Memorial weekend down at Penobscot!!!

This was our first trip down to the coast this year and we were all excited! Tuck and I headed down Friday with Auntie Janet, who we met in Auburn. We made a couple stops but got down to Penobby with plenty of daylight, and time for Tuck to play before bed. Jay drove down after work and arrived around 8pm. Tucky stayed up a little later but was beat and went to bed around 7:30, which is later for him.

Tuck slept really well and we all slept in until about 7am. Grampa Mac had his famous breakfast going by the time we made our way downstairs. It was cool out so they had the woodstove going and it had rained a little as well. No rush to get outside. Plus you could see the mosquitos in herds just outside the door, not good for fresh little skin! After breakfast we had Tuck play inside because it was way too wet and buggy outside. He was definitely entertained and loved playing with his family. Somehow in the mix he learned to climb onto the coffee table and ottoman. Yikes. Luckily we were all in the same room and he couldn't wander off into any dangerous places.

As the day progressed, the sun peeked out and we lubed Tuck up with bug dope and a Bounce sheet. Apparently the Bounce dryer sheet repels bugs. Grampa Mac got out the tractor and Tuck instantly wanted to go for a ride. He's not psyched about lawn mower tractors, I think because of the sound, but he loves the big tractor. I rode in the wagon as Grampa gave us a ride and Tuck loved it. The video tells it all!









The Viles came down to visit and we got to hang with Uncle Forbes and cousin Andy. Lots of time outside playing with dogs, driving trucks in the sand/water table and golf cart rides. Once we introduced the little guy to the golf cart again, all he wanted to do was go for a ride. When the ride was over, he'd cry and someone else would give him a ride. We're creating a monster... he loves it. We also spent a lot of time down at Auntie Janet's and Uncle Trap's new house. It's really coming along well. Jay helped work on the tiling and installing vanities, so we took many trips back and forth in the golf cart.






We also explored the shore and found some clam and muscle shells. Tuck threw rocks in to the ocean and would have walked right in if I wouldn't have caught him in time. He is drawn to water. It was too cold to go in the boats but we did spend most of the weekend outside exploring. When Tuck gets up, he walks to the door and says "Ow", short for out. He wants to go outside constantly, a real Maine boy. Unfortunately the bugs were awful so it will be really nice when they clear out!

Tuck is going to love it down here this summer and I can't wait to get him back. Great weekend!

"I love the outdoors!" LINUS from Peanuts!

Tuck is definitely a little Maine boy!!! He loves to be outside. In fact, when we get home everyday he starts to cry when we walk through the door and he points back outside. He loves the birds, the squirrels, the grass, etc. It's great! Friday we spent most of the day outside and Tuck picked almost all the dandelions off the backyard! I took off his shoes and had him walk around barefoot and he actually loved it.

We also spent a little time inside playing with toys. We got out the megablocks and Tuck started stacking them, I was totally surprised. I helped him make a tower and he took the people pieces and placed them all over the structure. Then he got out the piece with wheels and moved some people to that piece and drove it on the rug. He's really picking up a lot and I was impressed with is ability to build! That comes from Jay of course...






Friday afternoon I brought Tuck to Cheverus to watch Auntie Amy's softball game. The whole family was there too and they were super happy to play with the Tuckster. He of course was ready to walk... and almost walked onto the field. After the game we all went out to Pat's pizza in Yarmouth. Tuck did really well considering it was past his bedtime but he immediately fell asleep when we hit the car.






We got to spend time at home on Saturday, playing inside and out. We played on the swings, went for walks, took naps, etc. In the afternoon we drove down to Portland to visit with cousins Evelyn and Spencer. They just got a new swingset so it was so much fun for the kids to play outside, despite the chilly weather. We also had dinner with them too!

I had sea kayak training this morning so today was definitely a Tucky/Daddy day. They went for walks, played outside and then Tuck took a 3 hour nap! What a great nap! Jay of course was psyched because he could work on projects a bit. For lunch, Jay made Tuck a turkey and cheese sandwich, with pickles and mustard and he ate the whole thing. He loved it apparently, which I think is so funny. The kid loves to eat.





We went for another walk when I got home, down to our neighbor's beach, and Tuck played in the sand. He was learning how to dig with the shovel although he's very careful not to get his hands too dirty. He'll be laying in the stuff this summer but he's still a little unsure now. Wiped out boy means early bedtime, even though we're trying to get him to make it to 6:30pm.

Tuck's blankets - he loves these things, the thermal, waffle type. Well, we have somehow misplaced a few of these and only have two at the house now. One's being washed, too slowly, and the other Tuck has been dragging around for days. He looks just like LINUS from Charlie Brown and his blanket is just as dirty but he loves it. We need to have at least one clean at all times for naps and he's started carrying them all over the place, including into mud puddles...argh. So I went to Walmart yesterday to buy a couple more and all they had was one package of two left, one pick and one purple. So Tuck is now rocking a pink and a purple blanket! I love it!

Uncle Jeffy grad party, water/sand table, clumsy!

Daddy's home! Jay got in late Friday night and stayed in Windham. He picked up the water/sand table from a neighbors on the side of the road for free and brought it with him. It's awesome! We set it up and Tuck spent most of the day Saturday out playing in the water. What a perfect activity for him right now and it's just the right size!


We all hung out around the house playing with Tuck and getting ready for Uncle Jeffy's graduation from the University of Maine! Grammy Lyn had about 30 people come over Saturday night to celebrate. Tuck lasted a bit longer and got to play with the Baker kiddos who are very close to his age too. Somehow we got him to sleep during the
party and all the noise. Congrats to Uncle Jeffy who already has a job too!






Tuck slept really well last night and was ready to go this morning. We played after breakfast and then he took an early nap. It was nasty outside, super windy and rainy so we didn't go outside much at all. Grammy Lyn got back from taking Jeffy to the airport and Auntie Amy and Alan stopped by too. There were five adults in the main room and somehow Tuck pushed on the gate to the stairs and we had our first scare, and on Mother's Day... I heard him scream and apparently he pushed the dog gate to the basement over and slid on the gate, down five stairs to the platform. Luckily the stairs are broken up so he didn't go very far but he was very scared and bumped his noggin a little. Luckily he was totally okay but we were all scared. This walking thing has its pluses and minuses for sure. This weekend he had three different good bumps or bloody lips and frankly I was ready to put him in a glass case. He's doing great but I will be happy to have this beginning to walk stage get over.




We visited with Grammy EE and Papi for lunch and spent a few hours there. Tuck got out his toys and spent a lot of time playing with EE's piano keys. He was quite gentle and playing the keys really well! For lunch EE made fresh bread and Tuck ate half of the grilled cheese sandwich, which he loves! Around 2pm he was getting tired so we packed up and he slept the whole way home. Good boy!

It was nice to get back fairly early because Jay hasn't been home all week and I wanted to make sure Tuck got a bath. He took his first bath in the big tub, he doesn't fit in the ducky tub very well anymore. He really liked the big tub and he and Daddy had fun. However, he bumped his head again on the faucet thing so we'll have to pad that now. I might have to have him just wear a helmet all the time...

Uncle Jeffy grad party, water/sand table, clumsy!

Tuck day

Friday's are my "home with Tuck day" and with Jay gone all week, it was nice to relax in the morning and not rush out of the house. It was a beautiful day and after breakfast, Tuck and I went took Casco for a nice long walk down to the lake. It was like glass out on the Basin, beautiful! On the way back I noticed that this water/sand table, that we saw last week for free on the side of the road, was still sitting there. I couldn't get it then but I let Jay know about he so he could pick it up once he got home.


We hung out around the house and then I took Tuck to storytime at the Gray Public Library at 10am. We have gone a few times before but this time was right in the middle of nap time for the last couple months so we stopped going. Anyway, Tuck loves the toys and puzzles there, he's not really into the stories yet. He walked right over to a table where a girl was organizing toy animals. Tuck saw the empty basket and started putting them away, he likes to pick up messes. I jumped in and got him doing something else but I had to laugh.

There were lots of stories and some songs, Tuck didn't seem to notice because he was interested in the wooden toy that has dowels and you stack pieces on it. He spent at least ten minutes glued to this toy until another little boy came over to help. Tuck wasn't interested and made a loud noise. Eventually there was a song where the kids shake easter eggs with beads and Tuck was finally interested. Not only did he grab one egg, he grabbed another two in one hand and tried to take others. This lasted a couple minutes and then he was back to his wooden toy again.


We hung out for about 45 minutes and I finally decided to leave when Tuck realized he could climb up on these chairs. At one point I looked over and he was kneeling on the chair looking over the back, yikes! It was lunchtime anyway.

We came home, ate lunch and then Tuck took a nice nap, about 1 hr. 45 minutes. I packed up the car and we headed out after he woke up. We got up to Grammy Lyn's and Grampa Mac's about 4pm, with plenty of time to eat and then get Tuck to bed on time!
Grampa Mac tried to give TUck a tractor ride but you can tell by his face how interested he was for some reason. He normally loves them and as soon as we turned the tractor off, he wanted to go again??? We also got out the bubbles and the little guy loved them!

Hanging around the house!

Finally after a season of heading to Sugarloaf weekend after weekend, we decided to stay put. The weather was great so there was a lot of time outside! Friday was a bit crazy because Tuck and I were on the run. He did get in a 2 1/2 hour nap between errands though.

Saturday was gorgeous but a little wet in the morning so we cleaned the house. Jay worked one floor while I worked the other, with Tuck anywhere in between. Well, except on the stairs. He is a little busy body and entertains himself well. Tuck again took a long 2+ hour nap so we ended up getting a lot done then too.





That afternoon we went for a walk down the Basin Rd. to our neighbors lake house. He's got a long pier and a beautiful little sandy beach. Tuck and I hung out on a towel and played in the sand. Well, sort of. He's still not the biggest fan although I took his socks off and made him walk in it. It was funny at one point though because we were throwing a stick into the water for Casco. She'd jump in and I thought Tuck would love it, but he started crying. Each time we threw the stick in the water, he cried...




Jay left super early Sunday morning for a conference in Oklahoma and I had training for LLBean sea kayak guiding. Grammy EE came down luckily to stay with us and watch Tuck. They had a great time playing outside on the deck and the swings. Tuck and I are on our own this week so hopefully all goes smoothly.