Nitty Gritty updates

I have been going back and forth the past few months about no longer doing this blog.  Its something I want to do so that the boys know all these things about themselves from when they were too young to make their own memories.  And I also want to do it for the family and friends we love who dont get to see them.  But since moving out here, I kind of slowed down with the picture taking.  And the pictures were what usually motivated me to post.  But I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel.  Truth be told, the main reason I am going to try and keep this going as long as I can is the fact that I don't want Hayes to feel slighted.  I want him to have all the same stories and pictures that Parker got of his first 5 years.  So the posts will probably remain spread out a bit but I'm going to stick with it.

So, this week was a big turning point for Hayes.  He moved up to the next classroom at school.  This was contingent upon him being able to walk very confidently on the playground so that he wouldn't end up roadkill when the bigger toddlers were running around.  The big turning point is the fact that this class just takes one nap.  Now, Hayes is a big sleeper.  Almost every day he takes two, two-hour naps.  And he goes to bed at 7 and sometimes doesn't wake up till 8:30.  The boy likes to sleep.  Sleep and eat.  Those are his two favorite past times.  I've been kind of dreading the switch to one nap because I thought that might mean he'd need to go to bed earlier.  I start work in a little over a week and it makes me so sad to think of how little time I'll have with the boys...especially Hayes.  For better or worse, I got used to having limited time with Parker and I know I'll get used to it with Hayes too.  I'm just used to having almost all of my time with Hayes, so that will be a big change.  But fortunately he seems to have taken to the one nap switcheroo like a champ.  Even stayed up till 7 tonight without much fussiness.  And it will definitely be nice on the weekends to have only one nap to work around.

Hayes is a babbling little fool.  So far I think his only clear words are bye, more, daddy, ma (hey ma!) and I think he says brother when he sees Parker.  We call them both brother so much so I guess that makes sense.  He's doing great at school.  Loves his teachers and is still a really happy kid 99% of the time.  He cries when we drop him off still.  I remember Parker doing this until he was almost 2...maybe even older...so I imagine this will last a little while longer.  He's honing in on his squirrel techniques, hiding things all over the house.  Last night he emptied "his" kitchen cabinet and shoved everything under the rocking chair.

Parker is still doing great.  He has orientation for Kindergarten tomorrow night!!  Nate is going to take him so I'll get to hear all about the teachers and other kids when they get home.  I'm excited for him to start Kindergarten.  He just likes school so much and loves meeting new people.  I really think once he's comfortable, he'll really thrive there.

A couple of weeks ago we went with Gretchen, Sam and Gus to pick up Gabe after school.  Gabe is in 2nd grade and he was playing four-square with his friends and some other big kids.  They sweetly invited Parker to join them but he didn't know what he was doing so he kept getting out.  I tried to explain the game but I think having me there just made it worse.  After getting out again, he ran off and hid behind a tree and started crying.  Ugh, break my heart.  I hate seeing him get his feelings hurt.  I also hate knowing that it wasn't because anyone was being mean, it was just because he felt left out since he was the only one who didn't know how to play.  He's just a really sensitive kid.  Thankfully that day I was there to reassure him and play with him.  Next year, it will be some teachers job to do this.  At least I hope he/she does this in our place.   

Here are a few recent pics that include:

• Parker on his new "big boy bike that has two wheels and two pedals."  We've been taking lots of rides lately and Hayes seems to love following him around on the sidewalk at the park up the street.  
• Hayes and his two stuff animal buddies.  Parker has never really cared about stuffed animals and only in the past couple of months has requested that we put a few on his bed.  Hayes, probably because brother has a few, is already super attached to several.  This morning he drug two out to the car.
• Hayes and I recently went to Nashville to visit Lauren and her family.  Emily and Kelli also made the trip so we had a big time!  Hayes and Smith were so funny together.  I'll never forget the night they took a bath together and Smith's response to Hayes' exuberant splashing.  And I finally got to meet sweet Ruby Kate.  She's an absolute angel!
• Parker requests popcorn every time we go to Target and this day on the way home he said, "mommy, do you remember that place in Fayetteville, AR where daddy used to buy his beer and they had the best popcorn?"  He was referring to Macadoodles, which he hasn't been to in at least a year and a half.  The boy has a good memory for popcorn I guess.  
• Last weekend we took a drive out to the coast and stopped at Tillamook for some ice cream on the way back.  Won't be long before we have to get Hayes a scoop of his own because he ate quite a bit of mine and Parker's.