Fun Weekends

Feeding the animals at the Dillard House:

Goats On A Roof:

He loved this bear:

...and this baby goat:

As many of you know, Cody and I have been in graduate school for the past couple of years--while working full-time. It's been a very busy time for us. Because of this, we really value our weekend time with Andrew. We try to plan a couple of stay-cations each month to play and make the most of our time with him. Andrew loves spending time with mama and dada--and struggles to understand why he can't spend every day with us.

He really knows his way around Gainesville and other places to which he's familiar. He can often take us from one side of town to our house by pointing and say "this way" when we are in the car. So we find it pretty humorous when we load him in the car to go to school and he starts pointing and saying "this way" in the opposite direction of school.

Cody and I are both finished with our classes--and are very excited that we can start spending more quality time with Andrew throughout the week--not just Saturday and Sunday.

Potty training

When Andrew was born, it seemed like our parents kept telling us about how fast they grow up...to not rush things...to treasure every moment. I can't begin to tell you how true this is. It seems like just yesterday our little baby was born. Each day that goes by he seems to get more and more independent.
We are in the midst of potty training right now...and while it's exciting, I'm also a little sad. Now imagine, I about cried when I removed his changing pad from his room a few months ago (because he's so big) and transformed his changing table into a dresser! So, our big boy is growing up. He's actually been accident free since Thursday.
Throughout this potty training, I have learned a major lesson with little boys. Put them on the potty and STAND BACK! I had to learn this the hard way. Last night I put Andrew on the potty and stood there waiting to see if he needed my help (and to ensure he was actually "going"). Andrew leaned back on the potty and overshot the toilet and hit my foot with a stream or urine! I was so disgusted. I grunted and said, "ANDREW, you pottied on mama!" He started cackling and said, "I got you!" Then continued to laugh.
I had to leave the room because I was cracking up.
This child is a mess!

Fourth of July Weekend

We had such a fun three-day weekend with our big boy. Andrew is ready for potty training, so we spent most of Friday in big boy pants. Andrew did such a good job sitting on the potty. On Saturday, he actually held his potty for four hours, so I think we are making progress. We traveled to Lake Oconee on Saturday afternoon and spent the afternoon boating and swimming. Cody and I certainly have a fish on our hands. Andrew loved playing with Aunt Sara, Kina and mama in the water. Even Papa David jumped in and swam with Andrew. We went on a boat ride to a giant rock and Andrew got to see everyone jump from the rock. When we were swimming back to the boat, Andrew was paddling as hard as he could toward us. He was trying to swim to the rock too! We watched pretty fireworks that night (pireworks as Andrew would say), and had a wonderful Independence Day. 

On Sunday, we woke up to Andrew telling us, "I go see nana, nana-key, sssssss-patrick at lake. I mant jump rock!" I guess he really did have a great time at the lake!

We also went to  Sophia's first birthday celebration. Andrew was a sweetheart, as always, and pulled Sophia around in her new wagon. I think that was his way of saying that he was a big boy now...not a baby. He did have a hard time understanding why his pa-paw and ma-maw's attention was not completely on him. 

The beach and Disney

Friday night, Andrew and mommy took a little road trip to meet up with daddy in Florida. We sang songs, talked, and Andrew slept a bit, but we finally made it to Florida to celebrate Father's day and daddy's birthday. When we got there, Andrew knew exactly where we were and went looking for Nana, who was there the last time we visited. However, we found a sun burned daddy--who he was equally delighted to see. Though daddy was sunburned, he was a trooper and let us swim and have fun in the sand despite his own crispiness. Andrew had so much fun in the waves and sand. He especially liked taking his float out into the ocean and body surfing with mama! We had a great time at the pool too. Andrew thinks he can swim, and if we work really hard at it, mama and daddy thinks he may be swimming all by himself at the end of the summer. The boy just does not have any fear of the water. Father's day was spent outdoors as well, digging and playing. That night we went to the inlet for dinner and had more yummy food. Andrew liked watching all the boats come into to dock for the night. 

On Tuesday, mama woke Daddy and Andrew up for a doughnut cake to celebrate daddy's birthday. We then got ready and spent the day at Disney. What a celebration! Everyone told daddy Happy Birthday and he felt so special! Andrew was even tall enough to ride Splash Mountain. He was pretty concerned for Brer Rabbit after he was thrown into the Briar Patch. At the bottom of the falls, Andrew asked, "What happen Bwew Wabbit?!?" He was so relieved to see Brer Rabbit was okay. He was also relieved that Stitch was caught at the end of Stitch's Great Escape. He clapped for joy when that bad stitch was caught! Cody and I were both amazed at how well he followed the story line and how he was able to retell us exactly what happened.

The next day we had  to say goodbye to the beach. Andrew didn't want to go. We had such a great time at the beach and can't wait to return!

The Cat's Away...the Kitten Will Play!

We are really missing daddy, but are excited to see him on Saturday for our beach vacation. Andrew had his first big sleep over last night. Nana Key (Aunt Kina) visited and brought two sweet little boys with her. Kaleb and Kasen. The three boys had such a great time playing. They went to the pool and played with trains, cars and blocks...general boy stuff. Andrew loved his lengthy play date so much that while mama was fixing dinner, the boys all fell asleep watching Bolt! This morning they woke up and had mama and Aunt Kina running all over. They loved bouncing in Andrew's inflatable bouncer. Andrew learned something new from his two friends...tattling. Because Andrew has a bad habit of running off, Kaleb would try to hold him. Andrew would come back to us saying, "He hold me!" I guess Andrew hasn't learned the art of tattling, but tattling just enough so that you don't get yourself in trouble. The boys left to go home at noon today because of Aunt Kina's hurt ankle, otherwise they would have had another full day of fun. So, Andrew had to go to school, where I think he got a much needed nap. After school I took him to the pool. We are having so much fun while dada is away, but we can't wait to see him. Andrew really misses his daddy. This morning he cried for both mama and dada, but he continued to sob for dada while holding dada's picture. He is so sweet and I love that his dada is his best friend...as it should be!

Andrew had a blast this weekend with mommy and daddy. We had an impromptu trip downtown and had yet another impromptu trip to see Uncle Stewart and Aunt Julie. Andrew really liked playing with the slinky a their house. We left their house and jumped on a train at North Springs. Andrew loved the train and at every stop said, "All aboard!" We rode the train all the way to the center of Atlanta...and ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe! We had a yummy lunch and even saw Miss Cass!!!! Andrew gave her a big kiss and hug before leaving the restaurant. 

We got back on the train and rode it to Arts Center station where we got on a bus to Ikea. We missed the first bus, which really upset Andrew. He thought we missed the one and only bus that day. Andrew had a blast at Ikea and had a great time playing with all the toys...so much fun that he didn't want any one else playing with any of the toys! We took the bus back to Arts Center and got on the train to go home. He could not stop talking about the too too twain and bus. 

Today we visited B-nana and took a swim in her pool. Andrew made new friends and loved playing with the squirt sticks. He is quite a little swimmer these days! He is such a little fish! One of the little boys decided that Andrew's mommy was much more fun that their mommy and splashed her with the water gun. Andrew yelled, "No...dat my mommy!!!!" I guess he's the only one that can splash me! This week, Daddy is going to be gone at a conference in Florida. We may be able to join him later this week, but we have to stay behind and work and go to school. Aunt Kina and B-nana are coming over this week to play at the pool. Aunt Sara is also coming over to play on Thursday. Andrew has a very exciting week ahead of him...and possibly an even more exciting week next week when we celebrate Daddy's day and his Birthday!

We love you all! xoxo

Sara's First Birthday

You may see some familiar faces in this video!

This is Kina's ballet recital...she loved dancing to "Fame!" She got all the grace genes between the two of us.

A Diamond in the Rough

So mom found an old home video...didn't know what was on it, but had it converted to a DVD. I've been tasked with making a nice movie for everyone to enjoy. So far, I have been able to convert my first gymnastics meet into a .wmv file. Now I have to rip it to an mpeg so I can put it into an imovie. Anyway, This was such a gem of a find. There's also Sara's first birthday, one of Kina's ballet recitals, a video of Granna and Grando...and Aunt Mary. Don't you just love technology? Just FYI...this meet was pretty rough. I was such a mess! I can't believe I continued with gymnastics after viewing this video.

A loving tribute to "Ba"

Andrew's nearest and

dearest friend for the last

30 months (almost to the day!) has been his "ba" a.k.a. paci, pacifier, binky, plug. Andrew

has been known to put two or three in his mouth AND has often been seen with one in his mouth and another in his hand. Andrew's dependence on his friend was almost severed last year, at this time. However, after his surgery, the doctor recommended we give his "Ba" back to him while he recovered. Andrew became co-dependent on his little friend. However, "Ba" was a very loyal friend! "Ba" always found his way home, even in the middle of the night, and was always there for Andrew when he was scared, embarrassed, happy, sad...even mad! "Ba" even helped Andrew overcome biting. Well, this past Thursday, May 28, "Ba" (and all of his decoys) were "sent" to another baby. Andrew was pretty hesitant, but with each passing day, "Ba" is slowly fading to a memory.

Happy Birthday Pop Pop!

We all had a great time in Macon this past weekend! I think it would make for a fabulous city for Andrew to grow and learn...after all, it was wonderful enough for Grando, Pop Pop and me! He loved spending the afternoon with friends at the air force base museum in Warner Robins and once again enjoyed looking at and feeding Granna's fish. We celebrated Pop pop's birthday with tea and cookies and Pop pop really enjoyed Andrew's card. Andrew can't wait to spend an afternoon at the zoo with Pop pop! We went to dinner at the Back Burner and Granna said Andrew was so well behaved and charming. He behaved so well for being a two year old in a fancy restaurant. Thank goodness a park was across the street. Andrew got to have several trips to the park throughout dinner to play and slide. We just LOVE Macon! Afterwards we went back to Granna's house where Andrew got to run around barefoot to catch fire flies! Andrew serenaded Pop pop with his version of Happy Birthday, then we had to leave to go home. We had such a fun trip! 

Learning about Patriotism and Sharing

This month we also celebrated all the men and women who either have or are currently serving our country so that we can enjoy the freedoms we all share this past Memorial Day. Patriotism is a value Cody and I both want to instill in our son because it is a value that we both care deeply about. We love the country we live in and want our son not only love it as well but to understand the sacrifices his own family members have endured for him. 

Andrew really loved attending the parade, especially the wee-oo-wee-oo's (fire trucks)! Between Andrew and his friend Derek, who we ran into at the parade, the two loaded up the wagon with candy and other goody's that were thrown to them. We caught them stuffing candy in the mouthes like they were eating from a trough a few times! It was great to see our little guy sharing...something he continues to learn every day. That afternoon, dada grilled yummy ribs, chicken and hotdogs and shared the day with family and friends. Though we expected rain, it turned out the be beautiful sunny day. Andrew LOVED having Nathan and another Derek over to play with and share his toys and they all enjoyed playing in Andrew's jumper. 

Andrew is doing such a good job learning to share (sharing is caring) and the wonderful friendships you can have by being kind.

Dada's graduation and Andrew's first field trip

We have been so busy the past few weekends...since B-nana's birthday. Though it's been raining a lot and we haven't had as much time outside as we'd like, we have been very busy with our big guy. 

This month, daddy graduated with his MBA. We had so much fun at the graduation and afterwards at the graduation party. Andrew 

really enjoyed sharing this special day with his dada. 

Andrew also went on his first school field trip! They went to the Mayfield Dairy farm where the class enjoyed lunch and ice cream and the boys enjoyed a quick pick-up game of football on the big field. You can see where they all tackled each other in the picture!

New to blogging

This week has been especially full of great events. Andrew got to meet his great-Grandma Rusty this past week. He LOVES his great-grandma! Also, this past weekend,B-Nana and Pa-Paw turned 50. Andrew had a great time celebrating with everyone. He attended B-nana's party and filled himself with "barbie"-Q. He especially loved the Barbie birthday cake! Though he didn't get to celebrate Pa-paw's birthday with him, he did get to spend time with his proud pa-paw--going to the gunshow and spending time on Pa-paw's new patio. 

This week at school has been especially trying. Andrew decided to put a little girl in a headlock and attempted to scratch her. He felt very bad afterwards and apologized to everyone through sobs. He really is such a sweet boy. His teachers tell us this as well. 

We are all very excited about this upcoming weekend. Tomorrow we may get to spend the day on the lake at Dee and Barkley's marina. On Sunday, we are going to Aunt Sara's Cinco de Mayo party.