RICE CEREAL!!!!

We started Gabe on solid foods yesterday (he is 4 1/2 months old). It was a complete success! He gobbled down his first full serving of rice cereal like an old pro. I remembered Allie just pushed it out with her tongue when we first tried her on solids. Gabe actually sucked the food right off the spoon. I am so proud of him. Even more proud because he had been waking up EVERY night around 2-4 for a feeding. Not last night, he slept until 7:30 a.m.! I hope this means he will start sleeping through the night again.

Girls Weekend

What a great group of girlfriends I have. We all met up this past weekend in Atlanta for a much needed girls weekend. The guys (thank you husbands) watched the kids while the moms enjoyed each others company for 2 glorious days. I love you girls, I had a great time catching up. I was ready to see my kiddos again. Allie greeted me with "I love you too much momma, I missed you while you were out of town". Gabe greeted me with a dirty diaper. Ah, back to reality.

4 months and growing...

Gabe had his 4 month dr. appt. today. He weighs 13 lb. 14 oz. (40th percentile) and is 25 inches long (50th percentile for height). Everything checked out great and we got the green light to start rice cereal. He has been reaching for our foods and drinks and will open his mouth...so I am anxious to give it a try and see how he takes it. I hope this helps him sleep through the nights on a regular basis. Currently, he sleeps through the night about every other night. AND, I figured since we were in the neighborhood, we should go ahead and get Allie's flu shot. At one point I was holding both wailing kids and I looked at the nurse and asked if I was crazy for doing both kids' shots during one visit.... and I have a sick husband at home. Pitiful Stephen has been battling a stomach virus for the past 24 hours. I think he has turned the corner, but it was a busy day trying to take care of the 3 of them.

Fly Fishing

Stephen, Rob and Charlie took a trip to the Chattooga River yesterday to hike, camp, and fly fish. This was Stephen's first experience fly fishing and from the amount of fish they caught (so they say)...I think he's hooked.

The big one got away. It's hard to focus on the fish with Stephen wearing those waders.

Back view of spandex waders two sizes too small.

The picture says it all....ouch. Stephen's Christmas wish list: XL waders

Cabin pics

Below are a ton of pics from our weekend in the mountains. Susan took a lot of great pics and I couldn't choose, so you get to enjoy them all.

PBJ

Gabe is changing so much. He found his feet last week. Now, he has realized his hands actually work. He reaches for objects in front of him and takes everything to his mouth. He also scoots a little now. I found him partially under a chair in our den the other day. I left him on his back in the middle of the floor and he managed to roll to his belly and scoot himself under the chair. So, today I left him lying next to Allie while she was eating her lunch....a PBJ. MISTAKE. The next thing I know Allie comes crying to me saying Gabe had eaten her sandwich. I said "WHAT"??????!!!! So, I ran downstairs and found a quarter (I cut her sandwiches in quarters) of Allie's PBJ oozing out between Gabe's fist. He had grabbed it and it was all smooshed in his hand.

Blue Ridge, GA

We spent this past weekend in a cabin in Blue Ridge, GA with Stephen's parents, brother, and sister-in-law. The weather was absolutely perfect; afternoons in the high 60s to low 70s and nights in the 40s. The cabin was amazing. We spent a lot of time outside enjoying the beautiful fall leaves either relaxing in rocking chairs, soaking in the hot tub, getting beat in ping pong, or keeping warm by the outdoor fireplace. It is always so nice spending time with Stephen's family. I seriously have the best in-laws! Thanks for such a wonderful time guys...looking forward to hanging out in PA in a couple of weeks. Below are just a couple of pics of the weekend (compliments of Susan). More to come!!!