Little Pumpkin

Hughes and Kent stop for a photo before hanging out Saturday morning!Hughes has really been getting into books lately. He cries when we put the book down. And grins when we pick it back up! And when we're not reading to him, he decides...I can do it...all by myself!
Another book look!

Little Pumpkin!

Bright eyed and bushy tailed!

Hughes first Jack-O-Lantern!

Happy Halloween Ya'll!

Scrub a Dub Dub

New Mom = Washing Bottles & Coffee Cups...who knew that washing baby bottles and coffee cups would become such a major part of our life? I feel like I am constantly running a sink full of scalding hot, sudsy, water! Our kitchen counters have turned into a bottle washing station! There is the dirty bottle station on the left side of the sink. Insdie the sink, on the left side, there is the bowl for the water that warms the bottles. Inside the right of the sink, there is a sink full of water awaiting the bottles from the day. To the right of the sink, there is the bottle drying station. On the stove, there is a small pan, for warming the bottles when we are in a hurry and when the tap water from the sink just won't cut it. On the back eye, there is the large pan of water for boiling the bottles...just trying to keep the germs away. To the right of the stove is another drying station for the boiled bottles. To the left of the stove, we have 3 coffee mugs awaiting there morning coffee!

(Yes, I am aware that only 2 adults live in this sweet home, however, Mama Hen needs 2 thermos cups all to herself! At school, I am getting quite a reputation of double fisting! Energy comes in 8 oz. mugs for me! I like my coffee strong, after all, we have to get lots of little tots learning to read at school and a little tot taken care of, with tons of love and attention when I get home! I love my new job as a Mom and I have a classroom full of sweet children! I am surrounded by precious, funny, and evolving personalities from 4:45a.m. to 11:00p.m.! I am truly blessed. But, should I be looked down on just because I need caffine? I think not!)

All in all, bottles and coffee cups are taking over our life! As I type, Kent is on his way to get more bottles now. Maybe soon, we will have enough bottles to get us through two days of feeding! (Can you see how my mind is warped? I actually found a few minutes to blog and I am writing about washing bottles!!!! Nap Needed!) I will attach a few pictures to make up for this atrocious blog:) Maybe all you other Moms out there can relate and see how I could get "sucked down the drain" with all this bottle and coffee cup washing mania! Two of the sweetest ladies I know! Francie and Jane were hanging out at the Kilmichael United Methodist Church Consecration!

Here we are at Big Daddy and MaLyn's house after church today.

Hughes just looking around taking it all in.

Hughes took enough in and took a little snoozer!

He has officially found his feet...and it is the cutest thing ever!!!This picture is priceless! Our sweet Little Man is growing up and we couldn't be happier. Today is his 15 week birthday! See you all soon!

Go Go Go

It has been so long since I blogged that I feel anxiety about this post! I have learned MANY things over the past two weeks and have SO much to tell you all! However, I don't even know where to start and most importantly end...so this blog will be short with lots of pictures. Maybe this will ease me back into the blogging world without much stress. :)

As I observer our living room, I am reminded of just how tired we all are lately! With school starting back, Hughes in daycare, and Kent just getting out of surgery yesterday we are all perched on the sofa taking it easy. Kent is on HIIS sofa and we are sharing the other sofa. (For those of you who don't know, Kent had his knee scoped yesterday. He had a lateral meniscus tear that has been causing him pain and discomfort for a few months...but he is on his way to recovery and we are ready for him to be back 100%! We think he will have his crutches throughout this week and then he should be able to be back normal!) I am very tired and I AM going to take advantage of the weekend and get some rest!...starting as soon as I tell you guys about some of these pictures!

Here is Hughes sitting in the Bumbo! He is getting to be such a big boy!

Hughes was taking a nap last Sunday afternoon.

Like Father...Like Son!

Baby Boys in Tow! We were headed out for dinner one night!

Sweet Kate napping on our bed! Kim and I have been working on a little project...which you will all learn about soon enough! However, we find the boys and Kate like this most nights that we work on the upcoming project!

Can't you just hear the giggle by looking at this picture?

Hughes was hanging out with Kent before he went in for surgery yesterday! I love that gummy grin!

This is how I left Hughes at 6:00 Wednesday morning before going to school! ...and yes...I cried the whole way there!

School has been an adjustment for us all! We get in bed around 12:00 and I wake up at 5:00a.m. Hughes is really doing great at daycare! We love his teachers and his new school! He is actually in the infant room with Jack...which we couldn't be happier about! Warning: my eyes are getting heavy and I am slowly fading! This post is about to come to a close! We will end with a photo of the patient! Hope to hear from you all very soon!

I know I said we would close with a pic of Kent...but I just can't resist taking a photo of Little One when I get the camera out! Sweet Dreams!

Beach Baby

Hughes made his first trip to the beach last week! We all had a great time. The first day it rained and the truth was...we didn't care! We were so glad just to get away and spend some time together. Everyday we ate lunch at the Sunset Grille! If you ever go to Perdido Beach..you MUST go and eat there. The crab claws are huge and yummy...a must for your tummy! The gumbo is amazing! And this trip I tried the fish taco...well, let's just say I ordered it two days in row! Caution: Don't mix ice cream with the taco though...not a good combination! We had the most amazing waitress Thursday and Saturday. You know when you meet people who are just genuine and welcoming. We could have talked with her the whole trip. Kent and I were able to beach it all day Friday...thanks to Gran! She and Hughes stayed in the condo while Kent and I beached it! They came out to meet us at the end of the day! Hughes loved the beach...(we think...the sun was so bright he kept his eyes closed the whole time:)

Insert: Hughes is waking up from his nap and is ready to eat so I must cut this blog short.

Here are a few pictures from Hughes first beach vacation! We look forward to many more sand castles, sun hats, and crab claws! Hughes getting close to the sand!
Kent and Hughes at our daily lunch spot!

Beach pic before dinner!

Mommy and Hughes at Sunset Grille! How precious is that sun baby?

Our last look at the ocean before loading up to leave!

Gran, Britanny, and Hughes stop for a quick shot on the windy beach!

Tears are actually rolling out from under our glasses at this point...we don't want to go! Savor the moment!

This is the only picture we could find that we weren't TOO ashamed to post on the blog! After looking through the swimsuit beach photos we have come to a conclusion....THE DIET MUST BEGIN!

How precious is Hughes! This was one morning on the balcony...he is still in his pj's!

This was taken before Kent and I went on our first dinner alone since Hughes was born. Gran kept him while we were gone. I was teary eyed the whole dinner and finally let the tears come once we got into the car on the way back! I was so overwhelmed for the following reasons: this is my last week at home with Hughes before I start work and he starts daycare...tear, we are so blessed with a healthy baby, Hughes has wonderful grandparents and families that are so willing to help us out in any way, Kent is such a good daddy and husband (even when I am so tired and am a bit fussy)...and so on. We are so blessed and I am reminded of this daily. Hope you all had a great summer for fall is right around the corner! Let football season begin! Hughes will be going to his first Mississippi State tailgate this weekend to celebrate Francie's 3rd birthday! However, we are not going to go to the game. But, we will take lots of pictures!

Okay...I must go and take care of little one! Hope to see you all soon!

Quick Review

Hughes had his eight week shots last Friday! He weighed in at 10 lbs. 10 oz! He is in the 25th percentile. Hughes is meeting all of his benchmarks and the Doc said he is doing great!

I think the shots were worse for me than they were for him. I laid him on the crinkly, uncomfortable, loud paper doctor bed and awaited the terror. (random thought: Why is it that the covers over those tables are so unwelcoming? I always think this when I go to the girl doctor too! Could we not have at least 400 count sheets for each patient...at least on top of the paper? Don't we pay enough to have something comfortable to lie on while at the doctor's office instead of paper? I am speaking for babies and adults alike!) I digress...Back to catching you guys up on our week. The shots were taunting me by rolling around on the metal tray. I hugged down, face to face, whispering in Hughes ear, "It's alright. Mamma's right here.", over and over until the damage had been done. The nurse pricked his little legs...THREE times! He cried until I popped the pacifier in his mouth and that was the end of his tears for the day! Hughes did very well at his checkup and we are blessed with his health! I hesitate to mention, for fear of jinxing our happiness, yet am so excited I must share with you...Hughes is sleeping through the night!!! Well, I call it the night. He eats about 10:30 and wakes up around 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. I don't know about you, but I consider this sleeping through the night!! However, I am aware that this could change at any moment, I am very thankful for the rest thus far! The pictures that sandwich this text were taken today after bath time. Mrs. Marietta monogrammed this little robe for him! I couldn't resist a photo op. I didn't plan to leave him in the robe that swallows him whole, but he just looked so cozy and comfy I decided to leave him there while I emptied the dishwasher. ( I mean, when a baby is comfy and calm...quick...do something productive!) When I returned to change him into his outfit for the day...the below picture is how I found him. Adorable.

We finally got dressed and met up with our lunch dates! Kim, Susie, and I met up for lunch with our new little ones. They are in order from oldest to youngest from left to right: Jack (Kim's Little Boy), Lainey (Susie's Little Lady), and Hughes.
Hughes then went to Kim's Casa to play a bit more with Jack while I went to get my haircut! While I was sitting in the salon chair, I noticed so many more things that I need to get done. First, I looked down at my fingernails and quickly balled them in a fist! Atrocious...crooked, unpainted, all different lengths...! Then I make it down to the toes. Painted, yes. But how many times have I just gone over this polish! I think every Sunday morning since Hughes had been born I fill in the holes with new fresh hot pink polish, because I know that I will be able to see my toes for around 45 minutes during church and I don't want to curl my toes under the pew the entire time! ( I am also aware of the run on sentences that I type oh so frequently during these blogs, but I don't have the patience to figure them out. please forgive me!) As I stared at my reflection, I quickly realized that I need a maintenance day...I am talking a good 12 hours! From eyebrows to toenails and everything in between! But let's be realistic...who has time for that mess! Just hit the high points...get out the door with mascara, clean teeth, and deodorant and you are golden!

Well, we are packing up for the beach! We can't wait to let the sand tickle Hughes' toes for the first time! Beach picutures coming soon!

Happies!

Over the summer I have come across some things that I am thankful for in my life! I am not talking about my wonderful husband, beautiful baby boy, amazing family and friends, and good health! Of course, I am thankful for these things and I am truly blessed! BUT...Today I am talking about the little things that just make me happy!

1. Pilot G2 Pen! I LOVE this pen! The way the ink glides across the paper...the grip around my fingers...the no fuss click top...I just love it! Any color...any size (do you know they make mini G2 pens!!! OH yes mam!) Honestly, it makes me upset when I can't find a G2 to write with and I have to slump with the blue ink, white body, blue top Bic! I must admit...I am a G2 snob!

2. While we are on the topic of writing utensils...Sharpie markers! Any color any size point! Sometimes I just go to the marker area and drool over the $20 multi color box of sharpies. Then, I talk myself into buying a box since I will use them in my teaching profession. After I have decided to break the bank with the marker purchase...I can't decide between the fine point multi color pack and the thick point multi color pack! Such a big decision that I decide to leave them both on the shelf! Sad story!

3. Sheet protectors!!!!

I would place every document/test/children's writing papers/birthday cards/recipe/address list...in sheet protectors if I was organized to keep up with everything! Flipping through the glossy pages in a 3 inch binder somehow makes me feel like I am doing something important! Recently, I was flipping through MaLyn's smocking plates...which she has in a binder with each design in it's own sleeve! Did I spend 45 minutes looking through the binder trying to pick out Hughes a future MaLyn outfit...or did I just enjoy flipping through the silkly pages? Love

Random Thought: I feel the same way about flipping through the micro thin sheet of a bible!

4. Venus Embrace Razor

I won't rant and rave about all the reasons I love this summer find...just know if you are looking for a good razor (which in the past has been hard for me to find) this is your baby!

5. Quick healthish breakfast/snacks!

If you were to take a trip to the grocery store with us or look in our pantry you would absolutely find these bars! Yummy, quick (most importantly), filling, and little guilt! When Kent and I were dating I put a little care package in the mail for him. He was training for the Ironman Triathlon and I thought he needed a little pick me up. The package consisted of: Itunes gift card, gum, Fig Newtons (the cookie), and a thinking of you card. I researched what foods were good and nutritious for triathletes and found Fig Newtons! So to the store I went...to my surprise they made new Strawberry Fig Newtons! Perfect! Strawberry will be much better than the boring all fruit taste. Fast forward one year later......I found the strawberry fig newtons in his pantry...unopened! My heart broke! After I researched and bought this healthy treat Kent didn't even try them!!!!...He later told me the Strawberry wouldn't have been good...he prefers the boring all fruit! ... I tell you this tidbit about our life to let you know that he tried to get out of the Fig Newton doghouse by bringing home the above Fig Newton bars for lunch one day!...good thing I like them or he would have to pay every time we walked down the cookie isle and we spotted the Fig Newton cookies! (yes I am aware that I am letting you all know just how boring we are...and how often we clean out the pantry:)

...All I can think of today! As I reflect over this blog, I think I have figured out why I can't get out of Target without spending at least $50!!! Note to self: stick with what's on the list!

What little things make you happy?