Pool Party Anyone?

When I was around 6 or 7 my parents put in a huge underground pool. I still remember watching the big machines dig the hole from my bedroom window. This pool was where we stayed during the summer months. It has hosted many a birthday party for my brother and I. We have so many memories of eating homemade icecream, boiled peanuts and swimming in this pool. Needless to say however, the years have not been kind to the pool. The tile needs to be replaced around the top and the whole bottom and sides need to be resurfaced. These defects result in small leaks that make it almost impossible to keep the chemicals regulated, a fact that drives my mom insane all summer long. She typically lets the pool turn green during the winter and this year was no exception. I didn't take a before picture but it was a MESS! My mom even considered not cleaning it out this year but my dad wanted Gus to be able to swim (let's just say that Gus has my dad completely wrapped)! So Papa and Uncle John pumped out the water and bleached the pool and Gus and I dropped by to see the progress. Of course Gus needed to get in there with Uncle John. This picture is them sitting on the bottom in the deep end in a small puddle of water.

This is Gus trying to climb out because that water was like ice! It felt like being in the springs.We tried it again a little bit later but he still was too chilly to stay in for long. I just know that Gus will have lots of great memories in this pool too (at least once it warms up)!I just had to share this last picture because it cracks me up. It was his first experience with sunglassess which were a little too big. He looks like an elf doesn't he?!!

Mother's Day & Birthday

Yesterday and today are two special days for me: Mother's Day and my birthday. J. has been tormented with the phrase, "But it's mother's day" and "But it's my birthday" too much this weekend. I'm sure he will be glad when tomorrow gets here! On Saturday J took me out for supper to The Melting Pot. We had a nice time for a few hours while Gus played with my parents and his Aunt and Uncle. J. and I hadn't been to the Melting Pot since we were dating, so it was a fun trip down memory lane. Plus we got to laugh at the silly couple next to us that brought their 1 year old son with them to a restaurant that requires you sit there for two hours or more!

Mother's day was a special time for me this year because it was technically my first one (even though last year I tried to count it too!!). God has blessed me with a wonderful little boy that I love so very much. We had a good day hanging out together. Gus and his daddy bought me a pretty bracelet too!

This was a funny picture of Gus eating a dill pickle with my brother!

Today is my 27th birthday! My sweet mother-in-law baked cupcakes for my at lunch and boy were they good. Gus was able to use this as a practice run for his upcoming birthday!

I think he's going to do just fine don't you?

He's all Boy!

Gus has really taken a liking to all things "boy" lately. He likes to:

splash and play in the pool and especially drink the pool water,

chew on sticks, grass and dirt,

Ride and play on all types of equipment (basically anything that moves and he doesn't have to ride in a carseat),

This last picture is Gus and Papa on the tractor if you can't see in there! He is so funny ya'll. If I would stay outside all day and ride him around on our various forms of equipment in the yard he would be perfectly happy!!

11 Months

Eleven down and 1 to go before my baby is the big -ONE-! Can you believe how fast time flies? It is amazing to me how much a child changes in the first year; from being totally 100% dependent on you to very INdependent and hard-headed!! Last night I cleaned out his closet and packed away all of the clothes that were smaller than 12 months and I have to admit it looks pretty slim. All of those wonderful shower gifts have been used up! Gus is wearing mostly 12 month sized clothes now and a size 3-4 shoe, when I actually make him wear them. He has 7 teeth total and loves to use them. He is the biggest chewer you have ever seen! He is, like most men, a meat and potato kind of guy. He will pick meat over anything else on his plate every time! Don't get me wrong though, he loves almost all food he just prefers some to others! Also in the food category (sort of) oddly enough he enjoys taking medicine from a syringe. When I say "enjoy" I mean he really enjoys it! As in he cries when it's all gone and wants more! Is this a bad sign???



Gus is in love with his grandparents, on both sides! It could be that they spoil him rotten and let him do whatever he wants to do, but I'm not really sure! He also lights up in the afternoons when he sees Daddy's truck pull in the gate and he starts waving and reaching for him. It is precious. I am still his #1 right now and I have to admit that while sometimes it is aggravating and tiresome, I love it! I know that all too soon he won't want to be with Mom all the time so I am cherishing this stage.



Gus is a kisser; full open mouth kisses are his specialty! We are working on blowing kisses too but it hasn't stuck yet! His faces are hilarious, I don't know where he comes up with them. He really is a flirt too. He can smile and play bashful to random ladies and they just eat him up! Do you think he knows what he's doing?



We are so close to walking I can feel it and yet he refuses to take that first step. He has practically mastered the free-stand and he is really proud of himself when he does it. He does not, however, want to walk. I was sure watching Allie run around would inspire him but he can go just about as fast on his knees. He doesn't even want to walk holding onto my hands, he just wants to do his own thing. Basically he's hard-headed and he and I have been butting heads A LOT recently. We are really trying to teach the "no" word right now. Why didn't anyone tell me this was so hard?! This week he was trying to get into something that he was not supposed to be in and when I told him and popped his hand HE BIT ME! What! Is that supposed to start so early? He did it TWICE! I can't wait for the terrible twos!!!



Gus really isn't talking a whole lot of understandable words yet. He babbles all of the time but only he knows what he's saying! He does however say two words and he uses them correctly: COW and DOG. At the sight of either of these two animals he calls them by name. We can be driving down the road and pass a field full of cows and he starts. It's really cute! My dad loves it and says Gus is going to be a "cow man". You might be from the country if......! Gus will also say da da but not consistantly yet and he is not even trying momma, much to my disappointment.



Gus' favorite toy is a Little Tyke Comfy Coupe at J' parents house. He can play with it all day! He also loves the water, any water, from a puddle to a pool. He just wants to get in and splash! He likes playing peek-a-boo and being tickled. And he thinks everything his cousin Allie does is funny!



I can't tell you how much I love this little guy! He is the apple of his momma's eye for sure. I am looking forward to this month and what's in store for us. I love you Monkey!

Baseball & Beaches

This past weekend we took Gus to his first baseball game at our local high school. He had cousins playing on both teams so my whole family was practically there.

Gus made himself at home and took in the sights.

Look who else came, Gus' best friend Noah!

Maybe these two will play on this field just like both of their Dads did! The boys had a good time eating grass and working the crowd.

This is Gus and his cousin Brooks who had sunflower seeds. Gus was very interested in those sunflower seeds!

On Saturday afternoon we took a drive and made a big loop on the west coast. Gus had never really been to the beach before so we stopped at Shired Island to let him put his toes in the sand.

It was an overcast day and I little cool to be in the water but Gus liked it!

Next, Gus drove us over to Suwannee (not really but we like to pretend of course!).

He and Dad had to check out the river from the dock and watch a few boats go by. We didn't stay long though because the sand gnats were horrible!

This was only the second time Gus had been to the family camp in Suwannee. The last time being when he was only a month old at our annual 4th of July get-together. J. and I are currently planning when we can go back and stay for a weekend. I think Gus would really enjoy a boatride next!!

Standing...sort of

At my parents house the wild flowers/weeds & azaleas were beautiful this year! They just screamed for Gus to have his picture taken with them. I didn't realize when I placed him in the position I wanted him to be in that he would remain standing, long enough for me to take the photos and when he fell down he would stand back up! It was the first time I had seen him "free" stand up! I just know he'll be walking before long. Here are the azaleas in the back yard:

That is his new "face" these days. He can use it to say "oooh" or to blow on his hot food!!

This picture is him on the way down once he realized he was standing by himself:

These are what we call "rabbit weed" flowers. They were covering the hayfields by my parents home. This was when I left him standing:

He kind of looks like "Mom where are you going?".

This was him on the way down:

The last one is my favorite. He was clapping and smiling like he was proud of himself!! His momma sure was too! :)

Easter

I love Easter! It is such a wonderful time of year with all of the flowers in bloom and green leaves covering the recently baren trees. The whole Earth is screaming "Rebirth" and "New Beginnings"! It also shows how much God is in control, that he can use nature to remind us of the very act he endured on the cross so that we can be reborn and have a new beginning in Him. I love church on Easter Sunday. All of the beautiful new dresses and white shoes and the Easter Hymns are some of my favorites : "Up from the grave he arose...." and "He Lives" just to name a couple. This year our family went in spring green. It is the only Sunday our of the year that J wears a tie!!!

Aren't they handsome? Gus was so tired he wouldn't smile for anything and J. was eating skittles!!! The photographer was having a time with her subjects!

Once we got home Gus discovered that the Easter Bunny had hopped by and left him a present.

This big carrots was full of bubbles, which we enjoyed on the porch later that afternoon.

Of course, Gus' favorite part of his basket was the fake paper grass!

This year marks the second year that I have had Easter dinner at my house. Last year I had just my family but J's family was able to join us this year! I was so happy that we were able to have Gus and Allie together for Gus' first Easter. Our families made it through several obstacles this Easter such as stuffy noses, ear infections, sore throats and even hospitalization but we were able to be together and that's what counts. Dinner was delicious; ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn casserole, deviled eggs, yeast rolls, and for dessert, strawberry cake, chocolate cake and banana pudding! Needless to say we ate like kings. In all of the excitment ( and running around on my part) I forgot to take a picture of the table to show you the decorations, but I think it turned out pretty cute!

Gus and Allie were in major need of a nap before the big egg hunt and once they had rested we all relocated to the front porch and yard. The kids are a little young to really get into the hunting part but I think they just enjoy being outside.

I'm not sure real eggs were the best idea. Gus just beat them together until the shell was in little pieces. His tongue also changed colors which each egg he tasted!

Don't worry this wasn't a regular egg! Gus had found a small plastic one in the bottom of his bucket!

I believe this picture is my favorite of the day! He is always so busy.

Gus and Allie have a huge fan base! Uncle Adam was helping in the field,

The rest of the crew was cheering from the porch!

We ended the excitement with some bubbles! Who doesn't love bubbles?

I hope that you and your family had a great Easter too!