Thanksgiving fun

Once again, the Gorney and Moore families celebrated Thanksgiving at the Keowee river house.  I think it's safe to say that we had (and ate) enough food to feed an army, and we had a great time doing so!  Thomas enjoyed the luxury of never having to be put down, even to nap. 

Thomas and cousin Olivia playing after a big Thanksgiving meal!  Check out their matching paci's!  Aren't they sweet!

 Speaking of this, it has come to our attention in the last few weeks just how spoiled little Thomas is.  He has decided that for no reason should he be laid down during the day, with the exception of a few moments of play time during which he is thoroughly entertained by singing, silly faces, etc.  It's true that I don't really have anything better to do than hold him - I mean what's better than holding your smiling, laughing baby?  However, there are some chores (and showering...) that just have to get done.  For this reason, our house is stocked with moving "baby holders" - bouncy seat and jumperoo.  These baby holders are ok for Thomas temporarily, and by temporary, I mean about 10-15 minutes.  Previously, I would have added the baby swing to this list, but Thomas has learned a new trick in it and must be watched 100% of the time.  A few days ago, I put Thomas in his swing and began vacuuming in the same room, fortunately!  I was watching him continually attempt to sit up in the swing and before I knew it, he was leaning so far forward that he was doubled over with his head was hanging down past his feet.  Thank goodness he was belted in and didn't fall, but this could have been disastrous!

Anyways, although spoiled, Thomas is a good kid.  He's recently started giggling, adding a whole new form of communication to his life.  The daily challenge, which is getting easier and easier, is figuring out what will make him giggle that particular day.  Usually, it's Trey making funny noises!  Other new things - Thomas is using his hands like crazy now to grab toys, hands, hair, anything that he can get his fist around.  I think he's enjoying this new use of his hands as it seems to give him more "freedom" to do and explore what he wants.   

            

Savannah Trip

Thomas, Trey, and I took a short trip to Savannah, GA early this month.  Trey, unfortunately, spent 2 of the 3 days there taking his third round of medical boards.  Thomas and I spent our time lounging at the Planter's Inn and wandering the streets of the city.  On the trip, we found several incredible candy stores (fresh pralines are soo good!), great pizza, and historic parks all within walking distance of our hotel.

Thomas napped in the big bed!

Thomas enjoying the river

Fresh pralines

Trey enjoying Thomas and a beer at VinnieVanGoGo's Pizza

To see more Savannah pictures, click here! 

Thomas meets the horses!

Thomas has the honor of owning 2 beautiful horses, Lucky and Callie.  He was able to meet these girls just weeks after he was born and has already spent plenty of time at the barn with his mom.  Before we know it, he'll be riding!

Meet Callie!

Meet Lucky!

Caesar's Head

Thomas took his first trip to the mountains of South Carolina in October.  These mountains are especially special to Trey and I - Trey proposed to me 5 years ago at the top of Table Rock - so we were very excited to take Thomas.  We stayed in the Naber's house just down the road from Caesar's Head and enjoyed a gorgeous view of the mountains and beautiful fall foliage.  Of course, it rained about 75% of the time we were there but we were able to get in a few hikes to see waterfalls.  On our first day, we went to Caesar's Head and hiked the short trail to actually view the "head".  I place that in quotes because I never did see a head or face in the rock.  We ate at a small Mexican restaurant between Caesar's Head and Brevard.  Interestingly, the weekend Trey and I got engaged we ate at this same location but it was a different restaurant called The Raintree.

View from Caesar's Head.  That's Table Rock in the distance!

On the second day there, we visited Pretty Place and then ventured into Dupont Park to hike 2 waterfall trails.  Thomas managed to take a nap on Trey's shoulder during the hike but did wake up to see the waterfalls!  We ate dinner at an incredible pizza place in Brevard and ate some good old Sonic ice cream for dessert.  On the third day, it was so windy, foggy, and rainy that we decided it was time to hit the road!

Pretty Place

First waterfall

Second waterfall

To see more Caesar's Head and Clemson pictures, click here!

Clemson football

Thomas' first Clemson game was Oct 2, 2010, Clemson v Miami.  He spent a couple hours tailgating prior to the game (and took his first bottle, of milk, like a pro!).  While I went in for the first quarter, Linda Ann stayed at the tailgate with the Thomas who made good use of the time by napping! 

His 2nd game was on his 2 month birthday, Clemson v GT.  He tailgated like a real Clemson fan and just before Tiger Walk even got his picture with the Tiger.

 Uncle Brian and cousin Jack also joined us for this game.  Jack seemed a little confused by all the men wearing orange shirts just like his Dad but stayed quite happy eating m&m's!  Jack and Brian also got a picture with the Tiger.

 

First Halloween

Thomas had an eventful Halloween.  We carved 3 pumpkins, one to represent each of us.  Thomas' pumpkin was carved with his infamous "o" face.  If you haven't heard of the "o" face, it was Thomas' favorite expression for the first month of his life - we loved it! 

 
After pumpkins, Thomas visited Boo at the Zoo in Greenville dressed as Baby MD.  It was an opportunity for kids to trick-or-treat (Thomas only collected 1 Reese cup for his mom) and to see some animals that the zoo has to offer.  Aunt Katie and Uncle Martin went with us for the fun.  Maybe we'll make it a tradition...

To see more Halloween pictures, click here!

Cute baby pictures

I decided to try for some good old naked baby pictures.  After 3 or 4 attempts, I was finally able to get some good ones.   The blue cocoon in the pictures was made by Linda Ann and the blanket he's laying on was made by Mrs. Cutruzulla - very sweet!

A bath!

Thomas was finally able to take a "real" bath when he was 3 weeks old.  You can tell by this picture that Thomas did not quite enjoy his first bath.  Thankfully, it only took a few for him to understand that bathing is fun - these days it tends to be the only peaceful portion of our evening!

Sweet

He's so handsome!

Love these feet!

Family at the house!

For the first 2 weeks of Thomas' life, he had visitor after visitor.  On Labor Day, the whole Gorney family and the Moore family ate a big brunch at the infamous Grits and Grocery then squeezed into our cozy home to enjoy more good food and Clemson football.  Trey and I loved seeing everyone and having a house full of people.  Thomas definitely enjoyed sleeping comfortably in the arms of 10+ aunts, uncles, and grandparents! 

 Pops and Rhea even made the trip from Cherry Grove to meet Thomas!

 

To see more pictures of the family, click here!

A Few Firsts

As with any newborn, it seems that every day there is a new "first" for Thomas.  Here are a few firsts that we caught on camera!

First time in the bouncey seat

 What follows are a couple pictures of Thomas' first bath at home.  You don't realize it, but at the hospital, you get spoiled.  Nurses come into your room, quietly take away your newborn, and quietly return your freshly bathed, tightly swaddled, sleeping newborn.  Only when you get home and must attempt the first bath on your own do you realize what a blessing all of that was.  No matter what we did, Thomas cried/screamed his way through every sponge bath.  So, when debating whether he needed a bath every night or every other night, we definitely opted for every other night!

First bath at home (sponge bath!)

More of the bathing - he was not a fan.

 As my due date approached, our house filled with toys, activity mats, pack n' plays, swings, etc for Thomas to make use of.  Here's his first time on the activity mat...

Not much activity going on here...

Here he is, getting ready for his first walk around the neighborhood.  Soon after this crying fit, he fell sound asleep!  I'm not sure why we felt the need to strap him in like that...we really just walked about a mile down the road and came home!

Every Thursday and Saturday from September to whenever football season ends, Trey can be found in front of the tv watching just about any college football game that's on.  This picture was taken on the first Thursday of college football.  I believe Trey started reminding me of this game that he and Thomas were going to watch together about a week before it actually happened.  I think college football Thursdays and Saturdays will be a tradition around here... 

First football watching with Dad!

 To see more pictures, click here!

Homecoming

The three of us stayed in the hospital until Thursday, August 26.  As we left the hospital, Trey and I got a good laugh at Thomas' reaction to his first time in the car seat...

It took at least 5 minutes for him to relax enough to put his arms down.  I guess he finally decided he wasn't on a roller coaster after all.

Little did Thomas know that the real excitement had yet to come - meeting the dogs, Molly and Tess.  Now, anyone who knows our dogs probably said an extra prayer for us that day and they must have worked.  Our homecoming was more uneventful than I ever imagined it being.  Maybe it was the toys (aka peace offering) that Thomas gave Molly and Tess to make them feel extra special.

Dog toys - "I'm kind of a big deal" and "Here comes trouble"

Family at the hospital...

Trey and I are so fortunate to have two wonderful, supportive families behind us at all times.  The day Thomas was born was no exception.  Our parents drove from Hartsville at the first notice of labor (about 1am) and Katie, Joy, and Jack all came first thing that morning.  Martin drove in from Greenville after a day of work and of course, everyone that couldn't make it called that night to say congrats and visited asap.  You guys are all incredible!

In addition to waiting patiently for the baby, Dad and Chip also helped take care of our animals and even found time to take a quick nap...

Even my OB said they looked so peaceful he thought about joining them!