Looking Back on De De's Birthday

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

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

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

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

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!

Peggy's Pool Plunge

What's better than taking a swim in a nice cool pool in the midst of one of the hottest summer's in recent years? Having that pool be at your aunt's house just a few miles down the rode and having two kids that love the water just as much as I do. Actually I think Hayden likes it more than I do. We have not been to Aunt Peggy's and Uncle Tobin's as much as I would have liked this summer but hey it's not over yet so I think we'll manage to get in some more time before the seasons end.

Jeff has pretty much be gone the month of July (hence the lack of time for blogging on my part) helping his brother with the renovation of his new home and boy did it need work. I felt anxious just going over there a handful of times seeing what all needed to be done. I could not imagine the huge undertaking with a toddler. Thankfully when we bought our house and did a complete remodel, kitchen and all, we did so before the arrival of children. I don't think we will be doing that again in our lifetime.

Anyway, back to that relaxing pool. One Tuesday I packed up the kids and all the gear that goes along with taking a baby and a toddler to the pool and met Aunt Jilly there. Peggy was home that day as well and so it worked out well as I learned there is no way I could be there with both kids alone. I did take the pack n play and had Landon in there a while (or maybe that was another day). Hayden has gotten so comfortable with the water. He swims with only his floaties and loves to jump in and go underwater. Jeff has taught him to "shake it off". If he gets water in his nose or in his eyes he literally "shakes it off" like a wet dog shakes off the water from his coat. One night after Jeff got off work I met him over there with the boys and Hayden was so excited because he knew Daddy would throw him across the pool and so father taught son the importance of jumping in the pool. No not the same that a mother teaches.... I taught jumping out far from the side so you don't strike your head on the side of the pool; don't run near the pool; never get into the water if an adult is not in the water; don't swim in the deep end. Daddy's lessons are.... stayed curled up in a ball for the best splash when you do a cannon ball; hold your breath right before you hit the water when I throw you from one side of the pool down to the other; "shake it off", belly flops don't hurt that bad; higher and longer throws of the child are more fun. SO who do YOU think Hayden likes to swim with. Yep, I guess that's why God made mom's and dad's.. to balance out the rules of fun and rules of safety.
Landon has done his fair share of swimming this summer. He likes the water as well but I have learned he needs to be exposed gradually and prefers warmer and calmer water. He seems to enjoy it for about 20 minutes at a time although in all honesty he really has never been given a fair chance at most things including the pool. Poor thing seems like he never gets to finish a nap. With Hayden naps were predictable. I seldom would wake him from his nap unless he missed a feeding as a newborn or we had somewhere we absolutely had to be but we tried as best we could to work around his nap schedule. Poor Landon probably hasn't had an uninterrupted nap in his own bed all summer long. It just seems we always have some place to be or something to do and thus he gets woken up. What a great sport he is because no matter what he wakes in a great mood. He is pretty laid back and usually only fusses when he is tired and wants to go to sleep. He really is an easy baby (now I couldn't say that for the first 5 months of his life).

Summer Picnics

Wow what a long time it's been since I have sat down to blog about the busyness of our life. I love summer and one of my favorite parts are the church picnics. We have been to many this summer, St. Micheal, St Pius, and St Gabriel and I am hoping to make it to at least one more before it's all said and done. Hayden likes them as much as I do and I think Jeff could go to one and be done but he graciously goes with us to as many as I ask. The St. Pius picnic was our first this year and Hayden won a cake and bounced and slide in the many inflatables. This year he was the perfect size for them and given the amount of practice he has had at All About Kids and Kazoing he needed no guidance. St. Michael's was nice because we went with my parents and Aunt Sharon although the chicken dinner was bland at best and it was super humid. We spent about $5 trying to win a cake with no luck and waited in the long lines for Hayden to slide and bounce in 3 inflatables then called it a night. St Gabriel had a wonderful fish dinner (first time we ate there and won't be the last) the weather was perfect and although Hayden didn't win a cake he won two basketballs and I purchased a few books.