Where the Hopkins Family Shares Stuff
Matt and I were eager to host our friends the McLaren’s for dinner in our new home. We enjoyed a night of relaxing playtime, yummy fish tacos, and super tasty margaritas. The boys are starting to play together a little more although they are still very content with doing their own thing. We had a great time and loved getting to show off our new space to some friends.
Dear Dean,
You are 18 months old! I can’t believe it! One and a half years ago you completely changed our lives and I’m still struck by the impact. You are the most awesome thing, your Daddy and I talk constantly about how much you amazing us. You have changed so much since your 1st birthday. For starters you are now a walker! Towards the end of February/beginning of March you decided to give up on crawling and commit to walking. It began with a few steps across the study and quickly pick up from there.
Because you started walking you were able to move from the infant room to the toddler room at the ECDC. We were so excited for you to get out of the baby room and into the big boy room. At the beginning of March you started to get bored and began hitting and scratching your classmates. We were all sad about your choices but I knew that you were ready to see what those big kids were doing! Since you have changed classrooms we have seen you grow by leaps and bounds. Each day you come home with new words, abilities and skills. It’s amazing. You love the outside time your new class has and look forward to art projects and story time.
You have become very interested in books. Every night we read 2 or 3 books before bed. You especially love the “lift the flap” books. Where is Spot? and Where is baby’s bellybutton? are two of your favorites. You like to pick a book, walk over to us and say book? book?. When we take the book you sit down, cross your legs and wait patiently for us to read it.
Dean, you are a fruit-a-holic! You LOVE berries – strawberries, blackberries, blueberries… We always hear the request for more after you finish a bowl of berries. All of our friends keep watch for berry sales so that we can keep a fully stocked fridge.
During your 18th month of life we moved from Bedford to our new home in TC. You had a hard time with the move. The minute we packed the first box you stopped sleeping. You didn’t want to take a nap or go to bed at night. It was a rough few weeks for your Daddy and me. We tried everything to comfort you and make you feel better. I finally resorted to letting you stay up as late as you wanted. There were many 9 and 10 o’clock nights those few weeks. Thankfully, after the first week in the new house you began to feel comfortable and started getting back into your routine. Life was much better.
You are a super talker! You love to tell people “hi” and have started to use words to express frustration, ask for help, or food items. You love to talk to people in the store and have been labeled as a very friendly baby! In addition to words you have become more independent. You like to feed yourself with a spoon or fork, climb into and out of chairs, walk – but you don’t want anyone to hold your hand, you also like to take your snack out of the box or bag on your own and peel your own banana.
Dean Thomas, we can’t believe that one and a half years have flown by. You melt our hearts with your smiles and hugs. Your Daddy and I can’t wait to see what the next 6 months are going to bring us. Until then!
Dean and I were able to go home this past weekend. Logan and Adam were both celebrating their May 8th birthdays and I wanted to be able to see our families on Mother’s day. After a stop at Granny and Pops on Friday evening we headed to Humble. Saturday was filled with birthday parties. First Adams birthday lunch at Chuy’s (so yummy) followed by Logan’s birthday dinner at Layne and Amanda’s house. We had a great time at both events. Dean totally enjoyed Logan’s backyard party. He had the opportunity to practice for T-ball in a few years and have his first jump on a trampoline. I think Dean enjoys watching the older children and has fun imitating their play.
On Sunday we were able to attend church and have Sunday lunch with my family. The men treated the women to a home cooked meal. It was delicious and relaxing. Since Matt wasn’t in town Layne and Travis jumped in and helped me with Dean. After lunch Dean and I headed back to Dallas. He was so tired that he slept for 3 hours of our drive. We made a stop at Wendy’s for some nuggets and then continued our journey home.
Mother’s day weekend was wonderful. I was thankful to have the opportunity to spend it with my family and Dean I just missed having Matt there as well. Thanks for a great time!
Matt and I closed on our first home April, 26th at 4:00 PM. It was an uneventful event that meant a ton to us! We have dreamed of owning a home and are so excited that we finally have our little piece of heaven. We look forward to many years of fun and memories at Crooked Creek.
After we closed on Monday I had planned to clean the house and get it ready for the move on Wednesday. Our realtor, Mark, gave us the best gift in the world! As a housewarming gift he had the entire thing cleaned for us. WOW! He had not idea how much of a gift that was. It took tons of stress off of Matt and I and freed up Wednesday night for last minute packing.
My parents arrived on Wednesday to help finish packing and assist with the move. On Thursday the movers arrived and started loading. My dad and Matt began making trips to the house with fragile and bulky items while my mom oversaw the operation. I went to work to administer the TAKS test because in the state of Texas you have to be dying to miss school on an administration date! After TAKS was over I hightailed it to the house with lunch in tow for my hard working family. The rest of the day was spent unpacking boxes and admiring our new home. The Hopkins arrived in time for the first dinner in our house. We were starving and almost polished off a dish of homemade chicken enchiladas, beans, guacamole, chips and salsa. It was so yummy!
On Friday and Saturday we unpacked and unpacked and unpacked some more. Glenda and Bill Cherry came Friday night and brought us the most delicious BBQ dinner. They were truly Godsends and we were so thankful to have a yummy meal in the midst of chaos. Thank you Glenda and Bill for taking care of Dean and for fixing us dinner. Y’all are the best!
By Sunday morning our help had gone home and Matt, Dean and I were left to enjoy our new home. We are so thankful for our family help – we were practically setup and unboxed by the time they left. I have no idea how we would have done it with out them. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!