FAME!

This weekend was a great weekend!  Hatch was able to do one of the things he’s always dreamed of, and I got to watch!  Hatch was filmed with the Sklar Brothers for a new show the History Channel is doing.  We’re not sure when it will air—maybe the fall, or maybe not until 2012.  Fear not, we’ll keep you posted.

Here’s Hatch with Randy and Jason Sklar.  As you may expect, Hatch was quite funny.  He played himself, so he didn’t have any lines to memorize . . . it was his dream come true!

Randy, Hatch, Jason, and me (the groupie)

Getting his mic set up by the sound guy

A special visitor popped by the shoot.  Adorable!  Mr. P’s Dad’s car may have made it into one of the scenes, too.  Both Jason and Randy have little ones, and they were so sweet with Charlie and Anna!  They didn’t get to meet the tornado that is our boys, but they heard all about them!

Nonna and Pop Pop had our trio so that we could go to a sweet friend’s wedding . . .

And, then we hit the town for a night out as an early anniversary celebration—8 years!  It was LOVELY.

Also, a quick OVERHEARD:

W:  “Daddy, are you a woman?”

***

W: “Yes, sir, Mommy!”

***

H:  “Are you a ma’am or are you a sir, Daddy?”

D:  “I am a sir.  You say ‘sir’ to a man.”

H:  “Is mommy a man?”

D:  “No, you need to go to bed.  I am a man, and you are a man, and William is a man.  Go to bed.”

H:  “I not a man.  Me a boy!”

***

W:  “Mommy, did you flush the potty?”

Me:  “Yes”

W:  “Good job, Mommy!  Good girl!”

***

W: (to our friend Caley, who is married and expecting her first baby—hoorah!)  Are you a grown up?  Who is your Daddy?  Why you no live with your Daddy?  Are you a grown up?

***

This conversation happens about 10 times a day:

H and/or W:  “Das (that’s) yucky and dirty.  I no yike it.  Das yucky.  AND DIRTY.”

If you offend them, be prepared for them to call you both Yucky and Dirty.  It hurts.  Trust me.

***

And, let the record show that about a week ago Hudsey dropped his paci behind the radiator.  Crisis of all crises, but I did not retrieve said paci.   It was stuck.  There were tears.  We walked over and peered through the bars of the radiator more than once to tell paci Goodbye.  There were more tears.  Hudsey made it through one nap without it, and then he was up lots in the night in need of a paci (and W was sick, so I gave in) . . . so, we kindly offered him a pale pink paci of Anna’s from when she was tiny.  Huds agreed that it was very nice of sister to share her paci with him.  He would talk about how he was a big boy and didn’t need a paci, but then still insist on “needing” it at bedtime.  This past week, he would lay the paci beside his head “in case me need it.”  This went on for days until Friday morning when he handed me his paci and said “Me all done.  Me give Anna her paci back.  Me a BIG BOY.”  So far, we are on night 3 of Hudson without a paci (although I am told he may have had it for a bit last night while we weren’t home) . . . but, still.  And, William still has his . . . but he knows he’s next.  We’ll see what happens!

Treinta

It happened:  I am 30. 

I laid in bed the night before my birthday, and Hatch and I reminisced about my pre-30-panic.  It happened about four years ago:  I desperately wanted to have a baby, and I was very much not pregnant.  Based on what my doctors were saying, pregnancy was not going to be in my near future.  I cried and cried about how I had “planned” to have 3 babies by the time I was 30 and that there was no way that would ever happen. 

The morning of my 30th birthday, my boys told me that they loved me and wished me a Happy Day.  Sister smiled and clapped as she woke up, as usual.  Then, William threw up and Anna became hysterical because I couldn’t feed her and care for her brother.  So, I called in my mama (who, by the way, I will just say, is the one who should be celebrated on my birthday.  She brought me into this world and has played a tremendous role in my life and my being here at 30 all in one piece and all!)  who dropped everything and came to take care of two of my three, so I could take my sick boy to the doctor for the second year in a row—on my birthday. 

We can now look back on that night of my pre-30-panic and laugh—we laugh at my hysteria and my random self-imposed timeline for my life, we laugh at how my husband continued to love me and stay married to me despite my utter insanity, and we laugh at how Jesus has blessed us in ways that seemed completely impossible—blessing us abundantly despite my arbitrary, crazed “plan.” 

My birthday celebrating started in June when my in-laws so graciously swooped in to help da-Da-DA so that I could go and be with friends . . . first in Birmingham, and then on the Gulf Coast.  Oh, how lovely it was.  I miss my friends (both those that have moved to Birmingham—and elsewhere!, and my UVA roommates) so very much!  It was a treat to be with the Garth House girls again for several days in a row—we just pick right back up where we left off, and we keep on moving.  I love it.  I don’t have many pictures from our trip, as it wasn’t as much of a picture taking trip as it was a laying on the beach and eating and drinking and sleeping and talking kind of trip.  (someone please tell me that I can go back there again very soon.)

In case you are thinking, oh, how cute is shannon’s dress!?  Let me just go ahead and inform you that this dress, along with 99% of the things that I wear that are both fashionable and cute, belongs to my dear friend Allison (3rd from the left).  She is great at sharing, and I love her for it!

Meg, Summer, and I all left our baby girls in the care of our husbands to be together for the weekend.  Meg’s little love, Ridley, was born in November, and Summer’s sweet girl, Anna Charles, was born in January.  Ridley, Anna Charles, and my Anna have yet to be together at the same time, but I’m pretty sure they’ll rule the roost before we know it! 

The night of my birthday, Hatch and I went to a party for some friends and then went out to a very tasty dinner.  I love going on dates with my hubby, so this was just perfect!

I got a picture with sweet Sister, wearing one of my old dresses, before we headed out the door!

And, this was our self-taken self-portrait on our way to the party! (Hatch kept telling me there was going to be no way my face would be in the picture.  Ha!)

On Saturday, the tiny ones took me to lunch at our favorite pizza and sub shop, and then we had a very special treat:  we went to get ice cream!  When we walked in, the worker there told us that we could taste as many flavors as we wanted, and I thought that Hudson’s head was going to spin off of his body in excitement!  It was quite difficult for the boys to make a decision, but William went with banana (so did his mama—Hatch is certain that between our food preferences and talking abilities, W is my mini-me) and Hudsey chose strawberry.  Anna had some banana, too, and she loved it, of course.  Going to ice cream with my babes was one of the highlights of my day!

Digging in!

When I woke up on Saturday morning, William came and crawled into bed with me, and he said “How was your birthday day, Mommy?”  And, “How was your cake?”  I had to break the news to him that I had not yet had cake . . . but, fear not, Sugie and Bumps came over that very night with dinner and my favorite Banana Pudding in tow!

Spending my birthday with my husband and my babies was so sweet for me.  I love them dearly and they made me feel so very special!  And, while turning 30 may make me feel a tad old, now that I actually have 3 children 2.5 and under, it does feel nice to be able to say that I am now, officially, thirty!

making history

so, I received an email last week from my husband that said something like this:

some people from The History Channel are coming by next week to film in front of our house . . . I hope you are not going to kill me.

It turns out that a friend of a friend works for the History Channel, and they were looking for a suburban home in our area to use to film the start of the first episode of a new series for The History Channel.  So, today was our big day.  We feel so famous!

we shipped our boys off to Sugie’s house, since they can neither be trusted to be quiet nor be trusted to not destroy things around them, and we think it was a good call in the end!

Setting up to shoot . . . let me just say that these people work hard to provide us normal folk with entertainment!

Talking with “the talent” . . . Jason and Randy Sklar who are hosting the show.

The Sklar brothers walked out of our front door in one of the scenes, so while they were between takes, we would visit and sit in the AC.  They both have little ones and adored Little Miss.  Jason asked to hold her, and I could not keep myself from photographing the moment!  This is Anna’s first encounter with anyone famous!

We had a fun morning—what a wild change of pace for us around here!  Hatch may have his ten seconds of fame on Saturday when they are back in our area again—we’ll see what happens!

Anna Kathryn’s Baptism!

At the beginning of June, we had the honor of baptizing little Anna.  It was such a sweet time for our family to reflect on God’s goodness to us in blessing us with Anna Kathryn.  She is such a joy to us.  Our friend and pastor, Matt Purdy, baptized Anna.  One of the thing that struck me most this time was looking out at our friends and family in the congregation who were taking a vow to love and care for our daughter and, specifically, point her to Jesus.  We feel richly blessed by our family and church family—they love and care for us and our little ones so well!

As our pastor said, “We don’t believe this sign of the covenant saves her just like circumcision didn’t save children in Old Testament, but we do believe it’s a visible reminder to us (and to Anna as she looks back) and a pledge of God’s promise to save and cleanse, thru Christ, everyone who puts their trust in Him.”

My Nana gave Anna her beautiful cross, and Anna wore the same dress that my sister and my cousins and I all wore when we were baptized.  Oh, so sweet!

Hatch (who wrangled both of our boys at once in front of the congregation during the baptism) and I took vows to care for Little Miss, too.  This vow brought us both to tears as we thought about all three of our sweet little ones:

Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before her a godly example, that you will pray with and for her, that you will teach her the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

Sister had a very busy morning and needed a nap before lunch. 

She quickly perked up and had a long chat with A’ Monny to fill her in on all of the happenings around here!

Anna loved looking at her Great Uncle Fred!

And, with our Nana!

Four Generations!  (The Guest of Honor was not into our photo shoot!)

Unkie was in town from Char-la-stin for Anna’s special day, too!

Acts 2:39: For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.

I adore this picture of Anna Kathryn with her Auntie Kathryn!

We had lots of family there celebrating Miss Anna with us!  I’m still collecting pictures from other people’s cameras, so more to come!  Daddy took a few pictures of Little Miss with me before nap time began . . .

Before long, Sister was a snuggled up in her swaddle with her lovie and paci.  This was one of her last days in the swaddle!  Now she snuggles up with her blankie and she giggles when we give her her lovie—precious!

William conked out, too, with his tiny duck in his hand.

But, someone else (“our very own muppet,” as his father says,) refused to nap.  Settling down to rest is not his strong suit!

Anna’s baptism was such a wonderful time together as a family and a sweet way to celebrate Jesus’ provision and immense goodness in our lives!  Thank you, Lord!

my tiny help

william had strep throat on friday and needed his mama’s attention.  anna was screaming her chubby cheeks off because she needed her breakfast, so I called in my faithful assistant.  Hudsey can feed a baby (for a minute), but he cannot yet blog . . . we’re working on it.

Overheard

We’ve entered into a new stage with our boys where their curiosity equals their persistence. It’s hilarious!

Here are a few of our recent conversations:

“Lightening bugs don’t talk.  They blink.”

“Do lightening bugs lay on da ground?”

about Anna:  “I keept she safe.”

Every night as part of their Lets-Think-of-One-Million-Things-To-Do-So-We-Don’t-Have-To-Go-To-Bed-Yet Routine the boys want a “Big Squeeze-Tiny Squeeze.”  When they do the “tiny squeeze” they make a tiny little mouse squeak!  EEk!

“Mommy, what was your walk called??”

“why?  Why?  WHY?  WHY MOMMY?”

“I kiss she.  I give she a kiss!”

After having a week with Uncle Bubbles, the boys thought it was really fun to make up new names for themselves and everyone else.  This is the one that has stuck:  “Me Bobby da Pen.”  or  “Me Bobby da Penny.  You Yarry (Larry).  Ha ha ha!”

++++++

And, some potty talk.  Brace yourselves:

“Me gonna poop all day yong (long).”

And, these boys sing CONSTANTLY. They make up songs . . . Today, I am pretty sure I heard a rousing rendition, sung to the tune of Holy, Holy, Holy, of “Unnnclleeeeeeeeeeeeee JUUDAAHHHHHH! I am goin’ POOOOOOOOOOOTY. Froggy, froggy, froggy froog-ggy POT-TY.” And, yes, our CD will be released in August and you can pay $19.99 to have such amazing tunes playing in the comfort of your own home—or bathroom, as the case may be.

“WOW, Weeyum!  Wow!  No tinkle in your chair, Weeyum.  Wow.  Tell Mommy you need da tinkle, Weeyum.”

“It won’t be loud.  That potty won’t be loud.  I flush it.  I no flush it.  I stand out here.”

“You poop, Weeyum?  WOW!  GOOD JOB, WEEYUM!”

“Why me get an M&M?  Why we celebrate me?  Why we celebrate me, Mommy?” **(the background on this is the boys each get two skittles or M&Ms whenever either of them poops on the potty—we all celebrate together when it happens, so everyone gets candy!  They get really excited to “celebrate me!”)

and, my favorite:

{in a really deep voice}  WOW!  {and in a really high squeaky voice} ME POOPED!

And, with that, a GOOD NIGHT!