the hetzel life

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

cherry blossoms...

The cherry blossoms are blooming, and it makes me think of Japan...lots of good memories!

smart man...

Here is what CJ thinks about Baylor's recent basketball performance...

"Baylor's #1! Baylor's #1!"

fun new game...

I took these a few weeks ago, but CJ still loves opening and closing doors. Luckily, he keeps his fingers far from getting smushed.

Closing...

Closed.

Opening...

Open.

Time to start the game again...

Sunday, April 04, 2010

easter egg hunt...

CJ's Nanny drove all the way from Florida just to hunt eggs with him...what a blessed little boy! I sincerely doubt this child will ever doubt he is loved beyond measure.

After morning service, there were kids GA-LORE hunting eggs. Scott and I volunteered to help with the hunt after the evening service. This was perfect because it let Nanny get here from Florida and there were only 5 kids at the evening service. I wanted him to love it, but he was much more entertained with the bag. Maybe next year...

"Look Nanny, there are colored things out there in the grass."

"Let's go get them, but will you carry me because the grass is itchy?"

"Humm...I see it, but I'm not sure if I want it now."

"Nanny will you help me? I'm not so sure about this by myself."

"Look Mommy, Nanny and I found eggs!"

"This one matches Nanny's shirt and it makes a fun noise when you shake it."

"Ooooh...this bag is FUN!"

We put the red egg next to CJ. Him reaching for was the most "hunting" he actually did. We learned the night before he didn't like to have his feet in the itchy grass, so we hoped his socks would make him more adventurous. Alas, he was content to stand in one spot and then sit down in the same spot. Silly booger...

"Can I eat it?"

first easter...

He is risen indeed! What a great thought to wake up to on Sunday morning. For the past week, I have been talking to CJ about the meaning of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. While I know he doesn't understand yet, I don't think it is every to early to start talking about the King.

I've been reading Galatians the last few weeks and dwelling on the thought of freedom. Christ freely came to earth and dwelt among men. The King of heaven freely gave up his throne to become a carpenter's son. The Son of God freely hung on the cross to pay my debt. Freedom doesn't meaning doing the fun, easy things. Freedom is choice. Choosing to walk by faith moment by moment.

For me this has fleshed out in freely giving up my desires to do what I want, because CJ needs me to snuggle him, play with him, or change a poopy diaper. Would it be easier to put him in front of the TV? Yes. But better, no. Would it be easier to ignore him as he played so I could "get stuff done"? Yes, But better, no. Freedom is choosing to give. I will confess it isn't easy. Like most good things, it is hard. It is a moment by moment choice. So this Easter, freedom has been ringing in my heart.

This Easter wasn't all contemplation. It was also really fun. CJ's Gran made him an adorable outfit, and it was fun to see him all dressed up in his "church clothes." After church, when his Nanny got here, we went to the botanical garden and took a few pictures. Here is my favorite little boy and my favorite big boy...

Could he be more adorable?

After a few "all alone" shots, CJ was done being able to see me, but not sit in my lap, have me carry him, love on him...get the idea? So, sorry family...no more just him shots.

And since we had a Nanny with us, we finally have a good family shot or two.

Friday, April 02, 2010

tennessee visit...

The final installation of the travel series...

A little back story first: The day before we left for Florida, we went for CJ's 9 month check up. Everything was great. The doctor who saw him was in love with him. Seriously, I thought she might steal him. For a while CJ has had a cough that the doctors kept calling "interesting." He had a chest x-ray to make sure his trachea was ok and lung x-rays to make sure he didn't have pneumonia. They thought he might have pneumonia so he went on antibiotics, steroids, an inhaler and a decongestant. At the nine month check up everything looked great...no problems lingering. Happy mama and a baby on no medicine!! But then, the next morning booger bear woke up with a 102 fever. What the heck? So we went back to the doctor, and it turns out that in the 12 hours since he last saw the doctor, he got a bear of an ear infection. To make it worse on the little guy, he had an ENT referral where they stuck a tube down his nose to investigate the "interesting" cough a little more. The ENT doctor said everything looked ok and if CJ was his kiddo, he would be content with the fact that he just has an "interesting" cough. But he agreed he did have a good ear infection. So we were off to Florida with just antibiotics for the ear infection. While we were there he didn't eat well, and wasn't his usual self, but he wasn't miserable either. We chalked it up to the ear infection, but alas we were wrong.

In the car on the way to Tennessee, we realized it was actually the antibiotic making his tummy upset. The evening before, the poor guy went through 4 pairs of jammies, and on the 8 hour car ride, he went through 5 outfits. I won't go into detail except to say that nothing was coming out of his mouth...all the other end. :( That being said, we had a miserable little guy until the medicine was finished. All he could eat was applesauce, yougart, bread and crackers. These are 4 of his favorite foods, so he was ok with the lack of veggies. But since he wasn't feeling great I didn't get the camera out too much, so forgive my lack of CJ pictures. You can tell by his eyes he isn't feeling well, but his Gran and Nanny sure were glad to see him!

CJ loved playing the piano. I hope he got Scott's musicality, because if you've ever heard me sing or attempt to play the piano...you know I don't have any! Scott on the other hand has natural ability that makes me jealous.

My mom was so sweet and kept our sick little man and let Scott and me have a mini-getaway. We went to Memphis for a night and it was so much fun. We stayed at the Peabody hotel.

It overlooked the Mighty Mississippi and downtown Memphis.

The Peabody is also across the street from Rendezvous, a famous rib joint. Some of the waiters have worked there for over 60 years. They had a yummy dry rub, and getting to eat dinner without having to keep little hands out of everything and getting to enjoy an uninterrupted conversation with my wonderful husband was an extra special treat. The other bonus of the Peabody is that is is about 3 blocks from Beale Street. We didn't go out at night, but walked down the next morning...

But the best part of the Peabody was their famous ducks. If you don't know the story, after a long day of duck hunting, one of the owners (who had a little too much Jack Daniels) put his live duck decoys in the lobby fountain as a joke. When he got up the next morning and realized what he had done, he rushed downstairs, expecting the ducks to be all over the hotel. Instead, he found them still in the fountain and a crowd gathered around to see them. He realized he was onto something. He hired an animal trainer, and the rest is history...

It was a great little get away, and great to spend time with my mom and Nanny. After all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, CJ only ended up a little more spoiled. But as my granddaddy said, "There is a difference in spoiled, and spoiled." And CJ is the good kind...