All I want for Christmas is you

I just couldn't fit you in my stocking.

Seriously, all I want for Christmas is for Alex to be potty-trained,

and by New Year, we just may be there! He is growing up so fast.

This may be the very last post of my sweet child wearing a pull-up (we can always hope).

Naughty and Nice

I love those rare moments when children do something so sweet, expecting nothing in return.

I suppose God feels this way when he sees us learning to get over ourselves, stop being selfish, and just love one another for no reason other than because we are brothers and sisters.

In this picture, Gage had just been sitting by himself playing with his new toy. Alex went to sit by him, keep him company, and make sure he didn't fall over (sitting is still a new thing for Gage). I hope they are always such good little friends.

Unfortunately, I think I may need to expand my resume from being just a "mother of two" to being a full-time referree once Gage is able to crawl and carry away one of Alex's toys. I'm afraid my skills as an umpire are not yet honed. Any advice is welcome.

In this picture, Alex is sure Gage is trying to take away his cup. Trust me, Gage would touch anything Alex is holding, just to get Alex's attention. At least they are dressed nice.

The Joys of Christmas

David: disgusted with misbehaving kids/fake smile/hates portraits

Lisa: oblivious to children/better at the fake smile
Gage: impatient/sleepy/hungry
Alex: happy/energetic/non-compliant

Merry Christmas,

The "Real" Hardins

Photo Drama

Look at this sweet baby!



It seems like getting a priceless candid photo is no trouble. Now, if only we could get decent family portraits! We had Christmas pictures taken, and I will tell you that it is substantially more difficult to get family portraits when two children are involved, especially two children with ear infections. After nearly 50 photos, we settled on one in which I look like a total goober, but at least everyone is looking at the camera. I'll have to post the pictures here in a few days...I'm tempted to post the "worst of" because they are actually pretty funny.

Bumbo Jumbo

1. Do not allow your child to sit in the Bumbo seat unattended.
2. Do not use Bumbo as a carseat.
3. Do not place Bumbo on hard surface.
4. Do not place Bumbo on carpet.
5. Do not place Bumbo on a table.

With all these silly rules, you'd think someone would have come up with:

6. hey, don't let older brothers sit in Bumbo, get stuck in Bumbo, then repeatedly jump up in the air and land on bottom on Bumbo until it busts apart and the Bumbo has to be duct taped back together for the poor little kid in the family that can't sit up yet.

I think I'll be one of those crazy people who sues the manufacturer. This is right up there with spilling hot coffee on yourself in the drive-thru or returning your computer when it doesn't work because your house has no electricity.

My janky looking (yes, I said janky--it's one of my words that will make it to the dictionary if I keep using it)...now where was I? Oh, yes, my janky looking Bumbo seat duct taped together with black tape is just sad, sad, sad. You can imagine, so no picture is necessary. Alas, I would have thought that seat was nearly indestructible.

Haiku 4 U

Oh, Christmas shopping.
Why do we do it each year?
My Christmas haiku.


I may write in haiku (plural) from now on. It goes along with my tendency to be succint.
Unfortunately, shopping does not.

Messy Messy Messy

Do you ever have one of these days? I guess I should just be glad this is the first time this has happened. So, autumn is here and apparently Alex is not getting enough "sandbox" time.

Yes, this is an entire container of baby formula spread over my poor mother-in-law's guest bathroom. Oh, and if you were wondering, yes, that is a cassette player filled with formula.

How does this happen, you wonder? I'm afraid it's impossible for me to explain without pointing fingers. Let's just say it was not my fault unless you consider my genetic contribution to my son's mischievousness.

To Alex's credit, I never told him it was against the rules to make precious little footprints in Gage's formula and on his grandma Susu's carpets.