First Hewitt Thanksgiving

What a big year for the Hewitt's and the most exciting part is starting all of our family traditions!  Thanksgiving is the first of the major holidays we were able to celebrate as a new family.  Unfortunately, we were too far away to join any family this year, but it was nice being able to have it - just the four of us - and create some of our own traditions.

No one ever tells you when you are married that holidays are one of the odd times of the year that you truly have a fixed idea of what has to be or else its "not really Thanksgiving" or "not really Christmas."  What I mean is that, at Thanksgiving, I have found out that what food is served and how it is cooked is what makes it "Thanksgiving."   Ours was no different and Will and I having to come to some sort of middle ground of what would be served was an interesting endeavor at that.  He wanted broccoli casserole and cornbread stuffing.... I wanted candied sweet potatoes and cranberry jello salad...Will wanted cranberries out of a can (i mean REALLY??? a can??...pshaww!).  So, after much debate, we finally settled on OUR family menu: smoked turkey, cornbread stuffing, broccoli casserole, cranberry jello salad, candied sweet potatoes and cherry pie (to which I had no idea that Will hated cherry pie...fail).

Will received a new smoker for his birthday (yay me!) and this would be our first use of it.  I should've known....the turkey came out a little well done, at least on the white meat part (which is the only part I'll eat).  But, none the less, it was still tasty and he did a great job!  He stayed up all night cooking the turkey and slept on the couch.  So sweet!

obviously she wasn't happy the sign was on her head...or that she couldn't partake in dinner!

Also, while on Thanksgiving break we decorated our first Christmas tree.  First we were going to decorate the fake tree and then realized in our new home, it looked rather tiny.  So, in the true spirit of Christmas, and Will missing getting a live tree from his dad's garden center... we did the next best thing and purchased one from Home Depot!

Can't wait until Christmas is here and we agree upon which traditions to start on Christmas day! So much fun having a new family with a new baby and doing everything together as a first!

Merry Christmas ya'll!

Wilkes' 2nd Star Day

I'm a little delayed in this post as this is about Wilkes' November star day.  But, hey, two kids, a job, a house to keep running, who has time for blogging?!

This month's Star Day theme was "Favorite Stuffed Animal."  Wilkes decided to take Spiderman, which technically isn't an animal, but it is a stuffed toy, so we met 1 out of 2 requirements.  So, when he got to show the class his favorite stuffed MANimal, he told them it was his favorite b/c he got it at a fair.

The class then gets to ask questions to Wilkes about it and he explained to me that if someone asks the same question as someone else or asks a question that he already gave the answer to when explaining why it is his favorite then he gets to tell them "sorry, someone already asked that question" or "I already explained that."  This is apparently to promote better listening skills amongst the kindergartner's.

Some of the questions he was asked were:

Q: Do you sleep with him at night?
W: No, I don't. I just like him a lot.

Q:Do you play with it?
W: I did a long time ago

Q: Where did you get it?
W: I already answered that. At the festival.


Next month's Star Day theme "Favorite Game"

Hadley is 4 months!

Oh sweet Hadley, I cannot believe how fast time is flying by!  I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in the hospital anxiously awaiting your arrival and now you, my baby girl, are 4 months old!  Here's a look at what has happened to you this past month.

YOU

• weigh 13lbs 12 oz!!!
• give "kisses" by just opening your mouth right on mom and dad's cheeks (sometimes you lick!)
• reach out and grab anything that's within your reach, especially if its colorful.
• scream, little happy screams and like to hear us scream back
• sit on the table in a bumbo chair
  
  
  
  
  
  
• smile back and someone who smiles at you
• kick your feet against anything they touch
• chew on anything in your hands
• love to have your calves and legs massaged when your upset
• love Fleetwood Mac and when mommy sings their songs to you.  Your favorite is "Songbird".  And much like mommy you dislike any of the songs sung by Stevie Nicks.
• received your first exersaucer but are very unsure of it.  I think it is because your little legs are still a tad too short to reach the ground so you aren't sure what to do! 

  

  your thanksgiving bib

The Hewitt's Go North

What an eventful weekend we just had!  After about 5 visits from my brother and sister-in-law down to see us, our family was due to return the favor and venture up north to their homestead in Green Bay. There was a big build-up to this trip.  Wilkes had been waiting with baited breath ever since we set the date, mainly because my brother had told him about this Wildlife Sanctuary that had a slide that made you feel like you were going under water. That's all he could talk about.

My brother & Tiffany were nice enough to invite Tiffany's niece and nephew down to play with Wilkes for the weekend.  So, they we were, 4 adults and 5 children.  OUTNUMBERED!  But, they all had a great time.  Wilkes and Maddie (5) really kicked it off and by the end of the trip Wilkes was crying having to leave and Maddie told that she was "really going to miss him."  Each night we fell asleep to the kids playing and talking in the tent downstairs.  Will and I were even able to sneak in a mid-afternoon nap on Saturday and this is the conversation between Wilkes and Maddie that I fell asleep to.

Wilkes:  No, you go in there b/c I have to rescue you
Maddie: No, your going to pretend to be my father
Wilkes: NO! I'm the guard and I have to rescue the princess, so you stay here and I'll make Bryce pretend like he is coming to take you away

Wilkes with his bow & arrow he used to save the princess

(I give Wilkes props for standing his ground.  Father and love interest are two VERY different roles and he knew which one he wanted :) )

We did lots of other fun things too! We took the kids fishing, they saw all kinds of animals at the Wildlife Sanctuary (however upon arriving we found out the slide was broken so no under water feeling for us), we went out for ice cream and pizza, and played on the property with the sheep!  The Sanctuary even had a mini-playground with a rope type thing that looked like a spider web.  Of course Wilkes had to pretend!

Hadley is 3 months!

Dear Hadley,

These past few weeks have been a full of excitement for you.  Here's what happened! :)

YOU

• Weighed 12lb 4oz and measured 23.5 inches at your latest doctors appointment.  Which means no weight gain for you but a whole 1.5 inches!
• have successfully completed your first full month at daycare and you love it and they love you! It makes mama so happy to know you are so spoiled during the day. But, mama still has a hard time being away from you! I definitely have my days at work where I just want to be home snuggling you on the couch instead :)
• talk so much! You'll sit and talk to us for 30-40 min in the mornings!
• are beginning to sleep longer and longer.  We had a few nights where you slept 6 hours in a row!
• are starting to watch TV with big brother Wilkes.  The colors fascinate you. 
  
  
  
  
• are very close to being able to roll over.  You've perfected the "scoot" and we often wake up to find you completely 180 from the position we laid you down in.  Unfortunately for mama this typically means I get the feet or butt in the face while daddy gets the baby! (seriously, you need to learn to not kick the hand that feeds you, literally)
  
• definitely recognize mom and dad.  We can get lots of smiles out of you now!
• Have had your first trip to the Apple Orchard.  It's the same Apple Orchard mommy grew up going to all her life! I loved being able to share that with you.  Grampy certainly wouldn't put you down!
  
• watch with big eyes to figure out how everything works 
• can't keep your hands out of your mouth! No matter how hard we try all you want to do is suck on them. 
• just started eating rice cereal with your milk.  I am not quite sure if you are all about it yet or not, you drink it so fast but are so fussy after!
• Look just like your mommy when I was your age.  Only you will decide if you like that or not when you're older!
  
• LOVE your activity play mat.  We can leave you to play with it for about 20-30 min until you've decided you've had enough.
• Have  discovered that we have pets and you like them!  You let Jax give you kisses all the time and don't get angry anymore :)  He loves you, even if you did steal his spot on the couch!
  
  
  

Wilkes wrote his first book

Ladies and Gentleman I now present to you from the most esteemed and creative Wilkes Hewitt, "I have a Monster under my bed"

Cover Art

"I know I have a monster under my bed"

"I can hear him when I sleep"

"Then I told my mom"

"But I know where he is at night"

"I think the monster eats my parents"

"Then I heard 'ho ho ho'"

(Ho Ho Ho is the evil laugh of the monster)

"I do not know much about him"

"oh, I think the monster wants to eat me"

"I want the monster gone"

"I know something"

"The end"

Wilkes brings home his bear

Ahhh!! It was a BIG day in the Hewitt home yesterday. Wilkes' brought home his bear from Kindergarten.  Now you may be asking, why is a bear such a big deal? I'll tell you why :)

At his new school each child is given a blank bear at the start of the year.  This bear hangs on the wall and as the kids accomplish certain tasks they get to glue that accomplishment sticker onto the bear.  These are all things that are considered "staples" that a kindergartner should know, such as: ABCs, colors, how to zip, snap and button, write your letters (big and small), your address, your phone number, your birthday, and last but MOST important, HOW TO TIE YOUR SHOES!

For Wilkes, this was the last one he had to master.  What is so great about it is that yesterday morning before we left for school he couldn't tie his shoes and when I picked him up, he could!  He said it just "clicked".  We are so proud of him, not only did he get a late start on his bear (since he joined a month late) he finished before some of the other kids in class.  He's so smart!

He was very excited to show us the bear and EVERYONE else that he knows.  Once we got home from school he immediately ran over to our next door neighbors house, The O'Reilly's, to show them (as their kids had the same teacher as Wilkes and they understand the importance of this).  We then had to text all the family members in TN to show them.

It all just happens so quick, one day they are tying their shoes, the next he'll be going off to college!

Our day at the Apple Orchard

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to bring Will, Wilkes and Hadley to Edward's Apple Orchard. Going to Edward's was a family tradition of ours every fall when I was little and I have so many photos of me picking apples and riding the pony rides, that I was VERY excited to get to share this with Wilkes.  The day started off with Wilkes coming out of his bedroom dressed like this (obviously appropriate apple picking gear):

Once we arrived at the orchard, first thing Wilkes wanted to do was ride the ponies.

 

Wilkes' Star Day (October 2012)

Every month at Wilkes' school they have a Star Day.  Each child has their own star day and today was Wilkes'.  The purpose of Star Day is so the kindergartner can bring in something special to them and tell the class about it!  But each month has a theme.  This month was books.

So, when Wilkes started at St. Cornelius and found out about his book Star Day he immediately began planning what book he was going to bring.  Of course this was 20 days out from his star day, so he first chose The Berenstein Bears.  Then it was Elliot and the Goblin War, but I let him know that book was too long to read in class over snack time.  Then it was The Cat in the Hat and finally, today, we settled on The Lorax! And it was special to Wilkes' b/c he loves trees and so does Dr. Seuss!

They also have to bring in a snack for the class and Wilkes, being Wilkes, had to bring Super Mario and Spiderman gummies.  When I asked him how his Star Day went he said, "Great! Tomorrow is Sophie's star day.  She's my girlfriend.  She'll be at the Boo Bash Friday.  They have dancing at the Boo Bash, I think I'll dance with Sophie, but not romantic."

He then proceeded to tell me he fell in after care off the scooter.

and FINALLY, in conclusion to Wilkes' first star day, he wanted to dress in Jax' halloween costume!

Molly & Will Get Married!

What a whirlwind of a year it has been for Will and I, but we were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate and end our 1 year anniversary by saying the words, "I Do!"

I'm going to start at the beginning because I realize that many do not know the story of Will and I and I'd like to document it for Hadley and Wilkes to read when they are older.

It was end of September 2011 and I was living in Nashville.  The lease on my apartment was up and after many a battle with this particular complex over my dogs I decided the best option was not to renew. But, this left me in a really tough spot b/c I was really unhappy with my job and I wasn't wanting to sign a lease to commit to another year. I had been interviewing back in Illinois and knew that I would likely end up receiving an offer.  Luckily, my friend Brent and his wife had an extra room in their home and kindly offered to let me crash in it until I figured out what I was going to be doing.

Enter Will.  We both had gone through a period of not really dating anyone, not really sure what we were looking for, just kinda out there in the dating realm sort of time.  We both had put our profiles up on a dating website with not much luck of meeting anyone suited for anything besides friendship.  Will emailed me first and we sent quite a few emails back and forth.  Him always trying to convince me that I should come hang out sometime or stop by the shop.  I told him that it was best we not meet b/c I was most likely going to move back to Chicago anyways and what was the point.  He told me "Well, just meet me, maybe I'll give you a reason to stick around."  Little did he and I both know that 6 months later he would be moving with me to Chicago!

I finally gave in and met him and Wilkes at Pinkerton Park in Franklin on my moving day.  They offered a nice break from the madness and my procrastination of packing. I remember leaving there thinking "this guy is going to think I am crazy b/c I talked his ear off and he barely got a word in!" But, that wasn't the case and Will, being Will, kindly offer to help me pack and move my things into my new temporary housing.  And, that is where it all began.

A few months later we found out we were having Hadley.  Then I found out I lost my job and received the offer for my current job in Chicago a few days later.  It was such a stressful time for us deciding what was the best thing to do.  We finally decided we needed to move to Chicago and Will being the trooper that he is, closed down his mechanic shop and decided to join me.

Fast forward to May and Will and I had been doing  long distance b/c he still hadn't found a job in Chicago yet.  So, he and Wilkes were going back and forth from Franklin to Chicago so that he could still do side jobs and make some money to help us prepare for Hadley.  It was so hard on the both of us.  We had this growing family on the way and had to be apart.  So Will, I assume, just wanted to start our lives as one as quickly as possible.  He bought a ring and one morning, while he was in town visiting, he proposed.

It was so sweet how he did it and thinking back on it now I have to laugh b/c I should've seen it coming but I didn't. I was in the shower getting ready to go to work and he was brushing his teeth or doing something in the bathroom too.  I get out of the shower and I'm getting ready and he's just hanging around next me making tasks he's doing last longer than they should've.  I was thinking "why won't he just hurry up so I can have room to get ready!"  And, as I go to pick up my tooth brush there was a piece of paper rolled up in tooth brush holder with a ring on it and it said "will you be mine forever?" and I turn around and he asked me out loud to marry him!  OF COURSE!!!!!!

Our plan was to be married prior to Hadley coming but so many things happen before a child arrives and life was chaotic that we didn't have the opportunity.  So, her birth comes and goes and we are sitting there saying "why have we not done this yet!?"   So, we made an appointment at the court house and so on Sept. 13, 2012 we went over lunch and were married.

YAY US!

The 20 Sleeping Faces of Hadley

As you may very well know babies sleep a lot. And, our little Hadley is no exception.  Except, she sleeps with FLARE.  We've all been known to make a funny face or be caught drooling while we sleep, but I've captured Hadley in 20 unique sleeping positions.  I can't wait to show her future husband this blog and find out if she continues to sleep this way when she is 40 (b/c she is only allowed to be married then!).  It also explains why my stomach would literally shift drastically from side to side when she was still in my tummy!

Fresh from the hospital, you loved sleeping curled up in my neck

Ah! You caught me, hands up!

Cuddling with Jaxon while doing the wave

If you won't hug me all the time, I'll just hug myself

hmmm, I think I prefer the Pampers vs those Hippie diapers from Uncle Brian

Stop taking my picture mom

You better change me b/c if I have to do this its been too long!

my feet are cold. Thanks Jax for the use of your mouth

just sucking my thumb

oh I have a headache!

God bless mommy and daddy and big brother Wilkes!

zombie!

out cold

smooshed face!

I will take up this whole king size bed, don't you dare me!

mommy is so comfy