Sky Top Apple Orchard

One of our favorite fall excursions is going up to Sky Top to pick apples. We have done this every year and it's one of our favorite fall traditions. We went up on a cool fall Sunday and the weather was just perfect (actually we could have used an extra layer). We were so excited for bring Crawford (I remember being prengnant last year and being so excited to bring our little guy). We began by testing samples of apples (we do this every year even though we know our favorites) then I got an apple cider slushy and Brad got a hot apple cider and we grabbed a basket and hit the orchards. Brad's parents were with us and it's always a fun time picking out all of our favorite apples and dividing them up afterwards. We took to the hills in search of Jonagolds (my favorite) and we must have walked up and down and up and down and I finally reached the end where they told me I would find them--and no luck everyone was in search of the same ones. Well we loaded up some others and then just purchased some jonagolds. We really wanted to see what the apple donut hype was all about by the line was ridiculous so hopefully next year we can finally taste an apple donut! About to head down and up the hill in search of jonagolds

Crawford was checking everything and everyone out -and we never use the baby bjorn but in this situation it was perfect!

Crawford wanted to grab at every apple in sight and he wanted to hold it and take bites --yes he definitely tried a few samples of apples and couldn't get enough!

The sign that is supposed to tell you where to find your favorite apples--this sign is a let down each year......

note to self-next year wear a jacket and running shoes as there are smushed apples everywhere (I mean how do we forget this every year and return in flops?!)

We just love this fun fall tradition and we always come home with a variety of fresh apples. For some reason they taste so much different than the ones from the grocery. Next year, we can't wait to take C on the hayride and watch him run through the orchard reaching for apples. A fun family tradition to be continued for sure!

Clemson/Auburn Game

We were excited for our first Clemson Game 0f the year (let me rephrase--Brad was excited) I was excited because we were taking Crawford and I got to get him dressed in his monogrammed jon jon. We got to tailgate with the Shealy's who were in town from Florida and they had their 3 kids there as well. I mean I think it's difficult managing one (Danielle made managing 3 look like a breeze). Samantha is just the cutest little girl and loooooved Crawford (it was literally like having a 4 year old babysitter)

Catching up with Danielle and meeting baby Harper. It was a great day of enjoying the great weather and seeing everyone

Brad couldn't be more excited here with his 2 best friends (Joe and Joe)

We met up with the Harris and I was glad to have Lauren hang out with me the second half of the game since we did not bring C into the game

Brad and Tyler

Once the crowds went into the game C decided to have some mommy time.

Daddy keeping C warm

We went back to Joe's parents house on Lake Keowee and got to watch 5 kids run around and play. Their house was amazing with views of the lake from every room and I pretty much didn't want to leave. It was a grea time and we enjoyed a cookout and sipping on wine while the kids made a mess!

9 months

Dear little Crawford I just want to freeze time...this has to by far be my favorite age so far. You know who we are and get so excited when we walk into a room. You are just our little explorer and now I can talk about the things you can't do rather than the things you can do because you are into everything!! You can open cabinet doors, turn on the water, close doors, climb stairs, move trashcans and objects across the floor. You are soo curious and just get into everything. Seeing your smile in the morning truly makes my day. I may even wake you up to feed you before work just because I can't stand not seeing you until the evening. We love your adorable growl and your constant babble. I just can't believe we are rounding the corner to your first birthday. As always there is never enough time in the day to spend with you and I find myself keeping you up late just so I can watch you grin and giggle. You have finally come around and decided that cuddling is cool and I just love when you need to take a break from your constant movement and lay your head on my chest and suck your little fingers. I am still so grateful for your health and your happiness and just treasure each day I have with you!





9 month Stats:

• Weight- 17.5 pounds (7th percentile--we now have evidence of how much you move around because you are quite the eater but you burn it all off!)




• Height- 28 inches (39th percentile)




• Eating-- you are still breastfed and decided to stop taking bottles this month. You will take an ounce or two from your bottle but really want nothing to do with it. This has been good and bad..I have gotten to stop pumping 4 times a day but I worry when I leave you that you won't eat. So I have been coming home everyday during my break and feeding you and I enjoy this set-up so much more. You just eat up your baby food though. You eat all stage 2 foods (and always prefer the fruits over the veggies--thank goodness for the new packs that mix both into one) You love our food as well (anything we are eating you want) You really love canteloupe and pineapple (but your very favorite are mandarin oranges). You like shredded cheese and pieces of our bread. I give you little bites of pretty much anything we are eating and love to see your reaction. You tried juice this month and of course loved it (but I'm hoping to just give you water for now so that you enjoy drinking water over juice)




• Sleeping-- You still sleep through the night from about 9-10 to 8-9. We have had a couple of bouts of you standing up in your crib and screaming and then we just put you in our bed and you are out like a light (I love having a few nights of you cuddling up with me but am glad that it has not become a habit). You nap much more on a schedule for me now. You are ready for a nap by about 10 and sleep for about 1.5 hours. The afternoon nap is hit or miss. If we are out running errands you will just cat nap in the car but for grandpa you usually take another 1-2 hour nap around 3 or 4.




• You wear size 3 diapers




• You wear 6-12 month or 9 month clothes. You haven't outgrown any of your summer clothes yet and 12 months clothes are still way too big




• You still love bath time except now you want to stand and turn on the water and pull everything into the tub




• You got your first tooth at about 8.5 months and it was a fussy week leading up to it breaking through but since then you have been so happy




• You learned to crawl up the whole flight of stairs (on your first try you made it to the top)




• You are liking tv a little more but still won't sit for more than 10 minutes to watch all the animation




• We upgraded your carset to a convertible seat and you are still rear-facing




• You love to talk and hear yourself...still aren't saying any real words just babbling daa-daa and baa-baa.




• You do this hilarious growl and anyone who sees you knows your adorable growl




• I love how you reach for us when we come to get you out of bed or to pick you up--I have looked forward to this for so long




• We have gotten you to wave a few times and it is soo precious.


• I just love when daddy puts you to sleep. After I feed you at night you are all limb and asleep and he takes you into your room and I watch from the monitor as he makes sure you are comfortable on your tummy and pulls your blue blanket around you and he always fixes it a few times to make sure you are good and covered -so sweet


• Another fun game to play is "where's Crawford?" and then we pull down whatever we are hiding behind and you just giggle--your laugh is just precious


• My very favorite thing this month has to be that you like to snuggle so close to me and I just rub your back and it's like you are my little baby that needs his mommy and I love it more than anything (I of course love when you think I am leaving or you want me instead of anyone else and you cry until I come and get you--all the little reminders of how I am your mommy and you need me as much as I need you!)

Pictures this month just show a glimpse of a morning with C

Smiles from your chair

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  Aunt Cat just adores you and always wants to see you-I just love how she calls to check on you each and every day!
  
  

  
  
  Adventure 1 of the day -climbing the stairs---check
  
  
  Adventure 2--pull up at the window and slam the blinds against the window until you get your little body wedged between the window and the blinds--check

Adventure number 3-help mommy load the dishwasher aka try to lift the who bottom shelf up and out of the dishwasher-check

You never stop and you just don't want to miss a second of your life---you want to be awake and moving if we are and you never take a moment to rest. We love you so much and can't wait to see what next month has in store ! love you C!

Georga/USC Game

We departed on our first true weekend getaway (aka 3 pm Friday until noon on Sunday)...I feel like it was sooo long to leave C but we really had a great time with my girlfriends. I don't know how I didn't take any pictures of our amazing tailgate but here a few pictures from Friday night. We started the evening out with drinks at Pauleys ( a new crepe bar that was not there when we were in college) then we had an AMAZING dinner at Last Resort (I have only been here once or twice but it is my girls very favorite restaurant and Brad and I are now hooked). Then it was about 9:00 and Brad kept commenting on how dead downtown was...little does he remember that college kids don't get out till after 10. Well within in hour all of the bars were packed (we're talking one in one out and the streets you could hardly move. We had a ball!

The next day we set up a tailgate on North Campus and had lots of people stop by. We got to see the Hewatts. Nicole joined us and it was so great to see my long lost pharmacy buddy. We had such a great time catching up and everyone may have played one too many rounds of flip cup! I can't wait for the next Athens weekend (although I think it may be time to introduce Crawford to the amazing college town!)

First Georgia Game

We had a great time in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A kick off game. Georgia versus Boise St. We dropped C off at Aunt Cat's and met up with Alexis
Brad and I had a great time tailgating and watching the dawgs in the season opener


As always it's bittersweet to leave little C behind...but waking up to his smiles and cuddles made the weekend just perfect!

We were sooo excited to see him

C enjoying spending time with Aunt Cat...

closing out the weekend with a little GiggleBellies (C's favorite videos to watch. It's about the only thing we can put on to get him to sit still)

I love pictures where he literally looks like Brad's twin

He loves bath time...he can now stand up in the tub and turn on the water and he loves to play with the water and it comes out of the spout

8 1/2 months

Crawford is into everything these days---including daddy's shorts drawer...Brad was trying to decide what to wear before our dinner party and it took Crawford 2 seconds to take advantage of this opportunity to pull out all of daddy's shorts Getting giggles from C

before leaving for work...so sad to leave this precious little guy in the morning--but I certainly think he's in great hands!

finally catching C after he attempted to climb up all the stairs

he was doing great until he spotted the tree and then of course his attention was diverted to trying to grab the leaves and eat them

climbing away

When the girls drove up from Atlanta I took them to Mary's cottage downtown and we all had lunch and had fun catching up. I love that these 3 all lead exciting lives because they have lots of fun stories to keep me entertained...I miss them so much every day and wish we could do girl dinners and watch all of crazy tv shows that we actually spend time talking about when we are together--sad I know that we like tv shows that much that it actually consumes our time when we are together.

Nady is so adorable and needs to move back from LA soon so we can get together much morefrequently...I think C just loves her and of course he loves his new Dr. Seuss books

Iphone Unload

Just some of our favorite pictures over the past few weeks...

My girlfriends came to visit me and C last week. Alison (middle) had never met C and was in town from LA visiting her family and drove up for the day. It was so great to see her and catch up and of course a visit from Jenny and Alexis was great as well! Thanks for visiting guys!

C is pretty good about playing on the rug in the bathroom while I try to get ready in the mornings

On our weekly Sunday evening walks downtown

what can we say ...C loves him some tempur-pedic bed...most be much more comfortable than his own

C passed out at Ryan's birthday party...you know the cousins wore him out if he actually falls asleep in his stroller (fyi --this has never happened since moving him to his big boy stroller)

love when I get this picture sent to me when I'm working away at Walmart...makes me want to stop what I'm doing and drive home!

Crawford and Hayden at sister's house

C eating some good food up in Knoxville

Gotta have a picture of C knawing on Brad's beer bottle

Think this was the beginning of teething week so guessing it felt good on his gums

C asleep at Cracker Barrel breakfast (again C sleeping through a meal has only happened 2 other times in his life...we treasure these moments!)

C and daddy at Ryan's birthday party --about to explore the children's museum

baby Blake--can't believe this is the only picture I have of him...I am sure that will change once he stays awake for longer periods of time

C and daddy playing in the car

Now off to the first Georgia game of the season! Sooo excited!