First Haircut

I took Logan to get his 1st haircut this last weekend! He did great! All of the "baby" hair is gone, and now he really has a "big boy" haircut! He looks so cute! I can't believe my baby is nearly 11 months old---boy, time flies!

Here is Logan having fun in the car!
Meeting "Caryl", the hair dresser, with wide-eyes and a smile!

Getting ready for the big haircut!

Such a big boy...never cried, took it all in stride!

Very curious what the clippers were...kept reaching for them!

Almost done!

Final product: Happy, Beautiful Baby Boy! Good Job Logan!

New Shoes and Attitude

Since Logan started walking, we bought him his first pair of "real" tennis shoes! He seems to like them and seems to be walking more stable in them also! But, with this new found independence, has come a new "attitude" with Logan. It seems that we are noticing more tantrums because he gets frustrated (ex: can't reach something, open something, climb something, etc.)! Little Logan has attitude! And so often, Randy and I have 2 reactions to these tantrums: 1. just watch in amazement that our little man has so much drama; or 2. laugh---because it really is funny!

Here is Logan sporting his new shoes!

Ooops! Got caught making a mess of Mommy's kleenex box! (What baby hasn't done this?!?)

Trying to run away, so I don't have to clean up my mess!

And Logan, just about to "sport" some attitude because Ben (behind the scenes) isn't letting him have a toy. Too bad I didn't get the "attitude" shot...it was comical! :-)

Thursdays are Rough

Thursdays have proven to be a bit rough for our Ben. Thursdays tend to be full of mischief around the Hood home...need I remind you of my previous post (last Thursday!) about playground rocks??? I know so many of you are asking yourself, "No, not that precious Ben...", but oh, yes, just look at my precious Ben...

Can you see the mischief in his eyes? That mischievious sparkle in his smile? That's my Ben.

So, what happened this Thursday? Well, around dinner time, I asked Ben to go to the bathroom and wash his hands because his dinner was ready. And within minutes, I hear shrill screaming and the sound of water rushing. I run, see water coming out of the bottom of the bathroom door, throw open the door, and see the water line spraying water around the half-bath. Ben is just standing there, still screaming loudly, sopping wet.

OH MY GOSH. After I turned the water off at the wall, I asked Ben..."WHAT HAPPENED???"

And while he is still crying, he said, "I just stood on that shiny loop...".

Just stood on that shiny loop?

Yes, he saw the "shiny loop" of a water line (connecting to the toilet), didn't have a clue what it was, so he decided to stand on it...he later said, "like a trapezee". I think what he meant was like a "high wire"...you know from the circus?

Regardless, trapezee or high wire, Ben was disciplined. Occasionally, our days may seem like a circus....but we are NOT a circus family. There will be no more "high wire" acts, especially on Thursdays.

***Side note: Randy did have to remove the toilet, floor molding, and part of the hardwood flooring--to dry out, so we wouldn't have ruined our floors due to the flooding. Despite my quick reaction of turning the water off, there was a lot of water that flooded the bathroom and part of the living area. After 8 beach towels and a big fan blowing all night, everything looks good and hopefully tomorrow, Randy will have the half-bath up and running again.

Playground Rocks are NOT...

Playground rocks are NOT meant to be put in your nose!!! This picture is not the real rock that was dug out of my oldest son's nose this afternoon in the pediatrician's office. No, the rock he put in his nose was BIGGER. About 2 1/2 times bigger, to be exact. The rock he put up his nose was about the size of a kidney bean. Uh huh, kidney bean.

I was called by the preschool director today to let me know that Ben was in the office because he had a rock stuck in his nose. He was crying---because it hurt (remember, kidney bean!)---and he was scared. I called the pediatrician, who advised me to take him to the ER if Ben couldn't blow it out. So, while we were driving to the ER, the pedi called me again, and asked me to come to the office first so he could try to get it out and save me the hospital bill. (Thank you Dr. Pauli!) So, with 4 people holding down my child and a lot of kicking and screaming, the pedi got the rock out of Ben's nose on the 2nd try. Ben is good; had a little bloody nose and lots of tears, but I think he learned his lesson. I hope he learned his lesson....

Sign of a Good Nap

Sign of a Good Nap....some Good Bed Head!

Sent from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday

Milestones with the Hood Family

The Hoods have hit some big milestones lately that we are quite proud and excited about.

1. LOGAN IS WALKING!!! My baby started walking when he was 9 1/2 months old---and now at 10 months old is getting so brave, even trying to step up a stair or two. I think he will be running before his 1st birthday! Randy and I thought Ben was an early walker, at 10 1/2 months, but Logan proved he was ready before that marker! I think he just wants to keep up with big brother...

2. BEN HASN'T HAD TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR 1 YEAR!!! Ben's last IVIG infusion was Sept 10th, 2008. Randy and I feel so blessed that Ben has been able to stay healthy for so long. Yes, we have had a couple of stomach viruses, and one infection requiring antiobiotics, but for the most he has been great! We continue to go in for blood work and labs, and still his lab work comes back looking absolutely pitiful---we just can't understand with such bad labs why this kid has been so healthy---but he presents himself medically stable and healthy! Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow! We count our blessings every day, because we know he is still vulnerable.

3. KRISTEN IS STARTING A NEW JOB!!! (What?!?) I know, it felt weird typing that sentence because I absolutely LOVE staying at home with my kiddos. However, I also love being a nurse too. And recently, I was presented with an opportunity where I could do some nursing education, and not have to leave my kids during the day. Santa Rosa opened a new hospital at Westover Hills/Sea World area, and I have been asked to help with patient education classes for the women's services department. I will be helping with breastfeeding classes, childbirth classes, infant care classes, and even teaching some Friends/Family CPR classes. For those of you who know me well, you know that patient education is a passion of mine---and this opportunity is such a blessing for me. I will be able to continue to have my hand in the nursing field and continue to stay at home with my kids. The best of both worlds... My first breastfeeding class is tomorrow, so wish me luck! I am really excited about it! I think it will be fun. :-)

"First Day of School! First Day of School!"

Yesterday was the boys' first day of school! Ben is starting his 3rd year at Parkhills MDO/Preschool, and Logan is starting his 1st year! Ben's class is definitely more like a preschool this year, with curriculum geared towards learning more about letters, numbers, calendar days and months, sight words, etc. His classroom is really cute and looks like a real school room too!Ben will even begin to start writing his letters and numbers this year. My big boy is growing up so fast...

Logan is in the baby room---no curriculum for the babies, but the teachers are so sweet and love playing with the babies! I have been nervous about leaving Logan, we are quite attached to each other. (By the way, Logan only goes to MDO once a week, whereas Ben goes twice a week.) Logan is definitely a "momma's boy" and I have been quite the "Logan's momma" too! So, with tears in my eyes, I dropped him off for the day---and he did great!!! He never cried when I left and the teachers said he had a fabulous day. He took a nap, played hard---but refused his lunch. Logan is not one to refuse food...so I think this was his way of showing that he knew something was different. When we got home, Logan was really tired so I put him down for his afternoon nap---and I had to wake him up at 5:30pm! MDO wore that little baby out. I think a little separation will be good for both of us.