Hazel's Baptism

Sweet baby Hazel Grace was FINALLY baptised this past weekend! We had some scheduling conflicts with Ryan's traveling and getting the required class in (only offered once a month) and then setting a date. She wore a BEAUTIFUL dress bought by my parents...long, smocked, detailed...just perfect! Here she goes!
Hagen was so proud...he was curious and it was interesting explaining it to him as we are TERRIBLE about going to church...we need to get our crap together!! The water was warm so she didn't cry much...just a little...

I love this picture...so sweet...

My brother is the Godfather and Aunt Kristen is the Godmother of both Hagen and Hazel...

Here she is enjoying some celebratory cake! Practicing for her big birthday in a week...what?!

The bib she is wearing while eating her cake says "future nun". Aunt Kristen got it for her and it is adorable! She received some precious things...a cross necklace, a pearl bracelet, a silver cuff, a cute picture frame, some books, and a beautiful cross for her room.

She had a double ear infection and I had a cold. The ladies were not feeling very good at all! But it was a beautiful day and the kids behaved very well.

That night after the family left I was outside letting the dog out and I looked up in the sky and saw a shooting star. I believe that Great Grandma Hazel Grace Adams was sending me a sign that she witnessed the baptism and is so proud...

Love,

Mama

Pumpkin Patch

So this past weekend we went to the pumpkin patch! Ryan was out of town so I loaded up the kids in the wagon and met Adam and family there. We had a great time! Although, Hagen has had better days...think someone is missing his Daddy!

We petted the animals, we had a hot dog lunch, went on a hayride, posed the kids for the cousin picture (they all love that), and we took home our millionth pumpkin!

I LOVE that the kids are around the same age...makes outings like this so much fun. I love that the girls are even closer in age than the boys are...but the boys are still BFF's 4E!

We missed out on our annual family picture at the farm, but that's OK...Aunt Rebecca captured the above sweet SWEET images of my little pumpkins.

Tata,

Carrie

Just Listen...

This sweet boy taught me a good lesson...not just a lesson on parenting but in life.

It was show and tell day at school. Everyone was to bring a photo of themselves dressed in a costume. I had Hagen take a photo of him dressed as a zebra for Halloween when he was 1 1/2...it was darling.

I was sitting at the table with the kids for dinner (Ryan was out of town) and we were talking about our days. I asked him how his friends liked his photo. He got a sad look on his face and said that people were laughing at him and calling him diaper boy...basically calling him a baby.

I said that he WAS a baby when that photo was taken but he is not anymore. I told him that I use to wear diapers and even Papa!! I explained that we all wore diapers at one point.

He said his feelings were really hurt and it made him feel like he wanted to cry. So I went on an on about how in life people are going to not always be nice...we are going to get our feelings hurt and disagree with someone. Even I get my feelings hurt sometimes and it makes me sad. I went on to say that sometimes we just have to walk away and be with people that are being nice and steer clear of the mean ones. I kept going ON and ON and ON seeing it as a moment to teach him something...little did I know he was about to teach me something BIG.

He said stop Mom...you never let me talk... (silence...crickets chirping...both kids staring at me) I felt like a toad...

He is so right...I need to LISTEN more and not just offer advice. Sometimes all he wants to do is to vent...just like I do sometimes!

Lesson learned my sweet son...lesson learned...

Love,

Mama

Happy 9 year Anniversary Ryan!

Today is our 9 year wedding anniversary! I am as in love (if not more) as I was when we got married. We have had our ups and downs, but mainly ups and our downs were not that bad. I appreciate that we can talk about anything, work through our problems, and laugh at each other and ourselves often. I swear laughter is the best marriage secret...

I remember a few things about our wedding day that will be forever etched in my brain:
1. It was rainy...not alot, but still. I am now a believer that rain on your wedding day IS a good luck charm.

2. Tommy, our best man, was driving by the cemetery where Ryan's Dad is laid to rest...it was cloudy...but when he drove past there on his way to the church, the clouds parted and the sun shined really bright...then went cloudy again. It was like he was saying, "Tommy, make sure Ryan knows I know what is going on today...and wish him luck." Ha

3. I remember Mer's speech at the reception talking about Ryan's Derriere.

4. I remember Ryan smashing cake in my face and I didn't care less.

5. I remember dancing the night away because when you have a big dress on you can't see the horrid dance moves going on under that huge skirt.

6. I remember my Mom and I eating Chick Fil A for lunch...just the two of us...we were so calm.

7. I remember I couldn't find the right strapless bra and needed some "lift" so duct tape it was...sexy...

8. I remember twirling my dress during our vows. I had my hand behind my back and found a little hole...put my finger in and just twirled and twirled.

9. Our song..."I could not ask for more" by Edwin McCain...love

10. I remember my Dad spun me around before walking me down the aisle...and then he didn't kiss me when he "Handed me over"...we both forgot and were caught up in the moment

11. Mom and I called it our wedding because we both planned it all. And honestly, there were no arguments and we had a blast planning it! It was beautiful...perfect in every way.

Ryan (and Mom) Happy 9 years...cheers to 9 more!

(I texted Ryan the above sentence this morning since he is out of town. He promptly responded, "Let's just take it one year at a time") I'm so loved....

Tata,
Carrie

What is the latest?!

I started this post out with pictures of the babes...Hagen and Noah are attached at the hip so there is rarely a pic of just him anymore! I must do bullet points because I have alot to share, but no real importance...

1. Hazel was sick a few weeks ago with an ear infection and croup and I actually was able to rock her to sleep. Even waking up at the night I would go up, pick her up, and rock her back to sleep. It was bliss...I miss rocking sweet babies. She is so independent and easy to get to bed so rocking was never her thing...it was a few weeks ago and I loved it!


2. At dinner one night Hagen was discussing what he learned at school. It was manners week. In the middle of his "speech" Hazel farted SO loud in her High chair. We all laughed...well, except Hagen who promptly looked at her in disgust and said, "Hazel Grace, that is NOT good manners!"


3. My little sweet darling girl is the bully in class...yep, the youngest and the mightiest. She is known as the hair puller! I've recently been able to put a pony tail on her head and she even pulls her own hair! I pick her up lately and she looks like Foghorn Leghorn with her hairstyle. she also gets very jealous if I say hi to her friends before greeting her royal hiness.


4. One day I dropped her off in her class and she quickly crawled over to this tunnel thing and looked to make sure I was watching. She crawled through it and then back through and was clapping for herself! Well, another sweet little boy crawled through and came out and sat next to her and clapped too and she looked at him and stuck her lip out and immediatly face planted into the carpet and cried. He stole her thunder I guess.


5. Hagen has started going on field trips! Last week was the fire station and this week the pumpkin patch! I don't know if he is excited more about the actual place or the BUS!!!


6. I took him to the doctor the other day...he had a sore tongue...I paid a co-pay for a canker sore. I had them too, we ate too much pineapple!


7. Hagen FINALLY broke the 30 pound mark! He is 32 pounds and Hazel is 17...she will be one in a few weeks (I'm already crying) and I am so curious to see what she is! Hagen was 18 I believe...


8. The above picture of Hagen and Noah was from this past Saturday. There was a modeling search going on for Dallas Child and Kim Dawson. My sister in law was taking Noah and wanted me to take Hagen so she would have a buddy. I did and was SHOCKED at how good he did! He had to walk a catwalk ladies...and he did...he waved...he talked to the panel of judges like he owned it. I think he is adorable...wonder if we will get a call? No biggie if we don't. Ryan is just outraged and afraid I'm going to become "toddlers and tiera's" like...no chance.


9. Ryan is traveling again and it is hunting season...no comment except I am SO over it! I need a girls weekend that is cheap. Why is it that it is so easy for guys to get away and us ladies are stuck at home? I mean, when I leave I make sure there is food in the kitchen, activities are planned, etc. but when the men leave it's like they just make sure they have their bags packed. Ryan is a great dad and a wonderful hubby, but I'm just sick of being by myself!


10. NOW, when he is in town we do date night...we sit on the patio and drink and talk. It is FABULOUS! I have SO much enjoyed our date nights. Especially since the kids sleep in until about 8:30 so no need for too bad of a hangover!!

That's all I got!

Tata,

Carrie

Hazel...

Hazel moved up today from the itty bitty room...she is now in the not so itty bitty room...I'm sad about this but not terribly sad. I think the "I know she is my last baby" part is just not sitting well with me! Look at sweet Hazel working on her walking on the beach...
Hazel was by far the best dressed at the beach...everyday something smocked, delicate, or lacy...adorable. This bishop dress is something I got when I was pregnant with her. It is 9 months but is still SO long! It's not her...the dress is WAY long! I'm so excited to keep it for next year and she can wear it again!!

Hazel has been taking a few steps lately...2-3 at a time. She has been standing and squatting for a few months, but the walking thing she is taking her time. The thing about her walking is she moves the left foot far and the right one not so much...so she pivots like a gimp! It is so cute when she is holding one of our hands and she gets all excited and walks...It's like she is tap dancing!

Hazel also sprouted her 3rd tooth...the first one on the top. She has been working to get that sucker out for MONTHS!! Her poor little gums have been swollen for awhile now...relieved for her to get it out!!

So, at school (in the itty bitty room) she didn't nap except for a couple of 10-20 minute naps. In her new class there is a nap time and they all go down at the same time, lights out, lullaby music playing, etc. I hope and pray that she takes to this nap thing at school! She naps at home on the weekends for 2-3 hours! The thing with weekdays is by the time I get her and come home she is so sleepy! I rush to get dinner on the table and have her eat before she melts down. Usually around 5:30 she is D.O.N.E...oftentimes whining "nigh nigh". She goes down without a whimper...

She will be 11 months on October 4th...time flies when you are having fun!

Tata,

Carrie

Destin 2011

We just got back from one of the best Destin trips so far! We have been going for about 20 years now and it is such a different experience when you have kids. I still remember my first kiss was in the stairwell of one of the condos years ago...so romantic.
One thing I was worried about was how Hazel was going to react to the sand. There was no need to worry as she is a natural beach baby! She ate alot of it, but was having the best time! I think the water was a bit cold for her because she didn't like sitting in it or having it splashed up on her, so she hung out with buckets and shovels watching Hagen, Noah, and Emily enjoy the surf!

The first two days there was a hurricane producing alot of rain and wind and tornadoes (none near us) so we were locked in. BUT the house that we stayed at was HUGE and lots of running around room! We stocked up on groceries so we were good to go! Mom and I did the shopping and we were in trouble for not getting any candy or anything for adults. We usually keep bite size snickers in the freezer when we go to the beach, but we were trying to be good...we regret that decision!!

Hagen had an absolute BLAST chasing birds, catching fish (not successful), body surfing, and just running around! At one point he had to go potty (#1) and I told him to do it in the water. Not thinking about it, he turned around walked to the edge of the surf, dropped trowel and I ran up and pulled them up and told him to go in his swimsuit IN the water. I'm not sure if he just held it or actually went...the look on his face was priceless like "EW, that's besgustin Mom!!"

One of our favorite things to do is chill at the beach or shop during the day and then get cleaned up for dinner! All of us love going out to eat at different places! We ate like royalty on this trip...only staying in the last night to pack and eat leftovers in the fridge. Hagen really liked my crab legs so one night he ordered them (they were on the kids menu). Glad Ryan was sitting next to him to crack them all open! Ha!

We drank our weight in Bloody Mary's (well I did), we had dippin dots, we ate sand...best of all, we made memories that I will never forget. FABULOUS trip!

Tata,

Carrie