Sink or Swim

Andrew and I have been to the pool a few times this year, but today was the first time this year we all went as a family. I had bragged to Chad about how Andrew was fearless and would just float around in the pool (on his own) with his arm floaties, so I was so glad for him to finally see it for himself! Andrew loves water so much that the pool is right up his alley! Whenever we drive by it he says "Pool, pool, otter, otter" He was so cold in the water that his lips were shivering, along with his whole body, but he didn't want to get out. He just kept saying "Cold, Brrr"!!

We packed everything in the house (including Andrew's favorite....Flavor Ice)

Andrew knows how to (safely) get in on his own!!





     Look at my Bog Boy on his own!!
                  He says "Kick, kick, kick" while he's in the water!

Happy Anniversary-Father's Day, Chad!

Chad and I celebrated our 4th wedding Anniversary on Thursday! We had takeout Mexican (my fav) and exchanged gifts after Andrew went to bed. We have a babysitter coming this weekend so we can go out and "really" celebrate, alone! We had a great night together at home though, while we watched our wedding video and remembered why we fell in love and how simple-happy life can be! I love you Chad, and I can't wait to keep racking up the years with you as my husband! We also celebrated Father's Day with Chad's dad yesterday. This day was especially tough for me this year since I've lost my dad, but I had to make it special for Chad. I've decided that this day is now going to be about Chad and letting him know what a wonderful dad he is to Andrew. I can honestly say that I couldn't have picked a batter dad for our son. He is so hands on with Andrew, never has to be asked to help with him, never complains about having to help, and makes Andrew so happy. I love watching Andrew's face light up when he sees Chad, and it does everytime he sees him! Andrew just adores him and waits for Chad to look at him, tickle him, or smile at him whenever he's around. He loves any attention that he gets from Chad, and yells out "Daaaaa dee" whenever Chad makes him laugh, so cute! Thank you for being the best dad a little boy could ask for!

By the way, you're looking pretty hot in your old age!!

Loved........Not Spolied

When I was little, my parents used to tell me that I was loved, not spoiled. This was after they had bought me whatever I wanted and someone had told me how spoiled I was! I understand that a lot more now that I have my own child. Grandma and Grandpa wanted to buy Andrew something while they were here, so they went all out and got him this awesome ride on Spider Man truck! Anyone who knows my boy, knows how much he loves trucks (cucks), so he has been so excited to got ride it whenever we go outside. He hasn't quite figured out that he's supposed to hold in the button so he starts and stops a lot, but he'll have the hang of it soon. Thanks so much Grandpa Joe and Grandma Dawn, you've scored some big points with the little man!

Odder Odder

Andrew has become fascinated with water (odder), and has to be drug away from it. He wants in the bath all day long (naked or not), in the kitchen sink, or to be playing with the hose outside. Grandma Dawn showed him that he could drink (gink) from the hose, so now that's all he wants to do! I have to admit, it's pretty cute to watch!

Happy Boy!

Andrew had such a great weekend and was eating up all of the attention! We stayed so busy, but he went with it and slept great from being so worn out! Here are some fun pics showing how happy he was-is!

              He loves the hot tub (Paba)

         He would stay in the sink-bath all day if we would let him
             "Washing" his hair

Fun With the Charapata's

We had such a great time with Chad's family (dad, step-mom and little brother) this week! This was their first trip to our house in Chattanooga, and the first time to see Andrew since he was 3 months old. He warmed up to them pretty quickly and was even giving Grandpa Joe high fives and kisses before they left. When Joe would be sitting out on the screened in porch in the morning, Andrew would go out there and sit on the chair next to him so they could have a "talk". I couldn't see Andrew in the chair so it looked like Joe was talking to himself out there!! Thanks so much for coming to visit and loving our little boy so much!

Andrew hanging out with the men, showing off his toes!

               Being silly with Grandma Dawn!

Look at the "old" Grandma and Grandpa reading the paper!
                       Chad and his Dad
              Joe, J.J. and Chad

Uncle J J

Andrew had the best time with his big Uncle J.J.! He loves watching big kids and tries to do everything that they do. J.J. was wonderful with Andrew and entertained him for me the whole time he was here. He chased him and played with him harder than I ever have, so I'm sure Andrew will be expecting more from me this week! Thanks so much J, we love you!! 

Daddy's Shoes

Andrew wants to do, eat, wear and use anything that has to do with his Daddy! He adores him, and asks about him all day when he's at work. He goes in the bathroom and gets ready with him in the mornings, but when Chad's gone before he gets us, he pulls out Chad's razor, brush, toothbrush, and aftershave and plays with them (correctly). He puts all of Chads belts around his neck and runs out of the closet with them hanging on him. He pulls out his toes and will wear a few of those too! He has just started putting Chad's shoes on, and he did it for Chad to see tonight! So cute how he wants to be like his Dad!

Growin' Up

SO many changes going on around here these days! My little man is growing and doing new things every day. He loves to pee-pee on the potty, but he calls it poop. He asks to go all day, so now I'm seeing why pull-ups would be so much easier. He gets some toilet paper after he's done (like mommy I guess), then pats his mouth with it?, the reaches back and flushes! He takes his potty seat and puts it back in the cabinet then puts the lid down, Mommy's training him right! He's doing great in his big boy bed, and still hasn't gotten out. Well, the other night Chad went to check on him and he was laying next to his bed on his stuffed puppy dog, but that was so cute that we don't count it as getting out! New words are coming out every day, he LOVES the movie Cars and could watch it all day long. He likes playing dress-up, but not the girls kind. He wants all of his socks on- layered, and all of his shoes. He loves to put hats on, Chad's and his own, but he has to put them all on at one time!  Tantrums are starting now, Fun Fun! He usually just looks me in the eye and screams, then he'll slap whatever's in front of him, then cry because he gave himself a "Boo'Boo", then drop on the floor whining. I haven chosen to ignore these outbursts, and it seems to make them stop pretty quickly. We'll see how long my method works! He started Mother's Day Out on Thursday and did very well, considering it was his first day. I thought it would be hard on me, but I really wasn't sad. I think it's been a long time coming, and I was just ready at this point! Andrew took about 10 minutes to calm down for the teacher, but didn't cry all day after that! She said he didn't want anyone to look at him or talk to him (typical Andrew), and he just eased into things. He ate lunch and took his nap, and especially liked going outside. When I showed up to get him, he was in the teacher's arms and she was rocking him in the chair. She said he was patting and rubbing her arm........I thought he only did that to Chad and I :( He's growing up fast, more to come!

                      New big boy haircut.......courtesy of Mommy!!

                                    Dress- up!
             Wool polka dot socks and blue sandals, NICE!

                           Tantrum on the floor!

Creative Discovery Museum

My friend, Dee-Dee came to visit us for the day, and we took the kids to the Creative Discovery Museum. They all played well together and things went very smooth, considering they had driven that morning from Nashville, and it was nap time for the boys! We went to lunch and everyone was exhausted after Cheeseburgers! Andrew and Beau could be big buddies if they lived closer, I'm sure Beau could teach him some of his wild ways!! Abby loved playing Mommy and kept trying to teach Andrew how to color, say words and eat his chicken nuggets!! Thanks so much for coming to see us you guys, we love you! 

                         Abby cooking, cleaning up and ironing in the kitchen (wish I enjoyed that stuff)

                         Andrew admiring her beauty!

                                             Beau and Andrew
                  Andrew playing doctor, he had no idea what a stethoscope was!


Abby and her Clifford the Big Red Dog ears, she looks a little more like Pocahontas!

Notice how Beau is jumping and Andrew is being very cautious!

Busted

I was trying to get ready to go to the Discovery Museum, so I left Andrew alone in the kitchen (with a bag of Goldfish). This is what I came back to, and there was a time-out following these findings! He has become such a little stinker lately, I guess because he's almost 2. He's gone on a 2 week hunger strike and won't eat anything I offer him, and throws it on the floor or spits it out. He stands in front of the pantry, frig and freezer all day wanting in them, then when I open them up, he can't decide what he wants. He'll pull 50 things out of the pantry of I let him and waste everything I open for him. Not complaining, Andrew is doing lots of fun stuff too!  

We are Family!!

My mom, sister, nephew and niece came to visit for the weekend!!! We had a great time together, and everyone got along GREAT!! Andrew has named Merrick "Geek" and McKenzie "Tinsie". He has asked for them all day from the time he wakes up until he falls asleep (literally) ever since they left. I love watching all of them together and wish so much that they could play more often. Thanks for coming all the way here to see us...we love and miss you guys!!