Mr. Independent.

From 8 months to 14 months Hardin was very very clingy to us.  Of course we didn't mind having him attached to us, Gigi included, and from talking to other parents we knew it wouldn't last nearly as long so we loved the extra snuggles.

Everyone was right, he has quickly become Mr. Independent.  He is all over the place and rarely meets a stranger these days.  That said, he still is not fond of others touching him.  That he gets from his from his daddy.  Jason and I were talking the other night about Hardin's new found independence, and thought we ought to strike while the iron was hot and try something new.  The YMCA nursery.  Jason's been going for years, and I actually got my lazy bones up twice this week before work to go.  We really want him to like it so we can all go more often. 

We all woke up early to head there this morning.  It went something like this...
Me:  Baby, come here.  We have to get dressed and I need you to look super cute so that they are really nice to you even if you are bad.
Jason:  Bad word!  Bad word louder!  Noooooooooooo!  He's stirring the toilet with my new phone. 

We were almost late to my spin class after taking Jason's new phone apart and putting it in a bowl of rice to soak up the moisture.  It was in the bottom of the pot when Jason dug it out. 

He held onto me and took just a second to look around while Jason signed him in.  The sweet young lady asked what his favorite thing was and I hadn't even finished saying ball before H had spotted one.  That was our out. 

I ran to class and Jason ran on the treadmill first so he could watch H on the video screens.  He said it was like a pin ball, you'd see him run across the screen every few seconds exploring.  More kids got there and he had a big ole' time!

We headed home for naps for all, followed by lunch at Barberitos and a quick trip to Publix.  We followed that with naps for all (see a trend here...), and then headed to the Parkers' house in our sweats and around the house shoes.  We were going to have dinner there but decided to go to Beef O' Bradys in Jefferson instead.  Hardin followed Chase and Jackson all around, and pretending to play with the video games in the kid room.  I have a feeling that won't be our last time meeting there.  With a hand full of quarters the boys will be entertained for a while when they are a little bit older. 

This cracked me up, so inquisitive as to why I was trying to get his attention while he was busy driving.

We spend much of our time out doing this right now...  chasing a baby.

Jewels

I was backing up my pictures tonight and realized I never posted these.  I try and make sure to post all the pictures I'd cry (for more than one day) if I lost so that I'd have them in some form, but the more time goes on I realize that's all of them so my theory is no good.  My family pictures are my most cherished treasure.  Jewels if you will.  Not because they are any good, but because they are mine.  And these particular jewels were taken over Christmas in my mother-in-law's beautiful vintage tub.  I love the way they look timeless.


I have had a week full of short work days and a few first world problems that I wouldn't dare say out loud, for risk of losing all of my friends and readers due to my being the most dramatic shallow person in the world.  Fortunately, my friend Ali posted something tonight that reminded me of one of my all time very favorite songs in the world, so I leave you with that.  Happy almost weekend! 

It doesn't take a talent to be mean,
Your words can crush things that are unseen,
So please be careful with me, I'm sensitive,
And I'd like to stay that way...

I have this theory that if we're told we're bad,
Then that's the only idea we'll ever have,
But maybe if we are surrounded in beauty,
Someday we will become what we see,
'Cause anyone can start a conflict,
It's harder yet to disregard it,
I'd rather see the world from another angle,
We are everyday angels,
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way.
~Jewel 

Spy cam!

Hardin is impossible to get on the video camera.  I made the mistake many months ago of showing him the play back video and every time he sees me bring it out he runs over and says "BABY!" and wants to see a video.

Well, my wonderful Christmas gift from the hubs (iPhone) has a camera that you can flip to record while you are watching the screen.  Hardin thinks it's hysterical.  I have taken so many the last few days it's not even funny.

I love this one of him saying his name and down, his new favorite word.  Hardin sounds much more like "ahh-di," but you get the picture.

Red Houndstooth.

I'm giving up the fight with red houndstooth.  Throwing in the white towel.  Every time we leave the house in an obviously boy red houndstooth print, everyone tells me how cute she is.  It happened all the way to Ft. Myers in the candy cane outfit, and all day today in the firetruck outfit.  I wanted to say seriously people, it has a huge fire truck on the front of it!, but I didn't.  I do have to admit, from a distance, it has a pinkish look to it.  Lesson learned, sorry little buddy.

Our week was nice and the weekend better.  The highlights being an impromptu lunch with daddy day care and a baby sprinkle for Mary Ellen's boy who will be here soon.  The low light being the realization of how long I have to go on my mission to get healthy before having another baby.  I got the okay to work out from my doctor 2 weeks before Christmas, but put it off until after the holidays.  After 5 surgeries over 13 months, I was finally feeling better and pain free.  Two mornings with Jillian Michaels* and an early morning spin class Saturday have left me sore from top to bottom.  But a good sore!  Hopefully it will pay off at my weight watchers weigh in the morning.

Hardin also got his first ride in a fancy buggy at the new Publix.  I have a feeling we'll be driving an extra 10 minutes to utilize those more often.  He was so much more content than he is in a normal cart.  And by that I mean I am more content.  Our trip to Target before Publix just about wore me out.  He would NOT sit still and kept hollering DOWN, DOWN, DOWN as loud as he could.  Busy boy.

We ended the weekend with a long walk in the fog tonight.  Hardin would walk up and down the road all day long if we would let him.  He was a soaking wet dirty mess when we got back, and couldn't have been happier! 

*This is Hardin one morning when he woke up before I was done working out.  He stood in front of the TV and squatted up and down over and over laughing. 

Two things I love.

1.  This picture.  Because we are all in it, and because my brother took it.

 2.  This quote, simple and true.  Very fitting for the new year.  

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. 

~ Mother Teresa

Burrrrr.

Yesterday the weather started to cool down, today was just plain cold.  After making H suffer through the Verizon store, I tried to take him to the park to run free.  If that place was half as miserable for him as it was for me, he deserved it.

We only lasted about 10 minutes.  The rest of the afternoon was spent being thankful Jason was watching the Georgia game at Parker's house.  And being thankful his wife and kids were out of town and an ear shot as well.  He'd have worn a spot in the carpet pacing after that disappointing loss.   

I was looking at the pictures noticing all the different faces H makes.  There are many others, but these are very common little Hardin looks.  Thanks to my sis for the little bulldog outfit!

Happy New Year!

2011 was the best year ever, and we are all looking forward to what 2012 has in store! 

And just for the record... my eyes were as crystal blue as mom's too until elementary school.  Then they turned green.  There are lots of blue eyed McWhorters, Jason is the odd man out there.  I'm curious to see how Hardin's will turn out, but certainly in no hurry!