Dog Days of Summer

NOTE: This blog began last weekend. Between the sweltering heat and a fussy baby, I couldn't muster up the energy to complete it. The A/C now works and Tucker is happy so...enjoy!

The dog days of summer are upon us and our air conditioner is on the fritz! It's really not that bad though...just a little sticky. Hopefully we can get it fixed this week! The heat doesn't seem to have phased Tucker or the furkids though.

Tucker chills out in his bouncy seat.

Lucy soaks up the sun!

Mango hangs out on the patio. This year we planted our herbs (cilantro, rosemary and basil) in pots.

Berman prefers the cool living room floor!


We have some sort of bird sanctuary in our front yard! Here's a baby bird that was just sitting in one of the bushes in the front flower bed:

Alec trimmed some of the branches on our trees in the front yard but found a robin's nest in one so we have to wait till the babies move out before we can hack that branch:

Here's the momma keeping watch (I planted those flowers last weekend!):


Our garden is doing great! We have a lot of little green tomatoes, a couple of bell peppers and a jalapeno!



Since our squash and zucchini have taken over one half of the garden, Alec built a trellis so hopefully the cucumbers will go vertical:

Tucker is growing like a weed and is smiling in response to real things now (not just silly toots)!

Lots of happy healthy babies at the Davis home!

Other Projects

Now that we have a handle on Project Tucker, we've been able to work on some other projects. Let me rephrase that...Alec's been able to work on some other projects. I sit on the sidelines and offer words of encouragement and my expert advice (at least until my doctor releases me this week)!

Our garden is thriving! We planted tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, squash, zucchini and cucumbers. We also planted radishes but they've already been harvested and eaten!


This weekend, Alec laid a pallet of sod in our backyard where the torrential rains and 3 dogs had done a number on our yard.

Tucker helped hold down the sod until Dad needed it.

Alec first tilled the area to be sodded then laid down some hay.

He rolled out 56 rolls of sod!

Lucy made sure the seems were tamped down.

Ahh...instant gratification!

Tucker helped Dad water the sod the next morning.


Throw in a high school graduation, a family cookout, grilling chicken and smoking ribs..it was a fun filled holiday weekend!

Some things Tucker loves

Baths!

Having his hair brushed!

That cute baby in the mirror!

Happy Anniversary!

Just one year ago today...

...and we're on our way to many more happy anniversaries!

I Survived!

I was pretty sure I would die from a broken heart but somehow I survived my first day back at work and my first day away from Tucker. I cried all the way to my in-laws house and all the way to work. I even cried at work! I finally asked that no one mention the "b" word (baby). I left work early to pick up Tucker and when we got home...all was right with the world again!

And it's getting better - maybe not easier - but at least better.

My Bittersweet Birthday

Today is my birthday and it started out decent enough. I decided to not work from home today (I never work on my birthday, even if it's from home!) and to just enjoy the day off.

I cleaned the house a little (I like cleaning - I'm weird like that) and put together a diaper bag for Tucker's grandparents who will be watching him for us. When I was rocking Tucker this afternoon - trying to get him to go back to sleep so I could finish the bathroom - I realized, not only is today my birthday, but it's also my last day home with Tucker before I go back to work tomorrow. And my heart broke. So I held Tucker tight and rocked him a little longer. I told him I loved him a million times and smothered him with kisses.

I can't imagine not being able to pick him up and hold him anytime I want throughout the day. He won't be right there for me to kiss each time I walk by him. Our afternoon stories will have to be bedtime stories now.

I can only hope the days fly by, the evenings drag on forever and time stands still on the weekends.

Happy Mother's Day!

I've always been a little frustrated with Mother's Day because my birthday either falls on or near so I've had to share the day with millions of other people. Last year, each time someone called me to wish me happy birthday, I responded with "Thanks! Happy Mother's Day!" (well with everyone except my Dad). I wanted my own special day!

Well this year was a completely different story! Now I'm a momma so I have 2 special days in a row! My Mother's Day began with a showering of gifts and cards from my 2 favorite guys! Tucker was very excited to see my reaction to the gifts he picked out for me!

He got me a cute bracelet that says Mom on it and a necklace that had a charm with his initial and a little diamond (his birthstone) on it.

Then I got my birthday present - a pair of princess cut diamond earrings! (I told Alec if he was going to take pictures, I needed to look decent, but he said I looked fine - ugh!)

I was so surprised and happy so of course I cried and cried!

We then went out for breakfast (mmmm...I've missed you over-medium eggs!) and Tucker slept the entire time! He woke up just as we were leaving but as soon as we got in the car, he was out again.

Then we were Wynona bound - Tucker's longest trip from home so far! Of course he slept all the way there. He was such a good boy and snuggled up with everyone who held him.

After dinner, Tucker and I snuggled on the couch - the perfect ending to the perfect day!

Alec says I'm an amazing mom and doing such a good job. I feel like I just kinda stumble through each day and as long as Tucker is safe and sleeping in his bassinet at the end of the day, then I've done something right. The best advice I received when I was pregnant was that there's no "wrong way", there's just "my way". I'm only doing the best I know how and loving Tucker with everything I have. If that makes me a good mom, then I guess I can't argue!

Oh and Tucker finally got some money to put in his piggy bank!

Tucker is a Big Boy!

Tucker finally lost his umbilical cord stump yesterday! We thought it would never fall off!

This is what a big boy's belly looks like:


This is how big boys wear diapers:

Things Are Getting Better!

Since Tucker and I have been home, I've definitely had my share of the baby blues - may even have had a touch of post partum depression, but I think things are getting better.

First, I'm physically feeling much, much better. I can finally sleep on both sides (not just my back!) and can get in and out of bed with no pain. Also, my back doesn't ache every time I pick up Tucker. I'm actually even waking up in the morning somewhat rested!

I've definitely been humbled by motherhood and I'm almost convinced that I can't do everything and perfection is waaaaaayyyy overrated! Yesterday I wore a shirt all day that had Tucker's umbilical cord gunk on it as well as a big Tucker pee spot. Each morning I brush my teeth while staring at the same spots all over my bathroom mirror and don't even get me started on the filthy kitchen floor! But then I look at my boy - all snuggled in his bouncy chair - and all the little imperfections in the world melt away.

I've cried every day for the past 3 weeks. But they aren't sad tears. I'm so overcome with love for Tucker and my little family - it's that kind of love that's so deep that it just hurts. I don't really even know Tucker yet but this love I have for him is just so enormous and surreal. I think my love for Alec has evolved too. He's not just my sweet husband anymore. He's also the most amazing father and I'm pretty sure my biggest fan.

Uh-oh - I have to go now - poor Tucker has the hiccups (which he doesn't like at all!) and it's time for our afternoon story!