Congrats Joe and Ruthie!

I'm about a week late, but Congrats to Joe and Ruthie! We went to Charlotte last weekend for their wedding and had such a great time. We decided to fly because mom had a bunch of frequent flier miles (thank you Bank of America check card...) and didn't want to take another 7 hour drive for a weekend just 2 weeks after we got back from NC on vacation. Mom and dad decided to get a seat for me even though I could have flown for free on their laps. They figured I'd do better in my carseat, so they took that on and installed it on the plane for me to sit in. Mom was a little anxious about taking me on the plane and dad was trying to figure out how to carry everything! We ended up checking 3 bags, carried on my carseat, diaper bag, camera bag, and dad's laptop. Surprisingly it was a pretty easy trip. Thanks to Kim who suggested leaving the stroller at home and carrying me in the Ergo through security. Mom didn't even have to take me out of the carrier! She just had to take my shoes off and put my Grover doll through the x-ray, then we walked through and picked up our bags on the other end. Easy peasy!

When we got to Charlotte, mom's Aunt Jenny was waiting for us!!! Mom and I haven't seen her since I was 9 months old and dad hasn't seen her since they got married 6 years ago!!! She even bought a stroller for me to use, so I got to ride to the car in style instead of riding on mommy's back :) Mom had a bit of trouble installing my new carseat rear-facing in Jenny's car, so I got to ride forward for a few days. We had a really early flight, so we got there around 8:15 and had the whole day to hang out at Jen's house. We had a really nice visit and I had so much fun with all of the toys and books she had for me to play with. She has two small dogs, Barney and Betty and I had fun gathering their bones and putting them in their beds. Mom's cousin Kaitlin was away at Clemson, so she was kind enough to share her room with me. We put her mattress on the floor and it was the perfect bed for me!

Saturday, we got up and drove to the hotel so daddy could get ready for the rehearsal. Mom and I checked in and took a little nap :) We woke up just in time for mom and dad to go to the rehearsal dinner which was right next to the hotel. I was lucky enough to stay with Baby Cora and her grandma in the next hotel over. I had a great time reading books and "helping" with Baby Cora. Thank you, Angela's mom!!!!! I had a fun night and really appreciate being able to spend some time with you. Mom came back to get me after the dinner and I went to bed pretty easily. Since mom and dad didn't take my air mattress, I got to sleep in the big bed with mommy. She says I was a bed hog, but it worked out well.

The wedding was on Sunday, so when I got up (would you believe I slept till 9am???), mom took me back to Jenny's house, which was about an hour south of the hotel. We had some lunch, then mom had to go back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. I got to spend the night with Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ken and we had a BLAST!!! They took me to the fair and I even got to ride on a train! I got to Skype with Kaitlin and I had fun with that too :) Uncle Ken is great at reading books and I heard so many new good books. Jenny tells mommy that I was great and didn't even cry at bedtime. This was my first night away from mom and dad and I think we all survived really well.

Mom and dad came back to get me on Monday and we had a few hours to relax before we had to head back to the airport. We had a pretty smooth flight home as well - our flight was oversold, but thankfully we were confirmed with 3 first class seats, so we were good to go. It worked out well in first class because I had plenty of room and couldn't even kick the seat in front of me from my carseat. I talked pretty much non stop on the way home, but I don't think the people around us minded. The man in front of us snored the whole way home and the lady behind us complimented mom on how good I was when we landed. We made it home around 7pm and settled right back into our usual routine. I went back to school and mom and dad went back to work on Tuesday. All week I've been asking where Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ken went - I hope I get to see them again soon.

I had a pretty good week and even got to see Miss Sharon yesterday so mom and dad could go to Erin's birthday dinner. We all had a lot of fun. Today mom tells me is sushi and football with Jay, Molly and Baby Jake - I can't wait (though I *really* don't want mom to hold Jake...).

Mom tells me that my birthday is in a little over a week - can you believe it??? How is it possible that I'm almost TWO???

I'm talking up a storm now and talk pretty much in complete sentences and repeat everything. Here are some of my favorite phrases:

Where did mommy (daddy/kitty) go?
Mommy, there are a lot of cars (as we drive home from school)
I want to go downstairs (when I wake up in the mornings or from naps)
Mommy cover me up
Sydney goes first (up the stairs as I point at mommy and tell her to stay away)
Fill up my water please (I'm a very polite kid so far!)

Hope everyone is well - I'm going to go play now!