TIME WITH GRAMS

You love your grams, Maeve! Yesterday we spent some special time with her when she stopped by, and you impressed her with your ability to "help" hold your bottle, play independently, and with how big your tooth has gotten! You are so sweet with her and smile when she holds and cuddles you! We also love walking around campus with her!

I love this sweet photo of you and grams at your cousins' house last month! You're always so cozy in her arms!

MAEVEY'S FIRST PUMPKIN

This morning we met up with cousins Isla and Louis and auntie Gina and uncle Taylor at a pumpkin patch. You sat in a big corn pit then helped mommy and daddy pick out a couple of pumpkins. It was completely adorable.

ADVENTURES WITH GRANDPA

You and your grandpa. You two are kindred spirits and he loves you so very much, Maeve!

Grandma, who usually keeps you one day a week, was hard at work all last week on a new mural in downtown Raleigh. I had lots of work piling up, so grandpa offered to watch you Friday. And you guys had the best time!

You enjoyed some tummy time!

You visited grandma!

He took you shopping!

And you went swinging, where he took possibly the funniest photo of you of all time!

You two are like peas and carrots!

ALMOST 8 MONTHS!

Dear baby girl, you are almost 8 months old! Some of my favorite things about you at this age:

-You are such a good eater! You are eating 3 "big girl meals" a day (organic, pureed fruit and veggie combinations). Without fail, every single time we feed you, you make the most horrific face after you take your first bite. Then you gobble up the whole meal. That first bite, though! That face! Ha!

-You have started entertaining yourself/happily playing by yourself, and it's so cute to watch! We will sit you in your pack 'n play, surrounded by toys, and you will sit up and play/talk to yourself. Your favorite toys as of late include your soft lamb book, your many dollies, your "keys" and anything that soothes your poor gums!

-You can hold your bottle yourself and bring it to your mouth. You look like such a big girl doing this!

-You love to river dance in your doorway jumper in the kitchen while we're cooking breakfast and dinner. You get especially into it when your dad is beatboxin in the background!

-You sit up in the bath! You are so strong. We are especially impressed by your abdominal and leg strength, little lady!

-You have 1 bottom tooth and lots of ridges on your bottom gum (more teeth soon, we think)!

And my very favorite thing as of late? When you're sitting down and I go to pick you up, you reach for me/my neck. My heart melts every single time.

We love you so much, Maeve! A day doesn't go by that doesn't include your dad and I discussing how amazing, beautiful, happy, smart, strong and sweet you are. We are just obsessed with you my dear, in the best possible way!

YOUR FIRST ATL TRIP!

We are just back from a long girls' weekend in Atlanta spent with grandma and aunties Tina, Jessica and uncle Peter! And it was so wonderful!

Grandma met us at our house very very early Friday morning and we hit the road, just the three of us, on an epic road trip to Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia.

We got into town late Friday, and grandma went straight to Marietta to her art festival to set up while you and I hung back and relaxed at the hotel.

We spent the entire day on Saturday in downtown Marietta where grandma was working on her chalk art. Several weeks (maybe months?) ago the three of us went to grab burgers in Chapel Hill and grandma told us about this festival and its patriotic/Americana theme. So, naturally, I thought it was hilarious to see the subject she finally settled on for her square in the festival, the iconic Bruce Born in the USA album cover. Ha. There was definitely a little wit and irony behind the choice. And it turned out to be amazing/a huge hit!

Auntie Tina and uncle Peter, who live in Marietta, spent the day with us at the festival. They held you, cuddled you, kissed you and maybe fell in love a little. :) And you loved them for sure!
That night you and I had dinner around the square (which boasted an impressive array of restaurants and shops!) at WR Social House. I loved the fish tacos and you the people-watching.

Sunday was my favorite day of the trip! The weather was great so you and I headed to downtown Atlanta to do some sightseeing. Your new dolly, Julia, came along, too.

We visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and did a walking tour of the neighborhood.

Our favorite stops were the actual house where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born (he was born in his home) and the fire department on the corner where he used to play basketball.

Auntie Jessica met us around noon and we did a market crawl around downtown. Krog Sreet Market was our favorite. I didn't take any photos there, though, because we were so into the food! We had the best time catching up with Jess! If there were two people I wish I could live close to it would be Tina and Jess. I miss them so much!

Later we drove up to Marietta to meet back up with grandma and Tina and Peter, and their poodles, Teddy and Ellie! You loved them, of course!

The next morning we headed home, but not before a trip to the market for snacks for the road. You in a grocery cart = still cute.

Maeve, I can't tell you how impressed I am with you as a travel companion. You are great on long car rides, very mellow, and so curious and interested in what's happening!

You were so happy to be home on Monday night! Seeing your daddy and Louis and Lilly made you so happy! And the next morning, as I carried you from room to room on my hip you smiled at everything familiar. You were thrilled to be home!