Summer Reading Party

Andrew had been anxiously awaiting this party. He has talked about it for weeks (and was actually a lot happier than he looks in this picture).


I think it was all he remembered and more. They received little 3-ring binder pencil cases from Comcast which were truly the highlight (now they were Comcast workers with their tools and they returned home and immediately set to work making "Men at Work" and "Caution" signs).



They each got to choose a book. Matthew picked a Clifford Animal Sounds since we already have a copy of Mr. Brown Can Moo. Can You? (and I'm not sure I can bear reading it anymore). Andrew chose a Henry & Mudge book as did Stephen even though I tried my best to talk them into choosing different stories; they rejected Frog & Toad.





They each got a small cup of Coke and popsicles from Mayfield but we skipped the terrifying temporary tattoos. Maybe next year.

Matthew at 18 Months

My sister passed along this most ridiculous outfit that I just had to put to my child. It made me laugh to see such a wee little man in his suspenders and tie. And what's truly amazing is that his outfit stayed put all Sunday morning.

The little stud-muffin went for his 18 month checkup today, and I am proud to report that he weighed in at a whopping 19 lb. 12 oz. After just telling the above-said sister that I hoped he had reached 18 lbs., I didn't believe the nurse and had her weigh him again. He gained 3 lbs. since the end of May - guess there's something to his sausage, flax oil, marshmallow diet.

And as he was protesting the administration of his scheduled vaccinations, I discovered that he has erupted two new molars to join his seven other pearly whites. Now he can really start to attack the meat!

Third Time's a Charm

After two failed attempts, this load of towels finally made it into the dryer before smelling sour (tells you a lot about our busy week).

Lunch Alfresco

We love to feed the ants our lunch leftovers (and I enjoy not sweeping the floor).

Accomplishments

This week has proven monumental for each of our children.

Matthew has climbed to new heights, practicing on the steps and disappearing into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

He also spent a good fifteen minutes perfecting the art of stepping onto our porch from the dining room (2-3 inches!), announcing each time, "I did it!" He's also discovered marshmallows in the kitchen cabinet.

Stephen appears to have traded in his expletives "Oh, poop!" and "Poop & penis!" and "Poop and pee in your pants!" for the more socially acceptable "Aw, man!" delivered in a perfect Southern drawl.

And Andrew, at least once, managed to flush the toilet, turn off the bathroom lights, and shut the door without being reminded.

What will next week hold?

Heartburn & Headaches & Leg Cramps, Oh My!

Just because I've never experienced "morning sickness" doesn't mean my pregnancies have been a bed of roses.

I loved being pregnant with Andrew. I worked the first 3 months and then we moved and finding a temporary job was pointless. So I planned and napped and watched way too much Baby Story on TLC.

I assumed it would be the same with Stephen though I failed to take into account caring for a toddler. I was a little more fatigued and hot the second time around, but it was still fun.

With Matthew, not so much. From the week after Labor Day until his birth at the end of January (and actually a few weeks afterwards) at least one person (and often more than one, including the pregnant mom) was sick. I gave birth with a horrible sinus infection that left one side of my face numb and me unable to breathe.

The Lord has been extremely gracious this time around (either that or the old adage is true: "There's no rest for the wicked"). I've had a lot more energy and certainly felt a lot better than when I was carrying Matthew which is a blessing considering the havoc that can be wreaked by three kids aged 5 and under.

Yes, I have to remind myself not to stretch my legs out straight in the morning for fear of cramps; I've gone to leaving the Tylenol beside my sink because I need it so often; and heartburn comes creeping up throughout the day. But what a joy to feel the kicks and thumps of this precious little child.

No A/C in July

By choice.

Some strange weather pattern has brought us unseasonably cool temperatures for July so we threw open the windows and doors and enjoyed the fresh air.

It is true that the Lord won't give us more than we can bear. This preggo lady was just about to lose heart in the heat & humidity while several people had the nerve to remark to me lately about the "cooler summer". Don't know where they were for the couple of weeks with highs pushing 100; I certainly don't call that cool.

But to wake up to 60 in the morning with a high of only 83 with low humidity has been just the thing for me. Perfect!

Unlike this group of cousins.

They can't claim perfection but they're awfully cute and got along reasonably well (once "The Train" disappeared).

Our Week

We visited the world's fattest raccoon at the Chattanooga Zoo. I actually said something to one of the zookeepers about the large animal, and he said that she was on a diet because of her size. A few minutes later another keeper arrived with a scale; she weighed in at a whopping 30 pounds, 2 ounces (larger than Stephen). As a reward for her cooperation, she received potato chips (hmmm, maybe she's being weighed too much!).

Today we visited Rock Point Books for storytime with the Chattanooga Firefighters.

This is our good friend and wonderful babysitter Meg modeling the firman's gear.

The boys enjoyed climbing into the truck. I'm sure visions of flames danced through their heads.

We joined Doug for lunch at Sticky Fingers - bbq to go around.

Matthew gnawed on a pickle. (He's got Mosolgo blood in him for sure).

The Name Game

It seems that most aspects related to pregnancy, birth and child rearing elicit strong opinions. The choosing of a name for the young babe is no exception.

Disclaimer: the views expressed below are none other than my own opinion and certainly are not written as law; they are the guidelines I follow in choosing names but have no bearing on the names chosen by any of my faithful readers (all 5 of them).

1. No Single Syllables. I don’t like single syllable names (no offense Kay, Graham, Wes or Doug). The only possible explanation for this is that I think I remember my mother making some comment about how dogs respond better to 2 syllable names (although what this has to do with childrearing, I don’t know). That said, Stephen does have a single-syllable middle name but it’s not what he goes by so it’s okay.

2. No Alliteration. While there is a great deal of rhyming and alliteration in general conversation around our house, I don’t care for the sing-songiness of matching names. Therefore we have eliminated Hank, Henry, Honoria, and Helena.

3. Siblings Names Should Be Similar. I don’t think Marcus or LaToya, Emilio or Guineviere would go to well with the boys.

4. Old-Fashioned Is Always In Style. We haven’t named our children Biblical names out of any spiritual calling; we simply like old-fashioned names. They are easy to recognize, pronounce, and spell (I will admit, however, that in the week following Stephen’s birth, I spelled his name 4 different ways). In addition, the frugal and practical side of me thinks of those cute little monogrammed stickers I had (and still have) as a child or the clearance Christmas ornaments that my mom was able to find for all the grandkids a few years ago; I don’t think she saw any that said “Jon Benet.”

5. Gender Specific Names! If by some twist of fate we should have a daughter, I want her to have an emphatically clear girl’s name; and, on the flip side, that rules out Ashley, Beverly, and Tracy for boys.

6. Call Them By Their Name. I want to make sure the first name on the birth certificate is what we call the child. I don’t want said son to constantly have to correct people and say, “Actually I go by….” Also, we don’t shorten the kids to Andy, Steve, or Matt (that would violate rule #1).

7. Consider Nicknames and Initials. I don’t think we have one of those last names that could really spell a “bad word” but it’s still worth thinking of as is the possibility of teasing by other children (“Crazy Daisy,” for example).

So what will we name this next one? We’ve got 12 more weeks to decide, but knowing our history, we can limit our choices to male names (though I’ll hang on to my favorite girl names just in case).

Boys at Play

Digging in the rocks and dirt,

shooting enemies with invisible guns,

climbing trees like a monkey,

running like a wild man

before escaping indoors to supposedly use the potty

but really be discovered 30 minutes later reading a book.

Five Hamill Boys

Testosterone was flowing freely. The Hamill cousins used us as a rendezvous spot for the grandparents so we had a house full of boys (only Jackson was missing as he stayed in VA). They had a fabulous time together, staying up late to catch lightening bugs (a first for our boys 'cause they're always asleep before dark) and rising early for lessons on the intricacies of Star Wars and clone troopers.

Here are some highlights from our trip to the Pumpkin Patch. What a great playground!

Mooooove Over for Mayfield

"World's Best Ice Cream" was calling to us and we knew we just had to stop.

Who can resist wearing red hair nets that tend to slip & flop?

And for kissing Miss Maggie, you get a cold treat.

So many choices, now what will it be?

For the momma and eldest, two mint chocolate chips,

and for the youngsters, two cherry pops.

Faces from the Fourth

Camera, camera in my hand, who's the silliest in the land?

I think the award definitely goes to Stephen who seemed to have consumed some contraband Pixie Sticks before heading to the CSO Pops! concert last night at Coolidge Park. He was especially wound up and in rare form, but finally (about a minute before the fireworks ended), he declared, "I will be good, Momma!"