March Madness
…and not in terms of basketball, at all. Believe it or not, we actually stayed in town every weekend, with the exception of the last. Brayden continued her gymnastics classes, Trent took Miss B to the NCSU/FSU basketball game, we went to Chase’s first birthday party, and to Max’s birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese (my new nickname for that place is “Kid’s Las Vegas”…it is insane, all the lights, noise, etc. WHOA!). We spent the last weekend in Charlotte celebrating the impending arrival of our soon-to-be nephew, Cooper Aaron Hall. I hosted a baby shower, along with four other girls, for Kyle/Erin and it was a success. There were about 50-60 people there and was so much fun (however, a bit cold!). I can’t believe my brother is going to be a dad soon. Very, very cool. I can’t wait to watch them love a little dude they way we love our girls. And, I am so excited to love on him as well! That weekend, we also enjoyed two separate breakfasts with both Susan and Kendall. I am so blessed to have such wonderful, long-time girlfriends and I miss them both dearly. I don’t see them near enough!
On a bittersweet note, it was the last time I spent the night in the house I lived in growing up (from 12-18). Trent and I were getting ready to go to sleep and he said, “You realize this your last night in this house.” I sighed and soon had tiny tears rolling down my cheeks. I thought about all the fond memories I had in that house: staying up late sitting on the counters chatting with my friends, all the parties and dinners with my parents, and all the parties they had no idea about (oops!), playing HORSE late at night, learning to drive, playing pool upstairs, church dances, school project get togethers, lots of laughter, sneaking out (oops!), and the list goes on and on and on. Mom, Dad, and Kyle, thanks so much for those memories. We had our ups and downs, but it was a great place to grow up. I look forward to creating memories in our home so that Brayden and Hanleigh can grow up and smile when they reminisce.
While this month didn’t involve much travel at all (like it usually does), we have been having our own circus of craziness around here. I am not sure if it’s because she is four-and-a-half or because the newness of a baby sister is slowing wearing off, but Brayden has been having Oscar-worthy meltdowns lately…and they are out of nowhere. She can be completely happy one minute, and the next she is lying on the floor screaming and being downright sassy. Usually, this is over something as trivial as us not reading to her correctly or giving her the wrong utensil for her meals. But, wow. It is tiring. Please, please, I hope this is short-lived. However, for the times she is sassy in an unproductive way, she is sassy in a funny way much more. She tells us all the time “that’s ridicleeous.” I feel like we are keeping our pediatrician’s office in business with all the visits lately. March was Brayden’s turn to have an ear infection, and she did. Next month, I’m sure it will be Hanleigh.
Hanleigh has developed her first crush…on telephones. Why am I not surprised that Trent’s kids have an innate love and fascination for technology? Hanleigh’s love is for our cordless home phone. She looks at it, has this huge grin, and then starts chuckling. She also loves her little giraffe, Sophie. They are buds and she uses it to karate chop her other toys. She was 7 ½ months as of the end of March and is a stomach sleeper now. We have to constantly go in her room to flip her back over before we go to bed. Hanleigh is sitting up great without support and has started (finally!) letting us hear some true belly laughs (see video). And, so far, I am about 15 for 15 in giving her baths where she pees in the tub the minute I turn the water on. It’s inevitable and cracks me up. I mean, who doesn’t feel the need to go when they hear water running?
Brayden-isms:
- She told me that her “hula hoo” (hula) girls on her walls are “so romantic.”
- “Mom, butterflies have a butt so they can pee on flowers. Donuts have a butt, too. It’s where the hole is.”
- “Hanleigh is so cute, I could just eat her up.”
- Madonna’s Vogue was on the radio and Brayden said, “Did you like this song when you were little?” I said, “Yes.” She said, “Why?” I said, “Because it’s good to dance to.” She said, “Then why don’t you dance?” So, we did.
- Brayden has a Barbie doll (which I have secretly nicknamed “Walk-the-Streets-Barbie”), but she calls her “Rock-out Barbie” because she wears “rock-out boots.”