A few FREEBIES for your Friday!

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Little Friends

Our friends Amy and Caroline came to visit... Caroline is just a few months older than Tucker. The last time we hung out together, Tucker wasn't crawling, so they were able to play a lot more this time! Caroline wouldn't stop hugging Tucker...we think she was treating him like her little babydoll--CUTE!



Taylor came over to play at our house this week instead of us heading over to the Gibbs... Tucker is really starting to "play back" with him more and more and they just love each other! Tucker is so lucky to have a big boy for a friend!




Meet another Taylor! Our good friends, Kevin and Beth, adopted Taylor from Russia a little over a year ago and he is precious! He is almost 3 and full of personality! Tucker had fun watching him run all over the place! Taylor was full of hugs for Tucker too!



So fun to see all of you this week! Come again soon!

Tucker Weekly

Tucker is 45 weeks old! I definitely can't keep up with this anymore unless I look at the last TW...

This time last week, Tucker was still having a high fever and feeling like poo. After a long several days of fevers, waiting on different test results, and a drained mama and daddy, we concluded that he had a nasty fever virus. Once he was back to himself, we were so thankful!

In other news, Tucker is finally waving and it is so cute! He's walking from furniture to furniture, but not on his own yet! He's started crawling all over the house...even to daddy's office doors :) He loves to hang out with me in the kitchen and has taken over my tupperware cabinet! He's just nursing 3 times a day now and I'll continue dropping the rest of the feedings over the next several weeks leading up to his 1st birthday! CRAZY! We are having so much fun with Tucker right now...our boy is growing up!

Just the Boys!

Brad gave me the gift of hanging with Tucker all weekend so I could go relax and be pampered... considering this is what I was going to go do, it made it pretty easy to leave I must say! I did miss the little guy, don't get me wrong, but it was amazing to get a break, not be on a schedule, and not have to care of anyone!

Brad is such a hands-on, confident daddy and I'm so thankful! Tucker was perfect for him...2 hour naps, sleeping in till 8:15 in the morning, taking bottles great... I definitely think Brad had a little talk with Tucker about showing mama up while I was gone! I left my camera at home and told Brad he had to take a few pictures so here are a few to share...


Thanks babe...I'll get you back in a few weekends!

Thick as thieves, these two...

Grovepark Goodness

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... That's how I felt all weekend while I spent a few days at the amazing Grovepark Inn! It was very different than last year, when I was very pregnant and waddling from my bedroom to the spa! And mostly, it was different because I had to leave my baby at home! This was the first full weekend away from Tucker and it was a success (this will get it's own post). I was able to relax and enjoy the time away from him, thanks to my ALL-STAR hubby!

I read a lot, talked a lot with other women I love, ate well, was pampered enough to make you hate me :), and just enjoyed the GIFT from my wonderful Mom of just being at the Grovepark. Thanks ladies for a wonderful 5th annual weekend at the spa! Already looking forward to next year!

My mom and my to aunts that I love--Margaret and Darlene!

Love these two!
Our "tall" cousins :), Meredith and Lauren!

Tucker Weekly

Well, I'm coming back from the blog hiatus... Tucker is 44 weeks old and we have had quite a week mostly consumed with Tucker being a sick little boy! I'll try not to bore you with too many details, but Tucker got his 3rd fever in 10 days on Monday. The first two occurrences were not very high and we (us and the doctor) concluded it was some sort of virus. But, on Monday, Tucker's fever came back and was up to 103. We headed to the doctor Tuesday morning and after blood work, we found out that Tucker's white counts were higher than they should be, which led the doctor to believe he might have a bacterial infection. He also had a strep test, a test done for a UTI, and in the end, got a shot of a very strong antibiotic. Today, unfortunately, his temperature was still up to 103 until tonight when it finally went down to 100 (relief!). But, we're continuing on antibiotics and we're waiting to get the results back on the UTI and the blood work to confirm whether or not it is a bacterial infection. It has been a little scary, especially because of the "bacterial" talk, but the doctors and nurses have been great and despite all that's going on, Tucker really has remained a trooper! We are worn out on Tucker having a fever probably as much as he is, but we're making it and hoping tomorrow he will really turn the corner!!!

In the picture, Tucker is "diaper boy"...we were trying to keep his clothes off since his fever was so high!

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Tucker Weekly

Tucker is 43 weeks old! Today was a busy day! This morning, Bosten came to hang with us... I'm going to start keeping him here on Wednesday mornings and we're so excited to have a weekly playdate for the boys! This was the first time the boys actually seemed to notice each other, want to play with the same toys, and chase each other!

I love this boy's smile!

busy at work...After a fun visit/coffee hour with my friend Amy this afternoon, Brad, Tucker, and I left to go have a special birthday night with Jason Gibbs! Jason turned 7 yesterday! I can't believe this little guy that was just turning 2 and learning how to "pee in the potty" when I first met him, is this old! Jason has the most hilarious personality and there were several times we had a good laugh tonight, especially when he told us that he thinks a little girl in his class, Lauren, "likes him". He said, "She hangs around me a lot". Gotta love the 1st grade lovin! We had a good ol' dinner at Chick-fil-A and then went to play some putt-putt! Tucker did great just hanging in the stroller (even past his bedtime!) and it was a great time.

Jason is one of Tucker's favorite entertainers...he constantly interacts with him and Tucker loves him!

Happy Birthday Jason! It was so much fun to have a special night with you!

This past weekend, Tucker had a little virus...no other symptoms besides a fever, but he was definitely not himself... So, we are thankful he's back to normal these last few days! He's still moving all over the house, standing a ton, and keeping us busy!

Happy Wednesday!

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Here's a link to some Burt's Bees Free samples!

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I like it green!

If you're into verde salsa (green) and like avocados, this recipe I found recently is yummy! It's refreshing and quick and easy (especially if you have a food processor)!

Avocado Salsa Verde

Ingredients:
1 small onion, quartered
1 jalapeno, quartered, seeds optional (I only used half and it still had a little "bite")
1 garlic clove, smashed
4 medium tomatillos, (about 8 ounces) husked, rinsed, and coarsely chopped
1/2 Hass avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Put the onion, jalapeno, and garlic in a food processor and finely chop. Add the tomatillos, avocado, and salt and pulse until chopped but still chunky. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cilantro.

Last night, we had these with shrimp tacos (just put a little Old Bay Seasoning on the shrimp and sauteed in olive oil) and it was delicious! We ate the leftovers with chips, of course!

Enjoy!

20 years ago?!?!

If Saved by the Bell is 20 years old, then I am officially not young anymore! This was my Saturday morning tradition for so many years when I was younger... The Max, The college years, The Zach Attack, Mr. Belding, Jesse's "I'm so excited" breakdown... It was good times :) Apparently the reruns still show on Saturday morning... take yourself back fellow old people! 20 years later...

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Dear Grandma,

Happy Birthday! Mommy made you a birthday sign but well, you know how I am with signs and pictures. We hope you have a great birthday and I love and miss you!

Love, Tucker (and Mommy and Daddy)

10 months!

I'm done...

No, seriously...

Happy 10 months old buddy!

All grown up!

Meet Abby and Ella AKA Abby Wabby and Ella Bella (Abby on the right)... These are the sweet twin girls that I took care of 3 years ago (and big sister, Brooke)! When I started working there, the twins were still in Sara's belly and I got to hang out with them every day until they were about 18 months old! I love these girls and I learned a lot from watching Sara juggle 3 kids under 3... I love still getting to see them, but every time I do, they grow so much! This week, they had their 4th birthday which I absolutely can't believe! This picture below is when the girls were just shy of their 1st birthday...in all their baldness :) It was so fun to see you girls today! And fun for me to watch you play with my baby! This is evidence that time really does go by way too fast!

Tucker Weekly

42 weeks old!

T U C K E R

had a great road trip to and from Greenville with his backseat buddy, Charlie (and Mama had fun with Charlie's mama, Tori too!)

loves to look out the window (so does Grey)

is pulling up on everything and getting better and better at standing!

has finally started crawling on his knees, but prefers to army crawls most of the time

has gotten two new teeth up top--giving him 6 total now

still does this...

is getting bumps and bruises from the many attempts to pull up, reach for, and grab at

loves door stoppers

always has dog hair all over him from crawling on the hardwoods

loves cell phones--real ones, fake ones, it makes do difference

and definitely still has crazy hair days :)

Last night, Tucker and I were lying on the floor, rolling around, giggling...kind of wrestling... it made him seem so old! With him being so mobile, making lots of noise, and standing most of the time, he is definitely not my little baby anymore!

What do you think?

This is me when I was around 10 months old... see any resemblance? No denying the nose :)

When I was in Greenville, I was looking in my baby book and it was so funny to see that Tucker is about 3 pounds and 3 inches ahead of me throughout! Should've known I was going to be a shorty :) At 10 months old, I was 19lbs and 27 in... Tucker is 23lbs and 30 inches!