We're Home!

above: with Nana!
Well, we are all finally back home in High Point and does it ever feel nice to take a bit of a break! Cheri is back with the third graders, but we do already miss camp, and looking back at a few of the pictures from the summer already makes me a little nostalgic for the experience we were able to have together with Adaline at Cheerio. Cheri and Adaline spent a coupe of weeks with her mom and Jeff while I was still at camp and we are so grateful for their hospitality and help while I was still away.



It was really hard to be so far away from the girls and to know that every day I was missing moments that I would not be able to get back.



As you can probably tell Adaline is beginning to enjoy tummy time much more and is really beginning to enjoy playing with toys. She really seems to be getting stronger every day.



above: trying carrots for the first time...and helping mom with dinner!
The biggest news of course is that she has learned to roll over and she loves it! She will roll over, play on her tummy, and then when she gets frustrated I will roll her back over and of course she rolls right back onto her stomach. She also is recognizing and reaching for objects, which is pretty fun. Her favorite toy is still her zebra horse. We are still working on new foods (fruits and veggies) every day and I am pleased to say that she does not seem to have gotten any of my pickiness and generally likes everything. I am looking forward to getting resettled this week at home and readjusting to life in the big city.

1/2 of a year gone by!

Friday was Adaline's 6 month birthday...and her last day at camp for this summer. To celebrate her turning 6 months, Shane and I painted her hands and feet in green paint and got prints. It was pretty messy, but we figure we will continue to do this at least each 6 months (and maybe just her hands after awhile). It was fun though, and it will be nice to see the growth. Adaline had her 6 month round of shots this week as well, and while at the doctor, weighed in at just over 15 pounds. What a difference 6 months really makes. It is hard to believe how much she has grown and learned over such a short time. Shane and I are proud parents.



Mommy and Adaline on a night off.



Adaline tuckered out from playing with her toys.



Also, Adaline and I left camp on Friday, a bit earlier than expected. However, an illness was getting around camp and we just wanted to take precautions to keep Adaline healthy. So, we are back in High Point, and Shane will join us this weekend and be back for good at the end of next week. Adaline seems to miss all her camp friends, but will soon be around some new friends. I start back at Northwood on Thursday, which is fast approaching. I do not yet know how I will handle not being able to spend my days with Adaline, but at least it is only until 3 in the afternoon!

We are well into the co-ed season at Camp Cheerio, and have been having lots of fun. Adaline is growing and learning every day, and we are experiencing new things all the time! We have made our first visit to the pool, one day when the water temperature was up. Adaline seemed to like splashing around a bit and did not cry until we got out (just like bath time). Now we are waiting for the water temperature to go back up so we can try it again. The picture above is of her in her little suit and robe!



Adaline is also moving right along with the spoon feedings. She is having a little rice cereal each night with her last bottle, and will soon be moving along to baby food vegetables (in a few weeks). More food is making it into her mouth, and this is good!



Enjoying an evening program of camper performances in the gym.



A view of the riding ring as the sun goes down



We have had quite a bit of rain around camp, and have been able to keep Adaline dry under the rain cover of her stroller. She rides around all nice and cozy, while mom gets wet....Notice the white fog of the cloud we are in behind me.



During the middle of the 2 week co-ed session we had a concert at camp. David Spencer performed with his band, and the kids seemed to enjoy it a lot. Adaline did also, at least until she fell asleep. The above and below pictures are from the concert.





Adaline in her bumbo chair...she loves to sit where she can see around. When we place her somewhere not quite sitting up, she does something similar to crunches to try to sit up. This was during a visit by my mom (Nana), playing together!



Fast asleep with Daddy on the couch, catching a snooze while he can.



Another game of "Thrive". Adaline cheering on the red team and holding a flag helped us win again in this game from 1 C (the 1st co-ed session). However, we were not as lucky last week, as the blue team had a 2nd win for the summer in 2C. Oh well, you can't win them all...as long as you have fun playing!



We hope all is well with everyone out there! Goodnight!

Another Red Team Victory and New Food

So, Girls camp came to an end last week, and we have moved into Co-ed this week. It is a different feel with the boys in camp...a bit more rowdy. Our last girl session finished strong with another red team win in "Thrive." So far, every time Adaline sports her "Red Team" outfit, the red team puts a mark in the win column! The blue team won when Shane and I took Adaline out of camp one evening, when she had her last doctor's appointment. We will see if this trend holds true for Co-ed.



In other news, Adaline had her first taste of something new! Rice cereal. Notice, I said something new, not something good. She didn't seem to enjoy it much, but it could have been the spoon she didn't like. As you can see from the picture, most of it ended up out of her mouth. We will try again before bath time on each bath night until she figures it out. It could take a lot of messes, but she will get there!

We also have made a few purchases in the last few weeks. One thing we needed for up here was a stroller to move around on these hills. So, you can see our new "jogging" stroller in these pictures. Adaline does not seem to mind the ride, and usually finds it pleasant for sleeping. The other purchase was a late (very late) birthday or early (very early) Christmas gift for Shane. He got a banjo. He has been playing around and learning some notes, and I am sure a song is not too far off. We will try to get some pictures up soon of that.



Adaline on opening day this week.


This final picture is a view from the dining hall this evening as the sun was setting. You can see the skeet range in the bottom of the picture. It is a great place to look out at the mountains!

Fun Times at Camp

So, Adaline has gotten over her little cold and is back to a good night's sleep. However, a small snooze for mommy is still necessary every once in a while. Adaline and I were able to sneak in a quick one in the office the other day between camp duties.



In other news, we had a great day on the 4th of July. We had many visitors to camp, including Ryan and Jennifer (Shane's brother and his wife). Also, my aunt Marge and uncle Tom drove up from Raleigh with my cousin Tera and her two beautiful little girls who were visiting from Maui. Unfortunately John and Marcus did not make it this time, but perhaps a trip out to Maui will be in our future. Also, I am lacking a picture with my side of the family. How sad! Cheerio went all out as usual for the event complete with BBQ dinner, camper skits, a patriotic performance/story, and of course a fabulous fireworks show that Shane helped set off. Surprisingly, Adaline seemed to really enjoy it. She sat still for the whole firework display and just stared at them. I guess all the noise in the dining hall had really prepared her well. At least this year we did not end up in a cloud, and scared for our lives (if you experienced last year's event).




We are about to go into Co-ed beginning this weekend, so we are sadly coming to an end with girl's camp and preparing for the arrival of the boys. I will be sad to see all of my girls camp CITs (counselors-in-training) leave, but excited for the new batch joining us. I am sure Shane is excited about new energy coming into camp too!



Adaline enjoying a campfire down by the lake.



Our little "Baby Cake"...Thanks Jessee and Anita for this outfit! Jessee-Can't wait to see you 5C!

We Went to the Roadshow

We have had a nice couple of weeks here at camp, and it is hard to believe girls camp is over in a week and a half. Then co-ed...get ready! Shane celebrated his first father's day here at camp, and got beef jerky from Adaline, as well as an "I heart Daddy" outfit. (picture below) Although we were at camp, it was an alright day. We did take a short overnight trip to Raleigh this past weekend to go to the Antiques Roadshow, and discovered we are not secretly wealthy. Oh well, so we won't be on TV, but we still had fun and still like our yellow glass salad bowl from the 70s. I do not think we will be leaving camp again during the summer, because it was a long trip with a baby for just one night.
























The last few days have been a little tough on Adaline, as she has come down with her first cold. Luckily we have doctors and nurses at camp that have been very helpful. She has managed fairly well and is beginning to feel better and get more sleep at night. Adaline is growing quickly and is over 13 pounds now! Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

Well...We have been at Cheerio for several weeks now, and just finished our first full session of campers (close to 300). So, needless to say, we are staying very busy here. Although, for me, it has been very wonderful (and a bit tiring) to be with Adaline every day. The weather is quite wet here, as it may be for many of you out there. It makes for some crazy camp days, and it is difficult moving a little one around in the rain. However, we have managed to get in some good times and activities around the wet weather and the campers are enjoying Cheerio. Adaline was able to help the Red team win in "Thrive" last week by turning in a few flags, and I think she looks forward to the day that she can run. :) She has also been able to be a part of a skit and a camp song, all at only 4 months of age.




















































Last weekend we had a nice visit from my mom, my aunt Kris, and my grandmother on my father's side. It was a short visit, but great to spend time with family, and for my grandmother and aunt to meet Adaline. Hopefully we can make a trip out to Colorado in the fall or winter for a longer visit.






















Our friends, Emily and Craig just had a baby girl enter their lives this week...a bit earlier than expected. We welcome Adaline's first baby friend, Kay Ellen Hardin!