Happy Birthday Pap

Today we enjoyed  lunch and some pool time at Gigi and Pap's!  Today was Pap's 62nd birthday.  We also celebrated my birthday a little early as well.  We had a great time and look forward to more birthday celebreations throughout the week!

Three Generations

On the way home from Hilton Head we stopped in Orangeburg to introduce Belle to her great grandmother, Granny B, Bri's grandmother.  She lives at a Methodist retirement community.  We enjoyed a great lunch and Belle met all of Granny's friends.  She loved sitting on Granny B's lap as we explored the grounds and even met a few gold fish!  It was a great visit and we were so glad to have Belle meet her.  She will be 87 this August.

Hilton Head

Brian, Belle and I headed down to Hilton Head last Tuesday to meet our very dear friends, the McGalliards for our first double family vacation!  It is the first time that I have truly explored Hilton Head and I loved it!  It is so family friendly with great beaches, biking restaurants, and golf.  We had a wonderful time with the girls and enjoyed the great food, relaxing beach time and the company of the McGalliards.  Can't wait to share many more family memories!!  While we were on our trip Belle cut her second tooth and we are sure that there will be many more soon.  She also almost stood up unassisted on the beach!  Belle learned to eat bread and some veggies cut up from her BFF Elsa...Thanks Elsa!! Thanks to Linda and Luke for introduing us to a great family beach vacation spot!

Ocean Isle

My best friend Lauren and our moms take an annual beach trip together every summer!  Since this is Belle's first year out of the womb on our trip she was able to join us for some beach fun!  We had such a wonderful time playing on the beach, taking walks, yummy food and of course great company and too many laughs...I think my tummy still hurts!

Belle loved meeting Leila and hanging out with her Aunty Lauren...she LOVES her mini SUV...even though I think her Daddy might steal it...for those of you that didn't know we finally broke down and bought an SUV and I am glad we did before our trip!

Belle's first walk on the beach at Ocean Isle...it was a windy day!!

We just fell in love with this BEAUTIFUL beach house!!!

Belle loves the pool and we are already teaching her at an early age that soccer is too cool!

Our condo seriously had the longest hallway I have ever seen!  It was great for crawling and that is what Ms. Belle did..back and forth!  This is a picture of Aunt Lauren waiting for her at the end of one of those crawls!

Thanks Leila, Lauren and Mom for a great girl's weekend!  Can't wait until next year!

Crawling up the stairs!

As many of you know our little girl crawls like a spider...too funny!  The little princess doesn't like her knees to touch the ground!  We were at Grams and Umpa G's and Belle starting crawling up the stairs...of course with supervision and assistance.  Gates are a must at all time in our house these days!

A few weeks of updates!

Belle was fortunate to have two trips to the beach the last two weeks.  Needless to say not giving Mommy much time to update the blog.  Enjoy our little beach baby's adventures!!

4th of July weekend

We headed up to the Mountains to visit Grandpa and Lizzie for the 4th of July.  Our good friends Teresa and Steve joined us for the entire weekend and Bri's friend Matt for a portion of the celebration.  Friday night we enjoyed a leisurely dinner at the club.  Ms. Belle was up WAY past her bedtime, but she did great sitting on Grandpa's lap during dinner eating puffs and playing with her shades.

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On Saturday morning the boys headed to play golf and Teresa(being the good friend that she is ;)) headed down to Wilkesboro with Belle and I to visit my old colleague and friend Bud. It was so great to catch up with him and his wife Bobbie--I have truly missed them since we have left. I was amazed on how much all his grandchildren had grown! Bobbi gave Belle an adorable Elmo cell phone that she loves! Thanks Bobbi! I tried to get a picture, but Belle wasn't cooperating too well.  I hope to make a trip to visit again soon!


Saturday night Jefferson Landing had a pre-4th of July cookout at the pool.  We took Belle and enjoyed a yummy cookout and some good company.  I am so thankful that she loves being outside and enjoys observing her surroundings.  We were even able to get a new picture for the front of the blog!  Thanks T!  After dinner Belle enjoyed some more time with Grandpa....look at that smile...doesn't it make you just melt?

On the 4th Brian and Steve had their "annual" golf photo after we enjoyed a breakfast.  T and I took Belle to the pool; it was a little cold but she enjoyed a little swim time! 

As many of you know...I have been thinking that Belle would cut her first tooth for the last few months.  Teething has blessed our house!  My poor little girl has been miserable with her teeth.  The first one finally cut through right before we left for the mountains so she hasn't been sleeping too well, but she is still my smiley babe!  After dinner we enjoyed some great fireworks from the porch!  Thanks Grandpa, Lizzie, Steve, Teresa and Matt for a great weekend!

Stay tuned for our July adventures...........

9 month check up

Belle had her 9 month check up a few weeks ago and she is a growing girl!  She is 27 1/4" long and has moved up to the 52% in height and weighs 16 pounds 2 ounces and has decreased to the 8% in weight.  Belle's doctor thinks she is progressing well and is a little peanut ;)  We decided to start really working on a sippy cup after her check up and thanks to our wonderful babysitter we actually found one that Belle likes!  She is a particular little girl!  Now she is drinking all her water and milk away from Mommy in her new sippy cup!!

I can stand up ALL by myself

Belle has very strong legs for such a little girl!  Watching her crawl is sooo funny...she looks like a little spider!  With that said, she has started pulling up on everything.  She is so proud of herself with her sense of accomplishment.  Here are a few shots of her watching the dogs on the screened in porch from the double doors.  She just pulled herself up the glass....such a BIG girl!

Happy First Father's Day!

(Belle getting ready for a nap...in her I love Daddy outfit)

Brian celebrated his first Father's Day in June!  Belle worked hard to make him an adorable #1 Dad frame at her babysitter's.  Now we just need to find the perfect picture!  Brian decided he wanted fried chicken and all the fixins for his big day!  So we picked it up and headed over to Gigi and Pap's for a day at the pool.  Brian had a great father's day!  Belle let her Daddy pick out a new putter for his big present that we "guess" his making a big difference in his golf game ;)

Hanging out with Gigi after a fun swim!

Beach Blast

The community that Brian and I live has so many free events in the town square.  Movies, plays and music performances are available all summer long.  We can't wait until Belle is a bit older to enjoy all the community fun!  We always go to the beach blast every year--this the Embers were the main act and Belle was able to enjoy her first beach music festival.  It was a little hot, but we had a great time.  It was great to hang out with Lauren/Matt and Luke!  Belle enjoyed time with Aunt Lauren under the her little "beach" tent.

A few summer updates

We have been enjoying some great time with family and friends over the last few weeks!  Summers seem to fly by these days.  I can't believe it is already July.  Belle has enjoyed visiting with some of our best friends from college but Mommy didn't do a good job documenting our adventures the last few weeks.  Belle has also made friends with our neighbors across the street!  We are so fortunate to have finally met them and know that the kids will have a BLAST hanging out over the years. We hope you enjoy a few updates from the month of June and the celebration of the 4th!