Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Today is Drake's first Halloween and while he will not be partaking in any candy consumption, we are going to go to the Downtown Trick or Treating in Clemson tonight. The close the main street down and all the merchants have candy for the kids. Apparently there is also a pumpkin carving contest, but we are really just going so Drake can watch the other kids. After downtown, I think we are going to stop by a few of the neighbors houses so they can see Drake all dressed up.

Drake's aunts and uncle have been very nice this year and provided him with first Halloween outfits to wear. He has been wearing these all month in anticipation of the day!

From Aunt Genevieve

From Amanda and Jeff

Drake actually has two costumes this year: Halloween and Day of the Dead. Tonight he will be a sock monkey and then tomorrow he will be a skeleton for Day of the Dead. His Nana and Papa got him the skeleton outfit and he has been wearing that also throughout the month...it glows in the dark!   


From Nana and Papa...I glow in the dark!



Drake with his sock monkey friend and his basketball pumpkin (thanks to a gift I got in the spring from Women's Basketball...I thought it would make a great pumpkin for Drake) 

Brewery Bash

Yesterday, Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville has their Annual Brewery Bash and Halloween Party. Apparently this is their fourth year of doing this event, but we just learned about it this year. For anyone in the Greenville area that enjoys beer and BBQ, this is a must not miss event in the future! Many people were in costume, and it is a very family friendly event (kids get in free).

There is a $10 per adult entry, which gets you a cup, 5 tickets, and all you can eat BBQ, brats, chips, candy, and pack of gum (they say to cover your beer breath). After entering, we quickly learned that the cups are just a formality, it is all you can drink beer. I think they had 10-12 of their beers on tap and a live band playing the whole time.

Next year, everyone need the Saturday of Halloween weekend from 1:00-5:00 free and come join us at Thomas Creek Brewery...we are not planning to miss this again. 

Women's Basketball Tip Off Dinner

It is finally that time of year; basketball season! Practice is in full swing and the women's team had their tip off dinner and Orange and White Scrimmage this week. This was Drake's first basketball event and he had a great time! We are looking forward to the winter and all the new places that basketball will take us this year (Hawaii for one!!!).

Drake with senior post player Shaniqua Pauldo

Drake going up with Pauldo for team introductions

Jury Duty

I have the great fortune of being called for jury duty...often. I'm sure most people feel this way but I really do get called often. As an example, I was called and served on a jury for the City of Clemson last April. I remember it very well because it was the week after I was back at work from maternity leave. Three week ago I received a letter from Pickens County telling me I was to show-up for jury duty on October 24th.

Now, I must mention that I have also served on juries each time I have been called. I'm not sure, it is my trusting nature that appeals to prosecutors and defensive attorneys alike or my youthfulness or the fact that I am a white female? I am not really sure what makes for a good juror, but I know there is research out there...I've seen trial movies.

So today, I drove the 35 minutes it takes to get to the county seat in Pickens, SC and went to Courtroom 1 as instructed. Once we were in the courtroom, I learned that this sentence of jury duty is not just a day (as the mailing had indicated), it was actually slated to last all week! Now, each day after 6:00, I have to call a number to see what time I need to be in Courtroom 1 each day. Tomorrow is the very convenient time of 11:00.

I must also note that for the first time in my jury duty life, I was excused by one of the attorneys. I think I should be happy about this, but I think I am more questioning why. Is it because I work at Clemson? Is it because I have too much education? It is because I now have a child? I think it is more education and Clemson because i know other people selected had children and the only other person from Clemson in the jury pool was also excused. Lucky for me, tomorrow is another day and I have another chance to do my civic duty!

One other interesting thing I learned today while at the Pickens County Courthouse, the bailiff had no idea what to do with me when I told him I was a nursing mother and needed a place to pump. I am a little confused, how am I the first individual ever to be in there that had this request? Have other women just gone in the bathroom (no thank you!)? In his quest for understanding, he asked how often I needed to do this and how long it would take, citing that he has never done this himself. After getting over his initial surprise in my request and commending me for nursing my child, the bailiff found a conference room I could use and stood guard for me since the door would not lock. He was very kind to also make sure that I had time to use the bathroom as well during this break.

Let's see what tomorrow has in store for me as I perform my civic duty... 

Falling for Greenville

On Sunday we met our friends Pam, Robin, and their son Zach at the annual Fall for Greenville Festival. All of the downtown restaurants have booths set-up all along Main Street and there are multiple stages with live music. Drake seemed to love Zach and I think Zach liked to make Drake laugh.


Drake has Zach's car in his mouth and this was just before Zach was giving kisses to Drake.

 

Listening to African music

 

Zach putting his hands in the air, dancing to the music. 

 In other news, I forgot to mention in the 8 month post that Drake is also able to cruise when he stands up and hold on to furniture. At first it would take him 10 minutes to go about 5 feet, but in the last week, he has gotten much faster. He also is starting to wave goodbye!


Bath time fun

 

8 Months Old

Drake, you turned 8 months old yesterday. I know I say this every month, but I can't believe you are already 8 months old! You have brought so much happiness into our lives and have so much personality. It really is so much fun just to watch you learn how do to something new or see something for the first time.

- You are about 29 inches long and I still have not weighed you since your 6 month appointment (sorry!)
- You are now wearing 12 month clothes
- You can crawl and within two weeks of starting to crawl, you started to pull up to a stand on anything and everything you can. In the last couple of days, you have started to learn how to bend your knees so you can go from standing to sitting.

- You still think look and Alice are funny and you now have found their water and food bowls...time for us to move those
- We had to lower your crib as low as it can go because we now find you standing up whenever you are awake in the crib
- Speaking of the crib, your sleep patterns have started to shift a little, can you please go back to going to sleep at 8:00 and waking up at 6:30? You have had trouble lately getting to sleep and then many days you are waking up at 1:30 (typically you fall back asleep pretty quickly after you have your diaper changed).
- You are a great eater! You eat everything that I put in front of you. The new foods you have had lately are mango, pork with apples, and yogurt melt. You are doing great feeding yourself the puffs and the yogurt melts so I think it is time to start a little more self feeding. I have not been very dedicated to giving you a sippy cup, we will work on that more in the coming month.

Eating strawberry yogurt melts

 - Your Nana and Papa came last week to watch you during the day because Margie was on vacation. You had a great time playing with them.
- You are BUSY. If you are awake, you are constantly moving and trying to find new things to do. You do not like lying down and prefer to be outside.

- You had a play date with your buddy Will, who lives in PA at Kate's house. You are the oldest of the three but Will is about your size. Because he is not mobile yet, you took advantage and tried some wrestling moves on him and then started to suck his head. Kate was having none of that though, she would just kick you away.


Trying to get Kate's bow; Will's not sure what is going on



I'm not sure what all we have planned for this coming month. Basketball season is about to start, so we are going to be spending a lot of time in Littlejohn. We will see what else this month brings us...

Sky Top Orchard

While my parents were in town, we took a little trip up to Flat Rock, NC to go to Sky Top Orchard to pick-up some apples. It was a really nice day with a slight crispiness in the air, so we were not the only people who had the same thought. It was PACKED!

Driving up the little mountain, I started to notice quite a bit of traffic until the cars slowed to a stop. We finally got up to the parking attendent, who told us the parking lot was full so we needed to continue past the orchard, turn around, and park on the road. After a mile with no road side parking available, I turned around and finally found a spot to park just part the entrance.

We had no intentions of actually picking our own apples, just picking some up. After sampling a few of the options, we picked out a bag of galas, a pie, and some jam. Next time, we will try one of the donuts...as long as the line is not an hour long!

Drake is 8 months old today, so look for his monthly report tomorrow...

Standing Tall

Now that Drake has learned to pull up and stand, he has all sorts of new things to see and play with.