What's new? Not much.

There are not a lot of new and exciting things going on in the Usher House. But since I haven't updated in a while, I thought I'd post. Hampton is talking a LOT now! He picks up new words everyday. He is learning people's names too. That is so cool! This morning, he was looking out the window at our pool guy calling "Abel!" So cute.

This weekend, we had fun playing in Hampton's "new-to-us" tent. Lexie even got inside!! The pictures are a little blurry, but you'll get the idea.

I have accepted the role of Nursery Supervisor at our church. It has been demanding but lots of fun. We rearranged the nursery and implemented the use of several forms and policies. So far, everything has been well-received and seems to be working well.

Hampton has been having sleeping and bedtime issues lately. For a while, he was screaming when we'd put him to bed. When I say screaming, I mean SCREAMING (it's a wonder the neighbors didn't call the police for abuse)! He got over that, and now for the last couple of nights, he has awakened in the night crying. Last night, I brought him to our bed, and wow! I don't want to do that again! He stayed awake for an hour after coming in the room, and then he flails and flops around like a wild horse! Neither Clint nor I slept well last night. And he woke up SO early this morning. Tonight will be a battle, but I must be strong and break this cycle. UGH.

At the end of this month, we'll be flying to Birmingham for Erin and Caleb's wedding. We can't wait to see everyone. Lots of people in Clint's family haven't seen us in a long time - long before we moved. So it'll be good to catch up. Mom and Dad will get to come too to see us before we have to fly home. It'll be a short trip, but we're looking forward to it.

I think when we get back, it'll be time to revisit the "potty training" topic. We'll see...

So maybe we DO have a lot of NEW going on! I guess with an almost-two-year-old, there's always something new!

Haircut time!!

I've been letting Hampton's hair grow, wondering what to do with it. His hair got really long, and since he has both Clint's and my hair genes (straight as a board with lots of cowlicks!), it was starting to look really rough! He was working on a pretty nice mullet, so we had to intervene! :-) My friend Tami came over and cut it for him, so this was his first haircut at home. He was so still and relaxed! Here are pictures in progress...

BEFORE

He's hypnotized by the clippers!

Bye Bye Mullet! Now, on to the bangs...

THE FINISHED PRODUCT!! I love it! What a difference from the "before" picture!

Doesn't he look like a little man (other than the drool on his chin)?

Catching Up AGAIN-June 2009

The last time I posted, I was behind and posted a lot of things...well, here I am again!!! I'll be posting several entries today, so check them out. I will try to get better about posting more regularly so I can stay up-to-date. Hampton is growing by leaps and bounds, and we are dealing with all the "growing pains" that come with that. We are trying to learn to deal with his new little attitudes and figuring out how to understand his stretch for independence. Welcome to parenthood, right? Clint and I have determined that we need to just hold on tight because, as he put it, we're only about 10% of the way through our parenting responsibilities, so the road is going to be a long one! Hampton is such a sweetie, though. We have lots of fun watching him and interacting with him as we're on the "road" together!

I missed my DADDY!

When Clint got home, Hampton could not keep his hands off him! He missed him so much. It was great to see him so excited to see his Daddy!

AL Vacation II - Hanging with the Fam

This is my cousin Griffin. I loved reading books with him!

"Whussup?" I was wearing Griffin's Bama hat. I'm not so sure I like it...

Mommy calls this my GQ look. I'm not sure what that means.

I think this is my GQ look! I can't wait to swim in these goggles...

Me and Unka Jerl. He's my buddy!

AL Vacation I - Boys State

We had a great trip to Alabama recently. We flew in as a family, but Clint spent the week in Tuscaloosa at Boys' State. We drove over on Sunday evening to hear him speak. It was GREAT! This was Hampton's first Boys' State (well, he went 2 years ago when he was still in my belly!). He listened very intently as his Daddy spoke and was very still. He even got to pose on stage with Daddy for a "bowtie" picture in front of the big flag! Hampton's cousins Justin, Griffin, and Graysen came with their mom Jennifer Usher (Aunt Nenny). Also, Hampton's grandparents PawPaw and MawMaw and Uncle Gerald (Unka Jerl) came. Daddy wasn't smiling in any of the pictures because he was a little nervous before his speech (but he's not too much of a smiler in pictures anyway!). We had a great day together!

Catching up...

It's been a WHILE since I've posted, so I'm catching up. I am posting 3 new entries today, so check all of them out. We've been busy this month. Clint's been working long hours, and we have had a lot going on. All good stuff, thankfully! Clint is taking this Friday off so we can go to the beach together as a family, so stay tuned for pictures from that day. Also, at the end of this month, we're going to Alabama, then we will have friends visiting in early June. We can't wait for all that is to come!! This is a cute video that I thought you would enjoy - it proves that we are a little crazy in our house sometimes...nah, we just have FUN!