Little Moments

There are moments in life you know you are going to be an emotional wreck and then there are moments that sneak up on you.  You know, the ones where tears are rolling down your face and you think you must be nuts, but then again you're a mom so its ok.

Case in point; September and Carsyn's first haircut.  She just looked so big in that chair and was so brave. She didn't bat an eye or shed a tear.

And Hank-sweet baby Hank.  He's grown up so fast.  He's not my cuddly newborn anymore.  He's my little man.  Rolling over like a little champ.

 And when did I get a kid that looks too big for a stroller?? (And 2 going on 13 for that matter)

And Halloween.  Why does this little girl in a Belle dress make me weep like a baby?  She was SO excited to be Belle for the night.  She was so opinionated..refusing to wear a crown.

Our first Halloween as a family of four.  Little princess Belle and Elvis.

So, I guess that's pretty random, but that's how life seems these days.  All of these little moments are occurring and they're all jumbled up in my head.  My kids are going up.  My life is flashing by too fast. I feel like tomorrow Carsyn will be going to prom and Hank will threatening her date.  Maybe its the holiday season, but I'd love to just slow down.

The end of the season

Saturday marked the last game of the football season for the wildcats..PTL.

The hubby and I have been loyal and devout fans- cheering on the cats in the rain and God forbid-even snow, through loss after loss...after loss. This was the first time in ten years we did not go to one single game, but we tailgated at home and dressed the babes in their Saturday blue.

We watched some games at granny and papaw's.

We snuggled at home.

We smiled when there was nothing to smile about.  

Someday Commonwealth, I'll be back in my seats, hopefully cheering on the cats with my two little sidekicks and one big sidekick.  Until then I'll just be soaking up these precious moments...and hoping next season is better :)

So, how did your team do? 

Thankful..

For a happy, healthy, loving family..

For karaoke machines..

For a spirited little chick (even if she doesn't like pictures with momma)..

For an awesome mom and sister..

For a little fella who was barely a blip a year ago and tried cereal for the first time tonight..

Hank is 4 months old

Hank is four months old.  Hold me.  For real.  And on top of all that people swear he looks 6 months.  Thoughts on that?

Hanky-boo (as your sister so affectionately named you), you are quite the little gentleman full of personality.  You laugh, you cry, and most recently, you talk.  Yep, you coo so frequently its just like you have something to say.  The other night it sounded just like you said ma-ma.

You are still my great little sleeper and horrible little napper.  You usually wake between 7:30 and 9:00 and go to sleep around 10:00.  You sleep 9-10 hours in your crib and its quite fantastic.  The hours in between-mercy.  Some days you hardly nap at all. Some days you will nap an hour or 2.  The secret to a happy Hank?? The thumb! Oh how you love it!!

Usually your happiest time of day is in the mornings.  You'll take a 30 minute to an hour nap or just sit in your swing or chair and watch big sister play until 12 or 1. After mommy feeds you then, you become mr grumpy.  I think you're tired and just refuse to sleep.  Some days I can cuddle you to sleep for 2 hours and some days not at all.  After 5 or so you seem to relax a little after you eat again.  You will lay on your play mat or sit in your swing.  Sometimes you take another 30 minute nap on the way home from Rosies or in Daddy's lap when he gets home from work.  You eat again around 8:30 or 9 and immediately go in your crib.  Most nights you go straight to sleep.

Looks like you are a pretty big fella and I'm guessing you weigh 15 or 16 lbs.  We'll see at the Dr in a few weeks. You are currently wearing size 9 month clothing though some 6 month still fit.

Your favorite thing to do is watch big sister.  We have found when she's in the room you're happier.  You love TV also.  You LOVE chewing on your hands and everyone says you're likely getting a tooth!

Chew, chew, chew. Drool, drool, drool.

Hank, you are momma's cuddle buddy and daddy's football watching pal.  We love you so very much!

Just Another Reason to Love the Internet

I really love blogging and the world its opened up to me.  If you read my blog you know I've made friends through blogging that I know will be in my life forever.  I LOVE that, but I also love the blog world for introducing me to neat products like this:

I believe every blogger in America has one of these, right?  Do you still use yours?  I do!! I always find if I write something down it gets done.

Erin introduced me to Ashley at AB Designs and I became obsessed.  She just whipped me up a new blog header and its the cutest ever.  She's also designed both of Carsyn's party invitations and I eagerly await her iPad/iphone download every month.  Do you have yours?

And pinterest too.  I mean, what did we do before pinterest?  After this adorable gal introduced me to the Murfee bowtie I did a little research and ran into this article and promptly pinned.

Source: blog.lillypulitzer.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Did you know there were so many ways to wear your Murfee?  Do you want to go out and buy every color now?  Yeah, me too :)  I normally just wrap mine around my neck and pull the ends down if I'm not wearing under a jacket:

But, here's the #3:

What do you think?  Are you a fan of the bowtie, or do you not want to be wrapped up like a present?

Its also pretty neat you can go to youtube and find a tutorial on any hair or makeup idea you've seen.  I think there are about 1, 000 smoky eye tutorials using the naked palette and I've probably watched 100.  Don't think I've got it down though, makeup is not my thing.  I'm lucky to put my full face on a couple of times a week.  I do avidly stalk the MM & L Show on youtube and attempt to do some of their looks.  Do you remember pull throughs?  When I saw their recreation I knew I had to try it.  I tried to jump on the sock bun bandwagon, but I just have too many layers in my hair and not the bone structure..sigh.  I wish I could wear my hair neatly pinned back, but I always need some hair out to frame my face, so this "dirty pull through" was perfect.

This was my first attempt.  Again, thoughts??

So, what do you love on the internet?? What am I missing?

Nashville

When my sista from another mista had her baby boy (albeit 10 days after Hank's arrival) I jotted down in the trusty ECLP meet Griffin! for the month of October.  I picked October because baby boy would be (hopefully) sleeping well and on a schedule and Rosie was free to go with us.

Let me first say I started blogging shortly after finding out I was pregnant with Carsyn for a primary focus of documentation.  I stumbled upon this little blog and quickly started following because we were southern blondes with like values and almost exact same due dates.  Little did we know our first babes would end up sharing a birthday. We turned into email chat buddies, hey tell besties, and last February IRL buds.  Our friendship is simply the best thing that has resulted from this little southern blonde blog.

We got into town Sunday and shopped awhile and checked into the Opryland.  Carsyn is such a little shopper!

Laura and I had planned a dinner without the kids and though I left a fussy baby boy and whiny toddler with my mom I enjoyed every second.  In fact the times we got together we were so busy catching up and chasing toddlers we didn't get one.single.picture together.  Oh well, that just gives me an excuse to go back soon. (BUT, Laura vows to come to the sticks someday, so we'll see)

Monday we met Laura, Grayson, and Griffin at a park and I finally got to feast my eyes on this snoozy little prince.

Look at those little skinny legs! I die!

Our wild toddlers ran around the park enjoying the beautiful weather.

Mom and I shopped more on Monday afternoon and explored the hotel Monday night. Carsyn loved looking at the water and Hank was trying to take it all in.

Laura suggested we visit the Factory for shopping and dining and we ventured there on Tuesday.

Carsyn was so in love with all of the fall decor and pumpkins-girl loves her some pumpkins!  She just kept wanting us to take her picture.

She posed..

And posed..

And posed some more..

And Mr Hank slept through all of the excitement.

Traveling with 2 kiddos is a little challenging, but we had so much fun.  I can't wait to go back!

A 4 Yr Old and a Couple of Virgos

(Truth- I could have just labeled this catchup photo dump, but that's boring.  I try not to be boring).

August was a busy month.  Baby boy had just made his debut, my nephew, Maddox, turned four and the hubby and I both celebrated our birthday.  My notebook crashed and I just couldn't get some important events documented.

So, a few months and an iMac later I'm ready to catchup.

We had Maddox's baseball party at mom and dad's.  This was my favorite theme yet and the kids had so much fun!

We went out for barbecue for my birthday and came back to my house for cake.

Carsyn loves her pops!