Becuase You...

take my breath away...

are the epitome of love...

know that God is bigger than any of us...

are genuine...

ask questions...

find the silly things in the most simple things...

make my heart sing...

think deeply...

conquer curiosity...

listen to your heart...

love details...

know who is the boss...

tackle obstacles...

teach me how to live life...

use your noggin'...

have experienced humility...

choose adventure...

make sure your head is on straight...

play whole heartedly...

have determination...

laugh when I need it the most...

are my world...

Thank you Sukie for always making your photography go beneath the surface to reflect my sons most inner beauty as well. 

Hill's 18 month photo shoot.

August 6, 2011

I'll Take The Blame

Back in January I spoke about my thoughts on the Presidential Bathroom and how I like to use that facility at the office, etc etc.  Well, I've done it.  I broke the bathroom.  I swear all I did was tt but you would think after all the construction that has taken place that I'd stuffed a rhinoceros in the pipes. 

Here's how it went down.  I tt'd. I walk out of the potty to my boss who has just come back in from lunch.  I tell him I flushed and it wants to over flow.  My boss is great, I can talk about toilet over flow with him.  I plunged, he plunged.  No luck.  I broke it.  Then by the next day it was fixed.  Or so I thought until I saw plumbers coming in carrying roto-rooter wire on top of their heads.  (Yes, my thoughts exactly....they know where that wire has been - why do they carry it on top of their heads? Yuck!)

I asked my boss man what's going on? I thought it was fixed?  He informed me that my bubonic pee must have caused some pipe damage (It couldn't quite possibly be that the pipes are older than the beginning of time.)  Mmmm Hmmmm....I see where this is going.  I'm the fall guy.  It's now like a running joke around here that I broke the bathroom.  Especially once the plumbers had to call for back up.  They needed cameras to see what the problem was.  So, this has been an ordeal, plumbers, plumbers with cameras then it got crazier and they busted up concrete in our parking lot trying to find the problem in the pipes - which disrupts drive thru business.  They even put out orange barricades.  Everyone knows that orange barricades and orange cones mean business....serious business. All because I tt'd in the Presidents potty. 

Way to go, Rachel. 

Just Playin'...

We haven't been doing much lately.  You know, the regular - school, work, eat, sleep, play, repeat.  I will say that things have been a little creative around our house lately.  My son is very very funny.
I'll just let the pictures do the talking...

Very intense job putting together the Mr. Potato Head.
You must hold him with your foot and use deep concentration.
(Yes, he has on a diaper)

Then he decided that he needed to play in his sunglasses.  He tooled around the house for like 45 minutes with the sunglasses he got in his goody bag from the dentist the other day.  He rode his choo choo, rode in his car, walked around the house with his head cocked up so he could see "real good."

Too cool for Thomas The Train choo choo.

This picture is blurry, but since I am still limping by with my camera phone it will have to do.  Hill put on my fuzzy soft socks and walked around the house.  He looked like a muppet.

Then he put them on his hands and pet Foster...

Sweet boys

Then he counted his millions...

This is a GREAT task for a toddler.  It keeps them entertained for long periods of time.  I was scrounging for change in our cars, junk drawers and the laundry room for him to put money in his piggy bank.
I took it to the bank this morning and the boy had 80 bucks!  Guess who is buying dinner?!?!  Just kidding, we encourage him to contribute to his college education save his money. 

He's been doing good on the self potty training front.  He's gone #1 in the potty 2 times and gone #2 in the potty 3 times.  We aren't pushing him, but just encouraging him.  Gooooo Little Buddy!  We love you and your silly self!

Can You Hear Me Now? Yes, It's Just Your Personality...

I expected no less than to have a fantastic Friday....given our big days every day this week.  I had an ear doctor follow up appointment in Jackson.  For those of my long time readers and friends you know the awful awful problems I've had with my ears over the past 5 years and then finally they figured out what was wrong in March 2007.  After inner ear reconstruction on both ears over a 2 year span due to cholesteatomas I still have follow up appointments annually.

Dr. House, no not the British arrogant hunk that plays a doctor on TV, but Dr. House my ear doctor that has allowed me to not have to wear hearing aids or learn sign language, is my hero.  Not being able to hear well was probably one of the most frustrating times in my life...more so than living in Ecuador and not knowing what in the world anyone was saying...at least I could hear them even if they didn't speak my language.  More frustrating that having a husband that owns more boats than the Queens fleet.  Anyway, praise Dr. House I'm good now.

While I waited in his office this morning I got to catch up on all the gossip magazines in the lobby - that was fun - I never ever know what's going on in the world of Hollywood anymore because Mickey Mouse and Sprout Channel rule the TV.  I didn't know that J-Lo left Mark Anthony, pure entertainment.  Going to the doctor sort of became like a retreat.  Sick, I know.

Dr. House came in and looked at my ears.  I'm a freak of nature and think it's awesome to get the wax cleaned out of your ears.  It feels good in like a tense-don't-hit-my-eardrum-or-breathe kind of way.  My ears always itch afterwards, but I like it.  I always want to look at it, but am too embarrassed to ask.  I have asked before and I think they thought less of me.  It's like when you get your eyebrows waxed and you want to look at all the hair that came off...or when you blow your nose and you look at it.  You know you do that...don't lie.  Whatever, pretend I didn't talk about that. 

So, my tube is still in my left ear, but my right ear tube has fallen out.  He didn't see the need to put a new one back in just yet unless I have problems with it later.  I asked how everything else looked and he hesitated and said, "good...but if any other doctor were to look in your ears they would freak out, it's like a train wreck.  You have a lot of scar tissue and it looks bad, but it's ok, everything is going ok."  He still wants me to come back once a year.  I don't think I have anything to be worried about, but he said he wants to keep track of any changes or developments.  I feel like an ear science project or a lab rat sometimes.  Maybe I need to get one of those rats that has an ear growing on it's back.  I can relate to him sometimes, well not really, but it would be neat to have a rat with a human ear on it's back wouldn't it.  Great party conversation.

Since I think Dr. House is the guru of all ear issues and knows everything there is to ever know about ears I asked him about Hill and the odds of him having ear issues with his cleft lip.  I'd always been told he'd inevitably have ear problems...all cleft lip and/or palate babies do.  Dr. House said he didn't see why just the lip would cause eustuchian tube issues especially since he hasn't had severe ear problems in his first two years.  So a big ol' yay and hope he doesn't get his mama's ears...he got everything else from his daddy, the looks, the Flintstone / shoebox shaped feet, the short legs and no butt...so maybe he got his inner ears too.

I also told him I was really self conscious that I talk loud.  I know I'm loud, I wish I knew how to be quiet.  Dr. House told me how he has moms come bring their kids into the clinic all the time because they are so loud and they scream and turn the tv up loud...they must be moms like me that webmd the crap outta things...anyway, he said these kids never have ear problems, it's just their personality.  With that said he implied that I'm loud because it's just the way I am.  I think that will be the title of my first children's book, I'm loud because that's just the way I am - By Rachel Hawkins. 

As I was walking out of the doctors office an old lady was getting out of the elevator.  She was a cute little thing - I LOVE old people. So I waited on her to slowly use her cane to come through the doctors office door in her brilliantly colored blue shirt and red lipstick.  She was "presh" wanted to keep her in my pocket. I commented on how I loved her sunglasses, which she was still wearing - in the building - to the 8th floor - on the elevator - the whole time. They were really cute.  They were big, but not overwhelming and were white, grey and black.  Very classy and chic.  She said in her sweet old lady voice that I want to bottle up and keep on a shelf and open and listen to when I'm sad..."well thank you dear, I've had them about four.....................forty years, well maybe thirty five years."  "Seriously," I said.  "You've kept up with the same pair of sunglasses for 40 years?!  I'm doing good going 6 months with the same pair!"  I think this lady needs a spot in Guinness Book of World Records.  I bet she keeps rubber bands, twist ties and panty hose too.  My grandma did - it's from being a product of the depression era. 

Now if that wasn't weird enough for you...I went to eat lunch then hopped across the street to DSW shoe store.  I had gone in there a year ago and bought the best pair of shoes I've ever owned.  They were Corinthian leather, I wanted to be buried in them.  Ok, so I'm kidding, they were Aerosoles, dress heels, black, probably made of fine 'pleather', yet a staple in my wardrobe.  One day about 2-3 months ago there was only one shoe to be found.  I assumed that a certain toddler put one of them in a "special place" like the garbage.  I was sad, but figured it would show up.  After I cleaned my closet last weekend I came to terms that it was gone.  Into DSW I went...what would the odds be of me finding on old shoe, totally last years style, ever again.  I accepted that I would just have to get this years style but same shoe brand, etc.  They had nothing.  No black heel in Aerosole no nada in the whole store.  I felt like the kid that gets picked last for kickball teams, you know that empty gut feeling.  The worker suggested that since it was "last year's" shoe I go check the clearance rack.  I needed a size 7, sad no luck.  They guy was trying to find me something comparable and I appreciated it, but I wanted 'my shoe.'  He took me to the size 7 1/2 aisle to show me a shoe and God Beams came shooting out from the ceiling.  My Shoe!  My last year style shoe was there in a box above the shoe he was trying to show me.  SHUT YOUR MOUTH!  I bought them for like $50 less than what I paid for them last year.  Silly to you I know, but I think I totally see where Hill is coming from with his shoe obession.  If you love it you don't want to lose it.  I think I will start sleeping in my shoes like Hill does.  That way I know where they are at all times.

I wonder if my readers think to themselves....does she really run into old ladies with sungalsses that were bought before she was even born? Do the insides of her ear really look like a train wreck (yes and it required them to cut my ears off!! - - My right ear was sliced off twice, once when I was 6 and my cat jumped on my head - different story for a different time) Yes, I have random stuff happen 24-7...even as a child. Everything that happened in this post happened between the hours of 10 am and noon.  A two hour span.  This truly is my life.  My random life.  I can't make this stuff up.  Only me.  Now, I bet you're wondering if I'm really going to sleep in my shoes - - - aren't ya?

Toothy Tuesday

Every day this week has been a big day!  Monday Hill started a new class, Tuesday he went to the dentist, Wednesday he poo-poo'd in the big potty, today is Thursday and we have his first open house!  I'm not sure what Friday has in store, but I'm sure it's something big at this rate.

Tuesday morning Hill had his first dentist appointment.  Most 18 month olds don't really have a need to go to the dentist at such an early age, but I have talked previously about our concern that the tooth between his top right front tooth and K-9 tooth (parallel with his cleft lip) has come in forwards and backwards not side to side like normal teeth. Of course I researched all the awful things it could be and came to the personal certifiable diagnostic conclusion that he had a cleft palate but skin and tissue had grown over it hence making his tooth crooked.  So our sweet friend and dentist, Adam Middleton agreed to take on the challenge of x-raying a one and a half year olds mouth. 

Our appointment was at 8:30am and Hill was in a good mood.  He walked into the dentist office and was all business.  He helped fill out paperwork - the sweet receptionist gave me an extra clip board since Hill wanted to pretend to fill his own information out.  He had to answer all the tough question like is he a tobacco user?  Is there a chance he was pregnant? Will he be financially responsible for the payment?  You know, the big responsibility questions. 

Then we were called to the back by Mrs. Sharon.  Sharon Davis has been a life long friend and pretty much family member to Chip his whole life.  We love us some Mrs. Sharon.  She was our dental tech and had a bag full of goodies for us.  I swear, I'm not sure that I paid them enough for the x-rays because we got so much loot!  Hill got an inflatable soccer ball, 4 Mickey (or as Hill says, "Ki-Ki") stickers, sunglasses, tooth paste and a tooth brush! 

I apologized to them for having to start their day out tackling a toddler.  I'm sure they weren't excited.  Most dentists would probably rather scrape plaque off a rotton smelly tooth than try and x-ray a tiny mouth...a tiny wiggly mouth.  Hill was a little confused why everyone in the whole clinic was in his exam room or in the hallway watching him. I found it hilarious. I have to say that Hill 'performed' very well.  He sat in my lap in the dentist chair and only fussed a little bit when we had to hold his head still, but they got a good x-ray on the second shot.  Big ol' shout out to Sharon and the other tech.  Whoop!  Whoop!  I taught them a trick that I had up my sleeve.  If you want to see inside a baby's mouth you hold them and then flip them upside down. They think it's hilarious and open their mouths big and you can get a good look at all their teef-ies.

Adam saw that Hill has two teeth coming in between his top right front tooth and K-9 tooth.  I don't really know if it's called a K-9 tooth, but it's the pointy one. The reason why his tooth was sideways is because the other tooth was needing room to push through too.  It looks like there is enough space for both teeth, but one will need to be removed...eventually.  He wants us to come back in 6 months when the permanent teeth are more developed and we can form a plan of action then.  Right now, Hill will just have an extra tooth.  The better to eat his steaks with!  So, that is a sigh of relief that there doesn't seem to be any sign of a palate issues.  Not so fun that bugga boo has to endure yet another procedure of sorts at some point in the future. 

Is this cleft related since it's parallel with his cleft lip?  Who knows.  I'd like to think it probably is, but can't prove it - - even though I am a really good medically certifiable diagnostatrician.  Me and webmd.com can solve the medical problems of the world...one extra tooth at a time.

*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT* Poop!

At dinner tonight Hill announced he had to poo-poo.  I apologized to him and said, "if I knew you were serious I'd stop eating and take you to try, but mama's hungry and I'm sure you've already done your business anyway.  After all, you have never used the training potty!"  He ate a few bites more and announced again he had to poo-poo.  He didn't say, "Mother dear, I have to use the facility" - it was more like "poo-poo! poo-poo!"  I did the sniff test and he hadn't yet.  I asked if he needed to potty and he again said, "poo-poo." I decided the appropriate good parent thing to do would be to stop stuffing my face and take him to his training potty.  

I wearily took off his diaper expecting him to have already filled her up, but it was clean.  I placed him on his training potty and he abruptly said, "NO!" and went to the big potty.  I balanced him on the big potty with his hands around my neck hoping he didn't have to tt because I would become the potty.  He reached to twirl the toilet paper and I probably rolled my eyes thinking how it was a trick for him to just take me away from my homemade pizza to goof off.  Then he got quiet and still and "plop" (don't you love my sound effects?)  

HE POO-POO'D IN THE POTTY!

Chip and I made a really big deal about it, of course, and Hill had a big smile on his face.  What a great thing!  I guess I will start paying closer attention to him when he says "tt" or "poo-poo."  This may be a one time fluke, I don't care.  I'm ready to buy big boy panties and be done with diapers.  However, I am NOT ready for him to grow up.  I guess I can't have my cake and eat it too?  I will just wallow in my pride right now.  I am so proud and he is so smart!

Someone has a case of the Mondays....

I guess when you go on vacation and come back to reality it kind of makes you want to go jump off a cliff.  The other day I was walking out of the back of the bank to take lunch and a car was pulling out of the drive thru...almost hit me.  Sadly enough, I was ok with that.  I literally thought to myself...please hit me, but don't hurt me...just injure me enough to rest for a bit.  How morbidly hilarious is that? 

We've had a busy week since we are getting back into the swing of things. Hill started  his new class at daycare on Monday.  They operate on a school fiscal year so he moved up to Ms. Shonda and Miss. Centuria's class.  Himz a big boy.  I didn't cry. I haven't totally freaked out yet.  Maybe this is going to get easier?

I remember this day like it was yesterday...June 1, 2010

First Day of Daycare
I felt like I birthed him then handed him over to the daycare
I cried for weeks.

 Then there was this time, August 10, 2010...

A mere 3 months later he moved to a different class.
I only cried for like 6 1/2 days.

 Then there is this day, August 1, 2011... A whole year later.

Sweet big boy
I didn't cry at all.
Worry, yes.  Cry, no.

Chip took him to his first day of school and said that Hill clinged onto his leg for a bit then finally warmed up and went to play with his friends.  He didn't cry...Chip nor Hill.  I went to pick him up early that afternoon for swim lessons and they said he had a good day.  He was eating a snack so I think he was content...if he's my son then he knows food is happy time.

I didn't take Hill to school, which is the normal routine, because I had to head to the doctor.  My left wrist was killing me.  It started a few days before and then Sunday it was bruised and swollen.  I couldn't move it, didn't remember hitting it, hurting it, getting in a fight or covering my face as a defense wound.  I couldn't even bathe Hill Sunday it hurt so bad.  Poor kid probably still has shampoo in his hair.  Sunday, Chip took me to CVS to get some Icy Hot, but the pharmacist recommended something different.  He asked, "What did you do to your wrist??"  Seeing the bruising and swelling.   I felt like a timid Arabic woman not wanting to remove her face cover or some secretly abused wife because I answered, "I have no idea."  The pharmacist was on the phone with domestic violence FBI people when I left.  Ok, just kidding, but I was kind of embarrassed.  My new story is that I had to hit Chip to keep him in line.

Long story short, doctor thinks I had a ganglion cyst that ruptured in my wrist.  I am wearing a carpel tunnel brace and it makes it feel nice.  When I take it off Hill picks it up to hand it back to me and says "arm, arm."  Like I took off my arm and need to put it back on.  I'm on anti-informatory and the good news is that they don't feel that they will need to amputate.
 Life goes on...

As on all Monday's we went to Jackson to swim lessons, but this time we stopped by to see Harvey's cousins, the Johnson Girls.  They are so stinkin' cute. 

Emma Grace is fixing Aunt JJ's hair,
Ellie Kate has the balloon and
Emerson is on the choo choo.

All done Aunt JJ!
LOVE the beautiful hot pink bow.  So fashionable.

 Then it was Hill's turn....

All mankind loves Hill's hair.
Emma Grace was no exception.
(those are not real scissors, JJ checked before her hair was to be chopped)

Chop, chop, chop your lovely locks.

We had a busy Monday and that wasn't even including work stuff.  You know the 6,458,532,187 emails in your inbox and 24,000 voice mails.  Love it like I love sitting on the black asphalt on a 104 degree day. 

Yay for Monday being over.  I'll give you the scoop on Tuesday soon.  It was eventful, well sorta.

Fun Was Had By All...

We had a blast on our vacation!  Hill is just like his mama and daddy when it comes to the beach...we all hate the sand and would prefer to be in the boat.  We stayed at Phoenix on the Bay II and had the most awesome condo.  I am picture poor right now because my camera has gone to be with the camera Gods and my step mom has not emailed me her pictures.  Here are a couple I took with my phone.

View from balcony to the right

View from balcony to the left

Hannah, Papi & Hill snuggling on the couch

Hannah & Hill

 As you can tell from the balcony pictures the weather was a little overcast.  It rained every day but always cleared up for us to float around the lazy river, play in the baby pool and even go down the BIG slide!  Hill and I went down the slide together a bazillion times.  Then my dad went to take him down it and the security guard said only one person at a time and you have to be at least 48 inches tall to slide.  Well at least we got our fun in, but Hill was upset he couldn't "Side" anymore.

Every morning Chip and my dad would wake up and go fishing.  They caught a few, but nothing to write home about.

El Capi-tan

The condo even had a great fish cleaning station.

Chip and I were able to go out on the boat just the two of us a couple of times.  Thanks Mimi and Papi!  I love nothing more than flying over the water with salt water and beer splashing in my face.  I'm being serious.  It's the best.  I will say I forgot my sports bra.  Don't forget the sports bra when you are on choppy waters.  You can thank me later.  Chip had this little radio and I'd sit on the front of the boat as he drove and sing my guts out.  He couldn't hear me singing...his loss, I'm sure.

We really didn't leave the compound condo that much.  There was no need to.  We had everything we needed, food, water, toilet, bed, lazy river and boat all in one spot.  We hit up the grocery store and did go to Shipp's Harbour Grill.  Do yourself a favor and eat there if you are ever in Orange Beach, AL.  It's the best food and pocket book friendly.

Hill had so much fun playing with Mimi, Papi and Hannah.  One day Mimi took Hannah to The Wharf and Hannah made Hill a build a bear dog.  It is precious and his name is Snuggles.  Sweet sweet Hannah, she's the best.  Hannah is 10 and had a great time lugging Hill around.  She carried him everywhere and he liked it.

The travel wasn't that bad.  It took us about 5-6 hours.  Probably would have been 5 but you know how GPS systems are...they take you the most random ghetto routes sometimes.  At one point we were driving and Chip was on the phone with a customer who was in a panic about the stock market and didn't know what to do since the government was being so indecisive about the budget.  Should he pull out all of his money?  As Chip was calming him down Hill was in the back seat yelling at the top of his lungs (and grunting)..."POO-POO!  POO-POO!"  It took everything I had not to throw myself out of the car from laughter.  Ahh, the beauties of parenthood.

The trip home wasn't bad.  Chip was tired, as was I, so it was nice to get home on a Friday and still have the weekend to wrap up my vacation time.  I cleaned my closet out on Saturday, that doesn't sound like fun does it?  But when you are OCD like me it's nice.  I took 3 bags of clothes and 2 bags of shoes to our local Helping Hands.  It's been 3 days and I haven't missed any clothes I'd decided to rid of.  I'm sure I will wish I still had something one day, but I'm over it.

Saturday we went to the Warrington's to play on the water slide.  JJ's friend from pharmacy school Amanda was in town with her precious doll of a son, Bishop.  They are a lot of fun and I'm glad to be able to hang out with them when they come to town.  I'm waiting for her to post her awesome pictures from the day so I can steal them.  

So anyway, Hill is a slide-a-holic and does it all by himself.  Well I have to boost him up to the top, and only 2.5 seconds later he's already at the bottom either having gone down feet first on his belly or on his hiney, ready to go again!  Which by the way, hiney is one of Hill's favorite words.  This guy knows almost every word in the English dictionary.  Ok, so I'm elaborating, but he's a smart cookie.  He talks and understands with the best of them.  I'm a proud mama.  His latest obsession, other than his shoes (yes he's still obsessed with his shoes) are trucks.  He will only wear his bib that Mrs. Cindy made him with the dump truck on it when he eats.  He is into saying "Mama's truck" when we go to the car. He carries his truck around the house and either makes it say "vroom vroom" or "choo choo."  I've digressed, but that's ok because I know you expect nothing less from me.

At the Warrington's we ate steaks and decided to bottle up the smell of steaks cooking on the grill and sell it.  Yum.  I'd wear it every day Ode de Steak.  We made a late night out of it and it was fun, I can't believe I was a trooper until 1am.  I am usually the old "mo-mo" that goes to bed while the party is still happening.  I can sleep on the floor, I'm not picky when I'm tired.

Sunday we didn't do much but lay around.  Oh wait...I did do one more thing.  Saturday I got all crazy Brittany Spears on all my dogs and shaved their hair off.  After being gone 4 days and having left a clean house with clean floors and coming back to the wild wild west of dog hair tumble weeds I'd had enough.  I'm not sure why it took me 9 years to decide to shave Foster and Foxy Mama.  F.M. looks GREAT shaved.  I think she likes it too.

See her tail is going 9,000 mph.
Herz Happy.

Bye bye Foxy Mama (aka Anna) hair.
Glad you aren't on my living room floor!
Yes, Hill still calls her Anna..Chip does too.

 I didn't do a good job on Foster - hence no picture.  I only shaved like half of him and my arm was tired.  I left that boulder of a dog for the professionals.  I did manage to find another dog under all that hair.

Yes, that's only half of his body's hair clippings.
Labs shed the worst...don't let anyone tell you any different.

I'll let you know how shaving their hair effects the tumble weed situation.  I'm not sure what I will do with the lack of hair.  I guess I have to close down my cheingora factory.  Google it.

That's the end of "Vay-cay 2011!  Fun was had by all....

Vay-cay 2011

And we are off.... like a herd of turtles.  Vacation 2011 is in full effect and I am no less than extremely READY!  I expect us to look a lot like the Griswold's as we travel down to Orange Beach, AL.  

Clark: Burn some dust here. Eat my rubber.

Rusty Griswold: Dad, I think you mean burn rubber and eat my dust.

Clark: Whatever, Russ. Whatever.

I don't think I've forgotten anything.  

I think I brought everything...including the blender.  What is a vacation without your Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville blender?  That vacation my friends, doesn't exist and something I wish to be no part of.  Seriously though.  I think I did a good job of packing the car up.  If it weren't for the highchair, blender, and pack-n-play I could have used only half of our 1 acre back seat.

Maybe one day I'll become a good kid packer.  The only thing in here for me is the red suitcase and the drinky drink bottle between the highchair and blender.  The rest is Hill's, even the blender...it's to make him and Hannah snocones.  Chip hasn't put his stuff in the car yet, but I'm sure the way he packs it will all fit in the glove box.

The dryer debacle didn't slow me down from Vacation 2011 either.  Our dryer went out today as I was washing the final necessities for the trip.  Thank goodness for the internet and a thrifty hubby there was only a 45 minute lull in the laundry.  We are back in action and I will safely be unplugging the dryer when we leave so we have no fire hazards.  No offense babe, I trust your madd dryer fixing skillz.  Yet, while my 4 legged babies are here with their keeper I risk nothing.

So, we are off...  If you see this Hoss on the roadway - - move on outta the way!  This Mama is on a mission!

And since we are meeting up with my dad, step mom and niece I expect us to have some pretty hilarious adventures along the way.  Bring on the Griswold Hawkins Family Vacation!

I leave you with my favorite Cousin Eddie quote from Christmas Vacation: "After that long drive, we could use a little private time together. Honey, why don't you run and get the kid's things. And, don't forget the rubber sheets and the gerbils."

 

Doctors and Ponies and Swimming, Oh My!

Incase you haven't done the math this week.... Sweet Hill celebrated his one and half year old birthday.  On the 12th Chip and I sang him Happy Birthday and he loved it.  He swayed and clapped and knew it was for him!  He's so much stinking fun!  We love you Little Buddy!

This week we have been doing a little bit of everything.  Hill is doing fantastic swimming!  His 30 minute lessons, an hour and 15 minutes away, once a week is paying off, I think.  He can hold himself onto the side of the pool and has almost mastered getting out with the "Elbow, elbow, tummy, knee, knee" tactic - - once he gets more upper body strength he will be able to perfect it and do it alone.  It's funny how repeatedly doing it sticks in their little brain.  When we are practicing he will say "ehbo, nee" (elbow, knee.)  He hasn't been the best at learning to kick, he really only likes to say it "ki-ki-ki-ki" but no action.  This past week though, he did a really well. He also understands at the count of three he's about to go underwater and needs to hold his breath.  I'll say, One, Two, Three then take in a big breath so he knows to do the same then guide him under water and push him to whomever is there for him to swim to.  He's doing so great!  He hasn't minded floating on his back with his ears under the water too bad.  Hopefully these skills stick.  He's very cautious around water...doesn't go crazy trying to get in it or jump off the side. When we swim at Chip's dads house Hill uses the steps and is not scared of the water, but seemingly respects it.  Chip and I are so glad for that.

Thursday Hill had his follow up appointment with Dr. Shell in Memphis, I made the journey with him.  This time was a little unusual; we got there early then waited for like an hour and a half almost two hours before we got back to see the doctor.  Usually it's 2.5 seconds and we're out.  It's hard keeping my little one and half year old busy for that length of time.  I'm pretty sure he tore a couple of magazines.  There was a tv so he danced.  There was a little girl that came in that was probably 4 and she would come sit next to us and tickle Hill and stare at his lip and ask questions.  She was sweet.  She had a scar under her nose and on the side of her face.  I didn't feel it appropriate to ask her since her mom didn't seem like the nicest lady in the world.  The little girl had hair just like Hill.  I'd never seen another kid with such fine, soft, blonde locks.   Anyway, they called us back and we waited some more.  Hill figured out how to make the mechanical chair move up and down with the foot pedals and then Hill and I had roller chair races with Dr. Shells doctor stools (there were 3 in there for some reason.)  Once Dr. Shell made it in he said all was well, swelling should continue to go down, redness should continue to subside and see you in October!  Great report!  What do you do when you get good doctor reports?  Go to Target, of course!

There is a Target right by the doctors office.  Hill has been in dire need of new "Hill proof" sippy cups.  He takes the rubber sucking part of the cups and bites them until the spout hole is as big as my leg.  I don't think he eats it he just busts it all up to where the "spill proof" becomes "open the flood gate."  I may have remedied this by boycotting chewy rubber tops.  They have some sleek new designs in the sippy cup industry and I fell into their trendy designs. I don't like the hard plastic drinking lid cups but bought a couple anyway.  I am still cautious about hard drinking cups and his lip.  Not that I need to be, I just am.  Long sippy cup story short, we got new cups.  They are cool and Hill likes them and they can't be chewed up so mommy likes them too.

Last night, Friday, we went to Branson's birthday party!  He turned three and had his party at a barn with a mechanical bull, real chickens and pigs and Hill got to ride the biggest 'dog' he had ever seen!  It was really a horse and my little buck-a-roo thought the horse was HILARIOUS!  Britlon was sweet enough to take Hill for a ride.  Hill didn't cry, flip out or seem confused.  Must be that Texas blood coming out in him, he took that shetland pony by the reins and ran with the wind.  Ok, that's a lie, but he did hold on to the saddle and they guided him around the arena .  Look at how sweet my preppy cowboy is in his little polo shirt, plaid sorts and new balance shoes riding that horse.

Mrs. Tasha, Britlon & Mr. Calvin helping Hill onto the horse.  Mr. Fred in the background.

I'm a Cowboy!

This pony is just as compact as Hill.
Too stinkin' cute.

So, umm... now what?

We had so much fun at Branson's party!  Thanks for inviting us!  Branson has a sweet family on both his mamas side and his daddys side.  I was glad to see them too.  It's been a long time!

Thank you, Jimmy Buffet & Mindless Weekend

This past weekend we laid low.  The Pettit's came over Saturday night and Chip made his Magic Yum Shrimp, which are New Orleans style BBQ shrimp with oranges and lemon.  Whitney made the best guacamole I've ever eaten in my whole entire life (I ate it for breakfast the next morning, seriously.)  I busted out the Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville machine for loads of family fun. If you have never had a rita from Jimmy's fabulous contraption then you have never lived.  The ice is heaven, pureed heaven.  I made watermelon snocones for the kids, a virgin margarita for Whit since she's with child, and the real deal for me.

We all played chicken foot, which none of us have played in 100 years.  It's played with dominos and very fun, no true thought to play... my kind of game.  I always hate playing thought provoking games with Chip, he makes me feel like a big dummy and becomes very competitive.  Like super bad sport competitive.  So dominos was a nice change of pace, makes my brain relax.

Here is Hill  eating his snocone.

Funny side story... Hill has been wanting to help feed the dogs lately, so I'll put the food in the bowl and let him carry Katie Lou's bowl to her 'spot.'  He's very good and very careful.  Holds it with both hands and focus' really hard on not tipping it over.  So, later Saturday evening after the snocone melted I went to go pick up Tanner's bowl but couldn't find Hill's bowl.  I was so confused.  They were on the coffee table right next to each other.  I searched around the living room and then went into Hill's room where I found it gently placed on the carpet by his toys.  That silly kid used his dog feeding skills to relocate his snocone bowl with red juice inside it to his room...with carpet.  He did not spill a drop.  I guess his skills paid off, that crazy kiddo.

Sunday we lounged around.  I am so ready for our trip to Orange Beach in a couple of weeks that I went ahead and packed Hill's bag.  I know, I know...leave me alone.  I'm excited and way past due on a change of scenery.  I need a vacation.  Now.  So I live vicariously through my packed luggage.

After I decided how ridiculous I was being I was saved by the bell....the phone rang and it was Chip's step mom.  Madison and Addie were in town and headed over to their house to swim and play.  We jump at any opportunity to play with our nieces so we put on our swim suits, picked up some hamburger meat and had a great time swimming and grilling and playing and running!  Hill was not a fan of my holding Addie.  He would look at me in disgust and say, "maah! maah!" with a grunt.  Jealous maybe?  It was so good to see the girls and play with Shane Preston and Aunt Meryl.  We were exhausted and crashed when we got home.

What a good mind relaxing weekend.  I really really needed that.

Super Hero or Super Freak?

Last night we went to Jackson for Hill's make up swim lesson, since Monday was a holiday.  After lessons we went to eat at Soulshine Pizza.  It was so fun!  They had an awesome live little 2 man band and it was kid friendly so all the little kids were dancing and dancing.  Hill was a hit with his mad dance skills.  Once we got in the car we weren't even a mile down the road before Hill was out like a light.  It was around 10:00 when we got home so since Hill was able to take a "nap" on the way home he woke up in a super hero or maybe super freak mode.

I took him to his changing table to change his diaper and put on his pj's.  Once I picked him up he started flipping out and throwing a tantrum while saying, "DI-TER! DI-TER!" (that means diaper for those that don't speak toddler.)  So of course I thought something was wrong with the diaper I'd just put on, but no he pointed and the diaper basket and laid down and pointed at his crotch all the while yelling "DI-TER!"  So, what do I do?  Put the boy on another diaper, over his pj's.  Then once he was completely satisfied with that he needed his shoes.  We talked about his obsession / need to have his sandals on while he was sick.  So, I put the boys shoes on.  Then he was ready for night night or fighting crime as a super hero or just being a weird kid.  I'm pretty sure he had all the bases covered in case of emergency during the middle of the night.

Get this boy a cape and some super powers!

(or some friends that accept him for being the weird kid that dresses funny)

What's In A Name Anyway?

This morning Hill woke up talking about 'Anna.'  I just figured he was talking about one of the little girls in his class and didn't think much about it.  He has a little friend girl he talks about all the time, Aubree (Ah-bee) so I just thought maybe he's a ladies man and is practicing hittin' up the ladies.

Then tonight we get home and he keeps calling Foxy Mama 'Anna.'  He must have been talking to Foxy Mama this morning?  Chip thinks it's hilarious and has started to call Fox 'Anna' now.  Chip said, "Who are we to not know that Fox's real name isn't Anna?  She is a stray."  Seriously though, she's been a part of our family for like 8 years, I can't just rename her Anna.

I can't figure it out, maybe it's because Fox has redish hair and so does little Anna in his class?
Wonder how long this will stick?  For Chip, I'm afraid it's official that Fox is no longer Fox, but Anna.

Poor Fox.

You're a big boy! Sike!

My little boy wants to be a big boy so bad and I, his loving mother, am preventing it.  I've made many parental decisions in the last year and a half, my first executive decision was before Hill was born; Chip and I agreed never to let him play in the Pizza Hut "playroom."  It's like a nasty cesspool of germs with vomit toys and crayon writing on the wall.  No thanks.

So tonight Chip left me to make the decision of Hill's sleeping arrangements...and it was hard.
Hill's routine is to take a bath, put on pj's, get his milk cup, pick out 2 books which we sit in his rocker to read then say our prayers and he gets into his crib to night night.  That's it.  Every night.  But tonight was different.  Tonight he wanted to take a bath, put on pj's, get his milk cup, pick out 2 books and get into the full size bed in his room to read them.  No big deal right?  Wrong!  He sees Katie (who he is now infatuated with) sleep on the big pillows in the big bed while we read books.  He decided he is going to night night in the big boy bed.  I'd take him to his crib and he'd push away and want down only to crawl to the full size bed and say night night.

What did I do?  I built a mountain of pillows around the edge of the bed and said, "ok, night night."  I immediately ran to our bedroom where the video / hear a pin drop monitor is and listened since I couldn't see him because the video camera is mounted above his crib.  I didn't hear a thing.  I gave it like 5 minutes and then snuck in his room to find him sound asleep in between the pillow walls snoozing away like a big boy.  I ran out to the living room to ask Chip what to do.  Do I move him to his crib or leave him in the big boy bed?  My fabulously sensitive husband said, "Well you should have thought about that before you let him sleep in the big bed."

So I ran back into Hill's room sat on the corner of the bed and evaluated the situation.  All his toys were there and wouldn't pose a threat should he wake up and get down to play in the middle of the night.  Should he fall out of bed he'd hit the carpet and it's like 2 feet, no worries.  Then I started to worry about his book shelf and dresser falling on top of him with no supervision.  I mean he is in the climbing stage.  Then I thought about him ingesting his diaper cream or sticking the rectal thermometer in his mouth.  Then I had a panic attack.  Ok, so not really, but I was very overwhelmed.  Ugh, so I picked him up and snuggled him into his crib.  I hope he's not disappointed when he wakes up.  Sorry Buddy, Mommy won't let you ever grow up to be a big boy.

Now I have the new worry of the dresser and bookshelf falling on him.  Great.  Parenthood.  Sigh.

What To Do When You Are Sick...

One would think that since we had a few days last week of being at home with a sick kiddo with strep and a long July 4th weekend that I'd have time to blog.  Bzzz (that's the wrong buzzer)
Not too sure where the time goes.
Anyway, so we've been at the casa with a sick kiddo who ran fever for longer than any mother cares for her baby to run fever.  Last Wednesday daycare called because Hill had 101.1 fever.  Since he had a snotty nose I figured it was a sinus infection.  Bzzz (wrong buzzer again) It was strep.  His lungs sounded a little fuzzy so they took x-rays...that's always fun.
Pardon the not so great pictures - our faithful camera broke so I have to resort to the iPhone.

Lil man at the doctors office
He's going through a phase where he wants to wear his hat during the day.

Chest x-ray time in the crazy kid contraption

close up of the contraption.
Yes, yes.  Think of me what you will I did take pictures of my son while he cried his guts out.

 So after we were cleared from having pneumonia on top of strep we were given medicine and headed home for the week.  Props to the best Dada around who stayed at home and took care of sweet man.  So what do you do with a little boy running fever but doesn't know how to stop running around?

You blow up the ball pit of course!
And play on the computer while you lounge in the ball pit.

pose for the camera

Nap while you eat

Sit in the recliner with your hat on eating pretzels

lounge with your mama on the couch and drink your juice

check your email

pretend you are a grown up and sit at the dining room table to eat dinner

Normal kids want to snuggle with their blanket or their teddy bear or some type of lovie. Not Hill, he just wants his shoes on. They make him feel better.  He has a weird obsession with his Teva sandals.  In the morning it's change your diaper and put on shoes.  When he was sick it was take your medicine and put on your shoes even sleep in them during nap time.

During his sick time he has built a bond with Katie Lou.  She doesn't let him really "touch" her, but she does let him chase her around and maybe give her a pat every now and then.  Pretty much all week he was either wanting his shoes on or running around saying "K-dee, K-dee."  Also, Dada is no longer referred to as Dada, but "Da-dee"- so grown up.

He's better now and back at daycare.  They started him sleeping on a nap mat now and not in the crib.  It was amazing that they actually had him sleeping on the floor in one day.  More power to them.

I leave you with this sweet picture of Hill just walking around the back yard this evening.  He's such a big boy now.