And I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane....

Ok so I'm not leaving on a jet plane but I am leaving in my car in less then a week to make that long (but glorious and much anticipated) drive back to Austin and Mexican food. We went and cooked out at the park this past Sunday and it was fun. The weather was nice (a little chilly) but we hadn't cooked out at a park since we were n North Carolina and it was long over due. Here is a comparison collage I did. The park was the very first place we ever went to when we arrived in Aiken (our apt wasn't ready yet, they put us in a hotel that didn't take dogs, we had to kill time with the dogs before we checked in and left them at the apt not sure if  wrote about that story or not but there it was) and it will be one of the last places that we visit in Aiken before we leave for good. Ty has just started jumping and he's getting good so that's what the 1st picture is of him doing in case its hard to tell. He has grown so much since we first got here I realize it has  been 6 months and that's an eternity for a little toddler but it still amazes me.

Here are some more pictures from our cookout. Please excuse my husband who is dressed like Eazy E. I can't control how he dresses, I've given up and focus all my efforts of my child and pray that he winds up dressing as a JCrew Model all his life and not a thug from the southside of Chicago.

Project 366 Week 4

Jan 22- Playing in the playroom with his blocks. I'm going to miss having this huge playroom for him, it was nice to have his big toys out of the living room. 

Jan 23- After his morning Valentine's Day photo shoot in a desperate attempt to entertain Ty after the 4th straight day of rain, I took him to the Aiken "mall" and let him ride all the little 50 cent ride on cars.

Jan 24- Playing on the playground at our apartments. He can climb up on that ladder thing, I didn't think he would be able to but this kid can climb like spiderman.

Jan 25- At the best night of Patrick's whole job, free anything on the menu at Cracker Barrel night. We also get to go to the VIP breakfast but that's assigned food on this night you get to order anything you want. Its fun but I'm always reminded why I don't eat at CB unless its free.

Jan 26- Lately all Ty uses his tools for is to "operate" on Payton. He saws her belly and in this picture he is using pliers on her ear. Patrick says the next thing we buy him needs to be a Dr kit. 

Jan 27- This just shows how easy going Payton in. Look at all the toys Patrick (yes my husband and not my kid) put on her and she just laid there. 

Jan 28- Hiking in the woods. For some reason everyone we passed said how cute he was and how much they loved his hat. I thought Ty was having an off day fashion wise but apparently not. 

Rebel Race

I have heard about and read about intense (yet fun) obstacle course type 5k races and was very intrigued. I used to be a big time runner doing 5ks on a pretty regular basis but that was before I had Ty. Its been ages since I ran a race and I'm pretty sure just running a mile right now would nearly kill me (ok I still can run 3 miles on a treadmill in a gym but that is sooooo much easier then running a course outdoors). Anyway you can imagine my excitement when I saw that there is an obstacle course 5K taking place in Smithville (right outside of Austin) in early June. I immediately told my friend Hoss about it because a.I will be in Austin to train with her, b.she is always trying to workout and lose weight but totally lacks the motivation that I have and c. I didn't want to do it by myself and I can talk Hoss into doing anything. Plus her parents are super rich and I talked her into asking them to sponsor us which they will be (the race entry fee is like $80, that's high for a race) anyway I am getting totally excited to participate in the race and start training for it I think its going to be so much fun. Here's a list of the obstacles that we will have to conquer in addition to the 5K run...


Hardcore, right? I can do it for sure, I'm good at working out. Hoss will do it because I am also good at insulting people and making them feel guilty for not following through with a workout program. So I thought even though this is Ty's blog I would put sporadic updates on my progress and training just for fun so I can look back when I'm old and say "wow I used to be in such good shape" just like I currently do when I look back at my wedding pictures that at the time I thought I looked fat. Hmmm I was crazy for ever thinking that I was super skinny at my wedding and would kill to look like that again.
Oh and I really want us to get matching T Shirts that have to do with The Hunger Games because this obstacle course makes me think of those books and I just finished reading all of them and am absolutely harry-potter-level obsessed with them and the characters. I will be Katniss Everdeen.

Oh and because it just wouldn't be a post without a picture of Ty, this morning when we were getting ready for the VIP breakfast at Cracker Barrel, he got into my makeup bag, found an eyeliner pencil and made himself up to look like the Joker.

More Cute Pictures

Oh my goodness I just got to see all the pictures from Ty's Valentine's Day photo shoot and they are so cute! The photographer said that Ty has a career in modeling ahead of him and I agree. He worked so well with her when she was taking his pictures. Not only is he cute but he's well behaved and takes directions well. If only we lived closer to New York and he could have signed with one of the agencies that wanted to represent him! Anyway here are the images that I could copy (in case you didn't/can't see them on my facebook) and you can also go here to see the rest in the slideshow that I will be able to gain access too soon to print http://www.jlloydphotography.com/p428265792/slideshow







I just love this little guy so much. He's so stinking cute and so ridiculously sweet. Who wouldn't want to be his Valentine?!?

20 Months Old

All of the sudden Ty turned 20 months old, that is 4 months away from being 2 years old! Holy crap. I have a few quick updates on what he's been doing lately and a couple of pictures I took this morning at the park and since I've yet to start his baby book I am still relying on this here blog to keep proper record of my child. He can finally count to 5. I just say finally because we count stuff all the time and while he could always make the appropriate number of grunts of items we were counting, he never really said the numbers, now he does. He can recognize his name when it is written. He knows 10 letters still but he knows what sound they make and words that start with them we work on letters almost everyday. He is saying more complete phrases and sentences. His favorite right now is "we did it!" and he uses this for all kinds of things example the other day we walked a half mile track and once he saw my car he said "we did it!" He knows his shapes and that block shape sorter thing he's got is no match for him anymore. He picks up the shape, says what it is and what color it is and puts it through the proper hole without thinking twice. The other night I learned that he knows what every tool in his tool box is called, apparently his dad taught him that because when Ty said "pipe wrench" I wasn't sure which one he was looking for. I have recently taught him that when he falls down instead of whining (which I can't stand) he is expected to tell me what part on him is hurt. Today he fell at the park and he said "knee" then he slid down the hill on his butt and came over and told me "bum." Also any time he toots he tells me "toot" which I think is just funny because I chose to call them toots. It is clear that he is going to be a right hander no matter how bad his father and I were wishing for a southpaw. He loves to draw and Patrick has been working on getting him to draw circles instead of just lines. He's really into stickers now but don't worry I will not be that retarded looking car driving down the road with an entire back window stickered up, I love my kids but he is not allowed stickers in the car to do as he pleases. He's still super tall and skinny and while I've yet to take him to his 18 month appointment (we're going next week) I'm pretty sure based upon the internet he's n the 5 percentile for weight and 90 percentile for height. He figured out last night how to use Patricks digital camera, he took a lot of self portraits and pictures of Payton's paw. When he was scrolling through all the old pictures he came across one of Memorial Stadium and he said "touchdown!!" now that's a proud moment for a parent who went to UT. So I guess that's about all he's been up to lately or at least what I can currently remember. Now as promised, here are some pictures maybe I will pull out the old fancy camera this afternoon and get some more since the weather is finally nice here but until then...

Don't know if you can see it or not (well you can now that I mention it) but there is a train passing by. Ty loves trains so we like this park because once in a great while you can see a train pass right by. I think it was the first time my dogs have ever seen a train because when he blew his whistle Paris and Payton just stopped and kept turning their heads back and forth as if confused. 

I love this shirt. Anyone can wear one but Ty can mean it because he's been to New York and from what I can tell he really did heart it. 

See here's Paris. She's off leash and she ran over like a big chicken when the train came to stand next to the baby. My dogs always check with Ty when they're scared to make sure its ok. I guess they figure if he's ok with it then it must be safe. 

Valentine's Day Card

Here's a little sneaky peak of Ty's photo shoot. The photographer made it into a card, how cute is that? She had a lot of props we used yesterday but this guitar was by far Ty's favorite. I think he looks so cute but I can not get over how old he looks! He is such a little boy now, yikes kind of makes sad. At least he's staying cute as he ages if not getting cuter.

Rain Rain Go Away

Ok so we are going on like the 4th straight rainy, nasty day here in South Carolina. I am not sure how much more I can take. I have a child who would live outside if he could so to have to keep him indoors all day is torture to but he and I. We have been so bored! It may be easier if I were a mom who allowed a lot of TV watching but I don't. Ty gets an hour of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse a day which amounts to about 3 full episodes. Anything longer and I feel an extreme pang of guilt as though I am failing my child in some weird way. I know that TV won't ruin him or anything but when I see him just sitting there, zoning out I just want to run and switch it off and pull out his alphabet flashcards. It also doesn't help that we currently live in a town that has absolutely nothing to do indoors. At least in Kentucky, I could take him to open gym at gymboree and let him play. That's the other thing about TV, it expends none of his energy and Ty as a 20 month old little boy, has a lot! At least today though we did get to get out because Ty had a Valentine's Day photo shoot. I think I've probably mentioned how much I loathe that "holiday" but in an effort to try and like it more I thought getting a cute outfit and sending out some cute cards might help me to enjoy it a little more. Plus I've become friends with the local photographer so I got a really good deal on the pictures. Here are some of the pictures I got of him this morning with my camera phone, he was just too cute not to share. The pictures were taken in her indoor studio with some cute little props and I really can't wait to see them. Ty did really well in following commands and hamming it up for the camera. He posed and smiled as though he were a professional model. I can hardly ever get him to look at or smile at my camera when I have it out (see exhibits 1-4 below) so when he cooperated this morning, I was shocked and very pleased. I can't wait to see how they turn out and of course I will share them as soon as I get them. Oh and he does have on suspenders. I got the tie shirt and suspenders from Etsy for only $15. I added the white shirt underneath and I think he looks adorable! I am also very surprised that he wasn't bothered by those suspenders, he didn't pull at them or try to take them off once. He made me so proud!

This was his smile for me when I told him to say cheese. I can still remember the days when he was a baby and would smile so perfectly every time I took my camera out now he gives me this goofy smile like "take the picture and get out of my face, mama."

Lego Gun

First I just wanted to do this split screen of Ty and Andy that I mentioned in my last Project 365 post so anyone who doesn't know what scene I'm talking about you can see just how much he looks like him

Ok now onto my next pictures. Last night Ty and Patrick were playing with his legos last night. My husband can build anything out of anything. I told him to build a gun so not only did he build a gun, he built a fancy machine gun with a clip and sight. Ty thought it was hilarious! They then proceeded to shoot the dogs. 

Patrick brought Ty an empty paint can home from work the other day perhaps in order to replace some of my old make up cases and purses that Ty likes to store stuff in. Ty loved it though and played with it forever. He kept bringing it over to me saying "paint can" so the next day I decided to decorate it just a bit and I made it a carrying case for all of Ty's paints and paint supplies. 

Please disregard Ty's full mouth. He was having a snack of apple slices and he decided that he needed to stuff 3 of them in his mouth at once. 

And finally, it is nasty and cold and rainy here today. We got out the old 4 wheeler for the 1st time in a long time and he actually can drive it now. He likes to chase the dogs. I love that Ty likes to tease the dogs and laughs while he's doing it. 

Project 365- Week 3

January 15- I know I already posted this picture but its the only one I got on this day. Ty walking Payton at the park.

January 16- This is at the park where I let my dogs run off leash because its fenced in. Payton jumped this wall from a standing still position, no running start. This is the dog who acts like she can't jump into my car without help (even though all it takes is a quick kick to the butt to get her in)  and the same dog who almost daily fakes a limp when Patrick walks in from work just to get attention. Just wanted to document what she can actually do.

January 17- I posted this pic already too. Its Ty saying "brrrr: after a big gust of wind on a 70 degree day.

January 18- I took this picture on a hike through the woods. I think he looks exactly like Andy Dufresne (Dufrane) from Shawshank Redemption after he finally breaks free into the rainy night. Ty was looking at an airplane and acting like one. 

January 19- At the zoo. I'm still amazed at how close we were able to get to all the animals.

January 20- Ty loves painting but I think he may like cleaning up after painting even more since I stupidly allowed him the first time to sit in the sink to get clean and help wash the brushes. Ty has always loved sitting in the sink ever since my dad let him do it to help him wash dishes. I never let him do it unless he paints now I think Ty wants to paint so he can sit in the sink.

January 21- Ty and I snuck into the Marriot hotel to eat their free breakfast today. We've stayed here twice since we came to Aiken and they have the best free breakfast. Is it so wrong that I just wanted to make and eat my own waffle this morning? Me and Ty had a good time. He was even well behaved and sat still through the meal as if he knew we weren't supposed to be there and didn't want to draw attention to us. 

Grateful

I have a rough couple of days. Its just one of those phases where it seems like nothing can go right and you find yourself questioning "how could this get any worse? What else could go wrong?" My best friend Jannett's (or Hoss) husband's brother lost his wife a couple of nights ago. She was scheduled to be induced with her 2nd baby in 2 days when she suddenly passed away. She died of a brain aneurysm in the middle of the night and by the time her husband found her, the baby had died too. She left behind her husband and a 5 year old little girl. I just talked to Hoss and she said they were about to attend the viewing of the baby. I don't know these people personally but every time I think of them, it makes my heart hurt. This story puts into perspective the problems that I have and think are awful are nothing compared to them. My problems are mostly monetary due to a massive repair that has to be done to my husbands truck, yet again and while we have the money to fix the $4000 problem it irritates me that after all the hard work I did saving and all the hard work my husband did to earn it is now gone to fix a truck that will inevitably break down again in a few months. Anyway when I think about it how lucky am I that my husband has a great paying job that affords me to stay at home with Ty and to have the funds available to even fix it I am very grateful. How lucky am I have to have perfect health and for my child to have perfect health and for my husband to have perfect (even though he would debate that since there is always something different wrong with him) health? We have a precious little boy who is smart and cute and obedient and just down right sweet, the child will stop in the middle of playing just to come over to give me a hug and kiss and then goes right back to playing. No amount of money or Ford F350 transmission rebuilds will ever make me as happy as that kid does. So that's what I'm thinking about today. I love my family so much and just thinking about either of my boys, makes me smile and feel better. 

Columbia Zoo

So we made it to the zoo today and while it was a little colder then I thought it was going to be Ty was the only kid there for the 1st part of the morning and all of the animals were out. Middle of the winter during the week is the absolute best time to visit a zoo. Ty had such a good time! He definitely liked it better this time than the last time we went to a visit. The zoo wasn't huge but it had all the main animals and they were all super close to the public so Ty actually got to see all the animals this time. 

Our 1st stop was to the kangaroo area. I was amazed you just got to walk right in where they all were. For whatever reason I didn't get any really good pictures but those roos were literally right at our feet. One kept crossing the path right in front of us, back and forth. 

And while I know its hard to look at anything in this picture but the kangaroos keepers wide ass, if you look past that you can see the kangaroo who kept jumping back and forth in front of our exit gate. The keeper just walked up to him and said "get outta here" just like I would our dogs and he hopped away. It was so cute! 

Here were just a couple of monkeys. Ty got so excited to see each one and when he left them he waved bye. 

Here's the gorilla. I love gorillas and I kept waving to him expecting him to wave back to me, they're just so human like. For the most part he ignored us but when we started to walk away he shouted some gorilla noise at us. I think he was saying "hey come back"

I forget what they were looking at here but I think its such a sweet picture. 

Look how close the elephants were! Ty loved them and he kept doing the elephant sound arm for the trunk motion included. 

And while its hard to tell here because of my coat, today when I weighed myself I realized that I lost 5 pounds last week so I have officially returned to my pre-Ty weight or what I weighed when I got pregnant with him. I still want to lose about 20 pounds but this was a huge accomplishment. 

The giraffes kept sticking their long gray tounges out and trying to get to Ty. You can pay to get some food for them but you know us, the no cash carrying DeWildes so my child couldn't feed them. They would stick their tounges through the fence slats and lick the floor and it so reminded me of my crumb bum dogs desperate for food. 

These monkey things cracked Ty up. They were so loud and they swung from branches like they were putting on a show. They also walked tight rope wires, very entertaining. 

I think this may have been Ty's favorite animal exhibit for some reason. He loved the alligators. Maybe because they were right at his eye level. Kind of creepy though. 

He just looks like such a big kid in this picture to me. 

So that's it, our day at the zoo. What a fun day! He fell asleep seconds after being put in his car seat, nice ride home too.