Ho Ho Ho and Uh Oh!

Well, it looks like Henry has spoken his first words. Although, i'm not really sure what counts as a baby's first words. But he has turned into a little mimic! Last week we would say "Uh Oh" and he would say it back and has said it on his own a few times. We can thank Mimi for the "Ho Ho Ho". She has a little Santa Claus in her house and would take Henry over and point and say HOHOHO and he began repeating her. He goes "Huh Huh Huh"...so cute! So on Christmas day he was sitting in their living room and started pointing to Santa and saying it! And now he says it all the time!

But really, did we think he wouldn't be a little chatter box? I mean, look at his mom and dad...we're never exactly short for words. And MIMI? The cat's NEVER had her tongue!

Christmas Day 2007

Christmas morning was absolutely so much fun with a baby! We woke around 7:30 and opened presents with just the 3 of us. Santa Claus was very good to Henry and all of us this year! He brought him a Radio Flyer Wagon and lots of other great stuff. I made blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast and at Brad's request this will be a new tradition of ours. We cleaned up the house and loaded the car with presents to take to Mimi and Pops house.

This is Henry crawling towards his wagon

Once we go to Mimi and Pops the fun really started! We all got WAY more than we deserve and it was so much fun to see everyone opening all the presents. Henry of course loved the boxes and bows the most. Above he's in his new Cowboy hat from M and P!
Uncle D was in NYC a few weeks ago and went to a silent auction and bid on a HUGE gift/gifts for Henry and WON! It was literally a BIG box FULL of Barney, Thomas the Train, and other stuff I didn't even know existed. He had to ship it all back in a borrowed suitcase. Henry loves it all and we even have enough to give to some needy children if we want...it was THAT MUCH!!! Thanks D-dogg!
Henry and Mimi before all the fun began
Henry with M and P in his new Carhartt Overalls! Too cute for words!
Who's more excited?!?!?
Family Photo!
Brad gave Douger, Daniel and Mr. Lance dickies (ala Christmas Vacation/Cousin Eddie) for Christmas this year! Last year was the Eggnogg Moose Glasses to Frankie!


Frankie whipped up a fabulous dinner around 3:00. There were 12 of us around a gorgeous table with TONS of food and desserts!
I am so very thankful for many things this year especially my little family! We are all so lucky to all be together.

Thanks so much Mimi and Pops for such a wonderful Christmas! We are so grateful for EVEYTHING you do for us and Henry couldn't ask for better grandparents!

We love you so much!

Christmas Eve 2007

Chistmas Eve was jam packed this year! We started the day with lunch at McCallisters with Pops, Daddy, and Uncle D then did some last minute shopping. We went to the 5:00 Childrens service at church and Henry loved it. He squeeled as the little children went down the isle dressed as little stable animals. We took lots of toys to keep him occupied and he did great. Then we came home and fed him a quick dinner and drove around and looked at Christmas lights before the Patricks party at 8:00. This was WAY past Henry's bedtime, but he took a little nap in the car, so he was ready to go when we got there. We stayed for a little while and then came home to start our new and old traditions.

My family has always opened one present on Christmas Eve and it's been pajamas since we became the Brady Bunch way back when. So we did just that. The above pic is mine and Brad's new pj pants. Mine are from Brad's store and they're called "The Hangover Pant" b/c they're SOO comfortable.
This is just after we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "The Polar Express". The PE is what Brads family always read, so we're gonna continue on with that. Such a great story!
We put milk and cookies out for Santa and left out carrots for the reindeer.
This was one tuckered out little elf with his new "My First Christmas" longjohns WITH the BUTTFLAP that I LOVE!!! I think he MUST have heard Santa Claus on the roof b/c he woke up at around 2:30 and didn't go back down until 3:30ish. Who can blame him with all this excitement!
Daddy and Henry in their new pj's

Baby Blues

I took these pictures in Mimi and Pops back yard a week or two ago on one of those 80 degree days. I had intentions of sending it to the Post and Courier to be published on Christmas day b/c they do a special layout of "Babies First Christmas". Well that never happened so i'll just publish it here!

I absolutely love his eyes in these pics! So bright and innocent!
What a cute little boy I have!

Hook Family Christmas Party

We went to my moms family's big Christmas party/reunion on Saturday and i'm so glad we went. It was so much fun having everyone meet Henry for the first time and I haven't seen those people in a while so it was really nice. We spent the night at Tricia and Tom's Friday night at had so much fun watching Henry chase Bo and Gracie (little Yorkies).

This is Henry trying to literally grab/kiss/bite/pull little Tori
Moving in for said grab/kiss/bite/pull....she's looking scared to death of this giant boy with big cheeks
Looks like she's warming up

As you can tell Hanna and I thought this was the funniest thing we'd ever seen!

Little Claire holding Henry reading a book. He loved her and just sat in her lap.
All the little children draw names and exchange presents and Henry got the cutest fire truck complete with a fireman and a dalmation fire dog. He loves it!

Thanks Tricia for such a fun weekend! We had such a nice time and can't wait till next time....

EdVenture in Cola

Friday morning Henry and I drove to Lexington to spend the night with the Thains for the Hook party on Saturday. We met Cameron and Tricia for lunch in Cola so we could view Camerons gorgeous ring! During lunch Tricia and I decided to take Henry to Edventure! We had so much fun and this place is abolutely amazing!

There was a room called Pollywog Pond for infants and toddlers and was a perfect place to let Henry run wild! This was a lifelike boat that we put him behind the wheel. Captain Henry!
There were mirrors all over the place and he was so intrigued with himself.
Here he is kissing himself!
In another area of the musuem there was a farm with cows, chickens, tractors, etc.

Aunt Tishie and Henry in front of EdVenture
This is ED, the HUGE lifelike boy. Henry was very very leery of ED, but wouldn't take his eyes off of him
He was scared to death of the cow and clutched onto us so tight when it mooed! So funny!
Pollywog Pond
Havin' a ball!


Thanks so much Tricia for such a fun day! We can't wait go back again!

ROOSTER

We have a rooster in our house and for the past three mornings he has crowed at 4:55am!!! What is that all about??? I've tried giving him a bottle thinking hunger was making him crow. I've tried putting him in bed with us to try and coax him back to sleep. I've even tried keeping him up a bit later at night. NOPE!!! These things do not work. The only thing that helps is that we get up and PLAY! So if anyone has any inclination as to why this is happening please let me know.

Otherwise we're all good and counting down the days till Santa Claus comes to town! I am about to bust at the seams i'm so excited about Christmas!!!

HO HO HO

Children's Museum of the Lowcountry

Today Henry and I had a playdate with a new friend Lindsay and her 10 month old little boy Charlie. We were both dying to check out the Childrens Museum http://www.explorecml.org
I really is such a neat place for children and moms! It is $7 for adults and free for babies under 1. I'm seriously thinking about getting a membership b/c it's that cool. It's a very interactive and unique learning environment. We enjoyed the Toddler Room complete with soft jungle gyms, balls of all sizes, little mini tables, and so much more. Lindsay and I decided to make a list of all the things we want to do in the area with the kids and just make a point to DO IT. I'm excited to have a new friend!

What We've Been Up To...

1) Less than a week till Christmas now! I'm trying to finish up Christmas shopping for family and friends. The traffic in Charleston is CRAZY, so hopefully we're almost finished.

2) Our church has an Angel Tree at Christmas time, so this year we pulled a little 6 year old boy to shop for for Christmas. Friday night Brad, Henry and I went to Target to pick up some toys, clothes and necessities for him. While in the checkout line there was a girl and her little 10 month old boy and we started chatting. It seems we have a lot in common and as she left she goes: "I don't have a lot of friends with babies Charlie's age, so would you be interested in a playdate soon?" Of course I said yes and we exchanged numbers and are meeting at the Childrens Lowcountry Museum today at 12:30. I'm very excited and will keep you all posted on that.

3) Work Christmas parties

4) Heading to Lexington on Friday for the Hook Family Christmas party on Sat.

5) Girls night at Margaret's Saturday night! SO EXCITED!!!

Christmas with Nana and Papa

Christmas came early this year for us! Nana and Papa came down yesterday for the day and spent the night and Henry was in HEAVEN! We had such a great time and got lots of great gifts!

Nana and Papa at the dinner table
Awesome 4 in 1 toy for Henry. He LOVES it!
It's a car/push toy/rocker with horns and radios and vroom vroom sounds
Henry lovin' his Ephalump
Two Peas in a Pod

Thanks for coming down early and doing Christmas with us. We loved having ya'll and appreciate more than you know all you do for us!
Lots of Love,
Brad, Shelby, and Henry

Downtown FUN

All the Earnsts (minus Daniel) went downtown for the afternoon for some more Santa lovin'! We had lunch at Mellow Mushroom and then cruised King St. and the Charleston Place.

Again, Henry showed he is NOT afraid of the fat man in the red suit!
Didn't mean to put this up twice...
H: "I really really really want a little red wagon, Santa....please please please!"
"I love my Pops!"

Congrats Cameron

CONGRATULATIONS CAMERON ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND JONATHAN! I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR MORE DETAILS!

(Cameron on Left)

We love you,

Brad, Shelby, and Henry

Low Country "Boyl"

Festival of Lights

We headed out to the James Island Festival of Lights tonight and strolled Henry thru Santa's Village. There were tons of fun lights, marshmellow roasting, and SANTA with Mrs. Clause!
Henry LOVED Santa! He pulled on his beard and smiled and giggled...so cute! I was worried he'd be scared of all that white hair, but he loved it. This Santa was a little on the thin side, so we're planning on going to visit the downtown Santa on Sunday. We've heard he's a little more plump and real looking!

This is such a cool place to go as a family!

9 Months

I can't believe I am sitting here writing this post about my 9 month old! I remember when Henry was 2 months and we were at a playdate with a little boy, Jesse, who was 9 months then. I thought he was so BIG and that we were SOOO far away from that age. Well, it's here and it's seems just yesterday that Henry was that small. This month has been so much fun in terms of Henry's learning and growing, but also very challenging. We've been thru teething, our first fever, first rash, RSV(virus/wheezing), and lots of oliday travel. I've learned that the hardest thing about being a parent to an infant is that I know you're hurting, but you can't tell me where or what. It's so frustrating, but it's also teaching me to have patience and confidence in myself and my instincts.
Aside from those few days when Hen didn't feel well, we have all had a blast together. His little personality continues to come thru. He is so happy when we're out in the thick of things. He loves the ladies and will willingly give smiles to anyone who gives him attention.
Teeth count now is 8! 4 on top and 4 on bottom. I PRAY we're done with that for a while! His all time favorite food now is BANANAS! He loves them and would eat 5 if I let him. We're on stage 3 Gerber foods now and are working towards more table foods. He loves french fries, sweet potatoes, avocados, and bread. He is babbling constantly and seems to love the high pitched girl scream right now!
I just had to put this pic up cause even though he's clearly upset, he's still so stinking cute!

Again, I seriously cannot believe our little baby is growing so fast. What a ride it's been so far and I can't wait to see what's up next! Life sho' is good!!!