Fall Festivities!

 Greyson has really enjoyed his first Fall season. We have done so many fun things! 

He got his first pumpkin from Nana when we visited that cute little farmers market in PA, but then later while we were there, we got to go to Applefest!

Applefest is a fun craft type fair that has live music, great food & lots of fun things to shop for. I had not been up north & able to go for 9 years! I used to go every year right up until I graduated from high school...since then, mom & dad have gone on their own. It was fun to get to take Greyson this year & relive the fun memories I had of that place. 

I was able to get lots of cute items for Christmas presents & we couldn't go home without getting a big bag of Kettle Corn!

The fall trees during that time were absolutely gorgeous! We got to meet up with my aunt & uncle & cousin, Ryan while we were there. It was fun to see them & walk through the displays together. 

Pennsylvania is about 6 weeks ahead of Alabama in weather. While we usually have warmer temperatures, our trees & flowers..etc. always fall or bloom later in the year. We left the cooler PA temps & came home to some nice 80+ degree weather! It hit 96 one day after we got home & I was glad Greyson was able to get some more wear out of his shorts & t-shirts. 

However, now that we are just about into November, & with the help of hurricane Sandy I'm sure, cold weather has blown its way over. It has been a beautiful sunny 60 degrees this week, but the evenings are much cooler & we had to break out a warm coat & hat for Greyson on our latest trip to the pumpkin patch. 

We started a tradition going to the pumpkin patch with our friends just to enjoy the fall festivities & pick out our pumpkins for the front porch. We were so excited to take Greyson to the Cotton Picking Festival at the pumpkin patch this year! 

He loves anything with steering wheels so we got him on a neat tractor. Our friends kids, Lexie & Jace were along & they all wore their matching Owl shirts that my good friend, Jenn, made on her last visit. They were TOO cute!

Our attempt at a good family photo took several tries...good enough for me!

This one makes me laugh because his face says it all...."No, I don't want to smile....Just kidding!" haha

I just LOVE their owl shirts! We saved them just for this occasion. Greyson's has a little top hat & bowtie & says "I am a hoot", Lexie's is a princess owl & Jace has a rockstar owl complete with a mohawk & guitar =) They definitely capture each one's personality!

Greyson loving on sweet Lexie =)

He loved getting to see all the cute little animals in the barn...he's been doing this thing lately where he squeals & hollers very loudly whenever he encounters something small & furry...our cat isn't too fond of it & he's been known to scare a puppy or 2 with his noises!

He wasn't too sure about the cotton though...we tried to get him to pick some & he just didn't want to touch it! You know you are in the south when you get to walk in the cotton fields & pick some =)

During this festival, they put on a cival war reenactment. We visited the "camp" & got to see lots of soldiers & other participants making lunch as they came back from battle. Surprisingly the cannon that they fired several times didn't seem to phase Greyson at all...he is usually scared of loud noises so we were glad he did great.

Finally at the pumpkin patch, we tried to get the traditional "kids sitting on a pumpkin" photo...but he was very unsure & hates feeling unsteady. If he's off balance at all he starts to get upset...our riding toys & rocking horse will have to wait until he can firmly plant those feet on the ground =) 

So we fixed that problem by sitting him on a smaller pumpkin & let him play with another one in front of him. He was fine then... =) 

We had so much fun picking out our pumpkins!

Everything we did & everything we saw, had this little guy tuckered out before we even got out of the patch! He was sound asleep when we arrived at the car...all in all it was a successful, fun day & we are already looking forward to next year when he will be walking on his own & maybe even able to pick out his own pumpkin! =)

Tonight, we are going to our church's Trunk or Treat event. As Christians, we don't feel right "celebrating" Halloween for what it stands for so instead we use it as an opportunity to meet the kids in our community & pass out invitations to our Kings Kids program held on Sunday mornings. 

We dress up in fun, NON- scary costumes & line our cars up in the parking lot. Even though Greyson is still too little for candy, he is still participating by wearing the adorable little puppy dog outfit that my inlaws got him for Christmas last year. He was only 2 weeks old then, but we have looked forward to him getting to wear it ever since! We have been practicing saying, Woof, Bow Wow & Ruff...hopefully one of those will come out tonight. I also got him the cutest little crocheted pail at the Pumpkin Patch that he can carry to get his goodies. Gigi (who has decided to change her Grandma name to Mimi) is prepared with yogurt bites & baby snacks so he won't have to give up ALL of his goodies to his parents =) We will also visit G-daddy & G-mama after the event & they have some things for him too. 

I can't wait to share that with you later...but for now, everyone be safe this Halloween! 

Our life lately

It's October!!

I can't believe how fast this year has gone.

I am amazed how LONG it seemed that I was pregnant & then once Greyson arrived, life has just flown by. He will be a year old in just a couple more months.

 

Because it feels like these last few months have been a blur...I will try to bring you up to date on what has been going on in our lives lately.

After all the wedding buzz & my friend Jenn came to visit, we headed to Matt's state horse show the first weekend in September. He showed in 2 classes...one had around 80 horses showing & the other had 30. He won 2nd place in BOTH shows! Of course, we were hoping for a first, but reserve champion was great!

Greyson did great...he was relatively quiet during the shows & seemed fascinated by all the horses.

The rest of the month included playdates, time with Matt's family, a birthday party & a visit from Nana & Papa Ritchey =)

Greyson had his 9 month appointment on Sept. 10th. No shots this time, but he had a finger prick...he did so good. Here he is checking out his bandaid.

We celebrated Grandparents day with G'pa & Gigi (because Nana & Papa were still in PA)

Hanging out with G'pa in the hammock at the farm.

I love his little lion shirt & shoes =)

Greyson's little friend Jon William turned 1 year old! He had an adorable cowboy theme (notice his shirt with a JW on it) complete with cow printed balloons. Greyson has not mastered crawling yet & all of the other babies his age were going everywhere! It was cute to see them so infatuated with each other though. Nana was in town by then so she got to come with us.

We did a lot of shopping while Nana was visiting =)

While my parents were in town, we got word that my grandma (Mama, my dad's mother) was not doing well. She has been in the hospital for several weeks with some physical problems & my parents decided to cut the trip short. Since I have been working from home & had no real ties keeping me in town, I decided to go back with them to PA.

Since Alabama is about 6 weeks behind PA in weather, I had to pull out most of Greyson & I's fall clothes. We got everything packed up in the car, said goodbye to daddy & hit the road. We made it to PA Monday evening & I have been here almost 2 weeks. I thought I would stay a little over a week & get a ticket home, but the tickets were SO expensive! I finally found one for a great price flying out next week. It's been a LONG time away from Matt but thankfully we have been able to skype & it has made it a little easier. Greyson thought skyping with daddy was so funny! He just kept "flapping" his arms, squealed & stared at the screen.

We have had a lot of fun but have also been able to visit Mama in the hospital several times. She LOVES seeing Greyson & he beams at her every time we go in. She is on the road to recovery & God has really pulled her through. She is very tired & weak...I'm glad we have had this time together since I live so far away.

 It is gorgeous here! The fall leaves have turned almost everywhere & I snapped several pictures during a drive out to a fresh market. They had pumpkins, mums, fresh produce & a little craft store.

 Nana got him his FIRST pumpkin! He loved it =)

 

Glad Nana gets to spend time with her little baba...

...and Papa too!

 

 

Greyson was enthralled with that pumpkin....=) We LOVE fall!

Greyson has been crawling a little better since we've been here, he has cut 2 teeth (Finally!) & he has learned a few more words along with some funny head shaking moments.

Sunday night dad was preaching & mentioned that he had told Greyson he didn't want any competition during the service because he gets so much attention from the congregation (of course he is joking & talks about Greyson during his services all the time =)
Greyson was very good during this particular service but at one point he let out 2 very loud "screams" while looking at the people behind us & it got everyones attention. Dad took that moment to tell Greyson he needed to "straighten up"while laughing at his little antics & at that EXACT moment Greyson started shaking his head NO! It was so funny, everyone just started laughing! Another time, a friend of ours asked him if he was ready for a baby sister & he shook his head No again! I think he knows exactly what we are saying...hahaha

Well, I hope this has brought you up to date a little bit on what has been going on with us lately!
Lots more to catch up on, but I will try to do that soon =)



8 Months!

 

Here we are...another month come & gone. I can't believe how much time has passed within the last 2 blog posts! We have been really busy...& I'm trying to remember everything that Greyson is into these days. =) Right at this moment, we are enjoying the company of Nana & Grampa! (Yes, we are saying Grampa right now, not Grandpa or Pawpaw...although it's being debated...& Nana keeps saying Pawpaw anyway...we will see) -- Anyway, it has been wonderful having them here all the way from PA. I am so glad that they have gotten to see us every other month since he was born & haven't missed out on too many milestones. He is a couple weeks into his 9th month..so I'm playing catch up on this 8 month post, but they are getting to see Greyson's NEW & improved personality...this is for SURE! =)

 

Greyson

so far you...

 

*STILL don't have one single tooth...but you are eating SO good. You are basically eating tablefood (as long as what we're having for dinner is soft & easy for you to "gum") with the occasional baby food jar mixed with cereal & your yogurt.

*are doing so well with all kinds of finger foods...we let you feed yourself most of the time & can't quite figure out if you are a lefty or a righty. You pick up & eat out of each hand regularly!

*weighed 24 pounds at the beginning of your 8th month, but you have lost 2 pounds since then =)

*still don't really crawl, but somehow you get around by either scooting on your bottom or rolling to your destination.

*have everyone wrapped around your little finger...everyone comments on how sweet you are because when they talk to you, you cock your head to the side all shy like & give a big grin.

*sleep pretty good all night...as long as those teeth are ok, you rarely wake up with in any 8 hr span

*go down very easily for your naps & for bedtime...all I have to do is lay you in your crib, give you Mr. Beary & you are content to do the rest on your own. Usually you are asleep with in just a few minutes.

*got some new books & enjoy story time while occasionally turning the pages

*are getting better at pulling yourself up...the dr. thinks you might walk before crawling...we will see!

*have learned how to push up to a sitting position. Getting from sitting to tummy was easy but you figured out how to use your head to push off the ground & get back into a sitting position...it is funny to watch!

*Still breastfeed about 4-6 times a day but they are short feedings & we are starting to cut back...I will miss it!

*officially in 12-24 month clothes...I packed up most of your 9 month things before you even actually hit 9 months =( but we are excited for NEW clothes! =) unfortunately most of your fall wardrobe fits NOW & it's not even cold yet!

*Spend more time playing on the floor than you do your jumperoo...it's still a favorite past time though

*have gotten a little more attached to mommy & are acting very unhappy if I am away too long. Hopefully this won't last long...

*act like you rediscover your hands every day! It's so funny to wach you "playing" with your hands while holding them in the air & acting like one of them is going to "get you"

*love the mirror...I think YOU have figured out it's really YOU in there =)

*clap to patty cake & have started saying buh bye & waving

 

What we are looking forward to:

 

*being a little doggie for halloween (costume from Gigi & G'pa for Christmas this last year)

*Going to Gatlinburg with all the Crawford's

*Thanksgiving in PA with the Ritchey's

*FIRST Birthday!! & having Nana, Grampa, U. Brandon & A. Richelle here (if everything works out)



Visitors!

This past month we have had lots of friends visit =) 

Greyson got to have a couple play dates with his good buddy, Jace. Jace is 7 months older but they are about the same size. Lately the pool has become a fun place to hang out in the 85+ degree weather! 

I had more pictures, but had to borrow this one from Jace's mommy since I haven't gotten those pictures off my phone yet. I will post more later! 

Who's ready for some college football?!? WE ARE!!! can you guess who roots for who in Alabama? This picture was SO cute...they had been "tackling" each other prior to this, but we're not sure who really won. Finally they called a truce & were back to being buds...we are excited for this season! Not sure Auburn is going to do all that well this year, but WAR EAGLE! (Oh & pretty sure Jace is the cutest little Alabama fan out there...but we can't watch football together when AL & Auburn play each other=)

My bff Jenn got to finally come visit us all the way from Indiana! She has been my friend since we were 4 & 5 years old making her my longest/oldest friendship to date. We grew up together, attended college together & then she was maid of honor in my wedding. She photographed my maternity pictures but never got to meet Greyson until now! She was able to spend 2 whole weeks with us & we had SO much fun! 

Of course Greyson took to her right away & they became best buds =)

Jenn got to experience her first horse show with us. She was super excited & Greyson was just ready to get in & out...=) it was HOT & he was sleepy...

Matt did really good & won 1st in one class, 2nd in the other & then it was time to go!

We did lots of shopping, eating out, visited with friends & just spent time talking & reliving fun memories of the past. I miss living near her & we always have a great time when we are together. She is one of those friends that we can go without talking for awhile, but pick right back up where we left off. 

Of course Jenn being a photographer also spent a few days taking Greyson's "9 month pictures"...He technically isn't 9 months for a few more days but I really wanted her to take them & she did an amazing job! Here are several pictures she took of us with Greyson =)

Thanks for coming Jenn & for taking these wonderful, amazing pictures!!! 

I have shared her talent before but if anyone is every interested in her photography, she does EVERYTHING! You can check out her facebook site here!