Tired

Tired. That's what I've been a lot lately; really tired. It seems like these last several months have just flown by in a whirlwind. I'm sure at some point I'll catch you up on all the goings on at the Hamilton House. But for now. I'll just say that we've all been doing a lot of growing.
I'm really excited today. I'm headed back to the northeast where jake and I used to live. He's been there this week on business so in headed there today so that we can spend some time together and visit some of our old friends.
I know that there are people that can not leave their children. I've caught some flack about that in the past. You know, spending time, in days, away from my kiddos. But honest I think it's good for all of us. Cady and Wyatt LOVE spending time at their grandparents. With one set they feed the cows and horses, collect eggs, and ride the 4 wheeler. With the other set they read LOTS of books, "swim" in the hot tub, do crafts and soak up some cartoons. Then there's the Aunt's and Uncle's where Chocolate is always available for breakfast, it's okay to watch Sponge Bob (just don't tell your mom), and it's okay to skip your bath. My kids have a blast every time they get to go. Plus, I believe that God gives us children to share. My kids bring so much joy to my life and I feel like it wouldn't be right not to share that.
This time is good for Jake and I, and our marriage. I believe to my core that it is SO important for a husband and wife I take time together. Our marriage is the first line of God's love that we show to the world. I like that Jake and I still like each other. We laugh together and enjoy spending time with each other. I don't want that I change. Someday, when our children are grown it will just be the 2 of us again. I'd like for that to never be a terrifying thought.
Selfishly, this time is also good for me. Especially after the last few weeks. Jake has been working a lot of nights and now traveling for business. It has been a lot of time trying to find things to do to stay out of his way and not much help with the kids. Our schedules were changing all the time with Jake's schedule and we were all having a hard time adjusting to the crazyness. Today is the first day I've had all by myself in... Forever. I'm honestly kind of giddy about it. I have my phone, a book and a lot of waiting to do as I make my way east.

Something Right

This morning, after my class at the gym, Cady asked me if we could go to the grocery store to buy vegetables. I laughed all the way to the store, where I let her pick out some lettuce, avocados and a small package of raspberries.
There are many times during this journey of motherhood I'm certain I have taken steps in all the wrong directions. Today, however I was left smiling with the thought that I must be doing something right. :)

Good Business

Okay everyone, I don't usually do this. I also realize that after not blogging for the last few months, this is a terrible way to start. But, while my kids nap I have a window of about 10 minutes here that I wanted to use to share this with you.

Something I LOVE is good business. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! If there is a company that I have worked with that has treated me above and beyond (especially when it's a small purchase) I want everyone to know about it. That way, if someone is in need of similar items they have a great place to go. Recently I have had 2 of these experiences, so I'm going to share.

The first one is a company called Inspired LED. Jake and I were wanting to do some under-counter lighting in our kitchen. After going to our local home improvement store we realized all the crazy holes we were going to have to drill, all the wires we were going to have to find something to do with, and the crazy expense to get it to look right. I could not believe it! So I came home and began looking online. I came across this company on Amazon, and then just went directly to their site. Amazing! We ended up with some awesome lighting that was super easy to install, and because of the ease of hiding the tiny plug, we decided not to even hard wire them in. We received our order within 5 days. When we started putting the lights up, we realized there was a small issue with one of our strands. I called, someone answered (who I could understand!) on the 2nd ring (can you believe it?) and they immediately sent a new strand which I got in less than 3 days.

The second company I just dealt with today. I have been trying to order the conversion kits for Cady and Wyatt's beds so that we can Cady's mattresses off the floor, and then we'll have Wyatt's when he's ready. It has been such a hassle. I finally found a site where I could order Cady's from here in Texas, but I'm going to have to go get them when they come in....in 8 to 10 weeks. Ugh! I found a store locally that sells Wyatt's crib and after going to the store 3 times, calling 4 times, they can't decide what they want to charge me...lovely. I decided that I would look online today and see what I could find. I found Bambi Baby a store out of Hoboken, New Jersey. They carried Wyatt's crib, but I couldn't find the rails online so I called. Someone (again that I understood) answered on the first ring!!! The lady sweetly looked up and found that they carried the rails but they were out of stock, however a new shipment would be in on Friday. They will ship them out that day, I should have them by next Friday. Shipping was free, and there was no tax...

Just wanted everyone out there to know, just in case you are needing any baby items or lighting. Two totally random items, I know! BUT, good service is good service and I wanted to pass it along!

One of these days, I'll update about what we've been up to. Until then, I am in shopping heaven! I better stop while I'm ahead!

Singing

We sing all the time here in the Hamilton House. We sing in the car, in the tub, in the kitchen and everywhere else really. Singing songs is something that we do A LOT here.

 Tonight Cady sings:
      Baa baa black sheep have you any wool?
      Yes, sir! Yes, sir! Three bags full.
      One for the master.
      One for the dame.
      One for the little boy,
      who lives down the drain.

Bahaha! I LOVE my kids!

Wyatt

Can you believe that Wyatt is 18 months old? I sure can’t. I almost choked on my water when I looked at my watch two Saturday's ago and realized it was his 1 & ½ year Birthday. Wow! What a big boy.

Then, I was a terrible mom and didn’t even post anything about it. :(  Sad face.

At his check up, last week, he was:

25.2 pounds, in the 45th percentile

and

32.75 inches tall, in the 75th percentile

Everyone keeps telling me he's chunky, but it turns out they are wrong! :)

Let me tell you a little about my darling little boy. For starters, I just love him so stinkin’ much. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about how good God is, and how Wyatt fits into our family perfectly.

He loves food. He will eat just about anything and he wants to eat ALL DAY. 

He is wordy. Wyatt has somewhere in the neighborhood of 130 words. He is already putting them together into 2,3, and sometimes 4 word sentences. I don’t even know how this is happening. I’m pretty sure at this point w/ Cady she was doing lots of 2 word stuff, and maybe a few 3 word lines. If you look back at my baby book, I may not have been talking at all at 18 months. I see this as a blessing, and maybe not as big of a blessing as little Wyatt gets older. I'm pretty sure by the time he is 3 he will be using words that I don't understand to argue with me... I will be investing in a new dictionary very soon.

He is a boy. He loves to be outside. He loves dirt. He loves bugs. He loves things that make loud noises. He loves to make loud noises. He makes stinky smells. He hates clothes.  

He is silly. He makes me laugh all the time. I feel pretty confident that he will be the clown in this family.

He can throw a royal fit. It's amazing. It comes and goes pretty quickly...hopefully learning to express feelings will clam some of that. (P.S. he's mad here because the shoe fell off.)

He sleeps really well. He is also passy free. We got rid of it the week he turned 18 months. He was liking it more all the time and it seemed like the sooner we got it over with the easier it would be for everyone. It took about a week, but he goes to sleep pretty easily with out it now. He does, however, remind me almost every day that I threw it in the trash.

Probably my current favorite thing about Wyatt, is that everyday I can what God created him with being expressed out into the world. Wyatt has a servants heart; he is so giving. And while currently it is expressed in him handing me my napkin, out of my lap, 100 times in a row, and bringing me all the shoes out of my closet, I can see it developing. He never asks for one of anything, he always asks for 2. That way, his sister can have one too. 

What an amazing little boy I have been blessed with. Wow, 18 months! Though I am sad it is passing so quickly, I am so excited about the future. :)

Summer Fun

We have been jumping into all kinds of Summer fun!

There is just so much to do, and so many places to go!

Here at the Hamilton House we are enjoying everything that summer has to offer:

like extra time with cousins

yummy snacks, and no pants.

Like, painting projects,

and painting ourselves.

And Roley-Polly's!

We love them too!

We hope your Summer is off to as good of a start as ours is! 

Mother's Day

It was such a good Mother's day...

We got to spend some time with the Mom's we cherish so much

Mostly I wanted to show you this:

Isn't that an amazing wrapping job!? Those are pages out of a Parents Magazine and fishing line... evidently Jake couldn't find tape. :)

 And look what this beautiful little girl has; a book of sweet pictures! 

That was my favorite part, because I knew it took forethought and time to put together. 

What a special day it was!