A Few Tears Over Spilled Malt

So I won't directly tell you who is responsible for this mess in my kitchen, but I will give you a few hints because some of you in fact do know her very well......

She's one of the most genuine people you could ever meet.

Her smile and positive, up-beat personality will turn any bad day into a good one.

If she calls you friend, she truly loves you.

She can break out in rap and throw down the worm like none other. And, my guess is, she can probably do them simultaneously!

After a brief discussion that the blender was the cause of the mess she stated, "We'll both write a review online."

She did her best to not let any of this chocolate malt go to waste because it was her "best batch."

(And only because I promised I wouldn't tell, I can't say how she managed to do that.)

The mess was MOST DEFINITELY worth the laughs and tears!

Love ya!

Friday Night Lights

Well folks, we're knee deep in the football season! And around here, football season is taken very seriously. Friday nights are spent in the stands cheering on the Henry County Wildcats! That's because my 'little' brothers, Luke and Nick, are key players for the Wildcats. Luke is a senior and has been the starting QB for Henry County since his sophomore year. Nick is a sophomore this year and plays on the defensive line and kick-off team. We are very proud of them!

Tucker has really taken to the thrill of the game too! He claps and screams when the other fans clap and scream. It's so funny, like he really knows what he's cheering for! Here are a few pics from the past few weeks of Tucker enjoying the game!
Last Friday was a HUGE win for HC (a Class 3A school). We beat Anderson County (a Class 5A school) 45 to 42. Luke had an AMAZING game, throwing for over 400 yards (416 to be exact) with averaging 22 yards per completion, three touchdown passes, ran for 104 yards, and ran in 4 touchdowns! Even Anderson County's newspaper was calling Luke "one of Kentucky's best" the next day! Both Luke and Nick, along with the entire HC football team, school, and fans were excited about that win. Well, all except for Tucker Bug! He made it to about the 3rd quarter and just couldn't stay awake to finish the game. Which means Mommy held him for the remainder of the game. And he's such a trooper, my jumping up and down and screaming never phased him! (And let me tell you, holding a 20 1/2 pounder for that long sure helps tone those biceps!)

Even though he was sleeping peacefully, he managed to get a picture with Uncle Luke and Uncle Nick!(Typically my brothers don't smile in "football pictures" but Luke couldn't help but smile after the performance he gave! Nick on the other hand, well he held true to the no-smile rule lol!)

Looking at the pictures above you can see why I use the term "little brothers" very loosely!

11 Months (HUGE tear!)

Yes, that's right, the thought that my baby is so close to being a toddler brings tears to my eyes! How can it be that Tucker is 11 months old....... I think the reason time goes by so fast is because I'm constantly chasing Tucker around everywhere! Like I said in a previous post, he is into EVERYTHING! But, that's also a good thing. He is so independent at this age. As long as everything's baby proof, I can do what I need to do like clean the kitchen after lunch, unload the dishwasher, put some laundry in, etc. and Tucker will follow me from room to room helping me with the chores....and getting into whatever he can....

"Hmmm, can I eat this?"

He's so good at entertaining himself. Of course, he still gets PLENTY of play time from Mommy and Daddy!

Well, this month's photo shoot didn't go as well as months past. Tucker just wouldn't sit still long enough (imagine that!).Gotta love Tucker's various expressions!

And then he was off!

And this picture shows what happens when you try to get into everything and crawl on, over, under everything..... Notice the little mark above Tucker's right eyebrow....

Tucker Bug,

Where do I start! You are definitely no longer a baby! Hello toddler hood!

Okay, I'll start with some stats first since we actually know them this month because we had your follow up appointment from your ear infections (which are 100% better!). You are 20 pounds, 4.5 ounces and 32 or 32 1/2 inches long (I can't remember which). Definitely a big boy! And you sure think you're big too! You try to do everything Mommy and Daddy do. You want to help with everything, the laundry, the dishwasher, putting the toys away, closing the garage door, turning out the lights, feeding the dogs....

Speaking of the dogs, you LOVE your doggies! You are constantly chasing them around the kitchen table, attacking them while they're sleeping, giving them kisses. There are days when Mommy thinks two dogs is at least one too many, but then I see moments like this:

and I know that they're worth it (maybe!). Well, until you feed them from your high chair. They sit patiently under your chair and, sure enough, within minutes you're dropping food to them. We have to keep the dogs out of kitchen because you would rather feed the dogs than yourself!

Which brings us to the topic of eating. You eat pretty much anything, but how much of it you eat varies from day to day. One day you'll eat almost a whole avocado, the next day one bite and you're done with it. One day you'll eat an adult sized serving of broccoli, the next day three bites is enough. One day you would eat an entire cantelope if I let you, the next......you get the picture! One place that you will eat and eat and EAT is Qdoba! You LOVE Qdoba! You order the naked burrito with rice, black beans, corn salsa, a little cheese, and a side of applesauce. And, just so your naked burrito has some green, Mommy always brings peas to add to it :)

You LOVE to climb over, under, and on things. Whether it's the dogs, your toys, Mommy or Daddy, the kitchen chairs, the dishwasher... You look for things to climb on. And you like to push things too, like your high chair and the kitchen chairs. It's not at all unusual for the kitchen chairs to be spread all over the kitchen from you pushing them around! Oh, and the stairs! We can absolutely not carry you up the stairs. You practically throw yourself out of our arms because you want to climb them yourself! You get close to the top and realize you don't want to get off the stairs so you start going down a few, up a few, down a few, up a few..... Of course Daddy or I walk behind you to make sure you're safe and you look back at us every so often and crack up laughing!

You use things for their intended purpose. You brush your hair with your brush, you brush your teeth with your toothbrush, you hold the phone to your ear, you try to put sunglasses on your face. You're such a smart, smart boy! You even point to your hair when you're asked, "Tucker, where is your hair?" You've pointed to your nose a few times, we're still working on that and other body parts.

You love to give kisses. You kiss Daddy and Mommy, you kiss the dogs, you always kiss your stuff animals, you kiss your reflection in the dishwasher, you kiss the bunny in your "I Am a Bunny" book.... You're SO sweet!

When Mommy's at work you stay with Aunt Jody and Jayden. (Oh, and you give Jayden kisses too!) When I pick you up in the afternoons, you get to me as fast as you can, give me a kiss and a big hug, then immediately have to show me something! It's the cutest thing. You point to something or get a toy. It's like you're showing me what you've been doing while I've been at work. I am SO thankful that it's only a couple days a week that I don't know for myself what you 've been doing all day. Working part time and being home with you more is an answer to prayer and I cherish every minute I have with you! You are such a happy, happy boy! And this face....and this face.....and this face....

is what makes Mommy more happier than I could ever put into words!

Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever understand, Tucker Bug!

Happy 11 months, baby!

Love,

Mommy

Story Time!

One of the gazillion perks to working 2 or 3 day weeks is that I get to take Tucker to story time at the local library! Today was his first time going. (I didn't get too many pics because I didn't want to take pictures of other babies without parent permission...)

Tucker took it all in....We read books, sang songs, and played with toys. Tucker was such a good boy, sitting in my lap and listening to the teacher read. However, I think he enjoyed rummaging through the toy bucket at the end the most.And it made it lots more fun that one of his BFF's Makenly was there too! (Tucker and her go way back....I've got to make up for some missing posts on Tucker & Makenly!)Of course, what trip to the library is complete without putting together some puzzles.

Can you believe that Tucker does not have a single puzzle? And I'm in the education field! So, on the way home, we stopped and got Tucker his own puzzle!
(This is the only picture I could get because naturally he played with it all of 30 seconds before moving onto something else!)

1st Night Away....

Well, I survived my first ever night away from Tucker. I won't say that it was pretty, but I survived. One thing's for sure, it was easier for Tucker and Daddy than it was for Mommy.



My baby sister, Holli, is getting married in less than 3 weeks! With wedding bells always comes all the fun pre-wedding festivities. Last Saturday night was Holli's bachlorette party. A group of 16 of us helped her celebrate in Cincinatti. So, I wasn't too far away from home.... The hardest thing was knowing that if Tucker woke up in the middle of the night, Mommy wouldn't be there to comfort him. That was an unnecessary worry as he slept the whole night. (Wouldn't ya know he would sleep all night when Mommy's not even there!)

I will say there's nothing like hanging around a group of 20-something year olds, many not married and most without kiddos, along with pumping every 4-5 hours so Tucker has his milk for Monday to remind you that you are the "oldest" sister! (And something about a mechanical bull.....but we won't go there!) Now don't think I didn't have a good time. I did! The comedian was hillarious and the video questionairre that we did with Holli's fiance as part of her personal shower was funnnny! But when you're thinking that it's way past your bedtime and the party hasn't even begun yet, well then you remember that you're not 20-something anymore....

Me, Holli, & Bridgette -- the sistas ya just can't hang with lol!

You're totally worth it, Holli! Love you!!!!

11 Months.......

Happy 11 months Tucker Bug!!!

11 Month Post to come soon!

B is for Basketbal!!!

My boys.....L-O-V-E basketball! Guess it's a really good thing that Mommy does too!

And while we're on the subject of basketball, will you please check out Tucker's shot? He's got that shooting arm in position!

Remember that Santa brought Tucker this basketball goal for Christmas when he was just a little over 2 months old? Well Tucker LOVES it! I can't remember exactly when he really started playing with it, it's been some time now, but it is probably his most played with toy. When he comes across the basketball, he picks it up, holds it just like Daddy and Mommy taught him, looks up, and waits for us to lift him to the goal. Then once at the goal he shoots the ball in the basket and then gets all excited! Score!

I can not even begin to tell you how much Wes and I hope his love for basketball continues! I'm almost afraid to say it, because I'm afraid I'll jinx it! Both Wes and I love basketball, whether it's watching or playing. We have fantasized, even when I was only pregnant with Tucker, that he would share our love of basketball. We also have had conversations that if he doesn't that we will be supportive in whatever sport (or lack there of...) that he does enjoy. {But, Tucker, please continue to love basketball!!!}

It's of no surprise that Tucker loves basketball at this point. Aside from the fact that Mommy and Daddy love it, he has been around basketball quite a bit. Before Tucker was 3 months old, Daddy and Mommy coached a girl's middle school basketball team. During practices and games Tucker was at the basketball gym, usually on Mommy's chest in his carrier. (And to just show how focused I am when I'm in "coach mode" I do not have one picture of this! How is that possible?!) He got so accustomed to the sound of the ball hitting the hardwood, the fans cheering, and Daddy and Mommy screaming at, I mean cheering on, our players that he even sometimes slept right in his carrier through it all!

So, just to clarify, we will love and support our son no matter what his interests are! Daddy and Mommy love you Tucker Bug!!!!!!!!

Just a couple reasons why you cannot turn your back on an almost 11 month old for even a second

Can you say "INTO EVERYTHING"???

Go Big Blue!

Well if you live in the Bluegrass State, you are well aware of what the "BIG GAME" was last weekend! And, yes, the CATS beat some Cardinal booty!

I don't think I need to tell you that we're a family that bleeds BLUE:"Where's Lacy's UK jersey, Mom?"Since the weather was AWESOME Saturday (can I get a "woot woot" for fall weather!), we decided to enjoy it before the game with a visit to Gallrein Farms. Tucker LOVED the petting zoo!
He definitely thought it was way better than the zoo! Funny thing, his favorite were the chickens! I think he thought if we would just let him, he could surely catch them!

In other news, Tucker has a double ear infection! Or at least he did last week. He's almost done with his round of antibiotics. Have I mentioned Tucker's allergies on here before?? I can't remember.... He does have allergies and takes Allegra twice a day which helps him tremendously! However, there is something in the air right now that has anybody who suffers from allergies, and even if you don't, miserable. Tucker is no exception... He has been congested for the past 3 weeks. Apparently all that congestion has drained to his ears and all that fluid was breeding ground for infection. You would never know it through the day, but we've had a few rough nights where he's up 4-5 times. I think he's doing much better now. At least he's sleeping better at night (knock on wood!). But please pray for my baby to recovery completely and to be alleviated of any pain or discomfort.

At least we did get to get Tucker's weight while at the doctor last week. At 10 months and 2 weeks, Tucker weighs in at 20 pounds and 1 ounce! I guess he's getting more solid food in him than I thought!

Here's hoping y'all have a BLUE and WHITE Wednesday! :)