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!



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!

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!)

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.

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.

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.



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.