You just never know

You just never know what lies ahead when dealing with a little one.  After a fun weekend of having friends over Friday night, hanging out Saturday with Champs all day while Daddy went to Charleston for a friends party, and then going to Aiken for a wedding shower for Ashley on Sunday - I was ready to start a very busy week.  I have a work event on Thursday (no big deal, I have them all the time), am hosting Catherine's baby shower here on Sunday and am in charge of the neighborhood Egg Hunt on Sunday at the same time.

I was ready to juggle all of this successfully when I get a call on Monday afternoon that Champs has fever and I need to come get him!  Poor baby - hate thinking about him feeling bad.  But did he not know, this was not the week I could afford to stay home with him - haha - too much going on!  But so it was....he had fever on Monday afternoon, not again until Tues right before bed (I thought he was totally fine all day Tues!) and then a rough night last night so we took him to doctor this morning.  I was completely expecting doctor to say strep, but no - we find out today he has hand, foot and mouth....again.  Remember the first episode last summer?  Whew!  Luckily, so far I literally see no spots on him but the doctor says he has some inside his mouth.  Ouch.  I am praying since he's already had it once he won't get it bad this time.

So anyway, this week has been challenging trying to get all my work done and prepare for the events this weekend while being at home with C, but we're managing!  Here are a few pics of little boo boo bear last weekend and this week!

Loves to look out his window when he first wakes up every morning.

Tight squeeze.

Big slide!

Easier way down?

Just driving in my car with my key.

What's up Mommy?

After getting the fever call on Monday. Snuggle time with mommy.

Desperate times = desperate measures.  Would NOT go to sleep last night.  This was after getting BACK up around 12:30 I gave in and we watched some Wheels on the Bus. 

Seemed a lot better this morning.  But maybe was just because he is so excited for his new alligator shorts!

Here's to a great weekend ahead!!  HFM - go away!! Side note, I have officially been blogging for a year!  Hard to believe.  I had no idea how long I'd keep it up when I started, but I've found it to be a fun outlet and place to record random thoughts and happenings regarding Champs.  I never really know who all reads it, but I do hear from a few of you who enjoy it!  Here we go - year 2 of the Melvin Adventures!

QT with my best buddy

After having to work on Friday night while Barrett took Champs to the church St Patty's Day party, I couldn't wait to be with my best buddy the rest of the weekend! We had a ball playing at home, going to a birthday party and visiting with friends!!

This stage is truly so much fun, toddler tantrums aside....!  He is loving saying "Lu youuuuu" to us all the time.  It started at bedtime when we would walk out and say "Love you!" and he'd keep saying it after we left so we'd say it as we were going down the hall.  He just loves the back and forth of it - it's pretty cute and sweet if I do say so myself.

He will also now kiss my cheek a lot. I guess I started saying "I didn't hear it" when he didn't actually kiss me, but just put his mouth on my cheek.  So now he will kiss me and very quickly say "Hear it?!?"  It's pretty funny.

When we ask him who he loves he tells us all his family members, in various orders.  The other day he did say Charlie, so Uncle Charlie - you should feel special :)

He is OBSESSED with spotting "dig digs", "big trucks" and "buses" while we're riding around.  He also wants to use our keys ALL THE TIME to play in his car or just to try to put into any key holes around the house.  Probably need to break this habit but boy does he love it.  See pic below.

Here are some pics from the weekend and lately.

Loves a shovel.

This is a swing in our neighborhood that he loves. 

Sweet neighbor, Landon.  Champs is obsessed with him and this truck.

These shorts crack me up big time.

Playing with his buds Townsend and Mac.

Daddy swinging - said it was the first time in 20 years. 

So happy to be back on the porch.  About to get it Spring ready!!

Eating al fresco!

That big blue plastic key is no longer suffice - real keys only please!

Saturday naps with Sammy are the BEST!

Bday party for his school friend, Monroe.

Champs and Charlie.

Loved the pink cupcake.  Had to do severe cleanup after :)

Lately...

We are in full fledge busy season now.  The weekends of not much going on in Jan and Feb are gone.  We are non stop through the 4th of July.  Ready, set, go!

Here are a few highlights of the last few weeks from my phone!

Boo and KK came to play!

Bollin turned 3 and we celebrated at The Little Gym.  This was our first time there and Champs LOVED it!!

Checking out his goody bad when we got home.

Enjoying cake and ice cream.

A really big truck came to our house and Champs was super pumped to "drive" it.  Hope the delivery guys who were bringing our new washing machine (that we did not get by choice) didn't mind - but truth be known - they never even knew he was in it as they were installing downstairs!

Can you spot Champs?

It FINALLY turned warm and everyone was so excited to wear shorts and dresses!!

Champs and some of his friends at school.  Champs' fav spot: the sandbox!

Waiting on our buddy, James to get to the park!

Eagerly waiting on his bff!!

Wheee - swinging with James!  These two just giggle at each other and it's adorable!

So this was a "hilarious" story.  My mom tells me I will find things like this funny when I'm a grandmama.  Two days before Champs' first ever Stella Hart photography session, his face looked like what you see above in the picture at the park.  On the morning before his photography session, I go into his room and find this!!  I about fell over.  Amazingly, in 24 hours it was ALMOST gone.  We'll see if you can see it when I get the proofs back.

While Mama and Daddy celebrated with the bride and groom on their bachelor/bachelorette weekends, Champs went to Che and Poppy's house and had a great time!!

Reading with Poppy!

Trip to Hartsville for pancakes and Merry Go Round.

Saw a really cool thing that resembles Mama's laptop but better buttons.  :) My Granny would be so proud!

Took some great long naps!

Bedhead with his best buds!

Had some great baths!

I don't know why, but I think Champs learning to say his last name is hilarious.  This was last Thursday night.  He's already getting better at it and loves to say it.

I missed Champs so much while we were gone and was happy to come back and snuggle with this bunny!

We've so enjoyed the sunshine this week and wish it would stay around, but looks like the rain is coming for the weekend.

Last night, we tried a restaurant that I have been wanting to try for years.  We went to El Burrito on Harden Street.  Probably one of Champs' most favorite things in the world is guacamole.  The only thing better is hearing him say it.  If he sees any type of chip he says "guacamole" because he sees us eat it with chips.  He usually just uses his fork and digs in, but he actually ate chips and quac last night at El Burrito and LOVED it!!  Side note: El Burrito is amazing.  I got the Chipotle Chicken salad and it was delicious and so fresh.  They put City Roots microgreens, black beans and homemade salsa and dressing.  Thinking this might be a weekly thing for us this Spring!

So we knew it was inevitable that Champs would have curly hair since both Barrett and I have it.  Well now that it's really getting long, it's starting to curl.  Can't wait to see what it's going to do as it keeps growing.

My curly hair boys.

This pic just makes me laugh.  Hammering in his diaper and B stopping him before he breaks our window!

Until next time....

Winter blues

As much as I have loved this little blue Widgeon jacket this fall and winter, I will be happy to put it up for a long long time!!!  Cannot wait for spring and summer days in this sandbox in shorts and bathing suits.  Bring it on sunny days-  we are ready for you.

Until then, here's my funny boy starting to learn to count and playing in his new turtle sandbox Che and Poppy brought him for Valentine's Day.  Sadly, he's only gotten to play in it 2 times since then!