Kissy-Kissy

I'm a little late in the uptake with this Kissy Post, but by popular demand from Nor, I think it's high time I explain the prevalence of kissy pictures in my blog.

There are lots of reasons to include kissy pictures in your blog. One popular reason is because it reminds me of how pretty I used to be. It gives me something to strive for again!




Another reason, is because I feel like these kissy pictures properly illustrate particularly happy memories I have.



There is also no better way to show off your adorable family than to punctuate it with a kissy picture. It's almost like the "Neiner, Neiner" of picturedom.


Kissy Pictures are best when used with small animals or adorable babies. Like mine. See?


Now, the FUNNY thing about my abundant use of Kissy pictures is the fact that I wasn't really brought up in a "touchy-feely" family, per se. In fact, I can't remember the last time I was kissed by my family, and I'm ok with that. It's not like Heather and I embrace lovingly every time I walk in her door, that would be awkward.

I also invite you to notice that there's never any tongue, because that's ugly. So, your challenge, dear readers, is to break out of the mold, and post a kissy picture of yourself. You'll be glad you did!

Weekly Wrap-Up

I feel like so much, yet so little happened last week. It was all more of the same! Jason's parents came to visit for the last time before they go on their mission. It was a really nice visit. The downside? They left us with a mysterious envelope NOT to be opened before Saturday. It's been staring at me all day- let's hope I can make it! We got Hazen's pictures back from Kiddie Kandids. They are SO CUTE! While I HATE the fact that they spell both words with a K, the pictures turned out so cute! Thanks Paige Fo. for sending me the free coupon! You rock my world!!!

Hazen is still rolling like a little maniac from his back to his tummy via the left side. He hasn't quite mastered the rolling back over, so he rolls on to his tummy, and then yells at me to flip him back over. It's a really fun game.....

On Thursday, I was noticing that he wasn't QUITE my happy, smiley boy, so I had Jason run him to the Dr's after-hour clinic while I made dinner and cleaned. Sure enough, ding ding ding, he has ANOTHER ear-infection! That is 5 in less than 6 months. Rad, huh? So, I got a referral from my pediatrician today for Hazen to go see an ENT Specialist. Once I got that, Heather referred me to her Dr, so we have an appointment.....FOR MAY 28!!! Seeing as the Halster gets an earache just about every 6 weeks, it looks like we've got another one coming before we even get the consultation. WHO KNOWS how far out we'll have to wait until he can get the tubes put in?? He's such a trooper though- even when he's not feeling great, he manages to brighten up our lives anyway!

Yesterday, I was noticing that he was pooping about 20x more than he normally does. I asked my sister if that's a sign of teething...sure enough, this morning, when I shoved my hands in his mouth to do some investigative work, I saw a little divot in his gums- it looks like a tooth should be here within the week! Grandma and Grandpa Lee missed it by about 2 hours!

Other than that, nothing new. Jason started his POST training for his job at the Prison. He's one of the only Medical guys in there, which is unfortunate, because he has to learn about all sorts of random legal stuff that he'll never need to use because he's not a guard or a Cop. Oh well- at least he has a great job!

Photo Contest!

I'm blogging this so my chances to win increase, but by doing so, I don't think you should join the contest- mainly because I'm mean, and I want to win but:

Kelli Nicole Photography is having a little contest and you can win a totally RAD picture. But once again, I don't think you should even attempt, because if you do, my odds go down, and we are no longer friends. She's the best photographer in the world and she's giving away a matted print of one of her recent travels! How exciting!

Go visit her here.

Or you could wait until tomorrow, and that would be ok, too. :o)

The Class Clown

This is a video of Hazen laughing last night. I was kind of tickling him, but he does this ALL of the time. It cracks me up!!

Oh, and I'm really curious to know who the two people are that think I'm not quite being fair to my posterity by no longer scrapbooking, but blog booking instead. I'm TOTALLY not mad, but really interested, and I would love to hear your opinion. It's something that's been a huge decision that I'm trying to make!

Just in case you didn't believe me that he rolls.....here you have it!

A Portrait of a Sick Baby

Is that not the most pathetic thing you've ever seen in your whole entire life? After steering clear of the yuck yuck that has been going through our entire house (Grandma included), Hazen has come down with YET another nasty cold. It just breaks your heart hearing him cough and seeing his sad, sick eyes. Luckily, I'm no stranger to snot and slobber, so I just snuggle up with him as he gets it all over my clothes/face/hair. I love my little sick baby!

An Exciting Development

Jason wrote most of what I'm about to write on his family website, and the way that he put it was so nice that I thought that it would be important for me to write it on the blog, as well.

Hazen had a really exciting development last night. While Jason was changing his diaper (yes, he does that!), he looked up to watch what was playing on the TV, and when he looked back down, Hazen had rolled to his tummy! Thinking that it could be a fluke, we turned him back over to his back, and watched as he did it over and over and over again! I can't tell you how much my heart sailed as I watched my baby do something for the first time! He had the cutest look on his face- he seemed so self-satisfied. The fact that Jason and I were cheering like monkey's for him probably doesn't hurt, either.

Now, the reason that it is so exciting for us: I know that all parents get happy when their baby does things for the first time, but for us, it's like taking a little bit of a weight off of our shoulders. I can't express how grateful I am for each of the little things that Hazen does: especially because they're just about on-time. Every time I see him do something new, my mind reverts back to how it felt sitting in the NICU, surrounded by so many Drs, all who were convinced that the chances of Hazen being severely brain damaged were extremely high. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about it, but days like yesterday both humble me, and also fill me with the deepest sense of gratitude I've ever felt. I've never felt God's love like I do now that I have a child. I know that we're not supposed to be "proud", but I couldn't help but scoop the HALster up in my arms and whisper how proud I am of his strength and fighting spirit. He truly is my little angel.

So, gone are the days where we can just plop him wherever, but I'll gladly give those up to know that I have a beautiful, healthy little boy!

*The picture has nothing to do with it, but it's Abbie and him holding hands, and I thought it was cute!