What we've been up to

This picture sums up life with a 10 month old...

So, if you've wondered why I haven't blogged lately, we've been on the go!  Here are a few pictures of what McCord's been up to. 

Playing with my toys

Watching Daddy work in the yard from the nursery window



Checking out my baby pool toys

Getting repeatedly smooched by my parents

Watching Daddy bathe Rocky

Playing in the back yard



Swinging in my cool hand me down hat from Cousin Bayer



Waiting on the water to warm up

Watching Daddy work in the yard from the deck {we also watch Daddy work in the yard from the driveway, the front porch, the front lawn, and wherever Daddy goes, I want to watch him!}

...and today, McCord saw the coolest thing ever after our morning walk: a turtle in our yard eating a snake!  This image is not for the faint of heart.

Today has been a great day for McCord and the turtle.

Not a great day for the snake.

Happy Monday!

Hello Folks!

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!

Happy Birthday Doe Doe!

Cheers to living the High Life!

A Few Words For Your Wednesday...



via Nine & Sixteen



Life is good.

Happy Birthday Bo!

Dear Husband,

I am so happy to celebrate your 30th birthday with you today!  It has been so much fun to get a glimpse of your childhood by looking through the photo albums that your mom compiled.  Here are a few things I noticed last night as you shared them with me:

Monkey looks more like you than you think.
You were really proud of your Pepsi shirt.
Superman pjs look really good on you.

I know that every year of your childhood - the trips to the lake - the violin lessons - family celebrations - collectively shaped you into the man you are today, and for that I am truly thankful.  If it weren't for you, I would never know what the weather is going to be, nor would I know who sang that song that's playing on the radio.  And what a terrible existance I'd have if I didn't know that Georgia got a 5-star recruit and that this season is going to be much better than last.  I am also really thankful that you know everything about history that I don't know, because if it weren't for you, I'd mix up some terrible detail about Adolf Hitler.   

Here's a picture of Bo's sister Meredith and Bo when he was Mc's age.  You'll see that Mc is wearing the same outfit (in the top picture) as Bo.  Frances made this for baby Bo and we are so thankful that she saved it.

You said something interesting as you told me about each photo: that one day, Monkey will be looking through a photo album sharing the memories of his childhood the same way we did last night.  He'll likely say the same things,
"Oh, that's the backyard of our first house!"
"I remember that birthday gift!"
"My parents still put that same angel on the Christmas tree!"

Three generations of Redmonds

...and it makes me realize that we are building our son's memories right now, same as your parents did 30 years ago.  I'm so thankful that McCord has you to guide and shape him.  I look forward to the day when he puts his tiny feet in your shoes (both literally and figuratively) and follows you around.  If he turns out to be exactly like you, I will be the proudest Mama in the world....and I especially look forward to the superman pjs. 




Taken today wearing a special birthday message for you!



Happy birthday Bo!
Cheers,
Wife

Happy Easter

This was Bo's Easter basket when he was a little boy, and thankfully his mom saved it for him to share with his son.  Bo says he can still remember going to Easter egg hunts with this basket.  I can't wait for McCord to do the same!

On the grounds of our church right after the butterfly release prior to the service.