We've been having fun!

Hank and daddy bonding while mamma tries out her new Valentines Day camera!

The weather has FINALLY been nice enough for Avery to give the old bike a ride or 12!

We also got to play lots of baseball and practiced hitting right and left handed because Avery noticed Daddy does it different.

This picture cracks me up...little orphan Avery.  He looks so pitiful even though he was having so much fun in the tub last night. 

I LOVE when my babies sleep late.  This little punkin snoozed until I woke him up at 11 Saturday morning.  (old friends did you notice who is still standing guard in my bed?)

11 months 1 week, heaven help me

I am, as always, a little behind with my Hanky Panky update.  Little punkin is now 11 months old.  I can't stand it.  How on earth is he almost a year old?  I can't believe that he is so big, or that this time last year I was hugely preggers chasing an almost 2 year old and wondering what it would be like to have 2 kids. 
Hanky is still his same lovable self.  He always has a smile for you!  I can't believe how fast he flies across the hardwood floors doing his big boy crawl, but I do miss his army crawl it was so cute.  He is also pulling up on everything and cruising here and there.  I don't think he will be walking anytime soon, but I guess I could be wrong.  Hanky is always babbling.  He says mama, dada and something that sounds a lot like Avery.  They are never on command, but you can tell he does say them meaning the right things.  He also says hiya all the time which I love.  Hanky had a horrible cold the snow week and we are so glad he is breathing easier and feeling better.  Life is good for our 11 month old boy.  I think I will just freeze him at this moment in time!

Happy Valentines Day!

We SURE had a GREAT Valentines!

We hope you did, too.  

Sick day Snow day what begins with S?

Snuggling

Smoke breathing all begin with S

 Scarf borrowing

 Snow angelS

Skipping in the Snow dayS thoSe begin with S

Super bowl fun dayS

Standing in the Snow dayS

 Strong muScleS 

 Stretching muScleS

dancing muScleS and ShoeS



thoSe all end in S!

5 Question Friday, on Saturday!

First thanks for all the good advice.  I appreciate your kind words, too.  The good news is God answers prayers.  I always prayed I would have a child with a lot of personality, not boring and wimpy like I was....Avery is anything but boring and wimpy!!!
Now on to the fun stuff!

1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?

Ummm, that is tough.  I really like CitySquare or Central Dallas Ministries as they used to be called.  It is a great organization truly based in helping homeless and poor with short term needs and then equipping them to get to a better place in life. 
CareCorps our church benevolence ministry is really great, too.  It is simple and straight forward, food for people who are hungry and a little monetary help when we can.
2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?
If I am not working they are fine, but nurses don't get snow days so I tend to find them a little stressful.  Plus I am a warm weather girl all the way, cold is just never super exciting to me. 
3. What talent did you wish you had and why?
I would like to sing.  I know everyone always says that but it is handy.  No one likes to feel like they are punishing the room full of 2 year olds that has to listen to them sing on Sunday mornings, or your own kids on a much more regular basis for that matter.
I also might say acting.  Not really acting, but I am an open book there is no question about how I feel about things.  I am terrible at faking nice when I should it is always so obvious I am faking or embarrassed or whatever emotion I might wish to keep private. It would be nice to be better at just being even keeled when the situation calls.
4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?
I can't believe I am saying it but I guess news.  I have turned into an NPR dork.  I got tired of never being able to contribute to an adult conversation that wasn't about Brittney or Taylor.  But, I do still love my celebrity news as well.
5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)
If it counts as a cocktail I am a margarita girl all the way!
Otherwise, I want Diet Dr Pepper!

Ughh

Sometimes I think I am a great mom, sometimes not so much. 

Yesterday was a not so much day for sure.  Poor Avery had a HORRIBLE day at school.  He was defiant and disobedient all day long, even got sent to the office.  HOLY COW!  I have NEVER been sent to the office in my life.  Little mister definitely missed the memo that we are pleasers at our house.  As his teachers are very sweetly trying to tell my child was heinous I am literally sweating with shame...  He managed a "sad face" as I sent him to hug his teachers and to say he was sorry and would try harder next week.  But, I have to say he didn't seem all that sad.  Good grief!

So, I called my Aunt Susan Jo who has a degree in Early Childhood Education and teaches pre-K for some advice.  Since she also happens to be one of Avery's top 3 favorite people on the planet (no, I am not on that list and I don't care one bit) and the feeling is mutual I knew she could say things in a way I could hear.  After a few tears I pulled it together and she made me feel much better about the fact that he is a normal 2 almost 3 year old boy. 
Aunt Susan Jo also gave me some good points about how to be more consistent and clear in our expectations.  I think I will also head to the bookstore for some good parenting books.  What books do y'all like or not like?  What tips do you have?  HELP!  I love my little prince, and he is usually such a sweet, fun boy.  I want to help him be the best little boy he can be at school for his teachers, his classmates and himself. 

And just in case you weren't sure if I was not winning mother of the year yesterday I also let Hanky fall and get a fat lip, he didn't even make it to a year... 

Thank goodness today is a new day! 

Seriously, tell me what resources you recommend please!!!

Double Edged Milestone

Hanky Panky is growing and changing by leaps and bounds right now.  It seems like he is daily showing us a new trick and I love it!  It is so fun to see the teaching we attempt to do pay off, and I am again amazed at all his little brain just learns.  God made babies so resourceful. 

I have to say that being a super good puller upper is KILLING me though.  While it is precious that he can do it, it is wrecking sleep!   I can't think of another more disruptive milestone.  A time that would usually mean rolling over to find a passy now means standing up in bed to whine and carry on.  Luckily, he has also learned to clap, shake his head no when you ask him if he is a girl and does an excellent fake cough when you ask him how he's feeling.  I also love watching him motor after Avery in a full crawl, no more of that tiny baby army crawl business.  Things are rapidly changing at our house, I LOVE IT, but it is so sad too!  My babies are turning in to big boys. 
Avery is doing his fair share, too.  He is so funny with what he says.  Yesterday we were getting ready for church and he asked me if there was going to be a bounce house, I said no and he said "well, maybe we can work on that mamma."
He also said "Oh dear" like a 72 year old and buried his head in his hands when Michael told him he only had 1 leftover scone for breakfast before school this morning.  I think he is 2 going on 32.