Adam & Kate and a long weekend

Gray 'helping' me get ready in the morning before our long weekend

Adam and Grayson

Over Labor day weekend, Steven's best friend from college came to visit.  It was so nice to have Adam and Kate around, and for them to meet Grayson.  They came in on Saturday afternoon and were able to see Steven in his play that night.  Adam is a theater teacher in Southern Pines, so his input was extra important to Steven.  Of course they loved it, and we had a great time visiting.  After Gray was in bed, and they all had returned, I had some Muscadine wine Sangria ready (from our local winery trip a few weeks ago).  Gray absolutely loved them, in fact at one point he even passed up dad to have Adam read in his theatrical voice!  Poor Steven!  Gray was sad when they left, so hopefully we will visit again soon.

Gray with Tika on a Sunday stroll.  They love each other :).

Steven and Gray in the touch tanks

 On Monday, a rainy holiday, we headed to the local science center.  Grayson loved it.  They have touch tanks, and all kinds of hands on stuff.  Of course he had no idea of what he was doing most of the time- but he was exploring and loving it all the same.

Learning about Physics

Fishin'

Really I can touch and mess with everything here???

What are you into this month?

I saw a really great idea on another blogger's site- so I thought I would try it out here. Since this blog kind of serves two purposes 1) to keep faraway friends maybe somewhat humored at our daily events, 2) as a keepsake for Gray- his e-baby book, I thought this might be a good addition. This is just one more way for my boy to look back and try and figure out who the woman who loves him to the moon and back and back again was.

This Month...

On My Nightstand:

Reading goes very slow for me. One I never read one thing at a time. Two- life is busy. I don't steal a whole day a way anymore just reading. But what I have been turning pages in this month:

Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Brende - This has been a great book. An MIT grad who moves close to a Amish-like community and spends a year with his new wife.

Cometbus #48 Back to the Land by Aaron Cometbus - More than two people told me this looks like propaganda. It does. Someone lent it to me after many discussions of the 'Back to the Land' movement. Steven of course thinks this is all propaganda. I daydream about it. Super easy read. You can finish it in a day. Interesting- in many ways.

And of course I spent some time flipping through magazines like BabyTalk, Parents, and Prevention.

Want To Read:

As soon as I finish Better Off, a trip to the local library will hopefully get me started on my next adventures in:
Eat, pray, love : one woman's search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia / Elizabeth Gilbert.
The help / Kathryn Stockett.
1493 : uncovering the new world Columbus created / Charles C. Mann

TV Show Worth Watching:

I honestly have not watched a thing. When the new season starts I'm sure I'll resume to a couple shows that I like.

Movie I’ve Seen (In or Out of a theater):

Only through netflix of course. The Contract has been waiting at the house for us to watch it, but the last few we watched this month were the Fighter, The Two of Us, and Taxi Driver. We both really enjoyed the fighter. Maybe I did more because Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. :)

In My Ears:

Well, the CD player is still broken in my car (sorry honey- until it's fixed I will be giving you a hard time :)) so I can't listen to my new Less Than Jake CD. Fingers crossed I get my hands on the new Red Hot Chilli Peppers album in the new future. At home, and workshops, anywhere I play the ipod- I have been listening to Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks. Can't wait to see them at the Fall French Broad Festival on the 24th!

What I'm Most Looking Forward To Next Month:

1. My new work-walking partner. Julie has agreed to start walking with me in the mornings before work.
   
2. Cleaning the yard up and preparing for fall. Planting fall crops.
3. Seeing Steven in Wizard of Oz!
4. French Broad Fall Fest. Can't wait for a camping trip!
5. A life change! Fingers crossed that Steven gets a call back for an awesome job, or I find the perfect part-time job.

Walking and stomping

Friday Gray started walking! For the past month he has taken a few steps here and there, but Friday he officially started walking. He is very proud of himself, and it is very exciting.
He has started wearing shoes for the 1-2 yr old class, and he now thinks he has to have them on all the time. We were worried he would hate wearing them- but apparently not. Maybe he thinks they help him walk? All I know is after a year of never wearing shoes, and being my flesh and blood (I would go barefoot everyday of my life if I could)- you would think he would hate shoes! I guess I should see this as one battle we don't have to fight, and not question it.
So now that we have this skill down, we decided to take him to the Grape Stomp Festival at a local winery. We didn't stay in the pool of muscadines very long- Gray wanted to grab them muscadines- and we all know what happens next when a toddler reaches and grabs for something. I didn't want muscadine/toddler toe jam to become the next serving of fruit for the day!


Gray was exhausted after a day of Grape stomping. Fell asleep on his way to see Paw-paw while reading his book.

Visit with Mam-moo in Franklin

The week after Gray's birthday party I was able to take a few days off and head to Franklin to visit my mom before they headed back to Florida. It was great to visit and for Grayson to visit with his Mam-moo. I was worried I wasn't going to be able to separate those two! I'm pretty sure he has Mam-moo wrapped around his little finger- quite literally- we walked around an antique shop, and all the while Gray was insistent on holding onto his Mam-moo's hand the whole time. I loved that they were able to spend time together, I just wish it was more.

Splashing in the water in Nantahala. This was a perfect shallow spot for him to sit and play. This boy loves water!

On a picnic on his actual birthday in the Nantahala.

Did I mention how much Pop-pop and Gray played? Those two had a blast together. Pop-pop kept him laughing.

Gray turns ONE!

I can't believe it, but my handsome little man turned a year old last Thursday. This year has flown by! I cried more the week leading up to it, than I think I ever did during my pregnancy! I just feel like I've missed so much. Hopefully things will change soon though. Either Steven will find a job that will allow me to stay at home or I will find some part time work. Somehow it'll all work out. You just have no idea what it is going to be like until you are actually holding that sweet baby.

Anyhow, for Gray's birthday we just had family (and my extended NC family Mike and Anita). 'Just' family includes over 20 people, so that is about all our little house can hold! We had a cookout, and the kids played outside, then we headed in for Gray to open his gifts. He did so well and had such a great time. We decided to have a professional photographer come in for the pictures- to capture his party rather than having his one year pictures done in a studio. Best decision ever- we got such great photos! I just love this little man!!!

Day at the park

Here's a few shots from almost a month ago. . .I know I've been slow getting these out. Just a tad bit busy.Grady and Myles checking out the storm drain. Such silly boys :).

My sweet boy

Love this face. Grady is so much fun.

Oregon trip

I haven't had a chance to upload the pictures and write until now- what a busy past couple of weeks! So glad Steven has off during the summers- though we seem to somehow be busier! We have been busy planning Gray's 1sy birthday, completely gutting and re-doing our main bathroom, school, and helping with family. Thank goodness I booked our vacation so we were locked in to go away!
For our summer trip this year we headed out to Oregon. I have two girlfriends that I haven't seen in years that I wanted to visit- and I just really wanted a trip out west. We stayed for almost a week, wished we could've stayed longer. We both loved it so much and can't wait to go back and explore some more.
Grayson did so well on the plane, and he had such a good time while we were there. We went to the aquarium, several state parks, toured the coast, had a couple vineyard stops, and visited friends. It was a great time- not to mention perfect weather. The 99% humidity we came home to, made us want to get back on the plane!

Gray could have stayed here all day throwing rocks. He had so much fun!

Grayson loved the aquarium and the fish. There were lots of ohs and ahs.



Gray's 1st time coloring. Artist Dad of course wanted to make sure I got a picture. As you can guess the next step was sticking the crayon in his mouth. . .

My friend Destiny from grade school. She now lives in McMinnville and sleeps, eats (drinks), and breaths the wine industry. Gray loved her and we had such a great time!