Lynn Meadows Childrens Museum

Do yourself a favor and go to Gulfport, MS and visit the Lynn Meadows Childrens Museum.  It's worth the $7 (or $5 if you have a coupon) Hill and I both had an absolute BLAST!  We can't wait to visit the Childrens Museum in Jackson now and revisit the one on the coast again, hopefully next month!  I was so worried with him only being 13 months old that he wouldn't "get it" and would just stare at the other kids, but Lord was I wrong.  Look at all the fun things this little man did all in one day!

The Museum

There was a Mardi Gras Parade and the Chick-fil-a cow was there!
Hill was not too sure about the cow so I had hold him.
PS - The cow is in the red cape - - not the one holding Hill.

He DANCED DANCED DANCED at the parade

Here is where the parade was and all the people

People were dressed up really silly

We even made silly hats!
Hill had a dog with a mardi gras mask on.

He drove a rocket ship!

Dressed up at the old timey hotel

Shopped in the pretend grocery store

Bought a steak!

Picked out his own crab

Checked out the produce
or 'ball' as he called it then threw it on the ground.

rowed a boat in the green room
Outside the green room was a camera that made it look
like Hill was rowing through the water

There was a disabilities section where kids could see
what it's like if you are in a wheel chair and how to get through
gates.  There was an area where you test your senses as if you
were blind or deaf.  Very interesting.

Played dinosaurs

Explored with his safari hat

Tamed wild horses

Built with big blocks

Listened to the blocks

Met a friend named Conner that has Hill's same birthday!
He is from South Carolina

Looked through the blocks.

checked out the obstacle course

Are you sure it's safe?

Climbing over the obstacle course

In a tent

Watched the other kids pretend they were shrimping

Played in the train car
(I could not get him to leave this area)

Climbed every step to every tree house in sight

Looked out from the top of the tree house

Mama, You So Silly!

Investigated the leaves

Going through the tunnel

Peeking out the other end

And the portal at the top cracked him up!

Wow, what a day!  I took over 100 pictures, but these are just a few of my favorites.  We had so much fun!

We've Got a Biter

And I don't mean biter in the 'urban dictionary' type way as in a poser or a copy cat.  I mean like throw the boy a freaking raw hide type biter.

Last night I was straightening up Hill's room and folding his blanket in his crib when I noticed all these scuff marks on the rail.  What in the world?  I've never noticed them before - - they were TEETH MARKS!  How could I not notice this?  Probably because I don't ever go to his bed with the lights fully on.  I usually dim them in the morning when he wakes up (as I'm half asleep) and have them completely off whe he goes to bed (as I'm exhausted.)  I changed his sheets last week and didn't notice that his bed had been chewed up like a puppy.  They must be new.

Let's talk this out.  They boy is eating wood.  Stained wood...like the weird kid that eats paint chips.  His teeth must be made of steel to do this type of damage to the bed and not break his teeth in half.  His 6 teeth, mind you.  We do brush, which is good because we must get all the wood particles and stain out from between his teeth.  Gee whiz.  He's way to tiny to be in a big boy bed.  He'd fall out because he's a crazy all over the bed sleeper.  I thought I would have to battle him trying to climb out of the crib - - it never crossed my mind I'd have to battle him eating his crib.  Seriously.

Here is the damage.  I'm not sure if you can see it well because I took the pictures with my phone. 
It's a picture of the railing with all the little scuff marks from him just standing up and gnawing on it.

Yes, I have three dogs and one would think I would know how to handle this.  I don't, NONE of my dogs went through a chewing phase, ever.  Not even my chocolate lab.  I guess this is what I get since I'm such a dog lover - a kid that chews up the furniture, but not dogs that chew the furniture.  Foxy Mama did eat a shoe one time, but I just spanked her with it and she never did it again.  I can't spank Hill with his bed.  I can't buy that Bitter Bite Spray so he won't chew on his crib...or can I?  My goodness, his poor teeth.  That can't be good. 

Ok, I just called the dentist to figure out what I need to do.  They make a teething rail for the crib.  Hello!  So glad my son is not the only furniture eater in the world.  I guess I have to go buy some rubbery stuff to put over it.  Lord knows with those chompers he'd start biting off the rubber.  Wonder what tastes better, wood or rubber?  Wonder what is more of a choking hazard, wood or rubber?

I will keep you posted on how that works out.  Good thing they don't use lead base paint anymore.

Boys, Tractors, & Man Caves

There is something about boys and tractors.  Maybe it's the big tires, maybe it's the earth moving capabilities, maybe it has something to do with the sound of the engine making testosterone levels rise.  I can't explain it, but it reminds me of how my chocolate lab Foster loves it when Chip goes duck hunting and brings home ducks.  Foster Goes Ballistic.  The dog has never been hunting a day in his life but acts like he waded out in the cold water to bring in the ducks himself.  It's instinct.  That's the only analogy that explains boys and tractors....it's instinct that they love them.
With that said, Mr. Brent, our awesome neighbor, came over on his tractor Sunday.  He took Hill for a spin and Hill was in awe.

I love it, Mr. Brent!

I'm on a tractor!

Watch, Mom!  We're gonna drive!

Off they went down the road

But they came back

Hill had to do a little work on the lug nuts

Mama! This tire is as big as I am!

Dada showing him man stuff.

Then Mr. Brent smoothed out our driveway.
Is's so handy having handy neighbors with handy toys.

Hill dreaming of how one day he too can have fun toys.

Still in awe over the awesome-ness.

But...But...come back tractor!

Oh, pooey.  Maybe I'll just sit here until he brings it back.

Or better yet, I'll chase after him!

It made Dada sad too.
Guess we will just have to wait for Mr. Brent to come back soon.

OR

We could just go over to Mr. Brent's house to play!

Yay!  We love it at the Davis house!

Mrs. Leigh Ann is there and we love playing with her!

Dirty Butt
Such a little boy

We get kisses from Libby

We played in Mr. Brent's Man Cave

He has a pool table!
It has tons and tons of balls to throw into the pockets!

Rack em' up!

He has an air compressor in his man cave too!

It doesn't get more manly than a day of tractors, pool tables, air compressors and man caves!

Thanks, Brent and Leigh Ann!  You guys are the best.  My little boy sure does love ya'll!

(and the cupcakes you sent home with us)

Did anyone by chance notice that Thursday we had snow pictures and Sunday we are in short sleeves?

Welcome to Mississippi!

The Haircut That Changed My Life

So who knew that someone else getting a haircut could turn my world upside down?  Look at how just a simple trim of my little baby's hair turned him into a little boy in mere nanoseconds.  First haircuts are emotional.  Almost as much as the birthing part.  He didn't cry, but I sure did get a little misty eyed.
*Sniff Sniff

Before
(tiny precious baby)

Before
(sweet baby mullet)

Here we go!

I think it was painful for Hill too.
He did absolutely WONDERFUL though.
Didn't fuss and kept a good grip on Ms. Jackie's
little toy truck.
(PS - How cute is the little camo cape?)

In process
(can you see the transformation of baby to boy?)

Are we done yet?
I've gotta take this truck off roading.

Ta Da!
All done!  He's officially a little boy!

With no baby mullet

SNOW DAY Part 1

Last Wednesday, February 9th we had TONS of snow.  Not like sleet rainy ice slush snow - Like real Colorado powdery fluffy make a snowman snow.  Since Hill was in the process of getting over bronchitis we didn't let him get down and play in it.  We just took a few pictures to document the event then pulled him down the street in the wagon. Here are a few pictures (Part 2 will be the pictures our neighbor took that I'm waiting on)

This is my car as I left work. 
Only a couple hours of snowfall.

Me and Hill
This outfit reminded me of "A Christmas Story" with Ralphie's little
brother all bundled up to where he can't move.  Hill had the spring action going on.
He couldn't sit up - he'd fall over on his back.  Poor fella.

My sweet guys

Sweet Snow Bunny and Hubby

Chip pulling Hill in the wagon
See, the umbrella can be used for rain, sun or snow!

Evening Snow Stroll

Hill said, "Parents! What are we doing?"

I changed him out of his "Christmas Story" outfit into
something he could actually move around in.
His Columbia Jester fleece rocks!

The Simpsons House
(Our neighbors)

Foster...Don't Eat The Yellow Snow!

I'm not sure if you can tell what this is...
It's Foster laying down smiling with Chip's Griswald Cousin Eddie
rabbit fur lined hat on his head.

Part 2 to come once my neighbor emails her pictures to me.  Hurry up, Leigh Ann!  Just kidding, Love.

Officially A Race Participant

Hello...who would it be that registered to participate in her first 5K on April 9th?
Ummm - that would be ME!  I'm either on some serious crack or maybe it's because my inspirational, fabulous, patient friend / trainer is awesome and has super faith in me.  There it is ladies and gents...in black and white and screenshot proof!  See below... it's true.  There is no backing out now, I've paid and you all know what a tight wad I am - - so I have to do it now.  No time for re-negotiations.

I am also registering for the Double Decker 5K at the end of April.  I was going to register today since I have had this sudden burst of faith in myself, but for some reason it's not set up online yet.    I'll keep you posted.

The Secret Parenthood Society, Exposed! Thanks to Dr. Pepper

It's late.  I'm tired, but I can't sleep.  I guess it's because I fell off the wagon and drank a Dr. Pepper at the movies tonight.  I use to could drink a coke and then go to bed but maybe since I stopped drinking them for new years my body is in shock.  Either way.  I'm awake.
I watched Hill sleep for a while, that made me sad because he's such a little boy now and not a tiny baby anymore.  I think him getting his first haircut made me totally change my perspective of him.  Is that weird?  He's like a little human boy now.  So grown and independent with his own little identity.  He's a total mama's boy, which I eat up, but time is just flying by.  Way. To. Fast.  Where is my tiny baby that woke up one morning to be replaced with a busy body toddler?  Flash.  Don't blink.  It's gone.  I know I've said it before and it's totally cliche, but where does the time go?
The other day Chip and I were talking about how everyone says to you when you are pregnant, "Your life is totally going to change.  Things will never be the same once the baby comes."  No kidding.  We expect change.  There is a total other person in our house that is totally dependent on us.  So they were right, to an extent...but never really elaborated.  We just assumed - yeah, yeah, dirty diapers, late nights, yadda yadda, but that's not it.  Sure you have the normal baby things, you reprioritize your routine, some things become more important than other things that you use to thrive on, but that's still not it.  "Those people" never really tell you that your life is going to change because you see things totally different.  You see people totally different.  Relationships change.  People's colors seem to shine through, some good, some bad.  It's a totally different perspective on everything, humans, emotions, activities...it has nothing directly to do with the baby...just life in general.  I wish someone would have told me about this.  Is it called maturing?  Is it the shift in responsibilities?  Is it the family unit you become with your spouse?  I can't explain it, but I did want to let expectant parents know that the ol' cliche is true.  Just not really in the way you are prepared for.
Strange.  Deep.  Conversations with Rachel, late night.  No more Dr. Pepper for me.  Anyway, I've just had my and Chip's conversation at the forefront of my mind since then.  I wish there was an explination, which I would give if I knew the answer to...because we keep it real here on No Really....This Is My  Life.  I just don't want new parents to be bamboozled into thinking that when people say "your life is about to change" that it isn't 100% because you are about to birth a baby, it's all about your perspective on things you use to see in a different light.  At least it was for me and Chip.  Just a heads up....don't say no one warned you.  No one filled us in.  If I've spilled the beans on the secret oath of parenthood and am kicked out of the secret society...oops!  Because what do we do on No Really....This Is My Life?  expose ourselves because it's truly my life.  Wouldn't have it any other way.

So now I've come to sit in bed and snuggle with my Goose, but her breath stinks really bad so that lasted like 2.5 seconds.  Chip is on the coast this week so I'm awake, bored and it's officially way past my bedtime at 11:10 pm.  I guess I'll listen to Hill snore through the monitor, Katie Lou snore next to me, Foster breathe hard and Foxy Mama tap dance back and forth across our wood bedroom floors with her clankity toenails.  6:30 comes early when Hill's internal alarm clock goes off and I repeatedly start praying "Lord, baby Jesus, please let him go back to bed and give me 30 more minutes of sleep."  Some mornings I think God hears my prayers.  The other 362 days of the year I poke Chip to get up.  Unfortunately, Chip's not going to be here in the morning...which is in 7 hours.  Dang Dr. Pepper