Withdrawal

My computer is broken and at the computer hospital.

I spilled hot tea on it (and myself) the other night.

Now certain keys (like e and a) don't work.

I don't know how long it will be gone.

And I might have to get a new one anyway.

I'm going through withdrawal.

I don't know how I will blog (I'm on my mom's computer right now).

I'll try to take lots of pictures and notes of all the sweet things the kid does and says.

Like today with his new watch and "target" pig (I'll explain when I have pictures).

In the meantime, I'll miss you all.

Don't forget to comment so I know you still love me :)

xoxo,
AHC

Melt

(photo: scottrudkin)

Allen spent the day with Nana and Papa today. He went with Papa to run an errand in Bluffton, and he said,

Papa, will you take me to Target? Is that a deal?

Heart Melt number one. He totally got toys. Papa is such a sucker.

Tonight after dinner we were sitting on the sofa, when Allen climbed up and hugged me and said,

Awww Mommy. I'm so glad you're here.

Heart Melt number two. He totally got lots of kisses.

I love him till my heart hurts.

xoxo,

AHC

Humpty Dumpty and Backyardigans

Pajama Day

I'm a bad mommy. I'm totally ill-prepared for Allen's first school break. We've spent the past two days home all day watching Nick Jr. and snuggling and playing with cars. I wish that I would have prepared better and made some plans for us to do some fun activities, but alas, I'm at a loss.

In my defense, yesterday I had a major allergy attack and was miserable for most of the day (I'm a little better today, but still sneezing). And today Allen was a little under the weather, so we couldn't really be away from home much. But the point is that I had nothing planned. Tell me, wonderful Moms, what do you do with your kids on break? Do you plan special activities, or do you wing it?

Anyway, today was a pajama day. As I said, Allen was a little under the weather, so I was really not able to leave his side for much time. Everytime I told him I was going to take a shower, he whined that he wanted me to stay with him. So I did. Until 3:30. Then I finally showered and got dressed (but didn't do my hair or makeup).

Allen, on the other hand, is still in his pajamas.

He was not inclined to get out of them. He never is, really. We have a daily fight with him to get dressed. Today, I was not up for the fight. Do you ever stay in your pajamas all day? How about your kids? Do you ever let them stay in their PJs instead of getting dressed? Sometimes I wish Allen had Pajama Day at school like my friend H just had (loved that picture, P, by the way).

Not only did we not get dressed today, but we didn't keep the house too neat either.

 

(Allen took this picture)

With all my energy spent on being patient with my kiddo since he was pawing me all day (I'm a human lovey), I didn't have any left over to clean up or even to take pictures. Except for these:

 

In the first picture, he's begging for the camera, and he's saying, "Say fine, Mommy. Say fine." (I hate hearing myself in him). I don't know what he's doing in the second one, but doesn't it look like he's praying?

Well, that's it for today, my friends. Don't forget to enter my giveaway over at the shop blog!

xoxo,

AHC

Stories

(photo: abakedcreation)

Allen and I had a great day at home together today. He was in a particularly good mood, which made me in a good mood (except for the fact that I sneezed 50 million times today).

This morning he counted to "fiveteen."

This afternoon he told Nana and me a story. It was really long, and I don't remember all of it, but I know he borrowed some of it from Backyardigans. Here's what I remember ...

A princess had a gweaming (gleaming) jewel that she brought to the sphinx, but then a dinosaur came and ate me so I couldn't help her.

He went on about the gweaming jewel and the dinosaur for quite awhile, and then this is how the story ended:

Then I pulled my pants down, and I peed.

It was great.

Nana came over after field service, and Allen wanted to know about her day. The conversation went like this:

Allen: So how'd it go?

Nana: Good. I placed a book.

Allen: Ohhhh ... That's so gweat! 

I think he might have told her he was proud of her or happy for her too. He's too much.

On a different note, did you watch the finale of Sing-Off? Did you guess the winner? Was it who you wanted?

Also, visit the shop blog and check out our giveaway. Enter to win (we'll ship anywhere in the United States). Time is running out ... you only have until Thursday at noon to enter.

xoxo,
AHC

Goodbye Brittany

I can't believe she's gone! I've followed her career since she appeared in one of my all-time favorite movies, Clueless. So sad ...

The promised school pictures

What do you think?? Which one is your favorite??

xoxo,

AHC

Bad day

(photo by Doggy Wishbone)

Today wasn't the greatest day.

Allen threw two tantrums this morning. He screamed in my face. I screamed back. It was ugly.

Brian was sad about something, and I didn't comfort him the way I wanted to or should have. It was sad.

I cried, and Brian comforted me. It was sweet.

I didn't get to scan Allen's school pictures, but I will try to do it tomorrow.

Tell me, friends, what do you do when you have a bad day? What makes you feel better?

Hope you have a smashing weekend!

xoxo,

AHC

Allen's Latest Photography

This is me last night at bedtime. Once again, I helped out a bit, by moving myself into the frame, but other than that, Allen snapped the picture on his own. I'm telling you, he's got an eye.

Speaking of pictures, we got his first school pictures today. I'll scan them in tomorrow and show them off to you. They're gorgeous, as all photos of him are. Can't wait to share them with you.

Did you guys take good school pictures, or did you dread that time of year? I always dreaded it, and I think my pictures were good only about 50% of the time. What about you??

xoxo,
AHC

Books and other amusements

I missed my kid a lot today, since after I dropped him off at school, I didn't see him again (really) until after 5:00. Plus the shop was so quiet today! I only had four customers the entire day, and three of them were at the shop between 4:30 and 5:30. So I was very lonely.

Once I did finally get to see Allen and spend some time with him, he climbed into my lap, put his arms around my neck and his head on my shoulder, and said, "I missed you." It was so sweet.

For some reason, Allen is a little obsessed with the wolf in the story of the Three Little Pigs. He likes to say,

I'm gonna puff ... I'm gonna puff ... I'm gonna blow your house away!

And then he gasps twice and blows ("fffffffffffff"), and we "blow" backwards. So we had to do this like a million times tonight before bed. It was a rollicking good time (can you see my sarcasm dripping off the screen?)

In other news, Kristen and I are happy to announce that we are resurrecting the "Book(s) I Read" blog! Click on the link over there to the right to take a look at the newest post. Read it, and then let us know what your favorite children's books are.

In the meantime, have you watched Sing-Off? If so, who do you want to win? If not, you're missing out. It's a really fun show. Plus Ben Folds is adorable.

xoxo,

AHC

Back in the groove

allen's back to school ... and happy about it. really happy about it. makes it really easy for me, which makes me happy.


had some time home alone today. first this morning as i waited for the heating guy to come, and then this afternoon when O took allen to the park. it was great having time to myself to get a little bit done.


i had my first merchant council board meeting this afternoon, so allen was at the shop with mom for a bit. turns out he went upstairs to hang out with his "girlfriends" (H, O, and P live above the shop now ... three girls from the hall who allen adores). while he was up there, he had to go potty and peed a little in his underpants. they took off his wet underpants and put an old pair of P's underwear on him. so allen wore flowered underwear for the rest of the day. should i be disturbed?


so we're watching that show Sing-Off right now. i'm totally smitten with Ben Folds (he's a judge). he's just the most adorable thing with his glasses and his cheesy grin. he's one of my new famous crushes. poor Brian. he's having a hard time keeping up with all of them. i have some pretty strange ones too, like Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs and Mo Rocca. who are your crushes? anyone weird?


xoxo,
AHC

Happy

We tagged along with my parents today, and visited Hilton Head congregation where Dad gave the talk.

Allen was dapper in grey pin-striped pants and matching vest.

And he was over-the-top good for the entire meeting.  Sat down, got his "Bible Book" out, and found his favorite pictures (Jonah and the Big Fish and the story of David killing the bear and saving the lamb).

We accepted hospitality and had a scrumptious lunch at Truffles (side note: I totally typed scrumptious before I even looked at the Truffles homepage ... weird, eh?). I had the Portabella sandwich which was heavenly.

Allen was alternately amusing and atrocious at lunch ... he entertained himself by talking to himself in the mirror behind us, wielding the fork dangerously (and trying to get the steak knife), and "waiting" under the table. He also announced that he had "pink eyes," but that he was all better now. He agreed that Mommy took good care of him while he was sick.

Since we were in the Bluffton area (shopping mecca for us Beaufortonians), we had plans to go to Target, Kroger, and World Market. As we discussed where to go first, I said, "We'd better go to Target first to make the kid happy." To which Allen replied:

I am happy.

Jehovah [God] makes me happy.

Hearts immediately melted. He made out like a bandit at Target.

In the car on the way home, Nana was cleaning off his hands (he had been eating Funions ... he has a strange love-hate relationship with them), and when she was done, he said:

Now I'm good to go.

Too much. Just too much.

Now I sit in bed in a Benadryl haze with the Eagles game on, and my husband next to me watching very animatedly (he talks to the television almost non-stop, and occasionally gestures or dances around ... depends on how well the game is going).

I'm going to go to bed now because I'm getting up to workout with my personal trainer at 6:00 a.m. (yes, I am that crazy).

xoxo,

AHC

Meandering Thoughts

I finally finally finally saw Julie and Julia tonight. Love love love it! Have you seen it? Did you love it too? I thought it was a wonderfully sweet little story, and loved learning more about Julia Child and her husband. What a fabulous marriage they must have had. As a wanna-be writer, though, it made me a little sad to know that I'm not influencing thousands with some fabulous blog that I've thought up. Oh well, I'm entertaining 11 people with the amusing antics of my 3-year-old. I guess that's something too :)

Speaking of the kid, he's still under the weather. Poor little guy. He's been sick for a whole week. Friday to Friday. I hope he starts feeling better soon because I'm getting a little worried about him. The fever is gone, and the Pink Eye nearly cleared up, but he remains quiet, clingy, sleepy, and grumpy. And he has no appetite. He barely eats all day. I'm beginning to miss his normal personality and his funny comments throughout the day.

I've been thinking about starting another blog ... I don't know what it would be about though. Thoughts, anyone? Or maybe Kristen and I should just resurrect the "Books I Read" blog. I don't know ... I'm just feeling the need to write more. What do ya'll think? Your thoughts are appreciated.

What are ya'll up to this weekend? Not much for us ... I have off tomorrow, so we'll probably just spend time as a family. I think dinner is at Mom and Dad's tomorrow night. Then Sunday, Dad has a talk in the Hilton Head congregation, so we'll be going there. After that we'll shop in Bluffton. Target and World Market, here I come!

Hope you all have lovely weekends, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts on my new blog questions.

xoxo,
AHC

Cutest Video Ever

This is the cutest video ever! One of my blog world faves, Leigh over at Marvelous Kiddo, created this video with some help from her friends, and I love it. It totally cheered me up on this miserable day. Thanks Leigh!



xoxo,
AHC

*Sigh*

I don't have a lot to say. I'm too mentally exhausted.

Allen's sick.

He's no longer napping.

We had a shady-looking man behind our house tonight.

First, Allen had some sort of intestinal bug and a fever. Then his right eye got a little red and goopy. His fever broke today, but by tonight, his left eye was really nasty.  So, he won't be going to school tomorrow.

We've discovered that Allen sleeps better (and in his own bed) if he doesn't nap during the day. But that means he doesn't nap during the day. Which means Mommy has no downtime. Which has been difficult for Mommy to get used to. So Mommy is a little grumpy.

Tonight Brian and I went to hear Paul Epstein, PhD -- a Montessori expert -- speak at Allen's school. H & O babysat. He was thrilled. We arrived home to Allen's eye completely filled with goop. Brian took the girls home while I tried to clean up Allen's eye.

Brian walked in the front door (odd, since we park behind the house), and said, "Is the back door locked?" And then said that there was a strange man walking in the alley behind our house. He freaked Brian out enough that he though it unwise to park in back (and make himself a target), so I called 911. Spent a half-hour on the phone with a 911 operator while the police came out and searched around our property. (They didn't find anyone.) And while Allen screamed that he didn't want to get his eye cleaned.

As we walked upstairs, Allen said to me, "Are you sure you don't want me in your bed?" Sweet of him to check.

xoxo,

AHC

PS the picture above is of Allen watching "the video" (Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody).

Sweet boy

I had a rough day today. Between the tedious task of bill-paying (not to mention stressful) and the kid being particularly ornery, my nerves were shot.

Sadly, when I have days like this I tend to take it out on my boys ... well, more specifically on Brian. I don't mean to, but sometimes it happens. 

So tonight, my voice was raised slightly, and Allen immediately came over to me and reached up for me to pick him up. Then he snuggled me, and stayed close to me.

When a few tears were shed. He said, 

"Don't cry Mommy. You're not sad. I want a happy girl. I want a happy Mommy."

And then he gave me a hug. He also patted me on the back during one of those great hugs he gave me.

It made me realize how fortunate I am to have this little guy in my life ... no matter how difficult he can be sometimes.

xoxo,

AHC

P.S. I apologize to my boys for being so grouchy tonight. I love you both like you wouldn't believe.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Kristen shared this video with us the other day. I showed Allen, and now he is obsessed with it.

I wanted to share a video of Allen watching the above, but it's taking forever to upload, so it's not going to happen tonight. But, some highlights ...

He "bocks" like the chickens.

He goes crazy when Animal sings "Mama" and does a pretty good imitation of him.

He sings "gut gwah" at the end instead of "but moi"

I apologize for the lack of video, but I'll keep trying to upload it. We'll see what happens.

xoxo,

AHC