- St. George Island with Bruce extended family and aunt Jan (climbed to the top of the SGI light house with Hampton, ice cream cones, playing tennis, riding bikes, shell hunting, a visit with the Mica/Edenfield’s, swimming in the pool, beach time)
- Animal Kingdom with Hampton and Carter (loved the rollercoaster and all of the animals and safari)
- Weston Pro Soccer Camp for Hampton. He went for four hours each morning for a week with Austin Clymer and learned lots of new skills.
- Swim lessons with Ms. Mary Dukes for Carter ... he was swimming like a fish in no time!
- South pointe Church vacation bible school ... Hampton didn’t know a soul and had a great time each morning. His friend Joel from church was helping with the Bible school that week and H loved that.
- Hampton, Carter, and Sally Kate went to see “Jumanji” at the Marion Theater. The movie scared them but they ate their weight in popcorn and gummies to make up for it :)
- Hampton played on the summer basketball league at the YMCA with his friends Nash and Kaiden.
- First Presbyterian vacation bible school with a bunch of friends for Hampton ... he loved the theme and learned so much!
- Library story hour with our friend Cooper. Carter and Will loved this!
- Splash pad downtown with our friends Kate, Andrew, Gwen and Nora. The boys spent hours playing in the water ... and eating snacks ;)
- Cousin Camp with Elizabeth and Will and Knox from Nashville
- Cousin Camp with Kingston and Hyatt
- A morning of swimming with cousins Caitlin and Bennett from Richmond
- Lots of fun swimming and play time with SK, Moore, David, and Ann-McLean when they were down from Tallahassee over the summer
- A back to school pool party at Honey’s with lots of school friends a few weeks before H and friends started kindergarten
- Marineland with all three boys to see the dolphins
- Ponte Vedra Inn and Club with the Hagood family (highlight was definitely the kid slide and hunting crabs every night)
- Daily swims in Honey and Granddaddy’s pool
Showing posts with label Hampton Scott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hampton Scott. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2018
Summer 2018 Memories
Some highlights from our summer ...
Hampton - 5.5 Years
In August of last year you began (what we thought at the time) would be your final year at St. Paul’s. You were an “Owl” in Ms. Jessica and Ms. Mandy’s class and what an amazing year you had. Your teachers absolutely loved you and you loved them in return. Ms. Jessica always talked about “your stories” and your little southern accent, ha! You loved your friends Miles, Holden, Robert and Nash and reserved a very special place in your heart for a little girl named Ellie Jo. Ellie had you wrapped and told me on every occasion, “Hampton’s mommy, I’m going to marry Hampton!” Ellie Jo was sort of the ‘mayor’ of the class and spoke on authority :) You all had so much fun! Every milestone at St. Paul’s in your VPK year met with a tinge of sadness as we thought you’d soon be leaving this special, magical school for kindergarten elsewhere ...
Soon after school began, Hurricane Irma whipped through Ocala and left us without water and power for ten days. We made the decision right before the hurricane hit to head north and evacuate and it was the best decision! We stopped in Birmingham to hang with aunt Loren and uncle Matt and then went on to Memphis where we spent a fun-filled week with Grammy and Poppy and our many friends. A highlight for you was riding the camel with Carter at the Memphis Zoo.
You continued playing t-ball through the fall on Coach Matt (Fabian’s) team and had a great time. The early morning games were the best! We took a much anticipated trip to the pumpkin patch and you were SO excited to carve a pumpkin with your dad. You were Captain Hook for Halloween, Carter was Peter Pan and Will was Mr. Smee. You were all about trick or treating and Granddaddy attached a hayride to the rhino which we rode all over Grandmommy’s neighborhood. So fun and you all had a great time!
In late November we put up our Christmas tree and you told me at least ten times as we were putting it up, “I love Christmas, mommy!” Boy after my own heart. All you wanted for Christmas was transformers and Santa definitely came through! You told your brothers all Christmas season long if anyone was disobeying or having a tantrum that Brucey the elf was watching! Your dad and I joked that Brucey should stay all year because the three of you were angels the month of Decemember, haha. You love singing and practiced your songs for the SPCS Christmas program non-stop.
For your 5th birthday, we surprised you with a trip to the Magic Kingdom. You really began asking to go in the year leading up 5 and we knew it was time. You woke up the morning of our trip and had no idea where we were going until you saw the map and balloons on the table. You were SO excited and began telling Carter what was going on. You are a lover of roller coasters and you had a few meltdowns when you learned that wait times at Disney are two hours per coaster. Yikes. Overall you loved it and I think besides riding Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain, your favorite part was watching the parade and shows with Carter. We also did the annual birthday bunch party with your six friends all born within six weeks of you ... we rented a bounce house and ordered pizza and you all had a big time!
You started playing soccer for the first time in the spring and you were the star player ... and also a ball hog, ha! You loved to score goals and were relentless at pursuing the ball and scoring. It was a successful first season, for sure. You also learned to ride your bike without training wheels in the spring and we were so proud of you. You’re still mastering the art of turning without wrecking in the bushes, but you’ll get there :)
In May you graduated from St. Paul’s and your graduation ceremony was the sweetest. You were picked with a few others to lead the song, “One Small Voice.” And you did such a great job!! When Ms. Kelly the director said what each student wanted to be when they grew up upon handing out diplomas, your answer was, “just like my daddy.” Your most favorite part about graduation, however, was post graduation ... water day! You’ve asked me every day since when you’re having another one!
Your special summer memories included a trip to St. George Island with the Bruce family (you loved playing tennis with Poppy and climbing to the top of the lighthouse with me), Weston soccer camp, the First Presbyterian and Crosspointe VBS’s, a trip to Animal Kingdom and Marineland, playing basketball at the YMCA with Nash and Kaiden, watching “Jumanji” at the Marion Theater, having your cousins visit from Tennessee, and a trip to Ponte Vedra where you fell head over heels with hunting crabs every night with Granddaddy.
After months of praying and trying to figure out where you would attend kindergarten, a spot opened up on the waitlist of St Paul’s. I cried tears of relief and joy knowing you’d be there again. Three weeks after we received the news, you began your first day of kindergarten ...
Ms. Karli and Ms. Christina are your teachers this year, along with Pastor Robert (your Spanish teacher). You are learning and growing by leaps and bounds and it’s only the beginning of the year! So far you have mastered around fifty sight words and can sound out other words fairly easily. I’m so proud of you and all you are learning! You just finished up your second soccer season on the Purple Rhinos team and you’re about to begin your first of flag football on Friday nights.
You are a joy, Hampton. I love that you love music and learning, that your favorite thing to eat is still a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, that you are kind to your friends and say good morning and the name of every person you pass on your way to school each day.
To the moon and back, you are so loved!
Soon after school began, Hurricane Irma whipped through Ocala and left us without water and power for ten days. We made the decision right before the hurricane hit to head north and evacuate and it was the best decision! We stopped in Birmingham to hang with aunt Loren and uncle Matt and then went on to Memphis where we spent a fun-filled week with Grammy and Poppy and our many friends. A highlight for you was riding the camel with Carter at the Memphis Zoo.
You continued playing t-ball through the fall on Coach Matt (Fabian’s) team and had a great time. The early morning games were the best! We took a much anticipated trip to the pumpkin patch and you were SO excited to carve a pumpkin with your dad. You were Captain Hook for Halloween, Carter was Peter Pan and Will was Mr. Smee. You were all about trick or treating and Granddaddy attached a hayride to the rhino which we rode all over Grandmommy’s neighborhood. So fun and you all had a great time!
In late November we put up our Christmas tree and you told me at least ten times as we were putting it up, “I love Christmas, mommy!” Boy after my own heart. All you wanted for Christmas was transformers and Santa definitely came through! You told your brothers all Christmas season long if anyone was disobeying or having a tantrum that Brucey the elf was watching! Your dad and I joked that Brucey should stay all year because the three of you were angels the month of Decemember, haha. You love singing and practiced your songs for the SPCS Christmas program non-stop.
For your 5th birthday, we surprised you with a trip to the Magic Kingdom. You really began asking to go in the year leading up 5 and we knew it was time. You woke up the morning of our trip and had no idea where we were going until you saw the map and balloons on the table. You were SO excited and began telling Carter what was going on. You are a lover of roller coasters and you had a few meltdowns when you learned that wait times at Disney are two hours per coaster. Yikes. Overall you loved it and I think besides riding Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain, your favorite part was watching the parade and shows with Carter. We also did the annual birthday bunch party with your six friends all born within six weeks of you ... we rented a bounce house and ordered pizza and you all had a big time!
You started playing soccer for the first time in the spring and you were the star player ... and also a ball hog, ha! You loved to score goals and were relentless at pursuing the ball and scoring. It was a successful first season, for sure. You also learned to ride your bike without training wheels in the spring and we were so proud of you. You’re still mastering the art of turning without wrecking in the bushes, but you’ll get there :)
In May you graduated from St. Paul’s and your graduation ceremony was the sweetest. You were picked with a few others to lead the song, “One Small Voice.” And you did such a great job!! When Ms. Kelly the director said what each student wanted to be when they grew up upon handing out diplomas, your answer was, “just like my daddy.” Your most favorite part about graduation, however, was post graduation ... water day! You’ve asked me every day since when you’re having another one!
Your special summer memories included a trip to St. George Island with the Bruce family (you loved playing tennis with Poppy and climbing to the top of the lighthouse with me), Weston soccer camp, the First Presbyterian and Crosspointe VBS’s, a trip to Animal Kingdom and Marineland, playing basketball at the YMCA with Nash and Kaiden, watching “Jumanji” at the Marion Theater, having your cousins visit from Tennessee, and a trip to Ponte Vedra where you fell head over heels with hunting crabs every night with Granddaddy.
After months of praying and trying to figure out where you would attend kindergarten, a spot opened up on the waitlist of St Paul’s. I cried tears of relief and joy knowing you’d be there again. Three weeks after we received the news, you began your first day of kindergarten ...
Ms. Karli and Ms. Christina are your teachers this year, along with Pastor Robert (your Spanish teacher). You are learning and growing by leaps and bounds and it’s only the beginning of the year! So far you have mastered around fifty sight words and can sound out other words fairly easily. I’m so proud of you and all you are learning! You just finished up your second soccer season on the Purple Rhinos team and you’re about to begin your first of flag football on Friday nights.
You are a joy, Hampton. I love that you love music and learning, that your favorite thing to eat is still a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, that you are kind to your friends and say good morning and the name of every person you pass on your way to school each day.
To the moon and back, you are so loved!
Friday, June 30, 2017
Hampton - 4.5 Years
Hampton ... it has been such a joy to parent you. Last August, you started the K-3 program at St. Paul's Christian School as a "bookworm" and had the most wonderful year with Ms. Keri and Ms. Christina. Before your first week of school I took you on a "date" to buy some school supplies. We went to breakfast, as you had requested we go anywhere you could get some lemonade :) We went to First Watch and you wanted to hold my hand in the parking lot so a car wouldn't run me over. When we got to the sidewalk (with no car in sight) you said, "phew! that was so close!!" You told the waitress that your chocolate chip pancake was "so awesome" and told me as we left, "I take you on a date because I love you so much, mommy!!"
The fall brought many firsts for you, among them, your very first gator game at Ben Hill Griffin stadium! It was hot and raining and by the time the band left the field before kick off you were begging daddy and granddaddy to "go home" - hahaha. Granddaddy loaded you up on boiled peanuts and hot dogs and you lasted until half time. You are enthralled with dinosaurs and super heroes and wanted to be a t-rex for Halloween. You love to affirm and one night while you were eating your ever gourmet dinner of mac and cheese and apple slices you said, "you are such a good COOKER, mommy!" My all time favorite was the night I was tucking you in and you leaned over and whispered, "I won't ever let anything happen to you, mommy ... I won't let those bad guys get you!" Be still my heart :)
You love to talk about God and pray and whenever you see a rainbow you exclaim, "look! God's promise!!" You sing all of the songs you learn at St. Paul's and in each program at school you are front and center with the motions and knowing every word to every song. You don't have a bit of stage fright and when you march down the aisle to your place on the stage you wave to every family member you see and say, "hi mommy! hi daddy! hi Carter! hi Honey! hi Granddaddy! etc. etc.
On your fourth birthday, after back to back stomach flus, you landed in the emergency room for dehydration. Your little body just couldn't take any more. They gave you IV fluids and got your levels back up and sent you home on a toast and Gatorade diet. Not exactly the way we wanted to spend the day, but we were thankful to have you on the road to wellness and recovery! Your birthday party was held a week later at bounce n play with your play group and you all had the best time running, jumping, eating pizza and cake. I think about 50-60 kids were in attendance ... go big or go home!
The one thing you wanted to do more than anything in life as you approached four - was to ride a roller coaster (you even told your teacher this when she posed the question, what do you want to do when you grow up?). You were always too small and didn't meet the height requirement, but for your fourth birthday we went to Legoland and you met the requirement! We thought you'd be terrified to go upside down and so fast, but you absolutely LOVED it. We rode that coaster at least four times because you were so excited!
You started t-ball in the spring ... #10 on the Cardinals and you really loved it. You would chase down the ball in the infield and yell to us when you got it in your glove, "I got the ball!!! I got the ball!" It was a great first season. You love to ride your bike (and fast!), drive your jeep around, make mud pies, look for bugs, pray before dinner and bedtime, talk about SeaWorld, talk about fireworks (we count down the days/weeks/months until 4th of July), eat shells and cheese and honey nut cheerios, build legos and train tracks, and be a big brother. You are a fish in the pool and love to practice your super hero jumps in the deep end and belly flops. You all love when daddy comes home at night and you all run to him! He plays tackle with you or wrestles with you and you eat it up.
You attended your first vacation bible school at First Presbyterian this summer and the week after said, "mom, I miss that vbs..." You love Moana, Up, anything super hero or dinosaur related in the movie realm, and Garfield. You still sleep with shamu at night and take a nap during the day because I lay down with you for a few minutes to get you settled.
We love you to the moon and back, Hampton!
The fall brought many firsts for you, among them, your very first gator game at Ben Hill Griffin stadium! It was hot and raining and by the time the band left the field before kick off you were begging daddy and granddaddy to "go home" - hahaha. Granddaddy loaded you up on boiled peanuts and hot dogs and you lasted until half time. You are enthralled with dinosaurs and super heroes and wanted to be a t-rex for Halloween. You love to affirm and one night while you were eating your ever gourmet dinner of mac and cheese and apple slices you said, "you are such a good COOKER, mommy!" My all time favorite was the night I was tucking you in and you leaned over and whispered, "I won't ever let anything happen to you, mommy ... I won't let those bad guys get you!" Be still my heart :)
You love to talk about God and pray and whenever you see a rainbow you exclaim, "look! God's promise!!" You sing all of the songs you learn at St. Paul's and in each program at school you are front and center with the motions and knowing every word to every song. You don't have a bit of stage fright and when you march down the aisle to your place on the stage you wave to every family member you see and say, "hi mommy! hi daddy! hi Carter! hi Honey! hi Granddaddy! etc. etc.
On your fourth birthday, after back to back stomach flus, you landed in the emergency room for dehydration. Your little body just couldn't take any more. They gave you IV fluids and got your levels back up and sent you home on a toast and Gatorade diet. Not exactly the way we wanted to spend the day, but we were thankful to have you on the road to wellness and recovery! Your birthday party was held a week later at bounce n play with your play group and you all had the best time running, jumping, eating pizza and cake. I think about 50-60 kids were in attendance ... go big or go home!
The one thing you wanted to do more than anything in life as you approached four - was to ride a roller coaster (you even told your teacher this when she posed the question, what do you want to do when you grow up?). You were always too small and didn't meet the height requirement, but for your fourth birthday we went to Legoland and you met the requirement! We thought you'd be terrified to go upside down and so fast, but you absolutely LOVED it. We rode that coaster at least four times because you were so excited!
You started t-ball in the spring ... #10 on the Cardinals and you really loved it. You would chase down the ball in the infield and yell to us when you got it in your glove, "I got the ball!!! I got the ball!" It was a great first season. You love to ride your bike (and fast!), drive your jeep around, make mud pies, look for bugs, pray before dinner and bedtime, talk about SeaWorld, talk about fireworks (we count down the days/weeks/months until 4th of July), eat shells and cheese and honey nut cheerios, build legos and train tracks, and be a big brother. You are a fish in the pool and love to practice your super hero jumps in the deep end and belly flops. You all love when daddy comes home at night and you all run to him! He plays tackle with you or wrestles with you and you eat it up.
You attended your first vacation bible school at First Presbyterian this summer and the week after said, "mom, I miss that vbs..." You love Moana, Up, anything super hero or dinosaur related in the movie realm, and Garfield. You still sleep with shamu at night and take a nap during the day because I lay down with you for a few minutes to get you settled.
We love you to the moon and back, Hampton!
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Fall Happenings
My life these days is ......... fill in the blank? The best way I know how to describe it is urgent. I wake up with a sense of urgency and go-go-go, and it never stops. I never stop. I am constantly doing, being, seeing, breaking, pouring, bathing, fixing, loving, and on and on. I realized earlier as I was typing up three months worth of updates on the baby of our family that this blog solely consists of monthly baby updates, ha! All of my words floating around my brain are just ... fried? I'm going to make a concerted effort at writing again (just don't hold a gun to my head) ... but it's therapy for me and I need (WANT) to do it. I'm so thankful that even though I haven't written a proper anything in who knows how long, I am still writing about my babies ... because I forget. I have forgotten. And I'm so glad to see it here and remember. Such precious, precious memories and milestones.
Yesterday was Hampton's Halloween party at St. Paul's. He did the "monster wiggle" and ate his weight in candy and had fun with his friends. I got a 75 minutes massage this morning (praise hands!) and then we watched Florida/Georgia and had a family birthday party for Michael. Tomorrow morning is trunk-or-treat at church, then brunch at Grandmommy's, and then pumpkin carving party at our house with our small group (chili, pumpkins, apple cider, and s'mores on the fire pit - so fun!). On Monday, Halloween, Hampton has his costume parade & sing at St. Paul's and then trick or treating later that night. Hampton is a t-rex, Carter is a lion, and Will is a goldfish :) Hampton has recently decided he's not all that into naps and the end of our days tend to be a little on the eek side because of it, so here's to hoping he will want take one tomorrow!
I ordered Carter's birthday party invitations today. His birthday is the day before Thanksgiving this year but his party will be the weekend before. Mark and Kasey (and Kingston) will be here the entire week so we're excited! So much fun to look forward to ...
Yesterday was Hampton's Halloween party at St. Paul's. He did the "monster wiggle" and ate his weight in candy and had fun with his friends. I got a 75 minutes massage this morning (praise hands!) and then we watched Florida/Georgia and had a family birthday party for Michael. Tomorrow morning is trunk-or-treat at church, then brunch at Grandmommy's, and then pumpkin carving party at our house with our small group (chili, pumpkins, apple cider, and s'mores on the fire pit - so fun!). On Monday, Halloween, Hampton has his costume parade & sing at St. Paul's and then trick or treating later that night. Hampton is a t-rex, Carter is a lion, and Will is a goldfish :) Hampton has recently decided he's not all that into naps and the end of our days tend to be a little on the eek side because of it, so here's to hoping he will want take one tomorrow!
I ordered Carter's birthday party invitations today. His birthday is the day before Thanksgiving this year but his party will be the weekend before. Mark and Kasey (and Kingston) will be here the entire week so we're excited! So much fun to look forward to ...
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Hampton - 3.5 Years
Hampton Bruce ... You are at such a fun little stage right now. Your imagination is in full swing! You had a great end of school year and I was so, so sad when it was over. I wasn't prepared for how sad I would be at saying goodbye to your first year of preschool and to your teachers who invested in you and loved you so very much. St. Paul's is a special place and you learned so much and grew by leaps and bounds. On the day your brother was born you christened the playground while at school. You must have been too busy playing to tell your teachers to take you to the bathroom and instead just pulled your pants down and went on a tree. Oh my stars. After that little episode we had to have a talk about appropriate behavior as related to using the bathroom ;)
You say the funniest little things ... You have loved your swim lessons this summer and call your teacher by her first and last name, "Mrs. Mary Duke." After five lessons you were swimming like a fish! You've continued to take and can now dive for rings and float on your back and swim from one end of the pool to the other "like a frog" in your words. You want to talk about Seaworld non-stop (today when I was putting you down for your nap you asked me to get in bed with you ... I did and then you said, "mommy, will you talk to me about Seaworld?"). Shamu, your stuffed whale, sleeps with you and does most everything with you. Last week you brought him into my room early one morning while I was feeding your brother and said, "I'm going to have breakfast, you stay here Shamu and talk to mommy and baby Will ... Ok? Ok.") Shortly after when your dad was going to take a shower you asked him if you could get in and said, "I want to take a shower with you because I love you" (who could refuse that? Ha!).
You've been obsessed with The Lion King and The Land Before Time (dinosaur everything!) and more recently, The Ninja Turtles. You have started talking like them too. Me: "Hampton, would you mind picking your toys up?" You: "Like totally dudes!" You also say "shore" instead of "sure" like, "Shore mommy, I can do that!" Makes me smile every time. Your favorite toys are your trains and tracks and Legos and anything outside. You are always asking Carter to come on "an adbenture" with you...off you go into the back yard. You've named our citrus trees "the dark scary forest" and you have Carter convinced that there really are bears living back there. You go on morning bear hunts and come in red-cheeked and full of tales. Carter is your little shadow and does everything you do - or wants to do everything you do. We have to have daily conversations about being a good example and always looking out for our brothers. You do a great job at this :) But sometimes need a gentle reminder. You are a very sensitive little boy and very in tune with emotion.
You really love your friends and light up when we get to see them. Every Saturday morning you go with your dad, uncle Stephen and Carter to get donuts. Carter gets a bag of donut holes and you always pick out a chocolate donut with sprinkles. At the beach this year you got to go with Granddaddy and your dad and uncles fishing in the boat...this was a huge highlight for you! Last week Honey took you on another first...to the movie theater to see Finding Dory. You were mesmerized by both movie and popcorn :)
If I could name one of my "most" favorite things about you right now it's how you always want to give "group hugs" when daddy leaves for work or I go somewhere. Daddy holds you and I hold Carter and we all put our arms around each other and hug. You and Carter LOVE this.
We love you so much, Hampton Scott Bruce. The older you get the more convinced I am, you'll always be my baby. XO
You say the funniest little things ... You have loved your swim lessons this summer and call your teacher by her first and last name, "Mrs. Mary Duke." After five lessons you were swimming like a fish! You've continued to take and can now dive for rings and float on your back and swim from one end of the pool to the other "like a frog" in your words. You want to talk about Seaworld non-stop (today when I was putting you down for your nap you asked me to get in bed with you ... I did and then you said, "mommy, will you talk to me about Seaworld?"). Shamu, your stuffed whale, sleeps with you and does most everything with you. Last week you brought him into my room early one morning while I was feeding your brother and said, "I'm going to have breakfast, you stay here Shamu and talk to mommy and baby Will ... Ok? Ok.") Shortly after when your dad was going to take a shower you asked him if you could get in and said, "I want to take a shower with you because I love you" (who could refuse that? Ha!).
You've been obsessed with The Lion King and The Land Before Time (dinosaur everything!) and more recently, The Ninja Turtles. You have started talking like them too. Me: "Hampton, would you mind picking your toys up?" You: "Like totally dudes!" You also say "shore" instead of "sure" like, "Shore mommy, I can do that!" Makes me smile every time. Your favorite toys are your trains and tracks and Legos and anything outside. You are always asking Carter to come on "an adbenture" with you...off you go into the back yard. You've named our citrus trees "the dark scary forest" and you have Carter convinced that there really are bears living back there. You go on morning bear hunts and come in red-cheeked and full of tales. Carter is your little shadow and does everything you do - or wants to do everything you do. We have to have daily conversations about being a good example and always looking out for our brothers. You do a great job at this :) But sometimes need a gentle reminder. You are a very sensitive little boy and very in tune with emotion.
You really love your friends and light up when we get to see them. Every Saturday morning you go with your dad, uncle Stephen and Carter to get donuts. Carter gets a bag of donut holes and you always pick out a chocolate donut with sprinkles. At the beach this year you got to go with Granddaddy and your dad and uncles fishing in the boat...this was a huge highlight for you! Last week Honey took you on another first...to the movie theater to see Finding Dory. You were mesmerized by both movie and popcorn :)
If I could name one of my "most" favorite things about you right now it's how you always want to give "group hugs" when daddy leaves for work or I go somewhere. Daddy holds you and I hold Carter and we all put our arms around each other and hug. You and Carter LOVE this.
We love you so much, Hampton Scott Bruce. The older you get the more convinced I am, you'll always be my baby. XO
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Three Years Old
Dear Hampton,
Your birthday is one of the happiest days of our lives. And with each passing day - month - year ... only happier. For three years you have filled our home with so much joy, so much love and understanding, so much tenderness, so much faith. It is such a blessing to parent you and teach you, to watch you grow and develop ... you are so loved.
This year brought huge changes in your little life. I look at videos and pictures from a year ago at this same time and you are an altogether different child today. Your vocabulary, conversation skills and intellect have developed quickly ... and there are many times that I feel I'm talking to a mini adult! You love going to school two days a week and look forward to it ... you have come out of your shell (as your teachers say) and love to play with other children, participate in class and music, and learn. You know letters and numbers, recognize and spell your name, and have started sounding out words and asking me to tell you what the words are (that we are reading) so that you can read them and sound them out for yourself. You play well independently and enjoy building with blocks and legos and putting together your train tracks. You also love to draw and make different things out of playdough (today you made a blue snake and a bracelet for me to wear). You are also very into doing things "all by myself" from putting on your socks, to undressing, to closing the car door.
Your little brother wants to do everything you are doing and play with everything you are playing with ... this tests your patience for the most part, but you also share and try to include him too. If ever Carter is in trouble (about to eat something he isn't supposed to, climbing on furniture, escaping, etc.) you are always 'red alert' and let me know. You've probably saved him from a few trips to the ER! If ever he's upset you'll say, "It's okay, Carter ... we're almost home" (if we're in the car) or "Carter, don't cry, it going to be alright." You love to tickle him and say, "where's the bee, Carter? he's buzzing to get you!" and then you tickle his tummy and he laughs and laughs. Most days and nights you love to play chase together and wrestle and throw each other to the floor like we're in the middle of an August pee wee football practice. Good times :)
This new year of your life will bring even greater changes with the addition of another brother later this spring. You love to talk about the hospital and that you'll come see us when your new brother is born. You look at my growing stomach often and ask when your brother is going to come out and play with you and Carter. Last week you pointed to your dad and I as we were sitting on the couch and said matter of factly, "you guys having a baby?!"
Outside ... you live to drive your jeep, swing, climb up your fort, and play with anything related to sand or water. You are mildly obsessed with Seaworld and sleep with Shamu and carry him along with you throughout the house (he eats most meals by your side, watches you as you go to the bathroom, sits in the jeep next to you, etc.) ... you also love to watch youtube videos of the dolphin and shamu shows at Seaworld and discuss our next adventure to Orlando.
At three years you are still taking an afternoon nap, but choose to skip on some days leading to a rather long afternoon for all of us :) You throw yourself on the ground when things aren't quite lining up in your world and have made friends with "the corner" frequently in this last year. The most effective form of discipline I've found is taking things away from you that you hold dear. All trains and legos go bye-bye when they need to! You are officially potty trained after a fall of long and short regression ... hallelujah, we survived! Your teeth may rot out due to the number of m&m's I used to lure you to the toilet on occasion, but you do what you've gotta do with a mind-of-their-own toddler!
Each night you pray at dinner and before you go to sleep. Your most common prayer is "Dear Jesus, I thank you for today and for all we have today ... amen." You have such a sincere and genuine love for God at such a young age ... you know that He made you, the moon and the stars, the earth and the ocean. I pray every single day that your love for Jesus continues to grow and grow. I love knowing that His purpose and plan for your life is unique to you ... I can't wait to see all of the ways He uses you in the years to come. For His kingdom and glory and renown ... amen.
Hampton, we love you to the moon!!
Love, momma
Your birthday is one of the happiest days of our lives. And with each passing day - month - year ... only happier. For three years you have filled our home with so much joy, so much love and understanding, so much tenderness, so much faith. It is such a blessing to parent you and teach you, to watch you grow and develop ... you are so loved.
This year brought huge changes in your little life. I look at videos and pictures from a year ago at this same time and you are an altogether different child today. Your vocabulary, conversation skills and intellect have developed quickly ... and there are many times that I feel I'm talking to a mini adult! You love going to school two days a week and look forward to it ... you have come out of your shell (as your teachers say) and love to play with other children, participate in class and music, and learn. You know letters and numbers, recognize and spell your name, and have started sounding out words and asking me to tell you what the words are (that we are reading) so that you can read them and sound them out for yourself. You play well independently and enjoy building with blocks and legos and putting together your train tracks. You also love to draw and make different things out of playdough (today you made a blue snake and a bracelet for me to wear). You are also very into doing things "all by myself" from putting on your socks, to undressing, to closing the car door.
Your little brother wants to do everything you are doing and play with everything you are playing with ... this tests your patience for the most part, but you also share and try to include him too. If ever Carter is in trouble (about to eat something he isn't supposed to, climbing on furniture, escaping, etc.) you are always 'red alert' and let me know. You've probably saved him from a few trips to the ER! If ever he's upset you'll say, "It's okay, Carter ... we're almost home" (if we're in the car) or "Carter, don't cry, it going to be alright." You love to tickle him and say, "where's the bee, Carter? he's buzzing to get you!" and then you tickle his tummy and he laughs and laughs. Most days and nights you love to play chase together and wrestle and throw each other to the floor like we're in the middle of an August pee wee football practice. Good times :)
This new year of your life will bring even greater changes with the addition of another brother later this spring. You love to talk about the hospital and that you'll come see us when your new brother is born. You look at my growing stomach often and ask when your brother is going to come out and play with you and Carter. Last week you pointed to your dad and I as we were sitting on the couch and said matter of factly, "you guys having a baby?!"
Outside ... you live to drive your jeep, swing, climb up your fort, and play with anything related to sand or water. You are mildly obsessed with Seaworld and sleep with Shamu and carry him along with you throughout the house (he eats most meals by your side, watches you as you go to the bathroom, sits in the jeep next to you, etc.) ... you also love to watch youtube videos of the dolphin and shamu shows at Seaworld and discuss our next adventure to Orlando.
At three years you are still taking an afternoon nap, but choose to skip on some days leading to a rather long afternoon for all of us :) You throw yourself on the ground when things aren't quite lining up in your world and have made friends with "the corner" frequently in this last year. The most effective form of discipline I've found is taking things away from you that you hold dear. All trains and legos go bye-bye when they need to! You are officially potty trained after a fall of long and short regression ... hallelujah, we survived! Your teeth may rot out due to the number of m&m's I used to lure you to the toilet on occasion, but you do what you've gotta do with a mind-of-their-own toddler!
Each night you pray at dinner and before you go to sleep. Your most common prayer is "Dear Jesus, I thank you for today and for all we have today ... amen." You have such a sincere and genuine love for God at such a young age ... you know that He made you, the moon and the stars, the earth and the ocean. I pray every single day that your love for Jesus continues to grow and grow. I love knowing that His purpose and plan for your life is unique to you ... I can't wait to see all of the ways He uses you in the years to come. For His kingdom and glory and renown ... amen.
Hampton, we love you to the moon!!
Love, momma
Thursday, January 07, 2016
Christmas 2015
Loved the holidays with my sweet boys this year ... Hampton was fully enthralled and "all in" for all things Christmas. Some of the highlights: going through the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts a few nights a week and getting Hampton a special treat (hot chocolate) which we put in his sippy cup with ice cubes .... and driving around to look at lights. It was a win for everyone ... the boys loved it and we got out of the house during "wild hours" :) We went downtown several times to see the lights and huge Christmas tree on the square. One Friday night we went down with my parents and grandmother to see the lights and hear the Symphony play. We attended Hampton's playgroup's annual Christmas brunch in jammies + book exchange, Amanda's annual cookie exchange (Kasey made oatmeal raisin, I made gingersnaps, mom made peanut butter chocolate bars), and went to Seaworld with Mark, Kasey and Michael the week of Christmas (highlight being the Polar Express train for H!). Hampton loved looking at our tree with the lights on and repeatedly asked me what my favorite ornaments were ... I told him mine were the ones of his and Carter's handprints ... he told me his favorite was "the little girl" (which is the only ornament on our tree that belonged to Mary Kaye ... it was one she received her first Christmas as a mom) and the Nutcracker.
We read so many Christmas books and by the end of the season, H had memorized the first three pages of "Twas the Night Before Christmas..." He loved watching Elf and The Polar Express and wanted to drink every glass of milk out of his light up snowman glass with the straw! Hampton rang the bell for Salvation Army one Saturday morning and the entire family showed up to throw quarters in :) We went to see the Living Nativity at Good Shepherd (Carter was fascinated by the goats up on the rocks) and to aunt Kio's to decorate sugar cookies with the cousins (Hampton and Carter both ate icing for their lunches that day ... 'tis the season!). We saw Santa at the mall and Hampton was both thrilled and a little aghast by the fact that "Santa lived at the mall" ... we tried to explain that he was just visiting from the north pole, but that only went so far ;)
Hampton told us numerous times that Christmas was Jesus' birthday. We went through the play by play of the actual event with his nativity scene, but most days baby Jesus was taking a ride on the John Deere tractor and camels were jumping off the top of the stable. Hilarious. Most perplexing to H was the fact that Jesus was born in the stable and not in the hospital. Oh my :)
We attended the Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church and then went to mom and dad's for seafood gumbo and stone crab. The boys lasted for about an hour, but after a week of hairy nap schedules and staying up later than usual with family being home, we headed back to our house to set out cookies and eggnog for Santa.
Christmas morning was the best! Everyone came to our house to watch the boys see all that Santa had brought and aunt Loren, Grammy and Poppy skyped in from Birmingham to watch too. The highlight was the jeep. Hampton drives it and Carter is his trusting (and somewhat hesitant) passenger. They are hilarious to watch as they cruise around the yard and down the driveway in their blue jeep. It seems like we opened presents forever and the boys ended up with loot ... that we're still trying to find room for!! :) It was a fun day ... we had breakfast at our house, and then went to mom and dad's to open more gifts, lunch over there at 1 (when both boys had epic meltdowns in their red jon-jons due to complete exhaustion and were sent to Honey's room and the pack n play for much needed naps), and then once Grammy and Poppy arrived ... we opened the envelope to reveal the gender of baby #3 in front of a whole room of adoring and crazed family fans. Afterward, we came back to our house where I made Christmas dinner. More presents, my great-grandmother's recipe for peppermint chocolate dessert, coffee, and hit. the. bed. What a day - what a month! So fun :)
We read so many Christmas books and by the end of the season, H had memorized the first three pages of "Twas the Night Before Christmas..." He loved watching Elf and The Polar Express and wanted to drink every glass of milk out of his light up snowman glass with the straw! Hampton rang the bell for Salvation Army one Saturday morning and the entire family showed up to throw quarters in :) We went to see the Living Nativity at Good Shepherd (Carter was fascinated by the goats up on the rocks) and to aunt Kio's to decorate sugar cookies with the cousins (Hampton and Carter both ate icing for their lunches that day ... 'tis the season!). We saw Santa at the mall and Hampton was both thrilled and a little aghast by the fact that "Santa lived at the mall" ... we tried to explain that he was just visiting from the north pole, but that only went so far ;)
Hampton told us numerous times that Christmas was Jesus' birthday. We went through the play by play of the actual event with his nativity scene, but most days baby Jesus was taking a ride on the John Deere tractor and camels were jumping off the top of the stable. Hilarious. Most perplexing to H was the fact that Jesus was born in the stable and not in the hospital. Oh my :)
We attended the Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church and then went to mom and dad's for seafood gumbo and stone crab. The boys lasted for about an hour, but after a week of hairy nap schedules and staying up later than usual with family being home, we headed back to our house to set out cookies and eggnog for Santa.
Christmas morning was the best! Everyone came to our house to watch the boys see all that Santa had brought and aunt Loren, Grammy and Poppy skyped in from Birmingham to watch too. The highlight was the jeep. Hampton drives it and Carter is his trusting (and somewhat hesitant) passenger. They are hilarious to watch as they cruise around the yard and down the driveway in their blue jeep. It seems like we opened presents forever and the boys ended up with loot ... that we're still trying to find room for!! :) It was a fun day ... we had breakfast at our house, and then went to mom and dad's to open more gifts, lunch over there at 1 (when both boys had epic meltdowns in their red jon-jons due to complete exhaustion and were sent to Honey's room and the pack n play for much needed naps), and then once Grammy and Poppy arrived ... we opened the envelope to reveal the gender of baby #3 in front of a whole room of adoring and crazed family fans. Afterward, we came back to our house where I made Christmas dinner. More presents, my great-grandmother's recipe for peppermint chocolate dessert, coffee, and hit. the. bed. What a day - what a month! So fun :)
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Hamptonisms @ 2.5 Years
me: What did Noah build?
Hampton: a big, biggggg sandcastle!
"wook mommy!" [look mommy!]
"a big fider!! a big fider web!" [spider]
"yes sir!" [impeccable manners but everyone is "yes sir"]
"I love soc-ter!" [soccer]
"stick-ters" [stickers]
"Ms. Jes-i-sa" [Ms. Jessica, preschool teacher]
"more meelk please!" [milk]
Hampton: a big, biggggg sandcastle!
"wook mommy!" [look mommy!]
"a big fider!! a big fider web!" [spider]
"yes sir!" [impeccable manners but everyone is "yes sir"]
"I love soc-ter!" [soccer]
"stick-ters" [stickers]
"Ms. Jes-i-sa" [Ms. Jessica, preschool teacher]
"more meelk please!" [milk]
Colds & A Quick Trip!
These September days are already running together! Hampton came home from preschool on week 1 with loads of germs, and so far everyone from daddy to Honey have ended up with the world's worst cold/cough combo :/ Sweet Carter has been fighting off RSV and has received breathing treatments every four hours around the clock since Friday morning ... makes for a very tired momma! Esp since holding him down to get the treatment is more like wrestling an alligator!!
Last weekend Carter and I (and Mary!) flew to Tennessee to visit Jill and family. We had a wonderful time in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains ... shopping in Pigeon Forge, eating yummy Mexican fajitas and grilled cheese and tomato soup at The Plaid Apron in Knoxville ... the amazing weather!! Carter loved getting to hang with John Martin and Judson and after his first night/day of being a little off schedule he adjusted :) Also a highlight, driving by the home my Grammy and Grampie built on Land Oak Lane (the house my Grandmommy grew up in), seeing the current owner in the front yard and getting a tour! The craziest part ... the house had not been renovated ... original tiles, stove (!!), floors, etc. My favorite part: seeing the names of Donald, Hazel, Karyl and Patricia Lane carved into the concrete in my great-grandmother's handwriting :)
Last weekend Carter and I (and Mary!) flew to Tennessee to visit Jill and family. We had a wonderful time in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains ... shopping in Pigeon Forge, eating yummy Mexican fajitas and grilled cheese and tomato soup at The Plaid Apron in Knoxville ... the amazing weather!! Carter loved getting to hang with John Martin and Judson and after his first night/day of being a little off schedule he adjusted :) Also a highlight, driving by the home my Grammy and Grampie built on Land Oak Lane (the house my Grandmommy grew up in), seeing the current owner in the front yard and getting a tour! The craziest part ... the house had not been renovated ... original tiles, stove (!!), floors, etc. My favorite part: seeing the names of Donald, Hazel, Karyl and Patricia Lane carved into the concrete in my great-grandmother's handwriting :)
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
On Your First Day of Preschool
Dear Hampton,
Today was your first day of preschool at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. You are in the Busy Bee class with Ms. Jessica (your teacher) and Ms. Cathy (your teacher's assistant). We have talked about this day for m o n t h s on end. Your daddy had to spend the night at SPCS back in February with other dads/moms to secure your registration spot the next morning (they mean business down here!) and he was one of the first to arrive in the line so you received one of the Tuesday/Thursday (and every other Friday) spots that were available.
We tried our best to talk about going to school with you on a pretty regular basis ... we read the occassional book about school, talked about the school playground, who your teachers would be, the friends that would be in your class ... we potty trained you, prayed for you, shopped for clothes and supplies. Two of your best buddies, Robert Hart and Welles Seiler are in your class and you were so excited to see them this morning. Your friends from church, Gracie and Rosaleigh are also in your class.
The last several weeks have been a little trying. Sammy the plumber had to come out on three different occasions because you flushed your toys down the toilet and that was to the tune of $$$ and sheer insanity going on in my head. I could tell you were getting a little restless and knew that the structure and social interaction of going to school a few mornings a week would be so good for you.
I spent most of yesterday thinking about you as I tried to get organized for today. So much reflection ... especially on how very quickly this all goes by. Didn't we just bring you home from the hospital?? It's hard to wrap your mind around it.
This morning I got you up and said, today is the day! You ate scrambled eggs on the red "today's your special day" plate, watched a cartoon, and posed next to the chalkboard for your very first, first day of school picture. The morning was such a blur, but then as your dad drove to school I had to put my sunglasses on and choke back the warm tears. We met your friends by the school sign for more
pictures and then walked you to your classroom.
You were a little timid but knew that we were going to the classroom with the "blue door." We walked you in and put your little red backpack in your cubby and you started to play at the sandbox station. We told you goodbye and you reached for our hands, but we told you to have a great day and we'd see you soon ... and then we left.
The morning went by so quickly and was so surreal ... our house felt so quiet and empty without you here! Carter and I came to pick you up at 11:45 on the dot and your teacher said you had a great day :) You told me you loved the playground and drawing and playing with blocks! You licked a red lollipop all the way home for having such a great first day and now you're fast asleep ... worn out!
Hampton, you are so ready for this new adventure in life. I pray that God makes you brave and strong and wise as you grow ... I pray you know how loved you are by your family and friends and by Jesus ... I pray that your school years are filled with fun and learning ... I pray that you know every day of your life how special you are to us.
We love you the very, very most!
Momma
Today was your first day of preschool at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. You are in the Busy Bee class with Ms. Jessica (your teacher) and Ms. Cathy (your teacher's assistant). We have talked about this day for m o n t h s on end. Your daddy had to spend the night at SPCS back in February with other dads/moms to secure your registration spot the next morning (they mean business down here!) and he was one of the first to arrive in the line so you received one of the Tuesday/Thursday (and every other Friday) spots that were available.
We tried our best to talk about going to school with you on a pretty regular basis ... we read the occassional book about school, talked about the school playground, who your teachers would be, the friends that would be in your class ... we potty trained you, prayed for you, shopped for clothes and supplies. Two of your best buddies, Robert Hart and Welles Seiler are in your class and you were so excited to see them this morning. Your friends from church, Gracie and Rosaleigh are also in your class.
The last several weeks have been a little trying. Sammy the plumber had to come out on three different occasions because you flushed your toys down the toilet and that was to the tune of $$$ and sheer insanity going on in my head. I could tell you were getting a little restless and knew that the structure and social interaction of going to school a few mornings a week would be so good for you.
I spent most of yesterday thinking about you as I tried to get organized for today. So much reflection ... especially on how very quickly this all goes by. Didn't we just bring you home from the hospital?? It's hard to wrap your mind around it.
This morning I got you up and said, today is the day! You ate scrambled eggs on the red "today's your special day" plate, watched a cartoon, and posed next to the chalkboard for your very first, first day of school picture. The morning was such a blur, but then as your dad drove to school I had to put my sunglasses on and choke back the warm tears. We met your friends by the school sign for more
pictures and then walked you to your classroom.
You were a little timid but knew that we were going to the classroom with the "blue door." We walked you in and put your little red backpack in your cubby and you started to play at the sandbox station. We told you goodbye and you reached for our hands, but we told you to have a great day and we'd see you soon ... and then we left.
The morning went by so quickly and was so surreal ... our house felt so quiet and empty without you here! Carter and I came to pick you up at 11:45 on the dot and your teacher said you had a great day :) You told me you loved the playground and drawing and playing with blocks! You licked a red lollipop all the way home for having such a great first day and now you're fast asleep ... worn out!
Hampton, you are so ready for this new adventure in life. I pray that God makes you brave and strong and wise as you grow ... I pray you know how loved you are by your family and friends and by Jesus ... I pray that your school years are filled with fun and learning ... I pray that you know every day of your life how special you are to us.
We love you the very, very most!
Momma
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Life Update
The last several weeks have been so busy! Lots of end of summer playdates, family in from Baltimore and Memphis, a baby shower, and a trip to Tallahassee! Now we are gearing up for the start of preschool (one week from Tuesday!) with haircuts and shopping trips for school supplies :) My sweet dad has had a tough summer, first with the heart attack and recovery, and then the tear of his retina. We got a good report several weeks ago with the retina but then it began to detach in another place, so my dad will have surgery this Wednesday in Tampa. The eye surgeon does not want to do the surgery (seeing as we're not that far out from the heart stuff), but it has to be done and the cardio team has given their blessing, so we're going to pray and trust that God has everything under his control and care. Due to my dad's setbacks, Paul has been at the helm of the business pretty consistently ... making for some fairly long days (for all of us!).
Hampton and Carter are beginning to interact more and more ... it has been so sweet to watch their relationship begin to unfold. Carter gets so excited when it's time to get brother up in the mornings or from a nap ... he crawls to his door and sits there if he wakes up before him and starts to squeal. He wants him to come out and play so badly :)
Books I have read in the last month or so and loved ... A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor, Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers, and The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle. Also, currently obsessed with "Call the Midwife" on netflix ... oh. my. word. LOVE!
I can't believe that fall is approaching so quickly ... football season, a full school calendar (yowza!) complete with class parties and fundraisers and performances, Carter's first birthday, the holidays ... the days all run together!
Hampton and Carter are beginning to interact more and more ... it has been so sweet to watch their relationship begin to unfold. Carter gets so excited when it's time to get brother up in the mornings or from a nap ... he crawls to his door and sits there if he wakes up before him and starts to squeal. He wants him to come out and play so badly :)
Books I have read in the last month or so and loved ... A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor, Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers, and The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle. Also, currently obsessed with "Call the Midwife" on netflix ... oh. my. word. LOVE!
I can't believe that fall is approaching so quickly ... football season, a full school calendar (yowza!) complete with class parties and fundraisers and performances, Carter's first birthday, the holidays ... the days all run together!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Motherhood Continued ...
If there is anything I've learned in this season of parenting littles it's that things do eventually come to an end. You think you will never get a full nights sleep again without someone waking, but it happened with Hampton and I know that it will eventually happen with Carter. You think that diapers will be a way of life forever, and then, without warning ... your two year old comes to you one day and says, "me me potty..." and you put them on the potty and there's no going back. I started potty training Hampton a week ago and he has had a few accidents along the way, but unless he's taking a nap or down for the night (he stays in pull ups then) ... he's in his "big boy pants" ... and very proud :) And just like that ... the diaper days for Hampton are over. Some friends were over this morning as we were planning a baby shower for another friend over coffee and wild indians running around my dining room table and I couldn't help laughing as I had to get up three times to make sure H "aimed for the water" and not our walls. Each time he came out, he shouted, "I potty!!" And my friends gave him lots of praise and applause :) His bff, Parker, is also in the potty training scene and he got a lot of applause too upon exiting the bathroom. Good times...
Hampton begins preschool at the end of August, and I can't really believe that either. He will go two days a week from 8:30-11:45 and every other Friday. Several of his friends from play group and several more from church will be in his class and all of my friends send their kids to this sweet school, so from that point of view ... I'm excited about it, knowing he will be surrounded by familiar and loving faces ... I'm also excited because I know how much he will love going ... and getting to do all of his favorite things: singing, drawing, playing on the playground, playing with his friends, learning ... :)
It goes by so quickly. As ready as I am for him to go, and as ready as I know he is ... there's this little place in my heart that "feels" so much about letting him. I just love him so much.
Oh, motherhood, you flipping get me ... every single time.
Hampton begins preschool at the end of August, and I can't really believe that either. He will go two days a week from 8:30-11:45 and every other Friday. Several of his friends from play group and several more from church will be in his class and all of my friends send their kids to this sweet school, so from that point of view ... I'm excited about it, knowing he will be surrounded by familiar and loving faces ... I'm also excited because I know how much he will love going ... and getting to do all of his favorite things: singing, drawing, playing on the playground, playing with his friends, learning ... :)
It goes by so quickly. As ready as I am for him to go, and as ready as I know he is ... there's this little place in my heart that "feels" so much about letting him. I just love him so much.
Oh, motherhood, you flipping get me ... every single time.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Hampton - 2 Years, 2 Months
Hampton is so full of life these days. One of the biggest surprises in the last month or so has been his ability to put vocabulary and emotion together. He says, "whoa nelly!" when Carter rolls over and "oh no! boo boo!" if he falls down. He tells the bees on the front porch, "no no bees! no no!!" because I've told him that they sting and give boo boos. He tells me that the following is "cool" ... Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the splash pad ("da pad"), his friends Parker (he calls him Pop-pop) High and Jack, his brother, and his dad :) Hampton loves to go to church to see his friend Joel (a 7th grader who works in his class on Sunday mornings). Normal days for us include a few time-outs (he sits for two minutes in the chair in the kitchen and bawls like a limb is falling off the entire time). Today we went to the grocery store and on the way inside he fell prostrate in the middle of the parking lot and refused to get up because I wouldn't let him jump from the curb into the bushes (belly flop style). Hampton loves anything having to do with his Grand-diddy (or "DUKE!" as he calls him sometimes) and he loves to call his Poppy for facetime on the ipad. For the longest time he couldn't say words that began with "H" so when you asked him the names of his family he would say, "Paul Bruce, mommy Bruce, me-me Bruce, and Carter Paul Bruce" but now he says, "Head-er Bruce" and "Ham-ton Bruce" :) He calls his Grandmommy "Pat Lova" ... and he loves to go to Grandmommy's house to walk muffin around the neighborhood on the leash. A fox was running around the neighborhood on Saturday night (we took Granddaddy Lovell a chocolate milk shake ... he's currently going through a rough patch with radiation so we brought him a treat!) and a neighbor came running out of her garage afraid this dumb fox was going to snatch and eat Hampton and muffin up for dinner ... my grandmother and I laughed all the way home. Today is an exciting day as uncle Stephen is moving to Ocala (he graduated in December from Mississippi State) to work as an engineer for Lockheed Martin. Paul's dad is driving the u-haul down from Memphis and Stephen is following in his car ... Hampton is out of his mind excited about their arrival :) Uncle Mark and aunt Kasey are also coming this week to spend time for my mom's birthday and for Katie's wedding this weekend. Mom is hosting the bridesmaid luncheon at her house so there's lots of activity on the compound in the next few days :) :)
Sunday, March 01, 2015
911 - What's Your Emergency?
Paul took Hampton to the duck pond this afternoon to feed the ducks some expired in December sourdough, Carter is taking a nap, and I'm eating peanut butter pretzels. And writing ... for two days in a row which is holy cow in the street shocking.
But since I'm on the subject of shocking things ... I was nursing the baby last Thursday morning when Hampton disappeared into my bathroom, reached up on the counter, and chugged (in sixty seconds time) ... my entire bottle of eye makeup remover. The back of the bottle states: call emergency assistance or poison control immediately if consumed ... and seeing as Hampton's reaction was a little on the violent side (coughing, gagging, throwing up) ... we went with 911. Of course, by the time he had hacked it all up, he was fine. The remover was non-toxic and the poison control lady (who got on three-way with the 911 operator and myself) said it was like drinking a giant bottle of soap.
So Hampton was good to go ... I, on the other hand, needed a valium, oxygen mask, and three week stay at the hospital.
But since I'm on the subject of shocking things ... I was nursing the baby last Thursday morning when Hampton disappeared into my bathroom, reached up on the counter, and chugged (in sixty seconds time) ... my entire bottle of eye makeup remover. The back of the bottle states: call emergency assistance or poison control immediately if consumed ... and seeing as Hampton's reaction was a little on the violent side (coughing, gagging, throwing up) ... we went with 911. Of course, by the time he had hacked it all up, he was fine. The remover was non-toxic and the poison control lady (who got on three-way with the 911 operator and myself) said it was like drinking a giant bottle of soap.
So Hampton was good to go ... I, on the other hand, needed a valium, oxygen mask, and three week stay at the hospital.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Two Years Old
Sweet Hampton,
Your birthday is the happiest day of our lives. As I stated last year, I will probably write this on every birthday card or letter you will ever receive, and I will write it on your brother's too. Because more than anything, it's just true.
The day you were born my heart walked right outside of my chest ... and into yours. The days seem to fly by, but I'm finding too ... so do the years. You are two years old today and I can't adequately put into words the amount of joy you bring to our lives. This was a big year for you ... you learned to walk and run and jump, eat by yourself with a fork and spoon, drink from a cup, you learned to give bear hugs and say, "lub you", you became a big brother - and a precious one at that, your sleeping schedule regulated to 11-12 hours a night with a 2-3 hour nap during the day (only waking at night if you are sick, which thankfully doesn't happen often), you gave up your paci cold turkey, you learned the differences between hot and cold, day and night, sun and rain, you love your colors and point to them all, you looove the number 3, you love balls and cars and the park, you just ... love ... life.
When your brother was born in November and I was in the hospital for several days, it was the first time in 21 months that I had been away from you for such an extended period. I nursed you the first year of your life which kept you close to my side and by the time I was done nursing, I was pregnant all over again (and fairly sick), so that wasn't a year to be venturing far from home either. I say all of this to say that while I was in the hospital, I missed you so much my heart ached. You were fine (of course) having a big time playing with grandparents, great-grandparents, doting aunts, uncles, and cousins, but oh, I missed you. After I came home from the hospital with the new baby, you crawled up in my lap and I held you for a long time. You were so happy that we were all home.
And so was I.
What I love about you right now at age two? you say football, on repeat, all day long. Whenever you see a fence or a wide open space you begin to "neigh" in the backseat. I'll be driving down the road and all of a sudden the "neigh-ing" begins. And can sometimes last a good twenty minutes :) Your granddadddy is your best friend and you are his tiny shadow. What I love most about this is that when we moved back to Florida (and I was pregnant with you), I was so excited to know that my children would get to have many of the same experiences and memories of my childhood, and my grandparents were such a huge and important part of that ... these are memories you will always have ... memories you will look back on with a heart so full. You are a sensitive little boy, you love to be helpful, and you really take such special care of your baby brother. When we go around a large group of people, you reach for my hand. You are still fascinated by toilets, filling buckets with bath water when you think I'm not paying attention, and bird baths. You love to feed the fish in the pond and you love to swim. For these reasons, your dad and I just bought annual passes to Seaworld ... your whole entire life is about to be made.
Last night your daddy and Carter and I all tucked you in as your last night as a one year old. Usually you say "night-night" to Carter and I in the living room and then you go into your room and sit in your daddy's lap in the chair and talk about your day, say your prayers, give hugs, get your back rubbed, and then say goodnight. But last night, on the cusp of tucking you in as a one year old for the last time, I felt like we should all share in that moment. My eyes welled with tears as I watched you in your daddy's lap ... and I tried hard to store away what those few moments felt like, kissing goodnight (and goodbye) your precious baby years.
This new year will hold so many firsts for you too. And I can't wait for those ... for experiencing life through your little eyes - the adventure, the joy - has been so much fun.
Happy 2nd Birthday, baby ... because no matter how old you get, you'll always, always be mine ...
I love you, Momma
Your birthday is the happiest day of our lives. As I stated last year, I will probably write this on every birthday card or letter you will ever receive, and I will write it on your brother's too. Because more than anything, it's just true.
The day you were born my heart walked right outside of my chest ... and into yours. The days seem to fly by, but I'm finding too ... so do the years. You are two years old today and I can't adequately put into words the amount of joy you bring to our lives. This was a big year for you ... you learned to walk and run and jump, eat by yourself with a fork and spoon, drink from a cup, you learned to give bear hugs and say, "lub you", you became a big brother - and a precious one at that, your sleeping schedule regulated to 11-12 hours a night with a 2-3 hour nap during the day (only waking at night if you are sick, which thankfully doesn't happen often), you gave up your paci cold turkey, you learned the differences between hot and cold, day and night, sun and rain, you love your colors and point to them all, you looove the number 3, you love balls and cars and the park, you just ... love ... life.
When your brother was born in November and I was in the hospital for several days, it was the first time in 21 months that I had been away from you for such an extended period. I nursed you the first year of your life which kept you close to my side and by the time I was done nursing, I was pregnant all over again (and fairly sick), so that wasn't a year to be venturing far from home either. I say all of this to say that while I was in the hospital, I missed you so much my heart ached. You were fine (of course) having a big time playing with grandparents, great-grandparents, doting aunts, uncles, and cousins, but oh, I missed you. After I came home from the hospital with the new baby, you crawled up in my lap and I held you for a long time. You were so happy that we were all home.
And so was I.
What I love about you right now at age two? you say football, on repeat, all day long. Whenever you see a fence or a wide open space you begin to "neigh" in the backseat. I'll be driving down the road and all of a sudden the "neigh-ing" begins. And can sometimes last a good twenty minutes :) Your granddadddy is your best friend and you are his tiny shadow. What I love most about this is that when we moved back to Florida (and I was pregnant with you), I was so excited to know that my children would get to have many of the same experiences and memories of my childhood, and my grandparents were such a huge and important part of that ... these are memories you will always have ... memories you will look back on with a heart so full. You are a sensitive little boy, you love to be helpful, and you really take such special care of your baby brother. When we go around a large group of people, you reach for my hand. You are still fascinated by toilets, filling buckets with bath water when you think I'm not paying attention, and bird baths. You love to feed the fish in the pond and you love to swim. For these reasons, your dad and I just bought annual passes to Seaworld ... your whole entire life is about to be made.
Last night your daddy and Carter and I all tucked you in as your last night as a one year old. Usually you say "night-night" to Carter and I in the living room and then you go into your room and sit in your daddy's lap in the chair and talk about your day, say your prayers, give hugs, get your back rubbed, and then say goodnight. But last night, on the cusp of tucking you in as a one year old for the last time, I felt like we should all share in that moment. My eyes welled with tears as I watched you in your daddy's lap ... and I tried hard to store away what those few moments felt like, kissing goodnight (and goodbye) your precious baby years.
This new year will hold so many firsts for you too. And I can't wait for those ... for experiencing life through your little eyes - the adventure, the joy - has been so much fun.
Happy 2nd Birthday, baby ... because no matter how old you get, you'll always, always be mine ...
I love you, Momma
Monday, February 02, 2015
Paci No More
After months of DREADING taking this child's paci away (and hearing and reading about many a horror story in doing so), last week when Hampton got the horrible viral sore throat, he gave them up cold turkey. He didn't want them or ask for them and after a few days ... I hid all of them. And that was that. He slept with 18 and walked around with one in each hand and sometimes two in his mouth so this simple "giving up" has floored me. So long, pacifier days ...... and may the next transitions be this easy! Potty training and moving to the "big boy bed", I'm looking at you :)
Monday, January 26, 2015
Sick Kids & Marriage
Currently ... miraculously ... both boys are asleep. It's been a rough few days around our house. Carter got his first round of immunizations and Hampton came down with a case of the two year molars and a sore throat/cough virus all in the same weekend. At some point in all of the giving of tylenol and advil, I forgot C's morning reflux meds ... so that was fun! We left the dr.'s office on Friday afternoon and were back early Monday morning. I'll spare the details of the in between, but it involved a whole lot of crying, lots of midnight car rides, and verrry little sleep for all of us. It also involved trying to give oral meds with syringe to an almost two year old, which, you know ... is more like trying to wrestle a raging 500 lb bull to the ground. And then once you get it to the ground, you still need to pry open the bull's mouth with your bare hands. And shoot down the meds. At 2 a.m. YES PLEASE. Sign me up ;)
Raising two under two is the hardest job I've ever had, and for sure it's the most exhausting - emotionally, mentally, physically. Some days I feel so isolated ... like I'm being held hostage in my own home by two babies. Other days I isolate myself ... because I'm too tired to actually muster up the energy to do anything about it.
I'm learning to depend on the Lord in a lot of new ways these days. Paul calls it, "just get me through the next ten minutes..." mode. So sometimes my prayer life looks like this: "God. please. help. me."
What am I thankful for in all of this wild? My husband ... who selflessly pours himself out for me, and for our family. Sometimes we look at each other late at night or early in the morning or mid-afternoon and ...... laugh. He says to me, often, there's no one else I would rather do this with. And those words aren't spoken over candlelight and fine wine (well, OKAY, sometimes the wine) ... they're usually spoken in the midst of complete and utter bedlam ... when everything is off the chain and breaking b-a-d. But I love that. I love that we've both repeatedly chosen each other, chosen our marriage, chosen to fight through the good, bad, and ugly in so many seasons during the last 12 years. It's so much of why in the midst of mayhem, we can laugh.
Because we know it's for a season. And there's no one else I would rather do this with.
Raising two under two is the hardest job I've ever had, and for sure it's the most exhausting - emotionally, mentally, physically. Some days I feel so isolated ... like I'm being held hostage in my own home by two babies. Other days I isolate myself ... because I'm too tired to actually muster up the energy to do anything about it.
I'm learning to depend on the Lord in a lot of new ways these days. Paul calls it, "just get me through the next ten minutes..." mode. So sometimes my prayer life looks like this: "God. please. help. me."
What am I thankful for in all of this wild? My husband ... who selflessly pours himself out for me, and for our family. Sometimes we look at each other late at night or early in the morning or mid-afternoon and ...... laugh. He says to me, often, there's no one else I would rather do this with. And those words aren't spoken over candlelight and fine wine (well, OKAY, sometimes the wine) ... they're usually spoken in the midst of complete and utter bedlam ... when everything is off the chain and breaking b-a-d. But I love that. I love that we've both repeatedly chosen each other, chosen our marriage, chosen to fight through the good, bad, and ugly in so many seasons during the last 12 years. It's so much of why in the midst of mayhem, we can laugh.
Because we know it's for a season. And there's no one else I would rather do this with.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Christmas-ing!
The week Carter came home from the hospital - up went our
tree :) It took me three days to get it all trimmed up, but it's
Hampton's one true joy this time of year, so I wanted him to
have it all season long!
We took the boys to see Santa on a Tuesday morning and the
little boy on the right talked a big game pre-
sitting on his lap! He "ho ho ho-ed" with the best of them
and so wanted to love it up there, but alas ...
This boy, however, was a big believer ;)
Hampton and the lights!
We park in front of this house and get him out
of his seat and he sits in my lap and just
loves every second of it!
Hampton's play group had a Christmas brunch and all of the kids
got to wear their Christmas jammies ... toddlers are the most
hilarious ever. Hampton's issue in this photo was simply that
he didn't want to be in the photo. His friend, Robert (far left),
was trying to make a run for it as well. Good times!
Carter's first major outing was Alli's birthday party. He got
passed around a lot and we had so much fun ... it was great
to get out of the house and celebrate such a special friend.
Early mornings with my sweet peas. Love them so much it hurts!
Hampton - Twenty Two Months
Hampton ... you have changed so much in the last two months. The most major change being that this was the month you became a big brother ... and let me tell you, there's never been a better one. I honestly can't get over how much you love Carter. You want to hold his hand and kiss him non-stop. You are always very "soft" with him and give him gentle pats on the head. When I come to get you up from your nap, I'm usually holding the baby and when I'm not, you jump right up and say, "baby Carter?" I'm pretty sure you know that he's here to stay :) You've spent a lot more time indoors this month as I've been in recovery and newborn mode, but you've adapted fairly well and spend a lot of time playing with your cars and pushing anything that can be pushed or pulled around. I also have a babysitter come in the afternoons a few days a week and that keeps both of us sane as you have several hours of outdoor time and you run, run, run. Some of your favorite things right now include going to look at lights after dinner ... you "ooooo" the entire time ... and Christmas trees in general. You have done so well with our Christmas tree and only one ornament has broken due to your wandering hands :) I'll call that a win! You love it when we call your daddy on the phone (while he's working) and talk to him on speaker. He asks you lots of questions (are you being a sweet big brother today? are you being good for mommy? have you had fun playing?) and you answer each with an enthusiastic, "mmhmm" and nod of the head. I love you so much ... each day with you is a new adventure and you are such a fun little buddy. xoxo
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Halloween 2014
My sweet little Charlie Brown and his dog, Snoopy :)
Charlie Brown's first stop on Halloween was
his great-grandparents' home ... great-grandparents
let you have as much of the candy bowl as you want!
Charlie was a professional by the time we
left for his trick or treat party with friends!
we brought to life the Charlie Brown classic,
"welcome the great pumpkin" ... I was full
term on Halloween, so a pumpkin was about right!
We made owl cupcakes for the party and the Ina Garten icing
nearly did me in ... swoon! So good.
We partied it up with Elsa, a train conductor, Buzz
Lightyear, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc. etc. Good times!
Hampton loved the hayride around the neighborhood with friends
And by the end of the night was yelling, "cannddyyyy!"
For a 1 year old, he made out like a bandit!
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