The best laughs!

Mamas make sure babies have everything they need at just the right time.  We come up with the perfect schedule for our little ones.  We know the exact time for next size clothes and pj's, the bigger nipple for their bottles, how many oz in each bottle, when it's time for solids, when it's time for #2 solids and when it's time to try table foods.  We know what to look for next developmentally.  We make sure they get where they are supposed to be at the right time.  Etc Etc Etc.  And don't get me wrong.....Champs LOVES HIS MAMA!

But Daddy.......Daddy get the BEST LAUGHS!!!!  And this baby boy ADORES his Daddy!!  I'm very thankful that Champs has a Daddy that will do anything to make him laugh!

Watching his first parade on Daddy's shoulders!

Playing with Daddy after work.

Daddy making him laugh after bath.

Laughing at Daddy yesterday!

Busy little leprechaun!

In addition to RB and KK coming over on Saturday, Champs also had some other fun stuff going on this weekend.  Friday, he had dinner with Townsend at Cantina.  Though they didn't get to partake in the delicious Skinny Margarita (that may have been plural) that I did....they still had a great time with their Sofie's!

Best buds at Cantina

Cheesin with Aunt Marj who joined us too!

Saturday was the St Pat's parade and cookout at the Bunch's!  I was so mad at myself for leaving my SIM card in my computer and not in my camera, so I just have a few pics from my phone.  Kelly did take a few and is emailing me - I'll add them when I get them from her! Champs enjoyed the parade, particularly the colored flag float - lots to look at! :)  It was fun for all of us to get together with our children and it was a gorgeous day!

Enjoying the pretty day!

1st Parade!

1st Parade!

Sunday night we "surprised" Joan with a little bday cake and toast!  We all know you can't get anything past Joan - who were we kidding?!

Waiting on the bday girl to get home.

Bollin practicing saying "Surprise Mommy!"

Surprise - moment in which Champs burst into tears of fear :(

Bollin loves to CHEERS and then drink her lemonade.

The Boyer Family celebrating Joan's 31st!

Happy Birthday Joan!!

 And a few more pics of actual St Patricks Day!!

Happy St Pat's from twinsies Champs and James! 

Henton came to see us on Monday afternoon!

It was an action packed weekend.  I'm pooped and I'm sure Champs is as well!

RB & KK came to play!

Barrett's parents (KK & RB) and Uncle Chase came to play on Saturday and spent the night.  Champs had so much fun seeing everybody.  It was a beautiful afternoon on Saturday so we hung out in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine, music we could hear from St Pat's in 5 Points and our own music we had playing too!  Sunday we went to lunch and then just hung around the house.  It was great having them over and Champs sure got lots of laughs in!

7 Months!

Champs turned 7 Months old yesterday and boy are we having fun!  I think the past month has definitely been my favorite so far.  He is such a funny and sweet baby!  Barrett and I are constantly laughing at his cute personality that is really starting to show!

In the past month, he has really mastered sitting up well and loves to sit and play with his toys.  So far he doesn't seem to have much interest in crawling which is just fine with me!

He is such a happy baby and just laughs and laughs all the time (well okay, not ALL the time ;)

He loves to knock over blocks once I stack them up.  He love to put anything and everything in his mouth.  His new favorite thing that he does ALL THE TIME is to wave.  I don't think he understands what it means yet, but just has learned how to do it so does it while he's playing, eating, taking a bath, strolling....you name it.....he's waving !

7 months old
Weight: I'm guessing b/c we don't go to the doctor this month but I'm guessing 19.5 pounds.
LOVES: All the same as last month: babbling, cooing, jumping in his jumper, playing with his blocks and other toys, being startled, strolling, laughing at Daddy and Mama, eating his hand, bath-time and riding in the car.  New things: waving, riding in his wagon, making a bbbbbbbb sound with his mouth and grabbing stuff from everywhere.  He can reach way further than you would think to get things considering he can't yet crawl.
EATS: 3 meals a day.  About to start on some small sized "real" foods.  Still taking 4 bottles but not quite as much in them. 
SLEEP: At least 2 naps a day and is sleeping through the night, though we have been dealing with what seems like nightmares around 10/11pm.  Hope this stops soon - it's very sad!
NEW SKILLS: Pretty much just the waving!

We had a busy and fun weekend with lots of activities for Champs!  Details and pics coming soon! 

bisQit

Barrett and I discovered a great place to eat in Pawleys last weekend so I have to share.  If there's anything I love it's going out to eat, so when I find a great new spot it makes me very excited!

The restaurant is bisQit - it's located in the Hammock Shops, in the old location of Roz's Rice Mill Cafe.  It opened last August, so I hadn't seen it yet since we haven't been to the beach since I had Champs until this past weekend.  Apparently they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner...but we went on Sunday afternoon for lunch.  This in and of itself is awesome, because there are not that many places to eat in Pawleys/Litchfield on Sundays. 

The menu had lots of great options, but the bulk of it is amazing, interesting and delicious burgers!  They also have homecut fries and about 30 different milkshakes. 

I went with the American Beauty burger and for dessert the Salted Caramel milkshake.  Barrett had the Southeast burger.  Everything was OUTSTANDING!  The burger was just how I like them - medium well done, great toppings, good bun - perfect.  And the homecut fries were awesome - Bville people - think Harry's!  And the milkshake was delicious.

We sat on their enclosed deck which was nice b/c it was a beautiful day.  I rated bisQit an A+ and can't wait to go back!  Their Facebook page is here!

American Beauty burger

Salted Caramel Milkshake

Who is this "Melvin" anyway?!

Now that the blog is semi-public, I've gotten a good many questions about the name.  Here's the history of Melvin.....

Barrett and I were in Charleston for a wedding weekend in December of maybe 2009 or 2010.  We had a "large" Friday night at the rehearsal party and decided we needed something good and greasy on Saturday for lunch to prepare for another fun night ahead at the wedding.  We settled on Melvin's BBQ on James Island. 

Somehow from that, Barrett started calling me Melvin and it stuck.  5 years later, I'm still Melvin to him.  :)  A lot of times when we're heading somewhere for a weekend or even just doing something fun in town, Barrett has mentioned doing another fun "Melvin Adventure".  Now that we have Champs, I'm not called Melvin quite as much b/c we have oh maybe 2000 names for him that we're constantly calling him.  But none the less, we're still going on A LOT of Melvin Adventures with the monkey in tow! 

There you go, folks - the story of Melvin.

Posing with the Melvin's sign a few years ago while in Charleston visiting Cat.

A weekend of firsts!

We all know, in a baby's first year...there are a lot of firsts!  But this weekend was one for the books!

- First time going to Pawleys Island
- First time seeing the ocean and beach
- First PI Oyster Roast
- First goose egg
- First time being pull over by a cop ;)

It was a fabulous weekend in Pawleys!  Once we made it down in the pouring rain, we had the most wonderful time!  It was the annual Oyster Roast weekend at my parents beach house.  All of their best friends from Bishopville, my dad's college friends, our neighbors at the beach and some of my friends headed down for the weekend.  Since Champs was born in August, I have been looking forward to the first time we'd take him to PI.  It was finally the perfect time and he had a blast!

Before heading to Frank's Outback on Friday night.

Just enjoying supper at Frank's

Poppy showing Champs the Blue Moon sign.

Loving the dock on a beautiful Saturday!

Hello!!

Love those little feet.

Champs thinks his Daddy is hilarious!

So much fun with Ashley this weekend!  Champs smiled at her non-stop!

Chillin with the boys.

Champs' first Oyster Roast!

Peachy hugs are the best!

Love those smile over Peachy's shoulder

Giggles

Cousin Cat mastered her faces and noises to make Champs laugh.  So cute!

Sunday was the most gorgeous day.  Champs took a snooze while strolling on the beach and then woke up just in time to enjoy playing in the sand at the point!

See my goose egg where I fell Sunday morning!

So much fun in the sand!!

Oh and that last "first" mentioned.  Barrett got pulled over on the way home for going 46 in a 35.  What a terrible way to end a perfect weekend.  Oh well - Champs enjoyed watching the blue lights while waiting on the cop to write the ticket!