Monday, July 28, 2008

SO Yummy!




Hunter is learning to use a fork and spoon, and fiercely determined to do it all by himself. Tonight we had broccoli rice casserole as part of our dinner, and the rice was a bit of a challenge for the tiny man. I offered to feed him, but he refused. Apparently, he figured out his own way to solve the problem, as pictured here. :) We will just lick our plate clean, thank you very much!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Welcome to WiiLand!!!



Wii think it rocks! :) We finally got our Wii today (thanks to Mimi who found one at BestBuy), and it's something we have been looking for all summer...they are way too hard to find. But that made it all the more special today when Mimi called and said she had found one~ so worth the wait!

The boys are hilarious to watch in action, and Brian and I are having fun with it too...trying hard not to fight the boys over who gets to play next. :) Can't wait to see Hunter in action~ that will happen before we know it.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Seriously?


Yes, this is my 18-month-old baby standing on our computer desk. I came out of the bathroom today and found him here, happy as ever. We couldn't have picked a better theme than "monkeys" for his room...he is a monkey~ climbing, climbing, climbing. ALL THE TIME.

You would think that with three boys, I would be used to this, but no. Neither Hudson nor Harrison climbed on things. Harrison really never got into stuff at all (he's been a "police officer" from the very start:) ). Hudson has always loved to jump off of things, onto things, etc. All things I could handle better. This is a whole new world. And I'm not quite sure what to do with it. I'm sure taking a picture of him isn't going to help. How that baby loves the camera. :)

Friday, July 18, 2008

All I Can Say...


...is wow. Tonight Brian took me to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert at First Baptist Euless. He knew how much I wanted to go, and am so thankful that it worked out in our schedules to be there. Those of you who know me well know I'm a fan, and have been for as long as I can remember. Not too long ago I posted the story about Steven and his family losing the youngest member of their family, Maria, in a tragic accident.

The Chapman family has been on my mind and in my heart for these past couple months since Maria left here to be with Jesus. I know it has to be God putting them there, prompting me to pray for them...it's not as if I know them personally...but maybe I feel as if I do after following his music for so many years. Not too long ago I began to feel that maybe God was calling our family to adopt a baby girl from China (the Chapman's have adopted 3 little girls, one of whom was Maria, and have started a ministry to help others financially who want to adopt)...my family hasn't jumped on board yet, but I'm trusting that if this is what we are supposed to do, they will. :) Maybe that's where the connection comes from...I don't know.

Anyway, back to the concert. I think this was only his third time to perform since Maria's death, and the first time for him to go solo. It was just him and his guitar, and I loved it. After he was introduced he walked out, sat down at a keyboard, and started talking. He talked about how he doesn't usually play the keyboard, but thought he would be more comfortable having something to hide behind, and how he felt both terrified and excited to be there, as this was his first time to be without his band. Somehow with over 2,000 people there, it still felt like an intimate concert between friends. I didn't really know what to expect...I knew it would probably be emotional, and it was. I wondered if it would be like his other concerts, and it wasn't exactly. And that was okay, of course. I didn't know how in the world he was able to get up there and sing at all. It was a different Steven Curtis Chapman in some ways...still the incredibly talented singer and songwriter, still funny, still all about giving glory to his God...but changed. I both admired and appreciated his transparency, his ability to talk about the valley he and his family have walked through while dealing with their loss. He was honest about his confusion over why it had to happen, talked about how every song he has written has now taken on new meaning. He started with "Blessed Be Your Name" after explaining how that was the song that came to his head, the words he screamed the night of her death. He said now he will never be able to have a concert without singing that song. Once I realized what he was singing, it was all over for me. There were very few dry eyes in the place. He sang some of my favorites, and a new one that I have already grown to love, called "Yours" that included a new final verse that has been recently added b/c of their experience. It was incredible.

I walked away tonight with so many thoughts in my head, so many "take-aways" as my pastor often says. One, none of us are exempt from tragedy ("In this world you will have trouble...John 16:33). Two, God is God, and his plan is perfect, even when we don't get it. And three, make the most of every moment, because no one knows how much time we have to be here on this earth, or how long our loved ones will be here. I left tonight feeling a renewal in my walk with God, thankful for a man named Steven Curtis Chapman, a man who, in the midst of dealing with a broken heart, is a man who is earnestly seeking to love and give glory to his Lord, continuing in the ministry God has called him to. Amazing. Pray on for this man and his family...they will be doing some interviews over the next few weeks on Good Morning America, Larry King, and will be in the August 4 (I think) edition of People magazine. To God be the Glory.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Dance Party


The boys and I have a new favorite thing these days~ getting our dance on. :) I downloaded the song you're hearing (I Don't Want to Be in Love by Good Charlotte) on iTunes, and we all love it. It's great exercise, lots of laughing, and a good chance to perfect some awesome dance moves (hee hee). :)

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Beckham Daniel Bellows


Yesterday my dear friend Linsey gave birth to a punkin-love of a baby boy named Beckham. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and is 20 inches long. Linsey had a smooth delivery, and all are doing great! Big sister Paige could not be more proud, and Daddy Robert is beaming as well.

I was so sad to miss the actual birth, but was happy to get to spend the evening with this new family of four, and to help welcome this sweet little guy. Check him out~ he's pretty stinkin' cute, and looks just like his daddy. :)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Toothless Joe and the End of the Spikey 'Do


We've reached a monumental moment at the Hatcher house today (two, actually). Finally, after weeks and weeks of wiggling, he lost a top tooth today. I told him last week that sometimes the tooth fairy gives more money for top teeth, and that was all the motivation he needed. We'll see what she brings him tonight. :)

Also, you may have noticed in other posts, but Harrison has been growing his hair out this summer. That probably sounds like a weird thing to say about a boy, but those of you who know us well know that he has sported a spikey hairdo since birth. My friend Tomi nicknamed him "chicken head" when he was tiny because his blonde hair has always stood up like a little chicken's. Ever since it has been his signature hairstyle, and we never left the house without it fixed.

After school let out in June, Harrison asked me if he could let it grow out for the summer. Several of his friends have longer hair, and I understand why he wanted to do it. I hated it at first, and told him that we would probably cut it off before school starts. He agreed to that, and now I admit that I'm really starting to like it. He has some natural wave, and it's getting blonder from being outside so much...pretty cute. I'm still not sure what to do with it, but have learned that leaving it alone works best. Here I am losing a little more of my control freakiness.

He's really growing up...who knew that something like losing a tooth and changing a hairstyle could make this mom so emotional...

Monday, July 7, 2008

Life, Liberty, Happiness






This year we got to spend the 4th of July with our very good friends, the Abernathy family. Amanda and I have been friends since middle school, were roommates in college...I really can't remember a time when she hasn't been a part of my life. Even though we have lived apart for almost 10 years, we are always able to quickly pick up right where we left off. I consider her family (including her mom, brother, and grandma) part of my family, and it was so fun getting to spend this holiday with them.

The boys absolutely love going to their house because they love playing with Annalise and Mia, and there are so many fun things to do. The backyard~ swimming, jumping on the trampoline, and more swimming, and they got to play their Wii (that was fun for all of us!). On top of that, we went to a 4th of July parade, a carnival, and of course ended the day with a beautiful fireworks display. I wish you could have heard all of Hunter's "oohs" after each firework went off~ so stinkin' cute. We had so much fun! Thanks Amanda and Ryan for letting us invade your home for a couple days~ it was a trip we will never forget. Between the pictures I took and the ones Amanda took, there are SO MANY (how we both love a photo opp.), but here are some of the best ones...