Chattanooga Road Trip

Last week, we took a day trip to Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and Rock City, where you can see 7 states from Lookout Mountain. It was a lot of fun, one reason being that I love a good road trip, and the second reason being that I love hanging out with my husband and son. This trip entailed both. Score! I figure the best way and probably the most fun way to explain how our day went is to show it in pictures, so here goes:

Our Chattanooga Road Trip

This kid is ready to rock the aquarium. He's got his shades, his dino shirt...

Let's do this, people. Take me to the sea turtles.

Eric to Waylon - "Do you want to touch the fish?"

Waylon, with his hands clutched in a ball at his chest - "No."

Can I just say - What is up with this turtle's neck?

We have a turtle, and his neck is normal. This is icky!

He pointed out Nemo in this fish tank, or as he calls him "Mee-mo."

Waylon and Daddy hung out with some GIGANTIC spider crabs inside their tank!

We had a bit of a tickle-fest before lunch at TGI Fridays.

We all took off our flip-flops and walked in the waterways they had all over the place.

Seems like everyone was doing it on that hot day!

You can see 7 states from up there: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina,

South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

Can you see the face in the side of the stone? Look closely. Pretty cool, huh?

I actually bought one of the "See Rock City" birdhouses for the backyard.

Waylon had fun in the gift shop.

We had a lot of fun and realized that there are a lot of things in Chattanooga that we want to do, so we will probably be taking more day trips there. Why day trips? No hotel costs AND no having to kennel our 3 dogs. Our neighbor can let them out and feed them for us, if it's just a day. (Thanks again, Danielle!) Plus, it gives us a chance to get away for a day and see the beautiful Tennessee countryside. Oh, we also got some geocaches on the way back - just another reason to take some road trips. So, yay for us. Do you have any road trips planned for the summer?

Mother's Day

Since the hubs has gone off to reintegration for the morning - no, the Army does not pause for Mother's Day - I figured I would write a quick post about why I love being a Mommy. Or in particular, Waylon's Mommy, since he is my one and only...well, for now at least.

One reason is for sure his laugh. I have never heard a better sound in the world, than Waylon cracking up at something. And it's infectious; there is no way I can keep myself from laughing, when he gets me going. Which leads to another reason - his super-sweet smile. He has the cutest little smile, with the cutest little teeth, and when he smiles, his eyes crinkle up just so...ah, he's so cute! But, who doesn't think their kid is cute? I know, I know, I'm such a mom, but I've got to play the "My kid is super cute" card. :)

And he's really sweet. He asks if I'm ok, if I cough. Or, poor baby, when I accidentally ram his head into a display table at Old Navy, which leads to some serious crying, in the middle of me comforting him, and feeling like THE WORST mother in the world, he says "It's ok." Like a brave little soldier, with those big ol' crocodile tears in his eyes...

His little arms hugging me around my neck, witnessing his funny, determined, little run, watching him explore his little world, questioning why in the world he wants to bring his miniature broom along with us in the wagon for a walk in the neighborhood. He boggles my mind at times and then leaves me completely breathless with my love for him. Day by day, it seems my heart grows for him, more than I ever could have imagined.

And it's not perfect. I'm not the perfect Mommy, and I'm sure that we will have our fair share of "moments," as he gets older. But, for now, he's my baby, and I'm gonna wrap him up in my arms and love on him as much as possible. So, for all the other mommies out there - enjoy your day - you deserve it! And don't forget to call your mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

Terrific Tuesday

"My Little Lovey"

A New Dino Backpack for "School"

I made the cutest purchase this week! A Dino Backpack for the little man. He's never carried a backpack before. It was just too cute to pass up! It was half-off, plus I got an extra 20% off with our military discount. 70% off? Yes, please. (Thank you, Clarksville Cracker Barrel!) I knew Waylon would be going back to hourly care every so often, so I figured it was time to upgrade him to a "big boy" backpack.

He hasn't been to hourly care in a few months, but with Eric coming back soon, I need some child-free housecleaning sessions. I also had an appointment today that he couldn't come to. He was a little shy at first, but when I went to pick him up, he yelled across the playground, "Hi, Mommy!" Just yelled it, over and over again, while he kept right on playing, haha. A lot of the teachers from before were there, and even though he's in a different room, they were coming up and talking to him, commenting on how big he's gotten. I thought that was sweet.

I like for him to go to "school." I like that he has the socialization with other children and adults. I like that other adults are able to teach and discipline him - I don't want to be the only person he will listen to. I like that he does different things there, that he has different experiences there. And I like being away from him on occasion. There, I said it. It's just for a couple hours, but it can be nice to be kid-free for an afternoon. I'm with him 24/7, 365 days a year - we are on deployment time, baby.

Time away from each other is healthy. I bet if you asked him, and he understood what you were talking about, he would say the same thing. It makes the moment I go to pick him up even more special. Seeing his little face light up, when he sees me - him wrapping his little arms around my knees - me telling him how much I missed him - taking his little hand in mine to walk out the door - special moments.

Wordless Wednesday

Just a Couple Tangents...

Well...I was going to add a cute NEW photo of the little man (this adorable one is from December), but my camera is nowhere to be found. For those that know me, this is not a shocker. I tend to be a tiny bit scatterbrained, when it comes to finding things when necessary.

This is why I won the 'Key Rack Next to the Front Door" argument with the hubs. He simply couldn't understand my need for keys at eye-level next to the door and always in the same spot. I don't know why they couldn't always be in my purse, either (shrugs), but that is neither here nor there, people! It also helped my side of the argument, that he was over 7,000 miles away in Afghanistan, when said key rack was purchased for half-off at Hobby Lobby. But, in my defense, it ended up being a great purchase! The keys and sunglasses have not been misplaced to date. They are on that key rack, as I type!

With that being said, the camera has met some other fate. I'm assuming my toddler moved it someplace, because I would never misplace it. Ahem... If I knew where it was, I could photograph that super cute key rack for you, but then again had it not been lost, I probably never would have been writing about this in the first place. So, there you go. Scatterbrained, yes. Tends to go off on a tangent when talking about a subject, yes. Does it bother me? No. It's just a part of my...charm? Ha! :)

While, I'm on a tangent about cuteness, or just deciding to be on a tangent about cuteness - Can I just mention some of the extremely cute things Waylon has been saying recently? The kid loves yogurt...for real. And anytime he wants it, he asks for "urt." Haha, how cute is that? And no matter how many times I tell him that toilet paper is called just that, he calls it "wipes." Keep smiling, you know you want to. And one last bit of cuteness. Whenever he is looking for something, like his juice cup, he will walk around the living room, saying "Juice? Juice?" (It sounds like joosh). As if the cup is going to magically jump up and say, "Here I am, Waylon!," waving it's arms around. Well, that's what I picture he's thinking. Kids...too cute!

A Bit of Cuteness...

Since I haven't kept this blog updated in what I now see is two years...(whoopsie!)...I figured I would upload some videos of Waylon from the past year. Pictures just don't do justice as to how cute and funny he can really be. These videos are from last summer, before he really started talking and coming into his own. A lot more is on its way...I promise.



Just one of the many joys of being a kid...turning in circles...and circles...and circles...until you fall over. Can you hear him say "Uhhh," when he hits the ground? I love that he just can't seem to get back up again, haha. And two of our dogs' personalities so clearly seen in the video - Dixie...the sweet girl, who just loves to be loved. And then there's Shooter...who wants to be in the middle of everything and will do anything for a belly rub.




This video was taken in July 2010, when we went to the Adventure Science Center in Nashville with our friends...well, my friend, Erin, and Waylon's friend, Jacob. Whoever invented squeaky shoes was a genius! They are too cute! And you are guaranteed to never lose your kid, haha! He had so much fun playing with this giant magnetic board - it was like a big refrigerator. Watch out for Jacob's cameo when Waylon heads to the big, cushy blocks - he's wearing the yellow "Cheerios" shirt. They are really good friends and have a blast when they get together. It's so cute.




This video was from April of 2010, but it was soooooooooo cute, I couldn't help but share it. It honestly speaks for itself in the cuteness factor, so watch and enjoy. I love how big he has gotten, and how much he has grown, but seeing this makes me miss when he was little bitty. It just makes my heart go pitter-pat. I love, love, love it! Hope you do, too!

Kindermusik

Waylon and I have gone to 3 classes now, and he loves it! I am very happy that I decided to go to the sample class, and then sign up for the entire 8-week course. I had thought about waiting until Eric got home, so there would be a share of home, baby & dog responsibilities, but I was way too excited to get Waylon moving in the musical direction to wait!

We sing songs, dance, do baby massage, play with instruments and other babies. Waylon is the youngest, but that's okay. He has a blast, and I am so glad we got involved with the classes! If you get a chance to try Kindermusik, I highly recommend it!

Sniffles

Sniffles, quite literally, and gagging, too. Poor baby Waylon has his first cold. He went to CYS (Child & Youth Services) for the first time last Friday, which is an hourly daycare on Ft. Campbell. (Mommy needs some time to study.) Well, he came home with a cold.



I knew it would happen, and am glad that he is building his immunity. It really sucks, though, to have a sick baby. I feel so helpless, because I can't give him medicine, and I feel like he is suffering. So, it's humidifying and Vick's Baby Vapo-Rubbing and saline solution-ing and suctioning. The suctioning is the WORST! I hope and pray his cold goes away soon. Poor thing...

Getting So Big!

My little love, Waylon, has been adding to his wonder of the world. He has started to bat at his toys. It began with the little monkey on his rainforest bouncer, and he has now progressed to the yellow ducky chime on his carseat.

I was so excited! It's amazing how such a small motion from your child can make you the happiest person alive! I am loving being a mommy and watching my son develop and laugh and smile.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. So, I bought him a Musical Baby DVD and a Baby Einstein DVD. He got settled into his bouncer, so mommy could take a shower, and about ten minutes into it, I hear him screaming, which is unusual over the sound of the water. I wash the rest of the conditioner from my hair, dry off and go check out the damage, so to speak. He's perfectly fine. This kid was happy as a clam, just sucking in air and laughing really loud and moving all around! Love it!!!