Birth Announcements

I finally mailed Kellan's birth announcements out.  They were only about 3 months late.  I can share it here with you now! I think they turned out super cute. I know I am biased.  I took the picture myself through the slats in his crib when he was just a week old and picked the announcement from Tiny Prints.  It's this announcement.  I have to say, I have tried other websites for announcements and holiday cards but Tiny Prints just get's it right every time!

T Ball

A few weeks ago I asked Aidan if he would like to play TBall. "TBall? Sure!" he said. We were late for Spring registration but I emailed the commissioner and he was able to get our guy on a team.

Adam grew up playing baseball. I'm not sure who is more excited about the season. He or Aidan.

We stopped in to the sporting goods store in our neighborhood and I stood back as the two of them picked out cleats-the black shiny ones just like Daddy's; a tball bat-blue because it's Aidan's favorite color (today) A few extra pairs of baseball pants-to practice in.  Two gloves.  One for our future MLB player and a new one for Daddy to practice with him. 

For a moment I was envious of their bond over the sport. I wished Aidan would hang on to every word that came out of my mouth like he does his Dads.  Then I thought, I have my time.  I get to be the first person to hear about his school day and  kiss boo boos when Daddy is at work.  This will be their thing and I could never blame them for enjoying the time together so much.  I hope when Aidan is grown he realizes how lucky he is/was to have a father so invested in him. 

The first practice was last Thursday night. It was unseasonably cold here in Charlotte.  Aidan woke up at 6am so anxious.  "What do I wear?" "Is Daddy going to stay with me?" "How much longer until practice?".   I had to break the news he had the entire day to go until practice at 6.  But when the time came, it definitely showed that Adam had been working with him. He caught every thing that came his way and hit the ball off the tee time after time.  Adam was gleaming with pride from the sidelines.  Kellan and I watched from the car. 

We've had a few rainy days and cancelled practices in between then and tonight's practice but the excitement has done nothing less than escalate.   Who knows this could be the start of a true love for the game. 

 

Leaving for his very first practice. 

 

Meeting his teammates and coaches for the first time. 

 

 They broke them up in to groups.  Aidan's group hit off the tee first.

 

They don't even keep score in his league.  But if they did...the other teams would be in trouble. ; )

 

 I found myself saying things to him like "keep your eye on the ball Aid".  I may be a baseball Mom after all.

 

 Throwing the ball with his teammates.

Kellan and I attempted to stand out in the cold but it was unbearable.  Especially in the shade.  

The Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles are all chomping at the bit for the first game of the season to roll around so they can cheer Aidan on from the bleachers.  I think we have a fun couple of months  singing our own renditions of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and eating peanuts at the ball field ahead of us.

 

Batter UP! 

St. Patty's Day

It is amazing to me how much each and every holiday becomes such a source of excitement when you have small children.  Since becoming a Mom I try so hard to do it up for every one of them.  So naturally when St. Patrick's day rolled around, I knew Aidan would have some fun activities at school but I wanted to make it a fun day for him here at home as well.  One of Adam's busiest days at the restaurant is St. Patrick's Day because of the bar crawl so I was planning to be on my own for the day but my Mom surprised me and joined us! 

I dug out something green for us all to wear and we booked it uptown for the parade.  It was so hot but worth standing in the heat to see Aidan enjoy himself so much and get Kellan out in the fresh air!

Kellan and Mommy selfie.  He is looking right at himself on the phone. 

 

Nana and Kellan.  She ended up in a tank top and he ended up in a onesie. I can't wait until everyday is just a onesie day.

 

There was a vendor walking around and I stopped him to buy Aidan some necklaces and saw these and had to have them for the baby.  We got some good laughs out of them. 

 

My sweet boy.  Sporting the exact same hat his Daddy wears everyday.  

 

If you know Aidan, you know he is OBSESSED with Star Wars.  Storm Troopers specifically.  This was probably the best moment of his little life. And I caught it! 

 

Sleepy baby boy.

 

After the parade we made a stop at the restaurant so Aidan could tell Adam about the Storm Trooper and we could grab some drinks.  He loves to visit Daddy at work. It was slammed but everyone thought Kellan was such doll with his little horns and Aidan loved to show him off.  

 

We went back to Nana and Grandpa's for some treats and when Adam got home we went out for Japanese.  Everywhere we went Aidan wished people a Happy St. Patrick's Day and he loved wearing his green.  Throughout the day he acquired about a dozen necklaces, tons of clover stickers, green beverages and several pieces of gold (chocolate).  We didn't have the heart to tell him the real day wasn't until Sunday and let him celebrate until his little body collapsed on his bed close to 10PM Saturday night.  It was a successful holiday in this house!

Date Nights

I was totally unprepared for how badly I was going to need time with Adam by myself when we went from one child to two.  As much as he was probably feeling neglected with my attention being focused on Aidan and a newborn,  I think I was feeling extremely needy of his time and attention too.  Adam really struggled with not wanting to come home from work because of the work awaiting him here with a new baby.  I was doing so much by myself during the day that by the time he came home, instead of letting him help, I would just try to continue to do it all alone and was making him feel like he was in the way. He was definitely having trouble finding his place and that was the opposite of how things went when Aidan was born.  In the beginning I was sort of crazy over protective of Kellan and I was trying so hard not to make Aidan feel slighted that I was exhausting myself.  I guess I wanted Adam to walk in the door and think I was Super Woman. I could do it all!  What I ended up doing was pushing him away when all I wanted was for him to tell me I was amazing. Haha! We're human and that's real life. Right?

We were doing a decent job of carving out some time at night for ourselves. Most of the time Kellan was in one of our arms but we were trying our best to hang out around him. Just check in with each other. I was letting Adam in to our little circle I had created during the days when he was at work.  My parents had taken Aidan for the night on several occasions and a few friends had volunteered once or twice since he was born to sit so we could go out and it was soooo nice.  As much as I missed the boys and wanted to call to make sure Kellan had eaten or napped, I knew I needed to relax and enjoy the time with Adam.  Nothing is more important to this family than a healthy marriage. 

The night we took Aidan to the rodeo, we called my in laws last minute and asked if they would like to come over and watch Kellan. I had planned on taking him with us and just putting him in the Moby Wrap but Adam suggested we ask them (so we could have the night with just Aidan) and to our surprise they said YES!  When we got home, the four of us were sitting around chatting and my mother in law said that she and my father in law had talked about it and would love to babysit ONE NIGHT A WEEK so that we can get out together.  It probably took me ten minutes to pick my mouth up off the floor.  What a gift!  Committing to a free night of babysitting one night a week.  I thought they were crazy and would change their minds for sure. 

Adam and I went to bed tossing around all the fun things we could do together with one night a week just for ourselves!  Trying new restaurants, seeing movies, concerts, cooking classes, wine tastings, catching up with friends that don't have kids, just sitting in the car in the quiet!  I felt guilty leaving the boys one night a week initially and then I thought I really need this. Mine and Adam's happiness makes us better parents and that makes us a better family!

So we've have two dates since then and they've been so much fun! The first week we went out on a Thursday and it was restaurant week so it took forever to eat and we totally missed our movie!  But we made up for it this past weekend and saw "Silver Linings Playbook".   Now I'm trying to convince Adam to do one of those Art classes where you drink wine and paint something.  He wants to get couples massages.  We can do it all!   If anyone has great date ideas, send them my way!!  And if you can convince your in laws to do the same for you, try it!  It feels relationship changing!

 

Selfie from our first date.  Kellan was still sleeping with us at this point so I look exhausted. 

 

Apparently I think I am one of those people that makes cute kissy faces. Not at all the case!  

Movie theatre from Saturday night. 

 

In the movie. 

Then we made out.



 

Thanks Kathy and Rick! We love you and appreciate you for doing this for us so much! 

Fridays in Waxhaw

I've mentioned here before that we have friends that live in Waxhaw and we go out there often on Friday nights to see them.   It's a boys playground for sure.   This week Adam brought BBQ from the restaurant for dinner and even Scout got to come! Aidan has the best time with his buddy Ryland and Adam and I love being away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Even if it's only for a couple of hours.  Plus the company is some of the best! Thanks for having us Caulder's!

A Weekend in the Park

There are several parks close to our house here in Charlotte but the biggest of them is Freedom Park.  After a walk on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway last Saturday morning, we decided we would head over to the park because Aidan was dying for some time on the playground.  We should have known it was going to be packed.  It was such a gorgeous day!  We spent a few hours and then it was home to get ready for our date night.  We decided we had to come back the following day and spend some more time.  So on Sunday, we picked up some burritos, grabbed a couple of blankets and headed to the park for the afternoon.  The fresh air was just what this family needed!  My parents even came out and joined us for a little while.  We laid out a blanket on Hippie Hill and it was the perfect afternoon!

 

The three Harvey boys.  Kellan passed right out on Adam.  Typical. 

Aidan eating his Mexican grilled cheese (quesadilla)

 

Kellan enjoying a nap in the shade while Nana sits with him.  

 

I couldn't be happier about Spring being right around the corner.  We have had some gorgeous days here and it feels like a little more warm sunshine is just what this Harvey family needs.  Every year I am so excited for the winter to come and then equally excited for the warm weather to come back.  This year I've been a bit more anxious for the warmer weather so we can finally get out of the house more with our little man.  I'm dying to show off the rolls on his sweet little thighs! Plus Aidan starts his first season of T-Ball! I can't wait!

Brothers and PJs

 I have been looking really forward to being able to dress Aidan and Kellan alike. Cheesy, I know. I just can't help myself. It's not an easy thing to do because they are so far apart in age that typically I can't find the exact same thing in both of their sizes. As a matter of fact, I've found nothing in both of their sizes thus far. Everything is for when Kellan gets a bit older. I bought a pair of Carter's PJs in 6-12months and 5T. A little big for Kellan but I know they typically fit snug so he could probably pull them off. Plus he's plumped up a bit. I gave them each a bath the other night and then got them ready for bed. Aidan was thrilled he and Kellan were wearing the same thing. I love it! Next up...Easter outfits!

 And I actually took these pictures with my camera. Whaaaat?