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| New Year's Eve 2010 |
2 days ago
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hide your dumplin's, your cobbler, and your cotton
Hamp's little toofy's (that's what we call them around here) have managed to just barely break through. Or at least one of them have!
BUT, that's not what was causing his pain, or not all of it at least. After a trip to the doctor on Saturday morning, we found out that he had double ear infections. Ouch!
After two days of meds and some super awesome numbing ear drops (which means he's sportin' some cotton balls in his ears), he's improved tremendously. We are so very thankful for that!
To celebrate his new tooth, Hamp enjoyed some chicken and dumplings, peas, and peach cobbler last night for dinner! Needless to say, his appetite is strong as ever.
We took Kate to the doctor yesterday because she quickly developed a nasty cough that just wouldn't quit. She turned the waiting room into her little playground and guarded the water dispenser with her life. If we wanted water, we had to go through her. She was the water monitor, if you will. Because this is an excellent idea, for your sick child to put her hands all over your cup before placing it to your mouth.
Here she is taking a sip of her water, but being very careful to keep her eyes on the others in the room.
After getting some meds for my sweet girl, we headed home - but not before a quick swing by Target. Thank you Target, for filling prescriptions in your wonderland-of-things-I-want-but-do-not-need. Actually, I only bought a couple things for Hamp, because the poor boy has been wearing cut-offs, as in cut-off pj's. We've been cutting the feet out of his pajamas because he's gotten too long for them. I would like to say that this is something new we had to resort to, but unfortunately we did the same thing when Kate was a baby.
Before we knew a cough was setting in, Kate spent the night with her cousin, JP (my sister Big Al's son) on Friday night.
The best way to describe Kate and JP's relationship is this: They are each other's biggest fans.
While she was there, my sister sent me this picture through text:
Earlier on Friday we had a playdate with Lydia and Sara Gale....
The girls thought they were big time, playing with the older kids' PSP's (or whatever they are called, I cannot keep up with all the letter combinations lately!) while they were away at school. PS3, PSP, ABC?? Who knows what they were really playing with? Anyway, I've found that if you say any combination of three letters real fast under your breath, everyone assumes you know what you're talking about.
Then it was time for dress-up and chocolate... (pretty good combo, if I do say so myself!)
The good news is that both kiddos seem to be on the upward slope towards being well again.
A few random thoughts before I go:
--Last night M to the Izz-A was out on-call, so I watched the Bachelor for the first time in years. I used to watch it all the time, prior to motherhood. And even though I had no idea who was who, I sat right there and watched it from beginning to end and enjoyed every dang minute of it. Even though B-Rad gives me the creeps. Big time. And if you can creep me out after just one episode, you are cuh-to-the-reep-y. That does not mean, however, that I will not try my hardest to watch you next week.
--If my phone auto-corrects (incorrectly) what I'm texting ONE MORE TIME, I'm gonna throw it. Hard.
--I've found that walking backwards helps your joints to pop and crack less. Explanation: After putting Hamp in his crib asleep, if one of my joints just so happens to make the smallest sound when walking out, he will more likely than not, wake up with a quickness. So in an effort to curb that, I have started walking out of his room completely backwards, all the way from his crib to the door. (Are you picturing this in your head? Please don't.) Discovered all this by chance, my friends. I know, I know, forget Brad, now I'm creeping YOU out.
--I've decided I want to sing Katy Perry's "Firework" to karaoke. Somewhere. Someday. I'm a big fan of the pretty-screaming type singing. But in the meantime, that microphone that Kate got for Christmas is lookin' like it'll do the job.
BUT, that's not what was causing his pain, or not all of it at least. After a trip to the doctor on Saturday morning, we found out that he had double ear infections. Ouch!
After two days of meds and some super awesome numbing ear drops (which means he's sportin' some cotton balls in his ears), he's improved tremendously. We are so very thankful for that!
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| Cutest beginnings of a tooth ever? Very likely. |
To celebrate his new tooth, Hamp enjoyed some chicken and dumplings, peas, and peach cobbler last night for dinner! Needless to say, his appetite is strong as ever.
We took Kate to the doctor yesterday because she quickly developed a nasty cough that just wouldn't quit. She turned the waiting room into her little playground and guarded the water dispenser with her life. If we wanted water, we had to go through her. She was the water monitor, if you will. Because this is an excellent idea, for your sick child to put her hands all over your cup before placing it to your mouth.
Here she is taking a sip of her water, but being very careful to keep her eyes on the others in the room.
After getting some meds for my sweet girl, we headed home - but not before a quick swing by Target. Thank you Target, for filling prescriptions in your wonderland-of-things-I-want-but-do-not-need. Actually, I only bought a couple things for Hamp, because the poor boy has been wearing cut-offs, as in cut-off pj's. We've been cutting the feet out of his pajamas because he's gotten too long for them. I would like to say that this is something new we had to resort to, but unfortunately we did the same thing when Kate was a baby.
Before we knew a cough was setting in, Kate spent the night with her cousin, JP (my sister Big Al's son) on Friday night.
The best way to describe Kate and JP's relationship is this: They are each other's biggest fans.
While she was there, my sister sent me this picture through text:
 |
| Miss Incredible |
Earlier on Friday we had a playdate with Lydia and Sara Gale....
The girls thought they were big time, playing with the older kids' PSP's (or whatever they are called, I cannot keep up with all the letter combinations lately!) while they were away at school. PS3, PSP, ABC?? Who knows what they were really playing with? Anyway, I've found that if you say any combination of three letters real fast under your breath, everyone assumes you know what you're talking about.
Then it was time for dress-up and chocolate... (pretty good combo, if I do say so myself!)
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| Aunt 'Rella made Hamp feel better and gave him lots of cuddles. |
The good news is that both kiddos seem to be on the upward slope towards being well again.
A few random thoughts before I go:
--Last night M to the Izz-A was out on-call, so I watched the Bachelor for the first time in years. I used to watch it all the time, prior to motherhood. And even though I had no idea who was who, I sat right there and watched it from beginning to end and enjoyed every dang minute of it. Even though B-Rad gives me the creeps. Big time. And if you can creep me out after just one episode, you are cuh-to-the-reep-y. That does not mean, however, that I will not try my hardest to watch you next week.
--If my phone auto-corrects (incorrectly) what I'm texting ONE MORE TIME, I'm gonna throw it. Hard.
--I've found that walking backwards helps your joints to pop and crack less. Explanation: After putting Hamp in his crib asleep, if one of my joints just so happens to make the smallest sound when walking out, he will more likely than not, wake up with a quickness. So in an effort to curb that, I have started walking out of his room completely backwards, all the way from his crib to the door. (Are you picturing this in your head? Please don't.) Discovered all this by chance, my friends. I know, I know, forget Brad, now I'm creeping YOU out.
--I've decided I want to sing Katy Perry's "Firework" to karaoke. Somewhere. Someday. I'm a big fan of the pretty-screaming type singing. But in the meantime, that microphone that Kate got for Christmas is lookin' like it'll do the job.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Think About Such Things
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.-Philippians 4:8
About a year and a half ago, I wrote a post about being intentional with your thoughts. (Please visit or revisit that post, or this may not make any sense at all.)
Well, today was one of those days where I had to be intentional about being intentional.
Talk about down in the dang dumps. I'm tellin' ya'll, I simply cannot handle a sick baby. Cannot.
As much as I'd like to think of myself as a pretty positive-thinking person, sometimes I can't just take everything with a grain of salt and go on throughout the day as if everything's okay. I'm telling ya, it's like some days I feel like I can take on the world, whereas some days I feel like I can't even take a shower. Today was the latter. (And at this point, if you're thinking I'm crazy, don't tell me.)
Hamp has been crying for the past two days straight. I'm assuming it's his teeth trying to come in, but he's also a little congested with a cold. My poor little man has been so irritable, miserable, and just plain pitiful and that has a tendency to make me feel the exact same way.
So while I didn't want to 'waller around' in the negative, I decided to focus on the things that made me smile - the little things throughout the day that brought me joy (or kept me from joining in with Hamp and just screaming).
#1 - My big preschooler was so proud of what she made in school today, she asked me to take a picture of it "for Daddy". I love that she's proud of her school work.
#2 - and the fact that she flares her nostrils sometimes when she smiles, just like her daddy.
#3 - This little guy finally found some relief and took a short nap, in my arms.
#4 - This precious, family-sized bag of goodies was left over from our cookie decorating party...AND they were in the fridge, which means they were cold and crunchy, just the way I like 'em.
#5 - seeing that about three-fourths of my grocery list is crossed out and accounted for, because M to the Izz-A volunteered to stop on the way home from his meeting and pick up the things that were on the we-need-it-NOW category. The other stuff can wait.
#6 - watching Kate and her daddy work together on their garage project.
#7 - seeing this little guy get some fresh air and go longer than 5 minutes without crying.
#8 - a pink washcloth and a blue washcloth -- well, not the actual washcloths, but what they represent: A little girl and a little boy who have my heart.
#9 - Leftovers from last night = tonight's dinner
#10 - A couple of new parts and they got it running!
About a year and a half ago, I wrote a post about being intentional with your thoughts. (Please visit or revisit that post, or this may not make any sense at all.)
Well, today was one of those days where I had to be intentional about being intentional.
Talk about down in the dang dumps. I'm tellin' ya'll, I simply cannot handle a sick baby. Cannot.
As much as I'd like to think of myself as a pretty positive-thinking person, sometimes I can't just take everything with a grain of salt and go on throughout the day as if everything's okay. I'm telling ya, it's like some days I feel like I can take on the world, whereas some days I feel like I can't even take a shower. Today was the latter. (And at this point, if you're thinking I'm crazy, don't tell me.)
Hamp has been crying for the past two days straight. I'm assuming it's his teeth trying to come in, but he's also a little congested with a cold. My poor little man has been so irritable, miserable, and just plain pitiful and that has a tendency to make me feel the exact same way.
So while I didn't want to 'waller around' in the negative, I decided to focus on the things that made me smile - the little things throughout the day that brought me joy (or kept me from joining in with Hamp and just screaming).
#1 - My big preschooler was so proud of what she made in school today, she asked me to take a picture of it "for Daddy". I love that she's proud of her school work.
#2 - and the fact that she flares her nostrils sometimes when she smiles, just like her daddy.
#3 - This little guy finally found some relief and took a short nap, in my arms.
#4 - This precious, family-sized bag of goodies was left over from our cookie decorating party...AND they were in the fridge, which means they were cold and crunchy, just the way I like 'em.
#5 - seeing that about three-fourths of my grocery list is crossed out and accounted for, because M to the Izz-A volunteered to stop on the way home from his meeting and pick up the things that were on the we-need-it-NOW category. The other stuff can wait.
 |
| I know ya'll are diggin' my stationary. Don't worry, you can get yourself some from Burger King. And the pen? Teacher supply store, baby. |
#6 - watching Kate and her daddy work together on their garage project.
#7 - seeing this little guy get some fresh air and go longer than 5 minutes without crying.
#8 - a pink washcloth and a blue washcloth -- well, not the actual washcloths, but what they represent: A little girl and a little boy who have my heart.
#9 - Leftovers from last night = tonight's dinner
#10 - A couple of new parts and they got it running!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Turn Arounds, Teeth, and Old Toys
Well, I got up this morning, got Kate all dressed, packed her snack bag, wrote out this month's tuition check, put her good behavior tokens in a baggy to be exchanged for a trip to the treasure box, strapped both kiddos in their car seats, patted myself on the back for making decent timing, and drove to Kate's preschool only to turn around and drive right back home
with Kate still in the car.
Today was not the day that school started back.
Apparently.
When does one learn to actually read the calendars sent home to parents?
The holidays have indeed fried my brain.
So, I turned around - but not in the preschool's turnabout, because I didn't want anyone seeing me (not that there was anyone there to see me. Everyone else was still at home, in their pj's, reading their monthly calendar.) So, I used the next driveway as my sneaky turn around spot. What? I can do that.
I was excited about getting back into routine, I guess. As I've told you before, I thrive on routine. Plus, I was running out of crafts and fun things to do 'round here. We've pretty much exhausted all means of 'fun' around here for a while.
Yesterday we resorted to drawing our bodies on butcher paper. Well, Kate and Hamp's that is. We voted against drawing Mama, because with the height I'm packin', that roll of paper wouldn't be much of a roll anymore.
Hamp wasn't sure what was going on and wouldn't stay very still, which resorted in one leg longer than the other. His legs are constantly moving. Maybe he's born to run?
Hamp's also been quite the drooler lately. No shirt is safe around him, it will inevitably end up drenched, even if he's wearing a bib.
His little gums are swollen and I just know that a tooth (or two!) will be poppin' through any day now.
And I forgot to mention that it snowed for a millisecond over Christmas weekend! Kate had been asking all month long if it was going to snow for Christmas and my response was always, "No baby, it doesn't snow where we live." Well, I guess I didn't know what I was talking about. We pulled Kate out of bed, wrapped her in blankets and took her outside to see it! She couldn't believe her eyes and promptly pointed out the fact that I was wrong. It does snow where we live.
We got it on video, but no pictures. It didn't last long enough for all that.
But M to the Izz-A had decided earlier that week that since it doesn't snow where we live (or so we thought), he'd make some ice for Kate, using the ol' sprinkler system.
And for the record, I tried to start the new year off to a productive start.
Tried.
Project Old Toy Toss will have to be completed during nap time, because just as I went to toss this toy:
with Kate still in the car.
Today was not the day that school started back.
Apparently.
When does one learn to actually read the calendars sent home to parents?
The holidays have indeed fried my brain.
So, I turned around - but not in the preschool's turnabout, because I didn't want anyone seeing me (not that there was anyone there to see me. Everyone else was still at home, in their pj's, reading their monthly calendar.) So, I used the next driveway as my sneaky turn around spot. What? I can do that.
I was excited about getting back into routine, I guess. As I've told you before, I thrive on routine. Plus, I was running out of crafts and fun things to do 'round here. We've pretty much exhausted all means of 'fun' around here for a while.
Yesterday we resorted to drawing our bodies on butcher paper. Well, Kate and Hamp's that is. We voted against drawing Mama, because with the height I'm packin', that roll of paper wouldn't be much of a roll anymore.
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| Love his blonde mohawk! |
Hamp wasn't sure what was going on and wouldn't stay very still, which resorted in one leg longer than the other. His legs are constantly moving. Maybe he's born to run?
Hamp's also been quite the drooler lately. No shirt is safe around him, it will inevitably end up drenched, even if he's wearing a bib.
His little gums are swollen and I just know that a tooth (or two!) will be poppin' through any day now.
 |
| Trying to get a shot of his puffy gums. Kate wanted to show her teeth, too. |
 |
| Drool is cool. And so are orange noses due to lots of carrots and sweet 'taters. |
 |
| Playing with the toys Santa brought me. |
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| Sorry, I got a little sidetracked. Those lips are just too much! Sweeeeeeeet sugar. |
And I forgot to mention that it snowed for a millisecond over Christmas weekend! Kate had been asking all month long if it was going to snow for Christmas and my response was always, "No baby, it doesn't snow where we live." Well, I guess I didn't know what I was talking about. We pulled Kate out of bed, wrapped her in blankets and took her outside to see it! She couldn't believe her eyes and promptly pointed out the fact that I was wrong. It does snow where we live.
We got it on video, but no pictures. It didn't last long enough for all that.
But M to the Izz-A had decided earlier that week that since it doesn't snow where we live (or so we thought), he'd make some ice for Kate, using the ol' sprinkler system.
And for the record, I tried to start the new year off to a productive start.
Tried.
Project Old Toy Toss will have to be completed during nap time, because just as I went to toss this toy:
Kate reminded me with all the excitement that she could muster, "Wait, Mama! I remember that! I love it! I remember it from when I was born in a baby manger!"
So it looks like that turtle is gonna be stickin' around for a while. But only because it was given to us by one of the three wise men.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wordless Wednesday - My Top Picks Are Cooler Than Yours Edition
Alternate title: Identity crisis, anyone?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Strap on your seatbelts...
...this is gonna be one heck of a post.
When it's over, it's over. And Christmas is indeed over. So I will attempt to document a whole month's 'doings' in one post.
It's gonna be long and picture heavy.
Crazy? Maybe.
A little much? Absolutely.
But this girl's doing it anyway. I can't fathom having to do another post about Christmas later this week. We took our tree down on Sunday and we have moved on, and therefore my blog will do the same.
Don't get me wrong, we LOVED Christmas around here! It's the most wonderful time of the year!
And the busiest.
Our family hosted our Christmas Cookie Decorating Party again this year and I must say that it has become one of our most favorite events of the holiday season. We love having all of our friends and family over for one big sugary mess!
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| sisters - Sal Gal and Big Al (preggo and due in March!!) |
And I guess we complained about the hot weather long enough that is actually listened to us and got colder. A lot colder. So many days were spent inside getting creative -
like making snowman crafts wearing old, hand-me-down Halloween costumes. Because that is completely normal.
Other days we just stared out the window and pretended we were outside.
And then we found a new life for the window clings.
Kate had her very first preschool Christmas program. It was a big hit and I experienced that 'proud mommy' feeling that just can't be beat.
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| This is the moment right as Santa is about to pick her up. I love this picture because you can see in her eyes just how incredibly excited she is to be on her way to his lap. |
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| 3 generations that would be 4, but I'm the one takin' the picture. |
We also added to our family over the holiday season and got ourselves some ADF's.
Meet Monster and Griddle.
This year we had a pajama party at church in the children's department. It was a lot of fun and I'm hoping they do it every year! It would be a great tradition!
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| Baby Jesus got lots of attention |
I can't wait to take Hamp one day!
Moving right along...
We had our Christmas party for M to the Izz-A's side of the family the weekend before Christmas.
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| Abbi, Brittany, and me |
And since it was Hamp's first Christmas, we played GQ dress-up, of course...
...and played with the ornaments while hanging out under the tree.
Christmas Sunday was a crazy morning. I realized it was Christmas Sunday while laying in bed around 11pm the night before. For some reason I had it in my mind as the following Sunday. Wrong. So Sunday morning we rushed around getting our Christmas attire ready, well the kids' at least. M to the Izz-A and I just pulled out something that we hoped we hadn't worn recently to church and just called it our Christmas outfit.
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| Sunday lunch at Mimi's |
Kate loved baking a birthday cake for Jesus last year, so we did it again this year. Wait. Actually last year it wasn't so much of a cake as it was chocolate bark. We wrote "Happy Birthday, Jesus" on our chocolate bark with red and green icing and used it as the cake. Some of you may remember that from last year's Christmas post. But this year was an actual cake. It's something we'll continue for years to come. And Kate let me know that, "Jesus likes lots of sprinkles." Well then.
Christmas Eve night we threw out our reindeer food for Rudolph and his friends
and set out cookies and milk for Santa.
Christmas morning brought smile after smile.
Kate even helped him open some of his gifts. She truly is the best big sister ever.
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| Hamp, goin' in for a bite. |
Kate got lots of artsy stuff, which is right up her alley!
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| cousin Kennedy and fam came by for a visit |
And around lunchtime we headed over to my parent's, Papa and Gaga's.
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| I had to post this because my mom looks EXACTLY like my grandma (her mom) in this pic. EXACTLY. |
We continued our tablecloth tradition this year. It's so neat to look back on drawings from years past.
And then we looked and Sal Gal had written 2012 as the beginning of her tablecloth masterpiece...
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| WHAT? |
Our younger sis, Big Al, promptly called her out and we all looked at her in confusion. She had no explanation.
Just got a little sidetracked? Not thinking clearly? Wishing for a speedy 2011? Who knows?!
So she worked hard to fix it and make it read the proper year, 2010.
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| Enough said |
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| B-ball with Papa |
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| cousins |
Hope you all had a very, Merry Christmas!
Now I'm looking forward to New Year's - spending time at the lake with some great friends. Not so much for the lake, more for the friends.
And I really should go grocery shopping now, which is what I should've done instead of typing this post, because I seriously just considered making Kate a sandwich out of Cheez-Whiz.
Even more sad? That actually sounds kinda good right about now.
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