SNOW NIGHTMARE 2014

 A full recap so I do not forget this down the road.....
Let me start at 8:45 am on Tuesday morning (Jan 28th). I got a call from school saying that Charlie had busted his lip really bad and I had to come take him to the dentist. So I left work to get him and we went to the dentist. There were lots of flurries around but it was just dusting around.  I got him back to school about 10. I was pulling in the parking lot and Debbie texted and said they were letting out at 10:30 and to let her know if I needed her. I was not worried at all bc it wasn't doing anything so I left the school about 10 and went back to work. Well when I got back to work it started getting worse and at 10:35 I got an email saying school was letting out. So I got in my car and headed to school. I got in traffic on Hollywood Blvd right at the exit. I slid twice going down the little hill by Starbucks. An hour later I made it to the school. I parked my car down the street to avoid the hills by school. Walked in my heels praying I would not bust trying to get to them. I got to the school about 11:45. Once I was there I got really nervous and realized I was not going to make it home. There are so many hills getting to our house. I was so full of anxiety and I could not calm down. The boys were great. Thankfully their teachers were all there too and helped so much. Nate was determined he was going to make it to us. He began his adventure from Pelham. He was stuck on 459 for hours and finally did a u-turn to get to an exit. He made it about 2 miles away from our house and walked in to get us clothes. He got back to his car to try to make it to us. Once he realized that was not going to happen he went to his parents house. We were well taken care of at school and they did a wonderful job. We had dinner and movies. When it was bed time I had a room with a crib and Whit's cot. Whit was coughing so bad that he kept Charlie up so I finally gave Charlie to his teacher Mrs. Cindy and she walked him to get him to sleep. She put him down in their room but at 1:30 I heard him crying. So I started walking him up and down the halls. I finally got him to sleep about 3 in my arms. We were all three laying in a corner trying to sleep. About 3:30 Whit woke up with a dream and it startled Charlie so he woke up again. Finally at 4:15 we were all trying to sleep. I think I slept for 30 minutes. All I kept thinking was daylight cannot get here fast enough! About 6:10 the boys woke up and so we got up and just read books in the room. The school had breakfast for us about 7:45. Thankfully Katherine and my uncle came and picked us up about 8:00 am on Wednesday.  We were able to get showers and a little more comfortable. Nate called and said he was going to start hiking from his parents to get to us. Thankfully he got on a 4 wheeler and got to Dave and Sharon's around 9:15. I have never been more happy to see him in my life! We stayed there a while and Nate got my car to their house. We left about 2 and went a very round about way to get to Debbie and Jim's house. I was so happy to be at their house!! Finally at 3:30 on Thursday I got home with the boys.
It was a long exhausting adventure that I hope we never have to do again. The snow was pretty and thankfully Whit got to sled at Deedee and Jimbo's house.
I am extremely grateful for MBBC ELC. They handled everything very well. Mrs. Cindy, Mrs Katie and Miss Aubrey are the best teachers I could ask for. They helped me with my boys more than they ever should have. I cannot have imagined being a teacher in this position. Tuesday night there were no kids crying(except for mine) and it was amazing.
I am also thankful so much for our daddy. He worried himself sick over getting to his family. He hiked to our house and carried out 4 bags worth of necessities. He is absolutely the protector and head of our house and he could not stand the fact that we were stuck with out him. I love him for loving us so much!!!

I took this about 3:15am

The only picture of all of us. Whit wanted to get warm and was not happy

Happy at Deedee and Jimbo's

Sledding with Daddy

Finally at home sledding on the tiny bit of snow!

Charlie is walking

Charlie started taking some steps here and there around Christmas but he is finally in a good rhythm and is officially a walker. We took him 2 weekends ago to get some new shoes. Of course we got white keds!
I cannot get a good picture of him walking but here are a couple.

Just a few pics from our weekend. The weather was beautiful!! We love our jumpy house from Cookie and Doc!

Saturday morning at 7:15. Ready to play!

The End of 2013

It is crazy how much happens in a year. I feel like the years fly by with kids. It makes me sad that they are going so fast but at the same time I love each new stage! 2013 was a great year for us as a family. Sweet Charlie joined right at the end of 2012 so 2013 started by getting used to our family of 4! Unfortunately we had a stay at Childrens to start off the year but thankful that we made it the rest of the year without going back! We decided in March that we needed to find a bigger house since we now had 4. We were so lucky to sell our house extremely quickly. It took us a little longer to find a house we liked but in June we closed on both houses! We love our new house and are very thankful to have more space. Whit grew so much this year physically and emotionally(personality). He is such a big boy now and I could not love that boy any more. He did have his first set of stitches but I know it will not be the last! We got him potty trained this summer and he did great! Charlie started school when I went back to work in March. He did really well. He got dedicated in July at church. We all enjoyed our family beach trip with my family and more farm trips than I can count!!! My sweet grandfather passed away in September but it was a good reminder of our life on this earth. It is so fleeting and there is so much more to life! We took the boys to their first Auburn game this fall and had a blast! For Halloween I had a cowboy and a tiger! We had wonderful holidays and loved spending so much time with family! 2013 could not have been better! Nate is busy with work and we are more blessed than we should be! Looking forward to 2014!

We ended the year with a trip to the beach. My family started this tradition a few years ago and I must say it is one of our favorites. last year we missed it bc Charlie was a newborn so we were glad to be back. We enjoyed spending time walking, riding bikes and hanging out with family. My cousin, Sumner, got engaged on Sunday when we were there so we were so excited to get to celebrate with them!!

Celebrating Sumner and Drew

The boys thought the jets in the tube were great

Love this sweet boy!

This house is perfect for all of us

These 2 are best buddies

The boys loved riding in this!

sweet toes in the sand

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas! It was a wonderful Christmas! Whit was at the perfect age. He loved every minute. I definitely think being a parent is the best part. The joy that fills the kids is just wonderful! We enjoyed reading The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent readings each night. I must say that I probably enjoyed it more :)
Our Christmas started Sunday with Christmas at Deedee and Jimbo's. We went over for gifts and dinner. Whit got a really awesome truck that carries a bulldozer. Needless to say it was a hit and provided much entertainment! Dinner was so yummy and we enjoyed getting to hang out over there! Whit and I made cookies for Santa on Sunday afternoon. The cookies are a tradition in my family and I was happy to make them with Whit. He enjoyed sprinkling :)
Christmas Eve we made it to the early service at church. I love the Christmas Eve service so much. It's just calming and it is always a wonderful reminder of our Great Gift! Whit sat in the service and loved getting to hold the candle. I on the other hand was a nervous wreck thinking my child would be the one to drop it!
We continued our tradition of dinner at mom and dad's with the Clinton family. I love getting together with them! After dinner we all put on our pajamas and Whit got ready for Santa!!
He enjoyed putting the plate of cookies and milk out. Then it was off to bed to wait! After he was down the elves went to work. The only think Whit had asked for was a John Deere gator. Santa came through! I think all of us enjoyed this part which is new for us this year! It was the first time we had a major gift to put together and all 9 of us were in Santa's workshop.
Christmas morning was wonderful. Whit is the sweetest kid and he woke up in his bed and looked over at Nate and I in our bed and saw we were asleep so he just sat there quietly and read some books until I sat up :) We woke everyone else up and I could not wait for his reaction! He cracked me up bc he walked down the steps and saw his gator and just said "look" He got a little more animated as he walked to it but he surprised us and did not ask to immediately go outside. We all enjoyed sitting and opening presents. I love Christmas morning and it did not disappoint this year. I am so thankful that all of us were together! I love my family so much! We had a wonderful day playing HARD! Then we had our traditional family dinner with mom's family. Mamaw was sad to miss Dede this year but she still enjoyed her family.
Overall we had a great Christmas. We are beyond blessed and I am so thankful for this season. Now we are looking forward to the beach for New Year's!!

Cookies for Santa!

Charlie loved Jimbo so much

Christmas at Deedee and Jimbo's

Sweet cousins on Christmas Eve

HK loved her American Girl doll soooo much

Fun gator!

Ready for Santa

Cookie and Doc got a really fun bouncy house!

All working on a toy :)

Charlie is One!

This time last year I was laying in the hospital bed praying for a quick and easy delivery(unlike Whit). Charlie listened and made his arrival at 12:07pm. I remember looking at Nate saying "its already time". What a wonderful day that was! The past year has been joyful and challenging but out family is more blessed because Charles Hampton is in it!
Charlie is crazy, happy, mischievous, and just one more mess! He looks like his mommy and acts like his daddy. He has precious big brown eyes, tan skin and the best lips you could ask for!  He is sooooo close to walking. He can walk about 5 steps right now. By the weekend I think we will be walking. Looks like Santa may be bringing shoes to  a certain one year old.
Charlie is my cuddle boy. He loves to be held. He loves his daddy more than anyone else. If Nate walks in the house and does not immediately acknowledge him and hold him he cries. He loves to play in the cabinets, the toilet(when I am not looking), the bath, peek a boo and when Whit plays with him. He likes to be outside when he can.  He is a wonderful eater. He eats a lot of food and pretty much anything. He is not a huge milk drinker but is actually getting better. He sleeps from about 6:45 til 6:15-6:30. He naps well too. I think he is trying to drop his morning nap so it is iffy these days. His afternoon nap usually lasts at least 1 1/2 hrs.
He is finally beginning to enjoy reading.
He is a little one and we cannot believe he is not bigger bc of how much he eats! We are headed to the doctor for our checkup in a few weeks.
Charlie, we love you so much and cannot imagine our family without you! Your daddy says if you were first then we would not have had a second! You are my crazy little love!!

weighs 20lbs 13 oz(45%) 29 in tall (20%)

Stealing your brothers breakfast

Love dogs!

Crazy boy!

*** Post updated! 

I never came back and posted when Charlie had his little "party". I do not even think I will call it a party but the night of his birthday we had Deedee, Jimbo, Cookie and Doc over to celebrate. Charlie and Whit were both sick with strep but I had already ordered a cake so we decided to have dinner anyway. I think if he had felt great he would have been crazy about his cake bc this boy loves food so much. Hopefully next year he will actually have a party and enjoy his birthday. Poor second child!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

What a fun weekend we had! We had such a busy week last week but it was fun! I love Christmas time so much and this year has been so much fun bc Whit is actually understanding things. I love Santa. I know there is a lot of controversy over Santa since he is not the reason we celebrate Christmas. I am definitely trying to teach Whit about Jesus's birthday as much as his little head can grasp. I just love the magic of Santa so we do Santa in our house! Santa does bring presents for Jesus's birthday party though. All that to say, Friday night we took Whit to ride the North Pole Express. Last Sunday night we decorated the tree and watched The Polar Express so he knew all about it. It was so much fun. I am so glad just the 3 of us went. He got a special night out with mommy and daddy! If you have not taken your kids I highly reccommend going. I will say that 3 was a good age and I am so glad we did not take him before now. He loved the actual train ride, the songs we got to sing, Santa and Mrs Claus and the chocolate milk! On the way home we called Cookie to tell her about it and I have never heard him more excited about something.

Decorating the tree last weekend

 

 

Saturday morning Nate and I got up to go to the SEC Championship game. Cookie and Doc thankfully kept the boys for us. It was so much fun! Nate's dad gets 4 tickets no matter who is playing. The seats are great. Sumner, Drew and Grant all joined us. It worked out bc Drew  had bought another ticket but the guy next to us had an extra seat so we all got to sit together! Who would have thought Auburn would be going to the National Championship game?! Sooo fun! War Eagle.