Week 85: Party Time

Tate had some cake, a few laughs and snagged a balloon over the weekend. He went to a birthday party for his buddy Emalyn.
I didn't realize how wide Tate can open his mouth until I saw this picture. Now if only he'd open wide for me when it's time to take medicine or when I'm checking for new teeth.


Ever since he got his new bed Tate fears no slide. There's none to big (or too small). He's also learning different techniques for going down the slide. According to Tate all are great fun.


Tate couldn't let Emalyn have all the fun. He helped her test out some of her birthday gifts. He was especially fond of her Little Mermaid cell phone.


Tate had a blast and scored a balloon to boot!

Week 84: Male Bonding

Male bonding. It's a ritual in which men, well... bond. As I am a woman I'll surely never understand it. I know better than to question it, rather I liken it to woman's primal need to shop.
Over the weekend Tate took the opportunity to indulge in some serious male bonding with his G Pawpaw (that's right Chuck's grandpa who we were all praying for a couple of months back. He's out of the hospital and doing great.). Pawpaw Hardin spent last weekend with us. I think Tate enjoyed Pawpaw as much as Pawpaw enjoyed Tate. They were able to hang out and play together without many distractions. In addition to Pawpaw, Tate had quality "guy time" with his dad. The pair hung out on Tate's bed and watched TV. It was exhausting, Tate fell right over and crashed. I have definitely got my hands full with these two!

Week 83: Mokey See, Monkey Do

Its seems Tate is quite the sponge these days. I've captured a great example of Tate's recent mimicking behavior via photographs. Let me set the scene for you. Chuck, a very "hands-on" kind of dad, loves to amuse his son. One way he accomplishes such a feat is by juggling. Tate gets a big kick out of watching his dad. So much so that he tries to do it himself. I call it monkey see, monkey do.

Week 82: Tate's New Bed

Look out Walt Disney! Tate got a new bed and he couldn't be more thrilled. Though he never climbed out of his crib, Chuck and I felt it was time to take that monumental next step and move our little guy into a toddler bed. The toddler bed idea quickly snowballed into a playground where Tate can crash when he simply can't go anymore. By no means am I complaining. I think Chuck and I enjoy playing in Tate's room now almost as much as Tate does. It seems like every day this week we've come up with some sort of new game that revolves around the bed/slide/tent. We've spent a considerable amount of time watching Tate climb up the slide, slide down it, toss miscellaneous toys up or down the slide and hang out on surprisingly comfy loft mattress. It's great fun, but I'm being forced to realize how quickly my little boy is growing up! He is independent, not to mention hard-headed and absolutely fearless! Can you imagine what he's going to be like when he's a teenager?





Not only is Tate the primary player on the bed, he had a hand in assembling and testing it out as well.

Week 81: Tate Goes To Pumpkin Hollow

Over the weekend Tate and friends made the hour+ trip up (almost into Missouri) to Pumpkin Hollow. The gourd/pumpkin farm has morphed into a tourist attraction which comes to life during the month of October. This place is the epitome of fall. There are pumpkins, gourds and mums everywhere! There's also a petting zoo; pony, hay and train rides; a corn maze; a pile of hay to play in; and a kiddie version of a haunted house. Well, there's other stuff too, but that's all we were interested in.
Chuck, Tate and I, as well as Tony and Cora Sue (Chuck's parents), Chuck's Grandpa Hardin, and Jason, Nikki and Carter (2) Turner.
The boys had a good time feeding the pygmy goats and playing in the huge tubs of corn. We even found a street sign "Tater Tots Lane" that we just had to get a picture of!




Then there was the pony ride...

Next there was a hay ride that lead up to the train ride, corn maze and hay bales....





But the fun didn't end there! Next Tate found a huge pile of pumpkins or should I say a pile of huge pumpkins. Tate actually got stuck for a second while making his way through the pile.


Of course we couldn't leave without attempting to get a nice "posed" family photo.

Week 80: Tate's New School

Two weeks ago Tate changed day cares. The old day care was fine, but it was significantly further from our home and both my and Chuck's jobs. The new day care is within 5 minutes of my work. It's probably 7 minutes for Chuck. The distance isn't the only plus for us. On Tate's very first day of school he came home with some art work. The next day he had more. He's come home with some sort of art/drawing/coloring everyday which is totally awesome! Each month Tate's class "The Explorers" learn about a color, a number, a letter and a shape. There's also a song. Last month's was "BINGO." This month's is "I'm A Little Teapot." Tate's personality is meshing well with the others at the day care. In fact, he's already made friends with the day care's director Miss Liz. Twice already Chuck's gone to pick Tate up only to find him hanging out in Miss Liz's office (one day I think Chuck said Tate was eating a granola bar). I guess it's true what they say about the apple not falling far from the tree.