The Perfect Saturday

Last Saturday was the first one we've been home in several weeks. It was great to spend time together as a family watching football and going to the SC State Fair. With BJ's commute, he doesn't get to spend as much time with Gus as he would like, so on Saturday while I hit the gym (in preparation for the fair food to come) he kept the little monkey and when I got home (just in time for kickoff) this is how I found them :) Clemson went on to break our losing streak and beat Maryland on the road - I like to think our little linebacker had something to do with it.

Just as I think about how fast he is growing up, I'm reminded that he is still just a little baby and we need to cherish every minute with him.

Now as many of you know I'm not the fried food or fair type, but one of the (few) perks of living in Columbia comes around every October when the SC State Fair comes to town and so you must indulge as a local resident. This year, I was admittedly excited to take Gus to the fair, I just knew that he would love all the lights, the people, and the animals. He loved every minute of the fair and was snoring with in minutes of getting in the car to head home!

Nothing beats stall after stall of pigs, cows, and roosters when you are trying to learn your farm animal noises!

Still holding strong at 26 lbs - its SC Agriculture Scale approved!

The night ended with the return of the chicken curse and USC's loss to Kentucky - it was cherry on top of the Perfect Saturday!

Washington Wedding Weekend

This past weekend BJ and I traveled to Alexandria, VA for my cousin Jill's wedding. I was in the wedding, so we thought it best to leave Gus in Greenville with Grandma and Papa, because despite my best efforts I didn't thing I could swing full-time mommy and full-time bridesmaid. It was only the second time we've left Gus overnight since he was born, and definitely the longest we'd been away from him, but a good time was had by all. Gus was spoiled rotten by his Grandma and Papa and BJ and I stayed out late and ate and drank way too much - which definitely got the best of me by Sunday!

Three Hot Mamas - my cousins Brooke and Holly - we have 6 kids between us and one on the way (not me - no worries)!

Mom & Me


Mom, Aunt Cynthia (MOB), and Aunt Carmen

Cousin Adam & Me - there was a lot of height at this wedding - the bride has 3 brothers 6'6" and up - as you can see even I look tiny in comparison - and I'm no slouch on the height meter

Jill & Andrew and their parents

Methvin Family

While Ele's Away, Gus will Play

Now that Gus is mobile he is into anything and everything, but his favorite place to try to get into is Ele's house/crate. Yesterday, I was a woman on a mission, cleaning the house from top to bottom, which included a bath for Ele and a full wash and scrub down of all things dog. Luckily I had just scrubbed Ele's crate with Lysol, when Gus decided to stop by for a visit.
He thought he was hilarious!

Couldn't resist a closed door shot
(notice the mischievous grin even behind bars)

An Apple a Day...

This past Saturday we went to Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock, NC. We love going up to the mountains (in fact its one of the reasons we are most excited about moving to Greenville, because we will only be 45 minutes away instead of 2+ hours away). The weather was great and we enjoyed spending time together as a family.

So happy (as Mommy lugs the bushel of apples and
Daddy pushes 26 lb Gus up the hills and through the orchard :)

We also visited the goats and the sheep while we were there

doesn't Gus look thrilled....

His face is his standard look of frustration and one of "Let me down now Mommy" - now that he's mobile there is no stopping him.

After the orchard we headed to Green River BBQ in Saluda for some lunch - Gus enjoyed fried okra and macaroni and cheese in addition to his baby food - he truly is his daddy's boy! Then we headed back down the mountain and stopped off to see Papa and Nonnie - Gus was the hit of the nursing home.

Gus's 9 Month Photo Shoot

We went to Picture People today for Gus's 9 Month photo shoot - he really likes to strike a pose for the camera. He is now 26lbs and all boy! He started crawling around this week and is very proud of his new skill and all the trouble he can get into now that he is mobile. He is still toothless and has not had his first haircut (we're trying to hold out until his 1st birthday), so we wanted to capture his "look" right now.

Very focused (it was hard to get him to look up when he was playing with the blocks)

Beep Beep

I have an Elephant block - see I'll show you.

I know Patty Cake - how bout you?

I'm cute and I know it.

Every time the rocket moves it says - "Are you ready to blast off?" - Gus laughs and jumps up and down everytime

Bolings on the Move

There have been many changes in our lives in recent weeks (many of which have kept us away from home and away from the computer). After a full summer spent traveling the East Coast (literally) it was finally time for the unemployment tour to come to an end. BJ went back to work in mid-August, he took a job doing Communications for Lockhead Martin in Greenville. He is still learning the ropes in a big corporate environment, but its a welcome change from the crazy unpredictable world of politics. So a move to Greenville is on the horizon - though we are staying put in Lexington until early 2011 until employment is finalized.

My plan was to go back to work this fall as well, but with so much up in the air I'm trying to embrace the role of stay at home mom and single parent a few days a week until we make a final decision on moving. Its truly a blessing to be able to stay home with Gus though long-term I'm not sure if staying at home is the best option for me, it weighs on me a lot. We spend our days on the move too - we go to the gym, church, story time, and the zoo - we do something fun and different together almost everyday!

Gus crawled for the first time this weekend and even more today - he is now truly a little Man on the Move. He will be 10 months old next week - its so hard to believe - and it really does go by way too fast. He continues to be a happy little boy, though he is giving us a run for our money in the sleep department lately because he doesn't want to miss a minute of this big fun world that he's discovering daily. He still goes through days and weeks of what seems like all the symptoms of teething - but continues to warm our hearts with a toothless grin. He can say mama, dada, baba and likes to clap and wave. His favorite toys are the remote control, mommy's cell phone, and wooden spoons. He loves music and books so much - Brown Bear is a favorite.

Gus on the Move 9.13.10

Gus's 8 Month Beach Photo Shoot

It was hard to get Gus to look at the camera because he was so interested in the waves. He is truly a little investigator, he likes to examine things before grabbing at them or putting them in his mouth. He may take after his Papa and become an engineer one day, but for now he is just our sweet little boy who loves the beach.