Casey's 31st Birthday

31...wow!

I celebrated my 31st birthday on Tuesday, July 28th.

It was a lovely day (even though I had to work). Aaron sent me
an arrangement of beautiful flowers and Hunter told me Happy Birthday! That
evening Aaron and I went out to eat at Red Lobster for a nice dinner without the
boys. Greg (father inlaw) and Deborah (sis inlaw) came over and watched the boys
for us and they even brought me a cake!

We had a nice dinner and overall it was a nice birthday!

Thankfully we didn't have 31 candles in the house!

Hunter always helps us blow out our candles!

Is Momma 1-3 or 3-1?!?! Oh...13 going on 31! Haha!

Pina Colada at Red Lobster!

Flowers Aaron sent me...awww...

Chillaxin' with Harrison

Harrison was kicked back, bottle in mouth and Little Einstein's on TV (hmmm...Hunter did the same thing at this age!).

A Few First's for Harrison

First sippy cup!

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Harrison eating his first strawberry - YUM!

Hunter and Mason

We had a cookout at Richard and Trina Garringer's house on Saturday afternoon (they built a house in our subdivision, pratically in our backyard). Afterwards, Christy and Mason came over to visit and we sat in the backyard and watched our boys play in the kiddie pool. It was really nice to catch up and visit with my best friend - it had been TOO long. Later, Richard and Trina stopped by and we went down memory lane with the boxes of old photos we went through - good times, good times!

Hunter and Mason

Hunter is 3 years old and Mason is 5 years old.

Having fun on the see-saw!

Harrison loves his exersaucer!

Harrison's discovered the grass!

Pop Ice Sunday Afternoon

My boys LOVE Pop Ice Popsicles, especially Harrison! He gets mad if you take it away from him or if there's no more! Hunter always asks for a 'yellow' one. I think yellow might be his favorite color! We all enjoyed Pop Ice yesterday afternoon in the backyard - it was definitely a 'summer moment'!

Not just about the boys...

I have a hard time talking about just myself or Aaron...but this blog is called The Sredin Family and I don't update what's going on with US. I get a little crazy with just talking about the boys...but that's what mommies do right? We both have not been feeling well for the past week or so - we are both experiencing a lot of sinus drainage. Aaron is worse than I am though. Even the boys have had snotty noses, thank goodness for Kleenex Plus Lotion tissues! We haven't had a lot of time to ourselves and I'm looking forward to the day that we can enjoy each other (any babysitters out there?!?!). Don't get me wrong...we spend a lot of family time with the boys, but I miss Aaron and Casey...we are now Daddy and Mommy (loving every minute of it though)! We were looking through old photos of our earlier years and my how time has changed! I miss our weekend hiking/camping/floating trips! Aaron took me to alot of beautiful places in Arkansas and I know he really, really misses the outdoors! It's nice to get out and enjoy the beautiful things God has created. We've been invited to go camping with our friends this summer, but it's just too hot to get the boys out in this heat for an entire weekend, especially Harrison. Just too hot to tent camp! But come fall...we will be out there! I need to reserve a spot at Petit Jean - it's been a long time since we have visited Petit Jean and walked the trails. Hunter will enjoy it! There I go talking about my boys again!!! The whole point of this post is to say - I promise to post more updates on Aaron and myself. I hope you all enjoy reading the latest news and seeing our pictures!

ELEVEN HOURS!

Harrison slept for eleven hours last night!!!! He had his shots yesterday, so I think that's why. He went to bed around 7:30/7:45 and didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning! Of course I got up several times to check on him to make sure he was OK so Mommy didn't get 11 hours of sleep...too bad!

Harrison - 6 months!

Harrison had his 6 month shots/checkup today with Dr. Scott Sanders.

Current stats:

• Weight: 21lbs 2oz - 97th percentile!
• Height: 27 in - 75th percentile
• Head: 17 1/2 in

Milestones:

• Sitting up on his own
• Scootin' around (he's just about crawling!)
• Recognizes his name when you say "Harrison"
• Starting to pull himself up in a standing position!

Misc Facts:

• Diaper: Size 4
• Clothes: 9 months
• Drinks 5oz of breastmilk or formula at one feeding, oatmeal cereal for breakfast, a fruit or veggie for lunch and dinner

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When Dr. Sanders first came into the room he said "What are you feeding this boy, steak and potato? He also mentioned that he doesn't remember Hunter being this big. I agreed with him, although Hunter was usually in the 75-80th percentile for his weight. Harrison is going to be our big boy. He took the shots like a champ! He did go to bed early tonight.

It just truly amazes me how fast they grow up - and what a difference a day can make! He is sleeping really good in his crib and he's sleeping for a longer period, just last night he slept for 7 hours! I hope he keeps this up! We have retired the infant bathtub and upgraded to the inflatable one you put inside the big bathtub. I removed the baby swing out of the living room, it now resides in his room. Not quite ready to put it up...but now that he's scootin' around he really doesn't want to sit in a swing. Wow, these past six months have really flown by!!! Only six more months until his FIRST birthday!!!

Little Buds

Natosha and Grayson came up on Saturday (July 11th) for a day visit. It was so good to see them! I miss them living close-by, especially now that we have babies! But...it is what it is and we just have to be sure we visit often. Our boys are getting so big, so fast. Harrison is finally catching up with Grayson in size! Grayson has two teeth and his hair is getting thick. He looks just like his daddy! He is definitely a Hart boy, no denying that! But he does have Natosha's long curly eyelashes. Even though both boys are sitting up, they still aren't really interacting with each other yet, but that will come soon enough! I hope they are really good buddies!


Grayson - aka Jeff's mini-me
Harrison - aka Aaron's mini-me

In Loving Memory - Mom and GoGo

Okay, so I can't find any of my old photos and I'm tired of looking and making a mess of the photo boxes I do find...I really need to get my pictures organized!!! Below are some of the few I did happen to find.


Mom and Me - Showing some leg!


Gordon, Julian and Me



I visited the cemetery this morning and placed new flowers in their vase. I'm sure Go-Go loves the pink flowers!



It's been 21 years since the tragic car accident that killed my mom and brother Gordon "Go-Go". I was only nine years old and it feels like just yesterday - I can still remember grabbing the steering wheel along with Gordon trying to get the car back on the road. A day does not go by that I don't think of them and wish that day had never happened, but then I think of that famous saying "Things happen for a reason". I guess I'm the person I am today because of it. I hate that I didn't grow up knowing my mother, I hate that I didn't get to continue that sister/brother relationship with Go-Go, he was such a good brother, he would let me play with him and his friends when most brothers want to lock their little sisters out of their rooms! Life was taken away from them too soon! My momma will never know my beautiful boys - but I know she is smiling down and is proud of her grandsons. I hope I make her proud by being the woman I have become - a good wife, a good mom, a good sister, a good friend... There are so many days that I wish I could just drive to my momma's house and get motherly advice, to enjoy holidays, daily life and challenges. I wonder what would have become of my brother - who would he be today???

Alan Jackson's "Sissy's Song" makes me think of my momma, here are the lyrics:
Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to meI just have to believe
She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
Loved ones she left behind
Just trying to survive
And understand the why
Feeling so lost inside
Anger shot straight at God
Then asking for His love
Empty with disbelief
Just hoping that maybe
She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
It's hard to say goodbye
Her picture in my mind
Will always be of times I'll cherish
And I won't cry 'cause
She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
Don't worry 'bout me
Don’t worry 'bout me

Kenny Chesney's song "Who You'd Be Today" makes me think of Go-Go, here are the lyrics:
Sunny days seem to hurt the most
Wear the pain like a heavy coat
I feel you everywhere I go
I see your smile, I see your face
I hear you laughing in the rain
Still can't believe you're gone
It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
The death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing no one could take your love away
Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today
Would you see the world?
Would you chase your dreams?
Settle down with a family?
I wonder, what would you name your babies?
Some days the sky's so blue
I feel like I can talk to you
And I know it might sound crazy
It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
The death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing no one could take your love away
Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today
Today, Today, Today, Today, Today, Today
Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
The only thing that gives me hope
Is I know I'll see you again someday
Someday, Someday

Little Brother, Big Brother

All I can say is I hope they love each other in a few years as much as they do right now. Hunter is in awe of his little brother and Harrison adores his big brother.

Hungry Boy

Harrison absolutely loves to eat (can you tell?, I'm not exactly starving him!). When you put him in his highchair, he starts rocking back and forth and the second he sees the baby food and the spoon, he starts going crazy! You had better be ready to start shoveling that food in and don't slow down! The only food that he dislikes is green beans.

Eating carrots

I've Got Fever, I've Got Flu

While getting ready for church on Sunday morning, Hunter didn't want to get out of bed and get ready. After finally convincing him to take a shower, he looked at me while I was drying him off and he said "I sick, stay home". I just thought to myself "the devil is NOT going to get his way this Sunday!". He got up in the bed and watched cartoons while I finished getting ready. When it came time to get him dressed he said "I've got fever, I've got the flu.". OK? How in the world did he know how to "play sick"?!?!? It was SO funny!!! Kids say the darndest things!

An Unusual Nice Summer Afternoon in Arkansas

I'm late posting this...but one afternoon (June 29th) after I got off work, it was really nice outside so I decided to take advantage of it and let Hunter play on his swingset and let Harrison sit on a blanket and just enjoy the outdoors without sweating!!! I don't know how we played outside from sunlight to sunset as kids - how did we not die from heat exhaustion!



Harrison and Maggie


Hunter loves his swingset!


Wildflowers in our backyard

Molly - she's almost 8 years old!

Happy 4th of July!!!

We spent the afternoon at Nannie's house in Benton. We grilled burgers and hot dogs while the kids played in the pool. Hunter even went skinny dipping!! We eventually were able to put his swim trunks on his naked booty! It was a typical hot, humid, sticky summer day in Arkansas. I made this Lemon Lime Dacquiri Pie that everyone loved, it was very refreshing! Even though the name says Dacquiri, it was non-alcoholic. If anyone wants the recipe, just let me know. It was YUMMY! We headed over to Tyndall Park to watch the firework show around 8:15, we got a good spot on a hill and we waited patiently until they finally started shooting them off at 9:23! It lasted for 25 minutes and even though my camera has a "firework" setting, the pics didn't turn out that great...they look like pics of silly string! Both the boys really enjoyed watching the fireworks, I was unsure of how Harrison would react, but he sat there and watched the sky. The boys fell asleep on the way home...it was a long day!

Fun In The Pool

GiGi and Harrison

Daddy and his boys

All Pooped Out

Waiting patiently...

My Little Firecracker

Still waiting...

Momma and her boys

With cousin Cooper

Three Amigos

Finally the show begins!!!

Harrison's First 4th of July!