Hidden Treasures

I know other bloggers will get what I am about to say. Sometimes I take pictures that I love and want to post but they don't "fit" into the blog I am writing about. Therefore I always wait until I have a collective story or picture line in order to post anything, and some real hidden treasures get left out. Not today. I have decided this is random picture day post...


This picture should be more telling
of our lifestyle than any picture I have ever shared on our blog. By the time weekend rolls around, between watching Tyler all week combined with pregnancy fatigue- all I want to do is sleep in. Poor Tommy is exhausted also from school and work, but seems to take the brunt of 7:30am or before shifts if Tyler wakes up raring to go. Last weekend I awake to witness for myself just what exactly takes place while I am still tucked warmly in bed.



Tyler is nuts over balloons. Any size, and color. Yesterday we went into Party City to get my mom a birthday card and Tyler basically pointed and yelled at the balloons until a store employee brought him one. The funny thing is, sometimes Tyler will play with a new toy for 10 minutes, the next day the same toy 10 hours. There is no rhyme or reason to how he chooses what toy is going to become the object of daily obsession. Yesterday it was the balloon. This picture was taken right before bed, as you can see- he is still having a blast.

A Gourd For My Pumpkin

Tonight Tyler, Tommy, and I and some of our good friends headed to the Oakes Farm in Corryton, TN to the annual pumpkin patch. Awaiting us was about the most spectacular full moon you have ever seen. We all rode the hay wagon over to the pumpkin patch and picked out what we thought was the perfect pumpkin (and since we are having a pumpkin carving contest with our friends next week, there was a slight competitive twist on the selection of the fruit). Only after getting back to the hay wagon in the pitch dark did we discover the crack down the center. Our wagon full of people were kind enough, like they had a choice, to wait as I went and selected another.


After getting back to the main field, Tyler played in the giant box of corn kernels, meandered through the kiddie hay maze, and posed for a few pictures. A great night had by all!

Shop Till You Drop

My friend Michelle and I spent the day with our boys at Five Oaks Mall in Pigeon Forge. Since Michelle has the minivan, we loaded up in her ride to head out to go outlet shopping. The hilarious part of the trip to me was watching both boys interact on the way over. While Tyler just wanted to sit and look out the window, Andrew insisted on trying to hold or pat on his hand. Neither was completely satisfied at the level of affection the other was willing to show. So while Michelle was telling Andrew to keep his hands to himself, I was encouraging Tyler to just let him hold his hand for a minute. We had a great day hitting the stores and stopping for lunch. Both being pregnant, and both having 2 year old boys to push around all day- you can imagine how tired we felt on the ride home. Somehow, I think Tyler and Andrew were just a little more exhausted by the time we pulled in my driveway....and a nap was one thing they could definitely agree on.

It Has Been Confirmed...

Tyler is getting a little brother! After going to get the ultrasound today, and then going celebrate with lunch...Tommy asked me on the way into the restaurant, "Aren't you relieved that you don't have to teach a girl how to be a lady?" I should have been offended on many fronts, I have the sense to know this..but between you and me- AM I EVER!

I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby...

HAPPY 29TH BIRTHDAY TOMMY!!!!

Happy Birthday T-Dog! We love you more than anything in the world and hope you have the best year ever!

Nashville Or Bust

Since Tommy is in the middle of taking comps, and
full concentration with no interruptions is required-
Tyler and I decided this was a perfect weekend to
take a road trip and go visit Tyler's grandparents in Nashville.

The weekend was packed full of trips to the park, the zoo, garage sales, and much needed one on one time with grandma and grandpa. Thank you for the wonderful weekend- we both had a great time!

What the Croup?

Last Tuesday we were at a doctor's appointment where they had a Dora the Explorer pirate ship playhouse in the lobby. Tyler was manning the wheel when this kid comes over with this awful barky cough and licks the wheel where Tyler is standing. I run to grab Tyler, recognizing this child is sick and before I could reach him, Tyler licked in the same spot (no, Tyler is not a licker- I don't know why he chose to mimic this kid). Fast forward to Saturday.....

My mom is keeping Tyler and upon him waking up from a nap informs us that she thinks he is coming down with a cold. By the time we drive home, Tyler looks sick and very worn out. Sunday morning Tyler wakes up and has worsened. He was spiking a fever and very lethargic. Sunday after nap he woke up and had lost his voice and had a barky cough and was holding his chest. We called the on-call doctor and were told if he breathing was not too labored, then just bring him in on Monday morning. After no sleep for anyone on Sunday night, Tyler started struggling for breath at about 5:30 am. By 8:30 am we were at the doctor and were told Tyler had severe croup. I did not even know what croup was exactly, or that it even still existed. Croup is an viral infection of the upper airways that affects breathing. Our doctor told us to go straight to Children's Hospital and that he was calling them to say we were on our way.

After arriving at the ER, we waited about 5 minutes before he was taken in and given a breathing treatment and steroid shot. They both seemed to help tremendously. We left after a few hours of observation and came home. Tyler went to sleep at 2:45 pm on Tuesday and slept until 6:45am on Wednesday. His he feeling so much better. Voice and energy have not returned, but with blue bear, orange slices and cheese nips, and lots of movies- he is on the fast track to recovery.

Weekend At G-Ma's

Tommy and I decided that since we were really low on sleep (toddler bed still giving us fits), we needed to get some things done around the house that were not toddler friendly, and just because we had not had time for just the two of us in a really long time- that we would let Tyler spend Friday night with G-Ma (my mom, affectionately called by the grandchildren). The timing seemed perfect, and not only could we sleep through the night, we also decided to take advantage and hang out Saturday child-free.

We picked my mom up from work on Friday and all went into Oak Ridge to get Tyler settled in- all the while talking about how he was going to have a slumber party. When we got ready to leave- he waved bye and did not blink twice. I called my mom when we got home to see how he was doing- of course he was having a ball. They were playing, reading, singing songs and getting ready for bed. I on the other hand was crying hysterically. The house was too quiet. I felt like something was missing. I felt like I had abandoned my child. I was miserable. It hit me that this was the first night I had ever spent away from Tyler. I wanted him home.

My mom said she would bring Tyler home if I wanted her to, but Tommy managed to calm me down and convinced me that Tyler was having a great time (which he was). We finally went to bed and did sleep like rocks and had a good time today. However, it was the best feeling in the world to see Tyler tonight and bring him home. He had an awesome time at G-Ma's and said her name all night. I have had several epiphanies this weekend. First, three is not a crowd. Second, Tyler may be ready for alot of things before I am. And third...Would it be weird if I went with Tyler to sleepovers when he is older?

Four Magic Words

Tommy walked out of Tyler's bedroom the other day blurry eyed. He said that he was laying on the bed with Tyler and rubbing his back. Tommy said he leaned over and said,"I love you Tyler." Tyler then rolled over and said, "I love you Daddy."

Needless to say, hearing those words for the first time bought Tyler some time before having to get a bath and going to bed. Tommy was on cloud nine and I was overcome with emotions of how big Tyler was getting....and maybe a little jealous.

PLEASE get your math skills from your Daddy

Sunday was a HUGE day for us, especially for Tommy. After we spent a good portion of the day hiking at Ijams Nature Center (pictures posted below), we come home to about the most incredible email. Tommy had submitted an article to Mathematics Teacher to be considered for publication. For those of you who are not eating, living, and breathing the math world like my husband- this is a the magazine to read/be published in for anyone in the math field. In fact- it has a nationwide subscriber base of over 100,000 (who knew there were that many geeks out there? Ha- J/K. I gest out of jealously. I cannot add my way out of a paper bag.)

Anyway- the best part....Not only is it an incredible honor to be published, but Tommy's article is the feature article of the month!!!!!!! Yes- much celebration is to be had. We are so proud of you Tommy. Now that I am confident that I have managed to sufficiently embarrass my husband, I will wrap up.