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

Hadley is 2 months old today!

I can't believe that our little girl is 2 months old already! Time has flown by.  We just got back from our family vacation to Nashville so that all the relatives could meet our sweet new addition.  Wilkes was such a proud big brother and kept telling his BeBe that she wasn't taking care of Hadley the right way!  Big brother does know best after all :)

As I have promised myself, I plan to write to Hadley every month until she is 1 yr old to help me (and her) remember all her milestones and accomplishments each month.  So, baby girl this is to you.

You

• Weighed 12 lbs 4oz at your last doctors appointment (9/19/2012), that's 4 lbs in 5 weeks!  You were 22 inches long, having grown 3 inches since birth.  You are in the top of your percentiles.  It's no wonder, you drink 4-6oz at a time every 2-3 hours!  Daddy calls you his " little hamhock" but promises to stop by the time your 16. 
• don't mind the diapers changes as much anymore.  Sometimes you even laugh at me when I am changing you as if you know you had a really stinky fanny!
• don't like being left in  room alone and will let us know!
• love to be bounced. Sometimes it is the only thing that will make you stop crying!

•  are starting to find your hands. I'm not sure you have actually "seen them" but you put them in your mouth more often. You still hit yourself in the head. HAHA.
• love "talking to us." We take turns making sounds and you'll coo back and smile really big! 
  
   
• have mastered the pacifier.  You certainly do like it and fall asleep with it.  But, mommy better not touch it while you're sleeping or baby apocalypse ensues!
• Have experienced your first 3 days at daycare and seem rather unphased by the whole ordeal.  Mommy however worked herself into a panic 3 weeks prior to you even having to go (but she was able to drop you off without crying! yay mommy!)
• have mastered what is referred to as the "quiver lip." When you're really upset your bottom lip gets going at the speed of light.  It's so sad to see! Even the daycare ladies have commented that it's been a long time since they have seen one of those (Tip: Don't ever lose that, it may get you that red convertible you'll want when your 16 from dad!)
  
  
  
• love to snuggle