New Playset

The beginning

Making progress

Luke liked to help

Ta-dah!

Paul and I had been debating about getting Luke a playset for several months now. We actually intended to get it last fall, but that never happened. Since Paul has some free time on his hands these days we decided now would be a good time to do it. Kitty was very sweet to buy the playset for Luke. Thank you Kitty!!!

Paul worked on it most every day last week. We had a hard time deciding where to put it in our yard, since it is not the most level. I am pleased where it ended up and I can see Luke from the porch or even inside in the kitchen. Papa came one day to help Paul build it. It has a slide, fort, picnic table, two swings and a see-saw. We are going to get an infant swing so the new baby will be able to enjoy it. Luke still does better in those now anyway. Luke loved coming home every day to see what all had been done to his "house". It was pretty much finished on Friday and Luke enjoyed it all weekend. The only problem now is we can not get him to come inside in the afternoons!

Party Night

Andrew and Mandi

Luke helped Andrew open his presents

I apologize for the detailed blog entries. Since we have been making our blogs in to annual hard back books and the fact that I do not scrapbook like I used to I want to make these entries as detailed as possible so when we are looking at them 20 years from now we will be able to recall all these memories....

Saturday night was Andrew's 30th birthday party! It was very clear by the number of people there that Andrew and Mandi are loved by many. That was really neat for me to see. Luke had fun playing with some of the other kids. There were just so many people in the house that Luke and I went on a walk around the neighborhood. We really had a neat time. We just leisurely strolled around. He stopped to pick up rocks and wanted me to jump across the cracks in the sidewalk with him. We stopped and talked to neighbors with pets and other people walking by. We were gone until almost dark. The time got away from us! It is hard to mix and mingle and enjoy yourself at a party when you are constantly wondering where your 2-year old is. I guess it would have been different if it were all people I knew and that Luke was used to being around.

About 8:30 Luke asked to go night,night. I had never intended on putting him down while the party was still going strong, but I was not going to tell him that he could not go to bed. He was so tired. We said our good nights, got his jammies on and snuggled up in the bed to watch one of his favorite movies. (A habit that we got in to on our trip). He was drifting off to sleep pretty easily when the other kids started running up and down the hall outside our room with their toys and banging in to the bedroom door. I must say, I got pretty frustrated. This went on for some time. Finally about 9:30 I heard the kids leaving. Luke insisted on getting up and going back to the party. We did not get in bed until almost 11 o'clock. I do not thing he has been awake at that time since he was a newborn!

I used to scoff at people when I heard them talk about how important it was for their kids to stay on their sleep and nap schedule. I always thought that it should not be a big deal. Well, I have learned numerous times that it is a very big deal. Kids are much better behaved and in better spirits when they get enough sleep. The same goes for adults, too! Especially pregnant, hormonal ones!

Overall we had a good trip but liked I mentioned previously I learned several lessons that will hopefully make traveling easier in the future. We left Destin Sunday morning about 9 and got back home around 6. We ran into an interstate detour, rain and a lot more traffic than we anticipated. We were so happy to see Paul. He got home before us and was cooking supper when we arrived!

Water, Water

Luke loves his Uncle Andrew

When we arrived at the beach house Andrew realized there was a heated community pool. The weather was cool and breezy, but sunny. I had to wear a jacket most of the weekend. Andrew took Luke to the pool every day, but Luke did not really want to get in until the last day. I bought a pack of swim diapers at Target that day but did not realize they were pink Dora the Explorer ones until I got them out to put it on him. Oh well!

He really liked being in the water and playing with the noodle. He wanted me to get in, too, but I had not packed a bathing suit. So, I just took pictures.

Family Birthday Dinner

Luke helped Andrew blow his candles out

Friday night Mandi's parents and sister came to the house for birthday dinner. We had pizza which was really easy and everyone eats pizza! Mainly we let Luke entertain us. I began dreading bed time each night for a couple of reasons. Luke and I were sharing a bedroom which should have not been an issue. Luke was sleeping on a twin mattress on the floor which I had to pad all the way around so he would not hurt himself when he hit the tile floor, which he did a lot. I slept in the other twin bed. Every time I made the slightest move the bed would make these very loud noises which would cause Luke to stir. So, I tried to lie as still as possible which meant an uncomfortable night of sleeping for me. Sometimes I would lay on the bed with Luke and sometimes he would want to get in the bed with me. Sharing a twin bed with a toddler is not something I would recommend! One night he kicked me very hard in the stomach to which the little baby in my belly promptly kicked back!

Florida Park

Group shot at the park

Sweet boy

Aunt Mandi and Luke at the water

After we got up Friday morning we headed back over to Ft. Walton Beach for lunch. Someone Mandi works with was having a bbq lunch fundraiser. We took ours to the park to enjoy. The bbq was excellent! Luke had a varied appetite this trip which is outside his norm. He usually eats really well at all meals and snacks. After lunch Luke enjoyed playing on the playground. He really likes the slide.

Once we were done at the playground there were several errands that had to be done before Andrew's party the next night. Nonna, Luke and I went back to Destin and took naps. None of us slept well any of the nights. The first night there were some Spring Breakers having a party next door. They were up until 4 am!

Lessons Learned

So, we have been planning to go to Florida for Andrew's birthday for some time now. It just so happened that Paul had a bachelor party the same weekend in Myrtle Beach. We talked about it and thought that it would be good for us to go our separate ways for a long weekend. Well, we quickly learned how much we rely on each other. Paul headed out early Wednesday morning. Nonna, Luke and I left Goodlettsville at 3:30 am Thursday morning. This strategy had worked in the past (twice).

Well, this time Luke really was not interested in going back to sleep. Nonna started out driving. Luke and I sat in the backseat. He stayed awake until we were across the Alabama state line. He only slept about an hour the whole way there. We actually made good time and arrived in Ft. Walton by 11:15 or so. We met Aunt Mandi and her friend Lacey for lunch at Chick-fil-A. We could not actually get in to our beach house until 4 that afternoon so we had a lot of time to kill. We ended up hanging out at Andrew and Mandi's until we headed to Destin. By this time Mom, Luke and I were exhausted and ready for showers.

I am writing all this, mainly for future purposes when we are trying to plan a trip again. There are several things I would do differently. I probably will not leave in the early morning again unless we can get an early check in where we are staying. And, Paul and I agree it will be a very long time before we take separate vacations again! It really opened my eyes to how much of a help Paul is. Luke was great all weekend but when it is just one parent it makes a big difference. Paul had a good time but was missing us by the second day...awww.....

To The Zoo

Look at the monkeys, Daddy!

Paul chilling in the kiddie zone

I got a season pass to the zoo for my birthday. I was so excited! I think we will go quite a bit. We went for the first time this past Tuesday. We were not sure if the weather was going to cooperate or not. There was a chance of rain. We got on the road about 9:30. We were only on the interstate a few minutes and it started raining. We decided to go on and see if it would clear. It ended up being a perfect day to be at the zoo! It was not hot or sunny. It was slightly cool but we were all fine with a jacket on. There were not many people there, with the exception of several school groups.

Luke loved it! He loved looking at all the animals. He especially liked the monkeys and the fish. We ended up only seeing half of the zoo. We ended up at the amazing playground. Luke had a great time swinging on the swings and playing in the kiddie zone. We left there and found a deli to grab lunch and then headed home for the afternoon. It was a great day and we hope to go back soon and see the rest of the zoo.

Just Hanging Out

We have enjoyed a nice Saturday. I had to work this morning but I never get in a hurry to get there on the weekends. Luke and I actually slept in until 7. After that we enjoyed eating breakfast together. While I worked Paul and Luke enjoyed time with Nana and Pop. They also got to see Katherine, Emma and Hanne. Luke has been talking about Baby Hanne a lot lately. He actually named one of his stuffed bunnies Baby Hanne. Paul said the kids played well together.

This afternoon we have just enjoyed the sunny, warmer weather. Luke played with playdough while Paul and I got supper ready. We enjoyed burgers on the grill. There is nothing like the first grilled burgers of the season. Luke re-discovered some of his toys on the porch. He insisted on bringing his lawnmower inside. Before we knew it he had it flipped over and was asking for tools to fix it. He was not satisfied with his play tools; he wanted Paul's real tools. We are not really sure what was wrong with his mower but he was determined to fix it!

Playhouse Disney!

Luke eating snacks we brought from home

Last Sunday afternoon we went to the Playhouse Disney Live show. We have never taken Luke to a show like that or even to the circus. We were not sure how he would act or if he would like it. He loves all the Disney shows, especially Handy Manny and Mickey Mouse. We had a really good time at the show. It was not the best production I had ever seen, but Luke did not seem to notice. It kept his attention the whole time! His favorite was probably Handy Manny and all the tools. We were so pleased at how well he did. We will definitely be doing some more things like this in the near future.

After that we enjoyed supper at Jason's Deli. Last weekend was really busy. I went out to eat with Laura and Virginia to celebrate my birthday on Friday night. We ate at a cool Mexican restaurant in the Gulch. We happened to see Taylor Swift there eating with her mom. People kill me....they were trying to snap pictures on their phones and upload them to Facebook and Twitter while they ate. She did graciously stop for a picture at the table next to us when she was asked.

Paul had to work Saturday morning so Luke and I hung out. We were so tired of the cold weather that I decided to get out our Easter decorations and put them up. Luke had a ball playing with all the bunnies and Easter eggs. We can not wait for Spring around here. That night Paul and I ate at Whiskey Kitchen which is another restaurant in the Gulch. We really enjoyed it. It is mainly upscale bar food but it was really good and had a neat atmosphere. We ate there early since they do not take reservations. After that we went to a movie for the first time in over a year. We saw Blind Side which was wonderful!!! Luke spent the night with Nana and Pop so Paul and I enjoyed sleeping in Sunday morning. Nana met us with Luke in time for church. We were so excited to see him!

New Hat

A lady that has been a friend to the Troutts for years and also sits with Memaw most days knitted Luke this little UT hat. It was her first attempt at a hat. She was a little distraught that she could not get the "T" straight. Luke did not seem to mind. She also made Paul one to match Luke's. I have not been able to get him to model it for a picture though!

Big Boy Bed

For several months Paul has been wanting to transition Luke from his crib to the toddler bed. I have been hesitant because we are so used to him sleeping great at night and I was afraid it would throw him off. So, I really have not been in any hurry. Paul finally talked me in to doing it a couple of weekends ago. Luke loved helping Daddy fix his bed. The crib we have has multiple functions; crib, toddler bed, day bed and eventually a double bed. It was not the big of a deal to remove the front panel of the crib and add the toddler rail. Luke loves it! He liked to say "big boy bed" over and over.

He did great the first night. We did not hear a peep from him. Over the next few nights he woke up some, mainly due to a cough he developed. Finally I realized he could have some over-the-counter cough syrup now. I went and let the pharmacist help me decide what to get. It worked great! We used that for several nights and he slept like a dream. His cough has since went away and he is sleeping good in his new bed. For some reason he thinks he is not able to get out of his bed by himself. He will whine in the mornings when he wakes up until one of us goes to get him. He says "Luke out". We have told him he can get out on his own, but I guess I am fine with him not climbing out by himself right now.