Family Talents!

Potato got a toy box for Christmas and it was an unfinished beautiful piece of furniture.

Wahoo! Nana finished Potato's toy box. It looks incredible! I was so excited when they brought it over and could not wait to rearrange the furniture so that it could be on display in the living room. Potato loves it too. Its easy to open and it has a hinge on it that keeps it from slamming down on his fingers. Major plus for parents. He is constantly taking things in and out. I have so far found my cell phone and few other hidden treasures in his new toy box.

My dad even came over and freaked out over the swamp scene that Nana painted on the front. Dad likes to build furniture so I see us commissioning Nana to paint on his masterpieces. It really is amazing at all of the talent that is in our family.

Dh is the techy guru for the family and I am proud to say that he takes care of a businesses computers now. Woot! Nana and Aunt Joanie both are artist by ways of painting or making jewelry. Papaw, Great Grandma, and Aunt Peggy all play a(n) instrument(s) and sing....well! We have a top lawyer and an advertising queen. This is all just on DH's side.

My side....Dad is an avid meat cutter. He partners with my brother in the meat cutting/smoking business and they have customers coming in from out of state during the hunting seasons. It really is crazy how busy they stay. He also builds furniture for our family, and I am requesting a bookshelf for Potato soon! During hurricane season he pulls out his chain saws and lends a helping hand to others for a much better price than the big businesses. Dad is a hunting/fishing fool! I swear the man sleeps with his gun and fishing pole. LOL. My little brother is the exact same person as dad with the same talents.

My mother is a vet tech and is wonderful with animals. She is also the one that takes all of our professional pictures. I think you have heard me mention CBC Photography. She has the magic touch and she is a perfectionist.

Sister-in-law is a scrapbooking, non-stop mother of a 1 year old with another on the way. I don't know how she does it but she does it well. I know that the six weeks that I stayed home with Potato was the hardest work that I have ever done. Being a stay at home mom is not for me and its certainly a talent that only a few have.

Our friends have way to much talent to speak of and since we are incredibly close with all of our friends they are considered family. There are not many people in our circle but if you are then you are for life.

I have my own talents. I tend to mother alot of the before mentioned people. My mom says that I have always been this way and I guess it started with my first cabbage patch doll. ;-)! DH fusses at me all the time because I mother him a little too much but I worry. I am also a jack of all trades and a master of none. I think that is one of my best qualities. I guess that comes with the diverse group that we hang out with and the fact that they all have different hobbies. I can fit in with the big game hunters or big video game players.

Anyway enjoy the pictures of Potato's toy box.

Going Down Stairs

Potato has been climbing the stairs since before he turned one. Imagine my horror when I hear my baby wandering around upstairs when I know I just put him on the floor downstairs. He did not crawl at the moment only pulled himself across the room. I thought I had nothing to worry about with him and the stairs. I had no gates yet. I was wrong.

After I heard him babbling upstairs I ran up to him crying and fussing all at the same time. He just looked at me like I was nuts. I went out and got gates that day!

Today I am very comfortable with him going up the stairs because I knew that he always calls from the top when he is ready to come back down. DH or I listen for his call and usually go and get him. He never tried to scale down on his own which is great for us.....until today!

I was able to catch him on video. DH and Nana will be able to relax now since Potato is doing it all on his on with no trouble.

It's amazing how much they learn on their own.

It's a new born Potato!

Since it seems to want to pour down cats and dogs all night I have decided to go through old photos. DH got a nifty scanner and I am uploading pictures that are only prints. I came across Potato's first professional pictures. Oh where did my little baby go?

Now I feel much better that I have these posted. They are just plain paper prints that is why they are not the best quality. No matter to me as long as I have them for my memories.

I love you Potato!

Have you posted your newborns photos?

Daddy teached me swimmin! Day #1

As Potato go older we started adding more and more water to his bathes. Well we would give him play time and that would end in having half of the bath water on the floor because Potato was perfecting his diving and under water adventures. We new then that we had a fish on our hands. We did not have to teach him to blow bubbles or stick his head under the water he did that on his own and with no fear. This is a good and bad thing. When we go to the pool he makes a bee line for the water and thankfully we already have an adult ready for our little diver.

DH and I have been searching for a place to take Potato for swimming lessons for a bout 7 months now but haven't had much luck. Either places were really expensive or they did not offer days and times that we could make. For the 4th of July weekend all the friends came over and we had a pool party and of course Potato was showing off his abilities to swim. Everyone was very impressed and told us that we should be practicing with him on a daily basis. I agree.

On Thursday DH and I took him to the pool and had a lot of practice. The water was very refreshing and the perfect way to end a work day. We also had a few visitors come out to the pool and one of them happened to be a swim instructor. Her name was Kala.....meant to be....maybe ;-)! She was working with a 3 year old girl and a boy Potato's age. Kala was just shocked at how advanced Potato was and I felt bad for her because the little boy she was working with was rejecting the water.

She brought noodles and a little boogie board. Potato almost got out of our hands a few times trying to get to the boogie board. I will probably be picking up a noodle and a boogie board soon.

Anyway I took Kala's number and will give her a call next week. I am hoping she doesn't charge too much because I was very impressed with her patience and technique. I think I would prefer doing a group class more because I want to be involved in his progress and I love it when Potato is able to make new friends.

Daddy...let me see if you gots your big teeth in yet.

I love how he plays bashful.

It was incredibly bright outside.

DH teaching our little fish!