What I'm pinning..

Even though I stay at home with Luke, I still don't find the time to do cute things like this quiet book. Somehow whenever Luke goes down for a nap I am either cleaning, sitting down for a minute or occasionally napping. I never have the energy to jump up and start a project- but I am making a promise to myself to do more fun things like this so we'll see what happens. I saw this quote an laughed because that is my exact thought. Maybe someday I'll be super mom.

How cool is this splash pad??!?! I want one in my yard...Luke  (and I) would have so much fun! Surly it isn't to hard to build...Andrew?!    I have been doing lots of 'research' (if you can call it that) into sensory tubs. I think Luke is at the perfect age to explore them and they look super easy to make- you just change them out with different items for different themes and then you let your little one go to town exploring. I love this beach theme! How fun!

This summer we will be a the lake for Memorial Day and 4th of July! How cute are these? I am already thinking of cute ideas for snacks! I am not a strawberry person, but Andrew and Luke would devour these...

In my imaginary dream home I thing these half doors instead of baby gates are so cute. If it was a pocket half door in front of the stairs it would be even better.  Luke is getting into everything now, so gates are a must, but they aren't very cute. I love the doors!

                  These are the things I have been pinning! What have you been pinning??

My Little Fish

Luke has been working on getting comfortable with the water. We have been getting in our pool (and trying to get in the lake) a lot. Luke for some reason loves the pool but is terrified of the lake. Anyways, since we are around so much water Andrew and I are adamant that Luke gets to be comfortable floating and being in the water, so that if something happened he wouldn't be freaking out. We put Luke in the pool when we went to Corpus and he did extremely well, we then came home and have been working on it ever since. Here is a little video of our fish 'swimming'. It is so fun watching him grow and change daily.

Road Trip

Last weekend my cousin got married down in Corpus Christi, and so since it is such a long drive Andrew and I decided to make a long weekend of it and do some other fun things while we were down there. It was a great time to get away and just spend time together as our little family.

One morning we spend time at a park and pier:

That afternoon we went and visitied my memaw who is in a nursing home. My parents and sister met us there. My memaw was having a good day and was laughing and smiling. Her dementia is very bad so she doesn't talk but you can see her smiling so we know she understand and enjoys the company. Luke enjoyed playing with his Pa's cowboy hat.

That evening we went out to the wedding which was at a really neat ranch. Luke was really good and loved quietly playing in the dirt and leaves during the wedding. (If only church was outdoors and had dirt, then maybe we would actually make it through a service sometime :) )

 The ranch had lots of room to run around and had horses to pet. Luke was loving it!

Once the sun went down Luke spent his evening on the dance floor, and begging girls to dance with him. He is so funny..i don't know where he gets it. 

The next day we went to the Texas State Aquarium, and saw a dolphin show and all the fish. Luke wasn't as interested in the fish as he was with the bone dig and splash pad that was there.  He wants things to be hands on. If he can't touch it, he doesn't want to have anything to do with it.

They had the neatest splash pad with all different kinds of water features. Luke couldn't contain his excitement. He was running from water feature to water feature as fast as he could laughing and playing. I need to find something like this around us this summer.

We finished the day looking at a few other animals and the ships coming in, and then we headed back to swim at our hotel pool. It was too cold for me to get in, but Andrew and Luke braved it and Luke actually 'swam' (floated and kicked) by his self for the first time! We were so excited. We actually came home the next day and put him in the pool at our house to make sure he still could do it. (more on that later)

Anyways, we had a blast and it was great little get away. The wedding was fun and I wish all the happiness in the world to my cousin and her new husband.

All By Myself & A Dance Party

Last week Andrew had to travel for work. I have been very fortunate that he hasn't had to travel much except a few times a year and every time he has traveled I have just gone home to Abilene for the week. This week I already had commitments with Wee School and other things around here, so I decided to be a big girl and stay here. In fact, Andrew just accepted a new position within his company making it very likely/probable that he will start traveling M-Th very often. I already know he will be gone for 3 weeks in Sept. and Oct. So I decided I would try to brave it by myself since this could quickly become the norm and I can't run home every time Andrew leaves.

 Let me just say I have so much more respect for single parents after this past week. Having to do everything for Luke and around the house is a lot- and I just have one kid. Luckily Luke was so sweet, and would come and cuddle with me and give hugs and kisses (its like he knew I was a little nervous and sad). He really was the best and I couldn't ask for a better son. But taking care of anyone all by yourself is a lot. I also do not sleep well at all without Andrew. I get too scared and I slept with the TV on every night- leaving me exhausted by the end of the week.  Not having any 'grown ups' to talk to can drive you a little crazy. Luke and I have never been so excited to go to Wee School and actually have some social interaction. Anyways, enough rambling- we survived and it wasn't that bad. This weekend we celebrated 'dada' being home by getting snow cones (we might come up with a reason to get a snow cone most days of the week). Here is a little peak into how big and crazy Luke is getting! He is a dancing fool!

Day out with Thomas the Train

Today Luke and I met up with my SIL and her two little ones in Grapevine to ride Thomas the Train. The kids had so much fun. 

We listened to some music.

We waited for the train to arrive.

Then we finally got to ride the train! We were so excited!

Luke kept sticking his head out of the window making me very nervous.

Then we finished up the morning playing in the sandbox.

The weather was perfect. It is was a great play day and I recommend it to anyone with little kids. They loved it!

Thomas the Train, we had so much fun and can't wait until you come back to visit again!

Animal Sounds!

The other evening Luke and I hung out in the driveway, eating snow cones, waiting for daddy to come home from work. Here is a quick video of Luke talking and saying his animal sounds. Enjoy!

I'm Back

Hey friends,

So sorry I have been MIA for so long. I was having major hard drive/storage and computer issues, so I couldn't do anything with pictures, saving, blogging, etc. But I have things sorted out now, so I should be able to keep this blog update more often now.

Here is a look at the past few months that you missed:

Luke has grown up a lot. He is now 17 month old.

In October he turned one, and celebrated with a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" Party.

We also found time to have some family pictures taken.

We then celebrated the holidays.

Santa visited several times and brought lots of goodies.

We have played a lot, and have just been enjoying each other. Most recently we celebrated Easter.

Luke hunted eggs early in Abilene.

And then on Sunday Luke met up with some of his cousins for lunch, photos, and an egg hunt. Luke was not loving the camera and spent his time finding the "m.m.'s" in the eggs to eat.

Clearly the eggs are way more interesting than taking a picture.

I love this stage that Luke is in- he is developing and changing each day and it is so fun to watch him grow and change. I love watching him absorb everything and try to be a 'big boy'. He wants to drive, use the phone and computer, do the laundry, load the dishwasher,etc. all by himself. It's exhausting, but I wouldn't want it any different. :)