Tater Tales - Thankful for Food

As we were eating dinner tonight, Josh shoveled in his food, commenting that he had to make sure he got to eat between all the prayers. Tate's latest and greatest skill he has acquired is folding his arms for prayers. Now that he knows we fold our arms for prayer, we pray a lot more often. Sometimes 15 or 20 times in a meal and randomly throughout the day. My gratitude for many things I had not previously thought of being grateful for has increased as I look for more things to pray about. My favorite part is the resounding amen, and if you pray to long he will try to cut you off with it. It's a good thing he eats so much food, that way I can actually eat all mine between the prayers. I love my little man!

13 Month Older and Wiser too!

This is the face he makes when dad gets out his camera because the flash is blinding :)

Tate turned 13 months today! I truly can't believe how fast he is growing along with his appetite! Man my boy can eat. :) Tonight at dinner he showed his brilliance by trying to hide his green beans in his pouch. A chip off the old block; a couple of weeks ago I hid my collared greens under some chicken. He must have been taking notes. He is now mimicking words and running like the wind. I love my little man!

Oh the Blond Moments of Me...

Growing up, the fall time change was the BEST thing ever because Saturday became an hour longer. Now that I'm grown up (well now that I'm a mother), I'm not so sure how I feel about the time changing. It simply throws everyone's schedules off; and with my brilliant brains schedules get catapulted out the window. Saturday night I obediently turned my clock BACK an hour just like the bishopric reminder said; it should have said forward if you ask me. I woke up to no alarm, thinking my phone had simply malfunctioned, and proceeded to get ready for early morning meetings. I was cruising along waiting for my ride when the love of my life came downstairs and sleepily said, "Do you know what time it is, have you looked at your phone?" Who checks their phone at 6 a.m.? I looked and lo and behold it was almost 5 a.m. I was ready for church by 5 a.m. That my friends is a new record for me. Wide awake and alert I decided to lay back down and see if I could salvage at least an hour more of sleep. My mind started winding down and just as I was reaching sleepy the boy next door was wide awake. In my obedient clock changing I had also put my child to bed at 7 p.m.-now 6 p.m. I have never wanted church to be any earlier than 9 but yesterday I would have been happy with 6 o'clock meetings! My early morning meetings that I finally attended were the most lively I have ever sat in. the extra hour of sleep did those men good. Tate napped 20 minutes at church and decided that was all he needed for the whole day. During his quiet time while I napped he discovered he could reach his dresser drawers from his crib, and empty the contents onto the floor. He never ceases to amaze me. It was a LONG but wonderful day... Oh my brilliant blond moments.

Tater Tales: Reasons We Know Tate Belongs to Us (Part 1)

As Tate's personality emerges more and more every day, his many quirks acquired from his parents are starting to shine through. One of my favorites is his love of delectable items; namely ice cream and chocolate. There is a fast-food joint out here call Culver's that serves frozen custard. It is delicious and more friendly on the pocket book than the other wonderful ice cream shop. Word on the street (well word from my Wisconsin born friend) is that custard is different because it is made with eggs. I don't want to do the homework to check if that's true, but it is yummy! We took Tate there about a month ago and he LOVED sharing my shake with me. He would dip his blue spoon in and out savoring each morsel that got in his mouth. I think I was wearing about as much as he ate, but his happiness was worth it! Thank goodness for washing machines. A week later I went to Culver's with some friends and upon returning home deposited my empty cup in the garbage which now resides on our counter top. The next morning as Tate was sitting in his high chair, eating his squashed banana, he spied the Culver's cup. He was NOT happy. My little man knew what he missed out on and made sure I knew he wasn't happy about it. It was the same kind of reaction I would give to Josh if he got ice cream without me! We promptly took the garbage out. I was grateful Tate is still easily distracted. Lesson Learned - share ice cream or be more sneaky with hiding the remains.

Tater Tales: First Halloween

"Roar"

Yesterday Tate had his first Trick-or-Treating experience. They do it two nights here, one city one night, and the city next door the next day. I would have definitely cashed in on the candy when I was growing up! We decided it must be for security purposes...  Anyway... we were outside for 30 minutes and visited 6, maybe 7 houses. We were cruising! The dogs we saw, the freedom of no stroller, children everywhere to follow, and the cool decorations were the highlights of Halloween. The candy was pretty cool, but after being denied the opportunity to inspect every piece after each house it lost its appeal. One lady even gave out raisins just for the little tikes!  Tate even got to ride in his new car seat and loved being able to see out the window; he didn't utter a single complaint the whole car ride long. After trick-or-treating he was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to eat some smarties. He devoured the whole package (don't worry he brushed his teeth later). Next year I'm sure will be a whole new ball game, but we had a lot of fun! Maybe we will even go again tonight!

Tater Tales: Picking Dandelions

At the park today Tate LOVED picking dandelions. The playground was worth 2 minutes, but the field of dandelions was hard to part with. He would pick one for both hands, waddle to the next one, squat down, decide which flower to part with, evaluate his decision, and start all over. He had to have 2 and they had to be the best!  As I watched him I couldn't help but think of one of my worst fears growing up; my child would be a dandelion picker on the soccer field. I have since learned the art of worrying and real fears as a mother and know how ridiculous that notion truly is. But to console myself I did rationalize that at the rate he tires of things, he will be uninterested in dandelions long before he wears a jersey on the field.

My ADORABLE Baby Boy

I love Saturdays! Josh is home all day and today Tate has been EXTRA sweet. We went on our daily walk this morning to the park and daddy came with us! Good things happen when Josh tags along; I know I need to have my camera ready. Here's what memory we made today...