No Really....This Is My Life

God Is Good

2012-01-11T07:31:00.000-06:00

This isn't the first post of 2012 that I care to write. I'd hoped it would have been about the fun New Year's we'd had with friends and pictures of my sweet boy playing with his best buddies. Not the case.

Yesterday Chip and I were in a really bad car wreck with a school bus in Jackson. Through all of the negative and hurt and aches and pains I feel this morning they equal nothing to the possibilities of what might have been and the chain of events that led us to our safety.

Every Tuesday I work in Madison. Sometimes Chip rides along with me because he has an office there too. I ALWAYS take his car (Toyota Camry) because it's so much better on gas mileage than my Toyota Sequoia. Yesterday was different, I took my Sequoia because Hill's birthday is Thursday and we wanted to get him a Power Wheels of sorts which wouldn't have fit in his car. We could have done this Thursday when we go to Jackson to pick up my mom from the airport, but we didn't. Thank God.

It was about 1:30 and I picked up Chip from his office and we decided to head down town to Two Sisters to eat a nice home cooked meal to give us energy for the Toys R Us trip ahead. I was driving down High Street and a school bus with no kids was driving across West Street and we collided. Who knows who is to blame...who cares...we are all safe by the grace of God and that's all that matters.

The chain of events that led us to Jackson in our Sequoia that day started back at Thanksgiving. I'd bought Hill a Jeep Power Wheels at Black Friday from Wal-Mart. I bought Harvey one too for JJ and Allen. Harvey got his at Christmas and Hill wouldn't get his until his birthday. The Warrington's said that the Jeep wasn't powerful enough to ride over a pecan so I returned both Jeeps only to leave me looking for Hill another gift.... Otherwise I'd have been in the Camry yesterday and either A) we'd be dead or B) we may not have headed downtown for lunch before the errands we may not have had to have run. Either way you look at it Chip and I are safe and able to walk away and hold each other and our precious son. I choose to see the positive through all of this and continue to know that everything happens for a reason, God has it all figured out. It was an awful yet wonderful day, if that even makes sense. It could have been fatal, kids could have been on the school bus, Hill could have been in the car, people could have been hurt...but we weren't.

The replay of the accident continues to flash in my mind. It was like I was able to process every thing through every milisecond as though time stood still. I can't say it's haunting, but I can't say it's pleasant either because of the blessed outcome. The bus was headed into the drivers side (my side) and I slammed on the brakes and turned my wheel to the right to dodge it. Slow motion of realizing I couldn't cut the wheel any more to dodge the bus was inevitable and is most vivid. I remember the impact and the airbag deployment then after that there was no mortal control to be had by that point. We spun into nearly a 180 where we landed on the sidewalk directly between a light pole and fire hydrant. We did not hit either of them. How did we not hit them since I didn't have control of my car with airbags deployed, seatbelt locking up, flinging, gripping of the wheel all within a mere second. I could not have humanly placed my car in that spot even if I had had control of the vehicle. I still can't figure out how my car could land like it did. Look at the picture.

Ok, so you see the picture of the dome of the Capital in the background? You see the light pole behind my car? I was going left to right - so I had just passed the capital gone through that light and was hit. My car must have pivoted on the back wheel because otherwise I have no explanation of how this would be possible. I truly don't need an explanation because I know the answer. No doubt we had angels and God himself on board. Praise be to God.

In this picture the tow truck driver is moving the car. The hydrant was near the drivers door but unscathed.

After impact I don't remember seeing Chip only hearing his voice asking me twice before I responded, "Are you ok?" I responded yes and jumped out of the car to check on the bus driver who flung to the oncoming traffic lane of West Street, the street she was coming from and onto the curb. Again, downtown Jackson 1:45 and no cars or pedestrians on the side walk - total God thing.

She said she was fine, she wouldn't open her bus door - I'm not sure if it's their policy to wait for a school representative to get there or what. So she just sat there and Chip and I were crying thanking God repetitively for all of our blessings and that Hill wasn't there. I called Chip's step mom to pick up Hill because I knew we wouldn't be back before 5:00 to get him from daycare. Thank you dear Angel Joyce. Chip called his secretary to come pick us up and take us to a rental car place. We had to clean out all that we could from my car and put into Shelly's. As I was doing that and the adrenaline was wearing off I'd realized I'd hurt my hand.

Chain of events right? So Sunday my wrist gets this soreness about it. It happens one or two times a year. I don't think it's carpel tunnel but I associate it with pushing my body up and down off the floor with Hill 2,364 times a day. So I wear one of those carpel tunnel braces for a couple of days to rest it and then it goes away. Well I had on my carpel tunnel brace during the wreck, which I'm 99% sure prevented my wrist from breaking. My hand though was bruising rapidly and was very painful. My knuckles on my fingers are all bruised and a little bloody from my wedding ring scratching them. In the big scheme of things if that's all that came from this was a potential broken hand all would be well with the world.

So, I gathered important things from my car like Hill's Barney DVD's and a kids book...I know right? I was disoriented. Honestly, I'm not sure what I have. Anyway, we put them in Shelly's car and she took us to get a rental car.

We are now sporting a Chevrolet 'eraser car.' You know something small and uncomfortable that you bust your head on every time you get in and out. Yup, that's the car. Well we decided to hit up a MEA Clinic (urgent care type place) to get my hand checked out since by this time it's like 4:00 and I knew I couldn't make it to our local clinic in time. Chip was driving and all of a sudden I was not ok. I've never passed out before, but I think that this feeling is what it feels like before you do so. I started taking deep breaths and remembered having this feeling one other time before...when I was having my c-section with Hill. I'd lost a lot of blood during my section and remembered this whoozie feeling as they operated. Yet, here I am not bleeding and about to pass out - I kept saying, "I'm not ok, I'm not ok" so Chip wheeled into St. Dominics Hospital since we were right there. Good thing I got ok once we were there because they were swamped and unless you were visibly wounded you had to take a number.

I went to the waiting area with all the sick people and lasted about 3 minutes in there because the lady vomiting across from me was all I could take. I went and stood up front by the admittance people where I ended up having to translate for Mr. Hernandez to the admittance receptionist. After that I figured I was a shoe in, not have to wait - scratch my back I'll scratch yours type of thing. Nope, I did get a little extra care because she set me up a chair in the hallway so I didn't have to hear Mrs. Vomityourgutsout dry heave anymore. After 3 hours and an X-Ray of my hand and collarbone I was not broken. Thank goodness. They took an x-ray of my collarbone because even though it didn't hurt I have really bad bruising and seatbelt burn so he wanted to be safe.

By seemingly days later we were on the road in the eraser car back to Kosciusko. Still hadn't eaten the homemade lunch we'd originally set out for so we settled for Schlotzsky's sandwiches. Simple trek to eat lunch sure turned my world upside down. The conversation on the ride home was quiet as we were trying to pinch ourselves to make sure this wasn't a dream, it was all so surreal. We will be buying another Sequoia as I'm sure mine is totaled. We will be making a Will because you're never promised tomorrow and we want to make sure our little angel is taken care of. Who knew yesterday morning when we woke up that this would happen? Count your blessings my dear friends, we just never ever know.

I'd never been so glad to see the land of Koz. I went to pick up my sweet boy from his Nana and Papa's house and he ran up to me and just gave me the biggest hug ever. All I could do was cry happy tears and squeeze my little angel back. I bet he gave me 20 hugs, I guess he knew Mommy needed them. He always knows how to make everything right. He is my everything. So once we got back to the house Hill's special request was to sit in the recliner and watch Mickey Mouse with his Mama. How could you argue with a fantastic plan like that? So we did, and I cried some more happy tears and thanked God for his many blessings.

This morning as I can't sleep, I feel like I've been hit by a bus.....wait, I have been hit by a bus. Even though I feel like crap I'm so glad to be here to feel like crap.

Thank you for all of your phone calls and messages. Keep us in your prayers as Chip and I forge through these next few days of soreness and emotional numbness. My family will be here from Texas soon since Hill's birthday is Thursday so that will be a breath of fresh air celebrating Hill's 2nd birthday...or as Hill say's his "too many" birthday.

Christmas Has Come and Gone

2011-12-28T22:11:00.002-06:00

My last post (which was 100 years ago) stated that Christmas was coming! Well it has now come and gone. This year celebrating Christmas was so much fun with my sweet little family. I loved seeing the spirit of the season and excitement of every thing like the first time through Hill's eyes. We've talked about Jesus' birthday so much to Hill that he is now talking about birthday's all the time. Birthday cake, birthday candy, "Happy Day to You" he sings.

Our 2011 Christmas Card
(Thanks, Sukie!)

Of course I am the party mom of the century (or at least of Hill's daycare class) so I was excited to capture party pictures and make goodies for all of his little friends.

L-R: Rhett, Maci, Hill & Britton

The crowd was sparse since EVERY kid was out with either the flu, strep, stomach bug, hand foot & mouth or some other debilitating daycare disease. These kids have iron clad immune systems and therefore had the opportunity to eat my zombie reindeer cookies. They did not turn out like the picture I saw online. Oh well, it's the thought that counts, right?

Note to other party mom's...2 year olds cannot eat pretzels with m&m's mixed with white chocolate and made into a ball. Their mouths are not big enough and they can't grasp the concept that the food can break into little pieces and they don't have to gnaw on it and break all of their baby teeth out. My bad. Again, the thought that counts right?

So now that I've learned Martha Stewart is not child friendly in her gourmet goodies I can just be myself. What a relief. At least the kiddos enjoyed their grapes.

My mom sent Hill no less than 6,000 presents individually wrapped so the week before we let him open one present a night. He loved tearing into them. He'd open it and say "Oh! Book! Read Book!" or his favorite was the Cars 2 movie she sent. I think we've watched it 32 times in the past few days.

My pictures of Christmas are few and far between because I'm still learning how to use my Mac and resizing pictures has not been figured out yet. I'm sure you have NO DOUBT that I took a million and are probably appreciative I'm not replaying every tear of every box onto my blog....because I could and would if I knew how.

Hill woke up and walked into the living room and straight to the corner where he left the present he'd opened the night before. He didn't even turn to check out the whole living room was filled with dinosaurs, cars, race tracks, clothes, a Black and Decker workshop, play doh, coloring books, stickers, magnets, and not to forget the slew of wrapped presents.

So, since he totally missed the three ring circus of toys when he walked in the living room Chip and I were really able to see the shock on his face when he turned around and saw all the loot! His face literally was like, "Umm, what is this? Seriously, what is all of this? OH MY GOODNESS IT'S ALL MINE!" It was a slow motion process and hilarious! He was so busy running around trying to give everything the attention it deserved I couldn't get a good sitting still Christmas morning picture. So here you have it... an action shot.

Working on his new fire truck with his new screw driver

His big gift was already given to him since Master Carpenter Chip had to construct it over a few day period. We've had a 20 foot tree house in our back yard since we moved in. It was the adult tree house and for sure not kid friendly unless you want your toddler to start bungee jumping early. So WE built a 1st level 5 feet off the ground with a slide and steps for the young outdoors man to enjoy now. I use the term "WE" loosely. I did a good job of moral support. Chip hammered every nail and cut every board and did all the magical things to make Project Tree House 2011 happen.

Chip and Hill building the tree house.
Hill had his plastic blue hammer to help Dada.

My favorite toy was his digital camera. My son can now be vain at his leisure instead of insisting 24-7 to see my cell phone to view "Pictures of Hill." Yay for Fisher Price Tough Kids camera / video camera with a lens that flips so he can film himself! I'm glad to know that maybe just maybe other kids are as egotistical as mine.

I also liked the fact that my genius son figured out that the dinosaur could hold his jelly beans and then he could put the dinosaurs head in his mouth to get the jelly bean out an eat it.

Who knew dinosaurs liked Jelly Beans?

As for Doug the Elf, he will be missed until next Christmas. Maybe he will drop by mid year to keep a check on Hilly poo. This was where Doug was last.... waiting for Santa and ready to ride away on the reindeer.

As Hill would say, Yee Haw!

As if Hill didn't have enough fun on Christmas, he woke up the next morning saying, "Open presents?"

What did Chip and I get for Jesus' Birthday you ask? Well Chip got the super de duper HD blah blah blah 3D structure detector and monster jaws loch ness monster locator. That's my translation of a state of the art fish finder for his fishing boat.

And yours truly can go ahead and kick the bucket after February because Chip is fulfilling my #1 bucket list item - - Elton John tickets. We are going to Las Vegas to hear Elton John and my husband can video me screaming and crying and clawing my eyes out like those teeny bopper girls when they saw the Beetles. Oh my goodness I am going to FLIP! I may just go ahead and die while he plays Candle in The Wind. That might just be better than being old and dying in my sleep. Ironic, yes, but blissful and Heavenly - no doubt. I wake up every morning wondering if it's time to go see Elton yet. I think my other present was that we are getting a garage door, but I can't remember because I'm going to Las Vegas to see Elton John.

Christmas Is Coming!

2011-12-10T17:47:00.000-06:00

What a great busy holiday season this has been so far! I'm loving that Hill is loving the whole idea of Christmas and Santa and elves. This past week has been full of watching him absorb the spirit of Christmas. Oh through the eyes of a babe.

Thursday was the M&F Bank Christmas Party. We had such a great time. Hill would have sat and watched Dylan Davis play his guitar until the end of time. Thanks Dylan for being so sweet and singing all the fun Christmas songs. I'm pretty sure we will have to call Dylan if we ever need a babysitter all he would have to do is just sing and play the whole time.

I told Hill he couldn't watch Dylan all night because there was someone special here at the party to see him. Hill had no idea that SANTA was there! I was anxious to see how he would react because last Christmas at 11 months he wasn't really aware of what was going on. He did the picture thing, but it wasn't really impressionable. This year we brought a list to Santa of the things he wanted which was a fabulous idea because it was an icebreaker for Hill to walk up to Santa. I gave him the note and told him to take it to Santa. So he walked up to Santa sitting in his chair and gave it to him. He saw Santa had candy canes which was all it took. Hill popped up in Santa's lap and posed for the camera. This is the picture I got, but the one the photographer took is going to be great because Hill was cracking up laughing when he snapped it. I'll share it when I get it.

After listening to music, visiting with Santa and drinking 89 gallons of punch we all headed to the Christmas parade. I wish this picture wasn't so blurry, but I couldn't help but post it, I thought it was sweet. Hill and his Dada walking on the Square before the parade.

We went to my office building to watch the parade. The 3rd floor has balconies that overlook the Square and I thought that was a great place to get a birds eye view of what was going on. Also, since it was freezing outside we could go in should we need to.
Before the parade we hung out with some of the people I work with. Hill and the President were conducting serious important business.

Hill was giving Jeff a demonstration of how his dump truck works.

Absorbing all the commotion

Hi FIRE TRUCK!

Chip and Hill watching the parade

Sweet Rhodes hanging out on the balcony.

Silly Ellie!
Hill sure loves him some Ellie Develin.

As if watching someone play the guitar, seeing Santa, and catching the local Christmas parade wasn't enough...when we got home we found someone new in our house!

This is Doug.
Doug is our family's Elf on a Shelf!

I read Hill the Elf on the Shelf story and explained to him what he does and how we can't touch him. The first step was to name him! I asked Hill what he wanted to name him and under his breath he mumbled something. Chip and I asked him what he said and it came out softly and mumbly, "Duhk." I turned to Chip and said, "Doug?" Chip hit the floor laughing. Doug?!? It's perfect, but how in the world did Hill come up with that? We don't know anyone named Doug. It could quite possibly be that he said 'Duck' but we stuck with Doug.

Doug has already made an impact on Hill. That night as he was fighting bedtime Chip reminded him that Doug was watching and would report back to Santa him being so disobedient. Hill looked up at Doug and gave him the meanest look. If looks would kill Doug would be dead and have lost all of his magic right then and there.

This weekend Chip has his annual Mountain Man Weekend so Hill and I are left to party it up. Last night, Friday, we went to visit Nana and Papa. Shane Preston was there and so he and Hill watched the Elf on the Shelf show that came on TV. Shane Preston has an elf at his house too, his name is Red.

Sweet cousins

After a late night at Nana and Papa's we headed home. Chip and I have established that I am the fun play parent and therefore Hill has a problem listening to me. Well with Chip gone this weekend Hill sure tested bedtime...again. On the way home he informed me that we needed to put on our pj's and sit in the rocking chair (recliner) and watch Kiki (Mickey Mouse.) I was so tired I was ready to go to bed as soon as we got home, but I caved. Finally at 10:15 pm I went into his room and got into his full size bed and hoped he'd come and join me. Nope. So as I started to fall into a coma I decided that child protective services would not be happy if I left my not even 2 year old awake watching Mickey while I went to bed. Against my inner voices I got up and turned off the TV and made him come to bed. I don't really remember the fit that was thrown because I was so tired. Yet, when I woke up this morning he was asleep and didn't wake up until like 8:15 am. Why is it that I wake up at 7 the one time he actually sleeps late?

ya'll so much for including us. They had so many fun activities planned out.

Here is Hill and Mrs. Fenwick painting with their hands!

Here is Tanner getting ready to paint with Mrs. Alford!

Mrs. Fenwich helping Hill glue on the ornaments (pom poms) to his hand painted tree.

Tanner and Hill hanging out.

Story time! Hill doesn't meet a stranger. He sat right in this lady he's never met lap.

Then as if all that playing and painting and reading wasn't enough for one day we went to the movies! Junior Auxiliary had their Santa Express this afternoon at the local movie theater. Santa was there again and remembered Hill from the other night! Hill gave a half eaten cookie to Santa and he ate it! Hill thought that was the funniest thing EVER. So did all the rest of us.

Since Hill has never been to the movies I explained beforehand how we were going to watch a big TV and they had popcorn and Santa there. I was really worried because he hadn't had a nap and has had such a busy day but when we got there he got his cookies, saw Santa and immediately remembered he needed popcorn.

He's a professional movie goer now.

This elates me to no end. I LOVE nothing more than to go to the movies. I don't even have to like what I watch, I just love going to the movies. So my heart is warmed that Hill does too! I will have to remember next time to get him his own drink and a large popcorn. He ate the whole medium tub of popcorn (well 97%) and didn't like sharing! He did good about watching the whole movie. He did get up and sit on the aisle steps towards the end, but he continued to watch the movie...Polar Express. How fun! Thanks JA girls for all your hard work on this event.

It's 5:30 pm now and Hill has been asleep for and hour and a half. He fell asleep in the car on the way home from the movies. Normally this would bother me and I'd have kept him up because he wouldn't sleep tonight, but we are about to head over to the Warrington's to eat and play with Harvey and Tanner so I'm hoping that he wears out again and doesn't put up a fight come night night time. Wish me luck.

I guess if he gets crazy on me I can always summon Doug.....

Holiday Cards That Create Smiles

2011-12-01T22:04:00.000-06:00

I may be too late in the game for those of you that are on the ball this holiday season but I would be remiss if I didn't let you know that tinyprints.com is offering 10% off orders of $49 or more. All you have to do is enter in the code SMILE10 to receive the discount and 13% of all the sales will be donated to Operation Smile!

How awesome is that!?!

Why are you so funny?

2011-11-19T16:04:00.000-06:00

Hill has been doing some monstrously funny things lately. He can communicate really really well. If he wants something he can ask for it or give you direction to figure out what it is he does need or want. He’s very good at saying No. He has never said the word Yes, he only says “ahh” like in a ‘that was refreshing’ type way or starts laughing. If you are sitting down and he wants you to get up to get him something he will pull your arm and grunt while trying to lift you up. He usually needs me to be doing something for him so it’s always “mama geh up! Ugh! (grunt pull grunt) Geh up!”

He’s obsessed with trucks, fire trucks tractors and anything that has wheels. He’s always sure to point out the “wee-eews” (wheels). He has learned that there are men that drive fire trucks and they are evidentially called fire truck mans.

He understands that there are different kinds of balls. You have baseball (bayball), basketball (back ek ball), football (boo ball), but my favorite is soccer ball (caca ball).

He knows that his name is Hill Hawkins and if you ask him to say it he usually will unless he’s being really shy. It’s pretty much the cutest thing ever to hear him say Hawkins. He pronounces it very clearly. The other thing that he pronounces fantastically is the name of his chapstick. It’s called Baby Kisses and it makes me want to eat him up when he says it so precisely.

My son is a male diva. I don’t know what you call a male diva but he is so vain. He thinks my cell phone is dedicated to pictures and videos of him. If he sees my phone (or Chips) he says “picture Hill” meaning I know you have pictures of me in there and we need to sit here for 3 hours and look at them over and over and over. If he finds my phone sitting alone somewhere he can reach he will grab it. The boy knows how to open the smart phone. Push the button at the bottom then slide the bar across with your finger. My password seems to aggravate him because he can’t get past it. So so vain. Wait until he finds out he has a blog that’s mainly about him one day. We will all be up a creek then.

The kooky things he still does is obsess over his shoes, socks and shirts. He MUST pick out his own clothes otherwise it makes for a long long morning. I’ve come to the conclusion that some kids have their pacifiers, others their blankets…Hill has his shoes. He has specific names for them. There are his cool shoes (kooh shoe), tennis shoes (tennih shoe), his car house shoes (car shoe) and many others but those are the main ones that have a name. If he doesn’t have them on when he goes to sleep then he requests them in his bed and before he goes to bed he usually puts them on himself - - the correct foot 98% of the time. And I’m sure that you didn’t know but there are certain shoes that require certain socks depending on the mood of the day. Yes it’s true and my son prefers navy blue socks if I give him a choice.

The latest is manners. Daycare has done an outstanding job with teaching him manners. No ma’am, please, thank you, welcome. He always tells me, “thanks ma.” So nonchalantly. Ma? Really? What are we the Walton’s? Night John Boy.

We’ve established he’s a good eater. I hope he doesn’t become obsessed with eating but at this age I never know if he’s really hungry when he says “eat” or if it’s just habit? He’s just as bad with his eating set up as he is with his shoe fetish. If he’s eating a snack he likes them to be in a bowl. He can go to the cabinet and pick out his plastic bowl of choice then bring it to you to put his snack in. His sippy cup debacle usually causes the most drama. He associates his cups with people, situations and likes. He likes the movie Cars so he likes his Car sippy cup or his Truck sippy cup (the red one specifically not the yellow one with trucks on it.) He likes the juice bottles that have batman or superman or some type of figurine on the top to drink out of - - that is what he calls a “man bah” - Because it has a man on it and it’s a bah-bah (aka sippy cup). Capri Suns with the surfer on it is a man bah as well.

Those three types of cups are the ones I can usually get him to drink out of without drama. Sometimes I’m supposed to read his mind and know that he wants “Harvey’s bah” which he and Harvey have an identical sippy cup so it’s called the Harvey ba. Then there is “Addie’s bah” which one time when cousin Addie came over she drank out of it so now it has been dubbed her bah. It’s obscene and a tad overboard on the OCD’ness.

He’s a hoot. Says and does the most hilarious things. As Thanksgiving approaches he has been coloring and making crafts with lot of turkeys so after school he hands me his work of the day and says, “Chicken!” Like one of our friends say – Turkey / Chicken whatever they all eat good. J

Ok so the mother of all stories…the other day I was working in the yard. I was on all fours picking weeds and Hill came up behind me and pulled the waist of the back of my pants and said, “Mama! Poo Poo?” We are always checking his diaper by doing the same thing so he was just looking out incase his mama had a stinky hiney!

Love him!

School picture 2011-2012

2011-11-19T15:53:00.000-06:00

Have you happened to see the best school picture in the history of all school pictures?

Sukie, my love, you never cease to amaze me.

My 2nd favorite day of the month

2011-11-19T15:46:00.000-06:00

Every year my brother gives me the Southern Living magazine subscription for Christmas. When I open the mailbox once a month I always feel like I’m 9 years old and got a piece of “fun mail.” You know those days before the bills and donation forms had your names on them. I get that exciting feeling when I receive my Southern Living magazine.

I’m glad to say that my son feels the same way. The other day we sat down and looked through the Thanksgiving edition and Hill got hungry. He asked me to get him a spoon so he could eat!

That silly nut! I will say that he knows who the cook around here is….not his mama. When he’s hungry he says “EAT!” then climbs into his highchair and sits down (yes he insists he climb up all by himself) sometimes he says “Dada, cook.” If he wants a snack then he knows to come to mama and say what he wants…which may be gold fish (ish), gummy snacks (nummies), popcicles (pah kikle), or my favorite dried cranberries (nuts.)

He still prefers broccoli, peas or lima beans over corn dogs or other fun fattening foods. He could eat fish for every meal but chips and french fries trump everything.

Maybe his mama will find time one day to cook like the Southern Living people. In the meantime he can just pretend to eat the delish food they take pictures of.

Extra Protection

2011-11-19T15:44:00.000-06:00

The phase of wanting to potty train himself that he started at 19 months has since dissipated. I didn’t push him only encouraged, so big boy potty is only brought up occasionally when I think he may need to go. It usually involves taking his fire truck or tow truck or 3 boats (Mama boat, Dada boat & Hill boat) to make the process fun.

Yet there are times Hill feels the need to be extra careful. Sometimes he instructs me to put on his diaper then his pants then another diaper.

This way he can safely....

Pick out books

Pose for pictures

Mr. Potato Head approves

play outside

and sweep

The world is officially a safer more protected place now.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-19T15:27:00.000-06:00

We had an AWESOME day Sunday the 30th of October. My friend Marsha recommended a pumpkin patch about 40 minutes away in Duck Hill, Bull Bottom Farms - so the husband, son and I loaded up for a Griswald Hawkins Pumpkin Patch Extravaganza!

Hill waiting patiently for us to get ready to go!
He pulled the box of dish detergent out to sit on and wait.

We arrived at 2:20 pm and time flew by so fast after an hour and a half we had done so much and had so much fun!

There were goats, cows and bunnies. Hill loved them all! He’d hop like a bunny and try to shove grass in the goats mouths all the while laughing his sweet belly laugh that makes my heart melt.

They had a slide that was in like a homemade sandbox, but instead of sand it was filled with corn! How stinking creative is that?! I think these people KNEW how much I hate sand and glitter and didn’t have any of that jazz anywhere. I love them for that. The corn was neat! We buried Hill in it and then Chip asked Hill if he knew what that was? “It’s corn, Buddy.” So what does Hill do? Shoves a hand full in his mouth! Yuck!

My little Scarecrow

We swung in the swing and Chip decided we had to get this type of swing if Hill is a good boy for Santa to bring or maybe for his birthday? I love watching his blonde blonde hair sway in the wind back and forth like when the breeze hits the corn stalks in the field. Hill’s big sweet smile that comes from the tickling in his tummy because his Daddy is pushing him higher and higher. That’s what life’s all about. Those moments….these moments…

After that we walked through a corn maze. I showed Hill that the corn came off the stalk or “stick” and lived underneath the shuck or “blanket.” He carried two shucked pieces of corn around the whole maze. Then when we got out of the maze I asked him to put them down and he opened his arms and just dropped them as if his obligation of carrying that corn to civilization was accomplished.

They had a mini hay bale maze for Hill sized kiddos. He liked to crawl over the hay to get to where he needed to go.

Then the Mother of all Mothers… we loaded up on a trailer for the TRACTOR to take us on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch! Hill just sat and stared as if this was the best day ever – he was being pulled by a tractor! He’d say “tractor vroom vroom.”

We came over the hill and there it was - - the pumpkin patch. Hill yelled out “PUH-KIN!”

He got two little pumpkins. He liked the greenish colored ones best and didn’t want to run through the field with all the pumpkins just stay in his one little area with all the little pumpkins.

After we got back to where the activities were we decided to call it a day. We certainly had a blast and would recommend Bull Bottom Farms to anyone looking for a good wholesome family fun time.

Hill brushed the pumpkins "hair" all the way home.

Halloween 2011 - Bam Bam

2011-11-08T16:36:00.000-06:00

This Halloween there seemed to be a lot of Spiderman’s and Pirates….but not Hill. If you recall, we Hawkins parents take full advantage of the fact that our son doesn’t yet have an opinion of what he wants to be for Halloween. Last year Chip got to choose…

The infamous Tree Car Air Freshener

This year I got to choose…

My Little Bam Bam

I capitalized on the fact that my son is a spitting image of Bam Bam from the Flintstones.

We had so much fun this Halloween! Wednesday, the 26th we were invited to go to the Methodist Church Halloween Carnival. We ate hot dogs, jumped in the bouncy house, bobbed for apples, colored, threw bean bags and played Plinko. Our good friends The Pettit’s invited us, as they always do, to their fun events. Even our buddy Harvey was there and we got to see our friend that we met back at Easter, Cobb Hendrix. We had a blast!

Hill loved the apple bobbing (with a net)
He handed me his hat as he walked up like
"Hey Mom, hold my hat - I've got this"

And he did have it!
He got 2 apples and a bunch of candy from Mrs. Jennie Cook

Jumpin' in the bouncy house!

Coloring his 'puh-kin'

Sweet Harvey resting his horsey while he colors.

Tanner, Hill & Harvey

Cowboy Tanner & Bam Bam

Two cowboys and a caveman

I'm not too sure what Hill is doing to Cobb here.
They sure are cutie patooties though!

Monday afternoon, Halloween Day, our local stores on the Square do trick or treating from 3:30-5:30. Some retailers dress up, some just have huge bags of candy to hand out to the swarm of children (and the occasional teen) as they round the Square in their costumes. It really is neat that our community comes together to do this. I picked Hill up early from daycare to go to Nana & Papa’s house to put on his costume. Nana had so much candy and toys for Hill that it filled his pumpkin to the top! When we got in the car I had to pour it into a sack so that he could make room for more candy! (Chip started his diet 2 days before Halloween - - bad idea - - didn’t work)

Off to the Square we went….my office is on the Square so Hill and I had to make the rounds to show off his cuteness to my work people. I really think that they were waiting to see what Hill would be this year because everyone at work kept talking about the hilarity of his being an Air Freshener last year. Chip met us up at my office and by the end of our trick or treating stint on the Square Hill was a pro. He knew to put the candy in his ‘puh-kin.’ We did at one point have to sit in the middle of the floor of loan operations and eat a tootsie roll.

Mr. Toby Tyler & Hill on the Square

After the Square we went to go see Ed and Daisy Dog.

Daisy Dog

Ed & Hill

We tried to go to the Cheeks (Stephen & Sherrie), because that was the 1^st house Hill ever trick or treated in his whole life, and they always go all out - - but it was early and they weren’t home yet.

We did however go to our friend Hollee Cheek’s house. We were her 1^st trick or treater ever! She’s lived in that house 3 years and never has had a trick or treater before. So of course we had to make it a picture-esque moment. You see, Hill has always had a crush on Miss. Hollee but she will be getting married in April and so Hill has had to reevaluate their relationship and I think he’s comfortable with it now. Candy always makes situations better. Thanks Miss. Hollee! We love you!

Love this picture of both Hollee and Hill

I've decided this is next years October Southern Living magazine cover.

I apologize in advance I cannot get the rest of the pictures to turn right side up....

This crazy gourd was on Hollee's porch

She even made pumpkin people!

After a good 2 hours of gathering candy, taking pictures and being stopped by people walking or driving in their cars to tell us that he hands down has the best, cutest costume they’d seen this year. We had one more special stop to make.

Sassy & Pop’s house! (Sandra & David Landrum)

Hill had so much fun at Sassy & Pop’s house…they always have something special for him. Not only does he and Pop love Smarties as their favorite candies, but Sassy knows what Hill likes too – trucks! Especially a truck with Ole Miss on it! He calls it his “webel truck” (rebel truck.) Macie dog was there and Hill and Macie played and played so much that Hill woke up the next morning still talking about Macie dog.

Hill and Macie

Sassy, Hill & the 'webel truck'

Thanks so much to everyone for making this Halloween so fun and memorable. We only have 364 days left to plan his next costume!

Bloody Nose & Busted Lip - Friday Night Fight Night

2011-11-03T12:59:00.000-05:00

Last Friday night, October 28th, Chip was out of town to Oxford because he and Al went to go hear Snoop Dogg play at the Lyric. I know, hilarious right? These boys will never grow up, which is fine because they have the best time. So, I sent a text to my sister in law to see if her and my nephew wanted to come over and play with Hill and me.

Meryl and Shane Preston came over and those boys were in full testosterone mode. Trucks, jumping on beds and furniture, blocks, Mr. Potato Head, more trucks, Disney channel and imagination galore. Then things got a little rough, not sure exactly what happened because I didn’t see it, but Hill ended up with a bloody nose and busted lip screaming crying. Poor Shane Preston was as scared as could be. It was way past everyone’s bedtime and I think it involved doing back flips out of a chair and then hard tile floors – none of that meshes well together.

There was blood everywhere. I have to say that I kept my cool. Hill was in tune to my chilled out mode and did most everything I asked of him. We kept his nose cleaned and tried to see what damage was done to his cleft repair. Even though it was 9:30 pm I called my friend/ neighbor / nurse who is an angel and always there for us accident prone sickling Hawkins people. I rushed him to her house and she was able to look in his mouth and see that the connector thing between his lip and gums (“connector thing” is a medical term in case you didn’t know) was possibly separated and his lip was so fat and swollen we couldn’t see much else. Swollen like when he just gets out of surgery. The only thing that kept me from going to the ER was that Dr. Shell wouldn’t be there and he’s the only one that I would let do anything to my son’s mouth.

We didn’t get to bed until almost midnight. Hill ate two popsicles since that is the only way I could keep cold on his lip and then he wanted to sleep with his Mama. Which was A Ok with his Mama. The dogs woke me up at like 3 am because it smelled like there was a skunk in our house and I was afraid to let them out so I had to sit up with them to keep them quiet.

During that hour I prayed and reflected over Hill’s journey. I wondered if he was the only crazy clumsy little boy that has had cleft repairs and inevitably jacks up his lip every few months after a surgery. I found comfort in the fact that 1) His muscle reconstruction was a year and a half ago and had hopefully healed and weren’t damaged by the accident of the night and 2) When he had his first accident “The Big One” back in June 2010 and he hit his lip on the stroller bar and it MADE A HOLE in his face under his nose. Ugh, that makes my stomach ache every time I remember that day. That goes down in the top five worst days of my life. I remembered that I was sure Dr. Shell had fallen off the cuckoo wagon when he told me that the hole you could fit a straw through would heal itself. No worries, no stitches. And he was right; it healed up all on its own. Why should I worry about a fat lip and potential disconnected connector thingy?

I finally went to bed at 4 am and woke up at 7 next to a blue eyed happy boy with a swollen lip. I sent Chip a text to give us a call when he woke up. I didn’t tell him about the accident the night before because there was nothing he could do from Oxford and I didn’t want him to worry about “Hizzlle” as he watched Snoop Dogg.

Throughout the day Saturday Hill would occasionally say that his nose hurt. I think he was talking about under his nose inside the top part of the upper lip - - which in Hill terms would be his nose.

But it must not have hurt too bad because he was still able
to request BACON for breakfast.
What can I say, the kid loves bacon.

We laid low Saturday other than going to Rhodes Develin’s 1^st birthday party. Chip, Hill and I went to go buy Rhodes a birthday present and Hill learned how to play the pity card with his Dada. So not only did Rhodes get a truck…so did Hill but only because according to Chip, “he’s had a rough time with hitting his lip and all.”

The birthday party was fun! We had a good time playing with everyone and hanging out. I only got one picture of the birthday boy because I had my camera but the battery was in my car, which Chip had. So two halves don’t make a whole.

I used my cell phone to grab a pic of this cutie patootie!

Happy 1st Birthday, Rhodes!

Uncle Jason's Wedding

2011-11-03T12:45:00.000-05:00

Friday, October 14^th we loaded up the family SUV and started our adventure to my brothers’ wedding in my homeland where everything is bigger…good ol’ Texas.

Have you ever traveled with a 21 month old for 9 hours? I was worried, but seriously had nothing to be worried about! Hill was an absolute trooper. Only once did he have a fit because he didn’t want to sit back down in his car seat after a pit stop. All we had to do was coax him with “Do you want to go see Hannah? (his cousin) Then you have to sit on your hiney and buckle up.” He plopped down and was ready to see his Hannah!

I drove the way there because we knew that Chip would have to drive back since we were going to pull a trailer. Never could we ever make a simple trip, we always have ulterior adventures going on like hauling a U-Haul with my mom’s twin Jenny Lind beds so that I can redecorate my guest room. I’m all about killing multiple birds with one stone. Wedding and beds in one fail swoop.

Anyway we stopped in Baton Rouge for lunch. Chip had found a French restaurant called Maison Lacour via Google maps on his cell phone. We walked in and it’s a little quaint house turned restaurant. It was quiet in there, maybe 14 tables total. Should we even attempt this with a child under the age of 16? It looked fancy and they didn’t have a kids menu. Which to be honest with you was fine with me because we don’t like to order Hill food off the kids menu anyway…I was just worried since they didn’t have a kids menu or highchairs - - we were we breaking the rules by having a rug rat there. We were hungry and the menu looked divine so we stayed. Hill was a pro. He acted like eating at a nice restaurant was something he did every day. He split my stuffed fish with me and ate all my veggies and the waitress was confused why he wanted her to leave his broccoli plate as she tried to take it away. Hill would rather eat broccoli than corn dogs. He’d rather eat lima beans than cake. It’s true and I love it.

We praised Hill for doing so great and right before we left he went to the fireplace where there were decorative duck statues and he squats down and goes “DUCK! QUACK QUACK!” really loud. It was hilarious. He did great though.

We got back in the car and taught Hill how to make the 18 wheeler trucks honk their horns. You know the ol making a fist and tugging your arm in an up and down motion to signal the driver to toot his horn. Hill thought it was hilarious! I’m sure Chip and I looked like big overgrown dorks signaling the truckers to honk - - knowing my back seat windows are too dark to see the tiny tot giggling his face off. I found that truck drivers these days aren’t as giving with their horn honking as they were when I was a kid. Maybe they didn’t see my kiddo in the back…that’s what I’ll keep telling myself anyway.

We arrived to my dad’s house just in time to hang out for a minute and then to start cooking dinner. Grilled steaks and chicken. Yum! Hill and Hannah played and played and had a great time.

Hill (21 months) & Hannah (10)

Hannah showing Hill Papi's new
100% electric car
2012 Nissan Leaf

We were beat so after dinner Hill and I crashed in Hannah’s room.

Saturday morning we woke up and showered (because my dad doesn’t have bathtubs at his house.) Did you know that it is super hard to clean a slippery baby who doesn’t like water pelting in his face in a shower? Well it is, and it’s a team effort for naked mama and baby to communicate in the shower…a walk in shower with no door and oriental rugs. We survived and I hope the mental image has not scarred your brain.

I left Hill with everyone (because it takes a village) and I went to visit Meredith, Gavino and their new tiny sweet precious baby boy. Asher Tate Arsuaga was born on August the 23^rd and I have been DYING to get my hands on his chunky self. Since we drove from MS I was able to bring her all of the clothes Hill has grown out of (see I’m killing birds here – hand me downs, Uhaul, wedding mmm hmmm.) I was too engulfed in being with my people that I only got like one picture of Asher and his sweet Daddy.

I hate Hill didn’t get to meet Asher this trip but Asher hadn’t had his 2 month shots yet and Hill is full of daycare disease so I wasn’t comfortable with the coming together of the two just yet, but next time! Just you wait!

It was so good to see my people. I always tell Gavino when I leave Mere - and now Mere and Asher - for him to take good care of my people. He does, he’s a good keeper of my people. I love Gavino and am so glad he’s in Meredith’s life.

I had to leave though. It was almost time for us to go to my brother Jason’s wedding but I wanted to make one quick stop since I was by myself before I headed back to my dad’s house. I drove by my grandmother’s house. The house that my grandfather had built over 50 years ago, it’s the coziest 5 acres I’ve ever known. When I was little it was the widest safest open space for my two feet to run until I fell over. We’d feed the cows, till the garden, shell pecans from a pecan tree that is over 200 years old and takes up nearly half an acre. My grandparents would pay their property taxes from the sale of the pecans. Now days – 20 years later my grandma’s house is nestled up in the middle of the busy life, subdivisions, highways and grocery stores. It’s almost hard to get to through roads that didn’t exist even 5 years ago. You’d have to know the lay of the land to figure out how to get there now. I got there and drove through the row of trees that are big and healthy that my dad planted when he was in high school. The big for sale sign in the pasture made my heart sink just a little bit. The house looked sad. It has a renter in it; it wasn’t neat and tidy like Mamaw kept it. The big 40 year old sago palms weren’t there and the landscape looked desolate. The pecan tree shaded everything, it was like a big protector, a shelter, almost as if it was a big hug from its gigantic arms around the property. I pulled into the drive way glanced from my car window and then drove away a little sad, but giving me closure on the fact that this land isn’t what it used to be. I can keep the sweet memories we made there, but the property itself doesn’t belong in the busy life it’s been placed in anymore just laying there with a windmill in the middle of the pasture. It will be sold as commercial real estate which even though money can’t buy the memories made there I feel it’s just an extra special way of my grandparents saying it’s ok – a way to show that they continue to take care of us.

Uhhh, sigh, breathe in and breathe out. I needed that 5 minutes alone before I went back to my hustle and bustle busy life outside of those 5 acres. So I made it back to my dad’s to get ready for the wedding. Hill, Chip, my dad and I all rode together. Hannah and Pam stayed back and went to the dinner theatre.

We got to the wedding and it was a beautiful location right outside of Bay City. Jason had graciously pulled the Uhaul from El Campo on his wedding day that my mom loaded up with stuff for me to take back. Thanks guys! You saved us about 2 hours of travel time! We got to see a bit of family and meet Maria’s family. They are all precious and her sister has a little boy the same age as Hill and they just played and played.

My mom did the food, which as always was fantastic! We had food, family, fun, a beautiful day with a beautiful location with beautiful people. Wonderful is the word I would use. Everything was wonderful.

Mama Lou & Hill

Jason & the preacher

Papi, Hill & Mama Lou

Hill had this fascination with rolling on the rug

Mama Lou's good cookin'

Aunt Rosemary

Hill dancing to the iPod

Anyone wanna dance with me?

Entry to the patio

Hill and Landon

Patio scene

Me & Jason

Still rolling on the rug...

Hill and Landon rolling on the rug...

Sweet Maria & Hill

All the boys dancing & jumping

Hill was a hoot and had a great time dancing and playing. My dad and Chip seemed to forget that we were pulling an Uhaul back to my dad’s house in Sugar Land from the wedding (45 minutes away) so yours truly ended up having to pull that hoss down the winding back roads. I did a good job and got us all home safe and sound.

Sunday morning we loaded up and headed out – back on the road to Mississip’. The only thing I remember about the drive home was that I wanted to kill Barney the Dinosaur. I wanted to physically reach through the tv in the back seat and strangle him and the singing happy little children. If it wasn’t for the alternative (Hill crying wanting “more Barney”) then Barney and Friends would live on the side of Interstate 12 between Baton Rouge and Hammond, LA somewhere.

We got home Sunday at about 6:00pm. Chip wanted to unload the Uhaul so we wouldn’t have to jack with it on Monday morning. I have to admit that I was a little nervous to open the Uhaul not knowing what all my mom had packed in there. I felt like Geraldo Rivera unveiling the Uhaul of Jimmy Hoffa or something. She’s always trying to give me all of her stuff or my old stuff so she had a prime unsupervised opportunity to load us up this trip. She did a good job though. I have to say that I was worried a bit at first when I saw we are the proud owners of no less than three grosses of Beanie Babies now. Yet it’s worth it because Hill now has a table and chairs in his room to color at, I have everything I’d ever need to decorate my guest room with and a few heirlooms that are neat keepsakes. I had to call the rest of the family who was waiting patiently to know what all Mom packed in the Uhaul to let them know it was all ok.

We had a great time in Texas. Congratulations to my wonderful brother Jason and his beautiful bride Maria. Best wishes and we love you guys!

October Recap: Pumpkins, Pink Surgical Gloves, Hoola Hoops and Boob Jobs

2011-10-26T22:42:00.000-05:00

To continue on with my while I was not blogging update.

After a nice relaxing long over due adult weekend....Monday the 3^rd was back to the grind at work.

Tuesday Mama Lou flew back to Texas from spending the weekend with sweet Hill. I’m so glad she gets to come spend time with him. He calls her’ Mah-na-u’ now. It’s cute. He’s cute, in case you didn’t know that already.

Wednesday the 5^th we had family night and Chip, Hill and I went to Pop’s Produce where they have no less than a zillion pumpkins of all shapes colors and sizes. Chip and I picked out our pumpkins to carve and then Hill got a small pumpkin and a gourd to play with.

Hill helped us carve the pumpkins. He didn’t really like getting the gook and seeds out but once it was cleaned he was cool with the whole idea of carving a pumpkin. He really liked that the pumpkin has a “hat” (the lid) he would take in on and off and laugh. We baked the pumpkin seeds I think Hill ate the majority of them.

Because it's always important to take the cell phone charger
with you when you buy pumpkins.

Hill's gourd

Look who we saw buying 'puh-kins,'
SASSY!!

Chip & Hill carving their first pumpkin together

My pumpkin

Chip's is the mean one on the left...with the eyebrows.

Then Thursday the 6^th I was invited to go to the Madison Chamber Of Commerce Ladies Night gala. My friend Kelly invited me and I was so glad she did! We’ve never really hung out before but have been wanting to and talking about it for a couple YEARS now. Kelly and I talk often but she has two kiddos and her hands full so I understand that getting together is a little hectic to say the least. The event was to benefit Breast Cancer, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I’m pretty sure we were the funnest people there and I don’t care if funnest is not a word. I do have to say that I loved watching the Madison ladies cut a rug to the 1-900 band who were awesome. Though I have to say that I’m sure they enjoyed watching me dance too *blush.* I do know for a fact that EVERYONE enjoyed watching Kelly whoop up on winning the hoola hoop contest! I’m not too sure that I’ve ever laughed so hard IN MY LIFE. She was in the “hoola hoop zone” if there is such thing and she pulled it off. There was one girl that got a little snide about it. Ah girls are so dang caddy even as adults. We were some of the last people there and fun was had by all. Thanks Kelly for inviting me!

Signing the breast cancer awareness car

I had fun, but this nun may have had a lot more fun!
She was a dancing machine.

This is a freaky picture.
They handed out pink gloves and we didn't really
know what to do with them so we wore them around.

Breast cancer gang signs

Paul Ott was the guest speaker and a breast cancer survivor.

Ok, so here is what rang in the night... Kelly and her madd hoola hoop skillz...

Break it on down!

Work it girl!

WIN IT GIRL!

The weekend of the 7th I cannot for the life of me remember what we did that Friday night, but Saturday was the most perfect of perfect days. Chip and I both can’t remember the last time we’d been able to have such a relaxing day. To Chip relaxing is fishing that morning with his dad and then watching football all day while making a brisket. To me relaxing is actually being able to get some stuff I’d been putting off accomplished. I can’t sit still. I cleaned out the guestroom that used to be Chip’s office - I’m getting two twin beds to go in there. I did 6 loads of laundry. Delfina came and helped clean the house. I can keep it organized, but I don’t do a good job at cleaning. I went through all of the clothes that don’t fit Hill anymore to give back to the fabulous people that let us borrow them. I went through all of Hill’s clothes birth – now and labeled them and boxed them up to let baby Asher (Meredith’s son who has arrived safely into the world and I need to blog about) borrow. I finally took a shower and got out of lounge clothes at 4:30 so that I could go to a surprise birthday party for my sweet friend Amanda! Amanda, this is your shout out! I hope you had a wonderful birthday and take it from me – turning 30 is not the end of the world…just close. Love you sweet girl! Thanks for having a birthday and thanks to JJ for making cake balls that rocked my world - I ate 6 million of them and had to top it off with 12 million Tums antacids. I’d do it again though they were that good!

We did winterize the ski boat. Here is Hill cleaning and getting one last pretend drive in before she goes 'night night' for the winter. My hope is that we get the ski boat and fishing boat out of our drive way and into their winter resting places so that every time we pull in the driveway Hill doesn't say "Dada's two boats!" He's good at reminding me how much room they take up in our garage and driveway.

Monday the 10^th was Columbus Day, a bank holiday. I was still up at the crack of dawn because I had an eye doctor appointment at 8:15am. I was embarrassed to tell Dr. Middleton that I hadn’t been to have my eyes checked in probably 10 years. Yup, I kid you not. I decided that I took for granted my ears and they went to crap so I must take care of my eyes. Surprising to me, I got a good report. I need some reading glasses that I will try to get over the counter to see how that works for just for reading only then if they don’t work then I will have to get prescription reading glasses because I have astigmatism. After my appointment I ran to grab a donut at the Daylight Donut place in town. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to start wearing disguises when I go in there because it’s way too frequent. I ran to the pharmacy, got gas in the car and went to order new tires for my car. All of this before 9:30 am. I was crazy OCD that morning - probably because I was secretly nervous about our trip to Memphis to visit Dr. Shell, Hill’s plastic surgeon.

Chip, Hill and I left town mid-morning to get to Memphis in time for his 2:30 appointment. It’s always a pleasure to see all of the fun ladies at Dr. Shell’s office. His nurse assistant is having a baby on November 17^th! I am so mad that I’ve seen her no less than 7 times since April and she didn’t even tell me! She’s so tiny though and never showed – not even in July the last time we were there! She has a little boy close to Hill’s age so she will have her hands full! We got to the appointment early and we had a little of a wait before we were called back. So in the interim Hill insisted on entertaining the ladies and also reading the brochures that were sitting out.

All about Breast Augmentation

I think this is the part where he turned the page and said "Boobie!"
Where did he learn that word? Seriously?

Dr. Shell came in and said that everything looks great. He expects the swelling to go down by the next 4-5 months. He said it may take a year to 18 months (from the surgery date May) to totally heal. The lip is still firm which tells him he has more healing to do. I asked about muscle movement because sometimes it’s as if that side of his lip doesn’t fully move, comparable to a stroke patient. He said that once the swelling goes down he will have more movement of the area and this will come with time. Dr. Shell is pleased with how things are looking especially the pink part above his lip which was the concern before his last surgery. The pink part will continue to heal and become flesh colored and beforehand this was not the case. He doesn’t foresee another surgery, but he always follows up with – never say never. We don’t go back until the end of March so that is good news! Another successful visit with our favorite plastic surgeon. We got home around 7:00 and I was beat. The boys slept the majority of the way home but I was ready to fall flat on my face into my pillow - - so I did.

I leave you there for tonight. I will follow up my next post with our trip to Texas for Uncle Jason's wedding. It deserves a blog post of it's own.
I promise it won't be another month and a half before I blog. I was going into detox shakes from not getting my mental release. Blogging is my therapy. It keeps me sane. I think I lost my sanity over the past month but I'm working on gathering myself back together....for the sake of my mental health.

September Recap: Parties, Drop Outs, Work & the Coast

2011-10-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

You may or may not have noticed that I have been …not here lately. I am having difficulty organizing my personal life. I’m almost to the point of having to have your people call my people…it sure would be nice if I had a person to maybe delegate that to…but I have no person to call your people.

Where have I been? I’m not sure exactly, I think I was sucked into a time warp and it may be attributed to when I lost my watch in August as I was riding Hill around on the lawn mower through the neighborhood. Things just haven’t been the same since then I guess. We are human we want to blame someone or some event for making things awry. Alright, here’s the latest scoop (as I look through my calendar to remember what we’ve been doing.)

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that September was Cleft Awareness Month.

My hopes, dreams and goals are to become more involved in promoting Cleft Awareness.

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." - Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh

On September 7^th Hill started AWANA at Parkway Baptist Church. Awana is a church program that has different age groups and they learn bible verses etc. We don’t go to church there, but Tanner invited Hill to go and since we really don’t have any kid programs at our church we said, “Heck yeah!” He went until Week 5 because he didn't really warm up to the whole idea of loud kids in the fellowship hall for the introduction and ending each Wednesday night, but I think he enjoyed the classroom time as a ‘Puggle’ with Mr. & Mrs. Rea (that’s our friend Baylie’s grandma and grandpa.) One week we invited Harvey and he had a blast! Hill was Sponge Bob Grouchy Pants and thought I was going to leave him there, which I usually do, but didn’t that last time. He gets all teary eyed and maybe a little scared and then I spend the evening worried about him. So, we are now officially Puggles drop outs. Anyway, here are some pictures of week before his last AWANA venture when Harvey came.

Harvey

Baylie bug

Tanner

Hill & Harvey eating cookies, rice crispy treats and kool-aid at 7:35 pm.
But who cares what time bed time is before we eat a ton of sugar?

Sweet Mr & Mrs Rea helping Hill color

God made the flowers
(that's what his picture is - a flower)

Sometimes we get to help Chip’s step dad, Ed, by taking care of Daisy Dog when he needs to go out of town. Daisy is the sweetest dog ever. Hill talks about “Daisy Dog” all the time. Thursday, September 15^th we went to Ed’s house and Hill got to go too, he LOVES that Ed has a play area with a big slide!

Hill & Daisy Dog

Mama! Watch Me!

Peek-a-boo!

This picture kills me he looks so grown up!

Also, on the 15^th I had my book club. It was at the Thomas’ house and we hung out at their outdoor kitchen and had a fabulous time. I am still talking about their back yard a month later. It is beautiful!

I am pretty sure it is a need we will have to fulfill at our house in the near future.

The weekend of the 16^th was full of fun events! Chip went to the coast and Hill and I were left to party all weekend! Tanner Pettit had his 3^rd birthday party on Saturday the 17^th and it was so much fun! Mrs. Whit did an awesome job with the dinosaur theme. For those of you that know Tanner know that he LOVES him some dinosaurs. He knows all of their complicated names and what they eat. If he doesn't know what kind they are then he makes up the name which fools me every time.

Look how awesome all the cupcakes are!
(and how fast Tanner can run in the background)

Jack & Kayla

Hill and Harvey doing what they love -
Playing in the DIRT!

Time for the Dinosaur Egg Hunt!

Got my eggs Mom, I'm headed back up the hill
I love watching his tiny legs take him places

Harvey showing JJ all his dino eggs

Happy Birthday Tan-Man!

I love Harvey and I love this picture of him!

All the kiddos "helping" Tanner open presents

Hill and Jack making sure the garbage truck toy works.

Then Sunday the 18^th a few girls, Gena Pope, JJ Warrington, Lauren Thompson and I threw a baby shower for Whitney. Emory Hart will be here sooner than we think and I can’t wait to meet her!

The party was wonderful and she received such beautiful things.

Hostesses with the Mama: Gena Pope, JJ Warrington, Whitney Pettit,
Me, & Lauren Thompson

Guests

All of Emory Hart's loot!

The table

Since we last talked things have changed a lot work wise. I am no longer working as a commercial lender at the branch. My last day way September 16^th. All the sweet sweet people I worked with gave me a little going away luncheon.

This was JUST the dessert table

Sweet Judy

I will for sure miss all the people at the branch and also the food that all the wonderful ladies would make on the random days that I was starving! I’d love it when Sweet Mama would come into my office and say, “I made some homemade praline cookies from scratch.” Or when one of the ladies was dying to make the apple cake recipe from last month’s Southern Living magazine….I was dying to eat it! Seriously though, I will miss seeing everyone at the branch they have all helped me learn so much and have been such great people to work with. I guess my ol’ boss man doesn’t have to worry about any more plumbing issues with the Presidential Potty. He’s the greatest. I will miss seeing my customers and the people that are in and out of the branch daily.

Yet, my new job is fantastic. I started on Monday the 19^th. I’m still with the same bank just back on the administrative side again. I’m doing corporate underwriting which is really what I enjoy doing, the analytical side of things. I have the same fantastic boss that I did when I was an analyst, Barry, which seems like eons ago but was only two years ago. It’s nice to have good people to work for, I’ve been very lucky. I remember talking to Barry a couple years ago when I was trying to decide if I wanted to transfer from the admin side to the branch – I had such reservations about leaving his department and everyone in it. I told him that I’m pretty sure we could all be garbage collectors together and I’d love what I do because the people I work with. He knew that my going to the branch was a good career move but assured me that if I ever wanted to come back I could. I went to the branch and LOVED everyone I worked for and with and around. I have to say I am very fortunate. We made a good team and took care of business and enjoyed doing it along the way.

God always knows what he’s doing and his timing is never less than impeccable. The way the cards fell, Barry was challenged to head up a new corporate department at the bank and needed an underwriter. Having worked with him before, and now having lender experience under my belt plus my past commercial analyst experience, I was flattered to be given the opportunity to embark on this new banking endeavor. We’ve hit the ground running…well, he’s hit the ground running. I’m just tagging along to help process information. I’m enjoying the challenge. My first week I was working on something and for two days straight I got into “the zone” and forgot to stop and eat lunch until like 2:00 or 3:00. I’m a dork and like that kind of stuff - getting so deep into concentrating on something you lose track of time. When you snap out of it it’s almost refreshing. Can’t explain it. I should just stop there before you guys think I’ve fallen off the deep end and into nerd-om.

The people that I work with now were really worried about my new office and how it faces the conference room. You see, we work in fish bowls. We face the hall way and there is not a wall there, it’s glass…so you see everything and everyone. Someone that had that office previously said that the people in meetings would just stare at you. They probably aren’t staring at YOU per se, but they look off in la la land and their focus seems to be at that specific office. So, before I even had my boxes unpacked my co-worker next door, Sandra, had hi-jacked a fake tree from the floor below us to put in my office to block people from looking at me all day.

Sandra transporting the tree in the elevator

Carrying the tree down the hall to my office

Continuing on with the Month of September….

Saturday the 24^th I went back to the branch and worked. I told my boss, Justin, that I wasn’t going to leave them high and dry after I was already on the schedule to work. That wouldn’t be the right thing to do. So, I worked that morning and then we went to my nephew Shane Preston’s birthday party that afternoon. SP turned 4 and he had a Sponge Bob birthday party. This cake was something else! Usually really decorated cakes aren't very tasty, but this one was fantastic!

Maci is one of Hill's girlfriends.
He talks about her all the time.

Hill just chillin on the jumper

We had a great time! Happy Birthday S.P.! You are growing up way too fast!

Sunday the 25^th was busy as well. The Bishop came to church, I always love it when he comes, I want to keep him in my pocket and hang out with him all the time. We had a luncheon at the church and I brought rolls. When I say that it reminds me of the movie Dirty Dancing when Baby says, “I carried the watermelon.” Dork.

Speaking of dork...what's up with this look?

That Sunday night was supper club at the Hawkins! We were extremely unprepared and Sunday was a weird night to have it on, but with SEC football schedules and every day stuff, it was the only time we could get it in during September. We served a melting pot of what sounded good to us even if it didn’t really all go together. We had Chip’s specialty…Magic Yum Shrimp. This is skewered shrimp with cream cheese wrapped in bacon tossed on the grill and melted gruyere cheese on top, yum. Then the only thing I know how to make, pineapple casserole. If you have the Prime Meridian cookbook it’s page 200. You must triple the recipe to feed 6-8. It’s that good. I did try my hand at sautéed fresh spinach with garlic, but it was just mediocre. For dessert….I made a key lime pie. I’d not made one before and so I hated serving something I’d never made but it was great, simple, light and fantastic. I should have made two. Fun was had by all, as usual even though it was a “school night” we still managed to fit in a Wii game of Jeopardy.

Wednesday the 28^th I had lunch with our sweet “Sassy”, Sandra Landrum. Do you know how much I love that woman? To the moon and back, that’s how much. That was the highlight of my day that day.

Thursday manna from heaven was sent down in disguise as a chiropractor. I’d been down in my back twice in the last month and a half. I went to the doctor twice only to try drugs that I can’t take and function during the day simultaneously. I’m a lush. So instead of moping around the house telling Chip every 5.5 seconds…”One day I’ll get better” while secretly planning how my life would be in a hover round wheelchair…I went to the chiropractor. Hello I love you Felicia Poe. You have made my life a better place and one day I will write a haiku about you.

Since I was feeling considerably better I didn’t have any reservations about the upcoming 3 ½ hour car trek to the coast. Chip and Hart went Thursday night to the condo so they could wake up Friday and fish all day. Friday the 30th I went to pick up Mama Lou (my mom) from the airport to care for my first born while we go on an adult worry free weekend with the Pettit People. Whit and I got to town Friday evening and ate at Half Shell Oyster house, which was fantastic, then went to the condo to meet up with our hubby’s. The men caught three fish. None keepers. They had a great time though and that’s the point.

Saturday we did a whole lot of nothing at our leisure. At like 10 am we went to the Magnolia Brewery, which if you are a devout follower I have pics of Hill and I at the brewery last year. We then went to eat at Mesina’s near the condo and watch the MS State game. The girls got pedicures while the guys went back to the condo. Then Whit and I hit up the outlet mall in Gulfport. Emory Hart needed a couple things before her arrival and since Hill is into picking out his own outfits and they HAVE TO HAVE a truck on them or he won’t wear it I bought him 5 different truck shirts. I did buy myself some shoes and then I could not resist the tiny baby jeggings from Gap for Emory Hart. I tried to find a pic for you on Gap’s website, but they are soo cute they can’t be found anywhere. Some of you may be familiar with jeggings - - picture jeans, but as stretchy leggings. Ok, now picture them in the tiniest of tiny pant sizes ever made. Get this girl some UGG boots and put her on the dance floor! What! What! Oh poor Emory Hart you better get here fast because I must dress you up and play with you like a doll since I have too much testosterone at my house.

After the shopping we went back to the condo to prep for tradition. What is the coast tradition? Hello, to go eat at the Jourdan River Steamer. I’ve not blogged in so long I’m sure you forgot the coast must do’s. I love their food and I love everyone that works there. It’s a good thing we don’t live down there or we’d be broke from having to eat there every night of the week. Here is the only picture I got all weekend...

Sorry Whit. It was to precious not to post.
Her bib says, "Time to get Cracking!"

So, the food was a fabulous as usual and Chip was getting ants in his pants because we HAD to get back in time to watch Ole Miss barely beat Fresno State. Before we could go back to the condo we had to continue with tradition and stop at Dairy Queen and get a Blizzard, another reason I can’t live in Diamondhead – I’d turn into a big ol’ Blizzard I’d eat them every day. I was so full though I couldn’t even look at the food menu only the Blizzard menu. I remember Whitney commenting, I’m so glad we didn’t eat dinner here (talking about DQ.)

After the Blizzard I fell into a coma and missed the game and probably the only win we will have this season. Oh well, I still love you Rebs.

Sunday Chip and I took our time getting back to Koz. Mama Lou had everything under control and we stopped over in Hattiesburg to check out a few stores and of course eat before our trek home to kiss on my munchkin! Oh how I missed him. Oh how I love it that he loves me so much!

That is the September Recap with the first couple days of October at the coast.
We did do a little of this during the month of September too..

September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T22:39:00.000-05:00

Ten years ago today Our Nation was attacked. Where were you? Most of us will never forget...I know I won't.

I feel like I need to rewind. 2001 was a big year for me. I've been told before that I'm an "old soul," I can agree with that. I think it's my life experiences that have made me that way, more mature in a sense. I turned 21 in March of 2001. That summer I broke up with a long time boyfriend after 3 years. He was allegedly "The One" but mere weeks later God led me to Chip who turned out to be "The Real One." That same summer my best friend Meredith and I packed our bags and hopped a plane to Europe where we traveled around from town to town, country to country for nearly a month with no agenda. I think everyone should have that opportunity at least once in their lives. It doesn't matter how old you are or how little money you have.

At the end of July my precious niece Hannah was born. I was able to be with her and care for her and her half sisters until September. When most college kids were already back in school hitting the books and bars I was at home in Texas preparing for another adventure. You see I was to travel abroad again to study the Fall semester in Valencia, Spain. Studying abroad was no new challenge for me. I'd lived in Quito, Ecuador as an exchange student back in 1997-1998. I thrived for the adventure. I yearned for the experiences and memories that no one was able to take away from me, ever. My independence defined me.

September 11, 2001 I woke up, my bags had been packed for weeks because I was excited. Ready for a new chapter, another edition to my life's journey. I was in the bathtub at my moms house when I heard my sweet tiny headed mother yell, "Oh, Shit!" I ran into the living room half naked and dripping wet because I knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong, my mother just doesn't blurt out obscenities, ever. I sat on the couch as I was trying to grasp what was going on. I was watching, confused, quietly as the second plane came and hit the World Trade Center. Certainly this is no accident. It was devastating, people were jumping out of the windows of the skyscrapers. My mom said something bad was going on, we should call Delta Airlines to make sure my flight from Houston to New York was still on schedule for today....September 11th.

I called Delta airlines and immediately got through to a customer support person. I asked if my flight was still scheduled to leave Houston Intercontinental and fly to New York. The airline employee assured me that it was. I asked if she was aware that "something" has happened in New York. Two planes had hit the World Trade Center Towers. I don't remember her answer, I don't know if she even knew. She double checked the schedule and said that everything was on time. I hung up. The world was still unaware that Our Nation had been attacked by terrorists. That morning no one knew what exactly happened or why.

My mom and I sat in confusion. What has happened? What is going on? Those planes! Those people! The workers in the Towers! Do we pack up the car and continue to the airport as planned? The news caster came on the tv from the continual footage of the Towers. He said that all airports are shut down. All planes are grounded. I called Delta airlines again, the man said everything was grounded and he was unsure when I'd be able to go to New York. That was ok by me. I continued to watch the devastation for hours...for days. These people. Their families. I'm safe. I'm numb.

Ten days later I was able to fly out. My Aunt Rosemary and mom drove me to the airport. I was being tough, I was ready, I wasn't scared. My mom on the other hand was a nervous wreck. She never showed it, but I know she was as she offered me a valium as we turned into the airport. She assured me that it would be ok if I'd decided I didn't want to go. I questioned it for a second but only a second.

Due to new security regulations my mom wasn't allowed to go back to the terminal with me. They dropped me off outside. We said our goodbyes and I lugged my luggage to the check in line. Everything was quiet. Everyone at one of the busiest airports in the country was solemn. I stood in the check in line like all the other robots, one by one, quietly we moved through the line. My heart began to palpitate as the man two people in front of me made his way to the counter. He was foreign. He became angry with the airline employee. I couldn't hear, I could only see their gestures. He would hold up his duffel bag and the lady would shake her head. They called for another employee to come assist. Then another. The man was angry and I was thinking to myself, "Oh my god, this guy is a terrorist! He's foreign and he wants to take that duffel bag on the freaking plane and blow us all up!" I popped the Valium.

The airline employee gazed around the check in line and loudly asked, "Does anyone here speak Spanish?" Gee whiz, I sighed. I do. The man just didn't understand that he had to check his bag. He planned on carrying it on, but when they tried to take it and send it through he was angry. I felt as though God was testing me. Here I was passing judgement on this Hispanic guy - making it out in my head that he was a terrorist. My God has a sense of humor, but that day he caught me off guard and busted me out on thinking the worst.

I boarded the plane. Alleged Hispanic terrorist guy was not on my plane. The flight was long. I remember flying over New York, Ground Zero was still smoldering ten days later. Unbelievable. Empty. Tragic. Violated. Those words come to mind to describe the most indescribable site.

Everything else that day was a blur after that. I don't remember how I got to the hotel, I don't remember where I stayed. I remember thinking that it was a hole in the wall. I ordered food from some restaurant down the street and by the time it got to me I wasn't even hungry anymore. I remember looking out the window and the only thing I could see was a brick wall. No view, I was alone and I felt alone. What the hell am I doing I asked myself?

I was to meet my study abroad group from the University of Virginia the following day so we could all travel to Spain together. I can't give up, other people aren't flaking out. What if something happens again while I'm out of the country? What if I can't get up with my family to know if they are ok? That thought crossed my mind more than a million times before and during my study abroad.

The flight to New York after September 11th and the journey thereafter changed me both positively and negatively. I hate to fly now. Yet, I got to see first hand how other countries handled something so catastrophic that happened on our soil. In Spain I was once in a public restroom and a woman cried to me, tears streaming down her face, about how awful the attack on our country was; and everyone always asked if I knew anyone that was there at Ground Zero. These people were passionate and sympathetic to the United States. They felt our pain and sorrow and wanted to share in our grief.

To this day I have my plane ticket from Houston to New York on September 11, 2001 in a frame in my office. It helps me keep perspective. Keep my focus. Don't dwell on the little things. Life is too short. Love deep. It's ok to cry. It's ok to be scared. It's definitely ok to take an adventure and don't forget to live life to the fullest because we never truly know how much time we have here on Earth.

God Bless America. Never Forget.

I Fell Off The Face Of The Earth

2011-09-10T18:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you're wondering if I've fallen off the face of the Earth. The answer is, yes...yes I have. I have been trapped in a tornadic cyclone for 3 weeks. I can't tell you the last time I've gone 3 weeks without blogging. I think my insides are about to burst!
So while I have a minute since hubby is in Oxford watching football and tiny boy is napping.... I will vomit all over you the hodge podge of things that we have been doing over the past, what seems like, millennia. There is no order to these photos, just random what's been going on. Some of these things I may have already talked about...but just humor me and listen again.

I went all Brittany Spears on my dogs and shaved them. I'd had enough of their hair and tumbleweeds rolling throughout my house. I am not too sure why I've waited 9 years to do this?

Foxy Mama - notice her sweet bow on her head.
She felt pretty even though she's all street tough.

Katie Lou stays shaved, but her ears became a big glob of knotted yarn.
So they got shaved.

This is my niece Hannah's back to school notebook.
How sweet that she put pics of Hilly poo on the front!

Jane Claire and the girls came to town to visit. I don't know why I only have this picture. We hung out all weekend - shame on me for not capturing all the fun stuff we did! All the cousins came over Sunday, August 28th and played on the big blowup water slide. Fun was had by all. Anyway, you can sort of see that Addie is pushing Hill in his car.

This is my neighbors pimp station wagon.

The other day I stopped to ask them if they wanted to sell it because it just looks like something I need. They were willing to sell it, but it was more than I wanted to pay for a silly toy. Seriously, how freaking awesome is this wagon? Paneling, what! White walls, shut your mouth! It has a huge steering wheel, A/C, great interior and the seat in the way back that flips backwards so you can stare at the car behind you on long road trips and pick your nose. Growing up my best friends family had a maroon one like this. We use to play hide and go seek in that thing while our crayons melted in the dash. Hill needs childhood memories like that. We could load up the kiddo and dogs and just do whatever. We'd be the Griswold's. I know Hill would love it if I dropped him off at school in this relic.

Football season has started. I found my favorite Grove picture in all the history of Grove pictures. It was taken 2 years ago at the Auburn game.

Colonel Reb & Jesus Christ

I haven't had a weekend with my husband since well, I can't remember. If it's not fishing, it's football. If it's not football it's hunting. Then the vicious cycle repeats every year. I guess it could be a lot worse. The fact that he has hobbies is a good thing. Maybe I'll actually get to go to a few games this year. I always seem to have something going on too though.

Like I said, this is a hodge podge of pictures...I found this one that is from when we went to Nashville a few weeks ago. Had to toss this one in on the post because my boys are sweet.

As most of you know, Chip is the cook in our house. When we have family cooking night he gives me my chore and then usually stands over me to tell me how it probably needs to be done the way I'm not doing it. So I take pictures instead.

Hill is in charge of putting on the pepperoni on home made pizza night.
I did scatter the cheese on it. See, I can cook.

Then we planted sunflower seeds...

Katie Lou being nosey while Hill looks on.

Hill gets to put the seeds in.

We are now to the point where attending church with our 19 month old son is a chore. Weekend before last he was doing great until he pulled out the crayons and was 2.5 milliseconds from coloring in the Hymnal. So, I loaded him up and we went across the street to play on the playground until church let out.

Hill's obsession with shoes has not gone away. Still the same routine - wake up, change diaper, put on shoes. Shoes is the first word out of his mouth when he wakes up. We nap in shoes because I'm not willing to fight that battle. It's no easy task explaining to my son that it's not a good idea to sleep in your rain boots...or tennis shoes...or sandals. So he dubbed his cowboy boots his night night shoes. I HAD to get the boy some house shoes. Wal-Mart only offers kid sized slippers of the "fun" character fashion. We settled for 'Cars.' He calls them his "Car Shoes" and never wears them for more than 27 seconds. Sigh...

Aren't they cheesy tacky cute?

I love his 3 inch long legs.
They make me smile.

Week before last Hill had strep. The doctor says that if he gets it one more time this calendar year he will have to have his tonsils removed. Pray for no more strep, please. So not only did Hill have strep it was the week from doo doo when the proverbial tornadic cyclone went into full effect. Chip was in Texas fishing with my dad and then had a conference to go to. He gets sick. Stuck in not his house and not his bed sick. So here I am with sick child and sick husband located 750 miles away. Someone has to bring home the bacon around these parts so I must work.

Thank Heaven for Chip's step mom or I'm not sure what I'd have done. Nana stepped up to the plate that Monday when daycare called and she took him to the doctor for me so he could get on antibiotics right away. (side note: we went to the doctor every week in August and part of July with random ailments. Seriously, it's embarrassing.) He was out of daycare Monday and Tuesday. Went to school Wednesday and then started throwing up again on Thursday so he was out Friday too. He had strep like I'd never seen. It made him nauseated and he would only eat Nacho Cheese Doritos and fruit roll ups. I think I'd probably throw up too. Anyway, he overcame it...we think/hope.

He felt so bad he didn't want to eat.
Only sleep.

I was able to get a little substance in the boy.
He's a sweet mess.

Meanwhile, the Wednesday that he did go to school I had to go to Jackson to get a tube put in my ear. Yes, I'm the 31 year old that has tubes in my ears. It's weird to tell people that because they usually associate tubes with little kids. So I usually don't say anything because I get a crooked look as they say "Really?" as if I were a 31 year old that still breast fed or something.

I was a big girl as I got the tube in my ear. No anti-anxiety meds because I was alone and the sole caregiver to my son should he fall ill again and need me. Before Dr. House put my tube in he stuck this sucker thing in my ear - like when you go to the dentist and it sucks your spit - but he stuck it in my ear to get out the fluid (vomit right?) Well it gets better. I could feel it sucking my breath away from my throat through my ear! Then my sinus' were all dried out. Whoa. I know - it felt just as weird as it sounds. Ok so maybe I am a kid. Whatever, now you are judging me. See this is why I just don't tell people I have tubes in my ears.

After the procedure which took a nano second EVERYTHING WAS SO LOUD! Oh wow it was loud. I told Dr. House that this was going to take some getting use to. He told me that some people are so use to not being able to hear that they can't take it once they are able to hear all the sounds. He assured me that if I hadn't adjusted in a couple of weeks he could take it out. How odd that I'd rather be partially deaf than subjected to this continual rock concert volume 24-7. My ear did settle and by that night it had popped or something and I adjusted way better. The tube has made a cozy home in my ear. THE END....don't you just love that story? Weirdo.

Moving on ~

When I worked from home I had my office in the side room off our kitchen. It then became the "dogs room" once I went back to work within society. For the past forever Chip has had his office in our guest bedroom. We decided that when guests come it would be nice for them to have their own room and not have to boot Hill out of his room. I secretly think it was a way for Chip to get me to clean up all the crap I stored in the corner of the dogs room. So the office renovation began....

Chip's step dad is really handy and thrify. He said he could build us a desk for mere pennies - - and that he did! I love it!

Before: Foster getting one last rest in his old room before construction begins.

During: Hill and I using power tools.
(Don't look up my shorts!)

During: Ed & Hill finding studs.
Wait, they are the studs. Sorry I couldn't resist the cheese of saying that.
Especially Hill with no pants on.

After

I like to call it the Mission Control Room
left to right: Chip's Mac laptop, my Mac desktop, my Dell laptop and Chip's work laptop.

During renovation redo week we also hung a TV outside on the patio. I have to brag on hubby for a second. I knew his intentions when he broached the subject on wanting a tv outside - He had football on the brain. But I've got to give it to him. He researched and found a brand new 28" LCD flat screen tv and wall bracket for less than $200 at Walmart.com. Why the heck not? I refuse to take a picture until the wires are all in place and I have decorated. Well, I take that back. I did take a picture and it looks stupid because it's like "Hey, I'm a tv on a wall" and doesn't do the set up justice. I have to admit that Hill really really enjoys watching Mickey Mouse outside while putting sticks in his wagon. Ridiculous, I know. He can also watch cartoons while.....

Playing on the "tractor"

Last weekend was Labor Day weekend. Our friends Elizabeth "Ed", Mike & Ava Kaiser came to visit us from Nashville. Ava and Hill are days apart which is neat because Chip and Ed have been BFF forever. The kids played together like they were BFF. It was sweet. I have no less than a million pictures from when they were here so I will share those in another post.

So now do you see why I haven't posted in 3 weeks? Do you forgive me? Have you abandon me as I have you? There is much more to talk about...work being one of them. I don't really like to talk about work on my blog but once I get settled I'll give you the latest on my bitter sweet transition.

I leave you with this picture. It describes how I feel lately, tired. We went over to our neighbors house, the Davis', to watch the Auburn vs. MS State game and Hill played and played and came home to conk out. I'm sure I will regret his napping at 4:00 pm and it's now 6:30 pm and he's still asleep. Oh well, it was worth being able to get to blog for a bit.

We Love And Miss You, "Snacks"

2011-08-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

It's so numbing to think that it's been two years since my precious mother in law, Adrienne, passed away. It feels like she was just here jumping up and down with the most shocked look on her face when we told her on Mother's Day 2009 that we were having a baby. I swear she almost passed out. I am so glad we got to have that memory...amongst millions of others. She so longed for us to give her a grandchild. My heart aches that Hill was 5 months in utero when she died. He would for sure be a Snook's boy. I love that Hill looks so much like Chip, it's as if her legacy lives on and reflects her presence through my tiny boy every day.

I miss her so and make a point to tell Hill about her so he will know how special she was to so many. Yesterday Chip, Hill and I went to her grave site. I couldn't decide if it was strange that we caught a few sweet pictures of Hill playing with her flowers with tombstones everywhere so we will keep those personal.

We talked to "Snooks" and told her how much we love her and miss her. Since Hill is at the saying what you say stage he was trying to say "Snooks" and it came out "Snacks." If you knew my mother in law you know that she was laughing so hard that she probably had tears running down her face as she slapped her knee and shook her head. In her sweet Southern dialect she was probably saying, "Lawd, boy - you know that's right!" She would love it that he calls her "Snacks." I firmly believe that all the angels in Heaven have officially heard her retell the story a million times about her grand baby calling her "Snacks." Cracks me up.

We have all missed her presence, but we all know she is here with us everyday. The other day I was thinking about her and upset that Hill will never know her, but then the song "I'm Already There," by Lonestar came on the radio. I hadn't heard that song in years but the words spoke to me as if she was reminding me that she is here with Hill...

I'm already there

Take a look around

I'm the sunshine in your hair

I'm the shadow on the ground

I'm the whisper in the wind

I'm your imaginary friend

And I know, I'm in your prayers

Oh I'm already there

She knew just what to say to make me feel better, she brought those words to me when I needed them the most.

Shine on Snacks...we love you.
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Circus & Fair & Everything In Between

2011-08-20T17:44:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, Chip and Hill's first real circus experience was fun, we had a good time. We went with the Warrington's and the Pettit's and it was very entertaining.
Just call me Debbie. I hate to be a "Debbie Downer" but I have to admit that even though we all had a great time, it was not what I expected from Ringling Brothers. It's been 20 years since I've been to a Ringling Brothers performance. I remember the ring leader in the top hat with impressive lions and tigers. Again, don't get me wrong we had a great time and their 'tricks' were phenomenal. The ladies spinning and doing tricks connected by hooks in their hair was beyond entertaining. The elephants were awesome, but the cats and dogs instead of lions and tigers left me feeling like I was at the Kosciusko circus sans the kangaroo.

The performers were talented and not bearded lady-ish in fact they were quite the opposite. My only way to sum up the guys and girls was Telemundo/Univision game show girls meet Jersey Shore guidos, I swear I saw a couple of fist pumps and cha cha moves.
It did not lack in entertainment, it just wasn't what I expected. Fun was had bay all.

The Hawkins

The Pettit's

Harvey

The Warrington's

After the circus we came back to Koz for Baylie Rea's 2nd birthday party. I'm patiently waiting for pictures of the party from one of the mommies (cough, Jennifer, cough.) We were so glad we got to celebrate with Baylie. She sure is sweet and her mommy and daddy are the sweetest too. I'm pretty sure that Baylie and Hill will go off to college at Ole Miss together and grow up playing in the Grove. Fun stuff, fun stuff.

Since we had been in the car all day Friday to Nashville, then Saturday to Jackson and birthday party...we woke up Sunday morning to stretch our legs a bit and swim at the Country Club.

My guys

Monday was our second to last day of swim lessons. One. More. Lesson. then Hill and Harvey 'graduate' to the next level. Which I think we can personally build on from here without the weekly travel. I will sure miss our Monday trips together. The boys are always so funny and I love my girl time with JJ.

Thursday, book club was held at my house. Please stop laughing. Why is it every time I tell someone I'm in a book club they laugh? You are right, I don't read. I have started to though and really like it, when I have time. Sometimes I can even add to our discussion.

One of my favorite customers and I were talking Thursday and he asked what I was doing. "I am in the car running errands for a party at my house tonight," I said. He said, "Oh, party! What time should I be there?" I informed him that it's a book club and this month it is at my house. The other end of the line got quiet. Then he said to me in a tone like he was having to break bad news to me, "Rachel, you don't strike me as a book club kind of girl." I don't really know what that means and I never put book club girls into a stereotype, but evidently there is one? My defense was..."I read! I mean, I can read. Well, I like to drink wine and hang out with women I never get to see." He digressed. I was surprised that this surprised him though because we always talk about how big of a nerd I am with data & analytical stuff. He once told me that my being a nerd wasn't really a secret once you get to know me. He cracks me up.

Anyway, as I was saying, book club was at my house. Chip and I entertain a lot, but for some reason we got in this craze where we just cleaned and organized the whole house. It was a mission impossible, but I have to say that it hasn't looked this good since we moved in. Seriously, we busted out touch up paint and everything. It was a serious clean. Not sure what possessed us but hey whatever. How long it can stay that way is a different story.

The ladies came and we had a fabulous time and I can't wait to read our next book. Again, why do you laugh? I read!

So, Friday - yesterday. Whitney and I took Hill and Tanner to the Central MS Fair located in good ol' Kosciusko. Since the bank is a corporate sponsor I had free admission passes, thanks to the boss man. Whitney- who is with child due in November, Tanner - who is a good sport, Hill -who is not tall enough to ride the rides, and me - who hates creepy carnies and ~~drunkenly put together~~ any rides. Needless to say, us mommies were really not on our mommy 'A' game.

Ikes, again. It's me, Debbie...Debbie Downer. The stick in the mud. It was hot. Like hot as H-E double hockey stick. I hate hot and I hate rides -- I also hate sand and glitter, but that's neither here nor there -- but I was going to do this for my first born. I love him and that's what mothers do, they deal with carnies and are rewarded with funnel cakes. There were 3 kiddie rides and we did them each once. Which was still too much.

Oh, Yay Mommies! Look how fun! Can we ride?

Proof I rode all three rides

My holding back the vom so that my son could hold on for dear life.

Yay! Isn't this fun?

Wheew, a roller coaster!

Proof that Whitney rode all three rides

Fun?!?

Ready!

Weee!

The Kids

Ok, so this is a lot more fun looking at than riding.

I think Hill said his first full sentence,
"Get me the hell off this thing!"

Mama has lost her mind!
Hill has lost his shoe!

Before: This is a what?

Afterwards: Oh, a roller coaster. No thanks!

We will stick with picking up ducks in the water.
That's safe.

This next pictures sums up everything...

I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

So, here is how it really went down. Whitney should not have ridden the mini roller coaster. I thought the carnie and I were going to have to birth Emory Hart right there at the fair. It wasn't a bad roller coaster, there was just one jerky turn that isn't good on any human, especially those in utero. I lost a little skin on my elbow from making sure Hill didn't jolt out. All Whit and I could do was laugh as tears ran down our faces trying to be strong for our boys. Show no fear, right? We are weenies. Whitney was scared to ask the carnie to stop the ride worried that he may never let us off as part of his evil plan.

The carousel made me dizzy. Be quiet. I know it's harmless, I have no explanation. Even if I wanted the guy to stop the ride I don't think he would have understood me because all he knew was "Dew Dickets" (two tickets) and "Dank You" (thank you.) I don't know the international sign for get me the hell off this ride. So if any of you know it, please comment below.

Then the bee ride. Or as I like to call it...The Killer Bee. I have to explain the engineering of the bee ride. It's a bee and it lifts up and goes down. Simple as that, right? Wrong. Hill and I get on the broken one...of course. Ours only goes up - we never went down. So the whole time I'm in panic mode watching Tanner and Whitney in front of us gracefully going up and down in their sweet little bee while Hill and I are just up...no down...ever. Whitney is cracking up because Hill and I are just there - in the air. I'm plotting how I am going to jump out of the bee once it stops and we are still stuck in the air. I had decided I'd dangle Hill by his arms for a carnie to catch, since Whitney is pregnant. Then I would jump out and probably sprain my ankle, but it's better than the alternative which was calling the fire department and causing a scene. By the grace of God when the ride stopped our bee came down.

So, we called it a day. An hour of our lives we totally could have done without. I forgot to reward myself with a funnel cake I was so stressed.

We came back to our house and the husbands grilled us steaks, which I almost got to use a fire extinguisher for the first time, so that was exciting. We had a little grease fire on the grill - no harm, no foul. Steaks were still cooked perfectly.

The only rides that the boys and mommies liked.
Hill on Foster and Tanner on Foxy Mama

Nashville Trip

2011-08-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

Friday, August 12th Chip, Hill and I traveled to a funeral visitation in Nashville, TN. Lyndsay & Craig are our really good friends and have had a really tough past month. Sometimes when there are no words you just need to give someone a hug, feel their presence, know they care. It doesn't matter how near or how far they are, you love them and want to be there, even if only for a second.

It was a family adventure. It's always an adventure when we are involved, right? So we made the 7 hour trek to Nashville...on the Natchez Trace. Go ahead and string me up by my toenails if I ever agree to do that route again. It's nice like the first 30 minutes, but then even though you are 31 years old you become the annoying 3 year old. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Although I do have to say Chip gave me special kudos for not drinking anything all morning so I didn't have to pee every 10.5 seconds. It's a good thing because there aren't any gas stations on the Trace only little rest areas. Rest areas that you read about in murder mysteries where killers wait in the woods or in the stalls of the bathrooms, rest areas that urban legends tell of witchcraft and sacrificial lesbians. It's desolate, prime murder-esque scene. I always tell Chip that if I'm not out in 5 minutes to call 911...don't come in...drive off and save our son. Ok, so I have a creative imagination. The rest areas are nice and clean, although I won't deny their creepiness, they are safe.

This is what Hill did for 75% of the trip

We stopped to stretch our tiny legs a bit, at an afore mentioned rest stop.

Hill said, "Peace out, parents! I'm not getting back in the car"

I'm serious folks. I'm done.

Then I reminded him about the scary people hiding in the woods, the witches and sacrifical lesbians and he came and got back into the car.

Dada's snack time

We stopped for lunch at Chick-fil-a and as soon as we pulled up Hill started talking about Harvey. He knows his buddy Harvey loves some "chick chick" from Chick-fil-a. Funny how their little brains pick up on the most random things.

Then there is the fork...

While Chip was driving I looked out of the corner of my eye to him busting out random motions. We were so delirious that he was testing his 'cat like' reflexes by sticking the fork in the airbag / steering wheel crease then snatching it out really fast and stabbing it around in the air and return it to its crease (or sheath.) Yes, it was to that point. The Natchez Trace gets in your head like that hotel in The Shining. My description of the fork cannot do it's hilarity justice. I was ready to use the fork to stab myself in the eye. It's a good thing that AT&T service is crappy on the Trace or I'd have used my cell phone to google the fastest way to die by using a plastic fork. So as much as I hate to admit it, I guess in a way AT&T saved my life.

Hill on the other hand had the Pettit's portable DVD player.
Two words. Life Saver.

About 30 miles before civilization to Nashville the roads get curvy. I'm not really one that gets car sick, but as I'm feeling queazy and sticking my face in the A/C vents Chip announces how the Porche that he's been wanting would handle fantastic around these curves. I guess he was in the zone pretending the ol' Toyota Camry was his dreamy Porche Cayman because once we were 20 miles away from civilization I looked in the back seat where Hill is as white as a sheet and immediately starts vomiting. Seriously. Let's just say I was able to contain it in a blanket - the blanket now lives in a dumpster.

We made it to Nashville. We went to the visitation and got to see our friends and give them hugs and love. They weren't expecting us, so the pure shock once they saw us was heart warming. Sometimes you just need to stop and put life on hold to let someone know you truly care.

We didn't linger around, we simply waited in line to give our respects and then Chip, Hill and I went to eat dinner and headed back home. We took the interstate this time. Chip drank coffee while Hill slept and I was just sort of there for moral support for Chip. I think I was a zombie. We got home at 3am and prayed that Hill would sleep late. He slept until 8am.
Even a week later I'm not too sure exactly how we are still alive and contributing to society. I'm so happy that we went to Nashville. It was a long drive, but well worth it to see our sweet friends.

Our weekend adventure doesn't end there - - we went to the circus Saturday afternoon. More on that soon.

Orange Beach Pictures

2011-08-20T13:42:00.000-05:00

As you know my camera, the one that fell in my glass of tea, went to go live with the camera Gods. It had it's sporadic moments of life while we were on vacation, but I didn't have any way to get pictures off of the memory stick....until now. I got a new camera from our reward points at work. We have this system that we do referrals, etc through and get points. I scraped by enough points to get a new camera, it's like the little brother to my old camera...not as fancy, but does the trick. So, yay! Here are a few pics from last month in Orange Beach.

We took the fishing boat to a little island to lounge and fish. Hill was just as impressed with the sand as I was...he spent 99% of the time in the boat where he wasn't 'durr dee.'

Thanks, Mom. This is great. It's the thought that counts.
Can we go now?

Hill, Hannah and Chip waiting on the big fish.

So...is someone going to help me get in the boat or what?
(hat and sunglasses in hand)

Hannah, will you lift me up in there?

Mimi trying not to touch the sand too.

Hannah, Mimi & Papi
(my niece, step mom and dad)

It could have really been a nice outing if any of us liked sand. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only person that dislikes grit in crevices. We all enjoyed the boat ride there and around the bay though!

Becuase You...

2011-08-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-11T11:55:00.000-05:00

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'...

2011-08-10T17:01:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-08-05T20:34:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-08-03T20:15:00.000-05:00

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....

2011-08-03T16:48:00.001-05:00

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...

2011-08-02T21:43:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-24T14:51:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-07-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

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

2011-07-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-07-09T07:55:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-07-07T17:56:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-07-06T22:19:00.000-05:00

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...

2011-07-06T17:40:00.000-05:00

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.

Hill Brain

2011-06-29T14:24:00.000-05:00

There is never a single second in my life that I don't wonder what is going on inside of Hill's little brain. He's so detail oriented (like his mama) and very ingenuitive (like his dada) that it scares me to death to think that by age 2 he will be probably be doing quadratic equations.

He knows so many words that I can't even name them all. If you ask him to say something, he can say it. Thanks to his Dada, if you ask him what a snake says, he says "ssssssssss." This never gets dull at the Hawkins household. He's like our little play toy that we get to quiz all the time. It's so cute and he is so proud of all the things he knows. Needless to say, we are beyond proud too. He knows things like all the names of his friends at school and can go get the remote to the tv and bring it to you if you ask him. (Not that I've done that or anything...what? Don't tell me you've never...)

His lip is healing beautifully. Chip took him to visit Dr. Shell on the 16th and Dr. Shell said he couldn't be more pleased with everything. All the "landmarks" are lining up and the red/ pink part above his lip will be the last part to heal, hopefully leaving everything perfect. We are thinking and still praying that this was his last surgery. He did take a fall at daycare (on June 14th) a couple days before his appointment with Dr. Shell and I miraculously didn't spin into spazmatic convulsions thanks to Mrs. Melinda up at daycare -love you Mrs. Melinda! It was swollen, it was red, it was bleeding...I really almost threw up - it made me nauscious to think he'd hurt his lip. Mrs. Melinda gave him a popcicle and we pulled him around in the wagon for a bit which made everything better for me Hill. Dr. Shell said he could see that he hit it his lip, but it didn't do any damage. Praise God. Instruction are to keep his neosporin ointment on it a couple times a day and come back in a month. Yay!

Even though we may be entring the alledged terrible two's a bit early he still loves his mama and wants me for everything. What do I do? Eat it up and thank God for him every day. What do I do about the tantrums? Walk away, which really really really makes him mad. Tough love kiddo. It's breaking my heart more than yours, so cliche, but so true.

I leave you with these pictures of my creative little boy with his brain at work...

It takes concentration

it takes dedication

and pure talent

to put a stick pretzel into an apple jack hole.

New Clubhouse

2011-06-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

The other night after Hill got out of the bathtub I was cleaning up the water that didn't stay in the bathtub and putting away all the bathtub toys that barely leave enough room for him to bathe. Then things got quiet...

Where is Hill?

The cabinet door flew open...

HERE I AM!!!

Then he proceeded to get in and out and in and out.
You get the picture. That went on for a good 30 minutes.

Then he invited me to come in

and just hang out for a bit because it's cozy in his new clubhouse.

That silly, creative, hilarious kid of mine. He's a keeper.

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-26T15:06:00.000-05:00

What an awesome day last Sunday was, even though the start of my day was on the wrong foot. At 5:00 am I woke up to two sick dogs; yet I made the most of it. I tried to go back to sleep, but after 15 minutes of laying there I decided to get up and have some Rachel time and catch up on things. I did laundry, dishes, made muffins, bacon, and eggs, and about 10 other things that I would never do before ~~8:00 am~~ ever. It felt good. I was showered before anyone else in the house awoke, so getting ready for church was a breeze. I let both of my boys sleep in and they both woke up at 8:30. I don't want to jinx anything but Hill has been a sleepy head in the mornings and I've had to wake him up all week for school. I hope, pray, give my kidney that he sleeps late during the weekend hours. I love sleep. Ok anyway, here is the Father's Day layout.

Strawberry muffins, bacon, cards & gift from Hill.

He made this at daycare and I thought it was super sweet.
It had his footprints on each side.

We went to church and Hill did fantastic. He didn't throw toys at anyone and only tried to run off once and managed to only bump his head on the hymnal holder once. Chip rated his behavior a 7 out of 10. Not to shabby for an hour and a half with a one and a half year old!

Later that afternoon we went to Nana & Papa's to eat quail and swim for Father's Day.

Aunt Meryl, Hill and Shane Preston coloring

And it's never a trip to Papa's house without playing the drums.

Shane Preston on the organ and Hill on the drums.
Are we the next Partridge family?

What a great Dada's day. We sure love our Dada more than anything in the world. He's the best.

Playing with the Marquerdt Crew

2011-06-26T15:05:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, June 18, we went out to our friends Pearce and Swayze's new house. I got to spend some much needed catch up time with their sweet mama, Marsha. Hill got to play will his long lost classmate / friend, Pearce since he's not in daycare this summer. We had a blast swimming and playing on the slide, riding in Swayze's Barbie car, playing in the rocks, looking at pictures from their trip to Disney, doing everything Swayze does and then we got hungry and loaded up and went to eat in Winona.

Big boy on the slide all by himself

Pearce coming up behind him

Hill was holding up progress

Then when it was Pearce's turn Hill would get impatient.
We need to work on our sharing / taking turns skills.

Swayze taking Hill for a spin in her Babie car.

Pearce running behind them.
Don't forget ME!!!

Then Swayze wanted her bike so Hill is moving over to the drivers seat

But he couldn't reach the pedal to make it go so he ran around the house to chase Swayze on her bike.

Then he decided to take a rest on the front patio

While Pearce pushed his tricycle at 100 mph through the yard.

Then they thought it would be fun to hide behind the storm door.

Playing with rocks in the drive way

Alone, probably because he can't share

Then they all decided to play together.

Everyone in the phone booth at Pizza Inn
(Swayze, Hill & Pearce)

Hill says, "get me outta here"

So Hill had a very very stank diaper after dinner. We were in the play room at Pizza Inn and it truly stunk us all out. He was making the push face, where he turns red, but this time it was serious because he would stick out his tounge for pushing leverage. It was hilariously awful. So I gathered the goods to go change his diaper. He was throwing a fit because he wanted to play, but little did he know - - no one wanted to play with him! I took him in the bathroom was trying to hold him down with my forearm while doing a one handed maneuver with the diaper and praying I had enough wipes - - when the lights went out. Seriously. No lights? I somehow got the diaper on (no pants) and made my way to exit the bathroom when the lights came back on. I went out and asked Marsha if the lights went out in here? She said no...Swayze then informed me that the lights in the bathroom are on an automatic timer or something. Well well, I guess they didn't budget time in there for temper tantrum poo poo diaper episodes. We left - pantless and full.

We survived, took the Marquerdt's back to their casa and headed home for the evening.

What a fun day, we had a blast! Thanks Marsha!

New Computer

2011-06-26T09:11:00.000-05:00

After I got back home from Texas I found this Mac on a table in my house.
It's like Oprah came over and had a big give away - "A new comm-pu-dah!!" It wasn't Oprah though, it is from my sweet sister in law, Jane Claire. She decided she didn't use it enough and found it a good home, with me. Thanks JC!

I think my house is officially ready for MTV Cribs to arrive and film now that I have this ghetto sized large and in charge computer screen. Seriously it's re-donk-u-lous-ly big. Now, if I only knew how to work this thing. I've always been a PC girl. Rome wasn't built in a day so I guess I'll have to take time to learn. Are there any takers on who wants to teach me? I feel like my grandma - (in my best old lady voice) "Where is the power button?" "Does this thing have the internet?" "I only want to type a letter - where can I find a blank document?" rah rah rah.

To give you an idea of how big it is.
To the right is my 17" laptop.

So this blog is now brought to you today by my monster computer. I'm up for suggestions on naming it. It is large enough to be a part of the family. Is it a boy computer or girl computer?

Give me your thoughts.