Whit Turned Two

Haha, it's been so long since I've posted anything I don't even know where to start! The past month has been crazy around here since it's been a non-stop routine of wet weather, colds and rehearsals. But since the show opened this past weekend I foresee things calming down a bit. Which makes me very happy and a little sad. I love when the madness of tech week is over, but I hate the post-show blues that comes with every performance.

In August Whit turned two and had nearly a month long celebration thanks to family being spread across the South. And experienced his first trip to the beach.

Cousin Logan looooved the "big sandbox" (what Whit called the beach)

The water was amazing, barely any waves the whole time. However, we saw a TON of these little guys. They're lesser electric rays and yes they shock the mess out of you! I was talking to my sister about them, before we Googled them, and she said she had pet one earlier without being shocked. Then she reaches to down and bazam! it got her. Even worse, one of the suckers swam a little too close to my bikini bottoms and scared the bejeebus out of me! EEEEeeeek!

I had been a little nervous about Whit getting into the water since last year he loved the pool so much he would try to just dive in. He still will dunk his head under in the bathtub and just laugh and laugh. I bought a little life vest in case he decided to take off running, but whenever he wore it he was afraid of the ocean. As soon as he was free of it, he was off and trying to reunite with his mer-family!

 

I imagine this is only the beginning with video games...

Then we had a little party at our house for some friends and the family nearby. Whit doesn't yet a have a lot of friends his age, so there was no need having a huge bash yet. Maybe next year!

One of Whit's early birthday presents: bouncy house!!

How else to entertain a couple of toddler boys? Dirt, trucks and bugs, of course.

And since it was a little party, instead of cake I made some cupcake-ice-cream-cone thingies.

And I have to share Whit's t-shirt for the day. I found this on Etsy the week of the party and was so thankful the owner could get me one just in time!

Besties!

By the way, after all those shenanigans our house is overflowing with Vtech track and vehicles!

Birthday Weekend and Lately...

July 7 was my birthday and I was a brat about it.

I don't know why, but the older I get the more "important" I think birthdays should be. I knew Ben was having to work on it (and Whit's unfortunately) and he couldn't get out of it, so I declared the weekend before my birthday. I handed down demands and wishes and when things didn't work out I pouted like our toddler. After an argument with Ben and a little time, I'm completely disappointed with myself and how I behaved. But Ben forgave me and I have forgiven myself. My motto is to always learn from the lessons we're given, over and over and over!

Despite my attitude we had a pretty good weekend and things have been great ever since! I think Ben and I had both held back saying a lot of things over the past few months. And after the flood gates were opened we both learned a lot and have been working on ourselves for the other. I had no idea how stressed he was at work and he had no idea why I was hurt that he was cool with his dad and stepmom crashing with us unexpectedly the night before my birthday. (It really was okay, except that I was going to be the one to kick them out in the morning because I was leaving town the next day. Which I'm not comfortable doing!)

Lately I've been growing as a person and I was thinking back about the changes this weekend. I need to just write it all down because it truly is amazing what will change when you have a child. Though, not all of the changes are because of him.                     Okay! Enough words, hit me with some pictures!

Friday was July 4th so started the weekend off with some goodies at the farmer's market:

And our weekly visit to the petting zoo at said market. This guy was about to take the fence down for my popcorn!

We also went to the festival in downtown Franklin, but it was so hot and not a lot going on, so I have no pictures. Plus, Whit's not a fan of fireworks yet so we jetted out before they started. Saturday was my annual shopping trip to Anthropologie, but I hit up a few boutiques I haven't tried yet. And found this waytooshort romper... Yowza!

And this awesome dress! This was the winner of the day, just don't judge my face :-/

I love the signs shops put out in downtown!

That night Ben, me, our friend Anthony, and my friends Summer and Eric came up for dinner, drinks and a "friendly" game of CAH. I am way too good at this game. Which means I'm a terrible person...lol

I can't believe I didn't take a single picture of them while they were here! DUMMY!

Before I woke up on my birthday, the inlaws had left and the donut and orchid fairy had visited... Ooh!

Whit and I hung out with our friends Amanda, Jared and Pierce. Had lunch, saw their new house and visited the splash pad nearby. I am so jealous because the closest splash pad here is about an hour away! 

The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves...

 Especially when a big pile of dirt/mulch/whatever is involved...

My little love-bug sharing the wealth

Then when we got home, Ben gave me this in the second sappiest card he could find. AHHHHHHH! I cannot WAIT!

We closed the evening with dinner and drinks on the patio of a local favorite spot. Turns out this drink was the girliest, most delicious I've had in Franklin so far. And we will definitely be getting a fishbowl of it next time!

It really was a great weekend and life is good and I need to remember that and shut the hell up sometimes! 

:-D

Whitman is One!

Well it's official our baby boy is a toddler now and is well on his way to being a spoiled one. It's a joke in our family that the older you are the longer your birthday is. At one, Whit's birthday was a week long event, so I'm a little nervous for the years to come. It technically started on the 3rd with a visit from Ben's dad and step mom. We had linner (or dunch?) then they came over to the house, Whitman showed off all his latest achievements, and Norm taught Whit how to throw. (yeah, didn't see that one becoming a problem at the time :-/) 

Then on his real birthday Ben, Whit and I all went to the Nashville Zoo. Unfortunately Whit was worn out all day, so he seemed zoned out most of the trip, but he definitely had some highlights. 

Watching the gibsons. Ben really didn't want to keep Whit in his stroller, I think he was having too much fun :-)

Petting the tiniest goats.

Watching the elephants eat lunch.

Note the zombie look I mentioned?

That evening we went over to Ben's mom's and step dad's house for dinner and cake. And balloons! Whit really enjoyed my birthday balloon last month so I knew no matter what, we were going to have a ton of balloons.

Whit's smash cake

By the way, if you didn't already know (or aren't a member of Publix's baby club. Seriously, join already!) When you buy a cake for the adults, Publix will give you a free, matching smash cake for your baby's first birthday. I was in love with how cute it was!

One of our friends' daughters, who is in love with Whitman. I think she would take him if we'd let her!

Our friends' eldest daughter. Hilarious.

When it came to the smash cake, Whit was very deliberate at first...

And then managed to smear it all over his face (and into his eyes - which made an unhappy camper). But he likes icing! I don't think he even got to the cake before Ben took it away. But really that cake was HUGE.

Hanging with the big boys

Gingerly opening presents.

Whit and the big kids band. I couldn't believe how much fun the big kids were having with it!

Then the following weekend we went to Meridian to visit with my family. And we were lucky enough that one of my grandma's former exchange students was visiting from Brazil with her family. It was awesome to catch up with her, hear more about Brazil, and meet her husband and kids. It was even awesome-r to hear the guys bond over the international language of beer! We started out with a few presents at my parents' house, then went out to dinner, and the next night had the cousins over for pool time and cake.

Hanging with Great Grandma Patsy

Most of the crew. Those poor, poor servers.

Ben and Whitman with his new dinosaur. My sister, Jolie with her dinosaur when she was about Whit's age.

Uncle Scott and Cousin Logan

After we sang "Happy Birthday" we clapped and Whit started joining in with a huge smile on his face.

And this past Saturday we went to Huntsville to visit our friends Amanda and Jared for their son, Pierce's birthday party. I was a little nervous since there would be other kids there, lots of food, and Whit is thoroughly pissed every time he's in a car seat these days. But we had a great time! Whit loved following the bigger boys around and the balloons (!) and going around from person to person batting his eyes begging for food. You would think I starve that kid, except for the rolls you can see on him! 

And because my friends are better than I am, Amanda had all her party guests sing Happy Birthday to Whit too. And I bawled. Of course. It was so sweet and I feel so blessed to have her family in our lives. Speaking of blessed, I feel incredibly blessed that this past week went so well with all the travelling and relatives spread out everywhere. Whit had a great time and there were no dramatic scenes and I just thank God it went swimmingly! Of course now that it's calmed down a bit I'm having to cope with having a toddler and that my baby is growing up. I get so excited for the new milestones to come and so sad when I think our days of cuddling are numbered. Here's hoping toddlerhood will be gentle with this newbie.