Mountain Trip

We went to Asheville this past weekend for our annual "birthday" trip. Since Mom, Mouse and I all have birthdays within a week, we try to do a weekend trip once a year. This year we went to Lutheridge and stayed in the Doyle Beam Retreat House which belongs to Cedar Grove Lutheran Church , Vale, NC. It was a really neat cottage and was perfect for all of us. Brent and I stayed upstairs and Mom, Dad, Blake and Meredith stayed downstairs. They were nice enough to keep Blake downstairs so Brent and I could get some sleep! 

It was a little cool but really nice while we were there. We visited Sky Top apple orchard and had some really awesome apple doughnuts! I love doughnuts and these were GOOD! Brent and I pushed Blake a while but the stroller is not really an ATV so we were bouncing him a good bit. We headed back up to the main building and let mom, dad and Mouse pick apples. 

Lutheridge is one of my most favorite places in the world and I have a lot of fond memories there. I went with Alisa (my cousin) and my parents for years and then got to be a counselor the summer of 99. I guess you can say it runs in the family :) I'm glad we got to take Blake and I know it will be a place he will come to love as well. 

SC State Fair

I LOVE the fair and when it comes around once a year, I'm ready! Dad doesn't really care for the fair but he joined us this year and I even caught him drinking a chocolate milk while watching a cooking show! I decided to take Blake this year and he did really well. I didn't eat as much as I usually do, but I guess I'm getting slightly more cost conscious because I just could make myself pay $4 for a corndog when I know I can get one from the Wal-Mart deli for $.78! I did break down and found a corndog for $2 and some fiske fries (fries with vinegar). We looked in all the buildings at the crafts and displays. Two of my residents won first and second place prizes. You would be amazed at the work my ladies did. I was so proud. 

Blake absolutely loved the flashing lights and noises. He was chilling out with Brent's mom for a good part of the trip and then snoozed in his stroller the other part. She was holding him up to the flowers in the garden part and even sat him up on a John Deere tractor which was really funny. I dressed him in his little ghost onesie so he could be extra spooky! I guess I have another year to wait and see how expensive my corndogs get! 

Watching Cars

When you have a fussy baby you try anything to get them quiet. After walking around and various "tricks" I decided to prop Blake up on the back of the couch to look out the window. After a few minutes, I realized that he was watching the cars go by on our road. It was really funny cause it takes his little eyes a few seconds to track the movement but he was following them from side to side. I had been wondering how far he can see and now I know he can at least recognize movement as far as the street which is a good little ways. So, if you drive by our house, check the widow cause we might be watching!

4 month shots!!

Blake turned 4 months on Monday so you know what that means...4 month shots! Mom and I took him to the doctor today. At two months, they had to give him 5 shots and one oral vaccine but now they've combined several of them and he only had to get two shots and one oral vaccine. He weighed in at a "hefty" 12 pounds 6 ounces and was 24 inches long. He was 10th% in weight. I have no idea how this happens because I feed this child and he eats. Maybe he's just genetically lucky and is able to eat without plumping up. The doctor said there are just some babies that are going to be skinny. Guess he gets that from Brent's side! He was 39th% in length and 50% with his head. The doctor said he is doing fine and that he is following his growing curve perfectly. He sucked down the oral vaccine within about 15 seconds and was happy go lucky. The nurse stuck his one leg quickly and he got that "what the heck" look on his face then let it go. She got the other leg quickly and it was done. After I picked him up he quit crying but just whimpered for a few minutes. Shortly after he was smiling and we were good people again. Hopefully we can stay well until our 6 month shots in December!

Rice Cereal

WooHoo! Tonight Blake got to try rice cereal for the first time. We were all wondering how he would like it. To start with, it looks like mashed potato flakes that you mix with water. Turns out about the consistency of algae water. Gross! Well, gross for me but Blake LOVED it! He sucked down that first spoonful and it was on after that! I couldn't get it in his mouth quick enough. Mom was holding his hands down so he didn't grab anything, Brent was taking pictures and I was feeding him. He was given a red and blue bowl so we used that tonight. After he figured out the rice cereal was coming from the bowl, he followed it with his eyes like you would not believe. Tomorrow he goes to the doctor for his 4 month shots so say a prayer for him. He did really well last time and I'm hoping he does just as well this time. We will be starting vegetables soon! Yum!

Blessing of the Animals

Saturday, October 4th, we had the "Blessing of the Animals" at church. Everybody was encouraged to bring their pets and have them blessed. We had a short little service in the church yard complete with scripture and hymn and then everybody sniffed each other, haha! Blake attended in his sunglasses. I laugh so hard when I see him in them. We took him for a walk the other night and he was holding on to the straps of his stroller and had his feet propped up with his glasses on just chillin. It was so cute! He loves to go for walks in his stroller.