we started. Crying every morning not wanting to go. Ms. Nancy, his teacher, called to let me know that Hayden would arrive at school misty eyed until he found Kayla and then was fine during the day transitioning from one center to the next but come dismissal he would be the first in line and would start to cry asking who was coming to pick him up and fearful he would be called the wrong name. Most days are still started with him declaring he doesn't want to go to school but once he is there he has fun and can't wait to tell me he had a good time. I do have to ask him specific questions as he doesn't volunteer much. He usually will tell me what his job was for the day when I ask and what he ate at snack time. His favorite job has been weather watcher although he has been door holder, prayer leader and flag holder to name a few. His cousin Addison attends another preschool and I saw her reciting the pledge of allegiance and so I asked Hayden if they said the Pledge at his school and he recited it word for word. I am amazed at what he has learned and really I don't even know a fraction of what he is learning as he is not a big talker of his days events. He has learned some new prayers and is learning about the color red, apples and the letters A and B this first month.
Landon wishes he could go to school as well. On the second day he got his backpack and wanted to get his picture on the front porch too.

The week before school started we went to open house and met Hayden's teachers, Mrs. Nancy and Mrs. Brenda. We were able to see his classroom and check out all the fun things that he would be doing.

Hot Rod

2011-08-27T15:28:00.005-04:00

Hayden must think that every 60+ year old man has a hot rod becuase his paw paw got one then his great uncle Jerry than his peepaw. Hayden and Landon pretended to cruise around in style listening to gummy bears and "smokin" and wearing shades.

Fourth Birthdays and Firetrucks

2011-08-27T14:52:00.004-04:00

This year Hayden decided (with a little power of suggestion) that he wanted a fireman birthday party. At first he thought about rockets or spider man but once I threw out the idea of firetrucks and firefighters he eagerly agreed this was a great idea. So in preparation for the fourth birthday, Hayden and I, went to Mr. Ty's firehouse that he volunteers at to see some firetrucks and take some pictures so that we could use these on his invitations. He liked getting in and out of the trucks but he and Audrey's favorite part was jumping on a trailer and riding up and down the elevator.

Boys and Their Toys

2011-08-27T14:42:00.003-04:00

Shiny New Bike

2011-08-27T14:25:00.004-04:00

Hayden has struggled with sleeping since earlier this year and since he responded well to reward boards with potty training and curbing tantrums we decided to do it again to reward good sleep. After earning 28 stickers he was rewarded with a bike. With his birthday being in the fall we really didn't want to wait until then and at Christmas he wouldn't be able to ride it for several months due to the weather so instead of just getting for him we had him earn it. It took him a while but he finally put his last sticker on his board back in July and was finally able to open the bike box that had been sitting in the garage for weeks. He picked a Lightning McQueen bike (although he has never seen the movie) and together he and Jeff assemblied the whole thing only to discover the last peice was missing; a very important piece... the handlebars. So after another trip to Target and reassembly of another bike he was able to pad up and ride around.

Everything Landon

2011-08-27T11:02:00.007-04:00

Landon at 19 months you just keep getting cuter and cuter. Your mouth is feeling up with teeth although you you still don't talk much. Your hands are busy signing more and more. Some of your signs that I can make out clearly are daddy, Hayden, eat, more, hot, wet, please, thank you, sorry, dog, baby, bed, phone, paci, tv, drive, and duck to name a few. I know Dede is able to recognize alot more.

You love to dance, play in your kitchen, brush your teeth and everything about your crib. You love Linus,Hayden and your baby doll and blanket (both of which I tried to get Hayden attached) You love to be rocked and read to. Your favorite books are a touch and feel animal book and a body book which we read every night. You think you are much bigger than you are as you don't want a lid on your sippy cup anymore and you want to wear boxers like Hayden and pee on the potty. You definitely know what you want and let us know when we just aren't getting it. You cry and throw yourself to the floor and put your forehead to the ground. It sounds like a tantrum but you seem to make it cute and not so annoying. You are trying to talk more and I can make out bye, night night, ball, and duck which is more than I could just a few weeks ago.

You are still my baby but I know in just a few short weeks when your little brother or sister gets here you will look so big.

Brothers

2011-07-18T23:10:00.004-04:00

New Splash Park and Playground

2011-07-01T21:06:00.000-04:00

A new park opened with splash park and playground not too far from us. I decided to take advantage of the hot summer weather and check out the newest play area. It was very nice although it appears alot of families had the same idea as us as it was a bit crowded. This will definitely be a place we return often.

Cadillac EscaPade

2011-06-29T22:36:00.005-04:00

It's so funny what kids remember and I think three year olds remember EVERYTHING or at least this one does. A few weeks back Aunt Emily posted on facebook a picture of a Cadillac escalade that she and Uncle Keith had bought at a yard sale for Avery. I showed Hayden a picture of this and told him this was Avery's new Cadillac. Fast forward a few weeks later when we went to visit for the weekend. We get to Emily and Keith's and they are not home but give us the garage code and tell us to let the kids play with the toys in the garage and that Hayden can drive the Escalade. Jeff opens the garage and we said nothing to Hayden about any of this and he sees the car and yells excitedly, "oh its the Cadillac... can I drive it!?" How he remembered the make of the car is beyond me. Maybe its an innate guy thing when it comes to cars. He hops right in and Landon soon becomes his passenger and takes over music duty. This car comes fully equipped with a functional FM radio. Landon couldn't be happier since music appears to be his thing. Every time we get into our car he is signing music (or at least his sign for music) and bops his head and bounces around in his car seat to the sound of the tunes. He doesn't want childrens music and is very particular about the song selection. He enjoys Lady Antebellum's Run to You and I Need You Know but does not like the Dixie Chicks at all and is very vocal about his preferences. He also likes rain down by delirious and a variety of other artists.

Splash Park

2011-06-29T22:16:00.005-04:00

Each year we keep renewing our zoo membership and each year we go more and more. This spring and summer started off very soggy and then came the heat so we've only been to the zoo three times so far but the boys have gone with Dede twice so we definitely get our use out of our membership. Since it's been so hot we've gone to the splash park which Hayden loves (after he gets used to the cold water) and Landon remains unsure of. We even went with some new friends Crystal and her two kids, James and Katie, who are the same ages as Hayden and Landon. Grammy has accompanied us on all our trips and this makes for an easier time for me having an extra set of hands and someone to talk too and help push the stroller up the big hill!

Our Little Golfer(s)

2011-06-29T21:41:00.006-04:00

In the last six months Hayden has really started expressing interest in doing things daddy does. The newest thing is golfing, before that it was cutting the grass, working with tools, watching sporting events etc. Lately it is golfing. I got Hayden his first set of clubs with bag at a yard sale for $10 and thought this was a great deal so that we can see if this is an interest that last more than a few weeks. I thought these clubs would be perfect but once I got them home I realized they are more for a 7-10 year old. Never the less he didn't know any different and was so excited to have clubs and a bag just like daddy. They filled it with balls, a golf glove and tees. Now he needed a golf course to play on with his over sized clubs. First we decided a trip to the driving range would be better suited than an actual round of golf. Hayden at first was very responsive to daddy teaching him how to hold the club and hit the ball but quickly decided he wanted to do it on his own. Landon had his plastic clubs too and got in a few swings. I even got to take a few swings and Hayden's clubs fit me well as I was actually able to get the ball off the ground which was a first. A few weeks later while visiting Uncle Keith and Aunt Emily, the boys went for a round of golf and Hayden went as well. He didn't have his "clubs" so uncle Keith had some old clubs that he cut down for Hayden and wrapped the end in duct tape and presto Hayden had a club that fit just right. Much better than the ones I bought. Hayden was so happy and filled with pride that he was big enough to go along for a real golf outing. When they came back he was so excited to tell me about golf cart riding and how he got to hit the ball during the middle of the course since the manager was not around.Looks like we are going to have to get him some actual clubs that are his size.

Snow Cones and Slides

2011-06-28T23:13:00.006-04:00

I wasn't kidding about June being a busy month. Although this wasn't a birthday party it was still a party none-the-less. During Mas and Kellie's visit we also made it over the the Woods for a fun filled afternoon of water slides, roller coaster riding, snow cones and hot dogs. I think I had as much fun as the kids and I know Jeff and Travis did too since they donned swim trunks and headed out to the inflatable slip n slide slidding down just as the seven and nine year olds did. Although I think Jeff got carried away and not only flipped off the back of the slide landing on the motor resulting in bruises and swelling to his back and arm but he also crushed a poor little five year old. He really had no idea how fast he would go on the slide and she asked him to go with her so he did and it resulted in his knee into her abdomen. Thankfully there were no major injuries. The kids had fun playing in the water and riding on the little tykes roller coaster down the ramp and down the hill in the backyard. Hot dogs for dinner outside followed by snow cones, red for Hayden and white (plain) for Landon. Landon had more fun throwing the ice of the deck onto the unsuspecting below than he did eating it. This really was a perfect summer day and the older ones made their way to run through the golf course sprinklers as dusk drew near. Made me want to be seven just for a minute.

Fun on the Farm

2011-06-28T22:58:00.009-04:00

During Mason and Kellie's visit we went to Grandma Hamilton's on one of my days off. It's sweet watching Hayden and Landon interact with their older cousins. Hayden really looks up to Connor and after not seeing him for a year I wasn't sure how he would act but he picked right back up where he left off and I noticed he payed more attention to Carson as well but Carson really took an interest in Landon making sure to play with him and that the others were sharing with him. Kellie said that Carson tends to look out for the youngest and that is indeed what he did during their visit. We all had a great time at Grandma's and I think she had a nice time too visiting with everyone but having her house filled with 4 great grandkids that were full of energy wore her out so much so that she fell asleep in her recliner despite the shrieks of Uncle Mason playing with Carson, Hayden and Landon. This week was the first real interaction Landon had with his Aunt, Uncle and cousins since he was just a newborn the last time they were in town and he enjoyed it as well.

Happy Birthday Daddy and Carson

2011-06-28T22:44:00.005-04:00

What a great start to June! Mason, Kellie and the boys, Connor and Carson, come in for a week long visit. This time last year we thought we would be going out to see them this spring or fall and instead they got to come back to see all of us! Hoping that next year we make it out to the southwest to visit them. The week started off by celebrating Carson's 7th birthday ( I can NOT believe how old he is getting) and Jeff's birthday (Once you get to 21 who's countin' anymore). Hayden was so excited to see his cousins that he hadn't seen in a year. Boy had they both grown and gotten taller. Really made Hayden look so small and when I only see him around Landon and similar aged cousins I forget how young he still is. We had a yummy birthday dinner followed by some kickball in the backyard then presents and dessert. It was so nice being able to spend a day with everyone home in mom and dad's house. If only we could do it more often.

Birthdays, Birthdays and More Birthdays

2011-06-28T22:16:00.011-04:00

So June is once again the month of many birthdays. I love summer birthdays! We started out by celebrating Audrey's 3rd birthday at Aunt Donna and Uncle Rob's with a pool party. Hayden had a blast with his cousins. He loves the pool and can't get enough tossing around. Hayden has always been like a fish to water but Landon is still undecided. He likes water, loves bath time, but seems to prefer water of a warmer temperature than that of a newly filled pool. He had fun splashing in the baby pool and actually did like the big pool but only if daddy was tossing him around and bouncing him in and out of the water.

Another fun feature at the birthday was the tree house swing set that Uncle Rob custom built for Audrey. This is not just any tree house but truly a top notch cabin with kitchen, flat screen TV (pretend) and a remote that the little ones love to play with. (I think the TV could use another remote since it seems to be more popular than the swing and slide combined.) Hayden, Addison and Audrey had fun playing together and baby Mason snoozed away on this hot summer day.

Fourteen Month Pictures

2011-06-28T21:59:00.006-04:00

These are Landon's one year pictures (thanks Michelle from Sunnydaze Photography) which were actually taken closer to 14 months. With my pregnancy sickness it took me several months to place my order and then several weeks to get the images but it was worth the wait. I think they turned out good and show the broad range of Landon's personality. He really did not want anything to do with his party hat or the cake. We actually had to bribe him with Gerber yogurt melts to sit still or smile. Who would have thought a child would pick yogurt melts over cake. I certainly was surprised. I was glad to get a photo of me and the boys although I wish we could have gotten one with Jeff as well. He was dressed in his brown to coordinate with the rest of us but Landon was done and I was lucky to get the pictures I did. It's hard to believe a year has come and gone. That he went from not being in our lives to not being able to imagine him not in our lives.
Not sure if I posted his stats before or not but at 12 months he was
29 3/4 inches long (50%)
20 lbs 2 oz (15%)
47 cm head circumference (75%)

Art Sparks

2011-05-30T20:35:00.001-04:00

Our first trip this year to Art Sparks.......
Hayden had a great time and LOVES this place. This makes our third time there and although it is different I am surprised that given the choice of this or Kazoing or All About Kids he would pick this place every time. This is located in a local art museum and so it is designed to foster to kids creativity. Hayden and Landon both like to sit at the easels and paint and then they move onto the old cottage kitchen and sailboat. This time Grammy went with us which added to the fun and was a big help to me. This was the most crowded and overwhelming I have seen this place. I have learned not to go any where in the later weeks of May as school field trips are going on at every kids place and Art sparks was no exception. 20-30 six to nine year olds were running around this place that normally has about 5 kids quietly playing. So two hours was about all that we could do and then we went back to Grammys for pizza.
Grammy went with us to Art Sparks not as a help to me but to celebrate Hayden's accomplishment of getting his reward board filled with stickers (28 to be exact). In May he was having a hard time with his behavior and had resorted to throwing fits of rage or as some call them temper tantrums. He never really had these as a toddler but when 3 1/2 got here so did the arrival of this less than pleasant behavior. He was having them at paw paw and dedes alot and at home as well. They had gotten so bad that a total stranger came up to help Deanna both at the zoo and at McDonald's because he was so out of control. Even this did not calm him down. Only spying a police officer did the trick. So instead of having Deanna give into his demands to stop the outbursts I got some construction paper with boxes drawn on eagerly awaiting stickers. After earning 7 stickers a reward was given such as going to chick fil a or kazoing or the zoo and at the end of 4 weeks the grand reward was a trip to Art Sparks with Grammy. On days he didn't behave well he would get an ugly X on his board and he had to cover the ugly X with a sticker the following day if he was good. This system seems to work very well and in fact as soon as this reward board was completed we moved on to a sleep reward board to help combat night awakenings with screaming and crying needing me to be in his room with him to fall asleep and then several times throughout the night. I tell you what..... so far 3 1/2 seems to be the most difficult with our once good sleeper not sleeping well, having temper tantrums and just being irritable and dare I say moody. Don't get me wrong he still has sweet moments of unsolicited kisses and spontaneous I love yous. He can be the sweetest but then the next moment can be trying my last iota of patience. I am hoping with the approaching birthday in October we will be able to say "so long" to temper tantrums and frequent night awakenings and welcome back to the sweet, tender hearted Hayden that sleeps great and isn't scared of his room.

The Boys and their Toys

2011-05-30T20:26:00.000-04:00

All three of the boys had their rides pulled out of the garage. Hayden and Landon were cruising the driveway in theirs avoiding any collisions and Jeff had his out to wash with 4 extra hands helping or attempting to help.

Picnic in the Park

2011-05-30T20:05:00.000-04:00

Our second annual picnic in the park in honor of Dede's birthday was a success. A HOT one at that. With temperatures in the 90's by mid morning it was a typical humid summer day but the kids didn't seem to mind. We did the same as last year and got some KFC for an easy picnic and the kids played in the park. We ended the day with cupcakes and a couple train rides. It is neat to look back at last years photos and see how much the babies have changed. This year they were going down the slides and pushing their mowers whereas last year they were being pushed in their strollers. Last year there was 5 grand kids and this year there was 6 although Mason didn't make it. I certainly had no idea last year that I would be pregnant again and so I guess next year there will be 7 and I'll be back to pushing the stroller again.....

Operation Gingerbread House

2011-05-17T15:25:00.003-04:00

This was Hayden's creation shortly after Christmas. As you can see I am still trying to catch up on the months long hiatus I took from blogging. Now that I feel human again I am hoping to get all the memories off my camera's memory card and onto this little blog which I hope to one day make into a book for myself. So for now I am still in January although there was not much picture taking and memory making in February and March so I am almost caught up....almost!

Forgetfullness can be a Blessing

2011-05-17T15:00:00.005-04:00

While one was busy getting cleaned up the other was deep into the trash seeing if there was anything good to eat. Back when this actually happened I had a horrible day and mentioned it to several people who said that my day was blog worthy and something I needed to write about or I would forget it. I thought that it was not possible to forget that day but as the months have passed I seemed to have forgotten the majority of it. I do remember it started with Landon falling off a two step stool and hitting his head on the corner of the bathroom drawer then slicing open his finger on Jeff's razor that was in the bathroom drawer where we didn't think he could reach it. I didn't even know he cut himself until Hayden came out to tell me there was blood everywhere and there literally was blood everywhere. Landon's face, clothes, the drawers, bathtub, step stool. It looked like an animal had been slaughtered but no one was crying. It took me a few minutes to figure out where the blood was coming from and then it took a long time to stop the bleeding as Landon was not thrilled having me apply pressure to his finger. Not that it hurt he just didn't want to sit still. Band aids are useless since he pulls them off although I tried several times. Then while trying to fix lunch I became distracted because Hayden came out to the kitchen soaking wet. He was trying to shave with a play razor thankfully. But while I was tending to him I burnt our grilled cheese sandwiches and didn't have any bread left. While cleaning up that mess and trying to figure out an alternate lunch I find Landon digging through the trash eating the discarded remnants from breakfast. I know there was several other eventful things that happened that day but this all that I remember months later. Probably was a good thing I don't remember it all. Sometimes the brain knows what its doing by allowing us to forget. Ahhh the joys of two little ones...... I know I'm gonna miss this once they are older.

Derby Day

2011-05-15T23:41:00.000-04:00

It's great having so much family so close by and seeing them often. This year we did not have a Derby party but did spend the day at Jason and Danielle's which was fun. The kids had fun playing outside. Chalk, parachutes, bubbles and slides.... what else could a kid ask for.

Surprise!

2011-05-03T21:29:00.004-04:00

This is why I have been missing since January as most of you know already. No this is not a picture of my baby but it is a baby at 16 weeks gestation.Who would think that something this cute and small could make an adult as sick as I have been when pregnant with these tiny little creatures. Even still I am ill although not nearly as bad as the first three months. This time around was a bit of a surprise although there was no counting days, charting menstrual cycles, purchasing pregnancy tests by the handfuls as in past pregnancy attempts this didn't exactly come out of no where as we do know what causes pregnancy. This definitely was on God's timetable and not mine. I have wanted three or four and Jeff has been fine with two but was open to three. I being the type A planner was thinking that maybe in another year or two we would have another. Obviously God was laughing that I would think I was in control. He knew all along that 2011 would be the year of baby #3. When I discovered I was pregnant I was five weeks and it was a Friday morning before work. I happened to have a left over test from when we were trying for Landon so I peed on it as I was fixing my hair not really expecting there to be two lines. So as I was walking out the door I glanced at the test expecting to see one line as I tossed it in the trash and was SHOCKED to see two. I even checked the expiration date thinking clearly the test was bad. I laughed, then cried, then laughed that I was crying. I then went to work and throughout the day couldn't believe I would be mom to three in the fall. I thought of all the reasons this was not a good time but yet excited that I had a new life busily forming inside. Headed to a concert at church that night I met Jeff at mom and dads. I had a headache and was telling Jeff I couldn't take anything for it and merely repeating this twice he knew what I was talking about. He had told me a week ago that he thought I was pregnant although I thought he was joking and I think he halfway was. Nothing else was said as we ate dinner and then headed to the concert. I wasn't sure how he was going to take this as he was content with the two kids we already had but as always he was fine even good actually. He said that this was all in God's timing and it would all work out just fine. After a few weeks I adjusted to the idea and mostly just fear my lack of patience. Seeing that I don't have enough to go around with a 3 year old, 1 year old, husband, and hyper dog I am afraid that you add a newborn to the mix and it won't be pretty. I continue to pray for this virtue daily and ask for your prayers too. After seeing the baby on ultrasound at 12 weeks I actually was more excited than I had been with previous ultrasounds just knowing this is the last time I will be going through this experience. At first I was hoping for a little girl to complete our family that will be comprised of 5 but now I really honestly can say that I don't have a preference in gender one way or the other. I know I will love another little boy just as I love the two that I have. Little boys love their mommies and are so much fun. I also know that if its a girl although it will be a completely new experience (and maybe a little frightening thinking of the teenage years) I will love nurturing her and seeing how a little girl fits in with all things blue in this house. My favorite color is pink after all and although I was never a fan of barbie I did enjoy playing house as a kid and now house is something I don't play anymore but something we take care of and manage. Cooking was much more fun when you were doing it in your little tykes kitchen with plastic food. I really am just praying for a healthy baby and am very excited to see who is going to complete our family. God does have good time even if we don't know it at the time!

I have added a few blogs that I had written a few months ago but never got around to attaching photos. I promise I will try to make my absences shorter in duration and will be adding posts from the happenings of our household in march and april although there really was not as much as usual since I spent alot of time divided between the bedroom and bathroom) Poor Landon thinks the potty is for puking and not for peeing. He goes in and stands over the toilet and fake vomits. I am trying to get this on tape and will be sure to post on here if I am successful.

We Have A Walker but Not A Talker

2011-05-03T21:27:00.000-04:00

At thirteen months and a few weeks of age Landon officially become a walker. You know.. where he prefers walking as opposed to crawling. On Christmas Eve he had taken a step or two and on occasion after that he would take three or four steps, then got to five or six, but he was still a crawler preferring that due to his speed and comfort. However, a week and a half before turning 14 months he became a walker.... full fledged. He likes how he gets around the same as his big brother. He has the gleam of pride in his eyes and loves the independence that comes with walking. He now climbs... on everything. I found him in the bathroom attempting to get his toothbrush, that we just introduced, standing atop of Hayden's stool. He climbs on chairs, in cars, into laundry baskets, you name it if he wants to get in it or on it he will although maybe not gracefully. He loves playing with his kitchen that I brought upstairs. He loves chasing Linus and taking away his toys. (Linus likes the attention). He likes playing with the same toys his big brother is playing with (Hayden does NOT like this). They are learning to share which is a hard skill. Hayden has discovered he can take away a toy from Landon as long as he replaces it with something... doesn't matter what it is. Not sure how long that will last but it's working for now. Landon hasn't said any words yet. Hayden's was 'bup" for up... as in pick me up. It will be interesting to see what Landon's first meaningful word will be. Although he is talking coherently he is babbling and speaking what sounds to be Chinese. He is signing 'more' and 'eat'. Speaking of eat he likes to eat fruit and can eat his weight in Mandarin oranges and blueberries but does not like veggies of any kind. He has a very limited palate right now but I'm not stressing. That's the great thing about number 2. I stress SO much less now. I really don't worry like I did with Hayden. Landon is still sleeping great... 12 hours at night and 2 naps averaging about 3-4 hours total. Landon is pretty serious although you can get some loud chuckles with games of patty cake, peek a boo, and tickling. He gets so excited about yogurt melts, bath time and me. Some days he doesn't let me put him down or leave the room without the water works and vocal work out.
Written 2/8/11

Meet Leroy and Fletcher

2011-05-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

(Leroy pictured above, Fletcher was not available for photo)

The elves are at it again. No they are not busy making toys at the North Pole, at least not these two. They are busy being mischievous and causing all kind of havoc at our House. This is Leroy's second year here but apparently he has learned a few things from his fellow elves this past year while back in the North Pole because ever since he arrived at the beginning of December he has been entertaining us with his shenanigans. From eating our cereal, to getting stuck in Linus' dog food container, to running down the hallway with toilet paper strung all about, to throwing Hayden's socks all around his room, to swinging from ceiling fans and drapes to toilet papering the Christmas tree. Leroy sure has been busy. This is Fletcher's first time here visiting Landon and he is much tamer. I think he is being on his best behaviour in hopes Santa will assign him to Landon again next year. I think the two elves have tried to make up for their mischief by building some sh'elves' for me in the laundry room. The shelves look great but unfortunately there was a serious injury. Poor Leroy lost a hand. He literally lost his right arm doing the job and it has been difficult for me to keep up with this hand the repeatedly spontaneously detaches from his body. We sent him to Grammy's and she was able to suture him up. Hayden has been upset as he can see his stitches and glue and would like them removed. I am hoping there are no further accidents in the final few days we have them here and hope they stay on their best behavior.

written 12.20.10

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and

2011-05-03T21:04:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Jesus. Hayden was so looking forward to Christmas Day.... Jesus' Birthday. He and I made a cake for baby Jesus complete with candles and sprinkles. The countdown had begun and finally the much anticiapted three day event was here. We had family gatherings planned for the three day weekend with the first celebration starting Christmas eve at 1 with our church service which Hayden was allowed to attend with us instead of Children's church. He has become quite the negiotator and has a powerful persuasiveness when it comes to attending mommy and daddy's church as opposed to his but more on that in a future post. After a wonderful worship service we went to Grammy and Peepaw's. Hayden was tired and was battling pink eye which started the day before while visiting Monica. He had started on drops and although his eye did look better in 24 hours he wasn't acting his normal self. After taking a cat nap on daddy, Jillian and Travis arrived and we had our tradidional family dinner together which was delicious. After cleaning up it was time for presents, we all had opened a few and then Hayden started with a fever and an episode of vomitting. We then packed up early without opening the rest of the gifts and made a stop at our local walgreens for the aresonal of fever reducing medicine including tylenol and motrin. Headed home and prayed he would be better for Christamas. He got up and was still running a fever, was lethargic and less enthusiastic about Christmas than a well version of him would have been. Santa is always watching and he knew Hayden was feeling well so there was some indecision as to wether or not he would leave gifts or come back another night. When we all woke up Hayden noticed that the gifts under the tree had been opened and he blamed this on the elves, Leroy and Fletcher, although it really was my and Jeff's gifts that we opened the night before. Hayden then noticed our stockings were all missing and a search of the entire house ensued. He found them finally in the basement with all the gifts Santa left behind including his new motorcycle. Normally he would have been so excited but poor thing just didn't feel well. After a team effort of unwrapping I walkedc into the playroom and Landon crawled in right behind me to discover a train table and set. He was able to show his excitement since he wasn't sick yet. Hayden showed his entusiasm with a smile. Since he was still feverish grammy, peepaw, pawpaw and dede come over instead of our original plans. We had a delicious dinner grammy prepared and then sang happy birthday to jesus and then Hayden ate a few bites of cake but since he prepared the cake and blew out the candles no one else had any. Hayden didn't enjoy his cake for long as it soon came back up. On that note everyone said their goodbyes and the little ones went to bed. The day after Landon and Jeff went to his parents for their family's Christmas and Hayden and I went to urgent care where he was diagnosed with an ear infection and was still running a high fever. This was the worst I have seen him... lethargic, sick, feverish, tired yet unable to sleep. We spent the day laying around and much of Monday. His fever finally broke Monday afternoon and he started getting his energy back by the end of the week which is when Landon started with pink eye and then a double ear infection just in time for new years. As much as I hated that my kids were sick over the holidays I am ever so thankful that it was just fevers, ear infections, and pink eye. Health is one thing I don't ever take for granted. You hear first hand how three year olds are diagnosed with autism, toddlers with leukemia, young adults with cancers that typically affect the elderly. Everynight as part of our nightly prayers we thank God for our good health and pray for continued health and safety. We are able to provide food for our family, warm beds for our kids, the medicine they needed to get well and the basic neccessities that a large part of the world doesn't have access too. We are blessed to have these things but even more blessed to have recieved Jesus and accept the gift of eternal life that he provided for us on the cross. Several months have passed (4 to be exact) since we celebrated Christmas but the gift we received when He was born we continue to be thankful for. Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and fully embraced the reason we celebrate.

Easter... Country Style

2011-04-20T22:37:00.000-04:00

We headed to springfield for Easter Sunday and the annual egg hunt. We were able to get some of Grandma Hamilton's great grandchildren together for a picture after the Easter egg hunt. After having an Easter Lunch we headed to Paul and Deanna's for Easter dinner and thankfully my pregnancy symptoms plus my medicine allowed me to enjoy the yummy food at both places and for it to stay down. At Paul and Deanna's the easter bunny had left notes scattered around for a scavenger hunt the lead to a basket full of goodies. Then later the kids had an acutal hunt for eggs in the basement since it was raining and this easter bunny was supper smart leaving eggs filled with gold fish for the little ones and candy for the older two. After playing in the basement together a bath tub was filled with little tushies getting cleaned. Jeff and Kevin gave the bath and I think they had more water on them than the three kiddos did sitting in the tub!

Little Helpers

2011-04-20T22:01:00.001-04:00

Our Landscape project that has been ongoing for the past 3 years has finally come to completion with finishing off some lava rock in front of the retaining walls. Hayden is a mini version of Jeff and since he was Landon's age he has been right by daddy's side being his helper or at least trying to help although at times creates more work. He has used power tools, lawn tools, built retaining walls, planted plants, built shelves, painted, cut the grass, hammered a nail.... you get the idea. Well now Landon has reached the age of being a "helper" as well. It is interesting seeing them all work together and how Hayden and Landon definitely have very different and distinct personalities. Hayden is my more timid, think it out before acting child. Very sensitive to others feelings and cautious if not fearful. A tiny scrape can send him into hysterics and if there is blood involved no matter how little it is catastrophic. Ok... maybe I am exaggerating a little bit. Landon is my act before thinking, adventurous, brush yourself off and try again child. Fall down, bang yourself up, bleeding wound won't deter this one from brushing his self off and trying harder. Neither is better or worse qualities just very different from one another and both get frustrated easy. On this particular day Jeff found some worms as he was digging in the soil and offered one to Hayden who very adamantly refused to hold it and wanted nothing to do with the slimy critter whereas Landon thrust his pudgy hand forward and couldn't hold the worm fast enough. After Hayden had time time to think about it and see that Landon was not harmed by this little worm he offered up his palm and held the worm for a few seconds before deciding he 'could' hold the worm but would rather not and so the worm was placed gently back onto the soil. When Landon was finished the poor worm was squished and tossed onto the ground. How I love my boys and how they are different as can be. And after many a summer my landscaping looks great! Thanks to Jeff and his little "helpers" who instead of speeding things up may have slowed him down but he didn't seem to mind.

Misery in March

2011-03-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

You wouldn't be able to tell it by these two but I have been feeling terrible and thus the lack of blog post. I brought in the bubble car and this kept these two entertained for some time. I have mostly been confined to the bed,couch and bathroom and have relied on Jeff and Grammy to help out with the boys. Once again smells make me vomit, food makes me vomit... well just about everything makes me vomit. Not sure if I already mentioned but this go around was no different than Hayden and I ended up at the hospital for an overnight stay of iv meds and hydration and then another visit to urgent care for more fluids. This pregnancy has been the worst as far as sickness goes and has lasted longer than the others. Landon's was the easiest although it certainly was not a breeze and had its share of 15 weeks of vomiting as well. Knowing this is my last go around at pregnancy I am trying to make the most of it. If only plastic bubble cars could put a smile on my face and ease this upset stomach.

Wordless Wednesday-Show Me Those Teeth

2011-02-25T21:58:00.000-05:00

Drills, Levels, Nails and Shelves

2011-01-20T15:34:00.000-05:00

It was amusing to watch Hayden help Jeff build much needed shelves for the kids playroom closet. We have way too many plastic yellow and red toys shoved into the closet downstairs and spread all over the floor. The kids seem to love the toy chaos but it drives me crazy. I continually go in and straighten the playroom only to have someone that is blond and 3 feet tall come in right behind me and undo what I just did. Jeff has had these shelves on his "to do" list for a looong time and I was so excited to see the materials come in with him last weekend. Last weekend the elves, Leroy and Fletcher, built shelves in my laundry room but Leroy lost a hand and had to be taken to Grammy's clinic for stitches so he was out of commission so it left Jeff and Hayden to do the playroom shelves. Hayden got his orange and black power tools and tape measure and was working right alongside Daddy drilling, hammering and hanging shelves. You could see his sense of pride and feeling like he was big enough to be building with his Daddy. Jeff said he was still talking about it today and said, "Daddy, I really like those shelves we built" I know Jeff enjoyed having Hayden working by his side and values being able to teach him some handyman skills just like his dad taught him. It's in these moments I like to step back and just watch. Father teaching son and son teaching father. Both teaching each other valuable lessons which makes me proud of each of them and I got me some nice shelves.

Play Time with Landon

2011-01-20T15:22:00.000-05:00

It's very rare that I get some one on one time with Landon. I think I can count it on my two hands. Usually if Landon is awake and Hayden is napping I am trying to get caught up on chores or preparing a meal but yesterday while Hayden was napping Landon and I went downstairs and just played. I didn't try to multitask and sorta play while folding clothes or checking emails or cleaning up the toys. We just played and it was fun. I had a great time just me and him playing flying baby and throwing balls out of the ball pit and cooking yummy plastic food. The cookie he kept feeding me was delicious. I love that we got some one and one and this makes me want to seize more of these opportunities. Who cares if there is a basket overflowing with clothes, a meal that hasn't been cooked, or toys that are out of place. I am going to try to play with my kids a little more each day. With Hayden all our play time was just the two of us and even with the addition of Landon we have one on one time every morning when he naps and sometimes in the afternoon if their naps don't overlap. It's rare for Landon to get me all to himself and believe me he doesn't mind having a big brother playing right along side him. He always knows how to make him laugh and even how to make him mad. That's what big brothers are for, right?!

written on 12.20.10

Santa Express

2011-01-20T15:00:00.001-05:00

All Aboard! About 300 or so people boarded the Santa Express with us last Sunday and took a 90 minute journey through the country side with snow falling outside the train cars. This was Hayden, Landon and my first train ride and it was just what I needed to get into the Christmas spirit. Jason, Danielle and Kayla and the four of us had a great day. We started off at the train station and made Magic Reindeer Dust to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve, got a Christmas tattoo, and played with some trains all before boarding the train. Once on the train, the conductor went person to person and punched their ticket and then we were off. Kayla and Hayden staring out the windows with excitment and giggling throughout the ride. Beofre long Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way to our care and the children could sit on his lap. Santa pulled his chair right up next to our seats and Hayden could have cared less. He wanted nothing to do with him and refused not only to sit on his lap, byt wouldn't give Santa a high five or knuckles. He does NOT like Santa or any costumed characters for that matter. I knew getting a picture was out so I thought I would try Landon and he had the same reaction.... tears. I don't blame them. Who would want to sit on an overweight strange man's lap that doesn't dress like the rest of the world!? Not me. After Santa came sugar cookies and hot chocolate was handed out followed by a visit from Rudolph. Yet another costumed character that Hayden didn't want anything to do with. After the train returned to the station we ate dinner at The Old Bardstown Tavern, Talbott's Tavern, and had some country cookin. We then made our way home very slowly through the snow covered roads. I am hoping this may become part of our Christmas tradition.

written on 12.20.2010

Landon's First Bash

2010-12-09T14:17:00.006-05:00

The Big Bash is over! Kinda sad but I won't go there again. Landon's first birthday was a success. I think everyone had a good time. We had our usual birthday crowd of about 30. The birthday boy pooped on his outfit right before the guest started to arrive so back up outfit we had to find although this too came off right after the happy birthday song was sang and his lone candle was blown out by the help of big brother. He was striped down to his size 3 diaper and the chocolate red barn was placed in front of him and that cake didn't stand a chance. He has been to so many birthday parties but this was his first bite of cake or shall I say fist full. He wasn't interested in opening his gifts but Aidan and Hayden were and so they tore into 'em one at a time. My favorite two things about birthdays are the gathering of people (I love any excuse to get people together) and the cake. I don't really care to eat cake... I mean it's okay but I really prefer the appetizers and veggie trays... but I love the design of the cake. I love picking out the style and theme of the cake. I know I won't have too much say in them for much longer before the boys start telling me what they want. I have used the same lady since Hayden's second birthday (his first birthday cake was a disaster) and will continue to do so until she doesn't make cake or we stop having big parties. She is amazing and can make just about anything. Not only does it look incredible but according to those cake lovers out there it taste even better than it looks. We had french vanilla cake with raspberry filling, strawberry cake and then Landon's section was chocolate. It was so pretty I hated to cut into it. The day concluded with the kids getting a box of chocolates and a pony on a stick to carry on our farm theme. I thought this was fitting since Old McDonald is the nursery rhyme Landon is sung everynight by Hayden and me. So for the last time I'll say, "Happy First Birthday Landon"

Happy Birthday Landon

2010-12-03T12:41:00.000-05:00

Landon,
Wow! I can't believe it's been a year since I first held you in my arms. All of you as perfect as can be down to your ten little fingers and ten little toes. How you have grown in these past months. From needing me and your daddy for everything. In fact you needed so much that we had tons of help to try to comfort and calm you down in the first few months. Aunt Peggy, Grammy, Aunt Jilly, and Dede were familiar faces to you from the beginning. Your reflux and hernias seemed to make your first four months miserable. Not sure if you truly had colic or not as you seemed to cry nonstop. You were rocked, held, worn, shooshed, swayed, and swaddled all in an attempt to make you feel better. Your daddy and I took shifts caring for you. I got to rest from 1-4 am while you and Daddy got acquainted. The first three months you lived in your swing in the basement while we took turns sleeping on the couch beside you. I tried something I said I would never do.... co sleeping... until your pediatrician scared me into putting you back into your swing. At around 5 months you were doing better and we had moved you into your bed. We eventually had to do with you what we did with your older brother and let you cry it out. It really wasn't too bad on you. While daddy was out of town I helped you to learn that you didn't need to wake up every 45minutes to an hour. After two nights you were sleeping 12 hours a night and boy everyone was thrilled with these. You turned into such a happy baby although you do have a serious side to you. You learned to roll over and crawl and babble just as the milestone charts said you would. You loved to be cuddled and rocked and this time I have let myself enjoy that. With your older brother I thought this might foster bad sleep habits but this time I thought I would risk it since we both enjoyed it. You have a great big brother that looks out for you and does a pretty good job sharing his toys. He loves to kiss on you as much as the rest of us do. Your fine hair and the little you have of it makes kissing you irresistible. You are a picky eater and don't enjoy your milk that much. You quit nursing at 8 months after starting to fall of your growth curve. You don't like veggies at all but do seem to like fruit except blueberries and bananas. You love bread, rolls, and anything that is high in carbs like pizza and grilled cheese. You can thank your brother for the tv you get to watch. He had to wait until he was two to watch cartoons but you've gotten to watch right alongside him. You can also thank him for having McDonald's and other fast food before your first birthday. His love of McDonald's has rubbed off on you as you can polish off several nuggets. You don't really say much that has meaning we can understand although I am convinced you are talking about things that are very important to you. You light up when you see Linus and Papa. You get angry when I change your diaper or clothes and yes you already have a temper. I am sorry you inherited that from me. You tug at my heart when you lay your head on my chest and hold tight to my shirt as I rock you before bed. You love to patty cake and play peek a boo.
I love you so very much and wish you a happy birthday. May you always feel God's love and comfort. I pray that as you make your journey on Earth you grow closer to God and become a man of God. I pray that when great things happen you will praise and give thanks to Him and when things aren't going your way and get tough you turn to Him for guidance and seek comfort in His love. I recently read a letter from a mother to her daughter on her first birthday and she said it best, "I love you completely, and I'll love you always. But even as much as I love you, God loves you so much more - how wonderfully amazing!" This is so true and is the best gift you will ever receive... on this birthday and all the ones to come.
Hugs and Kisses and More Kisses,
Mommy

Birthdays by the Dozen (Almost)

2010-12-02T23:13:00.000-05:00

Wow has November been super busy. We started off mid month with the first two of seven, yes seven birthdays we are celebrating in five weeks. The first party was a 2 for 1 celebrating Uncle Tobin and Aunt Peggy's 50th. It was at Jim Beam and was very nice. Hayden had a great time that day and paraded around like such a big shot. He has been getting some at-ti-tude as of late and that particular weekend he was in good form. We had fun playing games with Aunt Jilly on the ride home. She would describe an object and then Hayden would guess what it is. He was pretty good at it. When it was his turn to describe an object he said "i'm tinking what Daddy's tinking" That got a chuckle out of us.
The following weekend we headed north to celebrate Avery's first birthday. Again, another great celebration. It's fun to watch him and how different he and Landon are. Landon still has that baby look and is not showing any interest in walking, (which is fine with me)he is quiter and more reserved than Avery who is fearless, all over the place and very vocal. He looks more like a toddler and could easily pass for an 18 month old if not older. He was unsure of his cake but after that first taste he devoured it and let everyone know his displeasure when it was taken away from him. My how fast a year goes.

This past weekend we celebrated in a birthday style we had not done before. Pancakes and Pajamas. Too bad it wasn't the adults that were invited to arrive in their pj's. If that was the case we actually might have been on time. This particular morning we started off with two kids that slept in til 8:30 and one of which did NOT want to wear his pajamas. On any other morning it's like pulling teeth to get him into clothes but the one morning pj's are the dress code he's wanting no part. So Hayden was the only one that wsn't in pajamas but I have quickly learned some battles are worth the fight and this was not one of them. I am hoping this becomes a birthday tradition for Addison because it was different and alot of fun plus who doesn't love to start the day off with bacon, sausage, pancakes, donughts and sausage balls.
This weekend will be another two-some, Landon and Grammy. It is bittersweet. Obviously I am glad he is a healthy, growing, days away from being a one year old but a big part of me wishes it just wouldn't go by so darn fast. I love the period of 6-12 months and believe me after the 0-6 month period of hernias, colic, reflux and sleep deprivation I so do enjoy the 6 months that come afterwards. I wish I could just slow down how fast one day turns into the next. I also know that the first year seems to go the slowest because Hayden went from 1 to 3 in the blink of an eye and I know Landon will follow just as quick. I do find some comfort in knowing, hoping and praying that I will get to do this all over again with another baby in the next couple years but what after that. What happens when your last baby reaches all these milestones with no one to follow behind to make it a little easier?

Well I will just enjoy my two teeth, blonde haired, blue eyed, fast crawler baby that is still 0 years old for a few more days. I love how when his feelings are hurt or he's really tired he puts his face down into the carpet in defeat. I love his contagious giggles and his slobbery wet kisses, his hand clutching my shirt as I rock him before bed and sing him nursery rhymes since I don't know any lullabies. I love how he bites his tongue like my dad does and looks like gumbi when he cries. How he loves to be cuddled and refuses to hold his bottle for me. How he 'talks' to Hayden and likes to get into the bathroom drawers and eat Gold bond powder (which poison control was contacted... all was okay)
I love how he is perfectly him.

Firetrucks Up Close and Personal

2010-12-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

Sunday afternoon Ty took us to the firehouse to give Hayden a tour and experience a fire truck up close and personal. Let me tell you Hayden was impressed. He thought Ty was great and the trucks even greater. He sat in the truck, tried on the gear and got a tour of the entire firehouse. I actually learned quit a bit too. Didn't know that some stations run entirely on volunteers (such as the one Ty is assigned to)and when a call comes in it all depends on people to just voluntarily come in. What a sacrifice these men make to leave the comforts of their home and family to risk injury to save others homes and families. I thought that maybe there was a rotating schedule or certain people were "on call" but no it's just the call comes in and whoever wants to show up does. I would think with that comes a big and real risk that one day no one would show up. Actually it was explained to us that usually too many show up and those with seniority get to go on the run. No calls came in while we were there so Hayden was able to see as much as he wanted and he seemed to be taking it all in. I think trains are still his biggest passion but firetrucks are definitely second on the list followed by construction equipment. Thanks Ty for the grand tour and for being so good with Hayden.

Another First

2010-11-23T22:35:00.002-05:00

ok on my blog I have written about alot of first and this is also a first for me. No not about one of the boys newest milestones but a new topic all together. I have never reviewed or posted about a product before but when my sister shared this with me I knew without a doubt this was for me. Shutterfly is giving away 50 yes 5-0 Christmas cards just for me telling all of you that read this little blog about how I love the cards I buy every year. SO this year be on the lookout for our annual Christmas cards and let me give a big shout out to shutterfly for providing them to me this year. The quality of their card stock photos are fantastic. I am not a glossy photo paper kind a gal and some times it's hard to find good quality card stock but I have not been let down by Shutterfly. In fact, I used this http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/baby-boys-1st-birthday-invitations/blue-bubbles-birthday-invitation-5x7-flat last year for Hayden's Second birthday invitations. They were delivered promptly and looked great. Jeff always asks why I spend money on printing invitations and Christmas cards when people just throw them away but I love to hang on to them for mementos and actually save all the cards we get from people for birthday invites and Christmas cards if they are photo cards. One of my favorite birthday cards I have received is this one here http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/invitations/twelve-months-blue-birthday-invitation-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=60388 and used this one for Landon's announcements http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/invitations/twelve-months-blue-birthday-invitation-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=60388 So you can see I use Shutterfly a lot and am a satisfied repeat customer. Hope you will check them out. Promise I will get a post up this week since I didn't last week and we have done some fun and exciting things in the last week.

One of those Days

2010-11-11T21:45:00.003-05:00

Well everyone has them as much as we all wish we didn't but we do. I started my morning as any typical Thursday morning. Kids woke up cooked breakfast.. pancakes, sausage and eggs. I at a few nibbles they ate a lot. Then we did some laundry, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the playroom, cleaned the rest of the basement and vacuumed. The I got both kids ready, the diaper bag packed, Landon's lunch packed, myself dressed, the dog put away and we headed to the car right on time for Hayden's 3 year well child check, Landon's second flu shot, followed by lunch, a trip to Target or Walmart and then for Hayden's haircut at 4 but didn't get past our garage. You see as I was loading the kids up I notice Landon's car seat is missing. Turns out it was in Jeff's truck so we weren't going anywhere. Called and canceled the appointments (for the second time)and instead came in to cook us lunches of grilled cheese sandwiches, pickles and pears. I again at a few nibbles, they ate alot. Then went to put Landon and Hayden down for naps (or rests as we call them at our house) only to have Landon fall fast asleep but poor Hayden layed in his room for an hour and half and finally walked into my room where I was pretending to sleep in hopes he would fall asleep. "mommy I can't sweep, I have too much energy" Bless his heart. I told him it was okay and he could go play in his room with his sticker book and read his library books or he could climb in bed with me. He choose the later and climbed in. I told him as soon as Landon woke up we all could get up and go play outside. I start to drift off when he plants a big wet unsuspecting kiss right on my lips, I smiled and thanked him politely then drifted off again to be awoken then same way except this time he is patting my face in addition to the kiss. So much for sleep but at least it brought a smile. He is so tender hearted. About 15 minutes later Landon is wailing and I go to get home and find that after two hours of resting Hayden finally went to sleep. He slept for about an hour. We then cooked some spaghetti and meatballs again (I am addicted) and this time I ate a LOT and they ate a little but before we ate we played outside on this gorgeous unseasonably warm November day. So although we didn't accomplish what we sat out to do and the dog peed on a bag full of clothes Hayden got for his birthday, the deep freeze had been left wide open for two days and our refrigerator might be acting up again and I burnt the spaghetti sauce it was a not so good day turned great!

Hayden's Three Year Pictures

2010-11-06T16:16:00.003-04:00

For now this will have to do

http://amandagravesphoto.blogspot.com/2010/11/birthday-boy-louisville.html

Once I get my order I will be sure to post some photos on here but for now the link to his sneak peak will have to do. Hayden had his pictures taken the morning of his birthday party and they turned out great. Hope you enjoy.....

A New Kind of Tradition

2010-11-06T09:38:00.001-04:00

Every year since Connor was born we would go to Mason and Kellie's for Halloween. Well, this was the first year we weren't able to do that since they moved to Arizona. It wouldn't be the same without going door to door with Connor and Carson but knowing they would be back in a few years (although by then Connor may be to big for trick or treating) makes it better. So, in their absence we went trick or treating in our own neighborhood which was a first for us. We had family, friends and neighbors over for soup, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert before setting out to watch the kids transform in their costumes and fill their bags with candy, Capri suns and even a diet coke! After getting enough candy to make any one's belly ache we went across the street to movie night at the neighbors. They were kind enough to show Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin before their feature film, Ghost busters which allowed Hayden along with his friends to take part in movie night. Hayden, Aidan and Addison had so much fun and were so cute cuddled up on their blanket sharing popcorn and cheerios while sipping juice boxes. They whispered to each other and laughed together and where the cutest things. Andrea, Kevin, Erin and I had the best view watching them from behind. We are hoping to make this an annual tradition, at least until the original creators of this idea, Mason and Kellie, return. Thanks to all who brought food and fellowship as this made Halloween alot of fun.

Two at a Time

2010-11-05T07:32:00.000-04:00

Teeth that is. Little Landon went from zero to two in two days. Last Wednesday I noticed the white sharpness protruding through his bottom right gum then the next morning I noticed it had a partner on the left. A week shy of 11 months and he got teeth. A month later than Hayden did but without a whimper. From about 6 months on every time he had a fussy few days I would blame it on teething but nothing. Then when he's as good as can be... boom... 2 teeth.

Happy 3rd Birthday Hayden

2010-11-04T22:53:00.000-04:00

Birthday
First Birthday
Second Birthday
Third Birthday

It is so hard to believe that three years ago today a new life was born and a 6 pound 13 ounce baby let out a wail at 4:36pm on a Saturday. I remember the details of that day from the trickle of my water alerting me of his impending arrival, to taking a shower making the bed and folding laundry prior to taking Linus to Mas and Kellie's, to pleading with Jeff to stop and get me a diet coke before we made it to the hospital. I quickly changed my mind and demanded he take me straight to the hospital and skip the coke once my contractions intensified. I remember the shock of realizing I was 3 cm dilated once I was checked in and going to 10cm in under 2 hours. I was anticipating a looong labor and yet what it lacked in length it made up for in intensity. The pain I had no, i repeat, no idea what I was in store for. I thought I would be a silent sufferer. NOPE! I was very vocal. SO much so that the anesthesiologist told me to get control of myself or he would not be able to place the epidural. I quietly complied. Not much later, he was here. Perfect in every way. And at that moment,my life.... our life, changed. I never could have imagined how a single tiny being could turn your life upside down and inside out. I have watched him grow from being totally dependent on me and Jeff for everything to now still needing my help but wanting to do things on his own. To see him crawl and babble to now walk and talk. The words and actions that this little blond blue eyed boy says and does melts my heart. He reminds me of what life is about, loving, learning and growing. He makes me want to be a better person. He makes me want to love harder, forgive quicker and laugh often. I am learning daily about the power of patience and prayer. I hope that he learns from me what I am learning from him. The time has gone so quick and yet I remind myself he is still so small. That in a few more blinks he will be packing up and headed to college, to a life that encompasses more than just his mom and dad and the life we have built in our home. I am trying to burn these day to day encounters in my brain because I know they are just that, blinks and memories.
We had Hayden's third birthday party with a group of about 20 adults and 10 kids. It's pretty much the same group of people that have helped us celebrate his first and second birthdays minus a few and plus a couple. The day was perfect, warm and dry. We rented a large inflatable with bounce house and slide. This was a hit. We bounced in it for a while before the guests arrived and bounced until after dark when the "bounce man" came to retrieve his inflatable. We had great cake which turned out better than I can imagine. A long way from the disaster of a cake that we had for his first birthday. Mickey mouse was his choice and still is his favorite cartoon. This last year he has stayed loyal to mickey although he does enjoy Dora and Diego. He has gotten 3 of his 4 two year molars, expanded his signs and language skills, learned to ride a scooter, drive his jeep, potty trained, swim with floaties, dress himself, attend childrens church and became a big brother. This third year of life has brought many changes and milestones. He is 30 pounds and almost 3 feet tall. He still sleeps great in his big boy bed and still naps about 2 hours a day.
Hayden, mommy and daddy love you very much. God has blessed us with you. I thank him everyday for allowing me to teach you about Him and sharing you with us. I pray for you everyday and hope that I do not fail you. You are a smart, kind and shy boy that is very observant and sensitive to the needs of others. You don't like to see people sad or hurt and you are a great big brother. You have made me and your daddy very proud and want you to know that your are loved very much... now and forever. Happy Birthday; may there be many more milestones this year and many more happy birthdays to come.

Addison and Hayden
Avery and Hayden
Kayla and Hayden

Pa paw with Avery and Landon

Present Time

Daddy and His Boys

Mommy and Her Boys

Preparty in the Bounce House

Happy Birthday Hayden!

Naked Dining

2010-10-28T10:21:00.001-04:00

Naked dining.... sounds scary, intimidating, and downright weird? Well, the only naked dining we have at our house is done routinely by the little blond haired, blue eyed, soon to be three year old. He does NOT like to get his shirt dirty when he eats and since he refuses to wear a bib and always has it leaves him with the only choice that results in a clean shirt after eating. Seems he really only does this at dinner time and mostly at home although he has tried to disrobe at restaurants and other peoples homes. It really is cute. It almost always starts out the same way; he asks if dinner is going to be messy;I reply yes, it might be; then next thing I know his shirt is off and he's sitting at the table ready to eat. It used to just be with tacos or spaghetti but now he really can make every meal turn into a messy dining experience. Foods like applesauce turn into lotion and he is rubbing it all over his belly and chest, honey mustard turns into hair gel and he is running it through his spiky blond hair. Peanut butter and jelly don't stand a chance. So now naked dining leads to shower which then leads to a movie (15minutes), that leads to a book or two, that leads to prayers, that leads to a drink, that leads to me or daddy laying in bed with our phone timer set for 3 minutes, that leads to good night kiss, that leads to sleep. Thankfully the rest of us have learned that food goes into our mouth and that napkins and forks are useful during meals, otherwise the thought of all of us participating in naked dining makes me lose my appetite although that might be what I need to lose these last 10 pounds.......

Wordless Wednesday - Tubby Time with Two

2010-10-27T07:00:00.002-04:00

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

2010-10-26T22:08:00.004-04:00

Last Wednesday I was able to join Hayden at the library for story hour and Landon got to come along as well. For two weeks my work schedule changed and so I finally got to see what happens at the story hour. Hayden was excited to show me all about the weekly visit. Dianna and Kayla joined us as well. Hayden was very nervous that Kayla wasn't coming. Once she walked in he yells out "kaywa is here!" He ran over and hugged her and ushered her into the room to have a seat on the floor next to us. He showed her that I was there and that his little brudder came as well. Several books were read and the kids got jumbo leaf cut outs and swayed them back and forth onto the ground only for the wind to come along and whoosh the leaves up. We sang a few songs and then made a fall wreath with leaves and paper plates. Next we returned our books and after nearly 4 weeks Hayden was finally ready to return The house that Jack built. I had never heard this story before and it has quickly became a favorite of mine and secretly I was disappointed to return it. I tried to check out the old lady that swallowed the fly but it wasn't available. I'll try again tomorrow. The topic of story time was on autumn so I found the perfect book to bring home to continue the theme, Fletcher and the Falling leaves. Fletcher is a cute fox and is very concerned about the tree with the leaves that are brown and falling off. So in the spirit of fall and in preparation for Hayden's birthday, we raked leaves. Well not really we... Jeff raked, Hayden played and tried to help but actually undid and work that Jeff was trying to do and I took pictures and Landon protested. Here's a few I got before my battery died....

Autumn is Here

2010-10-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

Well on the calender it says autumn has arrived but to step outside it certainly hasn't felt like it. It has been warm and dry. I love it! I am not ready for winter and cold dark days to arrive. I do love spring and fall and the 70 degree weather that those seasons are suppose to bring. I will take a warm autumn over an unseasonably cold one any year. I just wish that it doesn't go from being warm to frigid temperatures. Last weekend we not only enjoyed the great weather but we also enjoyed a great weekend filled with family time.

In years past we have gone to Huber's or the local farm, Gallreins, both of which have been fun but this year we decided to check out Deere Farm in Lanesville to avoid the large crowds that have become common at Huber's. It's about the same distance and so with Dede, Aunt Andrea, Uncle Kevin, Addison, Baby K, and Uncle Keith, Aunt Emily, Avery, and Grandpa Abrams we set out for a day of hayrides and pumpkin picking.

We arrived before the farm opened so we got a lite breakfast at a small, local diner if you can even call it that. We were the largest group they had ever served. It was a unique experience to say the least. We then arrived at the farm and the kids had fun playing in the corn wagon, hay maze, and hill slide. We went on a 30 minute hayride which actually lasted maybe 15 minutes than picked our pumpkins, snapped some pictures and headed out for a late lunch.

Grandpa was so kind to purchase all his great grandchildren pumpkins. Mimi would have loved the day had she been with us but at least we know she is their in spirit. It is sad that she never had the chance to see any of her great grandchildren before pancreatic cancer reared it's ugly self. She would have loved on all these babies and spoiled em rotten.
After loading up the crew we went to Rocky's on the River and had some Italian for lunch...... pizza, ziti, spaghetti, and calzones to name a few of what we ate.
It was a fun fall day and now we just have to decorate those pumpkins before the ghosts and globulins start ringing our doorbell next week. Happy Autumn and Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat at the Zoo

2010-10-22T23:17:00.001-04:00

It has been several years since I last went to the world's largest Halloween party at the zoo. It was before I had children of my own and went with the nephews, Connnor and Carson. They had so much fun walking through the zoo at night filling up their bags with candy and such. Several years later here I am taking my two boys to the zoo. Landon obviously didn't know what was going on but cooperated and wore his chicken costume and was content to be pushed around in the stroller one Thursday night. Hayden was so excited to dress as his favorite duck, Donald and couldn't wait to fill up his bag with candy. He was just as excited to see his cousins. Around the zoo we walked stopping at the stations to get the candy, books, and silly bands. The animals were put away so it was mostly seeing all the decorations that had been put in place for the party, including the wicked witch on her bike stuck up in a tree. Addison stopped and posed for pictures with the characters including those from the the wizard of oz which was appropriate as she was dressed as the cutest Dorothy. Hayden wanted no part of the characters. Afterwards we went to Gattiland which was fun and Landon chowed down on lots of big boy food but boy can his cousin Avery really eat. I have never seen an infant eat so much and so fast. If that wasn't enough we then went to a street that is known for their Halloween decorations. About 15-20 houses were elaborately decorated and we took a stroll up and down the street. This was really neat as I had seen about this on the news in years past but had never seen it in person. Afterwards we headed home only to be stuck in construction traffic and sat for over an hour and didn't arrive home until 11:30 which is way past bedtime especially on a work night. Hope you all have a Happy Halloween!

Strawberry Picking

2010-10-22T22:50:00.000-04:00

This is an oldie back from June that I had written but was waiting to get the photos from a friend before I posted. Sadly the weekly play dates have come to an end because my dear friend Erin has found herself back in the workforce after 4 years as an at home mommy. I am happy for her and her family as this is what is best for them right now but am sad as there is no replacement for the friendship and weekly dates we had come to know and love.....

For the past 3 months my college friend, Erin, and her two boys have been spending one day a week with me and my two boys. This has been something I look forward to every week. Hayden loves his pal Aidan and is glad to have another guy friend to hang out with since all his cousins (his age) are girls. Don't get me wrong he loves his Kayla, Addison and Audrey but hey every guy needs a little guy time. This particular week we went to a local farm and picked strawberries. Besides it being oppressively hot and humid it was a fun first for Hayden, myself and Landon although he didn't actually pick any.

First Family Vacation with a Family of Four

2010-10-12T18:41:00.001-04:00

Lot's of new things for our family vacation this year

Landon was outside of my body this year as opposed to him traveling in the comfort of my uterus last year and let me tell you he required a lot more luggage this year on vacation....pack n play, bumbo chair, toys, clothes, bathing supplies, formula, bottles, baby food, blankie, paci's, swimming trunks, baby pool, sunscreen.... you get the idea. He LOVED crawling all over the sand.

We vacationed on the East coast instead of the panhandle.... Florida panhandle has soft white sandy beaches and turquoise water but the Atlantic has wide flat beaches great for kids to play on and long walks, an ocean that is shallow that is ideal for little ones. The panhandle is much more beautiful but the Atlantic is better suited for a family with little ones.

First vacation since 2006 that I haven't been pregnant or nursing so I was able to experience a Mango Mai-Tai for the first time and it was delish.

We had a new experience staying in a resort with two huge indoor water parks which was great for little ones. It meant less sunscreen, heated water and the convenience of taking an elevator down 8 floors and having a lazy river, water slides, kiddie pool, hot tubs, and silly submarine all for our enjoyment.

First time I stayed at a condo that all the rooms are decorated the same and have floral decor. For those of you that know me really well you know I am kind of a vacation snob. Meaning I want my room to have granite counter tops, nice decor that doesn't consist of blue or yellow floral beachy decor. This year I weighed the options, nice adult resort with upgraded amenities, granite counters, neutral color palette, vast ocean front view vs floral decor, yellow walls, more kid friendly resort with an angled ocean view. Obviously I chose the later and it really was nice. The decor was better than I thought, I was less disturbed by the yellow walls than I thought I would be as there where some beige accents, granite counter tops and tile floors, modern and clean amenities. The place was had so many positives that we will be going back for many more years to come mostly due to the large floor plan, kid friendly activities, and the water park.

No rain.... can't remember the last time I have been at the beach without rain. Not just your normal afternoon shower but there wasn't a tropical depression, stalled front, tropical storm or hurricane which we have experienced before.

We (Us plus Jeff's parents) traveled the week of September 11th the the Dunes Village Resort in Myrtle beach. The kids traveled well. We broke up the drive down into two days. After working a full day we drove to Ashville and spent the night. We got in about 1 am and stopped at a holiday inn. The rate was ridiculous so we drove down the street to a Ramada and got the room for $59 plus we all got free breakfast at IHOP with our stay. The room was clean... that's about all I can say about it but who needs more when you are staying for 6 hours. (This was another first. I have not traveled without hotel reservations and knowing where I would be spending the night.) On Saturday we took our time driving and got checked in around 5. Ate dinner at the resort restaurant with two tired kids and then went grocery shopping. The rest of the week we went to the indoor water park every morning which Hayden LOVED, went back to the room for lunch and kids naps, then headed to the beach for the late afternoon and early evening. Paul and Deanna did a lot of sight seeing, Jeff did some golf, I had a few hours of alone beach time. Jeff and I were even able to go out to dinner and take a stroll on the beach one night. We also went to the adult water park at the resort with Deanna one night and Deanna and I went to a Cirque performance which was mediocre at best. The resort also had mini golf that we played, shuffle board, ping pong, giant chess set, and kids program with activities such as magic show, face painting, arts and crafts and balloon animals. The following Saturday we headed home around 10:30 after eating at Hot Stacks local pancake house. The boys did even better on the ride home minus Hayden peeing in his car seat and us having to pull off the side of the road immediately and I mean immediately every time he said he had to potty. The boy downed a 8 oz glass of chocolate milk with breakfast and pottied twice before we left. So 45 minutes later when he said he needed to pee we told him to hold it and we headed to the nearest gas station but not 1 minute later we hear him say ugh ooh. Never good. So after changing him and cleaning the car seat we made it home in little under 12 hours.

Water Park

2010-10-12T16:32:00.008-04:00

Beach

2010-10-12T16:10:00.009-04:00

Mr. Independent

2010-10-06T19:44:00.000-04:00

I find that I keep fairly good track of the developmental milestones for the first year of life and then after that I slowly start to taper off. Well I would like to acknowledge one of Hayden's many milestones he is hitting right now in addition to cutting his 2 year molars just a few weeks before his third birthday. He can now dress and undress himself all by himself. He has been becoming more independent now with the ability to potty by himself (and believe me he asks for his 'piracy' every time), brush his teeth, shower alone and even put his dishes in the dishwasher and fix his own ice water. Now most of these still require assistance, for instance I still have to re shampoo and soap him in the shower, re brush his teeth to make sure all the sugar bugs are gone and hopefully present him with the choice of which outfits to put on or else he comes out looking like this..........

Too small shirt that's on backwards, although good choice with a CATS jersey, orange shorts that are too small and on backwards. He also thinks that he can wash his own clothes now. I spent the better half of five minutes searching for his UK Tshirt that actually fits him that he won at a church picnic this summer that I know I carried out to the laundry room to wash because Mr. Independent thought he could wipe his heine after pooping on the potty. Well some poop got on the favorite shirt and so I went to wash it. I dug through two baskets of clean laundry plus the dryer trying to find this shirt that he desperately wanted to sleep in. Jeff then went in search of it and it did in fact get washed.... in pretend land! Hayden picked it up out of my sorted piles and put it in his washing machine that his cousin Addison recently gave him. So another thing that he thinks he can do on his own.... his laundry. Now why in say 10-15 years from now will the little boy who wants to be so independent right now change into one that doesn't know how to do laundry or put his plate in the dishwasher?

They say children learn by example but in this case it's not so.... I don't wash my clothes in the nude. Hayden just likes to take all his clothes off and wash and dry then put them right back on.

I'm Back

2010-10-05T15:08:00.000-04:00

Well it seems as if the time management skills I had developed early on are getting worse by the day. I can't seem to make the time to blog. This has been the longest I have gone without posting about the happenings of our life. I think it has been almost 2 months. I know.... I know... I am sorry to the few of you that check for updates and by now I am sure you have pretty much given up. Well let me tell you I am back. I am recommitting to updating at least once a week. It is much more manageable and so less overwhelming that staring at this last of blog worthy events that I want to write about to look back on in years to come. I am wanting to still create a blog book but again this little thing called time just isn't cooperating. It would be an awesome Christmas gift that I keep hinting then flat out telling Jeff that I want but again he has no time either. One of the main reasons I am blogging is not for therapy or because I enjoy writing. I do enjoy comments from those of you that leave them but the reason I am doing this is so that I can read about all these little things that would be forgotten as one day blends into the next. I hope to be able to sort back through the hard pages of a book that contains all these posts. Well one can dream can't she? Any way, sit back and relax and enjoy the latest events, small and big, that seems to make me lose track of time.

Landon 8 Months Old

2010-10-05T13:37:00.004-04:00

This is amongst the many photos that are still on my camera that I had every intention of posting months ago. This was mid August and I snapped some pictures of a then 8 month old Landon playing happily in his room with one of his favorite toys then.... the orange ring, although in truth he liked all the rings but was showing some favoritism to green, orange and yellow. Doesn't play with them that much anymore but they certainly were one of his favorites over the summer.

Put the finishing touches on Landon's room in July sometime. His room has actually been completed since a few weeks after we brought him home from the hospital but it took Jeff about 6-7 months to get Landon's name up on the wall. So now with that completed there is nothing left to be done except admire it as I rock and sing Landon his lullaby's before bed and nap times although I don't think Old McDonald and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star constitute lullabies.... more like nursery rhymes. At any rate I love his room and wouldn't change a thing. I am glad we waited until after his birth to decorate.

Walked into his room and this is what I found.......

2010-10-05T12:15:00.000-04:00

Again more pictures from August....
The day before he was kneeling and peering over the rail so Jeff had lowered the mattress and the next day I walk in and find him standing up and just grinning with his latest accomplishment. Slow down baby boy, your growing up to fast.

I know he is trying his hardest to keep up with that big brother of his but I am just wanting to stay in the here and now. I love the ages they are right now. How Hayden is the protective big brother watching over Landon making sure his needs are met... mommy he wans you ta pick em up, mommy he's tired, mommy he's wanna bottle, mommy he not wanna go da bed. And then there's Landon wanting to do everything his big brothers doing, wants to crawl right up next to him, wants to pull up on the couch and put his face right in front of Hayden's as he lays down. I told Jeff just the other day as we were riding in the car, both boys cooing and talking to each other; Hayden baby talking and making his brudder laugh. I said to Jeff "ya know before long it's gonna be 'He's touching me.... he's lookin at me, he took my toy, he hit me, he won't share'" Jeff's response was it will be no time before are kids are grown and gone at at that point we will miss all the cooing and bickering and just hoping they visit us as much as we see our parents.

Permanent Nursing Strike

2010-08-18T23:04:00.003-04:00

I am sad. Sad that my baby needs me for one less thing. He has over the past two months grown less and less interested in nursing. He wants to do everything but nurse.….Play with toys, crawl all over me, see what Hayden’s doing, look at Linus who’s barking. It was becoming more and more frustrating for me. All the latching and unlatching, biting occasionally although he has no teeth but I am convinced he is teething and has been for well over 6 weeks. I continued to pump and pump to the point of cringing as it was becoming so painful. I was literally pumping 4+ hours a day on the days I worked and an hour on my days off. My body was mutilated and the milk was bloody. (Sorry probably TMI) Anyway last week I decided that it was time to stop. Landon was done and probably has been done for some time but I was able to accept that he is done. I said it... he's done. I just wasn’t ready to stop. I hated pumping, despised the time it took away from everything and everyone else. I hated the sound the pump made, hated how it took so long (45-60) just to get out 4-6 ounces. I hated how I had to wash the pump parts and plan my day around pumping. But I loved nursing (most of the time) I didn’t like how when he wasn’t sleeping through the night for the first 5 ½ months I was the one who had to get up and nurse, I didn’t like how he used me as a human pacifier waking up 9+ times a night and I was the only one to nurse him back to sleep, I didn’t like how he clustered fed for hours, yes hours at a time. How can someone miss something like this? Call me crazy but all of this was worth it. I loved the feeling I had when nursing. Knowing I was responsible for him growing and thriving. That I was providing his food and that he needed me for this. I felt good knowing I was providing the best milk possible, his mommy’s milk. I enjoyed the closeness, the bonding, rubbing on his fuzzy cue ball shaped head while he nursed, the quiet time just him and I. I am so grateful to be able to nurse him for eight months and Hayden for ten months. I wasn’t even certain I would be able to nurse at all. I do wish I could have made it to a year for both of them or at least ten months with Landon but it was becoming a time of frustration for both him and me so it was time to call it quits. I know not every mom can or does nurse and this post isn’t about casting judgement or saying that someone is less of a mom or didn’t love their baby the same as I love mine. This was just what was best for me and my baby and it’s important moms do what best for them and their baby. Cuz if momma ain’t happy no body’s happy. That’s why I stopped. I still had some milk, not enough though. He was falling off his growth chart from at one month old being in the 75th percentile to now being less than 25%. I could have continued to nurse and supplement but the frustration was doing neither of us good. Can you tell I am trying to rationalize this so I don’t feel so guilty. Why as mothers do we do this to our selves. I should be proud and happy that I was able to do this for the length of time that I did and not feel guilty but I really was not ready for this stage to be over with and sadly it is. I read everything I could find on nursing strikes and it didn't seem to matter he was done. It’s hard to believe he is less than 4 months away from being a year. I so love this time right now; where he is still baby but eagerly learning about this world around him. I love you Landon and I thank God for bringing you into our lives. You may not need or want mommy’s milk but you still are a mommy’s boy right now and that I am going to hold onto. Even though you may not nurse I am still going to rub on that fuzzy little cue ball head of yours and kiss your little cheeks. I am still going to sing old mcdonald and twinkle twinkle every night at bedtime although you have started to resist being cradled like a little baby. I am still going to check on you every night before I go to bed to make sure your rooms the perfect temperature and to take your blankie out of your crib for fear of danger. I am still going to love you more and more each day.

A Day at the Museum

2010-08-18T22:52:00.005-04:00

While Grammy was on vacation and Aunt Jilly was still on summer break we visited the Science Center. Last year Hayden and I went with Dede, Dianna and Kayla. This time around the Elmo exhibit was on display and pretty neat. It was very interactive and taught basics such as hygiene, be it washing hands and brushing teeth. There were displays teaching about the body and what the body does such as the heart, lungs, digestive system, musculoskeletal system and so forth. There was even a display that showed how you eat your food and into the stomach it goes before making its way to the intestines and then out of your body in the form of poop. Yes it was actually a turd that started moving when you pulled the lever and I'll spare you the picture. A bit much but very accurate I guess. There was a little market the kids could shop at and a diner where you could make a hamburger minus the burger. The rest of the museum was disappointing. Although it was neat to see how lava lamps work and Hayden was able to do a science experiment with oil, water and food coloring. There was quite a bit that was not age appropriate for Hayden and the other kid zone that was kid friendly was missing pieces and what they did have wasn't all working. I was overall disappointed with the museum except for the Elmo exhibit which is in town for a few months. I would like to definitely check out the Cincinnati and Indianapolis museums. Maybe when mom retires next year she can go with us to Indianapolis and one weekend we are hoping to visit Keith and Emily and check out Cincinnati’s.

Wordless Wednesday- Hayden's Modes of Transportation

2010-08-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Levi Turns One

2010-08-10T14:45:00.005-04:00

We were invited to attend Levi's first birthday party at Kazoing a couple weekends ago. We were really looking forward to going as Hayden loves inflatables, birthday parties, and of course cake. The day before the party Landon started running a 102.9 temperature and thus prompted a visit to the pediatrician for yet another diagnosis of viral syndrome. This time we were told if he developed rash on his hands and feet then he obviously had Hand, foot, mouth. No rash developed and in less than 24 hours he was fever free. Go figures just enough time for him to miss out on the birthday festivities although he didn't know. I am the first to rush the kids to the doctor with any high fever and I didn't used to be this way. It all goes back to when Hayden was approaching a year and was sick with fever for 5 days (low grade), wasn't sleeping well and had typical cold symptoms. Jeff kept urging me to take him to the pediatrician and I kept telling him "oh, they're just going to tell us it's viral and then he we took him to the doctor and exposed him to all kinds of other germs and why waste $20 when it's just symptomatic treatment" Finally I grew tired of Jeff's insistence and thought okay fine I'll take him to the doctor more to just prove a point.... it's viral. (granted I don't examine my own kids or try to diagnose for that matter) Took him in and he had an ear infection. Okay fine Jeff's point well taken. Fast forward a year and Hayden starts with sudden onset 103.5 temperature. Jeff comes home on a Friday tells me Hayden felt warm after he woke from his nap at Dede's house and then he put him in the car and they came home. I felt Hayden said he didn't feel that warm and it was likely from being in the hot car on the car ride home. So off to St. Michael's church picnic where we proceed to be out in 90 degree weather and we stay until after 10pm. We get back to the car and I am changing Hayden into his jammies and man does his belly feel like it's on fire. Tell Jeff that we need to check his temp when we get home and that's when I discover I had a sick kid out in the hot humid weather, bouncy in inflatables, exposing his germs to everyone and trying to win a cake. It was the weekend so thought if he is still running temp come Monday then to the doctors we would go. I felt terrible that I didn't even recognize a 103.5 fever and I do this for a living. Just goes to show that it's best to treat other people than your own family. I tended to brush off things with Hayden but now given those situations if either spikes a temperature than off to the doctor we go. (In case your wondering I think Hayden had roseola that summer as a rash came after his fever broke). Well anyway back to the story at hand, my coworker and friend Lisa invited us to help celebrate her son, Levi's, first birthday. Jeff stayed home with Landon and Hayden and I went to the party. It was a lot of fun for the kids and adults as well. Everyone it seems jumped in the bounce houses or slide down the inflatable slide. Anna, another coworker and friend took some pictures so I do want to say thanks Anna for sharing these with me to post. Levi did great with all the kids and seemed to enjoy his cake too. It's hard to believe he is already a year old. Happy Birthday Levi hope your next year is filled with lots of fun and new accomplishments!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2010-08-09T15:19:00.005-04:00

Every night I rock Landon and sing a few lines of Old McDonald and Twinkle Twinkle little star followed by our prayers. I love this sweet precious time with Landon and try to sear these images into my brain for I know they won't last long. I want to be able to pull these memories out and relive them when he isn't a cuddly little baby. This is my favorite time of the day and I find myself selfishly wanting to put Landon to bed every night. Last night I got home and knew I probably missed it and sure enough I was five minutes late. Hayden has a bedtime routine as well and it has remained the same since he was a baby. He gets a story then prayers although over the last 6 months he has tried to incorporate a nightly cartoon or movie and a drink.... anything to delay the inevitable...sleep. Apparently my routine with Landon has made an impression on Hayden and the other night Hayden was crying out for me. Lately we have started having a hard time getting him to go to sleep. I went into his room and he wiped away a tear and said "mommy I need you to take care of me" what I asked, I do take care of you. I read you a story we said prayers and I even layed down with you for a few minutes. That was my reply. He looked at me and said, "you didn't sing to me like Landon." My heart melted. OK bud what do you want me to sing to you. Of course his request was for the same two songs I sing Landon and then when I had finished that he put his finger to his lip and tilted his head and said "lets think what else you can sing to me." I kindly told him it was late and past his bedtime, we were done with songs, gave him a kiss and told him good night.

On several occasions Hayden has wanted to rock Landon and sing him the songs. He will sing the entire song but when I get the video camera out he silences and wont sing.

Last Playdate

2010-08-09T15:05:00.002-04:00

Little did I know that back in June when the boys and I went to Mrs. Erins house to play with Aidan and Connor it would be our last weekday playdate. The summer months have been so busy and between Erin's schedule and my being off two days a week we have not had any time since mid June to get the kids together. Today Erin started a job! I am happy for her since this is what needed to happen for their family but I am also a little sad. The kids really liked playing together and who's kidding here I really liked spending time with her. We all got along great and had similar interests and it made the days fun to have another family with two boys to play along with. Between the two of us we had 4 boys under 4. Whether it was to the zoo, art sparks, all about kids, incredible daves, henrys ark, gallrein farms, mcdonalds, kazoing or just hanging out in the backyard it was fun. Little did I know when we got together for a play date in their backyard it would be our last. Sad and disappointed are the emotions I feel but happy and thankful at the same time as this is what's best for their family. Erin's husband Darin will be staying at home during the days so I have joked that he will be my new Erin. I am hoping we will still be able to get the kids together but I know that with her starting a new career in sales that she will be consumed with juggling a full time professional career and that of raising two boys and maintaining a healthy happy marriage that there will be little time left over. Now we will just have to make the most of the time we do get together and try for at least once every few months.

An Afternoon with Peepaw

2010-08-09T15:00:00.002-04:00

Hayden and Landon both love spending time with Peepaw. Landon likes the silly noises he makes and Hayden likes to use toothpicks and eat pretzel sticks just like peepaw.

Connor and Carson's Visit

2010-08-09T14:28:00.005-04:00

Yet another entry from two months ago. Connor and Carson came in from Arizona and I don't think you could find anyone more excited than Hayden. He had been waiting patiently for weeks and then his beloved cousins arrive and we have a play date for the zoo planned and out of no where a fever comes. 102 fever. So disappointed was an understatement, tears streaming down his face. "I not feel sick mommy. I not sick" he repeatedly told me. Off to the doctor we went, viral is the diagnosis of course, being a PA I easily diagnose this in others children but the worst plows through my mind when one of my own is sick. Three days later when he is still running 102 fever I am doubting a viral illness. Presumed pneumonia and a dose of zithromax and viola fever is gone and he's back to himself. We finally get to make it to the zoo and really Hayden couldn't have cared less what we were doing as long as Connor and Carson were there then he was in heaven. First to splash park, then to see the animals concluding with lunch at McDonald's and playtime at play land. Turns out a feverish illness with a day long of activity was a recipe for an overtired child that bit a little girl on the leg that led to a timeout and a trip home that my ears still haven't recovered from. Hopefully next time we will be able to spend more time with his cousins and illnesses will stay away.

Imagination at Work

2010-08-09T14:21:00.003-04:00

Kids have the best imagination. Our bathtub turned into a swimming pool the other night and apparently the forecast was sunny as he had his shades on.

Hayden's imagination and role playing has really just started to expand in the last few weeks. One minute he's Diego, the next he's a mailman or driving through the McDonald's drive thru in need of a diet coke. There never is a dull moment that's for sure.

Looking Back on De De's Birthday

2010-08-09T13:41:00.009-04:00

I wasn't kidding when I said we have been super busy. I haven't blogged about events that took place in June and here it is the second week of August. I took a vacation day today to have the time to get caught up and I intend to lay right here in my bed with my computer on my lap and blog until every last picture has been taken from my memory card and put into my blog. I don't even feel like I am halfway there and I have been working for more than 2 hours now. I think I must recommit to blogging thirty minutes a week from here on out. Also I hate how the blog entry's are suboptimal when this much time goes by.

Well once upon a time in a far away land, okay two months ago in Carrolton, we all meet in the park to celebrate De De's birthday. I had started on the post and forgot to finish so here goes:

With so many June birthdays it's hard to find the time to celebrate them all while managing to get everyone together. This year we all were able to get together for Deanna's birthday. We went to a park that was about halfway between us and Keith and Emily. I had never been to this park before and it was very nice with a lake with paddle boats, playground, putt putt and even a train that people could ride on. We stopped at a nearby KFC to take lunch for the picnic and although this was convenient I am hoping next year we will be able to actually pack a traditional picnic. It is just hard to get everyone in one place at one time let alone try to cook and prepare a meal with children, naps, feeding schedules, church, so on and so forth. I am optimistic that we can all manage to continue this new tradition as I think this is the best gift we can give Deanna or any mother for that matter. All she really wanted was for the family to be together and so that's what she got. Hayden, Addison and even Dede and Papaw enjoyed the playground. Grandpa Abrams was able to come which was great considering he doesn't come out a lot since Mimi died nearly three years ago. I think all the kids slept the entire way home after running around and spending all their energy. We made a little pit stop on the way home to see the home that Mimi grew up in which wasn't far from the park. I'd like to think that she was there watching the family play and celebrate her daughter's birthday. She unfortunately died before she was able to meet any of her great grandchildren but I know she would have been a great Mimi to them just as she was to her own grandchildren.

Looking Back on the Fourth

2010-08-09T13:29:00.002-04:00

This was the neighborhoods third annual Independence Day Parade and the second year we have participated. Jeff and Hayden decorated the stroller earlier in the week and then Me and Grammy took the kids in the procession throughtout the neighborhood. Jeff had to work so he missed out but it was a short walk this year due to the heat. Hayden got his ice cream sundae and we actually brought it back to our house becuase it was just too hot outside. This is a really neat little tradition that our neighbors started and every July we look forward to seeing what neat decorations the kids and parents have come up with. This year attendance was down I think in large part due to the heat.

Splish Splash I was taking a Bath

2010-08-09T13:21:00.002-04:00

After the Fourth of July parade mom and I decide to put Landon in the sick for a quick wash. He has started biting down on his tongue and thrusting his tongue out of his mouth. Mom and I both were laughing and said it reminds us of Peepaw. He does this too and I think this must be a trait that Landon got from his Peepaw. It is much cuter on a 7 month old (although I still don't think it's very cute). Hayden watched us bathe Landon and a few days later he insisted on getting a "wash" in the sink instead of his usual shower. He has long given up taking a bath in the tub.

Another First

2010-08-09T13:02:00.004-04:00

Tuesday July 6th was another first for Hayden. First trip to the dentist. He was not looking forward to this. Every time I would mention go to the dentist he would cry or whine and tell me he didn't want to go to the dentist. Not sure where he got this from as neither Jeff nor I dislike the dentist. Not even sure how he knew what a dentist was. I tried to prep him by telling him the dentist was going to count his teeth and clean his teeth. Nope didn't matter; he wanted no part of the dentist. So on Tuesday morning I had to wake Hayden up. (don't you love on the days you have some place to be they sleep in and on days you want them to sleep in they are awake with the first rays of light) Anyway, I woke him up and told him we were going to McDonald's for his favorite, burrito and apple juice, followed up by a trip to walmart for some groceries and toiletries. So he's all excited (mommy never wakes him up to go to McDonald's... he should have been suspicious) We are in the car and pull up to the dentist. He informs me this is not McDonald's. I tell him I needed to make a stop at "Mrs. Kirby's house first (I knew not to say Dr. Kirby or dentist). She has video games and movies in the ceiling and I thought you might want to play a game for a few minutes before we go to breakfast." No I want my burrito. I get him and Landon out of the car and in we car. I am half way dragging Hayden who all of a sudden has shoes that are stuck to the ground and he won't move. We get in he goes and plays a video game. I am inwardly cringing at all the invisible germs that must be covering the game controllers but I hide this well. I get us signed in, show Hayden his name of the tooth and then our name is called, I sanitize his hands and back to our room we go. He really is unsure of this. He won't sit in the dental chair so I sit in it with him on his lap. (Did manage to get him to sit in it long enough for me to take a picture) The hygienist tries to engage him and he wants nothing to do with her at first. Then she wins him over he lets her count his teeth and brush them with a tooth brush but no cleaning is taking place today. He is not ready yet and they don't want to push him. I show him the movie taking place above his head and tell him next time if he sits in the chair all by himself then mommy's friend, Kirby, will let him watch a movie. Kirby comes in and gives him a fluoride treatment then he gets his toothbrush, floss and toothpaste and as I settle up the bill he gets to pick a toy from the treasure chest. First dentist experience was positive and that's a start. We then headed to McDonald's, walmart (where Hayden discovered a miniature sink) and then followed up with a swim at Aunt Peggy's pool

Houston, We've got a Crawler

2010-08-09T12:33:00.002-04:00

I was excited when Hayden was a late bloomer. Not really late but not right on track or the early part of the track anyways. He sat up at 7 months, crawled at 9 months and walked at 14 months. I was hoping that despite what everyone has shared, my second would follow in the steps of his big brother and do things a little more slowly. Nope! I was sitting in Landon's room searching for places to stay in St. Louis and all of a sudden a tiny hand starts smacking on my laptop. Hayden was napping in my bed and Landon woke from his nap and so I went into his room in hopes of Hayden sleeping a little longer. I put Landon on one side of the room on a blanket with some toys to play with and that was it. He was suppose to stay there like the hundred other times he sat before. NON MOBILE! Well you would have thought I would know by now that things to happen according to my time table, each child is their own individual, not to compare one child to the next, yadda yadda yadda. No this mom wanted her baby to stay a baby an immobile baby for just a few more months. I couldn't believe that he quietly army crawled all the way over to my computer. Maybe he saw pictures of the St. Louis Union station Marriott and knew that his daddy and I were planning a weekend get away without him or his brother who was sleeping so peacefully in the next room. Maybe it was a threat. You leave this time I will crawl, you do it next time and I will walk. So get out the baby books and put it down.. Landon crawled on July 8th, just 5 days after turning 7 months. I am hoping he doesn't walk before his first birthday but you would think I would have learned at this point it doesn't matter what I want.

Speaking of St. Louis. It was a great trip! This was the first weekend getaway Jeff and I have taken since having children. Yes we have gone on a week long conference when Hayden was younger but have never gone on a weekend getaway. Actually I don't think we have ever gone anywhere for a weekend that required a two night hotel stay kids or no kids. Jason and Danielle went with us and we all really enjoyed the adult only time and although we all came home sleep deprived (except Danielle.. the smart one of the group). I think we were lucky if we got 7 hours sleep between the two nights we were there. St. Louis is a fun city and I would definitely like to go back but take the kids with us as there is alot of fun free family activities. The four of us were discussing our next destination before we even crossed the state line, Memphis and Chicago seem like top contenders. I just won't let Landon see me planning this trip!