Ages and Stages

I was looking through some old pictures of the babies last Spring. I can't believe a year has already passed. My big boy Everett will be turning 3 soon and I could just cry over how time has flown. Each stage of babyhood/childhood comes with its own set of challenges. Now Everett has grown to be more independent, however with that independence comes his will. Every day I feel like I am constantly on him about listening/obedience/sharing etc. It wears me out. However, I often see glimmers of "wow he gets it" or something clicks. His teacher in preschool reported to me a couple of weeks ago how he is so well behaved and obedient. That is one of the best compliments I have ever received! This stage is also very fun. I have "conversations" with Everett now and it is so fun to hear his thoughts. This is him around this time last year..... And my Hampton. He has entered such a fun stage! He is doing so many "big boy" things now like crawling around really fast, cruising furniture, clapping, waving bye-bye, and he already says several words. I remember this time last year feeling so frustrated. Hampton wasn't the easiest newborn and I thought, "well this is it." Now he is such a chubby, content, and very affectionate baby. What a great addition to our family.

There are many, many days I am running on very low energy and I am so tired. Being pregnant is most likely the culprit, but it is also chasing after a 1 and 2 year old. Yesterday I was waiting at the OB office for my 16-wk check-up and I was thinking about this upcoming September when our next babe is due. I hate to admit it, but I almost panicked. Newborns are hard. And I will have 3 kids 3 and under. However, everything is just a season. My goal this time around is to really try to enjoy that stage of life because it passes so quickly. Really, that is my goal for all these stages. I "Google" just about anything and whenever I look up something medical, a website with the header "Relax-we have the answers you need" always pops up. That is what the Lord is always telling me- I have the answers you need. The best comfort I find is in knowing He knows my anxiety. He offers the best help and comfort I could ever find. The best gift I can give my children is to push all worry aside, rest in Him, and truly enjoy them. Children are a blessing from the Lord.

Pizza and Trains

The boys' Gigi (Eric's mom) came to visit this weekend. I worked Saturday/Sunday. They got to spend some great quality time together. Eric even got to finally clean out our garage and it looks so good. On Saturday evening we all went out for pizza and then went to Barnes and Noble to play with the trains. Hampton charmed an older couple at the table near us. I eventually just turned his high chair around and he practically ate supper with them! Everett loves pizza! He also loves his Gigi! And trains! Needless to say it was a good night for our Everett.

Today's Gonna be a Good Day

Today I fought all day between "Wow this day is really rough" and "Today's gonna be a good day." I think the latter won, but it was difficult. Hampton for a good five days now has decided that 6 am is his new wake-up time. We used to count on at least 7 am, and sometimes later. 6 am is not working for us! I was at least happy for the beautiful weather today. I finally got to dress them in some Spring clothes.

This morning Maggie unexpectedly had to go to the vet. I dropped Ev off at preschool and then got Mags. She is going to be okay- she has to have surgery next week to repair a hernia, but nothing huge. When I got home I got to spend some time with just Hampton. I skipped his morning nap today praying that might fix the early morning wake-up. We'll see. I then picked up Everett at noon, but he was having way too much fun and threw the tantrum of his lifetime about leaving. We were almost home when he announced "nigh nigh" was still at school. I turned around and went back to preschool only to discover (after I had gotten them out of their car seats) that he had just thrown him in the way back of our van. Once again, "Today's gonna be a good day......." During nap I cleaned the house like a mad woman instead of resting....tomorrow I think I'll rest. After nap however our "big" activity was playing outside with the water table.....

Pure joy on their faces......

I am with them on the happiness of Spring thing. I was lovin' it as well. 75 degree weather and feeling the sunshine on your face after Winter is pure bliss.

They both have such fair skin. I had to put a hat on Hampton.

I love this picture. It looks like Everett is communicating to Hampton, "Isn't this great!?!"

I love our mountain views. Unfortunately it disappears during the Spring and Summer as the leaves come in. However it faithfully returns in the Fall.

After dinner the boys took a bath, watched a short video, and then collapsed into bed. They were wore out. I am about to do the same. Praying tomorrow morning that Hampton wakes up later. But even if he doesn't, it still can be a good day.....

Weekend

This past weekend was a whole lot of nothing that felt like a whole lot of "stuff." Does that make sense? I guess with two small children a weekend with "nothing" to do, still feels like you are doing a whole lot. Saturday I worked and Eric spent the day with the boys. I have picked up a weekend day of work for the next few months, so Eric will have one day just for the "boys." Saturday they stayed home all day and just played.

Everett giving a little bit of "sass." He almost always protests getting his picture taken.

Everett apparently telling Hampton something very important.

On Saturday night our babysitter graciously babysat (last minute) so Eric and I could go on a date. We went to a local Italian restaurant we have been wanting to try. It was fun and afterward the only thing I wanted to do was go home and lay down. So we went home. But it was fun to get out for a little bit.

Sunday morning Eric graciously allowed me to sleep in.....

A change of Everett's "motivator" for pottying has quickly allowed him to be very successful. He is now telling us he has to go potty! This has made us soooo happy!

Everett asking to do what he always asks to do every morning, "Can I go downstairs and play!?!"

Even though I slept in (well, got up at 7:30.....that's sleeping in around here) I made breakfast. I made cinnamon raisin French toast. This was the boys' second breakfast, but they didn't mind!

That morning we went to Barnes and Noble for a snack and to play with the train table.

We have now started going to church on Sunday nights. The message is the same as in the morning; however the boys have had strange sleep patterns the past few days (waking up really early and taking shorter naps), so we stayed home to get them to bed early. Needless to say they still woke up at 6 am this morning! Hopefully this is a short-lived phase. Another good weekend. I love this weather. I hope it keeps up because I am ready to break out their Spring clothes and play outside!

Trouble Makers

I took these pictures on my phone, so the quality is really terrible. However, today I had the boys play upstairs for a little while. They usually aren't up there very often, except to sleep, and we needed a change of scenery. I was doing something in Everett's room and left them to there own devices for a minute. I came back to find them rifling through my bathroom drawers. They are starting now to get into "trouble" together! They take turns as ring leader. I am so happy they have each other and I pray their relationship continues to grow stronger......even in the mischief!

12 Month Stats

Just for memory's sake, I wanted to record Hampton's 12 month stats. He had his well-baby visit yesterday.......

-Hampton weighs almost 25 pounds and is in the 75th percentile for his weight. I looked back at Everett's stats and he weighed almost 28 pounds and was in the 90th percentile for weight. Big boys!
-Hampton is in between the 75th and 90th percentile for height.
-Hampton is in the 98th percentile for head circumference. The nurse measured his head and recorded the number. The pediatrician didn't believe it and had to do it himself. Sure enough, it was accurate. The baby's got a big head! Just must be a big brain in there!
-Hampton is crawling around like a pro. He has gotten really fast and makes this cute panting noise when he sees something he wants. He can stand and hold onto furniture without assistance, however is not cruising yet. He also takes steps when you hold his hands.
-Hampton's fine motor skills were great! He is doing everything he is supposed to be doing.
-Communication and social skills are excellent. He babbles at us like he is having a conversation. He also points at what he wants and started to wave. He has this new game of giving us an object and then taking it back. So cute. He has two consistent words- "baba" for bottle and "ball." He was saying "dada" but I haven't heard that one in awhile. He is doing well at imitation.
-He stills has his hemangioma on his eye, but it is still not affecting his overall eyesight. The doctor said it will now start to regress, however very slowly. It could take a few years to minimize. I have gotten so used to it and I am thankful it is not affecting him physiologically. It is just a part of Hampton for now!
-Overall Hampton is a healthy baby. He is now completely off formula (he had to be weened from nursing at 10 months when I got pregnant) and is drinking whole milk. He drinks his milk from a sippy and is doing really well. For the most part he is completely on table food as well. He loves bananas, sweet potatoes, puffs, cheese, veggie nuggets, and jelly sandwiches.
-Hampton still takes a morning nap and an afternoon nap. He sleeps at night from 7pm-7am. He is a great sleeper surprisingly (he did not sleep well as a newborn!).
-Hampton loves to play, but what I love is that he is a cuddler. He strokes my face and loves to play with Eric's hair. He is my chubby, bald baby and such a great addition to our family. I always catch Everett telling him how much he loves him and it completely melts my heart!

Sunny Day

Today was beautiful. Eric took the boys out for breakfast and I got to sleep in! This afternoon it was up to 70 degrees, so we took the boys to the park/playground.

Hampton loved the swing!

And Everett loved climbing up and down the stairs.......

Everett would only go down the slide if I went with him. Even then he was a bit nervous.

After we left we went to Chick-fil-A for their dinner. I had plans on cooking dinner, but we stayed too late at the park. After dinner, we went to Ritas for Italian ice and custard, which was a big hit. Such a pretty day. The boys were wore out and went to sleep with no protest.

Photography by Eric

Eric was playing around with our camera this morning and took some really good pictures of the boys. I know I am bias because they are mine, but they are so darn cute!

Cabin in the Woods

Last week I, along with my mom, Everett, Hampton, my sister, a my sister's boyfriend went to Gatlinburg, TN for a little getaway. We rented the same cabin that Eric, his mom, and Everett and I went to when Everett was only 3 months old.

The first night we were there we went to a restaurant called Calhouns. Everett really took to Jed.

We went out to a lot of restaurants and the boys did so well! We don't really ever take them out to eat, but now I think we are ready to venture out again.

The next day my mom and I took the boys to the aquarium. It was really nice and they had fun.

This is as close to a bear that we got.

The following day we went out to eat again at another restaurant and then drove to a place called Cade's Cove. It took awhile to get there on a long, winding mountain road.....but it was worth it. We took a driving tour and saw a ton of deer and some turkeys. No bears though.

We also did a little shopping out an outdoor village. Actually, most of the stores were closed. I did find a very cute diaper bag though and had it monogrammed.

Hampton pulling my hair.....again.

On the way back from Cades Cove we stopped and took some pictures in front of a waterfall.

Overall it was a fun trip. I was so pleased that the boys slept together in the same room (their first time) and did so well. I actually think their little noises comforted each other. That definitely gives me hope for the future when they share a room. I am exhausted, but it was fun.