Happy Fourth of July

With a new baby at home this year our fourth was pretty laid back. We kicked off the weekend with parade at school. Hannah Claire practiced her marching at home for the big event.

I'm not sure she really needed the practice since she was running on air. The kids marched around the parking lot twice in their red, white & blue. They were loving it and so were the parents. It was so super cute.

Afterwards Nana and Mommy ran inside to see HC.

We pretty much hung out at the house and relaxed the rest of the weekend. Hannah Claire got some quality time in with Wyatt. She loves him so much!

Sunday our sweet friends the Woods brought us some delicious Jim N Nicks. It was great seeing them and their precious baby Preuitt. Wyatt has some growing to do to catch up with him.

We kicked off the actual fourth with what we have been seeing a lot of lately.

Who even knows what it was about. We didn't let it ruin our day though.

Our sweet neighbors invited us over for a firework spectacular in their backyard. It worked out great since we could walk right over and not have to go downtown to see fireworks. All of the kids from our neighborhood were there so HC had a blast. Our neighbors have a lake lot so Daddy taught Hannah Claire how to cast her very own princess fishing rod. They practiced on the back porch that afternoon.

We got there a little later than planned but Dad and HC headed down to the lake to test out the new fishing rod. Hannah Claire casted out once, did a great job, got stuck on some sticks and then had to go tee tee. So her first fishing outing didn't last too long. She is ready to give it a go again soon. After a great fireworks show we headed home for some zzz's. We hope you had a great Independence Day and huge THANK YOU to the men and women who have, do and will serve our country.

Our Life These Hot Summer Days

We have been taking it easy and enjoying have "brother" home with us. Here are some pictures from life as we know it right now. Our sweet Wyatt doing the two things he loves best, eating and sleeping.

Look at those chins! I could just eat them up!

Hannah Claire has to get her loving in too. She loves to kiss Wyatt. She can talk to him and he will stop crying almost immediately. It melts my heart. I pray that they will always be super close.

This little guy will fall asleep anywhere at anytime. He is truly a man after my own heart!

All if fair if you fall asleep within range of your three year old sister. She covered Wyatt up with not one, but two blankets. She also brought him his bear to sleep with and covered up the bear. What a great big sister!

But Who Does He Look Like?

I am never good at telling who a baby looks like. In fact, I can't really even tell with my own kids. However once I looked back at HC's baby pictures I think these two look a lot alike. Which it is funny because I think Wyatt looks more like Shane and HC looks more like me in person. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Just five days after Wyatt's arrival we got to celebrate Daddy's birthday. We could not ask for a better husband or daddy! It may not have been the most exciting celebration ever but we did the best we could for having a brand new baby at home. Dad did get his picture made before leaving for work with his two kiddos.

Once he got home we opened presents. HC had been begging to open them for days so she got in on the action. She takes opening gifts very serious.

Hopefully Dad liked his new power tools and collar stays. Wyatt was not really fired up for the fun.

After a yummy dinner of pancakes and sausage (Shane's choice), he headed upstairs with HC for bedtime while Nana and I attempted to give Wyatt his first bath. Needless to say he did not enjoy it.

Funny story for the day, Nana and I made Shane a white chocolate bread pudding for his birthday. We were going to partake of it after the kids were asleep. While getting Wyatt ready to get in the tub he pulled his quite impressive boy trick. Yep, as soon as we removed his diaper to get in the bathtub (that was placed in the kitchen sink) he tee-teed across the entire island directly into the bread pudding. Not one bite was gone! It was so bad because the entire house smelled so delicious but we could not eat any of it. We are quickly learning, the hard way, how to deal with little boys!

Heading Home

We are so blessed to have such great family, friends and coworkers! Ever since Wyatt's arrival we have been showered with love from so many people. We had lots of visitors at the hospital but we didn't get a picture of everyone. We did get a picture of a special little visitor, Ms. Lilly. She is only two months old and the daughter of one of my very best friends. I am so excited that we will have kids to grow up together (even if we don't see them as often as I would like to).

The dads with their new kiddos. I am so thankful for good men to lead our two families.

We were also showered with some beautiful flowers from Ally and Morgan Leigh (coworkers of mine).

In all of the craziness of Hannah Claire's birth we did not get a picture of her with Dr. McKee, who delivered her. We did remember this time since Dr. Christine actually delivered Wyatt. She has taken such great care of me through two pregnancies now and I would not want anyone else to be my doctor.

We finally got the go ahead to head home on Sunday but since there were so many unplanned deliveries that weekend the nurses were short staffed and we just had to wait our turn. We just kicked back and tried to get a little rest until then. Wyatt even practiced his best elf impersonation.

Once everything was a go we got ready for the trek home. My handsome little boy in something besides his St. Vincent's tee shirt.

Our friend's precious daughter Maggie crocheted this blanket for Wyatt to used when he came home from the hospital. She is so talented and it was such a special gift. It will be something we keep and give to Wyatt when he becomes a daddy.

There was a welcoming committee when we got home. The best big sister ever had made a sign for her new little brother's arrival. HC is a great big sister. I love that girl! She loves her brother!

Last Day as Three

The day before Wyatt's arrival we all played hooky from work and school and spent our final day as a family of three playing. We started off with a belly picture since we kept forgetting to take them. Hannah Claire joined in on the fun.

After some smooches we headed to Chick-fil-a for some breakfast before heading down to the McWane Science Center. Thanks to Rick and Bubba, we had some free passes and we decided to take advantage of them. It was lots of fun and we even got to see friends from HC's school (and her teacher Mrs. Karen) on a field trip there. We had a blast exploring! We started off in the aquarium where Daddy touched a a shark and a stingray. The ladies passes on that experience. HC did get in the mouth of a fish.

After that we headed to the top floor and started making our way down. Up top Hannah Claire played on the playground, walked through a maze, built a ramp for a ball to roll down, showed up some 8 year old kid on a jumping machine, played with a ginormous light bright and even went down a huge slide to the next floor down.

At the bottom of the slide Ms. sassy pants had to pose for the camera.

One of my favorite things is getting to do the weather on the green screen but HC has zero interest in that. She also was not interested in standing inside the tornado this time around. She however was big on digging for fossils. The only problem is that gravel kept getting in her flip flops. Such a diva!

Shane and HC got in the wind tunnel after battling for their turn with a bunch of pushy kids. Dad stood his ground and didn't let the 10 year olds win. HA! Those boys couldn't handle the peak winds at 75 mph. Of course a very strong little girl had to prove them weaklings. She enjoyed it at first but by the end she was holding on.

Down on the first floor was where HC had the most fun. Our little scientist played in the water for a long time experimenting with the test tubes.

We all got into the action at the bubble station. We made some huge bubbles. Daddy and HC even got to stand inside a bubble (until some little hands had to reach out and pop it).

If you ask Hannah Claire what her favorite thing at McWane was she will tell you driving. What she is talking about is driving the space ship. I think she spent more time here than anywhere else. She also got in the captain seat and would not move. The other kids just had to wait.

We still have no idea how this thing really works but supposedly you put on the head strap and move the ball with your mind. Well, HC and Daddy tried it out. Dad was winning at first but HC got her game face on and started moving the ball on Dad.

The bed of nails was a big attraction too. HC tried it out first. She was a little unsure but had no qualms about raising Dad up on them.

The dynamic duo had races with the wheelie things. HC was two for two in her victory over Daddy in these races. The girl is good, what can we say. Ha!

We had a blast spending time with Hannah Claire before Wyatt made his grand entrance. I can't believe that our sweet baby girl is now three and a big sister! Where does the time go? We are so thankful for Hannah Claire and the blessing she is to us as her parents.