October 27, 1973

Today is my birthday. Number 32. I can't believe it... where did 25 go? I don't feel 32 (at least not most days!). It is so hard to believe that I graduated from college almost 10 years ago.

Today was a crazy day. I think it was definitely my hardest day ever as a mom to two boys. Both were super-fussy this afternoon, and there were many times that both were crying and pulling on me at the same time (while I just about pulled my hair out!). Nothing made either of them happy... I even called my mom and told her no more children for me! Finally, Tracey and I got them outside and in the stroller, and while they both screamed as we walked the neighborhood, they cheered up once we got home and played in the yard.

To counteract all of that, though, I had so many wonderful suprises... a birthday call from my brother-in-law, flowers and wine from a friend, a gift certificate for a massage from another friend, happy birthday calls from my family, two beautiful topiaries for my front porch from my husband and sons, dinner, TWO ice cream birthday cakes, and lots of "pamper me" gifts from an awesome group of friends, and an order for 50 lobsters!! It really was overwhelming... I didn't expect any of it, but I so appreciate all of it. I have really been blessed with wonderful family and friends.

Thanks for making this such a great day!

Pumpkin Patch Trip #3

This morning, I went outside to let Hanna in, only to notice all three of our pumpkins were missing. I walked down the front stairs, and there they were, smashed on my driveway. Someone had thrown them off of my front porch (our house is elevated, so it was like throwing them out of a second-story window) and onto my driveway. While Harris was napping, I took Jackson out with me to clean them up. The poor boy started crying... he had picked one of them out at his school trip to the pumpkin patch and picked one of them out with us, and he was so sad to see his pumpkins in that state. I felt so bad for him that I planned a morning trip to the pumpkin patch to let him pick out another one.

The pumpkin patch trip started out great, and Jackson was excited to be there. He started counting all of the pumpkins until a butterfly caught his attention. He then started chasing the butterflies until he was so tired he could barely walk! As we were paying for the pumpkins, I think that both boys realized how exhausted they were from their lack of sleep the night before, that they both melted down at the end (it was a long drive home!!).

We do have two new pumpkins, though... one for Jackson and one for Harris. But, they will be spending the night in the house with us for the next few nights!!

The Boys

This is the first picture I have gotten with the two boys together in a long time. I'm not sure what is up with Jackson's smile, but this was the only one I could get with them both cooperating!

Bad Mommy

I am a terrible mom! I took Harris to the pediatrician this morning for a weight check (14lbs 13oz... now in the 5th%!), and had her check him out for his cold. Turns out the poor boy has an ear infection! I have been griping about him being fussy all week, and it turns out there is a reason. Now I feel terrible!!

It's funny, though... about 30 minutes after we got back, he started acting more like his old self. He was happy, entertaining himself, and talking a mile a minute. Maybe the threat of going back to the pediatrician changed his attitude!

About his weight, she said he has continued on his growth curve. Yes, he is small, but he is growing just fine along his 5% curve. He is just going to be a peanut like his brother was!

Exhausted

It has been a rough week here. I think Harris might be getting a new tooth, so he has been super-fussy. To top it off, yesterday he came down with some sort of bug, so he is snotty and even fussier. I feel so bad for him, but I am starting to get frustrated and tired of the fussing (which makes me feel guilty... he's just little and can't help it!). The only time he is happy is when he is being held, and I just can't do that all day. I feel bad for poor Jackson who ends up playing by himself for much of the day while I deal with Mr. Fussypants. It has to end soon, right? Hopefully this tooth will pop through soon for him and we can get back to having fun and laughing!

I need my happy baby back!! I miss him!

G. I. Harris

It's official... he is moving! He started the commando crawl about a week ago, and life has changed forever. It is too cute to watch him pull himself around the house. He follows me around everywhere, grabbing at my ankles. What's bad is that he is following me around whining for me to pick him up!! I was so not ready for this... he is growing up way too fast!

Charlestowne Landing

We went to Charlestowne Landing on Saturday morning. They have a small "zoo" called the "Animal Forest". It has animals living in it that would have been living there when the settlers landed here so many years ago. We saw otters, bison, elk, bears and birds. Jackson loved the otters!

Jumping

Jackson loves jumping off anything into his daddy's arms. Thank goodness Jason has always been there to catch him!

Jackson and Mom

Just a couple of pictures of Jackson and me... we have so few of them, as I always seem to be the one behind the camera!

Drinking Fountain

Jackson seems to find the drinking fountains wherever we go. He loves them! He typically comes out soaked down the front of him, but he was creative this time and stayed dry!

Harris

Harris went with us Saturday, but he was a bit under the weather with teething issues, so we didn't get many happy pictures of him... he didn't enjoy the Animal Forest like Jackson did!!

Just a small vent...

I am so tired of people telling me, "You sure do have your hands full!" when I am out with both boys. I agree, but I never know their intent when they say it... does it mean, "I sympathize with you" or "I feel sorry for you" or "Are you crazy for bringing them both to the grocery store?" or "Poor planning on your part!"? Sometimes I whole-heartedly agree with them, but typically I hear it when we are out and both boys are behaving. Maybe I am crazy, but I am going to go nuts if I have to sit around the house all day every day. Not to mention, I feel like it is good to get the boys out for a change of scenery, and it provides an opportunity for me to teach them how to behave when we leave the house.

So, if you see a mom like me out and she looks like she "has her hands full", don't mention that to her... if you must say something, just ask if you can help her in any way!!

Eatin' Peas

I have heard of eating peas with honey on a knife, but never eating peas with an ice cream scoop!

Lunch

We had playgroup at Nancy's house today since the weather was so crummy. It was a great time... the boys all played so well together, and it was so funny to watch the little boys taking in all that the big boys did. They all really enjoyed themselves today, and it was definitely a good break from being home on an overcast day.

Dancing

We had a Dance Party at playgroup today. Jackson, Spencer, DuBose and Fordham all were getting down to some groovy music. Jackson cut out early, but Spencer was a dancing fool!! Here he is teaching DuBose and Fordham some of his dance moves!

Walking

DuBose, a vetran walker, is teaching Fordham the ins and outs of using the walker.

Harris & Mavis

My mom (Nana) and Papa T came this past weekend to help Jason with the boys while I was gone, and they brought Mavis. Harris loved Mavis, and Mavis loved Harris. He pulled at her and watched her, and she licked him and played with him. I loved these pictures, so I had to share!

Mom's Weekend III

I am back from our third Mom's Weekend Away, and I had such a great time!! I went with my good friends Caroline, Nancy, Aileen and Dorothy to Nancy's parents' mountain home. It was absolutely beautiful and the perfect place to relax and enjoy the company of good friends. I love when Jason asks what we did... "Oh, nothing," is my response, and it is really true! We love just to sit and talk, uninterrupted by screaming children or household chores. We always eat well (maybe too well!), talk lots, sleep soundly (and uninterrupted), and laugh hard.

Thanks, Ladies, for such a relaxing and rejuvinating weekend. I am ready for weekend #4!

Thanks, too, Nancy, for providing such a beautiful location!!

Shopping

Caroline and Aileen are picking out treats for their children at OP Taylor's. It is a great toy store... it is 2 stories, and it has room after room of toys. There is a train room, a game room, a puzzle room, etc. I think we all enjoyed picking out toys for our little ones. Jackson lucked out with "Bulgy"... a bus that works with Thomas the Train, and Harris got a cool teether that plays music and vibrates. This would be a great place to Christmas shop!

Eating

Did I mention that we ate well??? We each had a turn to cook a meal, and it was all amazing food! Nancy has gathered all of the recipes from the weekend, and we are going to create a Mom's Weekend Cookbook. Who knows... you might be able to find it on the National Bestsellers List in a few years!

This picture is of me, Caroline and Aileen at Rusty's, an old-time soda fountain, with our milkshakes. Not only was the glass full, there is another full glass of milkshake in the metal cup. I think we were all hurting on the mountainous drive back to the house!!!

Sisterhood of the Crazy Rings

Hee hee... don't ask... I can't tell you!!!

Outta Here!

Tomorrow morning, I am leaving for a Mommies' Weekend!!! I am going with four friends to spend a child-free weekend in the mountains. While I will miss all three of my boys, I am extremely excited for a break. Hopefully, I will come back rejuvinated and ready to be Super-Mom once again.

Good luck this weekend, Jason, and thanks for encouraging me to go! Love you!

Rainbow

Mom said she was tired of looking at my rainy day pictures and that I needed to update my blog. So, here's the opposite of those rainy pictures!

We were all out in the yard yesterday evening, and Jackson started pointing to the sky and saying something we couldn't understand. When we looked up, we instantly understood what he was saying... rainbow! He has never seen a real one, so we were pretty suprised that he spotted and verbalized that there was one right above us. I'm glad he did... it really was a beautiful one!

Poor Hanna

Jackson loves Hanna. LOVES her! He loves to throw his food to her and yell, "Hanna!!" as she leaps for it. He used to get bowls of her food out and dump them on the floor for her and laugh as she ate (we stopped that trick!!). He was lying on her and watching TV the other day. He loves her ears... picking them up, putting them down, picking them up, putting them down.

Here he is being a big boy and "walking" her around the yard. I'm not so sure she really enjoyed it, but he sure did!

Harris & Daddy

I had a good picture of Jason and Harris... just thought I would add it!

In His Genes

He is all male. I think the love of the TV remote lies in their genes. Can you see that big smile hiding behind his paci? He cannot keep his eyes off of it! He reaches for it constantly, and he will even bypass food to get to the remote. I am going to have to break this habit soon to save his future wife!

All Smiles

Enjoy these toothless smiles now... they won't be here much longer! He got tooth #1 last week, and tooth #2 has just about pushed its way up to the surface... maybe just a few more days until it breaks through!

His smiles brighten my day!

Step Stool

Since potty training is going just about nowhere, Jackson's potty has to be good for something!!