Monday Night Din-Din!

Brad took at grilling class at Ted's Butcher Shop last week and learned a ton about grilling, including 'how to grill a pizza'. So we tried it last night and succeeded! I had a Martguerita Pizza with tomato's, basil, and fresh mozzarella (this is the key). Brad had prosciutto and fresh mozz!

I HIGHLY recommend trying this out...so worth the extra effort!

*i am beginning to realize that i tend to blog A LOT about food. but i like food A LOT!

Weekend with the Hanna's

This weekend Cecilia and fam came to town to play and we had such a fun time! Lot's of eating, drinking, and takin' care of babes were involved. Henry loved little Lillian and was very gentle with her, which I was so glad about.

Friday night we hung in and watched the debates...yikes! Saturday we had a fab lunch at Rue and walked around the Farmers Market in Marion Square. Then headed home and our sweet little children must have known we needed some adult time b/c they both napped for 2 hours while we enjoyed Firefly Sweetea Vodka on the front porch! HEAVEN!
That evening we literally "tailgated" and grilled out and watched football while the tots rolled around on the blanket in the front yard.
Cecile' and Marge Friday Night
Notice the 'fishbowl' wineglass in the background...NICE!

Thanks for coming down...we had a blast!!!

Paid...In Full!!!

Today I made the very last car payment on the Civic! WOOO HOOO!!! I could not be more excited! When I purchased her back in '03 I thought I would NEVER see the day when I had no more car payments. She's nothing special, but she gets Brad back and forth to Kiawah every day and she sure was good to me while I drove her! Now, I did curse her every day for 5 months after Henry was born for being too small and I abandonded her for something bigger and better. But, she went to the Daddy (Brad) and he's taking real good care of her.

And thank you little Civi for being such a good girl 'cause we're gonna rock ya till the wheels fall off!!!

18 Month Stats

We saw Dr. Traynam this morning for Hank's 18 month check-up. He's fit as a fiddle and growing like a weed! The doc was very impressed with Hen's verbal skills and his fiestiness (he said he's married to a redhead, so he can appreciate it...hee hee.) We discussed potty training and won't begin that until he shows more signs of readiness. Below are his stats:

• Height - 34 inches (90%)
• Weight - 28.5 lbs (85%)
• 19 1/4 (90%)

BIG BOY!!!

Fort Earnst

While Daddy slept in on Sunday morning, Henry and I got busy building our first FORT! We pulled two chairs together and put a blanket over the top. I'm sure the construction of our forts will be more intricate the older he gets, but this works for now!

Conner's Birthday Party!

We went to Conner's first birthday bash on Saturday and had so much fun! The birthday boy racked up on presents and my little boy had himself a LARGE time! Thanks Jean and Ernie for such a great time!

Henry and Conner

Henry loved Conner's new Rocking Horse

Cutest thing in the world!

Precious Pirate Cake made by Jean

DEMOLITION!

Pizza! Pizza!

Last Thursday night the fam dined at our local FAVE...ANDOLINI's! We love their pizza and so does our offspring! On the way home we passed by St. Andrews parks and there were several little league games going on, so we decided to stop and let Henry watch. He loved watching the big boys play "BAY BALL"! He kept shouting it and would get so excited when they'd hit the ball. I can't wait till my little boy gets to go out there and play!

Goodnight Moon

Henry and I have a new "night-night" rountine. He picks out a book off his bookshelf (generally it's Goodnight Moon and brings it to me to read on our bed. He snuggles right up beside me with his 'ba ba' and listens very closely as I read him the story. He loves to turn the pages by himself and we often have to skip around to look at the pics of the MOON (his latest obsession).

I love this time with him at the end of the day! It's so relaxing for both of us and I love that he loves books so much! We usually do this activity in his room in the rocker, but I think I like it on our bed better.

Random

Below are just a few random pics from my camera.

Notice one common theme: The blue Cubs Baseball T-shirt. Mimi and Pops brought this back for H from Chicago and it's become a fave! He walks around pulling it out saying "BAY BALL"!!

Ok, this is the Cowboy hat that Mimi and Pops gave Henry for Christmas last year. He really didn't like it at all then, but now you can't get it away from him. It is really WAAY too small for his big ol jug head and often gets "stuck". He LOVES to put it on and dance around the room. Of course we all laugh and that gets him going even more!
Henry+Buster=BFF

I know i've mentioned this before, but it's getting SERIOUS now! These two pal around the house all day long. Henry chases Bubba around pulling on his "pickle". This is what he refers to Busters TAIL as. Don't ask me where this came from!?!? Bubba lets Henry climb on him, ride on him, pull on his ears, and just generally abuse him...and enjoys it all the while.

*a side note: my ob/gyn (who I love) also has a Boykin Spaniel and we made the connection one day. she referred to hers as her "CHOCOLATE POSSUM". What!!!! I love it! Totally fitting for these WILD creatures!

Henry also has this little voice that he talks to the dogs in. It kind of sounds like 'baby talk'. He'll go: "ooohhh heeyy bubbaaa" in this soft little baby voice.

HI-LARIOUS!!!

And finally, this is Henry's CHEESE face! I LOVE IT!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Conner!

HAPPY 1 YEAR CONNER!

WE HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY AND CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU ON SATURDAY!

WE LOVE YOU,

Aunt Shelby, Uncle Earnst, and Henry

Bagpipes

Has anyone been tuning into CNN for the 9/11 tribute this morning? It is on out in the lobby of the hotel and just now I heard the faint sound of bagpipes. So, I jolted myself outta my desk and went to see what it was. Well, it was "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes and I stood there like a blubbering idiot with tears running down my cheek in front of what i'm sure were some of my clients. NICE! If anyone knows me, then they know I can't handle bagpipes. *See this prior post*

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What is WRONG with me?!?! GET IT TOGETHER!

Aquarium Visit

Aunt TT (Tricia) came to town for a visit yesterday and we had an absolute blast taking Henry to the S.C. Aquarium! I could seriously KICK myself for forgetting my camera! We got down there at around 9:00am when the doors opened and were able to see "Breakfast with the Otters: A Mountain Forrest Otter Feeding." Henry got up so close and loved watching the slippery otters feed. I can't believe I've lived here for 8 years and have never been to the aquarium! All of the animals/fish come from just off our S.C. coastline, so that made it even more interesting. There is a MASSIVE tank with TONS of fish of all kinds in it. We saw sharks, barracudas, grouper, sea turtles, moray eels, stingrays, and so much more. Henry kept saying "BIG FISH" and has not stopped saying it since we left. I can't wait to take him back!

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Thanks TT for being so understanding and flexible with our A/C (see post below) being out! I hope you enjoyed your hotel suite! Can't wait for you to come back. Love you!

Our Week

Well, this week has proven to be one nightmare/disaster after another! I came home from work on Monday to a "sweat box", as we are now referring to our house. Our air conditioner was broken, now for the second time this summer. Yes, I know it's September! But, we live in the deep south where it doesn't even think about cooling down till mid-October. Uhhggg. So , we were thinking we could get them to 'patch' it up just ONE MORE TIME to get us through till the Spring. WRONG! We are now going to be the proud new owners of a brand new A. freakin' C. I will not even tell you how much said A. freakin' C. will cost....way more than I care to mention, but way less than if we went with a big company as apposed to Johnny. Johnny, our precious repairman, who "moonlights" after his real A/C repairman job at a big company, hasn't been able to come and put the new one in until this evening (after work)...we HOPE.

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So, you may be wondering if we've been sweatin' it out at our house and the answer to that is he%$ NO! Not with a very active 18 month old and a cranky mama! I have the BEST in-laws on the planet and they have been gracious enough to let us bunk up with them...ALL WEEK! I miss my bed, my dirty floors, and my new leather couch! And I'm sure Mimi and Pops miss their peaceful existence! Although, I have thoroughly enjoyed the delicious dinners prepared by the wonderful Mimi this week.

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BUT, alas, Brad and I are blowing outta town tomorrow morning for the weekend with our buds! We are going to the mountain house for the Mountain Song Festival. CANNOT WAIT! Again, the BEST in-laws on the planet are keeping the little Hankster for us and we appreciate it more than you can imagine!

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So, with all that said, it could be worse! And I am thankful for having $$$ to get a new A/C, family who love us, a wonderful husband who is taking care of IT ALL, and a beautiful son who loves me no matter what!

Happy 1 1/2 Birthday Henry!

My boy is 18 months old today! So hard to believe he's been mine for a year and a half. He is full of SPUNK and i'm loving watching the world through his eyes. It really is amazing to watch him learn how this "old world turns."

His favorite things right now are:

• the MOON
• the ya-yine (sunshine)
• cool ba (school bus)
• bay ball (baseball)
• pa ball (football)
• shoos (loves to put them on my feet)
• gapes (grapes)
• pizzee (pizza)
• coooookies
• ships (chips)
• boats
• sheese (grilled cheese)
  
• WHOLE MILK (WOO HOO)
• eicle's (bicycles AND motorcycles)
  

No so favorite things:

• TIME OUT
• Being told N.O.

Henry is really starting to put words together and it is so cute! He's say's:

• bye bye car
• bye bye kool ba
• all betta (when you kiss his boo boo's)
• hey Daddy!
• all gone
  

I think there are a few more, but these are my faves!

This is one spirited little boy and I love every ounce of him!

Table Manners

Learning to eat with a spoon and a fork. Another step towards independence. Another milestone that I'm helping my baby reach.

It's quite messy and requires lots of patience on my part, but all part of becoming a BIG BOY.

So proud!

Learning to 'scoop' up the yogurt
note to self: yogurt may not be the best substance to learn with. perhaps mashed potatoes would work better.

Getting some in the target

Going back for more