18 Months Old

Yes, we have a little boy who is 18 months old now and we sometimes call him "E". Our family is known to shorten names and somehow EMH has gotten just the letter "E". Sometimes we call him "Ev" but lately a lot of our family have been calling him "E". Granddaddy, calls him "Big E". Ampy calls him "Little E"... (Ampy's name starts with an E so he says he is "Big E" and EMH is "Little E"). SLH has even started calling AEH, "A". Not sure what our deal is. I guess but we just like to use letters around our house. :)
Now back to our sweet boy who is growing up too fast! I get really sad and it reminds me how fast he is growing when I have to go up in sizes when buying him clothes. He is doing and saying new things every day. He will try to say just about anything we ask him too and he is starting to put two and three words together. SLH gave him a "gape" (grape) the other day and he said "tank ooo daddee". Nothing melts my heart more than when he pats me and says "oh momma". And yes, we still think he is the smartest little boy ever!
One of his favorite things right now is airplanes, “A-A’s” as he calls them. He is always looking for them and pointing them out when we are in the car or outside. He even hears them in the house and says “A-A” and makes the sound of them. Juju and Granddad got him a big one to hang from the ceiling in his room and he loves it! He wakes up saying “A-A”.


Who looks the most excited in this picture??

Another favorite thing right now is shoes. He wears all of our shoes. He goes from Audrey’s red Dorothy slippers to mine and Stacey’s shoes to his rain boots. Whosoever he can get to he will put them on.

We have started giving him a spoon to eat with. He is not very good at it yet but he thinks he is so big and he loves it. He usually ends up putting the food on the the spoon with his hand and then he puts the spoon in his mouth. He tries so hard and it usually becomes a game and a distraction so we don't give the spoon to him until the end of his meal. Notice which hand he is using. He uses his left hand everytime. Not sure if that means anything yet but I think it's neat because I am left handed.

EMH loves his big sister and AEH loves her little brother! AEH is such a great big sister. She looks out for him and loves to help him do things. They both miss each other when they are apart for any reason. They have been playing more together now that EMH is older and can do more. Yes, there are times when I hear a little fussing but it is rare.

There are some trying times with our little man. He has a temper and sometimes throws things, he hates to get his teeth brushed and he is not the best dinner guest when going out to eat. We have to choose our times and places wisely when selecting where we eat. You know, he is just 18 months old so we've got to give him a little break. The best thing of all is that he is our "E" and we love him so much! He brings many laughs and smiles to our days!

Shopping with Friends

Last Saturday some girl friends and I took off to Vicksburg Outlet Mall to do some shopping. We made a day of it. Of course we found some great deals but most of all it was just fun hanging out together and visiting. I got the kids some spring clothes and even found myself a couple of things. I didn't buy SLH anything because I usually end up taking it back whether it be the fit or that he just doesn't like it. Our taste in clothes are TOTALLY different. I told him we will have to go back because I really think he would like some things at the Gap and Bass store. Actually, I need to go back because they didn't have my size in some jeans that I found in Foley last year that I really like. I don't need an excuse to go back but it sure helps if you have one. It is not a bad drive and the drive itself gave us time to visit. We got back around dinner time and decided we would just really make a day of it and go out to eat. The daddies were really nice and let us stay out a little longer. I was craving Bonefish and my sweet friends let me pick. I love their Bang, Bang Shrimp and Ahi Tuna. It was so good and just what I wanted.

I wish I would have taken more pictures but we were just so busy shopping and eating that I only got two pictures. Two of the girls that went took their kids and had to leave earlier than those of us who didn't have kids. They were troopers(the kids and the mommies) and I'm glad they braved it and went.


I love to shop and what better way to do than with friends.

Spend the Night Fun

AEH had a friend (I will refer to her as "AA") over to spend the night last week. Well, not exactly. She didn't end up spending the night but they did get to spend the afternoon/early night together and they had a great time!
AA's little brother had a terrible accident a week ago involving a trailer gate and he was still in the hospital, so we asked her to come home from school with us and spend the night.

They played dress up and ate popcorn...

AEH's gymnastics teachers let AA join in on her lesson.
Here they are ready to go!



We went to Pizza Inn and had dinner. They had face painting this night and the girls loved it!


Then we went home and they played a little more, got baths, brushed teeth and got in the bed.

They look really happy don't they. Well that didn't last long. The lights went out and it all broke loose. AA had been telling us that she needs a "grown up" to lay with her until she goes to sleep. So I decided that the girls and I would sleep in mine and SLH's bed and SLH would sleep in AEH's bed. AA got upset when the light's went out and told AEH that "this is not normal, I need my mommy". We could tell pretty quickly that the spending the night was not going to happen. So we called AA's mom and told her and decided that we would go ahead and take her back to her mommy and daddy. Well while I was on the phone with AA's mommy, AEH starts crying hysterically and tells AA that "you tricked me, you told me you were going to spend the night". They were now both crying and when SLH got AA in the car she told him that she was so sad that AEH was crying. SLH and I were just trying not to laugh because they were just so serious in their on way. AEH ended up being fine and I know AA was happy to be back sleeping with her parents.
It will definitely be an experience that we will never forget and I'm sure it will be told many times throughout their lives.
P.S. AA's little brother is home now and improving more everyday. We are all so happy about that!

Frog and Toad

Juju took AEH and I to see "Frog and Toad" at New Stage this past Friday night. It was a cute play and of course AEH loved it! She was tuned in the whole time and didn't want it to be over. There was one part that she didn't like though. As she says it..."the scary mean frog with the green eyes". She really has loved all the Plays and Musicals that we have been too and always comes home and acts or sings like what she saw. They have a little summer camp they offer at New Stage in the summer that we may have to try out when she is a little older.


Ready for the show!

We had dinner at Broadstreet before the show.


On Saturday afternoon we got to go see our friend Meghan perform at her Guard Competition. Once again AEH loved it and yes, I had a hard time getting her to leave. Meghan is in the Madison Central Guard and they did great!
AEH thought it was really neat when I told her that I was Guard captain and that I twirled the rifle and flag at my school. SLH is going to have to find my old rifle in the attic. Maybe I can still do a few simple things. :) Things have really changed. They do a lot more dancing and in dept routines. It was really neat to watch. However, I will never forget in one of our routines we rode a bicycle and twirled the rifle at the same time. If I remember correctly, I think we won an award for that one. :)
Meghan


AEH met up with her sweet friend RB. RB's soon to be Aunt directs Meghan's group.

Watching intently!

Fun in New Orleans

We took a little family trip to New Orleans this past weekend. SLH had heard about a Marathon there and decided he would do something he had never done before, RUN. He talked to his brother Todd, who has done several Marathons and they decided to take the families and meet up in New Orleans for the weekend.
They did the half marathon which is 13 miles. I was so proud of him. He had been training for several months and he DID IT! He started out just running to the end of our street and back. I'm not sure I could even run to the end of our driveway.:) SLH is very disciplined and when he puts his mind to something, he can do anything. He is going to keep up his running and he is talking about doing another one soon.
We were in New Orleans on Saturday and Sunday and we packed in a lot. We went to the Insectarium, Aquarium,took a Horse and Carriage ride, and SLH did the race. We ate well too...Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gumps, Deanie's Seafood and of course some Beignets at Cafe Du Monde.
SLH grew up in New Orleans. Another fun and special thing was seeing SLH's old stomping grounds and the house he grew up in. I wish I would have gotten a picture but it was dark when we went by.
We had a great time! AEH and EMH loved being with their cousins. They are such good kids and they are so sweet to AEH and EMH. My sister-in-law and bother-in-law have raised some very polite and caring kids. I mean honestly, not one time did I see conflict. How is that possible with three boys? I would really like to find out their secret! :)

Their sweet family!

AEH and her cousin Jarrod. She calls him her husband. I know, we are trying to explain that one. :)

Me and my sister-in-law Toni.

Having fun at the Aquarium.



EMH is looking up at the fish above him.


Sacked out! We did a lot of walking.

Getting signed up for the race.

Eating Beignets.



Open wide!

EMH loved this dinosaur.

Horse and Carriage Ride

Insectarium

Bubba Gumps