Siblings

About a month ago I had a Mom and sisters weekend in Charleston. I previously posted about it, but just got this picture from my Dad. On Sunday morning before I came back home we all had brunch at Atlanticville (the restaurant my brother Ty works at). He works almost every Sunday, but had this one off during brunch. He and my Dad joined us and it was wonderful to be with just my parents and siblings! This is a picture we haven't taken in a LONG time.

Neely, me, Ty, Bonnie and Beth

A Clemson Football Weekend!

This weekend was the first home Clemson game. We spent the weekend in Spartanburg with Richard's family and took Grady to the game on Saturday. Thankfully it was a 6 pm game. We tailgated with our college friends, visited Aunt Irene and enjoyed watching the game. We were unsure how Grady would do, but he did great the whole game. This year we requested our tickets be on the top row, under the overhang. It was perfect because we didn't get wet during the rainy second half and Grady had room to play since we were on the very top row. We will see how the noon game goes in two weeks!

Dad and Grady playing at the tailgate. Mama and Grady

The cookie cake Dad ordered. An inside joke among the guys.

Grady was so happy to see Aunt Irene!

But then Nana walked up and it was all over. He wanted no one but Nana. He didn't even want me!

Snuggling with Nana.

Me and Irene

Cousin James came to his first Clemson game!

Papa with his boys!

Grady was very jealous that Nana was holding James. He wanted her all to himself.

Grady with the ADPis!

Mama and Grady at the game.

He was sleepy, but stayed awake the whole game. I wish he would have slept so I could have watched more of the game.

The view from our seats.

Meme was in Spartanburg and came to visit us on Sunday morning.

Grady practiced his walking with Meme.

Grady walking around. He is taking many steps on his own now, but he mostly walks between things that are only a few steps away.

Grady went swimming with Uncle Jamie. The water was freezing and only Jamie was brave enough to get in. Grady didn't act like it was cold at all. This is what Grady wanted to do the whole time. Thanks Uncle Jamie for swimming with Grady and teaching him how to swim with a kickboard!

A video of Grady swimming with Uncle Jamie. Pause the music on the right to hear.

A Night at Blakeney

This past weekend Jamie, Sarah, Richard and I decided to try and have a night out with the kids. We went to Blakeney (a nice shopping center about two miles away) to hang out and listen to the live music. I was a little nervous since Grady has been going to bed around 6-7 pm lately because he's so tired from daycare. He was a trooper and really enjoyed the music! James was awake and loving it too! It was such a nice night and we have been enjoying this cool weather all week! I hope it stays!

Sarah, James, me and Grady

Sarah and James

Richard and Grady

Grady having fun with Dad!

Peek-a-boo Dad!

Janet's 40th Birthday!

Today one of my best friends, Janet, turned 40. She is the sweetest, giving and most kind-hearted person I know. We celebrated with her this past weekend and it was so much fun to have our old first grade team together. Even though half of our original group are at different schools now, we still get together about once a month or so. I am blessed to have such sweet friends who are always there for me whenever I need them!

Blankie and Daycare

Grady has a new best friend and his name is blankie! This green and white blankie was given to him by my sweet friend Heather. Grady is truly attached to it and loves it so much. Even when I am putting it in the dryer he will see it and crawl over just to snuggle with it (wet and all). Luckily my camera was sitting on top of the dryer and I got this cute picture of him. This week I started working again and it has been bittersweet. I love teaching, but I miss Grady so much during the day. I even have a huge collage (20+ pictures) beside my desk of him. Call me crazy, but it helps. The other thing that helps is that he is at a wonderful daycare and we LOVE his teacher! This picture is Grady with his sweet teacher, Mrs. Ana. She has been at his daycare since it opened 11 years ago. She is so kind, patient, nurturing and loving. We love that Grady is learning Spanish there because everything Mrs. Ana says to the kids in English, she also says in Spanish. We get detailed notes everyday about exactly what and how much he ate, when his diaper was changed and if it was dry, wet or pooped in, how long he napped and if he slept well, restless and etc. How he was that day (happy, sad, not himself). What activities they did, what they are studying (the color white this week) and pretty much everything he does. I even got a call from his teacher today just to let me know he bumped his head. There are only 5 or 6 kids in his room depending on the day and I know he is well taken care of. Grady has yet to cry (except for the head bump) and seems very happy when we arrive each morning. Just this week he has already had water day, ice cream truck day and luau day is tomorrow! They really make it fun for the kids! Oh and there are 4 girls in his class, so of course Grady loves that because he get LOTS of kisses (and thankfully he's has not bitten anyone yet!) According to Mrs. Ana the girls are now coming up to him and asking for kisses by holding their cheek out to him. He's a casanova already! It makes a big difference when you know your child is happy, loved and well taken care of when you can't be with them. Thank you Mrs. Ana!

Nana and Papa Visit

Richard's parents, Nana and Papa, live only an hour away and they come often for short visits. They call them "quick fixes." They miss Grady and James a lot and love to get to see them as often as possible. They came recently and kept Grady for us at the house while Richard and I went to church. We all went to lunch after that and to my surprise Grady was still awake at 1:00 when we left for lunch. I was very nervous about when the breakdown would happen. I offered to stay home and let him nap (especially since I had been sick the day before). But, we all loaded up and went to lunch. Grady was passed out asleep before we even got there and he made it through lunch without too much commotion. He did manage to knock a drink over and throw about a 1,000 cheerios on the ground and tried to knock everything on the floor that he could reach.

Grady laughing at Nana! He loves her so much! Playing peek-a-boo behind the couch.

Playing peek-a-boo again.

This is how he was when we got to the restaurant. Out cold!

We tried to wake him and he would just snuggle up with his favorite blankie.

Playgroup at the Pool

Recently Grady and I met Kristen, Jake, Lisa and Lauren at the pool for one last playdate before I start school. We are going to still get together often, but in the afternoons now. The kids had a fun time just playing on the towels while we ate a delicious lunch! Of course the kids crawled over and started begging for food as soon as we sat down the eat. Grady even found a dead bug on the ground and put it in his mouth....YUCK!!! I tried to get it out quickly, but I think he ate part of it. Protein right???

Here are the kiddos playing. Grady after his delicious orange ice pop from Mrs. Kristen!

Lauren was so cute walking around with her "pocketbook."

Jake is walking all over the place! I love the weeble-wobble walks!