Why I Would Be Ok With All Boys

I have always wanted a little girl or two, but I am starting to see the beauty of little boys!


For more spring pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=50506502&aid=2078218&s=20&hash=92ece52c943bd8a8f692e302bd88fc46#!/album.php?id=50506502&aid=2078218&s=0&hash=25cf272e5b608de0a9c780e85e1a2ca8

One Smart Momma

I thought I would take this blog as an opportunity to share that even though I am a first time mom, I am learning quickly! I am constantly thinking of ways to make life with a toddler better. For example...The way Ellis goes to bed every nap and every night is by cuddling with me. Since I can not lay down in a crib with Ellis, he lays with me in my bed...not anymore! I finally made the decision to get a bed for him that I can lay down in. That way he can sleep in his bed and we do not have to move him after he falls asleep. So for about three weeks now Ellis has been a sleeping in a big boy bed! Some would say moving him to a bed this early is crazy, but it is working for us. Here is proof...

Another smart Mom move I made was last week when we had spaghetti for dinner. William and I brought stools and sat them by the sink...Ellis went in the sink in just a diaper. He had a blast eating his spaghetti and he even got some good practice time using his spork! Afterward we just hosed him off and all the mess went down the drain...no big deal!

I'll have to be honest, I am still learning...I am not sure how smart this move was:)

Serenbe Get-a-way

Last week Will, Ellis, and myself went up to the Atlanta area for a mini vacation. We had a wonderful time. It was a great mix of romance and peace for the adults and fun and learning for Ellis. It was beautiful and a great big blessing for all three of us. Here are a few pictures (more on facebook)!

Chicken Coop Progress

William worked all day Saturday and here is what he got accomplished...Cute, huh? Little glass windows and all...


This picture is a little blurry, but the box in the back is where we will get the eggs from. Still a lot of work to do before they can move in, but defiantly not as much as there was...over half way there....Hippie lifestyle here we come:) Will would prefer: Farmer lifestyle here we come!

Hawks dig Chicks

Last night before we went to bed William and I set up the container for the baby chicks because we knew they would be here tomorrow. William and I got in bed and started watching The Winter Olympics. We stay up really late, but for some reason we kept watching really late last night. At 2:00 my phone rang and I ran to get it thinking something was wrong. It was the Post Office...our chicks had arrived. So William drove to get them right away. As you can see from the picture above they were looking pitiful when they first arrived...I was worried.

When they warmed up they became happy chicks and are really cute to watch. They are days old and are not smelly yet. We are having fun with them so far.

Chicks and Hockey

Last week we got free tickets to go to a Columbus Hockey Game. We had amazing seats and they were safe enough for me not to freak out that a puck was going to hit Ellis. Ellis was in shock 90% of the time. Everything was a new experience for him. Will also had a freak out moment when every player on the ice started fighting. In the end there was only a bunch of gear laying there on the ice. It was a fun first game for Ellis and I left thinking I could handle all boys and no little girls. I had a blast watching Ellis and

Will!

I watched a movie recently called Food, Inc. It made me think...that is for sure! After thinking I decided that if we had a small chicken coop that it would put a small dent in the chicken industry that was so horrible to watch in the movie. So when Will got home I told him that I wanted to get chickens...within an hour...no lie...he was building!

Since then all of his free time has been preparing for our little chicks. We are getting three or four which is plenty for our small city house and city yard. This is the inside so far...

While Da Da works, Ellis spends most of his time watching from our bedroom window. Even though we live in the south it has been too cold to go outside. We are looking forward to the arrival of our chicks, but it will be even more exciting when I don't have to buy eggs at the store. Will wants to eat some of them....maybe...well see! We are also thrilled that Ellis will get to watch chicks grow and have a chore of going to get the eggs. Hope it all works out!!!

Viewer Discretion Is Advised

Ear Infections Do Not Slow Me Down

January has been a lovely month, busy as usual. Skiing and hiking have been fun. Hair cuts, not so much! We have gone on our first official bike ride as a family...and we all loved it! It has been my goal to be a biking family for a long time, so when we finally got the gear I was so nervous I would not like it...but I did. Thank God, because William is not a fan of spending money on stuff and never using it:). We have only gone once though, because lately the days that are not rainy are windy and cold. Hopefully we can go again soon. My cute little boy has had a runny nose, cough and ear infection for the majority of the month. He is feeling a little better and since ear infections are not contagious I have been able to still have somewhat of a life. Please do not picture a "sick in bed" Ellis! This Ellis still gets around...his favorite thing to do is stick his head out the dog door. His second favorite thing to do is walk around with two lighters (the kind that bend). We have put a stop to this habit because he is getting smarter and we don't want a fire in the Hawks' Nest! Lastly Ellis is way in to throwing things down the toilet. Toilet paper rolls, balls, magazines, and toilet paper just to give you an idea. My days are full of timing how long I have to get something done before I have to go check on Ellis. He is not one to sit and play with toys...he is always into something other than what we have provided for him. For example why play with a toy hammer that lights up, when there are electrical outlets all over the house. Why play IN the gigantic tent set up in my room when I can play IN the trash. Why watch cartoons when I can throw decorations off of shelves. Why push a toy lawn mower, when I can clean out the pantry! WHY? While typing this I am sure he is getting a lot accomplish...he already brought me toilet paper....it was streaming across the house. Life with a child is blessed.....all these crazy events and we still want more....I think William and I are geared for parenting (so far at least).

Crazy Christmas

Christmas has been super crazy in the Hawk house.

Starting with...Decorating our tree twice. I tried to trim up some limbs and cut a wire too! Here is the finished product, but I have to say I thought the first time around was prettier.Here are some more decorations. It does my heart good to see 3 stockings...what a blessing adding Ellis to our family has been. I prayed for a long time to get to have three stockings. Now I am praying for 4!!! Oh and I can explain the black angels, just ask!

Then I lost my wallet....boooo! I have been replacing everything slowly, but surely. I got a new camera and got right to work, I had been missing shots like these...

Then my best friend had her baby at 26 weeks....Meet the very tiny and very amazing Mckinley Faith Jones...and don't just meet her; pray for her too! Steaks came in the mail for a Christmas gift. Believe it or not the dry ice was the boys favorite part!


Then we went to Fantasy In Lights...it blew Ellis away! Ellis was in a mini heaven...it was cold outside, but he loved hanging out the window (and he didn't see the value in keeping on his hat and gloves....shame on him and shame on his momma)!
Last but not least, we visited Santa....he was a big fan....until we made him sit in his lap!
Overall, we have a lot to be thankful for despite the craziness...
Merry Christmas---Love~~~ The Hawks

Fall Has Been Wonderful!

William and Ellis riding on the Four Wheeler...that's right were Parents' of the Year:)

Karan Anne and Ellis watching for fish!

The Boys and their big catch of the night.

At the Pumpkin Patch in October. Ellis was looking at the tractor, he is all boy already!

The Big 10 Months!

Ahhh Ellis is already 10 months old!

Some highlights...

cruising from one piece of furniture to the next
rolling out and occasionally eating toilet paper
baby proofing
eating regular food 98% of the time
deciding that vacuum cleaners are scary
baths everyday now...sometimes twice
playing catch with dad
discovering the toilet
clapping, banging, and dancing
learning what no means
sharing food with dad or mom
watching to see if the parents will say no
crawling fast, really fast
enjoying books more, though occasionally still trying to eat them
going up stairs
drinking out of sippy cups
and of course saying hey...over and over again!

We LOVE every minute!

Moral of the Story

Yesterday Ellis had two baths. The first bath was for his photo shoot. We wanted him to look picture perfect! The second was for fun....baths are a great way to kill some time in a baby's world. I have a great tub that I take to the grandparents' houses when they babysit, not because I want them to bath Ellis, but because it is fun for him.

Today Ellis had another bath...this was not needed, nor was it for fun...this bath was an emergency! Ellis was playing and having a great time while I was checking my email. As most of his independent play times end, he started his normal fusing. I waited a bit longer until the partial whining became crying and then picked him up and took him to the changing table. He had that certain smell so I knew that I was changing a dirty diaper...it is just that normally when you change a dirty diaper you expect to just wipe a butt. When I saw poop up to his shoulders I switched from the changing table to the sink....we needed an emergency bath!

Moral of the Story: Try not to let your baby poop in a jumper...with each jump comes new heights!