Birthday Hike

Corey's request for his bday this year was to go on a hike with just the 2 of us.  It was a fun date-day! We can't remember the last time we did something like this.  I made myself take pictures so that we would have a few memories.
Mr. 28:

     We didn't make exact plans, we just headed for the Buffalo and used one of Tim Ernst's books to find a trail.  We hiked Hideout Hollow Trail.

 I always think that we look tired now in photos.  HA!

 Hideout Hollow Falls!  We were in luck that there was a good rain recently.

 The first pic didn't put it in perspective.  Here's Corey:

 There's a way to get down into the "hollow" If you go across the waterfall .  Kinda freaky, but the water at the bottom right of this photo IS the waterfall.

 It looks scarier than it feels when you're up there.

 made it to the bottom!

 Corey puts it in perspective again:

 A scenic unofficial vista on the drive back.

"...purple mountain majesty..."

 cropped without the fence.

It was great to get away for a few hours!

Charlotte | 8 months

I'm like 4 months behind.
[should have been posted December 28th] ;)
Here's what happened from month 7-8.

1.  She has 2 teeth on bottom.

 you have to look hard... but it's there!

2.  She is the happiest baby.

4. She loves her brother.  Jack spent the night at my parents' the night before we moved and she was thrilled when they brought him back- she really missed him!  She was kicking and laughing and shrieking at him.  (Trying to get his attention.)

 family photo on the square:

5.  She gets giggly before bed.  I can do almost anything and it will make her laugh.  One night I simply sneezed and she thought it was hilarious.

6.  She sits up and plays well on her bottom.  She likes to have a toy in each hand.

7.  She moves and slides around on the floor.  Pushing up on all 4s from time-to-time.  Not crawling yet.

8.  She still gets up in the middle if the night every now and then. Maybe more often than not.  

9.  She had her 1st Thanksgiving and Christmas!  (And slept through most of it)

 all the cousins and a couple of Great-Grandparents ;)

 Family Thanksgiving portrait

charlotte slept through the Granderson christmas, but here's one of the few pics i got of her while she was awake!

Hayes Christmas...

10.  She really loves bath time.  She kick, kick, kicks as you take her to the tub.

11. She loves being tossed in the air and laughs when you do.

12.  She gives fierce kisses to her momma.  I love it!

13.  She has gotten so much better at sleeping on the go.

14.  Saying words!!  Bye, apple (!), all done.  I got her saying apple on video b/c I knew no one would believe me!

15. We love her dainty hands and feet.  I don't want her to get big!

16.  Charlotte "mermaids".  She plays while laying on her side all in a pose.  Sometimes she even puts her little hand on her hip.