Athens Bound

We were so excited about heading to Athens this weekend to cheer on the Dawgs! The entire family (Grandmommy, Granddaddy, Aunt Peach, and our family of three) decided to go on Friday, so we could enjoy Saturday and Sunday at Granny's house. Jay's Granny passed away last year, and my in-laws gave her home a face-lift, so the family could continue to enjoy it. Everyone misses Granny so much, and the house brings back many fun memories. We are thrilled that Tuttle will get to grow up in Granny's house and learn about Jay's adventures there as a little boy. :)

I took Tuttle to the park this afternoon to wear him out before packing up the car and battling rush hour traffic on a Friday afternoon. I was determined to keep Tuttle out of the sandbox, so he would not be covered in sand in the car, but that lasted only minutes!

Tuttle did not just play in the sand. He laid in it. :)

 

Obviously I have a thing for park photos!

 

Here is one of those "big boy" photos.....TOO big :(

It took about two hours to finally arrive in Athens, but luckily Tuttle grabbed a quick nap in the car. He was still a little fussy at Granny's house, but he finally warmed up after a dinner of Mini Wheats (very nutritious, I know) and a few surprises from Grandmommy (a set of cowboy/Indian toys and a Thomas coloring book). 

Granddaddy and Tuttle colored a little before bedtime. 

You can't really pick out the correct crayon unless you dump out the entire box!

 

We cannot wait to cheer on the Dawgs tomorrow! Tuttle will have fun exploring every nook and cranny in Granny's house. GOOOOOO Dawgs!!

Tuttle's First Day of Preschool

Today was Tuttle's first day of preschool! I was nervous about the day because I was afraid he would get too tired and then become fussy. We are working on getting down to one nap, but it is not successful everyday.

I picked out Tuttle's outfit and bookbag months ago. I remember back-to-school shopping with my mom when I was younger. I wanted to find the perfect outfit to start the year off right. I think Tuttle was the cutest preschooler ever!

** Please excuse the bad photography. I did not want to take the "fancy camera" to school today since we had so much to carry already.

We started the day off with a special breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. Yum!

It was almost impossible to get a decent picture of Tuttle the entire day. He was all over the place, but I am so happy that he wanted the explore his new school so much. :)

How adorable is his bookbag?

As soon as I dropped him off in his classroom, he was so interested in the puzzles at the table that he did not even see me leave, much less cry.

His teachers told me that he did GREAT! He only cried a few times when he was triggered by other kids crying. He did have some issues drinking from his cup at lunch. (They do not allow sippy cups.) Apparently, he proceeded to dump the water in his lap several times. We will be practicing this new skill at home. :)

I know Tuttle will learn so much this year at his new school from the music and gardening classes to playing with new friends in his room. We are so lucky to be at HTPP!!

Gooooo Georgia Bulldawgs!!

While the Dawgs did not give their best showing for the first game, we still had fun cheering on our team. Jay was gone all day for Paul's Bachelor Party. The boys golfed, tailgated, attended the first game at the Georgia Dome, and went out afterwards. I am worn out just typing about his day!! :)

Tuttle and I started the day off at the park. Obviously, we had to support the Dawgs all day in team apparel. Next, we headed the Decatur for a haircut for the first day of school.

Enjoying his post-haircut lollypop

 

 

We were able to watch the game with Zanna, who was in town from Pensacola. Her aunt hosted us and made the yummiest food. Luckily, I do not have to go months before I see Zanna again--I am headed to her beachy home in two weeks! Wish Jay luck....it is his first full weekend on baby duty.

Hopefully, the Georgia Bulldawgs will play better next weekend because we are headed to Athens to cheer them on in person! :)

Open House at HTPP

Tuttle and I had open house at his new preschool today! Jay was even able to come to the open house to meet Tuttle's teachers. I think this is the perfect situation with Tuttle going to preschool while I am teaching at school, too.

I made some cute teacher gifts for Tuttle's teachers as a fun start to a new year. :)

Exploring his room with Daddy

By the end of the day, Tuttle was running down the hall and venturing into other classrooms to check out their toy collections! He did get a little teary every now and then when he noticed I was not by his side, but I think he will quickly learn to love his teachers, new friends, and classroom.

Welcome to Preschool, Little Boy!

 

Goodbyes and New Adventures

Yesterday was my last day with Stella and Dylan after almost two years as their nanny. Since both kids were in full time school now, I needed to look for more hours. My time with this family was better than I could have ever imagined. Tuttle definitely views Stella and Dylan as his siblings, and I am thankful he could grow up around such sweet kids. We are already looking forward to playdates with the family. :)

I treated the kids to one more ice cream outing before I left. Tuttle spent the last couple days with his Grandmommy and Granddaddy, so it was nice to have 100% focus on Stella and Dylan. No one wanted to take a serious picture, so here is a lot of silly!

The best shot of both kids I could get! :)

 

Dylan is Tuttle's FAVORITE friend. He is interested in whatever Dylan is into!

 

Crazy girl with A MISSING TOOTH!

 

Tuttle and I are about to start several new adventures next week! I will be teaching preschool Tuesday and Thursday mornings while Tuttle attends as a student. While he will not be in my class, it will be the perfect opportunity for him to get comfortable around other adults and new children. Check back next week for the cutest first day of school pictures ever!!

We will also be working with THREE new nanny families! It is crazy how I was able to piece together different jobs, but luckily it has worked out. We will watch the cutest two year old all day on Mondays. Celeste has the largest vocabulary, so I hope it will rub off on Tuttle to be around such a smart little girl. On Tuesday afternoons, we will nanny a little boy from the preschool named Gabriel. Tuttle and Gabriel look like brothers with their white blond hair! On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, we will nanny Gabriel and another little girl from the preschool, Emily. I think the children will love playing with each other! If your head is spinning, so is mine! Tuttle and I are looking forward to keeping busy this year and making new friends!! :)

Brookhaven Farmers Market

Tuttle and I met some girlfriends and their babies at J. Christophers for breakfast Saturday morning. Tuttle was his normal energetic self and did not want to sit in the highchair. I was super impressed with my girlfriends' boys. All three of them sat in their highchairs at the table the ENTIRE MEAL, ate their food, and did not whine/cry/complain. I think Tuttle's friends need to have a restaurant intervention with him! Haha!

Sweet Will

Tuttle's blueberry waffle was barely touched!

After breakfast, we headed over to the Brookhaven Farmers Market across the street. We arrived right when it opened, so many of the vendors were just setting up. I was hoping to pick up some fresh green beans, but maybe they are not in season? I was able to get a delicious King of Pops popsicle-- Pomegranate Margarita!! We only stayed a few minutes because it was already getting so hot. 

 I am having so much fun lately getting the boys together with my Ashford Park mom friends! 

Jack, James, Will, and Tuttle :) 

 

After naps (both Tuttle and me!), we headed to Costco for a lunch of samples. They hand out so many samples on Saturday that it will fill you up. Tuttle is also more likely to eat outside his comfort zone when it is on a toothpick or little plastic cup! :) He devoured smoked salmon, a meatball, salami, potato salad, and granola. We ended the trip with a berry smoothie that Tuttle drank all my himself!

Happy Weekend!!

Reconnecting with Old Friends

My friend Jamie and her son Will were able to meet us at the part yesterday for a quick playdate. Jaime and I met last winter at the park, and since our boys are so close in age, we started planning playdates. It had been a while since we had seen each other, so I was looking forward to this playdate a lot!

Jamie's Little Boy, Will

The best part of our friendship is the CRAZY connection that we discovered! It started with Tuttle and I going on our usual walk through the Ashford Park neighborhood last winter. I bundled him up in a warm coat and my FAVORITE winter hat that his Great-Aunt Ann made for him. Somewhere along the walk, Tuttle pulled his hat off, and I did not discover it missing until we got home, and the sun had set. I was devastated! I jumped in my car (Jay was home and kept Tuttle) and searched up and down the streets with my headlights. I came home empty handed. The next morning, I walked with Tuttle extra early to continue the search, but I was still unsuccessful.

How cute is that hat???

 

Here is where Jamie enters the picture. After meeting at the park, we became Facebook friends. She was browsing through my photos and came across one of Tuttle wearing the hat. The night we lost it, Jamie found the hat in her yard!! Despite her husband's insistence to throw it away, Jamie knew it was special and planned it put it on the park's bulletin board in hopes that the owner would see it. She called me immediately! How INSANE is that?

We had a fun time at the park yesterday. Since the weather has finally cooled off a little, I take advantage of every opportunity to get outside. 

Mary and Jack were able to come, too. :)

Tuttle LOVES watching the trains chug by the park, so I can rarely get his attention for a picture!

Today, my sorority sister and close friend, Samantha, came to visit. She moved to Colorado after graduation, and we realized today that we have not actually seen each other since my wedding three years ago!! We talk on the phone so frequently that it does not seem so long ago that we talked in person. :)

After a failed attempt at the pool due to a fussy toddler, we walked to Yoforia for some yummy frozen yogurt. I even let Tuttle feed himself which turned into handfuls for yogurt into his mouth! Yummy!!

I had the best time catching up for my old friend. Even though the visit started with a poopy diaper and ended with a toddler tantrum, I think the rest of the visit was a huge success! Love you, Sam!!