Week 114: Play date???

Last week Tate had a play date with the daughter of a friend of mine. We went to the playground at the mall because it was so terribly hot out that day. Abby is 10 months old, while Tate is 2+. Therefore you can imagine there wasn't a lot of interaction between the two. LeAnn and I didn't mind though. It was an opportunity to get together and chat while our kids had a fun outing AND their fathers got a little quiet time. (A triple win situation...tee hee).
All that being said, while Tate was playing he made a new friend. Haley is 3 and just as daring and adventurous as my little guy. During the course of playing LeAnn and I were talking with Haley's mom, who told us on Tuesday's kids eat free at Shorty Small's.
"I'll keep that in mind," I thought. I knew we were going to grab a bite to eat out that night because our air conditioner was out. My goal was to soak up as much air conditioning as we could before heading home and baracading us in the upstairs bedroom (we have a window unit in that room because it is just too hot upstairs).
Tate's play date winded down and LeAnn and I said our goodbyes. Tate and I perused the toy store nearby before heading to Shorty Small's to meet Chuck for supper.
Low and behold before we finished our meal we ran into Haley and her mom, also eating at Shorty Small's.
As we were getting ready to leave we stopped at their table and talked for a few minutes. Before I knew it Tate had climbed into their booth and began helping himself to the french fries and ketchup that was part of Haley's meal.
Embarassed and slightly aggravated at Tate, who had barely touched HIS food, I ordered Tate to stop. Haley's mother said, "no, don't worry about it. She's not eating them."
As Tate tanked up on ketchup (and a few french fries) Haley dug in to her macaroni and cheese. In a few minutes they began playing with an empty paper towel roll and a drink lid. Chuck found another paper towel roll (that was nearly empty) and the two proceeded to play. The pair had a great time!!!
Isn't it funny how random life is?

Week 113: ER

Well it finally happened. After more than 2 years Tate made his first trip to the emergency room.
Last week on Thursday when I picked Tate up from daycare one of the nursery workers told me she noticed Tate had a blister on his toe and therefore was letting him go barefoot.
"Ok," I thought, "I go with that. I'll just keep an eye on it." And that's just what I did. I proceeded on to the gym. After my workout I looked at it. It seems alright, maybe a fraction bigger. I dismissed it though, thinking I was over analyzing this little blister (or was it a bug bite?).
We continued on, making a stop at Sam's to buy a few essentials, you know OJ, cat food, etc. By then it was time for dinner. So, Chuck, Tate and I headed to El Chico (our Thursday night ritual). After dinner I looked at it and had the same thoughts: "is it a tad bit bigger? No, you're being a worry wort. No one likes a hypocondric mom." So we continued on with our evening. Finally at home it was time for some serious playing before time for bed.
At bedtime we were going through our usual routine. Potty, night time diaper and PJs. It was then that we looked at the toe again. This time there was a marked change. His toe was dramatically swollen and had turned red. Chuck and I agreed almost instantly that we should seek immediate medical attention.
We grabbed a juice cup, Scooped Tate up and rushed out the door destination NEA Baptist ER.
Tate's condition didn't slow him down. He wanted to run around and play. However, Chuck and I were not letting him down. After all he was still barefooted. Finally we were taken to an ER exam room. There, Tate promptly began shredding the paper over the exam chair as he climbed it. Later he discovered a small television on an arm that swiveled, raised and lowered (much like the light used at the dentist office). Eventually the doctor came in, looked at the big, nasty toe, which had ruptured and drained in the time we were waiting to see the doctor.
The doctor said it looked like a big bite that Tate likely scratched and eventually became infected. We were given a prescription for a broadspectrum anitbiotic and instructed to follow up with Tate's doctor in 2-3 days.
Right around midnight we were finally released. Once in the car, Tate almost immediately crashed.
My thoughts on this ordeal are this.
1. We are so lucky that it took over 2 years for this first trip to the ER to happen.
2. Tate's demeanor was such that it kept me from worrying excessively. It's so hard to get upset when you see this sweet little blue-eyed boy flash his electric smile as he climbs up the chair in the exam room (frustrated, yes; scared, no).
At the follow-up doctor's appt Tate was given a clean bill of health. And, I am happy to report that Tate is running around like crazy, having a blast and making friends where ever he goes... as usual.

Week 112: Daddy's little helper

Not long ago, with a little help from Tate, we reclaimed a room in our house. In order for that to make sense I have to give you a little history of the Hardin house. When I was pregnant we decided to use the guest room/Amanda's hobby room as the nursery. In cleaning my stuff out in order to paint, etc, to make the room Tate's the majority of my stuff went to two places: the attic and the office. In the two place years since then we've made attempts to clean the office, but none ever lasted very long. So finally I decided enough was enough. I grounded us, no going to the lake until this is done. We shipped Tate off for a fun-filled weekend with grandparents and cousins and Chuck and I dug in. We moved EVERYTHING out of the office and into the living room. More than once Chuck and I said, "I can't believe all this stuff was in that little room."
We threw a bunch of stuff away, gave some stuff away and designated yet more stuff to be burned or shredded. Finally we got everything organized and in it's place. After church that Sunday we scurried around shopping for the best deal on new filing cabinet. Eventually we landing at Office Max where we scored a nice cherry wood finished "double-wide" file cabinet. Before Chuck got it assembled it was time to go get time Tate. (We were meeting Chuck's mom and dad in Ash Flat.) Once we got home Chuck went back to putting together the file cabinet. It didn't take Tate long to sniff out the project. Before I knew it he was elbow deep in brackets and screws and various tools. Chuck welcomed the help. Those two are so cute when they work on stuff together.
I must say Tate is quite the helper!

Week 111: Anniversary supper

Chuck and I recently celebrated 8 years of marital bliss. For our anniversary Chuck took me to Sho Gun. Ok, obviously not my first choice (anyone who knows me very well knows I DON'T LIKE CHINESE FOOD!!!). But what the heck, I thought, Chuck thought this one up on his own. Plus its not MY anniversary its OUR anniversary and marriage is about compromise and working together for the great good and so on...besides, he was really excited about it and he it just so happens he LOVES Chinese/sushi.
I have to admit the food wasn't awful. I would definitely go back, but it wouldn't be because I suggested it.
Anyhow, we had a nice dinner. The best part was watching Tate watch the chef slice and dice and make flames.
We had a wonderful waiter too. As we were finally eating our meal Tate got antsy, making it nearly impossible for us to eat. So our waiter take him to look at the fish in the pool near the front door. So we were actually able to eat a few bites just the two of us.
Happy anniversary to us!

Over the weekend Tate had his first successful encounter with a backyard pool. While Chuck and Tony were getting scuba certified, Cora Sue and I were left to our own devices. We thought about going out on the boat, but instead we came up with getting a kiddie pool and letting Tate go nuts. Guess what? He did. He had a BIG time sliding, playing and slinging that silly fish toy around. As an added bonus my little guy slept really well that night!!!!

Week 109: A day at the lake

The other day we were getting ready to go out on the boat. We were loading up... towels, the cooler and etc. when Tate discovered the remnants of a doggie door (left behind from the previous owner of Tony and Cora's house). At this particular stage in Tate's life he is fascinated with tunnels. It amazes me all the "tunnels" this child can find on any given day. On this particular day he was taken with doggie door tunnel. He had the best time climbing through it. Silly, silly boy!





Eventually we climbed in the Tahoe and took off for a day of fun in the sun. On the way Tate made another discovery... Nana's hat. He had a big time putting it on and taking it off. He even put his sunglasses on at on point on the way to the boat dock. Only I wasn't quick enough to catch a picture of him with them on. Oh well!

We had a big time playing and splashing. Tate even went for a ride on the tube. To be such an energetic action-packed dare devil... only my child would fall asleep riding the tube!

Week 107-108

This is an extension of last week's post, after all it was a long weekend.
The day we left Oklahoma we stopped by Gigi's place one more time. We posed for one more 4-generation picture and Tate was allowed to play with Gigi's power chair. FUN!!!!!