Our newest addition to our abode...a FENCE!

Back in July we put up a fence to keep our pesky neighbors dogs from harming Gus and Buttercup. We have several run ins with them and thought a fence would be our best bet, and it was.

As Jake was outside busting his butt, this is how Gus decided to help out!!

After a much needed snooze he was all about helping daddy dig the holes!

Still a little woozy from the nap.....

But wait, that looks really fun!!

Peek-a-boo!

Happy Birthday Jake and Tyler!

Jake and Tyler's birthdays are 4 days apart so we celebrated together....Amanda made yummy bread balls stuffed with pork and coconut rice and made a homemade ice cream cake to top it all off! We had a great night and the kiddos enjoyed a little dinner date at Endi's kid table!! Always fun times when we are together with our buddies!!! Happy Birthday Jake and Tyler!! Sorry it took me so long to post this...the thought was there!!! I should get an E for effort!!

Their favorite past time...emptying Endi's dresser into the dirty cloths hamper!!

Future Swim Teamers

Amanda and I took them for a swim while Jake and Tyler caught a movie! There were adorable. Gus has to bring his mixer and Chick-fil-a cow. Notice he has the mixer and decided to share the cow with Endi!! Sweetness at its finest!!

Sleep Talking Baby

This week Gus has been talking in his sleep and smiling and laughing in his sleep. He used to do this a lot when he was first born, but had stopped. Each morning Jake kisses us goodbye and he says each morning it is so heartwarming to see Gus sleeping and give a little smile after Jake kisses him. During his nap I put the monitor on and try to get a few things done, but yesterday I found myself sitting on the sofa listening carefully to the monitor as Gus just gooo'ed and gaaaa'ed and jiber jabbered while sleeping! I love it!! I was a sleep talker and Jake still is so it is another one of those inevitable traits!!

Sweet dreams!

4 all at once...

TEETH I am speaking of! Yes, not 1, not 2, not even 3, but 4 teeth are coming through all at the same time....poor baby boy. He has been a good trooper through this round, however, supper consisted of an orange cool pop and a few homemade fries along with a yogurt smoothie. The last two nights he is ready for bed before 8pm and is out for the night by 8pm (nice for mommy and daddy) good, good rest he is getting not to mention his 2-2 1/2 hour naps! Almost 18 months old and 12 teeth! While at Walgreens I picked up some teething tablets, which he will be most excited about taking in the morning! Thankfully he LOVES to take his medicine so this round of teething hasn't been as bad as what it could be, but it is still painful.

Gusley, mommy feels your pain baby and at least the next set of teeth will not hurt like this. Love you, Dudie!

STICK!

Last night I hosted Bunko so Jake and Gus spent the evening at Mom and Dad's visiting with Aunt Lisa. As I was asking Jake a million and one questions about their evening he told me Gus was holding two sticks (pieces of mulch out of the flower bed) and he said stick 'TICK'!!!!!! I was thrilled!! I smiled and held back tears at the same time. Folks this is one of his "first words" if you will. I mean he says mama, dada, ball, and a few others, but nothing like stick!!!! He KNOWS and RECOGNIZES so much, but this was a monumental moment for me!! Go Gusley, keep up the good words!! Mommy and Daddy love you so much and we are so proud of you sweet baby!!

CHEERS!!!

Thanks, Endi for teaching Gusley 'CHEERS'!! At every meal he now raises his sippy cup for 'CHEERS' at least 15 times! It is the cutest thing! I couldn't be prouder that his best friend taught him such a happy and fun gesture!! I will try to get some pictures, because he, just like Endi, is so proud when our glass and his sippy touch!!! Cute stuff around here at mealtime!!

CHEERS!!!

Rainy Day Schedule

While Gi-Gi and Paw were here during the summer we had an entire day of rainy day schedule. Gus and I took a long nap, Jake and Paw watched a movie and Gi-Gi got to explore the new Kroger Marketplace. Which if you have never been to one they are FABULOUS!!! We did manage to get out and have dinner to celebrate Jake's birthday, but other than that we just hung out around the house. Here are a few pictures from our day!

Gus playing hide and seek!

Watching the rain fall......

Playing peek-a-boo with Paw!!!

Reading his favorite book at dinner, Puppies and Kittens! It just cracks him up every time!

So scared of the strings on the hat....not even the hat, just the strings. Notice, Jake had to put them behind his ears!!

Much better......

Flan is YUMMY!!!

Gus and Paw with their almost matching shirts. Gus really took to Paw on this trip!

Showing off before bed time!

Buttercup trying to get some of the attention!

Such a little cutie pie!!

Independence Day

July 4th, 2009 ~ Gi-Gi and Paw were in town and we had a great day with them. We started out by having lunch at Loveless Cafe www.lovelesscafe.com. It was scrumptious as always!!!
We did lots of sight seeing and driving through the countryside. The plan was to end in Nashville and watch the amazing fireworks show on the river from Jake's office or in the vicinity.....then the rain came so we opted to head home and watch the neighborhood fireworks. What a show!!!! I think we will stay home and watch them again next year. No matter where you looked there were fireworks being popped!!! Gus had a wonderful time watching the sky light up and hearing us ooooo and ahhhhhhh over them!! Below is a recap of our day!

Gi-Gi and Paw with both their "babies" (baby boy and baby grandson)

Monkeying around in a box at Jake's office waiting for the rain to pass!

I forgot to mention that the location of the murder of Steve McNair (Titans former football player) was directly across the street from Jake's office so we had a little excitement while waiting for the rain to pass.

Oh yeah, Gusley had his first Blow-pop! He LOVED it!

What's not to love about a green apple blow-pop?

Our 4th party!!!

Showing our RED spirit!

Gi-Gi and Paw came to town!

Gi-Gi and Paw came up for a visit over the July 4th weekend!! We had a great time visiting with them and I think they enjoyed taking part in our quiet little lifestyle for a few days!!! On the Friday, Jake and I were off in the afternoon so we packed up and took to the hills for some sight-seeing...lots of sights to be seen around here and it seems that we are always stumbling upon a new place to visit!



First stop, a glider plane landing strip. Although we did not see any land, we did see one get released in the air and we followed it for a while before continuing on our journey. Gus and I soaking up some sun!

Paw and Gus enjoying the nice weather and quaint town of Bell Buckle, TN.

Gus making his first ever wish at a wishing well! I wonder what he wished for?? Never to have to ride in a car seat again; a "nana" (banana); more ice cream......???

Gi-Gi and Paw being silly and cute all at the same time!!!

The train is a coming........

Gus seeing a real train up close and personal for the first time!!

Gi-Gi and Paw at one of our favorite lookouts...Pull Tight Hill

Three Generations right here!

Good times......love and miss y'all! Come back, ya hear!!

Shuckers.....

When Gi-Gi and Paw came up for a visit at the beginning of the month Paw brought a garbage bag full of fresh corn on the cob....yummy!!! We are STILL eating on this corn and it is still very, very good!! Thanks, Paw!

He had a little shucking helper.........

This ear was just Gus' size and he carried it around the yard, played and showed off all while holding his ear of corn!!! He did manage to eat a few kernels!!

17 months.......

It seems as though things are just starting to click in our little man's head. For example we have been counting with him and now he holds out his hand wide open and looks at his fingers and says "ooh, dee, ahh, ooh". Very cute and this keeps him happy in the car, especially when Jake holds up his hand and counts with him!! When the phone rings Gus makes the cutest face and says "OOHH"! He is now saying "uh oh" when something falls, spills, etc. Everyday when we go out and come in to check the mail he has to ring the door bell (several times) which in turn sends Buttercup into a psychotic barking tailspin and the more she barks the more he rings it...funtimes!! These days at our house there is never a dull moment. Gus is on the move more and more and I feel so fortunate to be able to be home with him and watch every step of the way! We have been swimming a good bit and he just loves it. I think if we would let him he would take off. He and I are taking mom and tot swim lessons in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. I have been practicing floating him on his back and he loves to wet the hair on his neck so I think he will enjoy swimming lessons. Lately when we go to dinner he acts so grown up. We put him in his highchair and at some places a booster seat because he is too big for a highchair and he sits like a big boy and colors or doodles or takes the sweet-n-low in and out of the container, but he is good for the most part. When the food arrives he eats like a champ and makes nice smiley faces on his plate!!

There is so much that he is doing these days it is hard to keep up. I am currently drawing a blank (could be the loud thunderstorm luring me to go to bed) but as I think of things I will update/edit this post.

Gusley for 17 months you sure are making mommy and daddy very proud parents and you have accomplished so many little milestones thus far we can hardly wait to see what the future has in store. I love you!

Happy, healthy 17 month old~

I picked this up at Goodwill and it has been a hit. Gusley you wear the stethoscope around your neck everyday almost all day. You brought this to Pinki and Pop's house and by the end of the day you had mastered the yellow key in the yellow door, purple key in the purple door and the blue key in the blue door. A few nights later you and I were playing and you still remembered (yellow, purple and blue!!) A few nights after that you were playing while I was cooking supper and this is what I found.....you mastered the yellow key in the door all by yourself!! Way to go!!

07.14.09 - 17 months

Happy Birthday Jake!!!

Happy Birthday Jake!!!! Gi-Gi and Paw came to town this past weekend so we celebrated Jake's birthday with dinner at Pancho's a local Mexican restaurant that we all love! There was a Pancho's back home in NOLA, not the same, not even remotely close, but every year Jake celebrated there so we brought back the tradition!!

After raining day and a loooong nap for Gus we headed out to dinner. Jake stepped away so we told them it was his birthday!!! (He said he figured we did!! Duh!) Anyway, we ate and then they came with the hat, flan and group to sing to him. Here are some pictures from the festivities!! Happy birthday, Jake!! We love you and hope you have a great day!! We wish you many, many more fun filled birthdays!! love, l*g

Gusley, reading his book before dinner!!

Birthday boy all smiles!! Gus on the other hand...well a tad scared??!! As soon as Jake put the chin strap behind him all was good again!!

Gotcha!!!!

Daddy, can it be your birthday every time we come here?? This stuff is G-O-O-D!!!!