A few days with the Greats!

After spending the weekend in Clemson, we packed up and headed down to North Augusta to spend two days with Granny and Ziggy (Will's mom's parents). Wyatt is so super lucky to have EIGHT living great-grandparents, so we're trying to get him as much time and memories as we can with as many of the "greats" as possible!!

When we got there, we sat out on the porch, and he immediately dove into the basket of toys Granny had out for him. I'm sure some of those toys were played with by his grandmother, and definitely his father (as Will watched him pull the toys out, he was reminiscing about the truck he had sent down the creek, etc.).

Wyatt has turned into a major bookworm, and he LOVES for anyone to read to him. Of course, Granny didn't mind when he brought her one of his currently favorite books.

Wyatt and Ziggy had a good time in the front yard, listening for and looking at birds.

In Zeigler family tradition, Wyatt helped Ziggy make biscuits!!

He didn't get too messy, but he had fun!

Of course, he HAD to taste the dough!

On Tuesday before we left, we turned on Sesame Street (one of Wyatt's new loves) while we packed the car. Granny got out a chair for Wyatt that had been his grandmother's. He loved it!

"Hi Mo-Mo!" (Elmo)

We had a great time with Granny and Ziggy, even though I was sick and had to take a trip to the brand new North Augusta Doctor's Care for some medicine! Wyatt and I both had our first ever Pink Dipper experience; Ziggy got Wyatt ice cream with sprinkles on it! We visited their friends at the Pharmacy, where Wyatt discovered a love of Dum-Dum lollipops. We also visited Playcare, the daycare that Granny and Ziggy used to own. Of course, Wyatt dove right in and started playing with all of the kids as soon as we walked in a room! We made biscuits and ate chicken broccoli casserole... and we got to celebrate Granny and Ziggy's 59th anniversary with them. Thanks for a great couple of days; we love you guys!!

Time in Clemson

Well, last weekend we brought Wyatt with us to Clemson, in hopes that we could take him to the Clemson/Wake Forest game. My parents were going to be up there, too, so we had a whole plan worked out, where Wyatt and my mom would come to the first part of the game, then leave when Wyatt got restless. (He went to three games last year as a 6 month old, but now, as a mobile 18 month old, we weren't anticipating him being interested in 3 hours of football...)

Well, the plans got foiled. It was cold, and RAINY (the 5th home game in a row where it has rained, way back since the Clemson/Carolina game last November!). So, my mom (gladly) stayed back at Erik and Amanda's house and played with Wyatt while Will, my dad, my brother, and I went to the game. Even with the rain it was a great game, a great 38-3 victory for the Tigers, and my first game back without crutches! (It has now been 5 weeks since I slipped and fractured my leg at the playground with Wyatt...)

However, on Sunday morning we went to breakfast with my brother, then we took Wyatt to check out Death Valley...




Then, while we were packing the car, Wyatt decided to bond (further) with Erik and Amanda's dog, Tybee. This is the second time Wyatt and Tybee have met... Tybee's not totally sure what to think about Wyatt, but I think he's growing on him. Which is good, since Tybee's going to have a little one of his own, since Amanda is due in March!

Peek-a-boo!

Wyatt has discovered the linen closet. Add that to the fact that he can open all the doors in our house, and you get this:

Let Grandma come visit, and you get this:

He thinks this is a lot of fun, especially since Grandma decided to join him. He goes over to the linen closet, opens it, walks in, proudly announces "BYE BYE!" and closes the door behind him. And he'll stay, in the dark, dark linen closet, until someone says "Where's Wyatt?" after which he will open the door, proudly pop out, and say "HI-I!"

Mommy's Little Helper

About two weeks ago, Will and I were both in the kitchen, getting dinner ready. I was chopping potatoes on the cutting board on the counter, and Will had his back to me at the sink, washing up some dishes. Wyatt came up right next to me and started messing with the plastic tub we have that keeps our dog Laurel's food. He's been interested in the tub, particularly the lid snapping off and on, for quite a few months now. So, I saw him out of the corner of my eye, and without even looking at him said, "Wyatt, leave Laurel's food alone, please." He walked away, and only a few seconds later I hear the sound of food being poured into Laurel's food bowl. Immediately, Will and I look up from our respective activities, and at the same time say, "Did you just feed...." and before we can even finish, Wyatt is standing up near Laurel's bowl, then walking back to the tub to put the cup back in the tub. He had fed the dog all by himself!!! He got the cup, filled it with food from the cup, walked over, dumped it in the bowl, then walked back over, put the cup back in the tub and latched the lid. Then he walked back out into the living room and started playing with his toys!! Will and I were so impressed! Now, he feeds Laurel dinner every night. All we have to say is, "Wyatt, it's time to feel Laurel dinner!" and he runs over and does his thing. Hilarious!!

I finally have been able to get pictures of this... here he is, getting the cup from the tub, filled with dog food...

Walking the food over to the bowl...

Dumping it out... (notice Laurel patiently waiting in the background!)

All done! Time to put the cup back up, close and latch the lid until breakfast time for Laurel tomorrow!

Backtracking a Bit... Weekend in Hilton Head

After the family reunion, Will, Wyatt, and I went to Hilton Head Island for a couple of days with Will's parents. Will's grandparents have a timeshare there, and they weren't using it, so we certainly weren't going to turn down a free place to stay for a couple of days "vacation." It was the only one we got all summer!

Wyatt had a great time. We were on the second story overlooking the pool. He had a GREAT time hanging out on the balcony and waving to everyone at the pool.

We also rented bikes for a few days so we could cruise the island. This was the first time Wyatt had ridden on the back of bike. He enjoyed it so much, we got a seat to put on the back of our bikes at home!

We rode on the beach one morning. It was quite warm, but very nice.

Wyatt also had a blast in the pool. Halfway through the stay, we FINALLY found him a good float vest to wear in the pool. It helped his confidence, and made it a little easier for us to hold a squirmy baby in the water. He has NO FEAR of water. He would walk right off the edge of the pool into our arms, and he kept trying to kick away and go on his own... not quite ready for that yet...

Wyatt had a great time spending a few days with Gigi and Papa John. It was during these few days that Wyatt started saying "Papa." That's the first grandparent name he's said. He's funny, though, because most of the time that he says it, he will only whisper it. But it still counts!

John's birthday was only a few days away, so we went out to dinner to celebrate and Wyatt gave him his birthday card in person. Here Wyatt is helping him read it.

Sleepy baby?

We had lots of fun; this is Wyatt after we got home, trying to take my bag BACK out to the car. I guess he wanted to go back to Hilton Head Island!

Halloween Preview!!

I know I am waaaaaay behind on here, but I couldn't resist skipping ahead a little and showing you a little preview of Halloween. His costume came in today and it was too adorable to not try on and take a picture of!!

Since Clemson's homecoming game is on Halloween this year, it's only appropriate that he be...

A TIGER!!!

That, and you also have NO IDEA how difficult it is to find a decent Halloween costume for an 18 month old. Everything is either 12 mo and under, or 2-4t, which is huge! That, and he doesn't watch much TV, so he doesn't care much about many "characters."

Isn't he so precious?!? :)

Rhodes Family Reunion

In the middle of August, there was a Rhodes family reunion at Will's parent's house in Fort Mill. Will's Dad's mother was Evelyn Rhodes before she became a Thompson. She has two sisters, who are the matriarchs of the Smith and Charles families. Wyatt had fun meeting lots and LOTS of cousins, including some 3rd cousins!

Nan and John did a great job setting up for the munchkins to have a day of fun. Here Wyatt is first thing in the morning, testing out the wagon.

Before the reunion even began, Uncle Robbie (who now lives in Charlotte, about 10 min from Fort Mill), came by to visit on his way down to Charleston. Wyatt always loves to see Uncle Robbie, because he makes Wyatt laugh all the time!! :)

Wyatt decided that he wanted to pull the wagon around himself. Daddy decided it was HIS turn to ride. He didn't get far, but Wyatt sure tried!

Here's Wyatt with one of this his four second cousins on the Thompson side, Olivia. That day was her 4th birthday!

Wyatt absolutely LOVED this little playground/slide that Nan and John set up. He probably went down that slide 50 times that day!!

Here's Wyatt finally getting to meet and hang out with another Thompson 2nd cousin, Owen. Wyatt was sick last Christmas and hadn't gotten to meet Owen yet!
Gigi decided that real men play with dolls too. Wyatt is showing Owen where the baby's eyes are.

Precious cousins.

We did a bunch of great group shots on the lawn, but Wyatt was napping during this time, so he's didn't make it in any pictures. I certainly wasn't going to wake him up!!

These are all of the Rhodes great-grands, minus Wyatt, of course. So, this is a picture of Wyatt's second (Olivia and Owen, on the right) and third cousins!

A group shot of the Thompson clan, minus Wyatt, Bobby, Kenny, Sarah, Michael, Wendi, David, Josh, Zach, and Adam.

Two of Will's second cousins that we LOVE, Katy and Mary Beth.

I really wanted a picture of Wyatt and his Uncle John Michael, but Wyatt was sleepy and not in a mood to be held by anyone except Mommy, so Mommy got to be in the picture too!