Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads in my life!  I am supremely thankful for each of you.

This is a picture of my grandfather (left) and uncle in front of my great-grandfather's medical office about 70 years ago.

And here's a picture my dad and I staged last fall with McCord, my Uncle B and his dog Peppie.

The other day I walked in on a little conversation between Bo and McCord and it went a little something like this:

Bo : : McCord, I have something very important to tell you.

McCord : : {silence}

Bo : : Do you know what Sunday is?

McCord : : {silence}

Bo : : Now pay attention here, son, because this is really important.

McCord : : {silence}

Bo : : Sunday is Father's Day.

McCord : : {silence}

Bo : : ..........and the sky's the limit!

McCord is 11 months old!

Dear McCord,

Today you are 11 months old, and your Daddy and I are madly in love with you. 

We are so amazed at how much you've learned this month.  You've amended your crawling style using your left knee to support your weight and you kick the other leg out to the side to push and guide - it's sort of like your rudder.  We think you made this adjustment to protect one of your knees from the hardwood floor.  It's a little awkward, but it works for you and I adore your ingenuity! 

You're pretty good at pulling up now, and you practice this new skill when I'm unloading the dishwasher and folding clothes from the dryer.  When you hear me open up the dishwasher or dryer, you come scooting my way (quickly with that rudder of yours!) to practice your new trick. 

Here are some things you've done recently that we don't want to forget:

• You reach out from the stroller to hold your Daddy's hand when we walk around the block
• I'll never forget one time when you were nursing, you stopped, looked up at me, and leaned in to kiss me on the lips, then went back to eating.  Melt my heart!
• When I brush your hair at night, you like to take the brush from me and brush my hair.
• You've also learned how to pick up two things with one hand!  It was quite a revelation for you when you discovered this and Aiya and I enjoyed watching that light go off in your head.  Now you do it all the time. 

This month we went to feed the ducks...



...and learned that those geese are quite bossy!  We were completely outnumbered - I had to hold you the whole time because I was afraid they were going to run away with you!

• You are on the go!  Your favorite thing right now is to explore all the corners of our house.  You know how to open a cracked door, and it's not unusual to find you contentedly sitting on the floor of the pantry playing with all kinds of items Daddy and I didn't even know we had.  Same goes for my closet!
• You've also discovered all of the door stops in the house and you love to pull the white cap off of each one!
• Most recently, you and Daddy devised a little game with your paci.  He pretends like he's going to put it in his mouth and you take it out of yours and try to fit it in his mouth.  This makes Daddy roar with laughter!  You are quite a funny little fellow.

This is an especially sentimental month for us - this 11th month of your life - because it's the last month we'll be living on Surrey Lane.  The day we brought you home from the hospital, I cried when we turned onto Surrey Lane, because I just knew that we would have so many wonderful memories in this place.  We couldn't wait to get you home.  I still remember walking you through each room and telling you all about the house and how we used each room.  I was so proud to show you your nursery - by far my favorite room in the house - because we assembled it especially for you.  We are so thankful for you and for the ways that you've enriched our life here and forever. 

Here you are standing next to your maple on your 11 month birthday.  My how you and the maple have grown!

McCord, Monkey, Baby, we love you like crazy.

Georgia Football, Vacation, & A Treehouse

I'm far,far behind on blogging so this will be a catch-up post. 

1. Happy belated Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there - I had hoped to do a creative Mother's Day post, but it never got done.  Maybe next year!
2. Georgia Football
For all of you who don't know, my husband is a HUGE Georgia fan.  A couple of weeks ago, my in-laws invited us to the Augusta Bulldog Club to hear football Coach Mark Richt speak.  Bo was lucky enough to get up close and personal and talked about the experience for days afterwards.  Here he is getting Coach Richt to sign a jersey for Mc - a gift from my Father-in-law!  Papa, Bo has proudly hung the jersey in the nursery - not in the closet with all of his other clothes - but next to his crib (I thought you'd appreciate that!).

This was my first experience going to the Augusta Bulldog Club - but Bo has been many times before.  In fact last year when I was pregnant, we didn't know whether we were having a boy or a girl.  When Bo went to the dinner, his soon-to-be-fatherly role took over and he purchased a print for Coach Richt to sign for Baby Redmond.  Bo said he was so star-struck seeing Coach Richt up close that after waiting in line, Mark looked him in the eyes as he prepared to sign the print and said, "Now whose name do I put on this?"  Bo said he waffled for a second not knowing whether it should be made out to "McCord" or "Eliza" and as he puts it, "pulled the trigger" and guessed.  "Coach, make it out to 'McCORD'!" Amazing that Bo was right about the sex of the baby. 

For our Baby Bulldog

3. Mansfield Plantation
Years ago, my mom bought us a gift certificate to this bed and breakfast in Georgetown, SC.  It is an old rice mill plantation on the Black River and Bo and I immediately fell in love with the place.  If you've never heard of it before, check out their website and plan your trip. 

This is our third year visiting the plantation, this time with a baby!  Here are Bo and McCord sitting down to eat breakfast on our first morning. 

McCord ate eggs, sausage, grits, stuffed French Toast, strawberry blueberry pancakes, fresh fruit, and yogart.  What a good time to be experimenting with solids!

We explored the plantation

 swinged in the hammock (or is it 'swung'?!)

Went to the beach



Doen't he look like a little kamikazi pilot?

  Soaked up the sun

Went for long walks

Bo fished while McCord and I antiqued in downtown Georgetown

We stayed on the second floor of this building - the old kitchen - with close views of the River.  When Mc went to sleep at night, Bo and I spread a quilt out on the lawn and had dinner under the stars (the bugs are bad, so bring bug spray!).

 What a great time we had on our very first Redmond Family Vacation and celebrated Bo's 30th birthday!

4. A Treehouse

For those of you who missed this post, my dad is building a treehouse in my parent's yard for the grandkids.  Here are a couple of pictures of McCord and Doe Doe last week checking out the progress he's made.  I've heard that he just put a roof on it and will continue to post updates.  I am sure it will evolve over time.

That's it for now!  I'm single-moming it this week as Bo is at Commercial Lending school.  We miss him and can't wait for him to come home!

McCord is 10 Months Old

First family vacation with Daddy and Mama to Mansfield Plantation in Georgetown, SC

Dear McCord,

You are 10 months old.  With every day that passes, I am in awe of the little boy God has created.  You are tender and sweet.  Your usual silly and playful side is tempered with shy and serious times.  You are easily comforted and entertained.  I am so impressed by how adaptable you are to whatever situation we're in.  You love smiling at strangers in the check-out line at the grocery store, and you are content to travel several hours in the car. 

As an infant you slept through the night at only 8 weeks old, and you have continued to do that regardless of whether you're in a new environment and sleeping in a pack n' play.  Tonight however, you're cutting your two front teeth and every couple of hours you cry out in the darkness.  Oh!  How I've relished scooping you up and holding you in my arms until you fall asleep.  It's been so long since you've needed me in that way, and I'm treasuring these middle-of-the-night moments.  Lately, you've found comfort in reaching for my hair and rubbing it between your fingers.  And I am comforted in knowing that brings you peace. 

One of your signature smiles

Your daddy and I have so enjoyed watching your personality unfold.  Already, there are things you do that are "so McCord" - like giving us one of your signature looks - a smile so subtle with eyes so full of meaning - you can have us laughing hystarically in seconds flat.  The expressions you've mastered are so grown-up and intentional that sometimes I have to remind myself that you're only 10 months old.  Amazing how your eyes say so much and you can't even talk yet!

You, my son, are a gift and a true blessing from God.  How proud I am to be called your Mama.  Not a day passes that I don't thank God for you.  Remember this one thing: You are loved beyond measure. 

Standing next to your maple with Daddy on Easter Sunday, just a week prior to your 10 month birthday

Look at how much you've grown!

Happy 10 month birthday, McCord!

Love, Mama


10 months:

• your smile: 2 bottom teeth and cutting 2 top teeth
• favorite food: strawberries
• favorite pastimes: getting into the dog bowl and rearranging the records

Expanding your taste in music

• loves: kindermusic, Rocky, Hank, Jackson, and the vaccume cleaner
• signature gesture: throwing your head in your hands when you're tired
• lately: you've been kissing us, Rocky, your grandparents, toys and also sticking out your tongue - but not at the same time
• this month you: experienced your first Come-See-Me, first Easter, and first Redmond Family Vacation to Mansfield Plantation
• I'm surprised you enjoy: going to the assisted living facility and visiting elderly folks
• you've gotten pretty good at: crawling/sliding around on your belly to get places

Watch out world!

• you're still trying to: pull up to a standing position
• we've been trying to teach you: sign language and how to wave

What a joy it has been!