Mother's Day Out Or Bust!!!

Off for our first day! Trying to hold his bag like a big boy!

Before Open House- Tucker wouldn't look at the camera unless he was super close!

What an eventful week! Tucker started Mother's Day Out or school as we call it in our house! We have been preparing for this day for weeks! We have been talking about going to school, picking out school supplies (to use at home at lease- you can't pass up the .25 cent crayons!), and reading lots of books about going to school -Froggy Goes to School, If You Take a Mouse to School, Clifford's First Day of School, Diego Goes to School, and Little People Go To School. Tucker has started twice a week Mother's Day Out at church. He is even in his old nursery room- which makes it all very familar. Plus, last year as we would go to Mommy's weekly bible study, we would walk down the hall and talk about being in the school hallway. We loved looking at all the artwork hanging. Now, we'll get to admire Tucker's artwork in the hallway.

This week was a special schedule week. We had Open House on Tuesday and first day on Thursday. Open House went great. So great that Tucker didn't want to leave. So, after discussing we needed to head home for snack, we left. Yet on the way to the car, our tired little man did not want to cooperate with Mommy and therefore had to be carried to the car-pitching a fit. Took Mommy about 10 minutes of Tucker screaming at the top of his lungs, attempting to hit Mommy and resisting his car seat before we were finally settled into the car. Then the poor thing cried about halfway home before Mommy had to pull over again to fix him in his seat. After that he finally settled down. Of course, this frazzled Mommy a little and worried her about how would he react for his teachers. So, today, we got all ready and talked about going to school with our Larry Ears on (our listening ears according to Veggie Tales). Tucker walked right into his room and never looked back. He had a good day according to his teachers. He was excited to see Mommy and even wanted to be held for a few minutes! We headed to our car where a fire truck sandwich and Nemo gummies awaited us for our ride home (a little special lunch/treat since he won't eat lunch there for another week). Halfway through the sandwich, Tucker was out cold! He had some things to say about school- about his teacher changing his diaper and asking where one of the boys was. Otherwise, it has been interesting trying to get information out of him about his day. Hard to tell what is true from today and what is not (now I know what my Mom (Pat) dealt with all the days I would get in the car from preschool and make up many stories). Either way, sounds like he had a good day! We are thinking we'll go back next week!

Tucker the Builder

Tucker the Builder (aka Bob the Builder)

We are obsessed with a variety of characters these days- Bob the Builder being top of the list. So, when visiting Pop Rhodes at the bank, Tucker discoverd Pop's building hard hat. Needless to say and thanks to great kindness from Pop Rhodes, we came home with a hard hat- something every builder needs! Tucker wore it most of the morning and then again in the afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, Tucker then asked where his tool belt was. Since we had not played with one, Mommy quickly responded, "well I don't know but let's quickly make one!" So,using Daddy's belt, we had somewhere to hang Tucker's hammer. Then we quickly found Tucker's screwdriver and were all set! Can't you tell what we will be for Halloween? YES WE CAN!!!

Full of Energy!

Puppy Tucker (Harris found him like this!)

Tucker jumping on the trampoline!

Tucker had a great weekend. We had a fun weekend of visiting with friends and family. On Saturday after running an errand in Jasper, we were excited to join our friends, The Rollins, for dinner at their house. Tucker loves Sarah Catherine, Marc and Jennifer. Tucker and Sarah Catherine had fun playing while the adults had a fun time of visiting and chatting! We hadn't been over to visit since their new dog, Nikko(sp?) arrived.

Busy Days

With Rhonda at her wedding
Watching our backyard bunny

Playing with Sarah Catherine


Dancing at Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Matt's rehearsal- he danced all night.



Catching some zzzs with Daddy

Well, we have had a busy, busy month. We celebrated Tucker's 2nd birthday, Rebecca and Matt's wedding, enjoyed family time with the McCormicks, celebrated more family and friends' birthdays, caught up with many friends we hadn't seen in a while, and ended the month in the most beautiful way- on top of Chandler Mountain for Rhonda and Derek's wedding!

Tucker has definitely changed in the midst of all the craziness. Seems like when he officially turned two, many things changed. Tucker has definitely hit the independent stage. He wants to do just about everything on his own and occasionally allows us to help him out. We definitely have seen major mood changes. One minute is loves something , the next he wants nothing to do with it. One mintue he wants help, the next he is pushing you away. One minute he wants to go potty on the toilet, one minute he will have nothing to do with it. One minute he is hungry, the next he is ready to be on the move. One minute he is exhausted and ready for bed, and one hour later we are still flipping around in the bed.

We had a great two year appointment with Dr. Huie. We love Dr. Huie. He has just be wonderful with Tucker (and mommy) over the past two years. He was very impressed with Tucker and his talking. He looked in Tucker's ears for elephants and hippos. Tucker loved it when he got his smiley face sticker on a stick and of course was ready for his sucker when the shots were over. Tucker is growing just right. He is on track for his growth. In fact- still in the top 90% with head,height and weight. He weighed in at 35 lbs and 36 1/2 inches. He is definitely our big boy.

Tucker is into so many things right now. He loves creating art with playdough and markers and paint. Loves using his new easel. He loves to sing- real songs and songs he makes up. He loves to pick things out for himself-especially his clothes. He loves trying to eat in a big boy chair as opposed to the safe travel chair. He loves to eat Life cereal every morning for breakfast with an occasional bowl of Krispies with it. He loves to drink "Pa Grape juice." He loves his elephant and horse shirts from St. Louis. He loves to ride the elephant at the mall. He loves his trucks still. But has recently he really LOVES being a Bob the Builder fan and is becoming a big fan of Diego as well. He will sing the Bob Builder song all day- including his own version where Bob uses a hammer! He loves to read still and has recently started enjoying visits to the library. We went for the first time this past spring with our friends Lindsay and Trey. We'll that got Tucker hooked-especially checking out Bob Builder stuff. So we met up with Tucker's first buddy, Thomas, and his mommy and his new sister, Madelyn, at the library last week. We were able to enjoy a puppet show (Thomas and Tucker watched for an hour!!!) and then checked out 3 Bob Builder books which Mommy and Daddy couldn't return quick enough due to over reading. We definitely plan to start having a weekly library date in the fall. Tucker will be starting Mother's Day out twice a week in Aug. It will be a change for mommy but Tucker is very excited about going to school at church. We know he will love it and it will be good for our big man.

These days, we have just started realizing that are baby boy is no longer a baby and we are definitely in the toddler stages with our Big Fella! You know it is true when your baby tells you...

"Harris, look at me!!"

"No, No, No!!"

"I sleep with Mommy"

"There is Daddy's building with the American flag"

"Let's go see Daddy"

"Tucker sit there, Mommy sit there and Daddy sit there!"

"I wear my elephant shirt. My horse shirt is dirty."

"No, can't"

"Mommy, share!"
"No, that's not yours. That's Tucker's!"

"Let's watch Bob Builder, Mommy."

and finally, when he is asking the nursery workers "where is the computer" so he can "listen to Bob Builder music."

We have definitely hit a new stage. Lots of questions of who is that or what is that or where is that. We are dreading the day that Why becomes a question. But excited about all the changes and watching our sweet baby Big boy grow!