Hanging out

I am so bummed that I don't have any pictures because I left my camera at the college yesterday. Pat was so excited that college football started today, he got Ty excited too! Pat and Ty sat on the couch eating chips, crackers and cheese with their baseball hats on watching football. Ty would repeat everything Pat would say, it was adorable. Tonight all of our neigbhors got together and had another crab feed. I think they caught 23 crabs and I ate at least 3 whole crabs myself, it was so good. Ty of course loved playing with all of the big boys. Tonight he figured out how to drive the neighbors little battery powerd hummer so he thought he was pretty cool.

Then there is little Tater. I fed her and then she slept the entire time so it made the night easy. She is such a sweet baby I can barely stand it. The only problem that I have with her, is she still will NOT take a bottle, she absolutely refuses. It makes me so sad that she won't eat for 5-6 hours when I am at volleyball. She never cries when I am around and the thought of her crying makes me want to cry too! If anyone has any suggestions besides trying a different type of bottle or nipple, I would love to hear it!

This past week...

Tater laughing at her Auntie.

My friend Lisa came over with her new baby Connor (1 month) and her other son Quinn who is two years old.


Boys being boys. Ty and Quinn played with cars and made car noises. They played so well with each other, it was really cute!

My niece Kendyl is being goofy by putting two binkies in her mouth.

Big girl sitting by herself on the bumbo!

Crazy Hair

The girls just laying around


With volleyball all week last week, Pat was home with the kids. Tatum still has not taken a bottle and it has made for some long and frustrating evenings for Pat. My sister and the kids came up a couple of times last week and we went down to Marysville on Sunday to celebrate my mom's birthday. Ty loves playing with his cousins!!! He has also continued to pee pee on the potty.

Wahoo!

Yesterday my niece Kendyl was going pee pee on the potty at my house and we were making a big deal about it. So, this morning Ty said, "potty, diaper" and I asked him if he wanted to go pee pee in the big potty and he yelled, "yeah." Sure enough, after only sitting on his potty for a minute, he did it!!! Who knows when he will want to do it again but this is progress because for the last month if I asked if he wanted to go potty, he would say "all done" and wouldn't even go near his potty chair.

Being busy

Last week was pretty busy. Ty played with his cousin Charlie, went to the field alot with his daddy, Grandpa Swapp babysat him all day, we had a bbq with the neighbors, went to three of Pat's games, went to the Metcalf's for crab while Ty played with Jack and Ryan, Grammers and Papa came up on Sunday, and then Kayla and my dad came up with her three kids yesterday. In between all of this, I started volleyball. It is going well and I really enjoy my players. On Friday, Saturday and Monday I had two practices a day, so Pat brought the kids over to see me in between practices and that made my day!! It was nice because I was also able to feed Tatum because she won't take a bottle. And yes Kayla you were right, We should have been giving her bottles at least once a week for awhile just to get her used to it. She cried for two hours with Pat last night and refused to eat until I got home. It made me so sad that she cried for so long because she is such a happy baby and never usually cries. We have tried different bottles and nipples so we don't know what to do now...ughh!

Baseball...over?

Well, I did say that baseball was over a couple of weeks ago but it actually isn't, the team just had a "break." The Anacortes Baseball team is hosting the regional tournament for legion ball, so it's all the state winners from 7 different states. Since Anacortes is hosting the tourney, they automatically get to play in the tournament. As much I wish that baseball was completely over because volleyball is starting tomorrow, it is pretty neat that the team is in the tourney. For all you baseball fans, the field looks absolutely amazing. The grass is perfectly green and it looks like they mowed the field with a pair of clippers. I wish I would have taken pictures last night to show all of you. Anyways, Pat's team played last night and they WON! This makes things complicated since I start volleyball tomorrow and we have practice all day. But I am so glad they won because it is great experience for his players. They played so well, it was really good to see.

Reality is setting in

It has been so nice the past three months being home with my two babies but now volleyball is starting on Friday and I can't believe it. I left Tatum tonight for our coaches meeting for about 4 hours. Tatum did ok, she had a difficult time taking a bottle and that made me so sad. When I got home she just looked so confused and sad and I could see that she didn't understand why I wasn't there to feed her. I really didn't leave Ty until he was about 9 months old so this is going to be hard for me to leave Tatum a lot when she is only 3 months old. Then I tell myself that I am lucky to get to stay home with my two wonderful children because some people have to go back to work right after they have a kid. So...I guess I am lucky and I should stop throwing myself a pity party and get over it.

On another note, I came home from my meeting at 8:30 and I pull into the driveway and Ty, the neighbors, Pat and his dad are all out playing and talking. It just made me so happy to see everyone having fun and enjoying each other on this nice summer evening. Ty was tired and delerious but he was having so much fun playing with the big boys.

Grandpa Swapp

Pat's dad comes over in the mornings alot and he usually brings Ty some sort of treat. Lately it has been berries, cheese and/or grapes. You can't tell from this picture but he had a mouth full of cheese while trying to shove some grapes in his mouth while trying to say, "Big bite!"

And More Family...

Tatum just loves her Papa

My grandpa fell asleep in the chair for about an hour and had no idea that we were taking pictures of him.

Pretty Girl!

We were trying to get a good picture with the gorgeous view in the background

Me and my boy!

My mom with Ty looking at the water

Ty with Uncle Shawn on the dock

Cousin Tim from Florida holding Tatum

Shawn and Pat enjoying their beers

Trying to get a picture of all the cousins, we had to hurry because it's hard to get kids to stay still for very long.

Today we went down to my Aunt Carol and Uncle Rick's house down in Marysville to celebrate my cousin Don's birthday. Don, his wife Kim and their four children are here from Florida. It was the first time the kids had met most of the family. Don hadn't been back home in almost 12 years, so it was so good to see him and finally meet his kids.

Family, Family and more Family

Charlie and Ty with Pat's cousin John and his girlfriend Lana


The grandpas with their boys

Pat's Aunt Janie with Tatum

Ty and Charlie sat in the same chair while Pat's Aunt Mary (Charlie's Grandma) fed them.

Ty with his Aunt Chrissy
Yesterday we went down to Marysville and hung out at my sisters and then my parents house. Then we went to my Aunt Vivian and Uncle Mike's house in Mukilteo for a BBQ. Ty just loves being with the family. He plays so hard that he doesn't want to stop and eat.

Then today we went over to Pat's mom's house for another gathering with Pat's entire family which includes 6 aunts, l uncle and their families. Of course Ty had a wonderful time. He played outside with Aunt Chrissy for at least an hour, he wore her out. He also played with his cousin Charlie. Ty had been asking for Charlie for a couple of weeks so I am so glad that they finally got to play again.

Our First Family Vacation as a Family of Four

We went to Winthrop the past few days and stayed at the Sun Mountain Lodge cabins on Lake Patterson with Pat's mom, Maggie and stepdad, Tom. It was so much fun! From the minute we got there Ty didn't stop. Pat and I are so relieved that Ty loved the water and didn't hesitate at all. Our cabin was right in front of the playground and about hundred yards from the beach. Ty played at the beach all day. When he woke up, he wanted to go right to water but we didn't let him since it was 6 in the morning! Ty was a lucky boy to have his grandparents play with him the entire trip. I don't know who was more tired, them or Ty. Every night the deer would be behind our cabin. The first time Ty saw the deer, he said, "cow, moooo." Tatum was so good the whole time. She just slept, ate, and enjoyed the outdoors, she was perfect!

Pat and I were able to sneak away one night and eat dinner at the lodge. It was nice eating a dinner and not have to entertain a 1 and half year old or nurse the other. We were able to have a nice conversation and enjoy the amazing view.

Baxter Family Reunion

Every year my grandma's side of the family gets together the first weekend in August. It's a lot of fun seeing all of my cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins, great aunts and uncles and some people who I have know idea who they are. This year it was at my mom's cousin Lynne and Gerome's house. They have five acres, a pond and just room for the kids to run and play. Ty wanted to play with the big boys but he was just too little. Finally, Ty and Kendyl found a bucket of ice and played with that for awhile then we didn't have to chase Ty around and make sure he stayed out of trouble.

Auntie Loves Tatum

My sister is so funny. She has three kids and wishes that she could have a fourth but her hubby says no. So, she is a little baby crazy so she just loves to hold Tatum when we are together and Tatum loves her. My sister has the touch, she can get her to burp and even pass gas easily!

The last couple of days I have gone down to Marysville in the afternoons with Tatum to see my dad in the hospital because he had hip replacement surgery yesterday. For those of you who know my dad, you know he is dying to get out of the hospital. He is doing great and driving the nurses nuts as expected. Pat and Ty have had good quality time together while we are down there. Actually, Pat has lucked out and Ty has taken 3 hour naps so he got some alone time while we were gone.

Arts and Crafts 2008

Ty loves the Arts and Crafts Festival in Anacortes, especially the kids area in the sandbox. He played in the sandbox for an hour and then we had to pry him out but we bribed him with food to get him out. We tried to get him to do the crafts but that didn't go so well. As you can see in one picture, he has a mask but it's not decorated like it was supposed to be. My sister and her family came up to enjoy the festivities as well.