Hewitt Family Adventures

Sweet Little Lady and the Hooded Boys

2012-02-10T10:49:00.004-05:00

So this sweet little girl had a birthday party a couple of weeks back that happened to be at the "Young Chefs Academy" here in our town. This is a locally owned chain where young children can come and "learn" to cook and chef it up. I think it is a fabulous concept, but I'm not sold on the fact that they can keep up with the rising allergies and food restrictions on many of our young people these days.

When she first got the invite, of course I was concerned about what they would be cooking and what ingredients they would be handling. When I found out it was pizza, I was relieved. However, the little princess was not excited. Have you ever met a child who didn't eat pizza. Meet Addie. I promised her that she could make her pizza and then bring it home to her Dad to eat. That made her happy.

Unfortunately, this was a busy Saturday for us, and I forgot to bring her "special cupcake" along. Since she can't eat the cake at birthday parties, we have our own that we bring instead. I knew this would be a problem once the cake was served, but thought I could promise an ice cream stop afterwards. I got busy socializing with the other mommies at the party and when I looked up, Addie had a huge bite of chocolate cake on her fork and was getting ready to shovel it in. I panicked, and ran over just in time....saying "no, Addie....you can't have that!" Of course, the tears came a flooding. I had totally embarassed her. Here she was at a "big girl party" with a friend who was in kindergarten. She knew noone at the party besides the birthday girl herself. She was so nervous about going, but put on a smile and summoned up some courage as the strange woman dragged her little hand from mine and strapped her in a tiny apron. And then I totally embarass her :( I hated that it happened. I wanted to cry right there too. I scooped off a bunch of icing from the cake and offered her this little peace offering. We dried off her tears and she eventually went back to her seat to eat her icing beside the other kids. I was proud once again at her little courage.

Then the chef walked over and asked us if she was finished with her pizza (of which not a single bite was taken)....and when I told her she was going to take it home to her Daddy, she informed us that the "Young Chefs Academy" did not have a carry-out license, and that we could not take the pizza with us. She asked us again if she was going to eat it, and when I shook my head no, about to cry once again, she tossed it into the trash. That will be our last visit to the "Young Chefs Academy".

On a lighter note...

Look at my gangster boys...

Do they think they are cool or what?

They make me laugh.

Addie didn't see them throw her pizza away, and she was too excited about the present she got as we left that she didn't think about it until much later that night. Addie: "momma.....what about my pizza?"......Me: Oh, Daddy ate it right up and told me to tell you it was the best pizza he has ever had!

A Hewitt Christmas

2012-02-06T14:00:00.002-05:00

Christmas Day was spent over at Ga Ga and Pop Pop's house with Addie and Hayes' cousins, Skylar and Lakyne. The kids all had a blast singing, opening tons of gifts, and eating lots of yummy food! Addie sang "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth". She practiced for weeks before the big show, and although she sang a little softer than usual, it was a big hit! All of the girls put on a great show....Hayes will give them a run for their money next year for sure!

The world better watch out....he is a few months shy of being able to reach those pedals!

I still can't believe another Christmas has come and gone. And I really can't believe it's almost Valentines Day and I'm still posting about Christmas. Shame. On. Me.

Christmas Morning! Ho Ho visits the Hewitts

2012-02-01T14:00:00.005-05:00

Addie catches her first glimpse of Ho Ho's gifts...

Hayes still hasn't really woke up...He was ready to sleep another hour or so...

Addie and her new bike...

She's excited about the smallest things...

Hayes tries not to trip on the train track so that he can get a better look at Addie's stocking...

This is so much fun!

More cars to play with Daddy...now Christmas is complete!

What else is in here? Could there be more cars?

Allergen-free candy = Jackpot

Addie is making sure she didn't miss anything down in there...

Hayes' breakfast of fruit snacks and twizzlers has begun. He carried around that bag all morning :)

And Addie shoved whoppers in her mouth all morning and gaurded her bag from Hayes...

Fun memories were defintely made this Christmas. Having a 2 year old and a 4 year old during the holidays just can't be beat!

Christmas

2012-01-22T16:56:00.002-05:00

The kids are "writing" their letters to Ho Ho on Christmas Eve.

Our den after Ho Ho's visit was out of control.

I had been collecting parts to this train set since I found out I was having a little boy. Everytime there was a sale at ToysRUs I was there adding a piece to our collection, which I kept stored in our little attic over the garage. I didn't realize how out of control it had gotten until that night. I kept pulling boxes and boxes out of the attic, all of which had to be cut out of their displays and put together to make one big connecting train set. We started putting the thing together at 10:00 that night after the kids were asleep, and we didn't get into bed until 1:30 that morning. Tim was pretty annoyed, and I'll be honest, I was a little embarassed. I prayed really hard that night that he would actually like the darn thing! He did. It was a big hit. And it is a big, permanent monstrosity in our play room now. I tend to do things big. I'll go ahead and admit that now.

Dear Dad

2012-01-13T11:41:00.002-05:00

These pictures are for you...since you have been missin' my blog lately :)

December was a very busy month. We wrapped up swim lessons for a little while. My little fish have been missing the pool here lately, but I am enjoying the break. We will get our fair share of the pool as soon as the weather starts to warm back up I am sure.

Addie found a letter from Ho Ho that told her to look in her Mamaw's garage for a special present he brought her early since Mamaw would not be there on Christmas morning to see her other gifts. She was so excited! She slept with that letter for days afterwards.

Hayes really got into unwrapping gifts this year. He wanted to tear into everyone's presents!

Addie was mighty proud of the stack of gifts she had at Mamaws! She would smile so big when her name was called, and she loved building a mountain with the unwrapped boxes!

Christmas is magical again with little ones...it really is. They make it so much fun!

This is what breakfast looks like at our house. They sit in the same seats and pretty much each the same stuff each morning. We are creatures of habit.

Once again we enjoyed the Great Bridge Christmas parade here in our town. Hayes loved the motorcycles and police cars. He can't get enough of sirens! Addie loves the cheerleaders and dancers, and of course, the people who pass out candy!

Last year when we were at the parade, it started snowing. It was so cold. So this time I made sure everyone was nice and warm. It was a bit much. It was much warmer than we expected! Still, they looked adorable in their winter gear!

Addie and her Mamaw and I went to a Christmas ballet together. It was such a nice time. Addie was in awe of all of the beautiful costumes and sat mesmerized the whole time. It was fun to get all dressed up and do something girly together!

I have many more pictures to share from Christmas, my favorite time of the year for sure. I won't wait so long to post again, I promise!

Happy Birthday to my Memaw!

2011-12-09T11:29:00.001-05:00

Her birthday was actually Wednesday, but I am off to visit this beautiful lady today and celebrate with her in PERSON! I cannot wait!

I love you Memaw!

November on the run...

2011-12-07T11:17:00.002-05:00

WOW! The month of November just slipped away from me! I'm not sure what happened. We have been busy celebrating birthdays and preparing for the holidays around here. Addie is working on writing the alphabet at school and still struggling with a little separation anxiety. She is such a fast learner, and I must admit, it makes me melt when she tears up at the classroom door because she says she is going to miss me! How will I ever put her on the school bus next year? YIKES!

We finally got a "real" hair cut this month....5 whole inches of hair came off, and she looks adorable with her new "do"!

Hayes is still the sweetest little man I ever knew. He tells me that he is "mommy's baby" when he wants an extra snack or doesn't want to nap :) That makes me melt too! He is still having a hard time with his skin and not sleeping extremely well at night. He has become his Daddy's nightly bed buddy around 2:00 am. Tim hasn't complained yet!

Their Mamaw bought them these fun hats for the winter. Hayes wears his and roars at strangers as they pass by us, and Addie just thinks she is the cutest little thing in her Hello Kitty hat!

I love the holidays with my babies. I hope they always have fun memories from these times.

My Birthday this year...

2011-11-30T21:36:00.002-05:00

was FABULOUS! And very, very, well celebrated! I had a nice dinner out with friends, and my book club ladies treated me to lunch. We had a great steak dinner at Mom's, and finally, Tim and I had a night away that included the best meal I have ever eaten and the largest slice of peanut butter cheesecake I have ever seen! I was spoiled rotten this year. Did I mention the Ipad Tim gave me? Yeah, it sleeps in between us at night. I love it...already. AND...my bedroom got a makeover.

Don't you just want to curl up in that bed and snooze the day away? I wanted to get away from the dark, cozy feel and make it more soothing and calm. I love how it turned out. Thanks to Tim for painting on his days off, and to my mom and Dave for the bedding. (Do you all know how much I love Pottery Barn?) And thanks to Dad and Julie for the curtains.....(shhhhhh.....we'll just pretend they came from Walmart!) Doesn't it look sensational?

Of course, these two little munchkins helped make my birthday special too! They are so rotten!

Halloween Night

2011-11-16T15:19:00.004-05:00

As always, Halloween fun was had by all! The magic of the holidays come alive with little ones...that's for sure!

Addie's Halloween Parade at School

2011-11-09T13:48:00.002-05:00

For Halloween, Addie decided she wanted to be a fairy. We have been watching Tinker Bell over and over here at our house, and I believe she fell in love with the little winged characters. Her mamaw bought her a set of fairy wings and a magic wand, and we found the perfect fairy dress in her dress-up box filled with hand-me-downs from friends. She made a beautiful fairy.

Halloween Day I was a volunteer at Addie's preschool for their little Halloween party. I decided she would like it if I too wore a costume to school that day. They also had a parade for the parents that day at school where the kids all got to show off their costumes. I forgot that I had to attend the parade in full costume before I headed to the party. It was a little embarassing when I walked outside to stand in line for the show and the other parents thought the parade was starting....."No, no...it's just me...a crazy mommy...all dressed up as Dorothy, complete with sparkly red shoes.." I blushed a little.

Here comes our little fairy...

The party was so much fun! I decorated halloween cookies with the kids, and I even managed to make some cookies that Addie could eat too! The icing and sprinkles were a MESS!

I am so lucky to be able to do things like this with her!

Halloween Preparations...

2011-11-08T08:19:00.005-05:00

I have so many fun pictures to share with you! We had a lot of fun this month getting ready for Halloween. We carved a pumpkin, dressed up for our ballet class, went to school in our costumes, and of course, had a blast trick-or-treating this year with our cousins!

Addie enjoyed pumpkin carving this year. She drew on the face, and her Daddy helped her with the actual carving. Hayes, on the other hand, was not impressed with the pumpkin guts at all!

Addie had to come dressed in costume for her ballet class this particular week. We chose to save our "real" costume for trick-or-treating, and she chose one of the plethora of costumes in her dress-up box to wear to dance. She was the cutest little witch I've ever seen!

This is Addie with one of her little friends before class.

Aren't they cute? I'm sure they looked even more adorable dancing around that little room to music!

It seems as if we celebrated Halloween for months! I had my decorations up and out by the first of the month, and I had a blast with the kids crafting it up and creating our own homemade decorations to spooky up our house a bit! I'll have to share one of those creations with you too! Next, I'll post about our class party and the big night. They got lots of candy they can't eat, but that didn't spoil their fun...Hayes discovered Skittles and Addie has fallen in love with Ring Pops! I'll blog again soon....promise!

Cuteness and Eczema

2011-11-04T09:01:00.003-04:00

This little boy deals with something many of us will never fully understand. You know that itch that you just can't scratch? Or that time that you got poison ivy? How about when you had chicken pox as a child and soaked for hours in a tub of oatmeal just to feel comfortable for a few minutes straight?

The weather change has been horrible for the little man's skin. He is rashy and itchy for the most part of the day, and he has stopped sleeping through the night too. I have a feeling he wakes himself up itching each night and can usually tell in the morning how rough his night has been by the blood on his little sheets and the red, raw patches behind his ears and on his little fingers. This makes for a tired household and an abnormally grumpy Hayes. Although, I must admit, he is the best cuddler in the world. If I could only figure out a way to sleep while his arms are wrapped tightly around my neck and his little face is pressed against mine...our nightly cuddle sessions would be perfect. Tim volunteers most nights to snuggle with Hayes, and I usually get a little brown hair girl visitor after a nightmare or potty break around 2:00 am. We don't mind :) We saw a new doctor for Hayes and have some new ideas that we are trying to help give him some comfort. Hopefully, he will adjust to the weather and start feeling better here really soon. Please say a little prayer for him!

Addie visits the Fire House

2011-10-31T20:04:00.004-04:00

And of course I had to sneak one in there of the little man. Isn't he such a big boy now? He's talking more and more each day too. Every new word he learns brings a big smile to my face. I am so thankful he is starting to communicate better. He is still as sweet as ever.

Addie's preschool took a trip to the local fire station a couple of weeks ago. I have never been on the inside of one before, so I really thought it was pretty cool. Addie enjoyed having me with her, and she liked doing something different than a normal school day. However, the fire trucks and ambulance, and even the rather handsome fire fighter who showed us around didn't seem to impress her much :)

She has really grown up a lot in the last several months. Those "terrible" two's and "horrible" threes are behind us for the most part. Unless she is extremely tired, she is such a good listener and tries really hard to be helpful and sweet. A little on the shy side, she is quiet at school, but eager to please her teachers and show me her hard work when I pick her up at the end of the day. She makes me so proud!

Soccer playin' Addie

2011-10-13T14:17:00.003-04:00

You know how little girls play pretend and sit around and imagine their life as a mommy with adorable, well-behaved children, one boy and one girl...and a handsome husband who works 9:00-5:00 and then comes home to sit down to dinner with his family before coaching his little girl's soccer team? You know how little girls dream of that?

My dream came true. Well, all except for the "well-behaved children" and the husband who works "9:00-5:00". My children are not always well-behaved, but certainly they are always adorable, and my husband works much harder than "9:00-5:00", but I must admit, I am living the dream.

"Firsts"

2011-10-10T20:54:00.002-04:00

During years one and two, there seems to be "firsts" every time you turn around. Her first words, her first steps, her first foods, her first bath....but now, those "firsts" are less frequent and farther in between. Here are the "babies" getting ready for Addie's first soccer practice with Coach Daddy!

The following few pictures were taken on her her first day of "4-year old preschool". She was so brave. There were absolutely no tears this year and not a single hesitation as she brushed off my hug and strolled into that little classroom. Once again, I was a proud mommy.

Can you tell that she was growing impatient with my picture snapping?

I love all of their "firsts" and their "seconds" and "thirds"! There is nothing I love more than being their mommy!

Let's Celebrate

2011-09-24T09:18:00.003-04:00

It seems like we've been so very busy, but I can't really even think of what has kept us running these last few weeks. I suppose it's just all the normal stuff that goes a long with a new school year and the beginning of fall. Not to mention the gazillion birthdays we have in September.....

Happy Birthday Hayes, Jaime, Starr, Anna Banana, Heather T.,Pop Hewitt, Papaw Jessee, Baby Grace J., Granny, GaGa, Aunt Net, Ben C., Grandpa Dave, Uncle Marvin, Aunt Linda, Heather T. #2, and Jennifer P.......Whew!!!! Talk about a lot of reasons to celebrate! I hope everyone's day was as special as can be, whether here with family and friends or up in heaven looking down on us!

September has been a whirlwind...exactly how I like it!

Birthday Fun!

2011-09-16T09:08:00.004-04:00

We have been very busy around here getting Addie back into the swing of things with preschool and helping Hayes to adjust to a few days a week without his favorite playmate. Overall, it has gone smoothly. Addie walks right into her little classroom without even glancing back, and Hayes seems to be enjoying his one on one time with Mommy. I'm excited about Fall and all that follows!

I still can't believe he's two years old already. They weren't kidding around when they said it will happen in a blink of an eye.

2 years old!

2011-09-08T13:28:00.002-04:00

And so very handsome!

He had such a wonderful birthday and was spoiled by one and all! I am so proud to be his mommy!

Happy Birthday Little Man!

2011-09-04T08:01:00.002-04:00

It's incredibly hard to believe that you have been a part of our family for two years today. What a blessing we were given! Addie adores you and teaches you something new every day. You watch her and do everything she does. You are so sweet and loveable...every bit of your Daddy, and we could not be prouder of the person you are becoming! You will always be my baby. Happy Birthday sweet Hayes! We love you!

When Verizon goes on Strike...

2011-08-30T13:58:00.002-04:00

We go CAMPING!

Yep...that's right. We headed to a local state park for the night with both kids, our pajamas, and a few yummy snacks. Tim and I decided to do something that we wouldn't normally be able to do if he had to work. The kids were all for it. We invited another family over to our campsite for some hotdogs and some roasted marshmellows. We had a blast! We even slept fairly well in our teeny-weeny tent, except for crazy, maniac Hayes, who was all over that air mattress all night long! Next time, he gets his own tent for sure!

Take a deep breath Carrie.

2011-08-29T09:18:00.004-04:00

I need to remind myself to take a deep breath. Be more patient and remember that she is 4 years old. Remember that she is at an age where she likes to push the envelope. And, let's just go ahead and admit it, she gets it honestly.

Perhaps it was the earthquake, or this nagging cough I can't seem to find the time to get rid of. Or maybe it was Hurricane Irene and my failed attempt at saving some water that resulted in an overflowing bathtub and a leaking light fixture, or maybe it's just simply because I have been "stuck" in this house for 4 days straight!

Whatever the reason, I seemed to have totally lost my patience with her. She's lying to Tim and I about the simplest things these days. She sasses back when asked to do something she's not really interested in doing. She rolls her eyes and she has the smartest mouth I've ever seen on a child.

I don't want to be too hard on her. I don't want to expect her to "act" older, wiser than she is. I only want for her to be respectful and pleasant. I want people to like being around her. I want her friends to want to play with her. I want to help her be a likable person.

So....I need to take a deep breath, remember that she is only 4 years old, and beg God for more patience!

Love these two....

2011-08-23T08:18:00.002-04:00

I cherish these days. I really do. Not one day I take for granted. Even when I'm grumpy, and they are "driving me crazy". I am very thankful for this time with the both of them.

Cuteness

2011-08-22T07:50:00.002-04:00

Addie and Hayes love to snuggle up and watch a movie after their bath. Sometimes they bathe in the middle of the day after lunch so that we can get all of the chlorine off of Hayes' skin. It is not unusual for me to find them like this on the floor of Hayes' room. Addie takes good care of her little brother.

My mom bought the kids new shoes the other day. They are adorable. Too bad Addie refuses to wear anything but her princess flip flops she got from Ga Ga two years ago! Atleast she posed for the picture, and maybe with cooler weather approaching, I can convince her that flip flops will not work all day every day!

Bless Hayes' little heart! He's always willing to throw me a smile....what a trooper!

Little Fish

2011-08-18T14:10:00.001-04:00

Wish ya'll could swim with us!

19 Days

2011-08-17T21:14:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow will be the 20th day in a row (excluding fridays) that we have arrived at the local YMCA at 9:15 a.m for Addie's swim lessons. You can say that I am just a tad bit water-logged. Every morning, we wake up, eat a quick breakfast, throw our suits on, lather on the sunscreen, pack a snack, and run off to the pool. Addie's lessons last 3o minutes. Hayes and I walk hand-in-hand around the pool until she is done and he too is able to jump in. The next hour or so I spend pulling Hayes up out of knee deep water after he tries to swim "like a fish" and watching Addie practice jumping from the side of the pool without getting her face wet. I am pretty sure we keep the lifegaurds entertained. Yesterday, the two of them spent the entire time collecting pine straw from the pool deck because the water was too cold from all of the rain we got the night before. They then insisted that I put it in one of our snack baggies and bring it home to Daddy for his "birfday". It's been a fun few weeks!

Once we get our fill of the water, we head home for lunch and baths. They love snack time and a movie afterwards, and then time for a nap! I am not exaggerating when I say that this my friends, has been our schedule for the last month and a half! I love every minute of it!

Who takes baths in the middle of the day anyway? We do. It's how we roll.

And yes, I know...He's gotten so big. He looks like a giant in this little crib. Don't remind me how fast he is growing up. I'm trying not to face the fact that my baby is so BIG!

No, please Dada....

2011-08-08T07:53:00.002-04:00

I don't want to go to bed.

I know that we have had the same bedtime routine now for almost 2 years, but...

I still plan on crying for five minutes straight after you put me in my crib.

Please, don't make me Dada. I'll cry. I promise I will.

Mommy, will you help me? I'll give you my saddest face possible. Please don't make me go to bed.

No, please Dada....How come Addie doesn't have to go to bed?

Fresh from a bath...

2011-08-05T14:32:00.002-04:00

I love to kiss and hug and snuggle with a freshly cleaned, baby smellin', slightly damp little person. It is one of my favorite things to do.

They are just so darn cute. Can someone please press the "pause" button for just a little while?

Hayes and Lakyne

2011-08-03T16:30:00.002-04:00

I pretty much love this picture of Hayes and his older cousin, Lakyne. They are going to cause some trouble in the not-so-distant future!

Cuddle Bugs

2011-08-01T14:29:00.002-04:00

Yeah....we've been stayin' cool...hidin' out in the A.C and gettin a little lovin'! I think these two are somethin' special!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-30T17:05:00.003-04:00

After our trip to Tennessee, I took the kids to see my family in West Virginia. We met my mom and swapped out carseats, and Tim continued on home to deal with the rental house and get ready for work on Monday. The photo below was taken at my cousin's house. Addie and Hayes love their older cousins and had so much fun playing with all of their cool toys!

On the 4th, we ventured deep into the mountains to celebrate with my sweet Papaw Click. He and Addie have a special bond, as he was one of first people to hold her when she was born. He spent the first 3 summers after she was born here in Chesapeake with my mom, and those memories will forever be precious to me. I am thankful for that time and for the chance for them to get to know one another. Papaw was excited to see Hayes again and amazed at how much he has changed and grown since he saw him at Thanksgiving.

It was a Happy 4th of July. Despite the rain and the mosquitos that tried to ruin our cookout at the lake, we had a great time and as always, loved being with family.

We love Tennessee!

2011-07-27T21:18:00.006-04:00

Last month we took a little road trip to meet my Dad and step-mom in Tennessee at my Uncle Rick and Aunt Janet's beautiful lake home. It was so beautiful there, and we had such a great time playing on the water. The time just flew by too fast :( Here are some of my pictures to share....

Thank you to Rick and Janet for opening up their home to us. We enjoyed ourselves so much. Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

What have we been eatin' lately?

2011-07-24T14:32:00.003-04:00

I'm so glad you asked!

Tuna Noodle Casserole:
I grilled fresh tuna for this one and used a recipe given to me by one of my mommy friends. It was absolutely delish! I never knew sliced Velveeta was so smooth and creamy. I grew up eating tuna and mac n cheese, but this recipe takes the cake!

Summer Squash Casserole:
This recipe was given to me by my neighbor across the street. She told me to fry up some bacon and use two tspns of the grease to fry the squash. I took the Paula Dean approach and just drained the bacon and threw my sliced squash directly into the hot frying pan! The onions and crumbled bacon bits were my favorite garnish...yum yum!

Fresh Pesto Sauce and Sausage Bread:

I have to give credit to my friend Stephanie for this one. She is a life-long vegetarian and has been making her own pesto for many years. When she whips up this dish for herself and her kiddos, her hubby gets to feast on Italian Sausage bread. I watched him put it together one time before a birthday party, and now I'm hooked!

I used the remainder of my pesto to make this summer/cold orzo salad with grilled asparagus. After I took the picture, but before I ate it, I added cut up cherry tomatoes. We enjoyed this by the pool one hot day during a play date. Topped with fresh grated parmesean cheese, it was the perfect summertime lunch!

Don't worry, I'm still taking pictures of my food, no matter how much Tim makes fun of me!

Ooops...I already missed a day!

2011-07-22T22:26:00.003-04:00

I'm sorry about that. The day just slipped away from me!
The next few pictures are all taken at the beach house that Tim lived in before we were married. The market was crashing that year and we were unable to sell it, so we have been renting it out. This is how the last renter left the place when his lease was up...furniture and all.

He lived in absolute filth. The worst part about it is that he also had a daughter who lived with him every other weekend. In "her room" there was a mattress on the floor and empty bottles of vodka strewn about along with her toys and small clothes. Not to mention the place was infested with fleas! Can you imagine what kind of life that little girl lives? To me, it is a very sad situation. I often wondered if her mother knew of her living conditions when she came to stay with her father?

On a lighter note, Addie visited her first icecream truck while visiting my friend down in the OBX. She picked out a Dora Popsicle...and loved every last drip of it....

So, as you can see, we have been pretty busy around here. Luckily, Tim worked very hard to get the house cleaned back up, and we have a new renter who seems to be really enjoying the house and taking better care of it :) Hayes, and Addie and I are enjoying roughly 2-3 popsicles daily to help with the heat, and I am actually looking forward to Fall and all of my favorite, less sweaty, holidays! I'll post again soon...in a day or two :)

Just plain ole' worn out....

2011-07-20T14:31:00.002-04:00

These kids wear me out. I must say that a million times a day. Crawling into my bed at night is the greatest reward after chasing these two around and carting them all over town for art class or swimming lessons or some sort of play date. Every once in a while, the house gets eerily quiet, and I come into a room and find this...

On this particular night, they were both having a hard time going to bed, so we let them sleep together. They were elated and asleep in less than five minutes. After Hayes kicked Addie and made her cry and then ended up in between Tim and I in our bed, I decided that was not a very good habit to begin. They did look awfully cute there beside each other.

I have so many pictures to share from the last three weeks. We have been very busy visiting family and celebrating Addie's 4th birthday. I am going to try and update daily until I get all caught up.....just for you two Dad and Julie!

Today...

2011-07-17T15:22:00.001-04:00

Four years ago...

I had a baby girl. She has been one of my greatest blessings. Happy Birthday Addie!

Show Day at The Little Gym

2011-07-10T16:48:00.006-04:00

They always have a "big show" at the end of every semester at the Little Gym and all of the parents and grandparents are welcome to come into the gym and watch. Addie was very excited to show me and Mamaw all of her new skills! They were also awarded medals for their efforts. She slept in her medal that first night :)

Check out this tumble! She must get her graceful forward roll from me!

Hayes was pretty excited to be in the gym too. I couldn't keep up with him. He was just a little distracting!

Addie really enjoyed her time at the Little Gym. We are hoping to get her interested in dance or perhaps soccer next. She's sort of outgrown her time here. Hayes on the other hand, is going to LOVE his semester at the Gym in the fall. I have a feeling they aren't going to know what to do with him.....

Where have we been?

2011-06-20T15:13:00.002-04:00

Just hangin' out....torturing Hayes.....avoiding haircuts.....and making lots of messes!

Our Family Trip to Great Wolf

2011-06-09T14:42:00.005-04:00

We packed a few clothes and tons of snacks and food for little allergic people and headed to the lodge about an hour away. This place rocks! It is built to look like a giant log cabin and has a huge indoor waterpark right there inside the building. We spent two nights at the lodge and played at the waterparks over a three-day period. It was tons of fun and exhausting! Hayes spent alot of time on my lap either eating a snack and watching Daddy and Addie romp in the wave pool or lounging with his head on my shoulder as we made our way down the "lazy river" on a plastic inner tube (which was by far my favorite attraction at the lodge)! Fun was had by all and we are already ready to go back!

I love these pictures I snapped after a looooong morning at the waterpark. Hayes hopped right up into the bed to take a nap beside his Daddy.

We really had such a nice time. Sometimes it's just nice to get away. It's been a long time since we did that. I vote we do it more often!

Hayes loves his shoes.

2011-06-02T17:05:00.001-04:00

He even wants to wear them in the bathtub. And on this particular day, I gave in. It was best for both of us if I just let him.

Thank you Tim!

2011-05-31T08:30:00.003-04:00

Isn't she beautiful?

Tim bought us a new fridge this past weekend. We love it! It is so much bigger than our other one, and much more convienient. I realized how "grown-up" I was when I couldn't sleep the night before they delivered it. I'm getting old! Thanks Honey for spoiling me. I love you!

Dear Jaime,

I thought of you the entire time I researched this refridgerator. Your experience with the SAMSUNG brand/company made me think really hard about going with their product. I can assure you, I did my homework. They have come a long way since you dealt with them. Consumer Reports rates this particular model as one of the highest in customer satisfaction and overall performance. I hope for our sake they are right! I'll let you know! Love, Carrie

Wine and Speeding Tickets

2011-05-24T08:05:00.002-04:00

We had an amazing wine adventure on the Eastern Shore this weekend. These are three of the four wonderful women that joined me on this road trip. No, I don't really like wine, but I love being with these girls. I would drink just about anything if it meant I could hang out with them.

Whitney managed to sneak away from a three year-old and a 7 month old. Her husband decided to give it a shot. They all survived. And Whitney made me laugh all day long. She's so much fun!

The vineyards were adorable, and the whole wine-tasting experience was different and fun. Too bad I will never be a wine-lover. I had to force it down a couple of times. My friends, on the other hand, are big fans of wine. The best part to me, was just sitting in the sunshine with each other, catching up and talking about wilder days at Longwood.

It was so beautiful and so peaceful over there. I could own a winery. I could enjoy being part of that business. I would just have to hire employees who drank wine. Or just invite my friends over all the time.

Too bad my wonderful wine-tasting experience ended with this: a speeding ticket.

I was guilty as charged. No sass. No excuses. I was gossiping with the girls and driving much too fast. However, that police officer was evil. He worries me. I am afraid he might bring bodily harm to people around him in the near future. He was angry...very angry. I just wanted him to give me my ticket, and then drive as far away from him as possible. I pray for the women and children in his life. Really, I do. Did I mention he pulled me and three other cars over by walking into the middle of the highway holding a STOP sign on a stick? They do things differently on the Eastern Shore. I now drive much slower. I still had a great time with my girls. The evil State Policeman did not ruin that.

Why yes, I'll be a big boy and sit still for my first hair cut.

2011-05-17T14:10:00.001-04:00

What a little man! I was a proud mommy. Now...if I could only get Addie to do this well.

It was way past time.

2011-05-16T07:31:00.005-04:00

His little golden locks were creeping down his back. When his hair was wet, it was amazingly long. At the hospital when he was in recovery after his surgery, one of the volunteers asked me "how old is she?" It was way past time. I just wasn't ready to say goodbye to the curls...not yet. But, I did. Hayes got his very first hair cut last week.

Before:

After:

Is he not handsome or what? Yes, I teared up a bit. My "baby" was getting his hair cut. It was a big realization for me. He is not such a "baby" anymore.

We only cleaned it up a bit. It's not the "big boy" hair cut I have planned for the near future. You know...the one where they shave the neck and up around the ears. I can't even imagine how "big" he will look then. I had to take small steps....baby steps.

And completely unrelated....These are a couple cute pics I got one morning before the hair cut. They were having fun just goofing around together.

It makes Tim and I so happy that they get a long so well. She looks after him, and he totally looks up to her!

I'll share some actual plictures of the hair cut a little later. Hayes wants me to play!

House Guests

2011-05-12T07:21:00.000-04:00

My Dad and my sweet Memaw came up for a visit a couple of weeks ago. And my Dad worked his magic on my upstairs guest bathroom, remember? Well, in between painting and sawing and hammering, we did get some special visiting in there too! Addie and Hayes were very excited to have our special guests around for a few days. They warmed up pretty quick this trip.

Memaw worked some magic of her own one morning too! I finally got some real homemade biscuits and gravy! That is my favorite breakast of all time. It always reminds me of West Virginia and the many memories I made there as a child. I didn't realize then how much I was going to miss those big breakfasts with my family. I wish I could sit down one more time with my Mamaw Click and my Papaw Jessee and share some hot apples, gravy and biscuits, fried potatoes, and bacon. I'd talk their ear off about my babies and how much I love being a mommy! That would be one nice breakfast!

Noone makes them quite like she does! Yum! Thanks Memaw!

This was a pretty special breakfast too! I have learned to soak in these special rare moments where we all get together. They are priceless. And I don't want to take them for granted. I want my babies to remember big, slow, mouth-watering breakfasts at my house. The kind you have in West Virginia,and even in Virginia when Memaw and Dad visit.

She's awfully cute awake...

2011-05-09T13:47:00.002-04:00

and downright adorable when she's asleep.

I love her. Simple as that....she is so awesome.

Dad's Latest Project

2011-05-06T07:53:00.003-04:00

My Dad can fix anything. I know that many people say that about"Dad's" in general, but really, he can fix anything and everything. He's very talented. He owns his own business down in Florida and makes his customers very happy. When he comes to see me, we always have a project going. He usually works on said project for most of his visit, in between drinking coffee, tickling crazy grandchildren and eating lots of take-out! I start working a "list" for him weeks before his visit. This is a picture of the wood valences he made for me for my family room a couple of years back. I love these things! They dress up the room tremendously, and I am always getting compliments on how nice they look. My mommy friends want to hire my Dad, but I just laugh and say..."when he's here, he's all mine...!"

I just realized that the above picture isn't actually my garage, but my friend's garage. She sent me this photo of her make-shift "mudd-room", and my Dad used it as a reference when he made me one in my garage too!

This is the latest project....my upstairs guest bathroom. Before we had Addie, Tim and I decorated this room with a rubber duck theme. We never repainted it from the previous owners, but went with the same tan color theme. It was in major need of some attention. I like the ducks, but I wanted something a little more grown-up, and I definitely wanted to change up the color. I read on one of the decorating blogs I subscribe to about fake "board and batten". I immediately called up my Dad and asked him all about it. I loved the look of this stuff, sort of rustic, but classy. It looked simple enough for me to do (yeah right!) And when I started researching it online, it was all over the place! All of the big decorating blogs were talking about it! I had to try it, well...I had to have my Dad try it! And guess what...he was up for the challenge!

Addie decided to pose one more time for me when I was trying to get another "before" shot of the plain, boring bathroom. The week leading up to my Dad's visit, Tim and I tried to get the room "ready" so that Dad wouldn't have to work the entire time he was visiting, but that didn't go over well.

When Dad saw my paint job, he decided to do it all over again. He started from scratch. And worked....and worked....

and worked some more ! He and Tim worked their butts off! And the finished product shows! I love it! The board and batten is exactly the look I was going for. The room looks fancy and clean, but not like one of those rooms where you feel like you can't touch anything. It still feels comfortable and "homey". My Memaw helped me with the decorating details! She rocks! I am a very lucky girl!

Don't ya just love it? Dad says that all of those blogs that brag about putting up this stuff in one evening and "how simple...and easy...and cheap it is..." well...they are misleading, and their board and batten "is probably falling off the walls by now". It is definitely much more involved than they suggest. I'm not sure I could do it successfully without his help. It sure looks good though. Thanks Dad! You spoil me! We love our new bathroom!

Egg Hunt #3

2011-05-04T11:49:00.004-04:00

One of my mommy friends got us signed up for an egg hunt at a local park nearby. It was fabulous! The morning was overcast and chilly, and at first, I wasn't too sure about going. Boy am I ever glad I didn't back out. It was so much fun and so well organized! I hope we remember this next year! Hayes stayed at his Mamaw's and rested up since he had just had his tube/adenoid surgery the day before. I was sad he had to miss it, but knew he needed some more time to take it easy. Addie really enjoyed the morning with just she and I. She needs a little one-on-one time with Mommy every once in a while.

She agreed to a picture beside the Easter Bunny this year! That's a HUGE improvement even from Christmas. She refuses to even look at Santa! I love this picture!

My Dad and my sweet Memaw were here this past weekend visiting. I cherish the time I get to spend with them and wish they lived closer and were able to be a bigger part of our everyday lives. I took a lot of pictures, and my Dad and Tim worked on a project that I am anxious to share with you all. Check back in a day or two!

Egg Hunt #2

2011-04-28T16:11:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine I have known since elementary school lives about 10 minutes away back on this quiet country road. She has a beautiful piece of property with lots of animals and lots of room to run. For the past three years she has invited us to her annual Easter Egg Hunt. They cook a pig and everyone brings a dish. She stuffs hundreds of eggs with toys and candy and "hides" them on their property for the 25-30 kids that come toting their baskets in their Sunday best. They all have a blast!

Addie was a much better egg hunter this year than she was last Easter. Hayes just enjoyed being outside, and he was much more interested in her sweet dog than he was what those eggs had to offer. He'll give her some competition next year I'm sure. We were very thankful to have been included in the Norge's egg hunt again this year. They have such a beautiful home and really work hard to make sure the kiddos have a blast!

Egg Hunt #1

2011-04-25T13:42:00.007-04:00

We participated in three organized egg hunts this year. Addie really got into it. As a matter of fact, we had to "share" some of the eggs she found on this particular hunt because some of the younger hunters had hardly any eggs in their baskets and hers was overflowing. We are still working on sharing. It is a daily challenge.

Addie and Ben....still pals...

Hayes found other things to keep him busy. The hunt was not high on his list of priorities.

They loved all of the coolstuff inside the eggs. It was a fun morning. It's always fun when we can get them outside and burn off some energy!

I think this may have been Hayes finding the one and only egg he actually hunted for on his own. I think he "borrowed" the other ones from the smaller kids.

This is where I found his basket at the end of the hunt. I guess he got bored.

Addie loved every minute of it though, despite the handle of her basket breaking just before the start of the hunt. She didn't let that slow her down.

All the kiddos at one time....not an easy thing to do. They aren't all happy, or even sitting, but they are all there....oh wait...where's Wyatt?

And finally just a sweet picture of Addie that I snapped the other day...

No cheesy grin or squinty eyes...just sweet, smiling Addie.

I'll post about Hunt #2 and Hunt #3 soon!

2011-04-24T10:09:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter Family and Friends!

2011-04-24T07:48:00.002-04:00

Wow! I have so much to share! We have been doing so many fun things the last few weeks, and I have a ton of pictures and stories to share with you all. But first....comes Easter fun! Thank You God for all of my many blessings....

Really?

2011-04-18T21:52:00.001-04:00

Could this really be my baby boy? It doesn't even look like the same child. How can they change so much in just 18 months?

Sisters

2011-04-16T20:25:00.003-04:00

I have heard that there is nothing like the bond between sisters. It is a closeness like no other.

I have seen the bond between this sister and brother. I believe that it too is like no other.

Had to post a picture of the little princess....

2011-04-14T21:53:00.003-04:00

She likes to see herself on the "compoooooter"!

Swimming

2011-04-13T13:31:00.004-04:00

We joined the YMCA a few weeks ago, and I have been taking Hayes swimming in their indoor pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Addie is in preschool. We swim for about 30 minutes and then take a shower there in the locker room. The whole morning just wears him out. He didn't even attempt to eat his cracker....just crashed on the 1.5 mile drive home.

On this particular morning, he didn't even wake up when I carried him in and layed him on the kitchen floor.

Nope. He just kept right on snoozin'.

I must mention that I am also working on dropping Hayes off at the "Child Watch" (babysitting service they offer there so that parents can work out). It's not working. He hates it. And the workers sigh and roll their eyes when they see me coming. He cries the whole time, and they end up having to come and get me. I did manage a full 45 minutes of a Zumba class the other day, but when I went to pick him up, he was red-eyed and snotty-nosed from all of his crying. It broke my heart, but we will be there again tomorrow to try again. Wish me luck! And remind me in 15 years, he will be wishing me away and telling me to quiet down as I cheer him on from the sidelines of some scary physical sport. That will be much harder than my current Tuesday/Thursday routine.

I miss her.

2011-04-07T22:31:00.002-04:00

She was always nearby, always underfoot, and always up for some lovin'!

Best dog I will ever have...no doubt. Sally-Girl you are missed and still loved very much!

Family Fun at the Aquarium

2011-04-05T08:16:00.002-04:00

Addie had a rough night Saturday after a scary allergic reaction that had us in the ER for a few hours. Of course, I panicked, and am ever so thankful Tim was there to take control. He was calm and focused even after he had to use the epipen on poor Addie. She was such a brave little girl through it all. We decided that since our weekend was pretty much a bummer, we needed a pick-me-up, so off to the aquarium we went!

Don't worry, Addie is feeling much better. She really is a trooper. It's me who needs to get control. I feel panicked and worried now more than ever. Dropping her off at preschool this morning was not easy after the weekend we had. I know I have said it before, but it is so stressful knowing that your child could be put in harms way from something that you yourself give her. We all have to feed our children, right? However, not everyone has to worry about every little bite their child takes. It is not easy. It is not fun. I have very little patience for people who complain about not being able to pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for their child because of a classmate with allergies. The Momma Bear in me starts to growl. Can you imagine how hard it is for the parent of the child with allergies to pack her lunch? I have not forgotten how blessed we are, how healthy my children are despite their food allergies, and how amazing God has been to us in the last 3 years...but geez.....I hope this weekend is better!

Just because...

2011-03-29T07:51:00.003-04:00

The cold weather is making us crazy! There is only so much you can do inside with two toddlers. Please Spring...hurry up!

Pirate Day at the Little Gym

2011-03-27T22:23:00.002-04:00

Addie dressed as a pirate for the Little Gym. She was so excited. I think she learned how to be a pirate from watching Dora, or maybe it was Little Bill. Nonetheless, she even knows how to talk like a pirate. What a cutie! This is how Hayes feels about 2 1/2 hours as the Ears Nose & Throat Doctor. He was less than thrilled. He slept right through lunch.

It was the most peaceful lunch I have had in a long time. He slept right up until I pushed his stroller into the preschool and Addie pounced on him when she came out of her classroom. She loves her brother!

Little Man

2011-03-24T13:45:00.003-04:00

Hayes looked so handsome in his little Easter suit the other day. We got all dressed up for a photo shoot with my friend Courtney the other day down at the beach. She is a great photographer and is also so patient and good with the kids. I always love her pictures and am sure she got some good ones this time too. I can't wait to share them with you all!

Hayes is scheduled to receive ear tubes and have his adenoids removed near the middle of April. We visited the audiologist yesterday and decided that since his adenoids were abnormally large and blocking the nasal cavity, that we would go ahead and have the surgery. With the adenoids gone, he will hopefully be able to breathe better through his nose, and this will also keep the ear tubes free of excess fluid and drainage. We are pretty sure this is why he has had so many continous ear infections, and the fact that he has so many allergies contributing to the problem hasn't helped either. If you know me, I am anxious and worried. I have lots of faith in his doctor though, and I believe that we have made the right decision. Persistent ear infections are not only uncomfortable, but also pose a threat to his hearing and speech. The minor procedure will be done and over with just before Easter, so the next time he wears his little suit, he will be feeling GREAT!

Another day at the Little Gym

2011-03-21T13:33:00.003-04:00

The Little Gym is one of those places that charges you an arm and a leg to bring your child to their facility to romp and play and learn "new tricks", as Addie would say. Addie started in a class where I joined her each week, a "mommy-n-me" class. She did wonderfully with me there. Once she turned 3, she moved up to the "Funny-bug" class. Parents are not allowed to be in the gym in this class. This was a big step for us.

It took several weeks and a couple of "fun" birthday parties at the Gym to get Addie comfortable enough to actually enjoy the class without me right beside her. I now sit outside with the other parents and watch her from behind the glass. Hayes of course joins me each week. He runs around eating snacks, playing with some blocks they have there, and socializing with the other younger children that come in.

Since Little Gym tuition is not included in our monthly budget, Tim and I saved up some of our weekly "allowance" and Christmas money to get her in for the Winter/Spring Session. She loves going each week and insists on wearing a tutu or leotard each time! It has been worth every penny.

Summertime brings lots of new activities for the kids, including the pool, beach, playtime with their school-age cousins, and lots of time with their Mamaw, who is a teacher and has the summer off. We also have a few road trips being planned to see family over the summer months. The Little Gym may not fit into our busy schedule, but come fall, I see us joining up again. I guess I better start saving money since Hayes will be 2 and ready to play also!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T16:31:00.001-04:00

Tim did a great job with the shamrocks! Time to start the eggs!

Spilled Milk

2011-03-16T13:13:00.002-04:00

I cry over spilled milk. No, I actually panic over spilled milk. Yesterday when I rounded the corner of our kitchen it was like a horror scene....dripping milk all over the table and floor. Where in the world was the cup it was in? Where was Hayes? I literally started to hyperventilate. Please, please don't let him have drank any. I meant to throw it out after dinner, but Addie and Tim were rushing around getting ready to head to the Y for a swim, and I was helping them pack a bag. I NEVER leave milk just sitting around. Please don't let him have drank any.

I found Hayes. He was in a little pop-up tent, hiding from me, playing with the empty cup of milk. I have no idea if he even tried to drink it, but it was empty and I was so thankful. I grabbed him up and immediately began pulling off the wet clothes that clung to his little body, all the while remembering what had happened to his little arms last 4th of July when a little milk splashed on him from a sippy cup. I knew what the stuff could do to him. Not knowing if he actually drank the milk, or just played in it, I went ahead and gave him a large dose of benedryl and got the epi-pen ready just in case. I kept watching for any signs of swelling or repiratory distress. My heart beat a mile a minute.

When I peeled off the clothes, I watched as hundreds of small red, raised blotches appeared where the milk had touched his skin. They showed up on his tummy, his hands and wrists, his feet and his neck. He was covered in them, all from simply touching the milk. Thank you God for keeping him safe. I don't think he even tried to drink the milk. I am just so thankful. The spots were gone when we woke up this morning, and he never really seemed bothered by them at all. We all have our battles. I never knew one my biggest ones would be MILK! Now you may better understand why I am "protective" and strict when it comes to feeding my children. Who would have guessed that spilled milk could do that to a child's skin?

In other news at the Hewitt household, have I told you about Rapunzel coming to stay with us? I do believe it may be time for a hair cut, and yes, I mean for both children.

Yes, I take pictures of my food.

2011-03-12T16:44:00.004-05:00

Why do I take pictures of my food? (This post is for my Memaw....she and I love new recipes!)

Sweet and Sour Pork and Rice (Crock Pot Meal...and oh so yummy!)

Enchilada Meatloaf (Shana C.'s recipe....very good twist on an old favorite!)

Cranberry Porkchops (Shana's again....yes, she is "Suzie Homemaker" in the flesh. It is delish...and healthy too!)

Chicken Casserole (Sharon P's. recipe....one of my favorite chicken casseroles. Have a baby...I'll bring it to you!)

Stovetop Chicken Pie (New take on the famous chicken pot pie....I loved it....very rich....Tim prefers the simple "mix some soup cans together" pie that he is used to.)

Although I am not very good at cooking...yet, I enjoy it. Yes, I still like to cook despite the fact that I have two allergic children who must have special, separate meals from us and a husband who hates everything you cook with- tomatoes, green peppers, onions, ground beef.........I still like to cook, and I take pictures of my food to use in the cook book I am making. It helps to see what the food looks like when you are trying to decide what to eat...right? I'm a dork. I know.

Princess Day at the Little Gym

2011-03-10T11:12:00.002-05:00

We were told to dress "like royalty" the following week at The Little Gym. Oh boy....Addie loved that! She soaked every bit of that up and put those dress-up clothes to good use. Hayes was just a long for the ride...my sweet, sweet boy.

Next week is rock n' roll week. That should be interesting, especially since she said she did not want to take her guitar or her flute, but instead something "really special".

Two peas in a ....

2011-03-08T21:04:00.003-05:00

Chair!....drinking water, eating poptarts, and watching "Little Bear". It's my favorite part of each day.

People ask me every day "do they get a long this well all of the time?" They do. They really do. Addie is the boss. He knows it and doesn't mind it. He goes with the flow, and for the most part, does what she says, following her around like a little puppy dog. He always wants to be where she is. And if she gets hurt, he is the first one in line to give her a "kiss kiss". It has to be the cutest thing I have ever seen. They love each other. They really do. I am blessed beyond measure.

Dancin' King

2011-03-07T07:40:00.003-05:00

Yes, his little legs are feeling much better. Thanks for thinking of us.

And yes, I am a paranoid mother still. I'll admit it. It's just who I am. Want to come visit?

Hayes Scares Mommy Today

2011-03-04T21:32:00.006-05:00

I've always wanted to be a mommy. I thought I would make a perfect mommy. I thought I would know exactly what to do in an emergency and exactly how to react when something unexpected happened. I also thought I would be calm and patient and gentle with my children ALWAYS no matter what the situation was. I was wrong. I was very, very wrong. I freak out when something involving blood or bodily fluid comes a long and my head spins around like a monster when I'm feeling stressed and Addie doesn't listen or do what I tell her to do. I am not patient at all, but rather frazzled and demanding at times. I'm just not the mommy I thought I would be. However, I love them more than I ever thought possible----that I am really good at. I want to protect them and keep them safe and make them feel confident and happy. Tim and I are very affectionate with them both, and we are always trying to make them feel special and important and SAFE.

Today, Hayes scared me. While playing with me...on a trampoline...he got hurt. He wasn't with a babysitter, or a teenage friend down the street, or at daycare. He was with me. I put him on a trampoline...a big trampoline with Addie and two of her little friends. He fell down when one of the "bigger" kids jumped near him, and then he wanted off. It wasn't his thing. I helped him down from the trampoline and that's when I noticed it. He couldn't walk. His little knees kept giving out from underneath him and he kept falling to the ground, grumbling in frustration. My mommy friends tried to soothe my worry by suggesting that his equilibrium was off. But it didn't go away. He kept falling. He finally gave up walking altogether and started crawling everywhere. WHAT? What is going on? My Dad called in the middle of it all and I was just beginning to panic. Why isn't he walking? What is wrong with his legs? Nothing happened on that trampoline. I was right there. I watched him the entire time. I don't get it. He got hurt under my watch, and that just plain stinks. I can't believe I let him get hurt. What was I thinking?

Well, after a rather quick trip to the Doctor, and a few instructions on what to look for over the next few days, we are home, and he is doing much better. He is walking on his little legs now, although we can definitely tell that he has done something to make him nervous about using them. Perhaps it is a pulled muscle or bruised ligament. Who knows? I am just thankful that nothing appears to be broken and it seems to be getting better, not worse.

This motherhood stuff is not easy. I love it, but it's just plain hard. Someone should have warned me. Someone should have taught me a few classes or something.

March 2010

2011-03-03T07:44:00.002-05:00

I learned with Addie that children grow and change so quickly the first two years. It is simply amazing to look back and see the difference a year can make. They both have changed so much since this time last year. Addie not only looks taller and leaner, but she acts much different. Just this morning as she climbed up in my bed asking for a pop-tart, I was reminded how grown-up she acts these days. She is a little girl...hardly the little toddler she was last year gathering easter eggs. Hayes is starting to jibber jabber more and more and has become Mr. Personality around our house. He is sweet and sensitive, sneaky and lovable. He is needy and fearless all at the same time. To me, he barely resembles the toothless, bald little baby in the pictures above. People tell me everyday to "cherish every moment because it flies by so fast". I understand exactly what that means.

Come on Grandpa Dave....

2011-03-02T07:30:00.001-05:00

You can do it! Stretch a little further....I want to go down the slide!

Valentines Spirit

2011-03-01T13:46:00.003-05:00

Christmas can't be the only time of year that we feel festive. I wanted Addie and Hayes to feel the spirit of Valentines this year also. We had fun decorating with hearts and flowers and all things pink and red!

At school, Addie's teacher's asked the students what they "loved", and then they wrote it down on a little heart and hung them outside the classroom door. Many of her classmates put "candy", or "mommy", or "toys". Addie's heart said "I love a holiday". I love that she loves "a holiday". It makes me smile to see her really enjoying these special times of the year. Tim spent all weekend cutting out the perfect little shamrocks that I painted bright green for our yard. We want her to love St. Patty's Day too! Poor Tim...does he know how many eggs I want cut out for Easter this year?

Please God...Can you spare some more patience?

2011-02-28T12:06:00.003-05:00

On days like today....when Hayes was screaming "ma ma" at 6:00 AM and I decided to skip my shower in hopes of a little more shut eye...when Addie throws the mother of all tantrums in the middle of Harris Teeter and I get the "I feel sorry for her" look from a mother with a well-behaved teenage boy in line behind us...when I peek out my open windows to see if anyone heard me yell at the top of my lungs at my one year old for throwing corn on the floor for the bazillionth time...on days like today, I pray to God..."Please let me have more patience!"

Wednesday = Laundry Day at the Hewitt House

2011-02-23T22:25:00.002-05:00

I am a creature of habit. I like schedules and routines and "to-do" lists that I can check off. Every Wednesday I start laundry, hoping that by Saturday, my fun-day with Tim and the kids, I can be completely done. Addie and Hayes like to help me do laundry. This is why I need three full days to finish. Aren't they precious?

My Babies....

2011-02-19T14:20:00.006-05:00

They will always be my babies, no matter how big they get. That is for sure.

They are definitely not the most well-behaved children in the world. They don't play well with others always. They happen to be the hardest persons on the planet to feed, and not just because of their horrific food allergies. They wear me out on a daily basis with their whining and their wants and their unbelievable needs that never end. Addie can go from happy to down right "ticked-off" in less than 3 seconds. I have to change clothes every day after I give Hayes a bath because he manages to dump cups and cups of water on me when I turn my back. They are a hand full. I know. I do it every day, day in and day out.

As challenging as it is, having two little ones with impossible food allergies and the most stubborn personalities you will ever come across, I can't help but wish God's plan for us included just one more.....

Good Morning Hayes

2011-02-17T22:45:00.001-05:00

Can I climb in there with you?

Let's scream really loud until Momma wakes up! I see pop tarts and ice water sippies in our near future...

Had to...

2011-02-17T08:05:00.001-05:00

I just couldn't leave her out.

See....

2011-02-16T23:12:00.002-05:00

I told you this is what he does all day long. And secretly... I love it. I wanted a little mama's boy, and now I have him. And I couldn't love him any more.

The View From Here

2011-02-16T07:22:00.002-05:00

Hayes really wants me to hold him. He wants to climb up in my lap, and he wants me to carry him around wherever I go.

This is what he does. All. Day. Long.

Sleeping Beauty

2011-02-01T20:40:00.001-05:00

The princess forgot to take her inside-out leotard off before she fell fast asleep. Cute. Just plain cute.

Addie's first Christmas Concert

2011-01-24T13:24:00.002-05:00

It was cancelled a bazillion times. She practiced every night at the house since they first learned the songs back at Thanksgiving. We were very excited for it to finally be concert day last week. Can we learn some new songs now?

Mamaw, Ga Ga, Pop Pop, and of course, Hayes and myself were there to cheer her on. Notice the jingle bells in her hands during this song in the picture below. She dropped them mid-way through the song and it just about caused a major melt-down. Other parents who were video-taping the concert said it was just the funniest thing to watch. I knew something went wrong when I saw that all too familiar frown appear.

Uh oh! My jingle bells!......What do I do now?

Thankfully, Miss Jennifer swooped in and retrieved the bells and all was happy again.

I love being able to do things like this with my babies. How blessed I am! I do believe I may have a little performer on my hands. Wish you all could have been there....

Good Morning

2011-01-16T13:19:00.002-05:00

Menu: Cheerios and Poptarts

Anyone want to join Hayes, Snow White and I for breakfast promptly at 6:30 A.M?

Aunt Net

2011-01-14T14:08:00.001-05:00

She is the coolest.

Can we keep her?

Hayes meets Matt

2011-01-11T09:35:00.004-05:00

Good friends Anna and Matt came to visit us this past Saturday night. We rarely have overnight company. My Dad, Julie, Memaw, and Matt and Anna are our only regulars, and we love to have them here! Hayes was especially enamored with Matt. He thought he was the coolest. No kidding, he couldn't get enough of him. It was really very cute. Matt will make a great Daddy one of these days. For now, he can have Hayes whenever he wants. Thanks guys for making time for us, and for entertaining our little man!

The whole night made us realize two things. We need to make more time for us, either alone or with friend, but definitely kid-free time. We also need to try and find more time to spend with just Hayes. He soaked up all of that attention, and really deserves some more one-on-one time. Now...where to find all this time?

Christmas fun continued...

2011-01-07T13:36:00.003-05:00

Good Morning Addie....Did Ho Ho come last night?

She was so excited! She ran into the den and said " oh...that's just what I've always wanted".....

She was not referring to the kitty cat stuffed animal thing that she had been asking for since Halloween, but instead this super cheap tent that her Daddy picked up at the Dollar General! She loved it!

The jewelry Ho Ho left her in her stocking was pretty awesome too!

Good Morning Sleepy Boy! Hayes wasn't sure what to think about it....

He was still waking up and had a nasty cold on Christmas Day!

He didn't let that get in the way of his excitement though over all the new toys! He loved the alphabet train and his new red fire engine!

Although he doesn't look very thrilled here in this picture, he really likes Addie's microphone too! She gets so upset when he uses it though because he gets it all "wet"!

Off to take Grandma some treats.....we just love our little Red Riding Hood!

Oh wait...she's our princess.....that's right...how could I forget!

Christmas has a whole new light to it with little ones. It's magical again. I want it to be a time of special memories for them both, but also want to make sure I teach them the real meaning of the season. Tim and I both mentioned Baby Jesus' birthday to Addie and how that is Christmas came to be, but she is still a little young to really understand. Hopefully, we won't lose sight of the importance and real meaning of the holiday.....Happy Birthday Jesus!

It snowed!

2010-12-31T21:01:00.003-05:00

It snowed quite a bit on Christmas day and into the next day too. We had almost 14 inches. It was beautiful. Although I was pretty tired of being cooped up in the house since we were all sick the week before, but it was still very pretty, and who doesn't want a white Christmas?

I finally managed to get the kids out in the snow the second day we were housebound. Addie lasted all of 10 minutes, but atleast she went this time. Hayes just goes with the flow, most of the time. He's been a bit grumpy with some new teeth coming in and a little cold. He didn't complain about being out in the snow though. I think he was just glad to get out too!

This was what my deck looked like. I could barely get out the back door to snap these pictures. The snow was deep and hard by day three.

But isn't it beautiful? I think our house looks so pretty surrounded by snow.

It took us 20 minutes to bundle the two of them up for their first adventure in the snow. It didn't go well. Not at all...

She was not a fan of the snow blowing into her face and eyes.

They even tried sunglasses and a "fun" sled, but she just wasn't having it.

This is how she spent the rest of the morning....warm and dry and with a snack....

.... watching the little girls across the street build a snowman.

Thank you Daddy for bringing my favorite chair over here so I could enjoy the snow too!

Cookies for Ho Ho

2010-12-27T16:19:00.002-05:00

The mean ole' stomach bug hit the Hewitt household right smack in the middle of Tim's "vacation week", so we were down and out for a few days. It was miserable, and yes, I still hate vomit. I hate it even more now. However, I am thankful that it is over and that we were feeling better just in time for Christmas. Hayes was feeling so good he decided to eat some beans while Addie and I prepared Ho Ho's cookies and milk.

She's a great little helper....a little stubborn and a bit bossy, but overall, a great helper.

Ho Ho loved these cookies. And Addie didn't mind that she couldn't take a little nibble on them because she discovered the hershey's kisses instead. They are egg-free and made in a peanut-free facility....heck yeah!!! I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and time spent with family. The bug might have crippled us for a few days, but we did without a doubt like spending some time together. I have lots of pictures to share over the next few days!

A few of my favorite things...

2010-12-18T21:23:00.005-05:00

besides these little people that is....

Oprah has inspired me to think about some of my favorite things here lately. I decided to start snapping some pictures of some of things in my life that I think are pretty cool. Now, it goes without saying that my family tops everything on this list. They are by far my most treasured "things". I decided to gear this list mainly towards luxuries....things that I love to have, but do not necessarily have to have to be happy. Fortunately, I have a very hard working hubby, who loves to spoil us and give us extras every now and then. I also happen to be the only child of a momma who loves to shop and pamper her "little girl" and her grandbabies. So....here goes....some of my favorite things...in no particular order....

My phone. It may not have texting, or a touch screen, but I love it. It keeps me in touch with some very special people, and I would be lost without it.

Yankee Candles. I am addicted to the smells of the season. If its fall, I want Autumn Wreath. If its spring, I want Honeysuckle, and at Christmas, my favorite is either Welcome Christmas, or Mulling Spices (as introduced to me by my friend Shana).

My living room suit. I love my family room. I love lounging on the couch while my babies play in the floor and my husband watches football. To me, the family room is the one room in the house where everyone should feel cozy and welcome. My new living room suit was a special gift for us this year, and I have a feeling it will be a part of many memories for us for many years to come. It rocks!

My Northface coat. I wear this coat every day in the winter. I have never worn a warmer coat. If they made them smaller and a little cheaper for babies, I would have cloaked my infants in them the minute they entered this world. This happens to be the second black Northface that Tim has purchased for me for two of my birthdays. I left my car unlocked one night and the first one was stolen. I am guessing the person must have been pretty cold. Tim knew how much I loved that coat, so a year later, he got me another one. I love him, and I love this coat. I never leave it unattended now.

Countertop cleaner. We recently got new granite countertops in our kitchen. They are so much prettier than the dirty, stained-up cream colored ones we used to have, and I am pretty protective of them. I must wipe down my counter-tops 10 times a day. It's borderline obsessive. I don't feel like my kitchen is clean unless my counter-tops have been wiped down. Apparently you have to use a special cleaner for granite. I found this generic cleaner at our local grocery store for a reasonable price. I love it. I love that it makes my counter-tops sparkle.

My Dyson. If you don't have a Dyson, you need one. Just start saving now. Go to Kohls, open up a credit card and save 20%, and make sure you do it when they are giving out Kohls cash too. Then you can spend the cash later on birthday/Christmas gifts. I LOVE my Dyson. Since my babies are allergic to EVERYTHING, I love this thing. My mom loves hers too. My Memaw, and my step-mom...several of my close friends...they all love theirs too. Get yourself a Dyson.

My floor steamer. Again, I love anything that helps me make my house cleaner and safer for my kids. This thing is AWESOME. My mom bought it for herself, let me use it one time, and then she never saw it again. She gave it to me and got herself another one. See...I told you she spoils me. It makes "mopping" a breeze. It doesn't use/need chemicals to clean your floors. And believe me, it gets them very clean. If it works with a child like Hayes in the house, it works anywhere. If I had just a little more money, I would buy one for everyone on our Christmas list.

Uggs. I love these boots. I especially love how my little girl looks in these boots. Her mamaw and her Daddy got her these boots as an early Christmas gift this year. We bought them a little big, so hopefully we will get two years out of them. She knows she looks adorable. She does not know what Uggs are, and that's just fine with me. It's best that way....he he

My jeans. Thanks to my friend Kristy, I have become addicted to these outrageously priced blue jeans. And thanks to my mom (and Tim one time too!) I have collected four pairs of these babies. I wear them every day. You may have heard me call them "my skinny jeans". They help hide my bad parts and they feel soooooo good. When Tim found out we were having a girl the first time around, he said "Oh no....she's gonna want designer jeans too!) If you haven't tried these jeans on yet, head to Nordstroms and ask for "Hudsons". They will even hem them for free. Yeah....they are that ridiculous!

Tim as a Daddy. I can't brag enough about my hubby and his parenting skills. He is almost always very patient and "fun" as Addie would say. No matter how tired he is, or how late it is and he still needs his shower for the day, he climbs into that little bed of hers each night and reads her a story. I LOVE this.

I absolutely love getting Christmas cards. I stalk the mailman and know the exact hummmm of his little truck as it makes its way around our court this time of year.

My new tree skirt. Tim bought me this tree skirt that I had been eyeing for several years now. I think it will be the perfect thing to pass down to Hayes' family one day when he has a wife and child of his own. I am sappy like that.

My milestone ornaments for the kids. Each year (well, three years now) I have made milestone ornaments for Addie. Hayes got his first milestone ornament this year too. His ornament's described giving up the bottle and almost walking....can you guess what Addie's milestone was this year?

My tree. I have decided to decorate our tree with ornaments only...no tinsel, or garland, or ribbon, although I think those things are very pretty and make a tree look very festive. I want to stuff our tree full of homemade ornaments and sentimental pieces and am saving all the limb space for that sort of thing. Check back in 20 years. I was on a roll this year with homemade decorations for the tree.

Snow. I especially love it when it snows on or near Christmas. It makes me feel even merrier and reminds me of Christmases growing up in West Virginia.

Not pictured: Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte, Tim's Chicken Parmesean Subs, Memaw's homemade biscuits and chocolate cake, Dave's steaks, Hewitt's stuffed mushrooms and homemade donuts, Sweatpants, Grape Sodas, Funnel Cakes, and Snicker bars.

So, there you have it, some of my favorite "things". I am blessed and am grateful for these "luxuries" I do not for a second forget how very lucky I am. I hope everyone gets a chance to have a few of their "favorites" this holiday season.

Fun with friends...

2010-12-16T20:19:00.001-05:00

I put little trees in Addie and Hayes' rooms this year to spread a little holiday magic up to their rooms. They love them. Addie especially loves that her tree makes her room not as dark as usual and she can "read" until the wee hours at night. Her tree has all "girly" things on it, and Hayes' tree is sports themed per his Daddy's request. Mamaw helped find some little sporty ornaments that were perfect for his tree. I had a lot of fun decorating these little trees.

This is what three crazy mommas look like out to lunch with 5 kids under the age of three. It was Chik-fil-a too, so this crazy momma had to pack lunch for her babies since they use peanut oil for their food. Yes, I was that desperate for some adult interaction this particular day. I love these women, and they have the best little boys for Addie to play with.

It's also pretty cool that several of them are rather crafty and help me and the kids create cute little gifts and decorations for the holidays. Maybe you will get one of these little creations in your stocking this year?

This particular time it was 5 mommies and 8 little ones under the age of three. Several of the babies were strapped to their mommies or drinking the dog water (guess who that was) when this picture was snapped. We had just finished making reindeer placemats. Such fun!

I have plenty of pictures to share and am working on my "favorites" post for this particular Christmas. One of which is the beautiful snow we got today....

Handsome Hayes

2010-12-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

He took 9 steps in a row today. He's a little wobbly, but I think walking is in our future. Before the new year?

Sweetness

2010-12-09T09:44:00.002-05:00

They really do love each other.

And they love the Christmas tree too. It fascinates them. I hope they are always close. It is my biggest wish for both of them. To always look out for each other...to always be there for one another....

Thanksgiving....

2010-12-08T08:30:00.005-05:00

I will always have many memories of traveling to my grandparents for the holidays and enjoying a good ole' fashioned traditional holiday meal. My Mamaw used to think it was so hilarious how I would make my plate of "favorites" and hide it in the laundry room where it was nice and cold for later. Then when I pulled out my plate with the sweet potoato casserole on it that had long been eaten up, everyone would wonder how I got some? She knew how I did it, and we would both just snicker away! It is still my most favorite meal of all time. Check out this spread...

Addie and her cousins had a great time dancing in the living room while everyone watched them put on a show!

Even Daddy got in on all the action.

I'm glad I get to take my kids down there where so many of my childhood memories were made. It is not the easiest thing to travel with two little ones, and although we were exhausted and a little under the weather when we returned, it sure was worth it to be with my family on this special holiday again. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving with family and friends!

More parade fun...

2010-12-07T10:28:00.002-05:00

I told you I bundled them up. Hayes could hardly move! He didn't complain though. He was nice and toasty!

What a fun time with friends! Can we do it again?

Just do it...

2010-12-05T22:00:00.003-05:00

Saturday was the Great Bridge Christmas Parade, a long-standing tradition in our town for many years. I can remember taking part in this parade when I was in high school, but have never attended as an adult. That is...until this year. I just did it. I decided not to worry about the temperature and the crowds and the loud noises and the parking fiasco. I just did it. We packed up the car with two very bundled up children, lots of snacks, and our little red wagon and headed to the parade with some friends. And I am so glad I did it.

Addie settled in quite nicely with her little friend, B, and Hayes even seemed intrigued by all the lights and noises around him. It was nice to do something different for a change, and despite the cold, it was really so much fun! Addie told us in the middle of the parade that this was "the best parade ever". It even started to snow during the action and flakes continued to fall throughout the night, making it even more magical! I need to learn to "just do it" more often. I can see the parade becoming part of our Hewitt Family Christmas Traditions.....so glad I did it!

Popsicles

2010-11-29T08:18:00.003-05:00

When Daddy is in charge....

They eat popsicles on my new couch. Aren't they cute?

I can't resist....

2010-11-23T22:17:00.003-05:00

He's just too darn cute to keep them to myself.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are headed to the beautiful mountains of West VA early Thursday morning to spend the holiday with my family, and I cannot be more excited about it. I miss holidays with them, so I plan on soaking up my time with my Papaw and the rest of the crazy gang!

Sneak Peak

2010-11-22T10:37:00.004-05:00

My friend took the most amazing pictures of Hayes for his 1-year milestone. She is wonderful with the camera and even better with the kids themselves! I am very excited to pick out our favorites and order them to share with family and friends. He is such a handsome, sweet little boy.

Bath time...

2010-11-22T10:35:00.001-05:00

It gets WILD around here each night at 6:00 p.m.!

Picnic in the Park

2010-11-20T21:40:00.002-05:00

I took the kids to a local park the other day for a nice little picnic. It was one of the warmer days and we know how stir-crazy we can get once the cold winter sets in, so I packed up a lunch and headed out. It was fun, but let me tell ya...chasing Hayes through the gigantic wooden play-set got really old really fast. He still isn't walking. Not even a little bit. He, however, wanted to follow Addie all over this monstrosity, and I came pretty close to a heart attack several times. It's not easy keeping up with these two by yourself.

Addie loves the idea of a picnic. At home, we try and sit at the table together each night for dinner. So the idea of eating on a blanket on the ground is very exciting to her!

Hayes on the other hand, doesn't care where he eats, just as long as their is enough food to fill him up! The kids eats and eats and eats.

So cute these two! I enjoy watching them play together. Hayes just follows her around like a little puppy. She is really so good with him too.

I am thankful to have days like this. Thankful and grateful and also very, very tired :)

Wild Man

2010-11-19T08:28:00.003-05:00

This was Hayes after dinner the other night. Tim is taking him to get a bath. Do you think he needs his hair washed?

How else can I get dinner cooked for all of us? He has to help himself. And I think he actually enjoys it!

A Wedding

2010-11-15T21:16:00.003-05:00

And the beautiful bride....Mrs. Jarah Nicholas...

To me, weddings are one of life's most precious moments, right up there with having a baby. Everyone is happy and hopes are high. Two lives join together to tough out the rough times and relish the sweet moments in between. I almost always cry at weddings. The father-daughter dance is my lowest point. I boo-hooed like a baby when Jarah and her Daddy danced that night. There's nothing like a Daddy and his little girl. I am even more emotional since Addie....and look forward to watching her dance with her Daddy on this special day.

I have been honored to be a part of several special weddings over the last 10 years. It means a lot to me to be asked to take a role in such a momentous occasion in someone's life. I will be a part of their picture albums, scrapbooks, and jump drives for years to come. I love helping my friends plan their dream day and getting to know their families throughout the whole process. You can say that I have learned how to be the "perfect bridesmaid" over the years. Well, atleast I thought I was pretty darn perfect. Until....this last one. I was a little less than perfect. I was actually quite the opposite, and I haven't quite figured out what happened or why I just couldn't get it together. Perhaps it was the whooping cough that threw me off course, or maybe it was the strange rash that invaded Addie's body, or even the viral bronchitis that consumed my little Hayes....who knows? I was definitely not the perfect bridesmaid. But....God bless her...Jarah took it all with stride, and she was the perfect bride. The wedding was beautiful and you could feel love in the air that night! The cobbler was delish, and it was awesome to have all of my close friends in one place for the night. It was one of life's sweetest moments, and I am thankful to have been a part of it! Thanks Jarah...love you girl!