Our Last Few Days

After having Teachers' Meetings Tuesday and Wednesday I had the day off on Thursday before school started Friday. Dave and I decided to take Dane to the Magic House to play. They have an area for 24 months and under. I took him there in June with my sister and he really liked it. I thought he would enjoy it even more now that he can walk.

Mommy and Dane at the Magic House

Dane liked to watch other kids as much as he liked playing.
Dane loves to play ball. There was a ball pit and he loved it!

Playing in the boat

We visited the gift shop on our way out.

Dane loves monkeys.

He picked up this monkey and was loving on it......

so I had to get it for him!

We played many games of "Where's Dane" this weekend.

Dane hides behind the pillow.

He will smile and laugh so hard when he pulls the pillow away!

As I put Dane to bed tonight I told him that tomorrow starts the real deal.

The first full week of work and daycare.

Quite honestly, the past few weeks have been so crazy busy that things might actually calm down a bit now that we are back in our routine.

*****Just a note that the pictures from the Magic House were taken on my cell phone. Things have been so hectic that I actually forgot my camera when we went to the Magic House Thursday and today when we spent the day building sandcastles on the beach.......I usually have 2 cameras with me! Hard to believe!

First Day of Daycare for the School Year

Today was Dane's first day of daycare and my first day back to school.

He was so happy this morning and I was so glad!

He played for a bit with his Pooh Bear before we left.

Dane started a new daycare today. It is still a home daycare, which we really wanted. Miss Tracey seems wonderful. The main play area at Tracey's is painted a bright yellow with so many neat toys to play with. There is also a neat outside area set up.

What a difference a couple of months makes! When school got out in May I was still making 2 bottles to take to daycare everyday and also taking yogurt and veggies or fruit. This morning I got up and dressed, then woke Dane up about 6:30. We headed out the door at 6:50 and I kept thinking I was forgetting something because all I had was him! He will eat breakfast at daycare so it is so nice not have to worry about that every morning and he doesn't take the bottle anymore!

Instead of dropping him off 5 minutes from home and driving 15 minutes into work I now have him with me all the way into Ste Gen. Now that he faces forward in the car he is always checking things out. He was so amazed when I went to get a soda. You drive right through the building and the sides are lined with freezers of drinks. He was looking all over! I then drop him off and have just a 5 minute drive to school.

When I took him in he grabbed on to my pants leg and looked around. There were several little ones there and a couple of older ones were there for the next few days until school starts. Miss Tracey must have told them he was coming because they all said, "Dane's here." A couple of little ones walked up to check him out. He looked around a minute, gave everyone a big smile, and walked on in. I gave him a kiss and said goodbye and he didn't even turn back!

There is a teacher from school whose little ones also go to Tracey. When I got to the All District Back to School Meeting someone said, "Andrea was looking for you." I stressed because she was pulling up when I was pulling out of Tracey's and I thought she would tell me Dane was screaming or something. She said he was so cute, just checking things out, and hanging out with all of the kids!

He seemed to have a very good day and the best part of all was that when I came in to get him he turned the corner and saw me and came running down the hall with a big smile on his face and he gave me the biggest hug.

Dane must have worked up an appetite at daycare.

He ate a good amount of Lasagna and peas for dinner.

After dinner we played in the basement.

Dane hopped right in a basket and hung out a bit.
After his bath he shared some Raspberry Yogurt with Mommy.

Dane is now sleeping soundly.

One day down......................

Watching Daddy

Yesterday morning Dave mowed. Before he started he was in the backyard moving lawnchairs and play equipment. Dane watched him from the sliding glass door. When he was finished he went around front to get the mower. I was working in the kitchen and when Dane couldn't see Dave anymore he came over to me and pulled on me. I took him to the front window and pointed to Dave who was in the driveway getting ready to start the mower. Dane sat on the chair and watched. I assumed he would get bored after a minute, especially when Dave went around the house and he couldn't see him anymore. Well I was wrong. I got nothing done the rest of the time Dave mowed. Dane stayed on the chair, watching, the entire time Dave mowed, which was about 45 minutes. I wasn't sure if he would tumble off so I sat behind him while he watched.

Looking for Dave

Finally sees him come around the house and down the drive.

You can see Dave on the red mower out the window.
Watching as Dave comes up the side yard and moves to the back.

He just sat so quietly and watched.

So cute!

He loves his daddy!

Our Week In Limbo

I LOVE my SUMMERS!
I LOVE my JOB!
I HATE the week of transition between the two!

We have had a different kind of week around here! There was a classroom to set up, dates with friends, meetings, overtime shifts, a haircut appointment, all while trying to enjoy our last full week of summer.

I have to be honest, my week started out bad Sunday night at 11:00 p.m. Day by day throughout the week I found myself getting more stressed and grouchier. Tonight I thought about how lucky Dane and I are to have such a great guy with us!

Dave left to go into work about 10:00 p.m. Sunday night, I was laying in bed watching TV thinking about what I would do Monday when all of a sudden I remembered that I had a meeting Monday at school. I am a mentor teacher to a new teacher and had to be at school for the District Beginning Teachers Meeting. I called Dave and luckily caught him before he heading into work. My high school babysitter down the street was on vacation all week so I wasn't sure what I would do. Dave said he would just get up at noon and play with Dane while I went to my meeting.

So after just 4 hours of sleep Dave gets up and

takes Dane out to play in his pool while I head to my meeting.

They had a good afternoon together!

After my meeting I went by my classroom and got a bit more stressed as I had so much work to do. I headed home to play with Dane so Dave could get a bit more sleep. Before Dave heads to bed we discuss the rest of the week....I had a dinner date planned with a friend Tuesday night and a dinner date planned with a friend Friday night and I had soooo much to do in my classroom. Then Dave tells me that he is working a 16 hour shift on Thursday. I figured I would just cancel my dinner plans so I could get some work done in my classroom. Dave insisted that I keep my plans and said not to worry about my classroom, we would get it ready!

Tuesday and Wednesday were incredibly hot! Tuesday when Dane and I got up I thought we would head into school for a bit and see if we could get some work done. What a mistake! The little guy went crazy in my classroom. He was pulling on posters as I put them on the walls. I would put a chair under a desk and he would pull it right back out. He got tangled in bulletin board border. It was just terrible. After 45 minutes I couldn't take it and we came home. When Dave got up I was just a tad grouchy. I thought about cancelling my plans to go work in my classroom, but once again Dave told me to go to dinner and we would get my classroom done. So I headed to Tractors in Perryville where I met a good friend that I hadn't seen in a looooong time. We had a great dinner and talked a ton. It was so nice!

Wednesday I had a haircut appointment in Ste Gen. Dave got up about 12:00 so I could head to my appointment. It was a nice, quiet, relaxing two hours, but as soon as it was over I headed to school to try to do a bit in my classroom. I worked a couple of hours before heading home to have dinner with Dave and Dane.

Thursday was a looooong day for all three of us! Dave worked 16 hours. Dane and I tried to go work at school again, but he is such a BUSY BOY! I just could not get anything done with him. We headed home and spent some time playing in the basement, taking a wagon ride, and playing in the pool.


Friday Dave got some sleep and Dane took a long nap. They were both very happy when I headed out the door at 3:00. I was determined not to think about my classroom for the evening, but went to enjoy Tax Free shopping and dinner with my best friend! Dinner was wonderful.....I again enjoyed a good long talk with an amazing friend. I think the only reason we are not still there talking is because we felt bad for taking up a table on a Friday night. And, though the mall parking lot looked pretty much like it does the day after Thanksgiving I was able to get in and get a couple of adorable little outfits for Dane, Tax Free!

Dave said Dane and him had the BEST night. They went out for Mexican in Ste Gen. Dane loved his cheese quesadilla. He was so happy and laughed and played all night!

This morning Dave headed out to mow as early as he could without disturbing neighbors. I played with Dane and got ready to head into school. I spent most of the day at work and just have finishing touches to do which I can finish sometime before Open House on Wednesday night.

Tomorrow is Sunday and we are definitely calling it a day of rest! We just plan to enjoy the day together. Maybe a trip to the pool, out on the boat, or playtime in the backyard.

Dane and I are so, so glad that we have Dave. Never gets stressed and keeps me from getting too stressed! The week is over and the classroom is almost ready, dinner dates were NEEDED and were a BLAST, hair appointment is done, overtime shift is over, and we survived our week of transition.

What a crazy week! Now to just get through Open House, the first week of school, and starting a new daycare!

Sloppy Joes

Dane sure did enjoy the Sloppy Joes we had for dinner!

FRUIT!

For the past week Dane has been doing some serious teething! He had one restless night last Tuesday, but since then he hasn't been too fussy, but has been chewing on everything in sight! I think I can see about 5 teeth breaking through!! Poor little guy!

He just couldn't get settled down for a nap one afternoon and was chewing on my shoulder as I rocked him. He finally fell asleep with Daddy.

He looks so big laying there!

This week Dane has LOVED eating fruit. I am thinking it is because it is cold and feels good on his gums. I have never cut up as much fruit as I have this week. He has been eating it by the platefuls! Grapes, Strawberries, Bananas, Blueberries, Kiwi, Watermelon, Peaches, and Pears! He loves it all!

Enjoying an afternoon snack of graham cracker goldfish and blueberries!

Our Weekend

Saturday we spent the day getting Dane prepared to start daycare. His first day at his new daycare will be August 10th. Saturday morning I went through his clothes to see what he had and what he needed. We headed out after lunch to get the little guy set up. We got the diapers, got the baby wipes, and a couple of outfits. I didn't enjoy buying size 18 month clothes. They all looked so big. I tried them on him when we got home and he will have to do some growing for them, but I am sure by fall they will be a perfect fit!

Today we were waiting to see if the temperature was bearable to decide what to do. Dave went out about 11:00 and it seemed pretty nice. After we had lunch we got our swimsuits on and went out on the boat.

Dane loves to sit on his Daddy's lap while he drives the boat.

He has learned how to honk the horn on the boat which he loves to do.

Hanging out on the boat!
Daddy and Dane went swimming in the lake for a bit.

After his swim he had a little snack.

He got new snack containers for his birthday.

He loves holding his own snack bowl.

Having a Capri Sun.

Getting to be such a big boy!

We were on our way back to the Marina when we saw the Deters at the beach.

We got the boat out and walked over to the beach to hang out a bit.

Dane didn't like the sand on his feet at first, but soon loved it!

Once at home, mommy and Dane took an afternoon nap and

Daddy grilled a roast on the grill for dinner.

Dane got a bath, read some books, and is now sleeping soundly.

What a great weekend!