Cool Cousins Continued...

So I needed a few days to recuperate from the super fun weekend with my cousins. It was a blast right from the time that they arrived on Friday!!! Robbie did have to leave mid-day on Saturday for a little league game- but the good news is that it was a tournament and they won 14-7...go Robbie!! You are going to have to teach Owen and I some of your skills so we can be like you one day!! Even though Robbie was not there the whole time- he was sure there in spirit. Owen and I had fun together! I did a good time sharing with him, and he with me! I even let him play with my newest prized toy- my Retro Rocket!! At first he kinda laid down on it and even fell over once- but then he got the hang of it, sitting up and looking cute as a button! His personality is coming out more & more. The first day he was a bit more reserved- but by Sunday, Owen was showing his true colors- giving food smiles and all!!!! We also hit the beach and it was a milestone for little O. It was his first time!!!!!! I felt pretty cool being able to show him the ropes, but as it turns out...he kinda showed me up because he loved the water and I would run from the crashing waves and tide! It was a monumental weekend for me too- because I got to eat a whole banana without mommy slicing and dicing it up into small pieces. She has tried to put aside her fear of me choking since I am getting more teeth and can chew a bit more. I think now that I have cut my 4th top tooth, she is more secure in my eating abilities. Can you believe that I have 6 teeth now?? I cut the last one on Thursday some time, although even I am not too sure when exactly... but both mommy and CiCi saw it at the same time on Friday morning! All in all- a great family fun filled weekend. Thanks Auntie Nina & Uncle Jeff for bringing my cuz's down to the beach so I could get to know them better and have fun playing! I was so wooped by the time of their departure, that I even fell asleep while eating my lunch- can you believe that?? Love you, cousins...see ya again soon!!

Cousins

My cousins Robbie and Owen (and of course their parents Auntie Nina & Uncle Jeff) came to visit us in Avalon this weekend. We all had so much fun!!!!!! I am sooooo extremely pooped that I cannot even write too much tonight- but here are some pics until I am able to re-energize and write about the killer weekend...

North Carolina The Final Chapter

After returning from Aunt Al's house- the fun just continued!! This is the leg of the trip that I got to spend some quality time with Mommom and Poppy. We did so much that I cannot even touch on all of it- but some of the highlights consist of me playing with ducks down at a lake, Poppy picking out & buying me a "rocket" radio flyer & Mommom buying me a black bear stuffed animal, Mommom playing catch with me using a package of swimmy diapers, Poppy showing me how to use a golf club to get a ball out from under the furniture, and just relaxing and having some good quality time together sitting on the deck, reading books & playing! Even the ride home was pleasant. We did it in one day instead of splitting it into two like we did on the way down. We got an early start, I napped, we ate lunch, we stopped for a leg stretch, and then we made it back to Mommom & Poppy's house for dinner. I got to spend one more night with them before returning home and spending the day with Daddy for Father's Day. It was an awesome trip- but also great to get home and get back to my comfy crib, toys, and beloved schedule!!! Since I did so good on the road trip, mamma...when are you planning the next one??

Big Boys

Our trip to North Carolina continues with a visit to see one of mommy's best friends & her family. We drove to Greensboro- where mommy went to college, and met up with Allison, Burt, Peyton & Reed. I saw Auntie Al one other time- when she came to meet me back in September when I was just a little guy. I was excited to show her how big, smart, cute & goofy I am now...but it turns out that I was way more excited to meet her little boys, Peyton & Reed- than to talk about me. They are the coolest big boys that I have met so far and we had a blast!!! Reed even called me his "cousin"- which made me feel so comfortable and like a real part of the family!! Since they are a few years older than me (Peyton is 5 & Reed will be 3) they totally showed me the ropes and introduced me to some really boys boy type stuff! I gotta tell you- light sabers are cool- as is the movie Star Wars! Both boys are huge fans of those movies and have all the paraphernalia...so we played & played while mommy & Aunt Allison talked & talked. We were only there for 1 day & 1 night- but we packed in a ton of fun!! Dinner out, 3 boys in a tub, guns, light sabers, movies and just a whole lotta fun kiddie stuff. Mommy was thrilled that I got along so well with the "big boys"...maybe we can get together again real soon. I think a week in Avalon in the fun & sun would be fun...then I could really try to keep up with the bog boys in the surf & sand. Think seriously about that one Aunt Allie!!!!! Thanks for the hospitality and mommy and I are totally looking forward to our next visit already!

Arachnids

A large red bulls eye spot the size of a quarter inside a larger pink bulls eye spot the size of a half dollar- what does that sound like to you? Add to it puffiness, raised tiny pimple like rash and hot to the touch...any guesses?? Mommy was not too sure what the heck they were when she saw 2 similar spots on my body...but our pediatrician (who mommy immediately called once she noticed my issues) seemed pretty confidant that they were spider bites. They were too icky to even get pictures of...but here is me being a big boy and tolerating the bandages that kept the "baking soda paste concoction" on me. Baking soda paste concoction, you might ask..what is that?? Well- it goes topically on the skin and draws out the venom and eases any discomfort that one might be having from a bite!! CiCi used to do this to mommy's mosquito bites to stop them from itching. When mamma was a little girl, she was afraid of the paste when CiCi first tried to apply it- so CiCi explained that it was so harmless that you could eat it. From that point on...any time this miraculous paste was applied to mommy- she would ask to eat some first. Guess the apple does not fall too far from the tree- because as mommy was putting it on my bites- I was trying to pick it off and eat it too!!!! Kinda salty- not too good...but sure did work like a charm! I am all healed and have no permanent damage- but I do not want those eight legged creatures near me any more. I liked the mountains- but guess I am a city boy at heart because I could definitely deal with never having a spider bite again! At least I look like a cute little patient in my bandages, huh??

The Wedding

The purpose of our trip down to NC was for mommy's cousins wedding. We went to a place called Hot Springs which is in the mountains. Mommy went to school in NC, but had never even heard of this town because it was so small. It was the perfect place for a quaint,personal, outdoor wedding- but getting there was a bit windy and tough. Mommom did not like the treacherous mountain roads and I did not like the popping ears that went along with the elevation of the mountain- but it was all worth it for the beautiful wedding!! I got to get all gussied up in my fancy sandal shoes and plaid pants. Even though I looked good- I was nothin' compared to the beautiful bride! Mommy said that her wedding dress was the most gorgeous, plain, understated but phenomenally gorgeous and classy dress she had ever seen. The above pic just does not do it justice- but check it out anyway!! I was very well behaved during the wedding- but only because mommy packed me massive amounts of yogurt puffs, crackers, water and of course, my best friend and trusted partner in crime- PACI. After the nice (and luckily for me, short) ceremony I got to play with my second cousins Bo & Judd! We hung out near a nifty tree who's limbs actually touched the ground. I got to stay at the wedding thru dinner- but before the party really got started with dessert & dancing. Mommy and I stayed there until 9:30pm- but I started to melt down since this was a whole 2 1/2 hours past my bedtime. So- we were the party poopers of the evening- but what a fun time I had!! Congrats Chris & Nina...happy wedding, happy times & happy life together! Thanks for giving us a reason to travel to North Carolina and turn your wedding weekend into a week+ long family vacation!!

Road Trip

North Carolina mountains, here we come!!!! We started our journey Thursday about dinner time, traveled for 4 hours to Virginia, and got to spend the night in a hotel. This was my first time actually getting to stay in a hotel and I liked it. Mommy set up my pack 'n play for me...but I was not having any part of that- so I got to sleep in the BIG bed with her. I really enjoyed it, but she felt otherwise. She tossed and turned all night because I am quite a mover and a shaker when I sleep and I was all over the place- kicking and hitting her. I didn't mean it, mamma...I guess I am just a bit like daddy, huh?? The next morning, I got to eat breakfast in bed- which was sooooo fun! I had an english muffin with jelly on it- and mommy did not even cut it up! I just munched on it and used my 5 front teeth to chew it up real good! So far- this vacation is turning out really well. Stayed tuned and I will update you on all of my adventures in the South!!

Plush Poppy Pillow

In preparation for our trip to North Carolina on Thursday, Poppy came over to watch me so mommy could run around like a chicken with her head cut off running last minute errands. Just watching mommy do all that she needs to do to get ready for 10 days away and 10 hour drive has wiped me out and Poppy and I had some good bonding while napping and relaxing!! I am sure Mommom has made Poppy do errands for this trip too- so I know that he was tuckered. Well- we had a super nice, mellow, relaxing afternoon together, playing with my ball, golf clubs, and- as seen above, SLEEPING! Poppy did attempt for me to nap in my crib- but I only conked out for 30 minutes! I was just too happy to be spending time with him that I did not want to waste it on sleeping all alone in my room. Poppy made the very wise decision that I did indeed need more sleep, though- so relaxing in the chair with him was all I needed to extend my slumber. I got to recharge my battery while snuggling up to my Grandpa! Mommy came home when we were still snuggled up- me sweating but comfy and Poppy, arm asleep and trapped under my dead weight! Thanks for the awesome body pillow, Poppy...you are comfy and we can nap together anytime!!

Troublemaker

I heard this word quite a lot today. It started out this morning when I only took a 35 minute nap. This has seemed to be the trend over the last week- I am just not sleeping for long during my morning nap. Mommy has tried to get me to move my morning nap later and then not take an afternoon one, but I am not cooperating with this at all!

The next time that I was called a trouble maker by mommy was after we had to leave our play date early because of my behavior! Ummm...mamma- I was tired because I took a crappy morning nappy- so fussiness was beyond my control!! I seriously cannot believe that you made me leave the Spanish dancing and singing class...that was kinda mean of you. I know you were just trying to discipline (and not ruin everyone else's class) but that was a total bummer!! Are you trying to send me a message that if I misbehave somewhere then we will have to leave?? Guess I better take note!!

The last trouble making activity of the day- (besides only sleeping in the car for 20 minutes in the late afternoon, thus not really having one real nap today) was when I decided to help myself to the coffee that mommy had left on the side table from this morning. Mamma was in the back of the house trying to get things organized for our trip to North Carolina later this week- and I just could not help myself! I KNOW that it was "off limits"...but the draw to touch it was just so great that I was willing to suffer the consequences of my actions.
Well- not only did I have to suffer those consequences...but I also had to deal with a sopping wet, smelly, coffee stained shirt from where I spilled it down the front of me. I also got it on the carpet- which made mommy really upset with me. Thank goodness it was cold and I did not burn myself, huh?? Guess that is a lesson for mommy to watch what she leaves in a room with me- the little trouble maker!!!!!!!

Oh, No...what did I do??? Me a little devil, NO!!!

More Teeth

Hooray!! My teeth are finally coming in! For the longest time I only had those two bottom teeth- but now I have FIVE. They seem to be coming in pretty slow- but they are indeed coming in, so that is good enough for me. Mommy tortured me by hanging me upside down, tickling me, getting me into position, and snapping photo's last night (she is a good multi tasker)- so enjoy looking at my new top toofers!!