Just because...

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

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

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

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!

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

Spilled Milk

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.

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

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 ....

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

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

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

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....

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

Valentines Spirit

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?