Baby Food- Ugggh!

Okay, so I am one of those mom's who does NOT like the baby food stage. In general, I am not a fan of many things "messy" or of things that take a lot of practice. Enter Hemming starting on baby food at the ripe old age of 4 months! He's only in the 25% for weight, so the doctor wanted him to get more calories in his diet. This precious baby can smile through anything, so most of the pictures are of him smiling, but he definitely gags on everything from bananas to pears! I had the total opposite experience with Drew, who gobbled up even the peas and beans! One of the many differences between these 2 boys! Anyway, round #2 of baby food is messier and more time consuming, but those sweet smiles keep coming and make it all worth while!

Here goes...

First bite!

I think it's okay?!?!

Not so much...

Whew- all done!!!

Perfect combination!

Looks like the boys are an equal mix of Andy and I- that's a shocker to me! Exactly 0 people have ever said that Drew looks like me, and 2 people have said Hemming looks like me. The other several hundred opinions have all gone to Andy. Had to post this since it's one of the only times I've gotten any credit for passing my genes along!

Williamson Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free genealogy websites - Blank family tree

Williamson Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Pedigree - Family pictures

New Toys!

I've never really thought about the "gift" that new toys are to parents. Whether it be Christmas or Birthdays new toys to play with means little ones are that much more entertained and occupied than they were before! Here are some pictures of the new toys being enjoyed at our house...a BIG thank you to Uncle Chad for the best gift of all- the Handy Manny tool box!


Drew LOVES his Handy Manny tool box, you can't really see it in this picture, oops!

Hemming standing up in his "new" Jumperoo that was Drew's

I love grabbing onto these toys!

Hemming playing with his new rattle and foot rattles (the things they come up with!)

Drew and his Little People Airplane, along with his Elmo slippers that have ened up being "toys"!

Arnold Family Christmas Picture 2008

Okay, so this picture might look decent to most (other than my children not cooperating) but I have done some major editing! If you were to zoom out you would see that my sweater is sticking out an making me look pregnant! Despite this, my mother and sister nominated this to be the Christmas card that my mother would send out to 100 or so people (notice how cute THEY look)! If she were to use the picture, she couldn't crop it like I did and my imaginary pregnancy would have been exposed! I was horrified at the thought of people thinking I was pregnant AGAIN or that I looked like I was still pregnant 4 months later, so I wouldn't let my mother use the picture and no Christmas card was sent! I can't even say I feel bad, because people would have been talking and speculating about ANOTHER baby on the way (and you all know how people, me included, critique Christmas cards)! I do hate that we didn't send out a card, so here is my peace offering- the edited version at least!

Christmas Blessings

I have to say we felt especially blessed this year at Christmas. Having Hemming made everything that much sweeter, and it was so cute to watch Drew enjoying Santa, Christmas trees and lights and loving all of his gifts! It's also wonderful to see the boys with our families- it's amazing that no matter how long it's been since they've seen certain people, they know who loves them! I didn't do a great job of taking pictures, but here are a few "faces" of Christmas (be prepared for some major bed-head!).

"The Dirty Delta"

After Thanksgiving we headed over to Andy's families hunting camp in the Mississippi Delta. Drew loved it, and had a great time playing with his cousins. Andy and I also celebrated our 5th Anniversary while we were there, not the most romantic setting but a lot of fun!

The Egg Bowl

Here are a few pictures from The Grove after Ole Miss' Egg Bowl win- Hotty Toddy!

Thankful for Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for this time of year and the special holidays that bring us together with our families. We spent Thanksgiving in Mississippi with The Williamson's and we had a wonderful time! Drew and Hemming were spoiled with constant attention, making them a little more demanding now that we're home!!!

Hemming and Granny (Or you could say "Granny with her Birthday Bundle"!)

Drew and Aunt Rachel

Andy, Me, Brittany and Alex

Betsy and Rachel

Alex and Brittany

Taylor and Rachel

Drew and Daddy

I think this picture shows just how much Drew LOVES his Daddy!

Cousin Eddie

All that really needs to be said is that Andy wore this outfit to a "holiday" party where EVERYONE else was wearing nice outfits. Unfortunately this will not be the last we see of this festive combination during the Christmas season!

12 Weeks

Hemming is now 12 weeks old and will be 3 months this week! Here are a few pictures from this weekend. He is a happy baby, smiling and "talking" all the time but very opinionated when things aren't just right, unfortunately I passed that trait along! Hopefully 3 months will be the magic number when it comes to sleeping through the night, crossing my fingers...

Sweet Boys

Okay, so I am clearly not the best photographer, but I was SO excited to get these pictures of the boys together! Drew has been paying a lot of attention to Hemming lately, and has started "loving" on him on a regular basis (I know, it has been 2 months!). Anyway, I finally got Drew to hold Hemming without trying to get him out of his lap immediately. The pictures might not be great, but you can see how proud Drew is of himself for holding the baby. Hemming doesn't look quite as entertained!

More Halloween Pics...

Here are a few pictures of Drew dressed up in his Chicken costume. He was so tired after travelling to Oxford that he wasn't a very energetic chicken to say the least! He also preferd to crawl??? Go figure, the child just does his own thing- ALL the time! Whatever makes him happy! Also a couple of pictures of my brother Brett and sister Kristie in their costumes. It was a fun weekend with all of my family in town to celebrate mom's birthday!


Chicken Little!

Little Chicken!

Little, Tired Chicken

Jessica and Tony

Sunshine Bear- hillarious! Brett was Sunshine Bear 23 years ago at the age of 3 and decided to replicate the outfit, so funny.