Spirit Day

Thursdays are Spirit Day at Eastminster Day School.  Champs just got his EDS t-shirt last week so this is his first week participating!  His shirt is a little big for now, but I am sure he'll grow into.  Today also marks his first time wearing real pants.  We had to get some to wear with his t-shirt.  Such a big boy in these pants.  And Mama is loving the new fall sweater!  I love a white sweater :)

And one more pic too cute not to share.....Champs and Olivia playing yesterday!

Have a great Thursday!

The latest......

Figured it was time I give a little update on just what my little 13 month old is up to!  He is growing, learning, changing, exploring constantly - and certainly testing the limits with Mama and Daddy and showing how mad he gets when we stop him! :)  Since these type posts are more for me to go back and look at more than anything and may be boring to the rest of you, I'll put a few random phone pics in between. 

Here are a few things happening now with Champs at 13 months old:

- Walking all the time!  He rarely crawls at all anymore, but will occasionally still get down on all fours every now and then.  He walked backwards for the first time a couple weekends ago, as in with his push toy he went in reverse and then forward in a new direction.

At home after the Lake Point block party couple of weeks ago.  Too bad I didn't take pics there b/c he had SO much fun splashing in mud puddles!

- Talking more and more.  Now let me clarify that some of his new words are probably only recognizable by me, but he is trying really hard with some new words such as "truck", "fish", "pasta", "shoe", monk" (his lovey), "nana" (for banana - this one is good!) in addition to his few words he can already say...."mama, dada (which is usually just DA!), Bir (bird) and bye.  So hopefully he'll keep perfecting these and pick up a few more.  I just love hearing him say things.

Playing at the park with cousin Julia.

In Bebeep buying some bday gifts for friends parties last weekend.

- School: As I had hoped and prayed, school is going SO MUCH BETTER!  Weeks 1 & 2 were hard, Week 3 was pretty good, regressed a little with Week 4, Week 5 was great and this week, Week 6 is off to a great start with his teachers telling me today that it was the most smiles and laughs of all days yet!  YAY!  He is not crying when I drop him off more days than not and has been happy when I arrive so that's always great to see.

Sunday lunch on his picnic table.

Park with Bollin

I just love knowing he's there learning and making friends every day.  One day last week he was in his highchair and I was getting his supper ready.  I started singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and look over at him and he's doing his arms in a "round and round" motion.  I smiled so much as I knew he must have learned this at school. 

- Obsessed with driving right now.  He does still like his car he got for his birthday, but much prefers pretend driving mine and Barrett's car while sitting in the driveway!  When we pull him away from doing this you would think we had taken off a toe or something.  TEMPER TANTRUM! When we go to the grocery store now I let him drive in the carts that have the child's seat with wheels and he LOVES it!  Sure makes grocery shopping easy, although he's always loved the grocery store.

Driving in Publix

Early morning drive in Publix in his pj's.

- Champs is eating really well right now.  I think he's going through a growth spurt as he's eating tons and sleeping well.  Hooray!  He slept the latest ever to date last week.....8:15!  He LOVES pasta with a little butter and parmesan cheese.  He loves watermelon, cheese crackers, any sort of fruit/veggie pouch, waffles, grits, oatmeal, cheese, hamburger and meatballs.  He's not really into the deli meat right now so I'm trying to find some other meat options such as those above.  He does still like grilled chicken, especially from Zoe's or Taziki's.  He drinks 2% organic milk 3 times a day (breakfast, lunch, supper) and then drinks water in between.  We had a first actually tonight.  We all ate supper together at the same time and ate the same thing.  It was very cute and I think Champs loved it.  Typically I feed him about 5:30 and we don't eat until he's asleep, but I'm going to try to start eating together at 6:00 a couple times a week!

Family supper tonight - sorry for the mid dinner pic including my plate. 

- He loves reading books and will sit with me and read 4 or 5 in a row and always has one he wants to read several times more.  Peachy took him to the Richland County library last week for Storytime and he loved it.  Hopefully she can take him again soon - it's on Tues mornings!  He loves to press buttons, cutting things on or making them make noise.  He LOVES our phones, your phone and anyone's phone in his vicinity.  I have a new house rule that unless you are getting it out to take a pic of him, phones are put up when around him!  He puts phones and many other rectangle objects up to his ear and acts like he's talking on phone.

At the library with Peachy

- He is very strong-willed or whatever kind word we would like to call hard-headed and impatient.  I have NO idea where he could have gotten this.  Wink!  His new thing is when he's mad that we take him away from doing something he likes, he jolts back, back arched and cries!!!  I find it best to just keep going away and go ahead to whatever I'm trying to get him to do next and he'll stop pretty quickly but Lord have mercy those screams and stiff body drive me nuts!

Here is something his teacher put in all the kids cubby last week.  It made me laugh!

Sounds about right! :)

- He is very very funny and laughs all the time.  He loves to be chased by Daddy and plays peek a boo all the time.  He will try to play it with me while he's in his car seat, but I can only play a little as I am driving.  He loves to go on outings and see new people and tell them hello with his sweet smile.  I was very impressed by how much he did this weekend and did so well going from one event to the next!

Loving playing in the cabinets in his room these days.

- He will give me hugs sometimes now and it just melts my heart.  He doesn't do it every time I ask, but I love it when he does and pray he'll keep doing it more!  His face when he first sees me there to pick him up just makes my day.  I am just as excited to see him.  As I'm driving down Trenholm Road, getting close to school, I can hardly wait to get there!!

Playing at the park.

Life is going great with our family and I'm so very thankful for all we have and for all the love and happiness we experience with Champs! Barrett and I are still having fun with each other too, don't worry!  :-)

Brunch at The Rarebit in Charleston!

Weekend review

We had a great weekend.  Champs and I were all over the place, but it was a lot of fun and my little social bug can hang with Mama very well!!  I think it's already safe to say he will be active and always on the go like his parents.

We started off the weekend with a park date with the Shackouls twins which was fun.  They are 3 months older than Champs and live in Houston, so we don't get to see them often.  It was great to see precious Caroline and Charlie and of course their Mama, Elizabeth!

Friday night we went to the Greek Festival downtown.  I have loved going to this since moving to Columbia, almost TEN! years ago.  Last year we took Champs bundled in his stroller as a little one month old.  As soon as we got there last year I felt it was a huge mistake and he would surely get sick from all the germs and we left as soon as we got our food!  Fast forward one year and Champs was eating greek meatballs and pasta, watching the dancers, listening to the (loud!) music, and even rode his first ever ride! We ran into the Ard's and rode the ride with them!

Saturday morning Champs and I hit the rode and headed to Bishopville for two birthday parties and Barrett went to Charleston to spend some time with his guy friends down there.  The parties were for two of my hometown friends children, Sofie Beth Jackson and William Frazier, both were turning TWO!

First was Sofie Beth's Minnie Mouse party at Holly's grandparents cabin in the country!  It was a super cute party and Minnie Mouse was just adorable!!  Happy Birthday Sofie Beth!!

After a good long nap Champs got up and played with Bailey and Uncle Bill!

Then we went out to Dog Island Road for William's 2nd Bday party!  This was special because Kerry has moved back to the house she grew up in and I spent many a days playing there and attending great birthday parties!  Champs had a ball playing on the gator, watching the bubbles, eating Cheetos for the first time (bday party staple when I was growing up!), had another sucker (clearly loved - look at pics below!) and eating a very delicious cupcake.  I loved watching him playing with my friends children - so special!  To show what a great time he had, we did not even get Monk out of the diaper bag the whole party!  Happy Birthday sweet William!!

After the party we went back to Columbia and headed to the Lindsay's to watch the Clemson game.  Champs and Mac saw each other for just a bit before they went to sleep and we all watched the super good but disappointing game!!  With it being such a good game, I decided to let Champs spend the night in the pack-n-play and I stayed in the guest room.  A last minute sleepover!  We got this cute pic of them the next morning in their matching pj's!

I love my monk!

Haha - I have my monk and your monk!

No, they are both mine now!

Fine you can have one back, but don't even think about taking this one!

  On Sunday, we headed to Rock Hill for the Rogers Hayride & Hotdogs party!  It was super fun.  Champs loved getting to ride on the tractor, seeing cows, play by the cotton field and strangely loves to sit in a rocking chair :)  It was a great afternoon and perfect way to kick off Fall!

It was such a great weekend with my little monkey!  Going to post later this week telling what's new with Champs and what he's doing, saying, etc!  Stay tuned...