Pooh and PapaRuss!

Pooh and PapaRuss came to Charleston for the last two weeks of September.  Pooh was eager to get her hands on Leo.  They snuggled like crazy and quickly got reacquainted - after all, Leo hadn't seen Pooh since he was two-weeks old, AND none of us had seen Pooh since she debuted her new look - Gray and GORGEOUS:

Meanwhile, Owen and PapaRuss Talked About Important Things:

 

Then, it was PapaRuss' turn for some Leo lovin':

I love this one - they are making the exact same face!

Leo worked diligently on PapaRuss' watch (like his brother, he is fond of most any timepiece):

 

Hey there, handsome:

Then, Pooh gave the boys matching Carolina Blue vests, and we managed to snap a photo (Owen was too excited to sit still for longer than 2 seconds):

Here are two great shots (thank you, Brad Russ!) from the lovely day we spent with Pooh, PapaRuss, Uncle Brad, and Aunt Amy out on Seabrook Island.  How magnificent is this photo??  Owen looks like a hard-core mall walker:

Brothers:

We love you!  Come back soon!

Playmates

By mid-September (Leo just past 5 months and Owen just shy of 3), Owen and Leo had just begun to play together.  Here's what playtime looks like:

Owen demonstrates a new found interest in baby toys, especially anything that Leo is holding.  Leo tries to shove everything, including both hands and at the same time, in his mouth.  Owen explains to Leo about the toys that he can't play with yet (he enjoys this part, I think) and about the things he will teach him to do one day.  Leo stares at Owen like he is THE most enthralling and captivating person on the planet.

Cape Romain

One Saturday morning in early September, we drove up 17 to Cape Romain, a National Wildlife Refuge, to enjoy the gorgeous weather.  We stopped and picked up a bite to eat at Jack's Cosmic Dogs along the way (their slaw is out of sight, and their veggie dogs are quite good).

Bill and Owen enjoy their dogs by tailgate:

Here we are at Garris Landing looking out onto Sewee Bay:

Oftentimes on the weekend, we seek out a park or preserve of some kind, or we just find a place to be on the water.  It always leaves us feeling peaceful and grateful.  And, the glorious months of September through mid-December in Charleston are our handsome reward for making it through July and August, so it is important to take advantage.  And, on a day like this one, to drive a few miles to take in a view like this one:

We sat out on the end of the pier for a while, and Owen ran down and back until he was about to collapse.  Here is a video of the scene - there is a sweet moment at 1:40:

 

Love ya.

So Much Cute, So Little Time (and Sleep)

See.  THIS is why I take pictures.  Because otherwise, I would have NO memory of THIS:

I mean, I don't even remember it now, and these photos were taken just over a month ago.  (If I don't write something down these days, it will leave my brain in 4.5 seconds flat.)  But there's my baby boy, having fallen asleep on the guest bed beside his crib with belly full of milk and a face full of angel.

Love him.  Love every picture of him.

September

On a gorgeous afternoon in early September, I got a few quick pics of my faux-hawked babe:

It was so pretty that I tried to try to talk Owen into joining us, but he was cooking with his Dad and couldn't be bothered.  But it was REALLY so nice outside, so I insisted.

They weren't giving me much to worth with at first:

But I like the serious, pouty shots, too, so no problem:

I like this one:

Hey!  There's a tiny smile!  (See? This isn't so bad? Just as much fun as helping Bill make pizza, right?)

And then a full smile (from Owen, at least.  Leo was ready for bed.):

One more for good measure.

"Okay, mom.  We're done now."

Okay.  Thank you.

Classic

A classic Owen moment: he emerges with some hilarious accessory, waits for your reaction, laughs his head off, and then runs off to get another one...

Here, with a headlamp and an American Gothic expression:

And then he's off...