A collective sigh...

Close family and friends of ours are all breathing a sigh of relief this week because Stephen seems to really be doing well in his new daycare! His teachers seem wonderful and they brag on him when we pick him up. His favorite thing is to go for walks with the "rope" (If you have seen the John and Kate episode where the kids walk to the 4th of July parade - thats exactly what his daycare has.) He loves it. And I am feeling much better about everything.

Now, we wait and continue to listen to all the the Gustav hype. I hope it is hype anyway - And nothing against those people in Mexico - but I am hoping it heads that way. I am a big fan of air conditioning!!! Jamey has filled up the gas cans and the generator had a test run last night and did great. But we are still hoping for the best.

And Luke - we all miss you and can't wait to hear from you next Wed. We know you are doing a great job!

a new start

Monday Stephen will start at a new daycare run by some friends of the family. I feel like this will be a good place for him. It is a little further from me, but very close to Jamey. So, depending on what Tropical Storm Fay decides to do, he will start Monday.
We were VERY lucky to get him in - a spot opening at this daycare is a rarity to say the least. Thank you for getting us in Sally, Sara and Cristina!

Here's to daycare minus the biting! :-)

And on the 3rd day...

Well, today Stephen was not only bitten - but also scratched. So, things obviously have to change - whether it is a daycare change, an emergency nanny hire or something. I am of course not going to send my child to a place where he continues to be bitten. When Jamey picked him up today he was playing fine so I am hoping we have not scarred him for life yet. I have not been the parent of a biter (thank goodness) but I am just about to lose all empathy for that child!

He is a happy man right now - splashing in the bath with Ansley.

Ansley started tumbling class last night as well as her new ballet and tap class. I think tumbling was a great success. We went to dinner afterwards at Ms. French's house (Jamey's grandmother) and she performed a mini-recital for us.

Oh yes - Ansley told her teacher today that her D-Jo got a new job on the planes! I don't think Ms. Tipp realized what she meant - but congrats to Elizabeth on her new traveling job. :-)


Here are some pictures of the last few days

(And Uncle Luke - we miss you and hope you are well!)

Ready for class:

Playing with PawPaw (Jamey's grandfather)

A post for Uncle Luke

Luke leaves in the morning for some, um...well, I am not exactly sure what it is, but it basically involved some very strenuous physical and mental tests. He will know more about where his career with the army is headed after this training/evaluation and he and Sara are glad for that. They are stationed at Fort Benning right now but they are both itching to move again. We will be thinking about Luke while he is gone to North Carolina and hoping he can check in to see pictures of the kids.
Ansley starts back with her dance classes tomorrow. I think this will be the year where she actually begins to learn some real technique. She is most excited that she gets to take tumbling and Jamey is having visions of college gymnastics scholarships.

And I am glad to say that one day has passed this week with no biting taking place so far. My mom has been coaching him on being assertive and self-confident as he navigates the "Here We Grow" class at Oak Park Church of God Daycare. I think her work may be paying off. I keep waiting for my cell phone to ring while I am at work....
hopefully the bites are a thing of the past. (I can hope, can't I?)
He is such a sweet little man though, full of kisses and funny dances and expressions that make us laugh out loud - I just want him to be happy.

I think maybe I am having the hardest time adjusting to day care simply b/c we have never done it before. Ansley stayed with my good friend Brooke while she was small and Brooke is WONDERFUL. Stephen stayed with her too until she was kidnapped recently. Well, actually, her husband got a great new job that allows him to finish seminary - so I guess I shouldn't complain. But everyone at my house still misses Ms. Brooke!

I will post some pictures soon of Ansley in her dance clothes. She told me tonight she was going to dream about "gymnaptics."

Is it really just Wed?

Ansley in her uniform. She loves her jumper. The great French fry thief strikes again while striking his famous "cheese" face.
one of my favorites times of the day...

Back to School

we have made it through 2 days of school so far, but just barely. Well, at least for me anyway. After a busy weekend of lots of out of town family, Sunday night I began to feel a little funny. Pretty soon I knew I was in for it - a horrible stomach virus which thankfully only lasted about 12 hours. And of course Monday morning, after I dragged myself to school to do car pool and got soaked to the skin, I was back home in bed by 10:00am. I am much better today and so far Jamey and the kids seem to be ok. My goal was to take a picture of Ansley on her first day of school - but that was just not happening yesterday so I will post some pictures of her in her uniform soon. She loves her class and her teacher. Her classroom is exactly what you would picture for a kindergarten room. She came home today reciting a poem she learned and she already knows her Bible verse for the week. She is really thriving at Jackson Creek.

And thankfully, Stephen has not been bitten this week! I am praying the biter has mended his ways, b/c I am not sure what I would do if it happened again! He talks more and more everyday and if nothing else, he can say "yes" and "no" so that really helps in figuring out what he wants!

Say a prayer that the stomach virus has left our house!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. The first is Stephen and Ansley with their cousin Christian from Kentucky. Christian's dad is Matt who is currently deployed in Iraq. Katrina, his wife, was in town this past weekend visiting. Christian is a cute little man!
Here is Ansley jumping off the diving board. She is swimming so well now. Here is a picture of Stephen and Christian discussing important issues.

Summer afternoons...

Here are a few pictures I took Tuesday evening. We started out with the goal of watering our orange trees and kumquat bushes, but 10 minutes later, everyone was wet and Ansley had changed into her bathing suit. It was a good time for all of us and a great way to "end" summer since I had to go back to work today.

On a side note, some kid bit Stephen yesterday. Jamey is ready to teach him how to box so next time he can lay the kid out. It didn't break the skin thank goodness, and I understand kids bite, but good lord. I sure don't feel like mama of the year when my baby comes home in the afternoon with a bite report.

Enjoy the pictures!

Weekend Adventures

It is never good when you get a call from your babysitter halfway through your date with your husband. The waitress had just put our food in front of us Friday night when we received a call from the church (Parent' Night Out) that Stephen was and is still throwing up. He had not acted sick all day, but on the way to church that night he was making a gagging sound. Jamey and I would turn around to check on him and he would grin at us and go back to babbling/screaming. I guess we should have known better.
It worked out fine though - my parents were finishing dinner just down for the church so they went and picked him up. Ansley stayed for the rest of the night's activities. When we picked him up a little later, he was sleeping. After a restless night and then a 6 hour nap on Sat, he woke up just fine! I guess it was just a little virus - but either way, he is good to go now. Here are some pictures of his favorite new activity:
He would brush his teeth 10 times a day if we let him! And he recently discovered that Ansley's toothbrush is battery powered and much cooler that his plain old toothbrush so they have been sharing a toothbrush this week. As I type that, is seems a little more gross than it did 30 seconds ago, so perhaps I will be making a purchase this afternoon.
It was tax free weekend in Alabama this weekend, so Jamey and I attempted to do some shopping last night. Jamey and Ansley lucked out - not so much for me and Stephen.

Here is a picture of my 3 favorite people before naptime this afternoon (for the record, Stephen and Jamey are fast asleep - Ansley and I are not)