Brothers -- What They Do When They Don't Know I'm Watching

Too cute to choose just one, so I'm giving you three!

Hewitt : "My brother is so nice to read me this story."
Harrison : "Are you listening, Hew? This is some funny "gunk" (Harrison for "junk")."

Hewitt : "Okay, now he's really into this book. This might be my chance..."
Harrison : Has forgotten that Hewitt is there.

Hewitt : "I can't wait another second -- I have got to MOVE on those slippers! Must touch the fuzzy bear..."
Harrison : Completely unaware.

Merry Christmas!

We spent Christmas in Atlanta -- our first Christmas Eve / Christmas morning at home! Chris' family (Grandmama, Grandaddy, Aunt Katy, and Uncle Brian) came in to spend Christmas Eve and morning with us, and then we spent the afternoon with Rachel's family (Grandmom, Grandpop. JoshYara, Great Granny, Tom, and Annette). Fun! And also some sweet loot!

The playroom on Christmas morning -- oh, my goodness...

The boys in their Christmas outfits -- you can't see them very well, but Harrison is wearing "old man" pajamas (a two-piece outfit with a button up shirt)

Sweet Hewitt

Sweet Hewitt digging in...

Trying out his toothbrush -- Dada told him to focus on the lower, front teeth (his only ones)


Ride 'em, cowboy!

Baby brother's turn

Hewitt licks his first whipped cream beater -- good thing he got that toothbrush earlier!

What is it?!?!?!

The Manger Scene

We got a manger scene this year, and it was always a surprise to see what state the little town of Bethlehem was left in at the end of each day. None of the photos were staged (well, except the first one) -- arrangements are Harrison's, comments are Mama's...

How it is "supposed" to look (according to the Little People packaging)

Uh oh -- some Old Testament wrath has been brought upon poor Bethlehem

A town meeting to decide what to do about it

Best idea? Close up the stable. Too bad for those wisemen who got shut out!

And all has returned to normal (except for the sheep on the roof)

So Busted

Finding everything you need, Harrison? His underpants are probably warming on a heating vent (see "Warm and Toasty" from 12/13/2010).

Warm and Toasty!

Some people like towels fresh from the dryer; Harrison likes underpants fresh off the heating vent.

A Lion!

Harrison went to a friend's birthday party today and had his first face-painting experience. Most of the kids from his class were there, and they all had something on their face (sometimes recognizable; other times not). Chris and I both asked Harrison a thousand times if he wanted to have his face painted, and he kept telling us that he didn't. Then all of a sudden, he just up and walked over to the face painting lady, climbed up into her chair, and asked for her to make him into a lion. The outcome? Too cute. I mean, too ferocious.

"ROAR!"

Little Hew is terrified!

Preschool Christmas Show : To Come!

Just a place holder. Set a reminder on your calendar to check back later for coverage by the local news stations...

Baby Hewitt Has Some Teeth

Chompers!

Oh, Wow...

The aftermath of a typical dinner with Hewitt...

The child

The table

Toast and pretzel sticks seemed like a good idea at the time!

The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

We've had this same little tree since we got married -- Chris' grandmother gave it to us, and somehow Chris has kept it alive (I stop short of using the term "thriving"). I take no credit for this plant's life -- I am not a plant person, although I am considering planting a garden now that we have a yard! In any event, Harrison helped decorate the tree this year. The feng shui is all off, but we like it.

Why so unbalanced?

Because Harrison insisted that all of the ornaments that he put on the tree hang from the same place. :)

A Saturday Morning At Our House

A (painfully early) chew session with the new toy.

A (reasonably early) post-shower towel-off. He asked me to wrap him up like we get wrapped up, and his pose and his expression and how funny the towel fit him cracked us both up.

Snow Angels

Lately Hewitt has been making snow angels as he falls asleep. No photos or videos because it's bedtime and dark -- just wanted to post a message about it to help me remember years from now. Little Baby Hew, on his belly, flapping his arms up and down (and sometimes his legs), then finally giving in and falling asleep with a big sigh...

Hewitt at 6 Months

The stats...

• Weight -- 19 pounds, 4 ounces (80th percentile)
• Height -- 29 inches (97th percentile!)

The updates...

• He rolls -- Both directions like it ain't no thang.
• He talks -- Mostly "buh" and "bah" sounds, which Harrison likes to repeat back to him. ("Good, Hewitt! Mama, Hewitt said, "Buh!")
• He sits -- Like a champ! There's no taking this kid down!
• He stands -- Can support his massive body weight but is still lacking in balance.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving in Dalton with Dada's family.

We are thankful for each other.

"We're having WHAT for dinner?"

"Oh, okay. I like that."

Doing a little cleaning up before the guests arrive.

Handsome Harrison.

Handsome Hewitt.

Things That Harrison "No Like"

• Mama -- This used to hurt my feelings a little bit until the list got longer and started to include things that we know he loves, such as...
• Milk
• Water
• Cheese
• Cookies
• "Pood" -- Food, just in general, I guess?
• Books

Do you hear that? I think it's a little boy crying, "Wolf! Wolf!"

Harrison Wuz Here

Potatoes and tomato? Salted.

Canisters? Stacked.
Napkins? Towered.
Knives? Untouched.

Same kitchen, different day...
Produce : Arranged.
Napkin holder : Hung from banana holder.
Potatoes: Balanced on napkin holder.
Knives : Still untouched. He hasn't shown any interest in them, but I really should move those knives somewhere out of reach...

And yes, this is Harrison's "smile" right now. :)

Where Is Harrison?

Moving!

On top of raising some kids and being employed, we'll also be packing, moving, and unpacking this weekend. We've bought the house of our dreams and have vowed that our next move will be into the old folks home. Enough of this 2-to-3-years-and-we're-out junk...

E-mail me if you want the new address -- I'd be happy to give it out to anyone who wants to mail some generous housewarming gifts (we're in the market for a new couch and also some bar stools for the kitchen) or bring by some delicious food. Sorry, Internet creeps, you're not invited to our home.

A Harrison-ized Outfit

Knit cap (thank you, Aunt Karen), Tigger sweatshirt, Goofy underpants, frog rain boots, and some pumpkins.

Hewitt Eats!

It's time! He's been watching every bite we've put into our mouths for a few weeks now, so we thought we'd give him a chance...

The scene is set. "Harrison, what's about to happen to me here? Give it to me straight, big brother."

"Huh. That's what all the fuss is about? Pass the milk."

Some post-meal relaxation...

There it is! Absolute relaxation!

An update : Hewitt loves eating. After several weeks of different foods, all we've found so far that he doesn't like is broccoli. What does he like? Avocadoes, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, acorn squash, butternut squash, canteloupe, green beans, peas, bananas, yogurt, puffs... Up next? Peaches and cauliflower (but not together).

Look At That Profile!

That is one well-fed baby!

That is one well-fed baby!

Hanging Around the House

Hewitt driving the cardboard box truck that Grandaddy made.

A wild ride in the homemade truck!! Where are they going? To Chattanooga, according to Harrison.

Sweet Hew with his funny hair and chubby legs.

Harrison in a tunnel!

Mama and her boys -- one with a shocked look and one with a fake smile.

Harrison and the "baby" playground -- the slide on the front porch. The "big" playground is the one at the park a few blocks away.

The acorn family that Harrison and Grandmama made together. If you don't like it, Harrison might punch you.

Taking the pumpkins, buckets, and trucks for a ride.

Oh, my!