Everybody All Dressed Up

Hello everyone. Heather has been holding down the fort that is this blog for the past few weeks as I learn all there is to know about life insurance. I am once again headed back to Dalton later on tonight, but I should be back home by Wednesday or Thursday. Continue to keep Heather, Gray and I in your prayers as we push through these tough patches apart from each other.

Yesterday was cousin Jonathan's wedding in Hiram, Georgia. He married Rebecca Watkins, and the wedding beat out the bad weather and was beautiful. The Byers family made the trek across the great state of Georgia to all congregate together and break out a dance move or two. Great food, great music, and all the great people made the evening a night to remember. It was a good excuse to put on some "purdy" clothes and snap a few pictures. There are a ton of pictures, so I'll shut up and let you see 'em.


Pop Pop posing with Gray as Jocey looks on in the background. She's very protective of her cousin.


Mee Maw and Jo Jo had been discussing how much fun four-wheelers are.


Uncle Brandon is grinning because he can't wait to show Gray the proper technique of the "figure four."


Aunt Heather has excited to see Gray to say the least.


Daddy was smiling for the camera; Graylon overheard someone say the word "bottle."


Jocey woulda held Gray all day if we'd let her. I think Mommy feels the same way about her niece and son.


Jocey was crawling over me to get to Gray. She graciously paused for a picture.


Heather and Brandon make a Graylon sandwich.


Uncle Ronald and Uncle Michael make a Jocey sandwich.


Aunt Brenda and Grandma Ophia spent the evening beaming with pride from all the babies and Jonathan's special day.


Kenny and Aunt Lacey also got their Gray on.


Jocey and Bride Becca...A wonderful photo opportunity.


There are no words for this picture.


IT'S ELECTRIC! Aunt Brenda and Pop Pop breaking it down.


Mr. and Mrs. Byers put on a great party and did a great job during the ceremony. We are so happy for them. Thanks for letting us share in your special day.

Another Great Weekend

Last weekend, we traveled to White, GA to visit Granna and Pop, to watch the Georgia Bulldogs, and also to celebrate Uncle J's birthday. We got there on Friday night and we stayed in the "family" suite for the weekend. In Granna and Pop's new house, they have an upstairs bedroom and bathroom over the garage. They also have a crib in there so it was perfect for us.

Saturday was packed full of fun. Besides the entire LaBarbera crew, the Lane's and Payne's joined us too. While the girls were in charge of the dips and sides, Jon with the help of some of the guys, made wings...buffalo, Asian, and fire-que. It was all excellent! The Bulldogs won and we got some much needed fellowship with family and friends. Averie, Henry and Gray all had a blast playing in their homemade play area in the living room. See some pictures from the weekend below. Gray got love from EVERYONE!


Mr. Henry Patrick Lane showing Gray just how easy it is to stand up and play at the coffee table.


They share eye lashes and they shared an embrace on Saturday...Aunt Caryn and Baby Gray.


Granna holds her only grandson...only grandson for now.


Can you guess what Gray and Daddy's favorite team is?


Uncle Rick sitting with a little girl and a little boy. Get used to this combination.


Averie seemed to step in an Uncle Mike trap.


Pop seems to have his hands full. I don't think he minds.


Go Cubs Go. Well, maybe next year.


If it's a staring contest, Graylon wins. If it's a smiling contest, Ashley wins.


Aunt Kelly and Baby Gray discussing what they think William will be like. Both of them can hardly wait.

We have a few things that we are looking forward to coming up very soon. This Saturday, our cousin Jonathan and his beautiful fiance Becca are getting married. Uncle Brandon, Auntie Heather Lynn, and cousin Jocey Lynn are coming to Athens to visit us next week. And last but certainly not least (and may not even be last), Uncle Rick, Aunt Kelly, and cousin Averie are expecting a little boy/brother any day now. We can't wait to meet William Anthony!

Happy 6 Month Birthday Gray!

Dear Graylon,

Happy 6 month birthday! I am so proud of you. It seems like you have grown and learned more this month than any before. You are really into me which I absolutely love. It may also be because you have been sick for the past two weeks, but you are such a happy baby despite your sickness. You are definitely more vocal. You laugh, squeal, and hum and I think your laugh is the sweetest sound I have ever heard. Sometimes, I don't know if you are laughing or if you are upset because it sounds the same. You started eating rice cereal and a tried a few fruits and veggies earlier this month but the doctor took you off of food altogether until we can get you healthy again. You smile every time I say "Wow" when I am bragging on you (I got that from your Daddy) and I can get you to smile pretty much any time I want. On Labor Day, you shocked us all...you got your first tooth! It is so much fun to now watch you suck on your bottom lip and push your tongue through your lips to feel of the new thing in your mouth. You are almost ready to sit up by yourself. You can do it for maybe a few seconds and then you topple over. I love to watch you in your crib in the morning or after you wake up from naps. You roll around everywhere and now you are starting to get up on all fours and rock back and forth. I think one of your favorite things to do is after you get your diaper changed on your changing table, I let you grab my fingers and I pull you up to a stance. You immediately look to your left at the mirror and start smiling. You love to stand in front of it and look at yourself. There are hand prints all over the mirror and I don't even want to clean them off. You have gone to daycare a total of three days...the first three days you started. After that is when you got sick and your haven't been back yet. You loved daycare and your teacher Ms. Rita. She is so sweet and good to you. She was so excited to see you the three days I dropped you off. We have had a trying time with your Daddy being gone some with his new job, but we are so thankful for the great opportunity that he has in his new job. You enjoyed your first Georgia Bulldogs football game on TV and also enjoyed your first tailgate the very next weekend. You have started laying your head on my chest when you get tired. It melts my heart and I think your Daddy and I secretly always want to put you to bed because we know you like to cuddle. It has been an amazing month and I feel so blessed to be your mother. You are my little "mister" and I love you way up to God!

Love,
Mommy

PS - Happy Birthday to Heather Lynn and my sweet niece Michaela! She is now a teenager! Happy Anniversary to Carl and Vickie aka Pop and Granna! Gray is so blessed to have you all in his life.

Gray's First Tailgate

Gray experienced a first last weekend...his first tailgate. We had told him how exciting it was going to be, but I really don't think he had any clue until he was actually in the midst of Dawg fans, loud music, and the smell of Jon Lane's pork tenderloin on the grill. The Bulldogs beat the Gamecocks and Graylon couldn't have been any happier.

We also had lots of visitors at the house. Friday night, Aunt Caryn, Uncle J, Uncle Rick, Aunt Kelly, and Cousin Averie all came to get ready for the big weekend. The next day everyone else including Granna, Pop, Jon, Ashley, and Henry arrived. We had more people in our house staying the two nights than ever before. I'd like to say that it is a record for the LaBarbera household. We had a great time. Check out some pictures below.

The LaBarbera's

The Lane's

Granna and Pop with their grandbabies Averie and Gray

Daddy giving Gray the pregame talk

Henry just told Caryn that the Dawgs are totally gonna win. He's not even worried.

Three Daddies getting some tailgate love from their babies

The Three Amigos

What's Cuter Than Baby Laughter?

I know that Heather has been carrying the blog torch lately while I learn a new job out of town and go parading all over the country watching the Bulldogs. Well here is one from me. Spending time away from Heather and Gray has been difficult to say the least. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing that it's temporary and knowing that the time spent away from them is for them. Once reunited Gray and I still played the same games, and I got him to laugh at the same stuff. The video below is proof. Whenever I change his diaper and he isn't sleepy, I'll do a combo of tickling his ribs while I put my face on his belly. It cracks him up every time. I look forward to the day that he is laughing at an inside joke that only we get and the time we'll spend pulling pranks on Mommy. Well, I know it's short, but it truly is sweet. Watch Gray laugh, and I'll try and get back to lots of posting as soon as I can.

For no reason at all...

...I just love this pic. Gray and I miss you Daddy!

A Whirlwind of Fun and New Experiences

So it has been a while since we blogged last and a lot has happened in our lives. Graylon is growing like a weed and is doing new "tricks" on a daily basis. We started out last week with Mike and Gray going to Dalton so that Mike could train for his new job at Liberty National. Gray stayed with Meemaw Damaris, Grandma Sharon, and Grandma Frances. He had many visitors including Grandma Ophia, Aunt Brenda, Nanny Christine, and a few others. It was great to finally get to spend time with Gray and Mike when they got back to Athens.

Then it was time for the weekend. While Daddy went to Oklahoma to watch the Georgia Bulldogs, Gray and I spent time with Grandma Sharon. We did a lot of shopping, a lot of loving on Gray, and of course we watched the football game on Saturday.

Sunday night, Graylon and I went to pick Mike up from the airport. It was so much fun to be waiting at the top of the escalator at the Atlanta airport. Mike was so excited to see Gray and Gray was equally excited to see his Daddy! We spent the night at Uncle Rick and Aunt Kelly's house that night so that we could have a cookout on Monday with the family. In attendance, besides our hosts, were Cousin Averie, Cousin William (still in Aunt Kelly's belly but hopefully coming soon), Granna, Pop, Aunt Caryn, Uncle J, Ashley, Jon, and little Henry. We had a great time visiting with everyone and are looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend when everyone comes to Athens to watch the Dawgs. Much thanks to Rick and Kelly for opening up their home to us for Labor Day.

Mike is once again spending the week in Dalton and training for his job. We said our goodbye's last night and headed our seperate ways. Gray slept most of the time until we got about 20 minutes away. He was starting getting hungry and I had to sing to him to settle him down which by the way is TERRIBLE. I don't know why, but he loves to hear me sing "Jesus Loves Me". He will be crying and then suddenly stop and just listen. So...I sang it probably 30 times. I love that boy! We got home, I fed him pears and rice cereal, bathed him, gave him a bottle, and then he was out.

Then there was today...Gray's first day of daycare. Needless to say, I was the baby in today's situation. Gray was f-i-n-e. I had to fight back tears when I dropped him off. I was not successful at all. As the day went along, I was better. I called to check on him once and he was great. Ms. Rita is his teacher. She is super. She made me feel so good about leaving him with her. She greeted me when we arrived and took Gray from me. She put him in the exersaucer while we went over everything. He didn't even give me a second glance once he was in that thing. He was playing and I did get his attention one last time for a picture.

It was the best feeling when I left work driving over to pick him up. I was like a kid at Christmas. Of course, when I got there, he was playing and loving it. We came home and we went through the nightly routine. Being a "single" mom this week has been hard. I am soooo thankful for my wonderful husband and Gray and I miss him dearly. We know that he will be back soon so until then....Daddy, enjoy the pics!


Gray watching his Mommy cook breakfast.


Watch out...it's the BIG man on campus.


Two cuties!


Look, ma, it's my new walker!


I love my Grandma Sharon. We had fun at the Mall of Georgia!


My new pj's are so tight...literally, they are fitted.


Dad, go long and GO DAWGS!


This is my Aunt Caryn. She gave me some of her long eye lashes.


Pop knows that the way to a growing baby boy's heart is through a full bottle and a lot of love.


I love sleeping in my Granna's arms. She makes me melt.


Averie let me sit in her big girl chair. I like to consider myself a big boy.


Averie is teaching Henry and me the different colors of the rainbow. She is such a big help with us.


Three amigos!


This is what I wore to my first day of daycare.


Ms. Rita is the best teacher and have I mentioned how much I love exersaucers?


Mmmm...pears and rice cereal are the best!