Oh what'a night.



Burrito baby going down for the night.  Have to use a crib pad for spit up.



I've had a pesty little sinus problem for a few days now, and the night before last it got worse.  I was up all night sneezing and blowing my nose.  I woke poor baby H up numerous times, and had to pick him up to get him comforted back to sleep.  That led to my decision to try out his big boy crib yesterday.  He's been in that rock-in-play sleeper, at my bedside, for naps and night time since the second we bought it.  I'm normally a staunch "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," kinda girl, but our sleeping situation was finally broke.

Nap #1 went very well, but his first nap of the morning is always his easiest as I think he's still finishing up the night's sleep.  Nap #2 was met with a little protest.  I put him down and decided to fold the laundry.  If he was still fussing when I was done, I'd pick'em up.  He wasn't in there for 3 minutes before he was out like a light.  Naps #3 & 4 went about the same.  Finally, it was time to put him down for the night.  I stuck with the plan and put him in his bed.  He went right to sleep, but for some reason I was just sure he'd wake up wanting me to come snatch him up and bring him in our room.  I was very wrong.  He slept like a dream, even through my pop-ins every 15 minutes.  I decided to have a glass of wine and try and calm myself down to go to sleep.  3 hours later, I'd watched way too much crummy TV, the baby hadn't made a peep, and I called it a night.  He woke up one time at 1:30, ate, and went right back down until 7:45.  Everything happens for a reason, so maybe my sinus problem was a little blessing in disguise.  It helped me see that he was ready for some room to grow and peace and quite to sleep.  Lord help me though, I miss him : (

TAA DAA!  I did it mom!

Big stretch!

On a side note, his dad ditched me too!  He couldn't sleep with all of my huffing and puffing either.  Hopefully I'll have at least one of my Mac men back soon.

M is for McWhorter

A page from Hardin's Bulldog Alphabet book

Daddy is already starting to instill a love for the Dawgs into our little guy.  Even though he lived in Florida, J was brought up a Dawg from birth.  Jason's great great gandfather's brother was Bob Mac, the first All-American at UGA.  His father's cousin, Mac, played for the bulldogs, and coached offense for UGA, GA Tech and Texas.  Needless to say, Jason is a HUGE Dawg fan.  We got all geared up to watch the Dawgs play a terribly sad game New Year's Eve.  Even Hardin couldn't muster up a smile for a picture.  We're hoping H's first full season will be better than this one!

We rang in the new year pretty casually this year.  Mommy and Daddy went to a cook out and party with some friends for a little while, and GiGi baby sat.  We all woke up early, and started cooking collards and black eyed peas.  Uncle B, Aunt Jackie, Sandy, Keith, Jonathan and Lindsey came over for New Years Day dinner, and for Sandy & Co. to meet Hardin.  Jonathan and Lindsey are expecting a baby this July!  After that we went to Aunt Lara's house for her Jason's birthday party.  H got to meet all the Randalls.  That full day was followed by a whole lotta nothin on Sunday!



Napping with GiGI

 One of my favorite things about having a new baby, is how much it has drawn our family and close friends together.  This holiday season was FULL of family fun... this Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years were the best ever!  No better reason in this world to get together and celebrate! 

Two Month Checkup

Hardin was two months old Sunday, and we had his well checkup on Wednesday.  He weighed in at 13 pounds.  His head is 16.5 inches and he is 23 inches long.  That puts him in the 50-75th percentile in height and weight, and 90th percentile in head circumference!  We are certain that is because his brain is just so big :)  He did great at the doctor's office.  His pediatrician once again commented on him being a laid back baby.

As you can see he is getting much more photogenic.   He is still stingy with his smiles, but when he shares them they melt my heart.  He "talks" all the time now, non stop coos and singing.  Uncle B came in during our photo shoot and H gave him this great big smile!  I'm still trying to figure out my new lens, so I apologize for the slightly blurry pictures.  

Christmas Recap

Sweet baby Hardin,

I know you will never truly know it, but you had an absolutely amazing first Christmas.

We picked up MiMi from the airport Wednesday night, with Sophie the giraffe in tow, to begin the festivities.  She hunted down that Sophie all over Ft. Myers, so I hope you love it!  Thursday morning, we took you to one of her and Jason's favorite restaurants, The Waffle House.  I am still distraught that I didn't have my camera for your first trip.  Your silly mommy forgot your diaper bag all together!  I am sure you and your daddy will spend many mornings at the WH, and I'll be sure to take a picture soon.  Next up was a day of shopping, holding the sweet baby and relaxing.

Uncle B arrived Christmas Eve, and was shocked at how much you have grown in two months.  We took you to your first candle light service and you were adorable!  I knew you would love it, but I underestimated how much.  Every time we stood and sang, you were thrilled and sang along.  I had to let GiGi hold you through Silent Night, so she could feel you singing.  The adults were drowning you out quite a bit.  You were on your best behavior and I thank you for that!  The T-berry side came back to our house after church, and we exchanged gifts with your Aunt Lara and Uncle Jason.  Mommy was so taken by the thought your Aunt Lara and Uncle B put into your gifts.  Lara gave you a children's Bible with beautiful illustrations, and a translation you can relate to in your early years.  I can't wait to read it to you, and know you will learn many of life's most important lessons from this sweet gift, your first Bible.  Uncle B gave you a magnificent Cambridge Bible with your name embossed on the cover.  I just know you, your children and grandchildren will cherish it forever.  You are a lucky little boy to have such a thoughtful loving family. 

Mommy and Daddy enjoyed you sleeping extra late Christmas morning.  We realize we only have one, maybe two years, left of that for quite a while.  We all went to GiGi's in our PJs for breakfast.  Christmas breakfast was your Grandmommy T's favorite, and it was fun to be in Georgia for the first time in many years to enjoy it.  Your GiGi is spoiling you silly already, but we love it!  We headed back to our house for the afternoon and Christmas dinner with the Macs.  Your MiMi spent two days cooking an amazing meal for all of us!  You had fun kicking and talking with Lillian, and your cousin Cawley just adores you both.  We were also very surprised that snow set in early Christmas evening and stuck.  Your first Christmas was white!  You are just the most amazing little gift, and your mommy and daddy love you more than anything in this world.  We can't wait for a lifetime of Christmases with you.

Daddy's Silly Face

Your GiGi sure loves you!

Cousin Lindsey

Little Lillian is one month older...  but you can't tell :) 

Cawley Walker

Santa was very good to you!

The sweetest book from Cathy & Justin... personalized with everyone who loves you!

Your first Christmas was white!

Merry Christmas!

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more..." Dr. Seuss

MiMi is here, Uncle B is home, and we have a wonderful two days planned with GiGi and the family.  Mommy's heart is about as full as it gets.  
Merry Christmas!

The many faces of Hardin

The last week or so, I have been trying to capture all of my favorite faces our little cutie makes. I have no doubt I will remember them all forever, but just in case, I want to make sure. He has quite a little personality these days. No more sleeping the day away. He is awake for a good two hour stretch in the morning, about an hour or so early afternoon, and then he stays up for a 3 hour stretch in the evening (grumpy time). There are lots of shorter periods of awake time, but those are his longest. He has figured out how much fun there is to be had in this world, and wants to be having fun the entire time he is awake now! He LOVES his turtle play mat that Cheryl and Damon sent. He cracks me up kicking, swatting and yelling at it! He also loves the music and mirror on his swing.

He is starting to really try and talk and sing. It is about the cutest thing I have ever witnessed in my life. If you hold him close and sing to him, he watches so intently and tries to move his mouth. Every few seconds a little sound makes its way out. I have also been singing him to sleep at night, and it calms him right down. Bless his little heart, he is the only person in the world that has ever liked to hear me sing. Jason and I always joked that as much as we would love one, there was no way we could have a musically gifted child. Our musical talents are limited to J's ability to clap to Cheeseburger in Paradise, and my one time ability to play the first few chords of Nirvana's Come As You Are (you can't go through an early 90s grunge phase without picking up that valuable knowledge). He may just prove us wrong. At night, I lay my iPhone on my chest and play music to sing to him. His favorites are Live's I'll Dance With You and Overcome. He doesn't know it yet, but his GiGi bought him an iPod/CD player for his room for Christmas, and I just know he's going to love it! Maybe it will even encourage him to spend a little more time in there.

Piles of Fun!

I have had a wonderful group of girl friends most of my life.  I have known some of them since elementary school, and some since middle school.  The seven of us became the best of friends in high school, and have been having a blast since then!  It's hard to believe that this pile of crazy high school girls, produced this pile of ADORABLE babies...  and I can't wait to see it grow.  We have been SO incredibly blessed with beautiful, healthy, happy babies! 

The oldest is Aubrey, 2 1/2, all the the way down to the youngest, little Lucas, 4 weeks.   In between, we have Sadie, 28 months, Liddie, 23 months, Halle, 8 months, Hardin, 8 weeks, and Olivia, 5 weeks.

I am sure Hardin will one day appreciate all of my friend's beautiful baby girls, but for now we are super excited to have another boy in the group!  It is so much fun to watch the big girls play together, and I can't wait for Halle, Livvy, Lucas, and Hardin to join in the fun!  H-man was awake the entire time we ate lunch and visited, but when it was time to take pictures, he was sound asleep.

My wonderful friends from the top left... Faith, Mary Ellen, Me, Cortney, Shauna, Lainie and Ali.