11 months already?

Well, I broke the news to Kate that, as of tomorrow morning, there will be yet another Princess Kate. 

I'm quite sure that she simply doesn't care.  I think she knows that she'll always be my favorite princess. 

But I'm not gonna lie, I would like love to watch the 4 am (our time) ceremony.  However, I like love watching the back of my eyelids a little more.  I think it's crazy how, on the news, they've been interviewing people who have just packed up and headed to London for the royal wedding, just because they "thought it'd be fun."  Is that crazy or what?  Who does that?  Apparently their fun and my fun do not share the same budget.

Plus, I know that there will be crazy amounts of media coverage and I'll be able to soak it all in when I wake up...which will probably be around 5 am because my man usually wants a bottle around that time.  Hamp, not Matt, just in case you got confused. I have two men, remember?


I will tell you though, that I am a big fan of Kate Middleton.  Not that I could even list 5 facts about her (because I couldn't), but that's neither here nor there.  I like the idea of liking Kate.  And she's got great style that appears effortless.  And since I'm sitting here in an old t-shirt and running shorts with my hair in a pony (along with an unidentified number of bobby pins holding back my strays), it appears Effortless and I are the best of friends.  Only, my effortless is way less attractive than hers.  Dang.  I bet M to the Izz-A wishes Effortless and I would have a falling out and wouldn't be quite so chummy.  Then, maybe Effort and I could get a jump start on a beautiful friendship.


And while I'm being all open-bookish and stuff about who I'm a fan of, I'll also tell you that I whole-heartedly would love to go to the Taylor Swift concert that's coming to my area in the fall.  Because Claude knows I live vicariously through every curled tendril on that girl's head. 


Okay I'm getting carried away,  let's get to the heart of this post... 

Hamp is now 11 months old.  And now I wanna cry.  I cannot, I repeat, CANNOT, believe he's gonna be 1 year old next month.  We want him to stay 'yittle'.  So now I'm planning his first birthday party and while planning parties is fun, I can't help but think of his little newborn-self staring up at me when I first held him in the hospital.  Where did the time go?

Shoes are overrated.

Hamp turns 10 months!

That picture isn't even very clear.  I took it with my phone, but for some reason it turned out to be my most favorite picture of him taken during the week he turned 10 months, so I went with it and made it his monthly pic.


And then a couple weeks ago I was visiting my younger sister, Ali (who by the way has given birth to her son, Krew, and I'll upload pics and details soon!), and took this picture-of-a-picture of Kate, from a photo Ali had framed on her mantle. 


The resemblance between Hamp and Kate blows my mind.



Kate - 7 months old

They look so much alike!



Hamp has started talking a lot more now and can say, "Thank you (which kinda sounds more like 'tattoo'), Da-da, Mama, Kate-Kate, and 'get it'.  Yes, get it.  He says that when he sees a toy and wants to play with it.  His favorite toy right now is a ball.  He and Kate can sit on the floor and roll it back and forth to each other.
Cutest. Thing. Ever.

Last week, the kids and I went to the zoo with my friend, Jade, and her daughter, Guilana. 


It was Hamp's first official zoo trip!



riding the train



waiting to feed the giraffes



Guilana and Hamp




Guiliana and Kate




Our tour guide





As we say around here, "plum tuckered out."

Other big news in Hamp-land is that he is finally wearing shoes!  Or at least he did today.  Tomorow may be a different story.  Just when I thought he was gonna forever be known as the 'barefoot baby', he goes and wears some Nike sneaks today.  Big boy.


I know what he was thinking:  I put on some shoes and Mama goes ahead and busts out a full photo session.  Dang.

But he was a good sport.

Oh my word - this next picture reminds me that I almost forgot to tell ya'll that he has 4 teeth!

Check out those long hairs around his ears that I refuse to cut!  Just can't do it yet.



Gettin' springy with it

Spring has surely sprung around here!

The children's department sang in our morning church service last weekend and did such a great job!  Kate chewed on her dress for most of it but took a break every now and then to perform the hand motions with the song.  It was a hoot!

Reese, Sara Gale, and Kate

On Saturday we attended cousin Isaac's birthday party.  They had jumpy houses...and a DJ, who apparently was in high school during the same years as most of the parents because he played songs that made us wanna take off our shoes and pretend we were at a sock-hop after the Friday night football game. The only difference was I wasn't worried about the tight roll in my jeans coming loose while I danced.  It was lots of fun and we impressed ourselves by remembering all the lyrics to most of the songs. 

I managed to take a few pics with the ol' phone:

Hamp and one of his favorite people, JB.

Hamp also had his 9 month checkup last week.  Weight - 20  lbs.  Height - 29 in.   Solid. 

Please do not leave your child unattended on the exam table.  Or at least not for longer than it takes you to snap a quick pic or two with your phone.  That sign is located very close to the one that says to turn off your cell phone while in exam room. 

His new thing is to throw his head back a little for pictures.  You know, kinda like football players hold their chin up all tough lookin' when they take their roster pics.  Hamp T. on the Florida 40 yard line.  He's on the 30! ..20..10!  Touchdown for the Gators! 

Sorry.  Where was I?

Oh yes, Hamp is 9 months old.  And what's a month milestone without a picture to go with it?

Sweet, sweet boy

Here we are!

Has it been a long time or has it been a long time???

Hamp is now 8 months old!  He's standing, beginning to crawl, has TWO teeth, and is laughing at everything.  He's also 'talking' a whole lot, and I, of course, can understand every single thing he 'says'.  Well, actually he just repeats the same phrase over and over:  I love my mommy, she's my most favorite person in the whole world.  (And I'm just paraphrasing here, but I promise you it's something along those lines.)

He enjoyed his first corn on the cob last Wednesday at church.  And let me tell you, he loved every minute of it - every little kernel.

Oh and I forgot to post his 7 months pic so puh-lease let me do that now:

While I'm sure I've posted this pic before, it was missing it's officially "7 months yada yada yada" and well..you fellow type A's get me, right?

Watching them play together is the highlight of my days!  (Well, that and when I actually get around to taking a shower.)

I love his baby blues!



Kate's class sang in our Sunday morning church service last week.  They did such a great job!  I am so very thankful for our church and church family for taking the time to invest in my children!

Last weekend, M to the Izz-A and I went with our church youth group to a Leadership Rocks Conference in Orlando.  We had so much fun and realized just how old we were.  Seriously.  When in the world did I go from being a member of the youth to a chaperone?!  The before bedtime topic of discussion was a dead giveaway... I'm pretty sure I never discussed what anti-wrinkle face cream works best back in the day.

Kate and I are headed to her preschool's Valentine's party tomorrow.  We are extra excited because it's being held at our local skating rink!  Gonna try to get some cute pics of her and her little school pals! 

Happy Tuesday, ya'll!