Georgia Bound

We set out Saturday morning for Hartwell Georgia for a family reunion on Sunday. Lyla's new car seat made it difficult for her to sleep. Facing forward was part of the problem because she could see so many things, including Mommy and Daddy. We also think the fact that the seat is not reclined like the infant seat had something to do with it. We tried putting in Finding Nemo but she was not interested. We tried one of her bedtime cds but it didn't seem to work either. She finally screamed it out and fell asleep but it unfortunately didn't last. Mimi and DDaddy were waiting for us when we finally arrived some time after 5pm. After the long trip, we ALL slept well that night.

Our cottage at Hart State Park was perfect...

...I highly recommend it.

Lyla met her Aunt Sara

Lyla bonded with Uncle Allen right away...over the rocking chair, of course.

A SIDE STORY:

We are so blessed to have neighbors like Teresa and Jim. We have shared eggs, milk and even a couple rolls of toilet paper when one has run out. Aside from the babysitting money they have saved us, there's also the amount of money we save each other in kennel fees. I feed and let out their 3 dogs as often as they take care of Lane for us. We swapped keys and everything but they misplaced our house key and we had yet to have another made. So I took my key off the ring and left it with them Friday. Teresa called Saturday to say that they couldn't get in the house because the key didn't work. We figured out that I had given them my copy of THEIR house key by mistake. You can imagine my panic. Apparently Jim used to be a locksmith (go figure) so after a trip to his work for his tools and a trip to walmart for a blank key, Jim was able to make a key to fit the locks. Lane went 12+ hours without a potty break...and didn't have an accident! Is he the best dog or what?!

Hall Reunion

The purpose of our trip was the Annual Hall Reunion which is always the last Sunday in July. Geneology can sometimes get confusing but I learned a lot this weekend. The reunion is for all of the decendants of Lindsey Teasley Hall who was born in 1860. Here's how I fit in...Lindsey Hall married Minnie Fulton and had George Teasley Hall in 1888. George Teasley Hall had 8 children and my grandmother, Minnie Belle Hall was his second. Were my Grandmother Hunt still alive, today would be her 93rd birthday. Minnie Belle Hall married William Kendall Hunt and my dad, Charles, was the third of their six children.
It has been years since I have attended the Hall Reunion and with such a large family, I confess I felt like I was getting to know some people for the first time. We enjoyed a lot of good food and even had to match up with other family members and get to know them better. I contributed peanut butter pie, a Martin family favorite.

Riley (a distant cousin) couldn't get enough of Lyla

Daddy and Lyla went up and down the stairs...

...she was worn out and ready for her nap

Lyla enjoyed playing with Austin, Jacob and Brooke (her 2nd cousins)

Hunt Reunion

After the big reunion, the Hunt family (my dad's siblings and their families) went to my Aunt Sara & Uncle Allen's house. Lyla went straight to sleep and slept a good 2 hours. We introduced everyone to cornhole and it was a big hit. We played for hours. When Lyla woke up she was rested and ready to go. She especially enjoyed chasing after the cats (all 5 of them) but the cats did NOT enjoy this game as much as she did. Jennifer and I even heard Lyla say "cat" but she would not repeat it for the camera, of course. Sara and Allen are big University of Georgia fans and Sara loved taking pictures of Lyla with the UGA statue. If Sara has anything to do with it, Lyla will cheer for "dawgs" instead of the "cats."

George, Farris, Bobby, Sara, Wayne, Charles

All the Hunts that were present except Lyla who was napping. Bummer.

Lyla was in my belly at Jennifer's wedding but this was their first real meeting

Kentucky Bound

It was such a quick trip that we didn't get to enjoy everything the park had to offer. We made sure to snap a few pictures of Lyla by the lake Monday morning as we prepared to leave, though. Daddy even leaned Lyla over the side so she could splash in the lake with her hands but we unfortunately didn't get a picture of it.

We had a pretty uneventful ride home. We created a curtain between the front and back seats using Lyla's blanket hoping she would fall asleep more easily if she couldn't see us. It actually worked but she still didn't sleep as long as she needed to. We tried to get her to take a catnap when we arrived home at 6pm but she didn't go for that. She slept very well last night, though.

Rocking Chairs

Little Miss Lyla LOVES rocking chairs. However, you must understand that she does not enjoy being rocked in them (because she knows what we are trying to do and fights it) as much as she enjoys rocking in them by herself. Lyla's Mimi brought her a very special rocking chair that Mimi has had since before she was 3 years old. Now that the rocking chair is in her room that is ALL Lyla wants to do. She climbed in and out of it nonstop for a good 30+ minutes last night. Lyla's Granny told me she did the same thing earlier in the week at her house. She is pretty good at climbing in all by herself but you have to watch her closely or she will try to stand up or even sit on the arm of the rocker.

Just the other day I had put her in the big rocking chair and let her rock a while. She climbed down and moved on so I got in the chair. She kept standing at my feet, tapping my legs but when I would ask if she wanted up she would shake her head and say no (something she has mastered, by the way). I understood what was going on but was just kinda playing with her. I was not, however, expecting Lyla's next move--she turned and headed for her bedroom door as if she was leaving. I got up from the rocking chair and began to follow her at which point she turned around and ran to the rocking chair! Would you believe a one-year-old could be so sneaky?

Lyla was not happy about being forced to stay on her bottom

tickling her belly

Do you like the Sesame Street CD in the background? You know you want a copy.

Say "ahhh"

I have been trying to get Lyla to show me her top two teeth (technically her tooth and a half). I was saying "ahh" hoping she would mimic me but she just kept laughing. If she thinks I'm funny then dentist appointments are going to be a riot!! Anyway, she finally got the hang of it but would open her mouth SO big that her upper lip would cover up her teeth. Enjoy the not-so-flattering pictures.

I had a GREAT video that went along with this but after trying to upload it close to 10 times I have given up. Sorry to disappoint those of you I had told about the video.

Weekend

Friday

Saturday

Sunday