4 Months

I can't believe my little boy is 4 months old! He is SOOO fun right now!
In What to Expect in the First Year, it said, "Your infant is just entering what might be considered the golden age of babyhood--a period of several enchanted months when good humor reigns during the day, more sleep is happening at night, and independent mobility has yet to be achieved (which means your baby will continue to stay pretty much where you put him, limiting mischief and mayhem; enjoy this while it lasts)." I would agree that this is the golden age! I really love this stage.

He is all smiles these days.

This was a trip that Melanie, London, Gavin and me took to Anchor Park the week before Phoebe was born! You can see Mel and London in the top right of his sleeping picture.
He still can fall asleep so easily!

He can change his mood very quickly from this...
to this...
(great pictures Elizabeth!)

Our morning routine after he wake up and gets fed is exercise time! I put him on his play mat and he kicks and punches to his heart's content!
Something fun he learned this month--to scoot! Not on his belly, but on his back! I put him in the middle of the mat and walked out of the room for just a few minutes and came back and found this!

He kind of turns himself in a circle these days. I found him laying completely opposite of how I laid him down in his crib an hour before. We think it's because of this. He only uses his left leg!

He is drooling ALL THE TIME nowadays. A tooth might be coming!
My 2 kiddos hangin' out. Even though Dakota has her own bed, she likes to be right next to Gavin or on a blanket I put out for him.
He tried the Johnny-Jump-Up for the first time this weekend and liked it!
And he just rolled over for the first time today!!! This is quite a feat with such a big head! :)

Here's his 4 month stats from his doctor's appointment this morning:
Head: 45.1 cm (>97%)--this is a shocker to you all, I know. :)
Weight: 17 lb. 14 oz! We have a hefty little man! (95%)
Length: 25 1/4 in. (50-75%)

We love our big guy!

I'll leave you with a quote from Dr. Glover, Gavin's pediatrician:
"Boy, you have more rolls than a bakery shop!"

Happy Birthday/Anniversary/Father's Day!

This weekend was a big weekend of celebration at the Hughes household!

Friday was Ryan's 27th Birthday. Happy Birthday, darlin'!

Do you know what Ryan's birthday cake was 5 years ago?

Our wedding cake! (Sorry for the poor picture quality--I'm scanning them from our album.)

That's right, we got married on June 19, Ryan's birthday. Now he'll always remember our anniversary! Here's one of my favorite memories of our wedding...
You can't tell what we're doing in this picture, but Ryan is helping me up on a stool that Amanda (Ryan's sister) decorated for our wedding. So this was the one time I was the same height as Ryan when the pastor said, "You may now kiss the bride."

To celebrate our 5th anniversary, Ryan went all out! He planned an overnight getaway in Chattanooga. My Mom and Dad kept Gavin for us for 24 hours so we could enjoy our time away. We stayed at the Stone Fort Inn which was unbelievable. It is 100 years old this year. Here is a picture from our private balcony looking at Downtown Chattanooga.
He then took me out to eat at Niko's which was sooooooo good! Ok, Chattanooga friends/family, if you ever can go, you HAVE to get the Eggplant Napoleon. Words can't even describe. Mmmm.
Ryan even came prepared with questions for us to discuss. We had such a fun evening talking about our favorite memories over the last 5 years and setting goals for our next 5 years of marriage.

I don't have any pictures from the rest of the evening because it wasn't so good. :) We went to a play which was TERRIBLE (we should have walked out). Then afterwards, we called Mom and Dad to see how Gavin was doing and he was screaming his head off because he wouldn't take the bottle. So...Mom and Dad had to drive down to Coolidge Park where we were and let me feed him, then take him back home. Not so funny then, but we can laugh about it now!

Friday morning, Ryan ordered us breakfast in bed! It was so nice to be able to sleep in.
Outside the B&B
For lunch, we went to get the best cheese dip in the world at Taco Mac! I craved this my entire pregnancy and never got to have it, so now all is well with the world again. :)
You can't see it very well, but my anniversary present is the necklace I'm wearing in this picture to match my pearls from Mother's Day! Do I have a sweet hubby or what?!?

1 year ago on our 4th anniversary, we found out we were going to have this little guy:

And today is Ryan's very 1st Father's Day!
Gavin and I took Ryan to play golf this evening to celebrate. Gavin's favorite part was riding in the cart.

Ryan and I have been together for almost 11 years! Can you believe it? I must say, my hubby has turned into quite the romantic one this year! He has really been working hard to lay down his life for his family and I am so blessed to be married to him.

Ryan, thank you so much for all the time and effort it took you to plan such a wonderful getaway for us--even on your birthday! I love you more and more with each year I am married to you! I do not deserve you!

Camping

For our first anniversary 4 years ago, Ryan took us camping to see the fireflies at Elkmont in the Great Smokey Mountains. We have been every year since! If you haven't been, I HIGHLY recommend it. Those of you that know me well are probably laughing right now because I've either told you all about it or brought you along with us! These fireflies are a special species and they are synchronized. Seriously! They all light up at the same time like Christmas twinkle lights, then they all cut off at the same time. It is unbelievable and truly reveals the glory of God. What's the craziest part? It happens here and in China--that's it! They've only known about it for about 10 years happening at Elkmont because some regular visitors saw them. Now about 1,000 people go every night! They only light up for 3 weeks in June, so you can still visit this week if you want to go! Go here for more info. Wow, I'm such a teacher, sorry. :)

So of course we had to take Gavin with us this time!

His very first camping trip! He did awesome, but with our nature boy, of course he did (notice the camping shirt and hiking boots!)!
We went with my parents and Ryan's parents this year. I can't believe I have 0 pictures of Robert and Julie! They had to come a little later and leave a little earlier. Here's my parents in front of the popup they let us stay in (thanks, guys!).
Ryan and Gavin hangin' out in the popup (which is soooo much nicer than our usual tent camping).

The fireflies start at about 9:00--an hour past Gavin's bedtime! So we put him to bed in the popup and then carefully put him in the bjorn when we left--he didn't even wake up! Ryan was a trooper and carried him the whole time--2 hours! It doesn't normally take that long to see them, but we walk at least a mile in to get away from all the people that stop at the front of the trail. Not only are there less people, but I think there are more fireflies further back, as well!

Ryan teaching Gavin how to start a fire.
Yes, my husband is an Eagle Scout and doesn't need help starting a fire! But it's much quicker this way.

There was a tree that had fallen over a stream right by our campsite. Mom and I had fun walking over it.

And I haven't done this in about 10 years and for some reason decided to try it over the water. Ariel, I would have made you do it with me!
It was a great trip! We can't wait for Gavin to be able to enjoy seeing the fireflies instead of sleeping through it!

Unexpected Trip

Last Thursday, Ryan's Grandmother Mary passed away. She had suffered from Alzheimer's for the last 7 years. It is so wonderful to know she was a believer so we will see her again in Heaven! I can't imagine what Thursday was like when she finally went home to be with her Savior. She wasn't able to walk or talk for the last few years, so I imagined her skipping, leaping, and running to Jesus, and talking, singing, even shouting in excitement for her new body and being whole again!

Here's my handsome hubby all dressed up after the funeral Saturday.

Amanda and Ryan
Mary grew up in North Carolina, and her sister Martha is buried there, so that is where she wanted to be buried, too. So we drove up to North Carolina for the day on Sunday for the burial. After the service, we went to Julie's grandfather's old farm. There are hundreds of acres, and it was gorgeous!
Hiking in the woods on the property.
All of Mary's grandchildren and great grandson
Has anybody ever been to Sliding Rock? It's basically a natural water slide. This used to be part of Julie's grandfather's property but is no longer. Now the public gets to enjoy it. I told Ryan there was NO WAY I was doing it because the water was FREEZING! So he went by himself.
But then of course he got me to do it after a lot of coaxing. It was soooo cold, but super fun.
Because Ryan's family was in town from Texas, we got to stay a few extra days. Here we are on the boat relaxing. Notice the bigger life jacket on Gavin. It's for a 2-year-old! At least this one fits over his head!
This is Gavin's first time in the lake. He was not a fan! He better get used to it! :)