Indian Summer

We took advantage of a beautiful Indian summer weekend to spend some time outside. Saturday, we walked through the park to the old water tower off of Grand and hiked to the top. Guess who was carrying Thomas for all 197 steps? Here's a hint: not Ed.

The water tower

Thomas loves the back carrier! We do too!

At the top of the tower

Looking down from the tower

Looking out toward the city (and the arch). I'd always thought that the reservoir next to the water tower was full of water. Now we know differently--it houses water, but in giant vats.

Sunday we raked leaves and plopped Thomas down in the pile. Some bog followers may be wondering if our kid ever cries, since he seems to be smiling in every picture we take. Here's an unhappy face. He didn't like the leaves and held his arms up above them to avoid touching. 

Even when we convinced him to crawl, he was still hesitant to touch the leaves.

Even with daddy "protecting" him from the leaves, he's still not sure! Ed's mom tells a story of how Mary Beth didn't like to get dirty, and if placed on a blanket in the yard, wouldn't leave it because she didn't want to touch the grass. By contrast, Ed would carry the portable playpen he was housed in with him as he moved around the yard. Even though he seems to be a bruiser, Thomas seems to be taking more after Mary Beth!

Outer Banks photo shoot

This past week I took Thomas to a photo shoot for Quilt and Quick Quilts in North Carolina's Outer Banks. It was a busy, fun week!

The house we stayed in: Sea Spray. Right on the ocean, gorgeous!

A four-hour layover in Charlotte was a perfect opportunity for Grandma to come see Thomas.

Grammy came along on the photo shoot to take care of Thomas while I worked.

We took advantage of having the little man along and used him on some baby quilts. He really is sleeping in this picture. 

Two more photos with Thomas--he was such a ham! I'll post on the blog when these issues go on sale in case anyone wants to see our famous baby in print. :)

Oceanfront

Crawling on the deck with the infinity pool in the background

Thomas loved the bunk beds in one of the rooms where we stayed. 

Meanwhile, Ed spent the week with Jack and Mary and the kids in Massachusetts, helping as they started building their house. 

In the leaf pile with his nephews and nieces

Hard at work at the house site

Trick or treating

We decorated our house for trick or treating again this year--according to the kids walking by, it was seriously spooky! Thomas hung out while we handed out candy for the first hour or so, and then we put him to bed. Once again we were amazed by the adults shamelessly looking for candy handouts and the kids who tried to go into our candy bowl for multiple fistfuls. Yikes! Back in my day...

Happy Halloween!

8 Months!

Thomas turned 8 months last week. He's becoming such a big boy, both in size and in what he can do: crawling everywhere, pulling up to stand, using furniture to walk, climbing stairs, feeding himself...we can't believe how fast these 8 months have gone and how much he's changed!

Weekend Thomas pics

We put Thomas in his halloween costume and went to the garden center for a few pictures and a few gourds and mums for me. 

It looks like he's waving in this picture, but it was purely an accident!

Once again, he was fascinated with the hay. Don't you love the spikes down his back!?

Jenn bought this beret for herself just for fun. She tried it on Thomas. Dad and Ed were not amused! I think he looks ready for the theater: a mini Shakespeare? Maybe there's more than sports (and Sportscenter) in his future...

Bathtime mohawk!

We made this fleece panda rug/blanket this weekend after seeing a sample in the local quilt shop. It's being donated to the Fox Point Church bazaar, but we had to let Thomas try it out first!

Grammy, Grandpa and Aunt Jenn come to visit

The headline says it all--we had visitors this past weekend! Thomas was spoiled and adored to his heart's content. :)

with Grammy and Grandpa

Checking out a pale pumpkin with Aunt Jenn (more halloween costume pics later)

Reading stories with Grammy

All bundled up for a walk in the park with Grandpa