I'm a little boy!

Reality Check

My two-year-old son called me "poopycheese".

What??

For the record, neither Tom nor I have ever used the words poopy and cheese together.

Time is passing by so quickly- It seems like only yesterday that he was smiling and cooing at me, and I was so proud.

Now, I am just "poopycheese". Reality check, indeed.

The Many Days of Christmas

Wow, it has been a little while since I have blogged, and meanwhile, we have been busy little elves!! We have been to so many Christmas parties/get togethers, and had such a wonderful time. The halls are decked and the Christmas songs are playing. Hayden's favorite is "Grandma got ran over by a reindeer". You really don't know how obnoxious that song is until you hear it 14 times in a row. But he thinks it is so funny. He likes to change the words to "Grandma fell off the couch". That is a very long story...

Here are a few photos from the past few weeks of Christmas fun. The season is SO much better with little kids around, they remind you how magic it really is!


Hayden's new carousel given to him by his great aunt Sandra-It is very popular with all the little kids!



Tom and Hayden putting the star on top of the tree. He loves to look at all of the ornaments, and is so good about not touching this year. Guess next year we will start over with that!



Hayden got a new ornament this year- a Little Einstein's Rocket. It has never touched the tree, and he sleeps with it every night. He calls it "ornament rocket", not to be confused with "mama" or "baby" rocket. He has only asked Santa for two things- a John Deere (gator) and a new rocket-both of which are under the tree (so to speak). The rocket collection is sort of a part of the family now.



A smile only given for gummy worms-he doesn't like the camera, which is such a shame because he is a cutie when he wants to be!



my favorite, which only happened because he got so tired of me telling him to smile that he laid down on the floor, sighed, and gave me a dirty look. I think it turned out pretty darn cute!



Hayden at the Alliance Christmas party, decorating gingerbread men. He even made a special cookie for Daddy! He has made several ornaments over the week and went to a birthday party for Jesus, complete with a birthday cake and "Happy Birthday" song. So cute to see the boys sing that song for Jesus!



Hayden and the boys with their balloons-that was a wild room to be in!

It's a baby BOY!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."
Psalm 127:3


Well, Hayden is getting his wish-he is going to have a little brother! He has been so sure from the beginning that I am going to have a boy. When I told him tonight it's a boy, he said "good". As if I was telling him he was having a pb sandwich for dinner!

Anyway, little boys are so fun! We are so excited to begin planning for our new little monkey- or maybe that nickname will be reserved just for H-man. Yes, I think I will come up with a new animal for this one, Hayden will always be my little "monkey" (won't his future girlfriends think it's adorable?)

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Just wanted to tell everyone I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are headed home to Arkansas this week, for a whole week of (we hope) rest and relaxation. Tom and Hayden are both sick right now, so Tom can sleep, other people can play with Hayden and I can get some much needed rest myself. You must be wondering how tired I could really be, just staying home with Hayden and taking care of the house.

Totally pooped.

I must have heard "Mommy, help me, hold me, play with me, get me medicine, find my bear, my body hurts...(you get it) a million times over the past 3 days. The poor baby is finally getting over the worst of it, and I am WORN OUT!

Soooo, we are going home as a family for the first time since we moved. And one of the little perks is, we get to go to Maw-Maw's to eat Thanksgiving lunch. I am already getting hungry just thinking about it. I am not ashamed!! The best part is, as much as I hold myself back and try to eat healthy, normal portions other days, I can eat up some Thanksgiving delights and everyone can say, Ohhh, she is eating for two! Just for that one, blissful lunch. So I hope you all enjoy Thanksgiving with your family, as much as we plan to!

My Poor Baby

Last night, Hayden woke up, shaking really bad and barely able to breathe. We rushed him to the ER because Tom was afraid he might be having an allergic reaction or something that was going to get worse. Luckily (I say that, but the poor kid had to struggle to get air into his lungs), it was only croup. Something I have heard of but have never experienced-until now. Croup sucks!

He was SO brave though, he never cried until the ER doc tried to look in his throat- that was just too much for three in the morning. He had a breathing treatment, which he was more fascinated in looking at and touching than breathing in, and was so much better! He could breathe fine after that. They still did x-rays, though, which he has watched on Diego and was somewhat excited about seeing. You could see his little airway was constricted some, and made it hard to breathe.

He was such a big boy, and after taking some kind of medicine (not really sure what, that is Tom's department), we went home. Hayden was wide awake, and happy, and singing "Bob the Builder" on the way home.

Tom held him until he went to sleep, and slept until 7. Not me. I stayed up most of the night listening to him breathe. So scary!

This morning when Tom was getting ready for work, he said "I don't want Daddy to go!!", and we told him he had to go to work. Hayden said "I hurt, Daddy. Take me to the hospital quick!" Sneaky little boy!

Anyway, please pray that he gets over all of this SOON, and has no more craziness like last night.

Smiley Face Pizza

Here is a photo of Hayden, slaving away at his smiley face pizza. Since our friend LeAnne was visiting, we decided it would be fun to make pizza. Hayden enjoyed helping out (eating most of the shredded cheese). His pizza turned out so cute! And tasty, too!




By the way, that is Daniel Baby #2 in the right corner. I started wearing actual maternity tops last week. I can still wear regular jeans and pants with my little "bella band" (Thanks, girls, for the idea, I love that thing!!!). My belly looks way bigger in a photo than from my point of view. A little more FYI, we only have two weeks until we find out if Hayden will have a baby brother or sister!

Quality Reading Time

Enough said.

I'm a little boy!!!

Conversation with Hayden

Ok, Hayden and I had an intense discussion today, about food. Here is how it went.

H: Mom, where does food come from?

Me: Well, the broccoli there, that's a plant, it grows in the ground. And the cashews, they are nuts that grow on trees(???), and your hamburger, well, it comes from a cow.

H: What do you mean?

Me: it comes from a cow, like milk.

at this point, he looks at his little plastic cup of milk, confused and puzzled. This, from a cow???

H: I don't understand what you're talking about!

Me: They both come from cows, like you can milk a cow. And you get hamburger from a cow.

There is no turning back. I am in too deep. I mean, I can't tell my 2 year old that you take Bessie the moo cow, cut her up, make her into patties, and then eat her. What else could I say??

H: Oh.(Long, confused pause).. May I please be excused?

My son may now very well be a vegetarian. Hope he doesn't ask where the chicken nuggets come from.

Clearly, I am an amateur. Is this how the next 15 1/2 years are going to go???

Dr. Daniel, Jr.

Here are some photos we took tonight of Hayden in his halloween costume. He was SO pumped about trick-or-treating, he practiced all day and was practically pulling my arm off to get me out the door. He loved going to the houses (except for the old guy who opened the door and yelled "boo!"-didn't love that at all)!!

After about 10 or 12 houses, he was satisfied with his little elmo bucket of candy, and said he was ready to come home. Tom stopped on his way home and bought a pizza shaped like a jack-o-lantern, so we ate our dinner, and Hayden plowed his way through some of the candy. What a fun halloween! Remember how exciting it used to be? Almost as good as Christmas!

Just like Daddy!



When do I get my candy?


Too busy with the lollipop!

Playgroup Costume Party

Tuesday we went to our playgroup Halloween party. Here is the best photo I got, a good group photo of infants/toddlers is NEVER a sure thing. The party was complete with green slime punch and marshmallow eyeballs (think peeps)...Good times!

"Bootiful" Jack-O-Lantern

I know, bad pun, but COOL pumpkin!! We went to a pumpkin carving party Tuesday night, and Tom carved us this awesome jack-o-lantern. Can you tell which one is ours and which one came from Target?? Hint: check out my silly post title!! Happy Halloween, everyone!!

IM Retreat

This weekend was the annual Internal Medicine Retreat. Friday night we went to eat barbecue at this really out-of-the-way place (really-it's in the middle of a cornfield). Great food!
Saturday was family day at the park. Tom had a great time playing Red Rover (yes, I know, a good way for some 30 year olds to break a few bones), and flag football. Hayden had a good time just playing. They had this really cool playground, and a nice big grassy area. I got to try out my jogger for real, and I was so happy. Hayden won't even ride in the old one anymore, this one is way too "cool", as he puts it. After that, we went and had more barbecue (a great cure for my iron defenciency, ha-ha), and then watched the Hogs play football with our friends from Arkansas. We were exhausted by the end of that day!

What a fun playground!

Let's Go Exploring!

Last weekend, Tom came home and we decided to go exploring around Lake Belton. Hayden was so excited to be like Diego, his favorite tv character. We had no idea the area was so mountainous (large hills, this IS Texas). We even found a little cave for Hayden to explore. He thought it was so fun! Here are a few photos:

The Pumpkin Patch

Here are a few photos from the Pumpkin Patch last week. Hayden had tons of fun jumping in the big hay pile, painting a pumpkin, going on the hayride, and trying to lift this gigantic pumpkin. He was especially happy that Grandma got to go with us that day. So much fun!

Latest Doctor Appointment

So far so good! I went for my visit yesterday at the hospital (and my first to actually meet the doctor), and everything was great! Dr. Fothergill was super nice, and I heard the baby's little heartbeat, which is so reassuring. I am slightly anemic though, which I have never been before. I need to take more iron, and Tom and I looked up what foods are highest in iron. First on the list: organ meats.

Ugh, no. Unless I am in a plane crash in the Andes and starving or something, I am not eating the organs of anything. Period.

So, on to plan B: nuts, and Spinach. Totally doable. So today, Hayden and I are off to the grocery store to buy me some of both, and iron pills, which I will be taking on top of my multi-vitamins. Nuts and spinach, lol. I feel like someone's pet squirrel.

Otherwise, I feel great! Nausea is almost completely gone, and I am starting to get a little baby bump. I have actually lost a little weight, which the Dr. said is fine, and I am fine with that too, lol. It's about time to break out those maternity clothes.

Hayden is actually excited about having a baby. He picked out and named a little monkey he is going to give to the baby. SOOO cute! He named it Sleepy monkey. Now, if he can just keep that excited feeling AFTER the baby gets here, we will be doing great! Sharing Mommy is not on the list of his favorite things to do.

On Friday, Fed Ex will be bringing my awesome new double Jogger: the BOB Duallie. I am SO pumped. I have had several people who have told me how wonderful this thing is, and I can't wait to see for myself. It is made of lightweight aircraft aluminum, has five point harnesses, and even has a wrist tether attached to the axle, not the handlebar. So, if you are jogging uphill, with two kids, and fall, the kids won't tump over or roll down the hill. Genius! Only, how often will I be jogging, uphill, with two kids....

Well, it's still cool anyhow. Thanks, Louise, for my super awesome stroller! Will post photos when I get it!

Praise God!!!

Our house in Little Rock has finally sold! I was beginning to think we would be paying two mortgages forever.We closed today, so it's officially over. What a burden lifted off of our shoulders! Thanks be to God!

Taking Care of Business

I know, most of you are probably not too interested in Hayden's potty pics, but I thought this one was pretty cute. He is still working on it, we aren't retiring the huggies just yet.

Does Someone Need a Haircut??

Thought we'd try out a new look for the monkey... Yes, I know he needs a haircut! Tom said he is starting to look like a beatle. We are getting a haircut Friday :)

Warning!

FYI!!! Do NOT put a Coke Zero in the freezer and forget about it.

Our Awesome Weekend!

This past weekend, we took Hayden to San Antonio to have a little mini-vacation. Tom actually had two days off in a row, so we headed to the Riverwalk and Seaworld. We had a wonderful time!

On Saturday, we took a walk to the Alamo (about 3 blocks from our hotel). It wasn't as big as you'd think, actually a pretty small area. Very beautiful, though. Hayden enjoyed a snow cone while we were there. We walked down the Riverwalk, which is on this little, tiny river called the San Antonio River. It was more like a large stream, but it was such a fun place!







Next, we went back to our hotel. They had this little pool on the roof, and since Hayden was dying to play in all the pretty fountains along the riverwalk, it was perfect for him. He and Tom splashed around for a while until our room was ready. After that, we all took a much needed nap.


For dinner, we had several people suggest the Rainforest Cafe to us. The food was ok, but we sat next to a huge fish aquarium (which contained "Nemo" and "Dory"), so it was entertainment for you-know-who! We actually had a pretty peaceful dinner, and Hayden got to watch all the animals move around and make noise every 10 minutes or so. He brought home this 4 foot long burmese python stuffed animal which he has to sleep next to at night-he even named him slither.






That night, we took a little barge ride on the river-Hayden had seen the boats and told us atleast 10 times he wanted to ride on them. It was fun, and he sat still the whole time and looked around, so I guess he liked it!

The next day was really the best part- Seaworld!!!! Hayden has been so excited ever since we told him he was going to get to go. He kept saying he wants to ride the rollercoaster over and over. He did get to ride it-over and over. He loved it! He also rode the log ride with Tom and wanted to do that again too! He is going to be just like me-I love rollercoasters. I had to sit them out this trip, but next time I am definitely going for a ride!













The other part that was his favorite was feeding the dolphins. They were in this big tank and you could buy fish to feed them. He loved the way they came up to him and took the fish. He got to pet their noses and thought that was so fun! He was really sad to leave, but we will definitely go back again.