Too long......

My blogging came to a halt about three months ago due to my lack of motivation. However, I'm back and in that three months my little man has changed so much! Most importantly, he is walking. But he's also talking more, copying everything we do, and loves more than ever playing with his dog. I could write about all the things we've done over the past few months but I think pictures will do more justice.

Thor is 1 and Garet is 33!

Thor's 1st Birthday, Super Hero Party

Thor's new favorite spot, Dutch's bed

At Briley's Farm

At the Christmas tree farm

Thor "walking" Dutch

The Best of Friends

With each day that passes, Thor and Dutch have more and more fun together. Last night before Garet got home from work, those two chased each other around the living room. Thor would push his truck towards Dutch, and then Dutch would chase Thor licking his toes. I wish I could have gotten more on film but I ran out of memory :(

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Pahl

Thor (and Garet and I) had a great visit from grandma and grandpa. Time with family always seems to go by too quickly. Thor did a great job showing all his moods while they were here :) Most of the time he was quite happy, smiling non-stop, but other times he was being grumpy (poor guy is teething again!). He was given a new book about animals that he loves (it makes animal noises that Dutch is not so sure about). He enjoyed being read to and rocked by his grandma on several occasions. He got a new highchair (and the box the highchair came in was great to climb on)! He spent one afternoon just with grandma and grandpa, while his mom and dad went to lunch and a movie (SO nice to spend time alone with Garet once in a while). And one (very hot) day we all took a trip to Edenton.

We are counting down the days until we fly to CA for Christmas. Wished everyone lived a little bit closer to one another. Maybe some day.......

Bittersweet

This past week has truly been bittersweet. I'll try to be short in my writing, and pick the best photos (there are so many!). Last Tuesday, Thor and I set off for Elkin, NC, to spend a few days with my dad while my mom is in China on a mission trip with my aunt. While she can't contact us directly, the leader of the group is updating a blog to keep family informed of what's going on. She'll be back a week from tomorrow. If you're interested in reading click here.

Garet, Thor and I arrived in Elkin late Tuesday night. The next morning around 6am, Thor and I were sad to see Garet leave for Greenville. Unfortunately, he couldn't miss work and school. As great as it was to see grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, we missed Garet the whole time we were apart. Wednesday, Thor and I walked downtown to show our support and love to a great solider who lost his life in Afghanistan about a week ago. It was incredibly moving to see the sidewalks full of people who were there to honor his life. Please keep his wife and family in your prayers, along with the other soldiers who are still over there. If you would like to read about Mark visit the memorial website here.

Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, Thor was able to spend time with his Uncle Matt. Matt filled up a little pool for Thor to play in. He had a GREAT time! Thursday evening, Thor, my dad, and I left for Knoxville, TN. Thor was such a great traveler and slept almost the entire way. Friday was spent having a picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains and then later walking around Gatlinburg with his great-grandparents and grandfather. The little man was so tired by the end of the day. Saturday evening we went over to my aunt and uncle's house for a cookout. He had a great time being passed from person to person, playing with the dogs, and exploring a new place. It was sad to leave Knoxville on Sunday but Thor was ready to see his daddy (as was I!). We made it back to Elkin by 5pm, in time for croquet and a cookout celebrating my dad's birthday. Garet had been in Elkin since Saturday and was anxious to see his little man when we arrived. We woke up early Monday morning and drove back to Greenville with enough time to hang out with Julie, Brandon and Matthew before they moved back to Yadkinville for good.

He was so cute playing in the pool (at my parents house, Elkin, NC)

He would rather crawl around now than be held (Great Smoky Mountain, TN)

He enjoyed walking through Gatlinburg (TN)

It's Bumblebee from Transformers! (Gatlinburg, TN)

This is right before Thor pulled Macy to him by her tail (Knoxville, TN)

Exploring the back yard at my aunt and uncle's house (Knoxville, TN)

Would not put that green ball down the whole weekend! Papa gave it to him :)
(Great grandparent's house, Knoxville, TN)

Together again!! (Elkin, NC)

Crawling around the front yard while the adults played croquet

He wasn't too crazy about wearing that hat

Independence Day 2009

Last July 4th was spent in Lynchburg, VA, with Thor still safe inside of me. This July 4th, he spent the weekend playing, talking, crawling, laughing, eating, and sleeping in Elkin, NC. He is getting into everything he's not supposed to, eating ALL the time, and is becoming a little defiant. Such a boy! But he is also usually very calm and quiet, adorable when he smiles at you, and LOVES to cuddle. I love this little boy!

Having a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Starting to get sleepy.

Grandma singing him to sleep.



Walking downtown Elkin after the parade.



Watching fireworks at the park.

blue eyes melt my heart

~Sweet Summertime~

Thor did not disappoint his dad. He absolutely loves the water. (And he loves his duck too! Past two days the duck has not left his side. Bathtime, bedtime, playtime, pooltime........he wants to take the duck everywhere. It's adorable.)

Today, Garet and I took him to Toys-R-Us to get a little pool. He had a great time splashing around, playing with his toys, and trying to put grass in the water. (And after pool time, he was so exhausted from the sun, mommy had plenty of alone time while he took an extra long nap!)

"Piglet agrees that Tigger's bounciness is rather out of control."

These boys LOVE to bounce.

Julie and Brandon have sold their house here in Greenville and during their transition to Yadkinville, they are going to stay with us a few weeks. As Julie said last night, "It feels like a slumber party". Matthew and Thor are having a great time. While they don't play "together" yet, they do seem to want whatever toy the other has. Both are crawling now, so they have officially taken over the living room.

At night while the adults are eating dinner, the boys are placed in their favorite jumpy seats right beside the table.

Becoming Mobile

For days I've been trying to get Thor to crawl. Instead of coaxing him with toys and such..... I should have just left it to Dutch. The boy loves his dog. (By the way, not only did he crawl for the first time today, but he also stood up in his crib completely by himself, and got his two top middle teeth. Big day for the little guy!)

Holden Beach

This past weekend Garet's aunt and uncle, Lori and Steve, were kind enough to let us stay at their beach house along with Garet's cousin, Mike, and his wife, Lisa, and their adorable son (who we met for the first time), Logan. We had a great time. Thor and Logan quickly became friends and played together all weekend. Thor started sitting up for the first time by himself, and standing up with support. He was teething again, so we expect to see another pair of teeth come in very soon. He isn't crawling yet, but I'm sure within the next two weeks he'll be pretty mobile.

Strawberry Season

Thor tasted his first strawberry yesterday. Looks like we will have to make a trip to the strawberry farm soon!

Wow! 6 months later......

It's hard to believe that 6 months have gone by since we were at the hospital waiting for "little garet" to arrive. So much has changed in that short amount of time. I absolutely adore being a mother. Still don't have an ample amount of sleep, but that is a small price to pay to have such a sweet little boy to spend my days with. Since this is the first post in 6 months, I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures starting from the first week.
Enjoy!


Dutch was protective from the start


His first bath


Trying to look like daddy in his flannel


Love this butterball!


Showing off his mohawk Easter Sunday


Long walk around the lake put them to sleep


On the lap of his great grandmother over Mother's Day weekend