Swim Lessons

MiMi & Mac (my mom and step-dad) gave Tucker swim lessons for his birthday. I really wanted him to do this before this summer so he would be a little more comfortable in the water. He has loved it. He has a great teacher. There are about 6 other toddlers/baby's in his class, along with their parents, of course. The first week Jonathan "couldn't find his bathing suit" so mommy got in the water with Tucker. I loved it (and he loved it) but it is hard work for 30 minutes!! I was EXHAUSTED! Tucker was great! haha.. Anyway - here are a few pics of him swimming. We have two classes left and daddy unfortunately won't be there so it will be mommy's turn again (because he took over the last few weeks, thank goodness!!) And you will see in the pics that daddy is WAY more fun than mommy :) This was his expression when we told him we were getting ready to get in the pool!! He was so excited!! :) Mommy & Tucker in the pool ... before the fun/exhaustion began!! Daddy & Tucker in the pool! Daddy is so much fun! haha Tucker and his little swimmates :) Doing the hokey-pokey! Blowing bubbles! Reaching for the toy! Side-tracked! Daddy is so silly! :) Jumping in like a big boy!

Proud mommy moment! :)

We enrolled Tucker in a 1/2 day preschool this past September. He absolutely LOVES it. His preschool teacher, Ms. Sylvia, is so good with them and he loves all his little friends in his class. He only goes Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-12 but it is just enough time for me to get some work done. It also works out great with Jonathan's schedule most weeks. Anyway ... we got a letter in his backpack one day saying the preschoolers would be doing a play for Easter. I really didn't think twice about it because I thought it was just going to be the older pre-K students - not the "1 year old class", which is what Tucker is in. Tucker ended up being sick the Monday of that week (when the play was supposed to be on Wednesday) so Ms. Sylvia ended up calling us Tuesday night to "remind us" that the play was tomorrow (and to check on Tucker, of course). Well, like I said, I didn't realize it was for him too - I thought, "how in the world is my 2 year old going to stand up on stage and sing or participate without having a meltdown.." WELL ............ what was I thinking?! haha ... Thankfully, Jonathan was able to get off work and come too. We were scared to death that if he saw us he would not participate so ... we sat in the back. The pre-K's went through the beautiful story of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. After they went, the 3 year old class sang, then the 2 year old class, and then Tucker's class! I am attaching the video. All I have to say is WOW!! I'm not impressed with my child, per-say, but I was so impressed with how they have taught my baby (and all the other kids) about Jesus and the Bible and how "God's word is always - chuuuuuuu (aka TRUE)". I also just knew he would have a meltdown and have to come off stage but he didn't. I am so thankful for these ladies and the love they show our kids. Since we were hiding and not letting Tucker know we were there, I was able to see how he is while we're not around (and, most importantly, how he's learning and singing about the Lord!) THANK YOU, JESUS!! Couldn't be any more proud!! Copy & paste THIS LINK --> in order to watch --> (sorry, not quite up to speed on how the links work through blogspot, etc.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykLF0TkqqKI

Tucker's 2nd Birthday Party!!

I can't believe I'm really posting again so soon! I know I said I would but in the back of my mind I was doubtful! Anyway .. tracing back over the last few months. We had Jonathan's birthday in January, of course, (and Uncle Todd's too!) We then had a sweet little boy's 2nd birthday party in February. I absolutely cannot believe Tucker is 2!! I ran into a lady at Target a few weeks ago who goes to my old home church (who I just love)! and she has grandkids of her own now. The day she saw us Tucker was actually having a good day (and a good time) in Target. We were going up and down the rows and he was saying "HEYYYYY, HEYYY, HEYYYYY" to everybody we passed. It was the cutest thing. She said she heard him from 3 rows over and then when she finally got to us she realized it was him. Anyway ... she mentioned that day that she's always told young mothers, "the days are long but the years are short." It's soo true! Anyway ... so fast-forward two weeks later. We were in Target again and Tucker was throwing tantrum after tantrum..he had thrown his ball out of the cart about 15 times and I told him if he threw it out again we would not be picking it up.. well?? what happened? He threw it out and I just kept going. He LOST it! Of course, once he lost it, there was no calming him down.. and we are trying to be consistent so that meant I could not get the ball and put it back in the cart just because he was crying.. SOO as I'm heading out the doors with this screaming 2 year old who is kicking his legs and throwing a tantrum the SAME lady from 2 weeks ago yells, "EMILY, EMILY" and I turn around like "oh no, who else is seeing this" (because I had already run into everybody and their mommas of course!!) and it was her. She said "remember - the days are long but the years are short!!" HAHA!! SOOO TRUE!! :) It made me smile because she has two grown boys of her own so she remembers those days fully well! So ... Tucker's birthday was so much fun and I owe a HUGE thank you to my mom and mother-in-law! I don't know what I would do without those two ladies. My husband is always our rock and a huge help!! however ... he came down with strep throat a few days before Tucker's party so, needless to say, he was in bed! Even though Tucker's party was SO much fun and turned out to be great, I think we will just do a pizza party or go to a restaurant or something next year. Don't get me wrong, I had SO MUCH FUN planning and getting all the decorations and food ready - it's the one time a year I actually do some kind of crafty stuff ;) - but I think Tucker would be just as happy playing with his friends and just eating pizza (with a balloon or two)! Jonathan and my mom and mother-in-law said they were going to remind me of that next year! haha Here are a few pictures from his party :) Tucker and his big Elmo balloon that he LOVED! He only got to play with it for 10 minutes, though, because it flew to the ceiling (the magnets came off) :/ Tucker's 2nd birthday cake! He LOVES Sesame Street! Nancy did an amazing job! The decorations and party food :) Tucker eating cake! He didn't eat much of the cake, but he devoured the icing :) The 3 of us :) Tucker and his baby cousin, Stella! :)

A busy year already!

It has been over 3 months since I've posted! What a busy year already! Between church activities (open gym, Appleseeds, Equipper Focus, etc), work for Jonathan and I, preschool for Tucker (including a special Easter performance!), birthday's (Jonathan's 29th and Tucker's 2nd!), along with spending time with family and friends, there hasn't been too much "free time" to sit down and post. Or if I'm sitting down, I haven't had the energy to post. Anyway.. I am planning to do a few posts over the next couple of days to show pictures and things from birthdays, etc. To sum up this year so far...WE.ARE.BLESSED.!! PERIOD!! END OF STORY!! BLESSED!! No matter what trials may come our way, God is our ROCK and we are thankful for the hard times because it's a testing and building of our faith in HIM. Having just celebrated Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, I can say the suffering we endure here on this earth is NOTHING in comparison to what and how He suffered for us. Having lived a perfect, sinless, life, HE took on our sins and died in our place so that we can have everlasting life. (PRAISE HIM!!) ANYWAY--> the reason I'm even posting on this blog today is because I was reading somebody else's blog during Tucker's naptime and this person had a miscarriage recently as well. They posted a song --> I will carry you by Selah <-- that has helped them (and it was actually a song someone already sent me - and I fell in love with it - but, of course, can't listen to it without tears streaming down my face). But anyway ... it led me to think about my post that I wrote over 3 months ago when we had our miscarriage. I am thankful for healing over these last 3 months and I am thankful that I did write it down (or type it - on this blog) and I pray that God would use my situation and circumstance for His glory. Not much more time to write today - Tucker should be up any minute - and we have a showing on our house in an hour and a half - so I have lots to clean!! But ... I will update more (hopefully) this week! :)