Levi and his spoon...

During Levi's snack time this afternoon, I decided to let him try using a spoon. For those of you who don't know, Levi has adamantly refused to let us feed him with a spoon for many months. Which means he is a champ at eating finger foods. But it's time for him to learn a new skill. He did a great job! I got so excited about it, I called Ashley down from upstairs. Of course, just as Ashley was taking his picture, Levi got mad at me because I was suggesting that he use the right end of his spoon. SO...y'all get to see a classic Levi pitching a fit face!
But seriously, Levi, show us how it's done! First you take the spoon and dip it into the yogurt.
Then pull it to your mouth...
And smile, because goodness, it feels GREAT to have yogurt smeared all over you. What a mess but he loved it.
I have a new side job...resident blogger and property inspector for Heritage Landscape Services (Ashley's company). Basically, Levi and I will be riding around Columbia, checking out the properties and snapping pictures. I'll let Ashley know if bushes need pruning, if there are problems with irrigation, etc. If you're interested in following that blog, I've linked it to the right and here. I think the blog will be an informal way to communicate with our customers and highlight some of Heritage's spectacular work around the Midlands.
Here's Levi doing his "work"-- rifling through the coupons in the ValPak that comes in the mail. This was a good 15 minutes of fun!

Trip to Ferguson, etc

Last week Levi and I spent Tuesday through Friday in Ferguson with my parents. It was a good change of pace (and it helped Ashley get some things done around our house while we were gone). On the way up I stopped at Harris Blvd in Charlotte to eat lunch at Panera. This is another good tip for traveling moms--Panera is a great restaurant to stop at because they're always clean and in well-kept areas. Once at Mama and Papa's, we really just hung out around the house, aside from lunch with Craig in Lenoir, going to the pool at the YMCA with Aunt Donna, Dare and Alexander, and breakfast with the family.

Thursday morning we met my aunts and uncles at the 50s Restaurant in downtown Wilkesboro. Here's a picture I took riding along 268 on the way to town. This stretch is always so pretty and with the morning fog, it was perfect!
Here's Levi with his NC family (or part of them) at the 50s--they have the best French toast!
Papa got a new John Deere lawnmower so of course, Levi had to go for a ride!
Getting ready to leave Friday morning. Levi got a stomach bug on Thursday so he wasn't feeling completely up to par--and Mama's back was hurting. Everyone was falling apart!
Levi fell asleep before I even got to I-77. And he slept all the way to Rock Hill (where we stopped at the Panera there!).
Beautiful clouds and fields along Highway 421.
Back in West Columbia....Levi sitting in the sandwagon that Aunt Jeanette gave him for his birthday.
And here's my latest bargain find--a Little Tikes Swing Along Castle-- $10 at my neighbor's yardsale on Saturday! It retails for $129!
And finally, Ashley building Levi a tower of toys on Sunday. This fell seconds after I took the picture!

A train, zoo, shower and swing!

This past week was a busy one. Tuesday afternoon my friend Melissa's son Paul stayed with Levi and I for a few hours. We had fun pretending to make a train out of the dining room chairs (and Levi's highchair) and visiting my neighbors. Levi loved having a "friend" over.
Wednesday we went to the zoo for a walk with the Weigels. The elephants were out!


Chilling with the girls.
Hanging out in the toy basket that Granna made.
And finally....Levi's new bed! His old bed was recalled by Jardine because the slats could break. A month later, we have a new bed and Levi seems pretty pleased. Thanks to Ashley's parents, we had a crib in the interim (so Levi wasn't sleeping on the floor, if you wondered!). It was a major headache so I'm glad the whole recall process is over.

Saturday we had a baby shower for the Englands. Jenny is expecting baby Eliza soon (around July 27).
The spread...Buffy, Katie and I went all out! Yum yum!
And the decorations...it was a book-themed party so I set out some of Levi's favorite books.
The police car was a hit with the younger crowd...Levi playing with Nicholas, who is 2.
During Levi's Sunday nap, I made a trivet out of corks. A long time ago I made one of these for Mama and Papa. Finally I've collected enough corks to make another one!
And the project for Sunday...putting up our backyard swing! We brought the swing with us from our Gilbert house (it was my parents' swing when I was growing up) but it's been waiting to be hung for 2 years. So yesterday, Ashley took care of that! It looks great. We'll definitely get a lot of use of out it.
And Levi being Levi...munching on dirt.
For the past few days he's been making this scrunched up lip face. I think his teeth are bothering him...but it looks so funny!

July 4th Weekend

July has started off great. Busy, but fun.

This week Buffy and Holly (3+ months old) came to visit. Levi already loves his friend Holly.
July 3 we went to the birthday party of the Weigel twins (two weeks younger than Levi). Before the festivities got started, Ashley and Levi checked out their vegetable garden. Very impressive!
Here is Levi with two of his favorite girls---Kate on the left, Maggie on the right. The girls are sitting with twins from John and Dottie's church.
Beautiful birthday cake!!
Dottie was super smart and had the girls have their cake outside in their birthday suits.
Maggie liked the cake....Kate did not (threw it off her tray several times). Levi was willing to help out.
July 4th we went on the lake with our friends, Harry and Katie, and some other folks. Levi, aka Panama Jack, wore Harry's hat for a little bit.
Enjoying the water.
Our whole family in the lake, testing out Levi's lifejacket. He really doesn't mind it, thank goodness!
Levi enjoying some adult conversation.
and learning to drive the boat with Justin's help.
A fun surprise for us...watermelons!
Growing in our flower garden!!