Building A Bear---or an Elephant

On Saturday, since we were dragging Jacob to Chattanooga AGAIN to go clothes shopping for Jeff (he has a STUNNING wardrobe right now-he has the most pimp daddy ties ever!), we decided we would make it worth his while and spend a little of Grandma and Papa Williams' Valentine's Day money! Jeff knew there was a Build A Bear at the mall there, so we took him there for his surprise and let him pick out what animal he wanted to make. As usual, he was quite decisive about which one he wanted- he picked an elephant (they must have made a great impression on them when he saw them in person at the Greenville zoo a month ago because he's been all about the elephants lately!). He had a nice time making the elephant and picking out his clothes...here are some pics to prove it!

Jacob puts the elephant's heart in before bear builder lady stitches him up!

Jacob combs the elephant's hair after he got a bath

Jacob tried to help Daddy put on the elephant's new clothes--Daddy sometimes gets excited about Jacob's toys

The final product, after Jacob had named him "Elephant"

Here's a close up

They like to watch TV high atop their perch!

On the ride home- Elephant loves Tigger and Pooh, Jacob told us--I found out today, Elephant also loves getting his haircut--he sat with Jacob under his haircut "cape" while Jacob got the old snip-snipperoo!

Just A Plain Old Week

Jacob kept poking his head out from under the crib and letting the bed skirt stay on his head, and saying, "Look Mommy, I look like a princess!" WAHAHAHAHAHAH

I know how all of you "A.D.I.T.L.O.L.J.A.J." (a day in the life of Lindsey, Jeff, and Jacob) fans out there are yearning for more meat in this blog. You want some substance-something to give you your fill of Williams family happenings, each time you check the blog out...well today you're going to get it.

Yesterday, on a whim, inspired by Grammy (my mom) telling me about this little girl a bit older than Jacob who just did a little potty training, I decided to go get Jacob some big boy underpants and see what he thought of the whole "not pee-peeing and poo-pooing on yourself" thing. Turns out, he was interested...I mean, I won't lie, he's not completely sold on the idea...but whatever, I'm not pushing this issue- we'll do it as he feels OK with it. Yesterday, though, he wanted to wear his Handy Manny (I allow cartoons under the clothing, not on)underpants all day long...with his turtleneck and little Nikes (he calls them his check mark shoes-we are developing brand loyalty for our son at an early age). He had an accident as soon as we put the underpants on, but no biggie, we switched out the dirty ones for some new ones and off he went again...only this time, he peed and pooped in the potty! AHAHAHAHAHAH! I was like "WHAT!! You're BRILLIANT CHILD!!" So that was good, then he went down and took a nap (in a diaper--I'm not crazy). When I went to get him up he kept telling me over and over that he didn't pee-pee or poo-poo in his diaper and wanted to wear his Manny pants again. So we put them on again and he peed again in the potty. That was the end of our success yesterday- he got distracted and forgot he didn't have on a diaper later on and made a sort of big mess, but that's OK...I have carpet cleaner. Today he has had NO interest in trying on those Manny pants again, so we didn't do it. Jeff was SUPER excited that Jacob pottied--he thought it was the coolest thing ever!

Our only other news for the week, which is really just fluff compared to that meaty story you just read, is that we joined the gym here- which is really nice- and Jacob and I have been swimming! That was really the main draw of the gym---the indoor pool--since it's winter, I thought that would be a great way to get Jacob out and about (plus they have child care while I work out), and get him ready to dominate the other kids in the summer at the pool! There's quite a few senior citizens at the pool in the morning when we go, and let me just tell you that Jacob is the hit of the town! Everyone wants to talk to him, but normally, he's too busy "just swimmin' " to chit chat (surprise, surprise).

A couple more things:

1.) Jacob and I got invited to go eat dinner with Jeff and the other kids in his training class at this dealer's (carpet, not drug) house on Monday night. It's nice to be at a job where they actually acknowledge the fact that Jacob and I are here--they seem to care about getting to know us!

2.) Jeff is LOVING his training. He is quite pumped up every day when he gets home. It is so good to see him so excited about this and loving it every day. He must be doing well too because he got the "best trainnee of the week" award (they call it something else, but that's what it is) the very first week!! He's doing so well, we are very proud of him!

Jacob kept climbing up with me last night to lay while I had a headache, and giving me his "passy" (which he doesn't even know how to use himself) and telling me I was his best friend!

This was a break through picture...Jacob fell asleep on the sofa after bowling last week--I think I wrote about it, but didn't put the picture up!

View of the playground

Jacob went down this terrifying slide a lot that day!

Funny Thing

So, we wrapped up our first real week here in Georgia today with a trip to the bowling alley in Dalton today. Jeff's training class went bowling today, after a morning of scavenger hunting around the Dalton/Chattanooga area..and they invited Jacob and me to come along! We were happy to get out and get to meet all of the people that Jeff works with and for-plus an afternoon of bowling was a flash back to our old life in Clemson - we're alley rats, if you will.

EVERYONE was so friendly and all of the people who work for Shaw and live in the Dalton area were so sweet and kept asking if everything was going OK for us, how we were liking the area, etc. Basically, Jeff has had a great first week and is really excited about the job and the company. I think it's really great for me and Jacob to be included in Jeff's work-it means a lot that the people that Jeff works for care about what's going on with us and want to get to know us,etc. Not all places are like that!

The funny story comes from us trying to explain to Jacob over the past few weeks that now when Daddy goes to work, he doesn't bowl (that's what Jacob used to always think Daddy was doing when he went to work at the Union at Clemson)...yet, the first time we went to see Daddy during work hours...we went bowling. Maybe we'll get to go see Daddy when he's NOT in his natural bowling alley habitat one of these days...

One more special part of our day...when we got back from bowling, Jacob was super tired since, for some reason, he didn't take a nap today...and he laid down on the sofa to watch Mickey Mouse, and he fell asleep!! He has NEVER fallen asleep outside his own crib...much less while the TV was on, Jeff and I were talking and making dinner,etc. This was a HUGE deal because it means that he is super cool now and can pass out in random places like normal babies do! I took a picture and will post it later to prove my point

An Itsy Bitsy More Georgia

This morning, our first day without Jeffrey during the day, Jacob and I went out to a park we saw last night. It was nice, there was a playground with no kids on it (besides Jacob and Mommy), a walking track, and a creek! It was about 68 here today, so it was PERFECT weather! I was so grateful that the weather was nice today because Jacob really needed to get outside and RUN...and we did run. He didn't quite run 3/4 mile today, but just about. He was so thrilled to be out of the apt...you may ask how I know this...I will tell you. There were these stone steps built into the side of the creekbed (I guess so you could walk right down and put your feet in if you wanted)...well Jacob instantly knew that these would make a great sage for him to "pratice" on. He got me to stand on the bottom step and watch him perform ( practice" like he liked to say) on the top step. Let's just say that the whole park enjoyed his performance. He sang and danced and clapped and jumped for me and everyone who walked by on the track above us. I figured since he was such a great act today, that he ought to learn to take a bow when people clapped for him...so he learned to "take a bow" and he looked too funny!

I called a friend of a friend today who lives in the area and we are planning on meeting for lunch tomorrow and dinner with the hubsters later in the week! What a blessing for us to already have a connection with another younger family---holler to Anna for hooking us up!

Finally, I remembered to take pics of the apt today...so enjoy!

I know, I know, Jacob is the cutest little stud you've ever seen---P.S. if you're wondering what's going on with his hair, under his hat, Jeff wants him to grow the Alabama haircut...you know what that is John Parker Wilson. Just kidding, his hair's getting a little long-we'll trim it soon!

If you look carefully, you will see some of Jacob's fish he found...and which we fed

My camera case floating in the creek--I accidently kicked it in--but I scaled the muddy bank and retrieved it


Our room

The TV and Jacob's corner in the living room

The living room, with the kitchen table in the background (and a mid-yell Jacob), from the sliding doors

From the kitchen table area, behind the sofas, toward the kitchen

Jacob's room from the back wall, by the window, in the corner (yes, I know my description makes you want to go grab a sheet of graph paper and sketch the layout of the apt.)

Jacob's room, from the door

A Bit of Georgia

"Better sureep (sleep) on pillow" -Jacob, on how to pretend to take a nap on the floor

Jacob taking his 4 hour nap--- and spooning with shark--moving really wore him out!

Jacob and Daddy playing Mario Kart--thank goodness someone bought our precious TI-83s so Jeff could use the money to buy this game.

PICS OF THE APT. TO COME SOON!!!

Aquarium Visit

In the rainforest portion of the aquarium

Outside of the aquarium

Jacob and Daddy about to embark on a journey through the seas

This seemed like a good idea, but as this picture shows, I got a little overly exited and just dove in to try to pet the skate...evidently forgetting I was wearing a long sleeved shirt.

Realizing that the 3 year old children could handle petting the sea creature without getting their sleeves wet...I'm feeling a little awkward.

Jacob has his 2 new gift shop finds with him--shark and purple penguin

Jacob splashes in the petting pool

The view of the Tennessee River from the aquarium

Jacob and Daddy viewing the seahorse exhibit from the inside-out!

Jacob's favorite seahorse---yes that is a seahorse, not a floaing plant!

The Last of Clemson

Jacob' final slide on his fav playground!

Jeff's last day at work---good thing no one saw us taking pictures, otherwise they may have thought we were real losers!

Jacob's last day in Daddy's office- no more fun toys to crash off Daddy's desk!

Jeff's bare office

Jacob and Daddy resting on the sofa

Making some train shaped cookies

Jacob working hard

Some burp clothes I made for Jackson (obviously)-- so glad Rebecca gave me this idea AND let me use her sewing machine!

New Address

1913 Brady Drive
Apt B18
Dalton, GA 30720

New Blogging Location: Dalton, Georgia

Hey Kids (Allie),

As someone pointed out to me (Allie), I haven't blogged in a while, and normally, when that happens, that means nothing interesting has been going on, but that's not really so this time. Since I last blogged, we have packed up and moved from South Carolina to Georgia!

Packing up and leaving was a bit hectic, with Jacob around too, but thanks to Rebecca and Sam, we did have a couple days without Jacob so Jeff and I could get a lot of things done! Jacob doesn't really know that we've moved, we're pretty sure he thinks he's on vacation because we have done all sorts of fun things since we've been here, and we're in a new place, which he probably thinks is just another timeshare! Jacob was a little out of sorts before we left an right after we got here. We think he was nervous about all the boxes, and the fact that he could't see any of his toys, crib, etc. Luckily, he hasn't made me really sad yet by asking to see Sam, his old bedroom, Miss Bec-bec, etc. He just told us last night that Miss Bec-bec, Sam, Troy, and Mr. Gosh were all his best friends. So, he hasn't yet forgotten his Senaconian friends!

Our last days in Seneca were pretty nice, we got to see basically everyone that we were close with...which was really such a blessing because the week before Jacob had bronhitis and the doctor had initially told us he would be contagious THROUGH the day we moved...meaning we wouldn't be able to say good bye to anyone! Anyway, he got better fast and we got to see everyone! Wednesday afternoon, Jacob and I went to Duncan's 2 nd birthday party at one of those places where they have a lot of blow up toy things with slides,etc. It was cool, but Jacob was in need of a little more time to warm up to the place. Probably, next time we go to one of those places, he will be ready to play hard! It was so good to get to see Chris and Bridgett and Cadence and Duncan before we took off the next morning---they have been such good friends!

As a trade off for us getting to go to the birthday party in the midst of packing, Jeff got to go to the Clemson vs. Duke game that night! How cool that Clemson won (versus Duke, nonetheless) on the last night we were in town and that Jeff actually got to go!

Anyway, we are obviously here now, and pretty much all unpacked too! I will take some pictures to show the inside of the apartment and post them soon. There is plenty of space and Jacob's room is quite big!

My dad came down to help us move from South Carolina over here to Georgia, which was quite a fiasco, since he pulled our U-Haul and his alternator broke (or however you say that) on 85! He made it to an exit and a repair shop safely, and got to Dalton later that night! Thank goodness, we couldn't have made the move without Dad and his mighty Suburban!

To take a break from all the moving, we went to Chattanooga yesterday to go to the "world- class" aquarium! It was really cool and Jacob loved it! It is on the Tennessee River, which was pretty cool-there's a river walk and a really neat looking downtown--a little larger than downtown Seneca and Ram Cat Alley. While we were there, we saw a Children's Museum, which Jacob and I plan on hitting up later! I will also post pictures of our aquarium visit at a later date!

In conclusion, we are happy to be here and have already seen so many of God's provisions for us in the move! We know that this is where we need to be and are just going to take it day by day to see how things unfold! Tomorrow will be Jeff's first day at work, and our first day by ourselves...so I'll write more later after we see how all of that goes!