today.

Starting with my bug, here are just a few things I am loving today....

1. The fact that his little shoes can fit in the top of a box.

2. When he says bye bye to everything! This was definitely one of the best suggestions Nicole has passed on because it saves a lot of tantrums when we have to leave something. We bye bye EVERYTHING! Cookies, the house, Gabbi...Here he is saying bye bye to a truck while we were on a walk.

3. Slobbery, mouth open kisses on my cheek

4. When he wants something & he grabs my hand to show me. SO precious.

5. If he wants me, he yells, "Bobble!" I thought this was because he can't say Ms but I totally heard him in his crib saying, "mama, mama" and then I walked in and he said, "Bobble!!"
6. Trucks. When he is throwing a HUGE fit about getting out of the bathtub, we can bribe him with his new Aunt Cole truck book or the truck/tractor place mat. He can identify all of the different vehicles on it. Also, HUGE shout out to cousins Shannon & Jacob for the truck dvd. It is this awesome 1980's style video where the host (in his denim shirt & stonewashed jeans) takes the kids on a tour of trucks. It has literally changed our lives. Anderson is obsessed with it. 7. When he imitates us. He is washing his hair in this pic. Hilarious.

8. The fact that the only food I can consistently get him to eat is Black Bean soup. It's a Rachael Ray recipe with beans, tomatoes, onions...and he LOVES it. The kid is not an eater by any stretch but he will chow down on this soup and I think it is so random and precious.

Random...TODAY, you need to become a potential bone marrow donor. Go to bethematch.org and sign up. They send you a little kit where you swab your cheek & they keep you on record. It is totally free, kind of official AND you could save someone's life. If everyone signed up, think of how many kids (and parents, grandparents...) could be cured. If, God forbid, the unthinkable happened to us, how wonderful to have a guardian angel. And, YOU could be someone else's guardian angel!! Anyway, just do it, please.

here is a little video of the bug

the cousin.

This girl loves her Sissa. I took this picture when I was walking in just to prove how much she loves me. Now, I fully recognize that I am really just a consolation when her mom, Aunt Manda and Mickey Mouse aren't around but I will take the grin anyway.

Mom has this weird amount of patience that allows her to enjoy having 2 toddlers around at the same time.


Anderson remains madly in love with his cousin. Madly.



The love is not quite mutual, yet.

Brandon proved to be pretty excellent with the girl version of a toddler, as well.
I loved spending time with her this week! She is so precious when she says, "Right!" instead of yes (Mickey Mouse does this), makes us dance Hot Dog with her, snuggles into a ball with her head on my shoulder, acts like the most adorable drama queen and lets me love on her. We worked on, "I love Sissa" and it didn't happen but she did say, "Right!" when I asked if she loved me.

Uncle Curtis!!

Because he is so talented, Curtis participated in the "Rainy Day Brush Off" at the Knoxville Museum of Art. I am probably explaining this really badly, but the idea is to raise money and awareness to preserving rain water. His barrel is going to be auctioned off but there is also a contest where he can win a prize! Because I am always up for a competition and his really is the best, I am trying to help him win!
Go to this link, click on vote & then choose "Curtis Glover-A State of Trance"

http://drygap.com/rdbo/2011/index.html
Anderson enjoyed his first visit to an art museum, especially since there were trucks outside the window.

the blue & the white

I know!! Adorable. Anderson attended the FHS Spring scrimmage on Sat. with me to spread his Admiral pride. I am really not the person who believed in the motto of bringing the baby along to everything. Before he was born, everyone told me to just "take that baby with you" wherever I had to go. Um, ok. Either they have severe momnesia or birthed some seriously angelic children. I like to follow the motto of "Only take the baby IF it is an emergency, you have a bag filled with every possible item & , actually, just leave him at home." But, now that he is the MOST FUN THING EVER I want him with me at all times (except possibly the grocery if the trip is longer than 10 minutes or we don't have Noni with us) so he hung out on the FHS field for 5 hours on Saturday. It was so great because I had to be there & I didn't miss hang out time with him!

Clearly interested in the game. This outing was really just another reminder that a toy tractor can make anything manageable.

Just for comparison, here he is a year ago!

Because she is awesome, Clare stopped by to say hi! Please remember that this wasn't even a real game so Jack is obviously a dedicated Admiral, as well. Please notice Jack's expression which I think is directed toward my scary looking hair.

They were all fighting over who got to hold Jack. Let's just say that Sarah got stuck with Anderson.

We found his missing eye.

I highly suggest supplying a giant sandbox in the form of a long jump pit at all of your outings. Also, the younger sisters of cheerleaders doesn't hurt the experience.

First Dippin Dots!

just some pics.

truck pjs, truck in hand, probably saying, "truck!"
Going to see a tractor with JPa!

I literally do not know what we are going to do when the construction in Noni's neighborhood is done.

I got this train table at a garage sale & it seems to work pretty well for trucks, too!

Ribbitting like a frog! He makes Brandon go first, then I have to go & then he goes. Precious.

3 of his favorite things: playing on the bed, trucks & throwing a tantrumShannon & Nicole got me this shirt for the "patching marathon"!! I love it! Shannon figured out that if we patch as long as expected it will be 73 months...so 72.1! It was such a surprise & has reminded me that we are all in this eye thing together! Thank you:)
Curtis was at work...
Toni came over to watch Anderson last week because I had to proctor a test & Brandon had to work and I came home to a sleeping baby AND folded laundry! Wow.

under the sea & into the storm!

We celebrated Jack's first birthday last weekend at a nautical themed party! Clare played up the Jack Cousteau theme & it was so cute! I loved Jack's little shark shirt & Anderson wore an adorable sea themed outfit from GG.

Jack was so adorable eating his cupcake & I loved the blue icing that got everywhere! Clare did such a good job on the party-I felt like we were at the ocean, for sure!

After almost 9 years of knowing him I found out that Brandon can juggle. I am still a little in shock. How does that not come up at some point? We are going to pair him up with Bop's Balloons for the next party!

Discovered a free outing for us-Home Depot. Who needs to pay to go to the zoo when there are tractors to sit on? Also, please check out the cuteness overload when he fell asleep with his toy tractor!!

As part of our daily (desperate) attempt to get Anderson to eat, we are putting the high chair up & moving him to the table. It is definitely not easier in terms of cleanliness or behavior but I do think he feels more grown up.He is not really ready because he still wants to smear everything/throw everything on the floor & the high chair tray was definitely easier to clean. Our table is by the window & every time a car goes by he can hear it & is positive it is a truck so he gets hysterical/giddy & just cannot focus on eating.

Notice Brandon (on the right) at a SWAT training day. I will say once more that very, very soon Anderson will realize all that is awesome about his dad & I will officially get the boot.

Jessica came by last week & brought goodies to Anderson (of course) and goodies for us in the form of yummy cupcakes!! How cute is this peanut butter & jelly one??

So, like everyone we had crazy weather a few weeks ago. Here is the hail at my parents' house.

The hail in our yard...

We are so lucky because so many people were really affected, but I must admit it was definitely scary for a few minutes. We got Anderson up & went into the cozy little world I had made for us in the bathtub. The worst that happened was a broken window & lots of dents in the siding. I am so sad for the people in Alabama who lost so much and everyone in Memphis who is dealing with the floods! Be careful!

On a positive note, here is a video of some random moments over the past few weeks.