Landon Update

Landon has made big improvements over the past few days. He is finally on the up and up. Last week got really rough and we had him back at the doctor two more times. He was throwing up constantly and gagging every time we tried to give him his bottle. We almost took him to Children's but the Doctor convinced us that we did not need to do so. Dr. Frank said he had so much mucus in his lungs that this behavior was normal. He gave us a good scare but finally started to improve as of late Thursday. He is now off the nebulizer and has been keeping food down and acting like his normal jolly self!! He is still a little raspy but hopefully that will be gone in the next few days.

Ava breaks her record!!

Ava finally broke her record!! She has been working on this for weeks and never got pass 20 blocks stacked before they came crashing down. Well...she finally got 22!! Good job!!

Landon's New Accessory

Gosh darn it...this winter has been such a pain for us Hampshire's this year. There has been someone sick non stop for the last few months in this house!! Well this time it is Landon's turn and he was sure to top us all! On Tuesday night he started with a fever of 102 and throwing up twice. Then on Wednesday morning he seemed to be doing better...no fever but then started with a horrible cough later that day. His lungs sounded like there was a truck in there. For the second night in a row he was up all night screaming crying so I new this poor baby was not doing well at all! I took him to the Doc first thing Thursday morning and they tested him for RSV (negative) Strep (negative) the Flu (negative) ear infection (negative) so they said it was just a nasty cold. There is so much fluid in his lungs (that is why he sounds like a truck when he breathes in and out) they said we needed to put him on this breathing machine 3 times a day for 15 minutes for a week. Well we are on day 3 of the machine and no major improvements yet except for that he is finally sleeping again! His lungs do sound a little better but he is still miserable. It makes my heart hurt to see kids sick especially a baby that you can do so little to make it better! We are just cuddling him a lot and dancing around being silly to make him smile. Get better sweet boy...xoxo!!

In the Pool...Life is Cool!!

Yay!! Ava is finally back in the pool! I was so bummed when pool season was over because this child is definitely a fish in the water...she loves it! Thank goodness because I don't know what you do in Dallas during the summer months without a pool! So, Suzanne and I enrolled the kids back in swim lessons at Emler in a class where we do NOT have to get in the pool with them! Thank the lord because I am not ready to get back in a swimsuit yet. The kids did great and I am so happy to see her back in the water! Next up is Landon....

Ava and Nicolas

Look Who's 6 Months!

I can not believe you are 1/2 way to your 1st Birthday!! I feel like you were just in my belly and made your presence to the world...and in the blink of an eye you are already 6 months!! You are such a fun loving, happy and easy baby with the most adorable big blue eyes. It still amazes me that I had two kids with white blonde hair, big blue eyes, and the most beautiful ivory porcelain skin. Everyone is amazed by the permanent smile you always have on your face. You love to watch and observe everything we do whether it is cooking dinner, cleaning, watching Ava on a mission, daddy's crazy behavior of jumping and hollering at the t.v. for whatever sports game or when I blow dry my hair. Your big blue eyes light up every time someone new enters the room...especially your sissy. All Ava has to do is look at you and you start laughing! You eat like a horse...I have never seen a baby eat as much cereal, fruits and veggies and then down a 7 oz bottle like you do...and you have the rubber band rolls to show for it!! We love every inch of them! You love to grab your feet and put them in your mouth and it is one of the cutest things I have ever seen.
You are super easy to put down at night and actually talk yourself to sleep...but you let us know every time you wake up!! We are starting to not feed you every time you wake up but just let you know we are there. It is tough but we all need to start sleeping a little more!! You love to stand up and jump in your jumper....sometimes you jump so hard you fly around in it and love it!! You started sitting up on your 6 month birthday...you are a little flimsy but getting stronger at it everyday. You know you have accomplished something because you sit there looking up at us with the biggest smile. You just started getting up on your knees and rocking back and forth yesterday...as excited as I am for you it makes me extremely sad to see you grow out of being a baby!! We love you so much and are so very blessed to have you!

6 Month Stats:

Weight: 20.13 lbs 93%

Height: 28 inches 90%

Head: 17.25 inches 50%

Barney's Birthday Bash!!

My mom got Miss Ava tickets to see Barney LIVE in action for one of her many Christmas presents. It amazes me that this big purple dinosaur has been around for 20 years and is still as popular as ever...by kids that is. For many parents, you either love him or well lets say for a better lack of words...dislike him. As I have mentioned before, Ava sings to Landon every morning "I Love You, You Love Me, We're a Happy Family" I mean...it is super cute and who can resist the adorable voice of a 2 year old singing to her baby brother....so Tyler and I walk around the house now singing Barney's classic tunes with his #1 fan!! Ava was so excited to go see him and I was so excited for her!

Thanks Mimi...we had so much fun!!

Happy New Year!!

For many of us, a new year is a chance for us to make crazy resolutions that we never end of sticking with!! A new year brings the anticipation of new projects and developments ahead. It is a time to celebrate change and a chance for new beginnings. The first day of the new year sometimes brings mixed emotions for me...you are celebrating a new chapter as well as saying goodbye to many wonderful things from the year prior. 2010 was a great year....all though many were faced with great trials and lessons to be learned...most people pulled through some very painful life experiences and became even stronger.

We celebrated with a bunch of great friends and all of our kiddos over at Ashlee and Trey's. It was a fun and wild evening filled with laughter and chasing after the kids! I am looking forward to 2011 and everything that lies ahead. I look forward to the unexpected and spending 2011 living life to it's fullest, spending lots of time with family and great friends, watching my kids grow and develop, working hard, exploring, and just being me. I have a feeling this is going to be a really good year! 2011 is the year of the Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac, a year with attributes of gentleness and luck. Happy New Year everyone!!

Lea getting lots of love from the Hampshire's

Nicole and Amy...aka The Smocked Auction Ladies...love you girls!!

Ava and Grey Bay

Do these kids look excited or what?!?!

Look who I found in bed together!!

Amy and sweet Blakely

Happy New Year!!

Santa, Santa please stop here...Fill our Christmas with Joy and Cheer!!

Christmas comes once a year, but I wish it was 365 days so that special feeling lasted all year long. I love the excitement of the holidays...the decorating, the baking, the smell of delicious candles, the sparkle of all the lights, the twinkle in kids eyes, the contagious kindness of people, the anticipation of Santa, Charlie Brown Christmas Specials, festive clothes and jammies, Christmas cards, parties, and sitting around the fire and tree sharing special memories and lots of laughter!
Ava was a hoot this year...she gave herself a pep talk everyday about Santa but when she saw him she would make a mad dash and beg for us to take her home! On Christmas morning she was so scared to come down the stairs because she was terrified that he was down there waiting for her. She refused to go to the fireplace where he had left his crumbs and a letter for her thanking her for the delicious cookies and milk! She would not even open her presents this year...is this the Ava I know?? Landon on the other hand was just hamming it up at all times! He seriously is the cutest butterball I have ever seen!

Christmas Eve

Every year since I can remember we have always spent Christmas Eve with the Durbec's and the Jackson's/Garza's. Ellen, Vicky and Mom have been best friends for over 20 years and between the three of them they have 8 girls!! The group has grown dramatically over the years as all of us girls have grown up...some are married...some are engaged...some now have kids and it keeps on growing! It is so much fun! We all take turns hosting it at our houses and this year our Newly Weds, Emma and Reid, were so gracious to host it! We had such a great time drinking wine, eating a delicious dinner and playing with the kids. We even got a surprise visit from Santa himself!!

Christmas Morning

For the past two years now we have spent the night at Mom and Mitch's on Christmas Eve. My sister and Clayton have joined us as well. It makes it so much fun to all wake up together Christmas morning especially with the kids. This year Mitch's daughter, Amanda, was there too! We have so much fun the night before hanging out by the fire, telling stories and listening to music (and drinking wine)!! We have made a tradition for the past 2 years that we cook a big delicious breakfast with just us and open all our presents together. I love family time especially at the holidays that I really hope we can do this every year!

Christmas Dinner with the Hampshire's

After everyone had naps and rested a bit we then headed over to Tyler's parents house for round 2! Tyler's oldest sister Brooke and Ed flew in from New York...too bad they had to go back to that mess!! It was so nice and relaxing just hanging out except for our little Texas Tornado who had about enough excitement for the next year! She was on her worst behavior and there was no going back!! So unfortunately we did not last long over there and had to pack up and head home for some one's bedtime.

Sleep tight sweet pea and Merry Christmas!!