Updates and Changes

It has been awhile since I have posted. Our computer died and we were without one for a few weeks. I have a lot to blog about so this will be a long one:)

Tanner went for his 1 year check-up and was 20 lbs 9 oz (19%) and was 29 1/2 inches long (40%). It is crazy how different our two boys are. Hayes weighed more than that at 6 months! They are each just the right size though :) We are trying to get some weight on Tanner which is proving to be difficult. He is now on rice milk since he is allergic to milk and so far is not really interested in anything I give him to eat. He throws most things on the floor. He had a really bad allergic reaction a couple of weeks ago, although we don't know what is was a reaction to. He woke up one Saturday morning broken out in a really bad rash and his eyelids were swollen. It started on his face but by the time we got him to the doctor it was all over his body. Poor baby!




We went back to the allergist but there is no way for them to figure out what it was so we will just keep a close eye on him and hope it doesn't happen again!

We also took Hayes to the circus for the first time. B gave us VIP tickets for Christmas. We were so excited but weren't quite sure how Hayes would do. We invited Anne to come along and we all had a blast! Hayes loved the elephants and tigers and especially the motorcycles and clowns. He is still talking about it. Here are a few pictures from our night under the big top.


Hayes got to sit on a motorcycle before the circus started. He loved it and did it 3 more times and didn't want to get off!

Here Hayes is trying to call the elephants with his wonderful elephant imitation and his light stick that Anne got him



Waving to the clowns


One of the many pictures I took of the elephants

Thanks B for the great seats! We had a blast!

We had a big change in our house recently. We are now pug-free. It was a very hard decision to get rid of our sweet babies but ultimately we decided it was best for us and them. Quan went to a wonderful foster home and seems to love it there. He is sleeping in the big bed with the couple that is fostering him and their 3 other dogs. Tootie and Rambo went together to a foster home that have 3 other pugs and we also got a report that they are happy and love playing with the other pugs there. We just hope they get adopted by a great family and have a happy forever home. Here are some pics of them before they left.

Quan



Rambo and Miss Tootie



We really miss them but we know it was the right decision. Luckily the boys are too young to really understand or ask any questions.


Hayes has really been into finger painting lately. I think he just loves to get dirty! He also likes to get the crayons out but he just wants me to color and draw pictures of what he tells me. He is a little bossy! Here he is fingerpainting last week.

Getting ready to start his masterpiece


Concentrating...


All done!


One of the many finished products



We are getting ready for Valentine's Day. Hayes had a party at school today but I will save those pictures for the next post. I think I have done enough for this one!

ONE!

Tanner is one! I cannot believe how fast time has gone. It seems like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. I feel like time froze at about 4 or 5 months and I still see him at that age. I hate that he is growing up so fast but he is so sweet and so funny that I can't wait to see how he grows! We had a party at Chick-fil-A today and he loved running around with the bigger kids. He also loved having everyone sing Happy Birthday to him and surprisingly loved his cake. Here are some pics from the party.

Christmas Fun

We had a wonderful Christmas. The festivities started early this year. Our first celebration was a neighborhood Christmas party at the poolhouse. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there. As you can see neither of the boys were interested in sitting on Santa's lap.

Tanner did have fun practicing his standing while we were there. Hard to believe it is just a few weeks later and he is now walking everywhere!

Our next stop was the Alabaster Christmas Parade. It was freezing but we had fun.

Hayes was fascinated by the parade

The next thing on the list was picking out our tree. Hayes isn't sure this tree is the right one for us

Then Anne came over to exchange presents. Tanner couldn't wait to open his

They also wanted to help Anne open her presents

Hayes got some Thomas trains and couldn't wait to play with them. He is very serious about lining them up just right

Tanner got a cute hippo that gobbles up blocks when you push it. He loves pushing it around the house!

The boys got to open one present each on Christmas Eve. They both received Christmas pajamas and a new Christmas book. Hayes loves his Frosty the Snowman book

And Tanner looks excited about his new big boy pajamas

Here are my two sweeties under the tree on Christmas Eve

Tanner checking out his new phone. Now he can stop using ours :)

He also loves his new horse Legacy

Hayes got a new train table and both boys love it!

The day after Christmas John and Phoebe came over to exchange presents. Hayes and got Tanner got a play tent with tunnel to crawl through. Hayes is hiding in it but won't let anybody else in


We had a great time celebrating Jesus' birth. It is so wonderful to see Christmas through the eyes of children. We hope you all had a great Christmas too!

Two Things to Melt My Heart

Walking on Sunshine

Playdates, Playdates

A couple of weeks ago Heather was off work so she and Claire met us at Chick-fil-A for lunch and then we went to the park. We have not seen them in so long so it was such a treat. I wasn't sure how Hayes would do since he hasn't seen Claire in a while but they played so well together! Joey and I think Claire is just the cutest thing ever and it is obvious from these pictures that Hayes thinks she is pretty cute too! He would hold her hand to help her cross the bridge and gave her lots of hugs when it was time to go. They were so sweet. Tanner loved playing with them too and hopefully will be walking soon so he can participate more. We are all so busy that it is hard to get together but hopefully we can make more time in the future. The kids had so much fun!

"Hayes, I need help crossing the bridge"

"No problem Claire, let's go"

"Hang on tight!"


All 3 on the swings


Crazy Tanner!


What do you do on this thing?


Tanner wants to do everything big brother does


Playing with pinestraw



Claire giving Tanner a sweet hug




3 Cuties


Time to go but still holding hands :)



Sweet hug and maybe a little sugar



I think Hayes has a new best friend. Barrett lives in our neighborhood and is only a few months younger than Hayes. He has been over several times to play lately and earlier this week we went with him and his mom, Ashley, to Books a Million to play with the train table and then went to Chick-fil-A to eat lunch and play. They have a lot of fun together and are both into cars and balls so they get along well. It is so nice to have them so close by. The boys can play and Ashley and I can sit and watch and talk. Conversation with another adult--I almost forgot what it was like! Here are a few pics of Barrett and Hayes playing together.

Riding the John Deere tractor


Everyone has to push something down the street. I push Tanner in the wagon, Hayes pushes his little wagon and Barret got creative and pushed the cooler!


Getting ready to slide


Playing in Barrett's new circus tent. This was a big hit!




The boys playing basketball


Good defense Hayes!


Chasing Barrett