Ever-changing

It's incredible how much life can change! The last time I blogged, I had a BABY (I can't believe how old Tanner is now!) and was getting ready to get married! I used to be (and I guess I still am) afraid of change, but looking back on all that's changed in my life the last few years, I'm so incredibly grateful. Obviously I didn't and am not getting married, and my baby has turned into a big kid.

Tanner is going to be 4 in just a few months, and he is seriously the best kid ever. I know, every parent says it, but I mean it! He's so much fun and has the best personality. Right now he's obsessed with superheroes, his favorite one being Batman, and also Scooby-Doo. He's in preschool 4 days a week, 3 1/2 hours a day and is excelling. Just since September he can recognize almost the entire alphabet and also write his first and last name! He had a rough time with school at first and cried every day until December. He had trouble using his words when he needed help, and cried a lot throughout each day. But, he loves it now and actually gets excited to go. It's fun to hear him talk about which friends he played with each day and have him bring pictures home to put in his special preschool book. I cannot believe how much he's grown up just in the last couple months. He's gone from a needy/anxious mama's boy to a completely independent kid. I love him so much and my world would be empty without him.

So, since it's too hard to catch up almost two whole years, here is what I've learned in the past year, with pictures to help out.

#1. Time goes by waaaaay too fast. This was Tanner's 3rd birthday, now he's almost 4. What the heck?!?



#2. Finishing a project can actually be really fun! Tanner's skateboard-themed room, finished June 2010.

#3. Despite the humidity, Florida is beautiful.



#4. True love DOES exist.

#5. Teamwork isn't ALWAYS the best option... Thanks for trying to put the sunblock on Tanner, Caden.


#6. Cheese tastes better when eaten directly off the block.

#7. Baga's (Tanner's name for "Grandma") and Great-Grandparents are fabulous.
#8. It is possible to make the most unlikely friends.


#9. I'm the luckiest mom alive (of course, I already knew that...).


#10. When your kid hurts, you hurt just as much, if not more.

#11. Three-year-olds can take some pretty nice pictures.



#12. Smiling is tough!

#13. I AM capable of looking at a cheeseburger without eating it.
#14. Everybody gets stuck in tough places sometimes.


#15. Anyone can look innocent while sleeping.

#16. Cats make great scarves.

#17. Christmas is 74839465830203784649283 times more fun when you have kids.


#18. Your kids will expect you to keep the presents that they buy you... Sorry, Mom.

#19. Life is precious.

Alright, I know 19 is a weird number to end with, but you get what you get. Even with all the rough times I've had even in just the past year, looking through all these pictures just makes me so grateful for everything that I have and that I am. I love my life, and everyone in it.

Christmas, kisses, and a two-foot sandwich

Well... I haven't updated in quite a while, so I thought I'd post some pictures so you all can see what we've been up to. I'm not the most interesting writer, and a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll be writing quite an essay here :) here goes!

Not quite sure what he's doin here. Looking at his movie on his couch?
Tanner and Grandma. Tanner has a silly look on his face though :)

Tanner and his future Aunt Missy

Cutest suit ever!!!

He was not very pleased about me making him pose in the first place. Hehe :)

Woah! It's an age warp! Sorta like the fountain of youth! The tent of youth. I like it.

Tanner's daycare teachers at school the day I graduated. He had so much fun there :)
Me and Mike being retards at Burger King. Best meal I ever ate! Haha :)

My future musician! He loves to sing and dance all the time

Tanner decided he would get in a little girl's carseat at work. Little stink

His new favorite activity

Tanner and his friend, Zoey, sitting in a bucket of sports equipment... Tanner had fluffy mullet hair he he :)Best sandwich ever. Nuff said.Me and my cute boy!Trying to take a cute picture... ha ha tanner was really angry about us both trying to kiss himRight after his haircut. I did it by myself!!He saw his little curls on the blanket and said "Mine?"This is what he did when Mike and I told him to smile. Little cheeser boyHe likes to sit in this little basket in his table. I'm afraid it isn't going to last longColoring some Mr. Potato Head pictures for us
His favorite color, purple. He's so funnyPink Panther glasses :)Here's me in them! Sweet!He thought he was so funny pretending to change his own diaper :)And he thought it was hilarious to put a fork in his banana. And it stayed! Hehe.Tanner and Uncle Chad"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeese!"Best day ever He made me take this. He tells me "cheeeeese" when he wants me to take a picture of him. :)These boots were made for walkin'. Nothin' like a little Winter fun!Old prescription bottles or a hidden piece of art?I found these on the floor. Apparently he was thirsty and gave up. :)He loves Spiderman. Spiderman hat, shirt, and he also has snow boots.Tanner is such an amazing little person and although he drives me to my wits end, I love him so much and I'm so grateful to have him in my life. He makes us so happy and cracks us all up at the funny things he does. Right now he loves coloring, getting into the fridge to get himself a snack (which usually ends in a disaster), his hat, playing outside, his stroller ("my chair!"), his crib, asking Grandma to give him lotion, cheese, and SpongeBob SquarePants. He's got the best personality I could ask for in a kid. He's my best little buddy! I couldn't ask for more :)