Pool day!

Andrew has started to really love the pool. He'll jump in now {with a little help}! 

Summer Splash Party

Andrew's daycare had a fun splash party today! This is one of the many perks of a small in-home daycare. Ms. Sheryl had a kiddie pool, 2 water slides, and lots of fun beach balls. I left work a little early to go and take a few pics (on my phone, so please forgive the quality) and splash around a little bit.

 

 Running around with Alexander

 Ms. Sheryl

Buddies

Keegan and Andrew are best buds! Keegan and Ms. Kelly came over today to play in the backyard with us. The boys mostly pushed around this riding toy, including to the neighbor's yard and then talked to their cat through their back door. Whoops - a fence is on our wish list!

Braves Game

The Becks invited us to go to a Braves game to sit in some pretty good seats that Matt got from work. Scott usually checks the weather about 14 times a day, but he must have been off his game that day. There must have been like a 145% chance that it would rain...or POUR on us. We had to take cover most of the game, but it was fun nonetheless!

 Before the downpour

Taking cover

Ms. Sha Sha

As many of you know, we have struggled with the right daycare for Andrew, and it's taken us a while to find the perfect fit. Luckily, we have found it. A friend of Scott's parents happened to get an email from their neighborhood e-news about an in-home daycare, and was nice enough to think of us and forward it on. I kept the email for weeks and weeks, trying to get Andrew comfortable at his more commercial daycare. There was never a day that he didn't cry big crocodile tears, and beg me to not leave him. Broke my heart every time and didn't make for a pleasant day at work. After about 2 months of that torture, his ailment after ailment, we knew it was time for a change. We really had no problem with the school itself. They were doing everything right, but it just didn't work for Andrew. So, I re-read the email that was forwarded to me weeks prior, and decided to give this in-home daycare a shot. Turns out, "Busy Bees Daycare" is owned and run by a licensed childcare provider, who has run it out of her home for over 20 years. We went to meet Ms. Sheryl one weekday night, and immediately fell in love. We were there for no more than an hour, and in that time, Andrew sat down, read a book, played in her backyard, and even ended the visit with a big poopie diaper! I had prayed that God give me signs if this was meant for us, and I KNOW those were signs!

Like we expected, Andrew was teary for a little while when we dropped him off but not long at all - only 2 short days! On day 3, he went straight in to play in the floor, ride the horsey, and give "Ms. Sha Sha" some love. HOW HAPPY THIS MAKES HIS MOTHER! I know he loves it there. He's actually told me no when it's time to go home. I never thought I'd see the day! Ms. Sheryl gives him lots of love and attention. They play with puzzles, read, sing, dance, playing outside for hours, have picnics outside, and have so much fun! It really does make a big difference in how happy Andrew is even at home. He seems to be perkier, more playful, and just plain giggles all the time. He goes to bed worn out - so much so that we've weaned him from his paci!

We've begun working on the food now. Ms. Sheryl prays over Andrew everyday about his eating, so we've started doing the same. We haven't made progress yet, but I know that day will come. Until then, chicken nuggets and waffles it is! :)

Hilton Head 2011

We are so happy we got to go on our annual Hilton Head trip with Scott's parents this year. With Scott's new job, we weren't sure if it was going to work out. His boss ended up letting him take a couple days off, given that he would visit the Atlanta Bread store in HHI. So, to the beach we went! 

We think Andrew has grown so much in just the past few weeks because he was a TROOPER the whole time! He seems like such a big boy now. Sleeping in a twin bed, not needing his paci anymore (yippee!), and determined to say his prayers before mealtime and bedtime...what happened to our baby? It's bitter-sweet, as all parents say, but ultimately, it all makes life worth while! Ok, so now, what you actually are looking for...the pics!

 Walking to beach for the first time this year

 Our tree - where we got engaged 4 years ago:)

 Playing in Harbour Town

Watching Gregg Russell sing. Scott's being going to see Greg for over 25 years. I'm not really sure who liked it more!

 Cracking me up

 Our date night (thanks to Andrew's MiMi and Grandaddy for keeping him!)

Boating

We've taken the boat out a couple times so far to try to get Andrew accustomed to the water. So far, he's done really well! He loves to go fast in the boat and splash in the water. Wearing his life vest is another story. This is what happened when we put it on him for the first time - he wore himself out crying...

He actually slept on the floor of the boat for about an hour. {He was lathered up with sunscreen, and the cover was up.}

 Look at that clear Allatoona water:)

 He was having a good time picking the leaves.