Some Pictures

We are back home from the wedding. It was beautiful and so fun to see friends that we don't get to see that much. Hattie did a fantastic job considering the long drive and staying up later than usual. She's napping now, hopefully catching up on some sleep, so I thought I'd post a few of my favorite pictures from the wedding.

This one's my favorite, so I'll post it first. My babe and my baby:


They had a chocolate fountain at the wedding with these big long pretzel sticks - a huge hit with Hattie as you can see by the chocolate on her face and the pretzel in her hand.


I learned something new about Hattie this weekend. She loves to dance, and she LOVES watching others dance. We let her roam around pretty freely at times since there were quite a few kids, and half the time she would go to the middle of the dance floor with all of the adults and watch them dance and dance along with them. At one point she even got on the floor like she was break-dancing. It was pretty funny. There were lots of great dancers at the wedding - so fun to watch!


The three of us. Not the best picture of me, but I have a good reason! I had to get ready in the hotel in the dark while Hattie napped. So all things considering, it turned out o.k., I guess. Sean sure did look handsome!


Well, better go unpack and relax some while I have the chance. It was so good to see everyone and all of the new beautiful babies that several of our friends have had in the last few months. There is a baby boom going on! We are all a blessed bunch!

And I'll have to post a picture of the bride and groom later. Hopefully my father-in-law took one. Shame on me for not getting one, but I was seriously busy chasing after an 18 month old most of the time.

The End of a Great Week!

I've had the best week with Hattie this week. It was our first full week of no sickness in the house. It was fabulous! She was back to her charming, funny self. It was a dream! The week that a stay-at-home mom dreams of! Now if I could just do something about the morning sickness and constant fatigue. No, I am happy to have that, too!!! :0)

One of Sean's closest friends, Josiah, is getting married tomorrow. I am so excited for him and his bride to be. Sean and Josiah have been friends for so long, and he really is such a godly, great guy, and Cindy seems so sweet and is just radiant. I love weddings anyways, but this one will be extra special!

It'll be Hattie's first wedding to attend and her first time staying with us in a hotel since she was 4 months old. I'm a little worried about that.....but it'll only be for one night, so how bad can it be, right? Maybe I shouldn't ask that!

I found the cutest dress for her at a resale shop a while back to wear to the wedding. I paid $7 for it, and the lady who owns the store assured me that I got a bargain. I think her exact words were, This is like a hundred dollar dress. It's really pretty, but I am shocked at how much money people spend on baby clothes! They just grow out of them so fast.

The dress I'll be wearing is borrowed from my bestest bud, Christie. Luckily I was able to find something in her closet that I can squeeze into. I tried the dress on last night, showed Sean, and asked him, Do I look pregnant in this or just fat? His reply, I don't know. NOT THE CORRECT ANSWER!!!! I am just in the very bloated, unattractive phase of pregnancy right now. I don't feel good. My skin is broken out, and it's a mystery if I had one too many donuts or if I'm pregnant. You know what I mean. That in between stage. You're probably wondering how I can be there already since I'm only 2 months pregnant. Well, this is #2 for me, and it is true that you start showing sooner the second time around. Atleast that's what I keep telling myself!

So I'm hoping to get some great pictures of Hattie in her designer dress, and Sean will be in a tux since he's in the wedding. I just love seeing him in a tux, especially when it's across the room. I don't know why, but he seems more handsome across the room.....okay that sounds bad, but you know what I mean...... :0).

So here's hoping that the end of our great week will be.......even greater!?!?!

{18 months}

At 18 months, the best adjective I can think of to describe Hattie is talkative. Energetic is a close second, but my little Hattie Ruth can talk and talk and talk. Sean and I are really often amazed by the words and phrases that come out of her mouth.



Some of her phrases that have developed in the past month or two are:
1.) Jesus loves me.
2.) Goodness gracious!
3.) Mommy, hold you. when she wants me to hold her
4.) Mommy coming soon. when she doesn't know where I am
5.) Go nigh-nigh, baby. She's gonna be such a bossy big sister! I can already tell.
6.) Don't like it. She shakes her head and says this to foods she refuses to eat which is becoming the norm these days.
7.) Watch Elmo! Yes, her newest obsession is Elmo.

I need to be better about listing things she's saying because I've been lazy about it; I'm trying to use this blog as an extended baby book for Hattie since hers ended at 12 months.



Another big milestone this month is that she learned to suck from a straw or maybe it's just that she was finally exposed to her first juice box. It was pretty funny, too. She just put her little mouth around the straw and sucked away, like she's been drinking from a straw for forever. You go girl!



Hattie's also refined her ability to say no! to everything you ask her. I know this is a normal toddler thing, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it! It can be really cute and funny, but it's a little power struggle that can get outta hand pretty quickly, too.

Hattie is also at what I hope is her peak of being a mama's girl. She has become very clingy with me. The other night Sean said, It's like you're her security blanket. Bingo. That's exactly what I am. I do love that she loves me SO MUCH, but it comes with its own set of challenges when I am trying to leave the house solo or when Sean tries to do things for her. It's like she thinks Mommy's way is the only right way. I know this time won't last forever, though, and I'm sure I'll look back on it fondly when she's a teenager and only wants to be with her friends.

I can't believe my baby is officially a year and a half old today!

Ugh....

Well, now Hattie has croup. She got one whole day between being sick with a stomach virus and croup to be healthy. My poor baby. This year is not being kind to her so far. I don't know where she is picking up all of these germs!?!?! We haven't really taken her out since she got that stomach virus, and that's been since last Friday.

I had a moment of self pity today. I am tired of seeing my baby so sick. I am tired of sleepless nights filled with sporadic wakings from my over-tired sickling who can't get comfortable. I have no energy left. Then my thoughts went to those parents who have children with chronic illnesses and diseases, and I had my fill of humble pie for the day. God bless these parents and their babies!

Hattie's been sick for a week now, but she will get well again, and I am a blessed mama to have that as a comfort during this time.

It's 2008, Baby

And we have had a rough start. Our house has been plagued by a wretched virus. Hattie and I are finally feeling better after both being sick for about 4 days each, but now Sean is sick. It's been pretty miserable around these parts. New Years Eve festivities consisted of trying to hold down some Sprite and a handful of saltines and going to bed at 8:30. Man, what a party!

On a brighter note, I had my first ultra-sound today, and Button was bouncing all around. I got to see his/her strong heart-beat, which was the reassurance I needed. I just don't really feel pregnant yet besides the constant fatigue and looming morning sickness. I guess it's because I don't have the time to think about this little one like I did with Hattie. As soon as I can take a picture of the sonogram picture (we don't have a scanner), Button will have his/her debut on our blog. And my official due date is August 23rd, which is later than I thought, so we'll see if that changes. Good times ahead!

Finally, Missy carded me a while back. Sorry, sister, I am just now getting to this, but times have been a rough 'round here! My list will be a New Years List, like Laura's, since Christmas is over. So here goes nothin' or somethin' depending on if you like these kinds of things or not:

THE RULES:

1. Each player starts with 5 gifts that they would want for Christmas (I'll say the New Year, since Christmas is almost over!)
2. People who are “CARDED” need to write their own Blog about their 5 things & post these rules.
3. At the end of your Blog, you need to choose 5 people to get “CARDED” and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a COMMENT telling them they’re “CARDED”, and to read your Blog.

My Materialistic Gift/Wish List:
1.) a buffet or a hutch to store my china in
2.) for Sean to paint the bedrooms before the new baby comes
3.) new light fixtures around the house
4.) a new bed.....king-size please! The queen ain't workin' so great anymore.
5.) for Hattie to stop constantly sucking her thumb so she doesn't have a huge gap between her top 2 teeth.

My Spiritual Gift/Wish List:
1.) That I would better remember that God is in control; even though, I constantly feel that I need to be in the driver's seat. Or otherwise stated, that I may find peace in God's Will in my life more fully.
2.) That my desire to pray and read my bible would grow.
3.) That I would grow in humility and try to put others before myself.
4.) That I would honor my husband better.
5.) That Sean and I will find our niche in our church and find a way to serve in our parish family.

Okay, if you're reading this, have a blog, and haven't done this already, TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!!

Finally, for picture postin' purposes, here's a picture that Sean's mom sent me of Hattie and Wendy cookin' up a storm with Wendy's little kitchen. I wish I had been there to see the two playing together, but alas, I was home sick in bed. Gosh, these babies are such toddlers now!

Aunt Lallie, we are still praying that you 3 didn't catch our germs that were surely floating around everywhere. We pray your antibodies are stronger than ours!!!!