:)

Ryan and I are in Fayetteville, NC this weekend for my good friend, Heidi's, wedding. Abbott is staying in Knoxville with Jami and Jack this weekend (a 9 hour drive with a child who eats every 3 hours did not sound like fun) and Jami has posted many pictures and probably the cutest video I have ever seen. Go see her blog here: Jami's Blog.

Today is the wedding and Ryan and I will head back to Nashville tomorrow so hopefully I can post some pictures from the weekend tomorrow night. Last night was my first night not putting Abbott to bed and I think I did OK. It helps that there is a lot to do this weekend and it keeps my mind off of not being with him. And I know he is in great hands with his Aunt Jami!

Have a great weekend! :)

I love this baby!

The accidental 5-mile walk...

Picture this: Sunday morning, and it's our first day together as a family in weeks. Ryan usually has his days off during the week so we rarely get a day for all 3 of us to be together. So, what do we do? We decide to make the most of it! The morning begins when our happy baby wakes up cooing is his bed at about 6:00-ish (he probably would have slept a little longer if he hadn't pooped). 6:00 is fine because it's later than I usually get to sleep so it felt like sleeping in. We change a diaper, play in mommy and daddy's bed for a bit and then Abbott decides he is tired again....goes back to sleep until 8:45. Thus begins the real day. We get up and make some waffles....not Eggos...real waffles from scratch with the waffle maker. While doing breakfast, Jeff and Sarah call and ask if we want to hang out a bit during the day and we invite them on our planned walk in Shelby Park after breakfast. The excitement mounts: it's a happy day, it's a sunny day, and the morning air feels great! By the time we actually get to Shelby Park, it's about 11:00 and we really have no idea where we're going. We find the new Nature Center, which is closed, but behind it begin many walking/hiking/biking trails. Let's explore one together....great idea right? Abbott's in his stroller snoozing and we all just had breakfast so no biggie. After deciding to try and find the new walking bridge, we head out on our trail. The sun is nice...not too hot and the pathway is very shaded so it's a nice walk.....but at about mile marker 1.5 (there are markers every half mile), I start to wonder how long this trail really is. At mile marker 2.5 we stop and break. None of us have water bottles or thought to drink any water before we left. None of us have put on any sunscreen. None of us thought the path would be THIS LONG. As I am feeding Abbott his bottle, we have to make a decision: keep going or turn back? Since, I onlt have one bottle for Abbott and the sun is really starting to warm up now, I decide to head back and Sarah joins me. Ryan and Jeff continue on to find the bridge, which turns out is only .7 miles ahead. On our way back, the path sure seems to be less shaded now......maybe that's because the sun is directly over us at this point and we've now entered the hottest part of the day. Abbott starts to get fussy because he's hot and he can't fall asleep.....Sarah and I have to stop at almost every shady spot to let him cool off. Ryan and Jeff catch up with us and we continue back. That first 2.5 miles didn't seem too bad, but the last 2.5 on the way back seemed to never end.

Lessons learned:

1. That trail is much longer than you think.

2. Bring water next time.

3. Start much earlier in the day

4. Wear sunscreen....even if you don't think you'll be out very long.

It's funny how the night before this, I was watching the Olympics and the women's marathon was on. I was so impressed by the leader, she was from Romania, I think. And so here I am in the hot Tennessee sun walking for what feels like an eternity. Did you know that a marathon is more than 26 miles? I only walked 5 yesterday and felt like a noodle when I was done. I couldn't imagine RUNNING for more than 26 miles. The winner of the marathon RAN it in 2 hours and 20 minutes or so. We WALKED 5 miles in about 2 hours. I think maybe we should all try out for the Olympic marathon team in 2012....anyone up for it? It wouldn't be that much training......

A few pics

Time sure is flying by much faster than I would have it go! Abbott will be 5 months old on the 29th of this month and I can't believe all the things that he is doing. He is rolling over (still only one way; from front to back), he is laughing, he is grabbing his feet and exploring them, he is experimenting with what his mouth can do and what his voice can do. He is learning so much! It seems like only a week or so ago, we were coming home from the hospital and he was teeny tiny. I suppose the next thing I know, he'll be headed off to college and I'll have a LOT more gray hair than I already have! :) Today, Abbott and I don't have much to do....thank goodness! Ryan is at work and Abbott and I are just hanging out together on our Saturday! Tomorrow will be much more fun though because Ryan has off from work so we will get a much needed family day! I have decided to post some pictures from this month as well as a video from Abbott's short-lived growling phase (it lasted about a week). Enjoy!

4 month checkup

Abbott went for his 4 month check up today. He now weighs 16 pounds and 7 ounces and he is 27 inches long! Ryan and I are fairly small people so we don't know where this child came from, but we're glad he's ours! He has been a little fussy tonight, but I would be too if I got shot 3 times in the leg and didn't feel well because of it! He's a trooper and I know he'll be good tomorrow!

On Friday, we head to Townsend in the Smoky Mountains to hang with Mom, Dad, Jami, Jarred, Jack, Wannie, Poppa, Aunt Lissa and Uncle Don. For those unfamiliar with those names, that's my parents, my sister and her husband and my nephew, my grandparents, and my aunt and uncle. It'll be so fun.......they are all already there so they're having fun without us, even though they tell me they aren't. I can't wait til Friday!

3 month photos

At one of our showers, a friend of mine gave me a session with a photographer as a gift. Great gift idea, huh? I might steal it sometime! Anyway, we decided to use our session for his 3 month photos. Now, I realize that Abbott is 4 months old now, but give me a break....I'm a working mommy! :) These are some samples of his shots. They are WONDERFUL.

This week

Sunday 7/27: Ryan plays at the vineyard. Abbott stays with Grammie and Pops, Mommy goes to hang out with friends at vineyard and get overheated.

Monday 7/28: Kelly goes to work....has terrible day with really difficult student....comes home and is elated to see Abbott roll over for the first time!

Tuesday 7/29: Happy 4 month birthday, Abbott!! Better day at work for Kelly, Abbott rolls over for Ryan at home. Kelly and Ryan attend party for "The Nashville 9" project....Kelly enjoys the chance to dress up, but ultimately the heels kill her feet.

Wednesday 7/30: Average day. No Major news to report. Hump Day. Kelly goes to bed at 8:30.

Thursday 7/31: Ryan works long day, then goes out to Doug's birthday celebration. Happy 27th birthday, Doug! Kelly stays up making Rice Krispy Treats for her class to eat during the movie they get to watch on Friday.

Friday 8/1: Pre-K graduation at High Hopes. Lots of funny moments.....most notably the "song" the kids learned that they screamed at the audience. Kelly's students love movie time and kind of like the treats. Kelly eats several of the treats herself and then the other teachers finish them off. Ryan has gig at open house party. Kelly goes to bed at 9:30.

Saturday 8/2: Ryan works. Kelly and Abbott have great fun together at home. Abbott smiles A LOT. Kelly and Ryan eat seafood for dinner and stay in for the evening.