Playing in the dirt

We did some yard work this weekend. I put the mulch in the bed. Gunnar took the mulch out of the bed. It kept us well entertained, and I got some good pictures.
(and by the way, he looks speckled in his 11 month picture because he had the chicken pox!! but he's doing much better now!)

The Lawn at UVA

We went back to UVA for our 10-year reunion, and while we were there, we took our future Wahoos (Gunnar and Eamon) for a wagon ride on the Lawn. Gunnar doesn't exactly remember how he got there - he had a rough night at the fraternity house the night before and slept through our journey up The Corner to the Lawn.

A day at the beach

A couple of weekends ago, we visited our good friend, Stacey, and her son, Trevyor, at the beach in Jacksonville, NC. Trevyor got to practice being a big brother, as little Walker will be arriving in September. Unfortunately Stacey's husband, Mark, is stationed in Iraq until October, but he's only a Skype call away at least twice a day!
Gunnar got to spend an afternoon at the beach - his first warm weather trip there (the last time was in Kiawah in December). He was content checking everything out, eating sand, and napping on our walk.

Pimp my Ride!

Thanks to our good friend, Mike, Gunnar's new favorite activity is cruising for chicks. The Pimpin' Party Wagon makes rounds around the block almost every day. Watch out, ladies!

Do not adjust your monitor!

Those eyes really are the most gorgeous blue you've ever seen!

Many Firsts!!

Gunnar is now almost 9 months old, and it's amazing what a difference just a few months makes. He is officially on the move, doing the military scoot (on his forearms) to get around. He's got 2 bottom teeth with a couple of top ones trying to poke through, he loves Cheerios (though by the looks of his belly, you'd swear he eats steak and potatoes every night), and his bubbly personality is constantly keeping us entertained. There is certainly nothing shy about this little guy - any trip to a restaurant turns into "The Gunnar Show." It's all very cute now, but I'm not sure how it will work out for him when he's older... From his highchair, he turns almost 360 degrees, looking for potential. He stares his victim down and shouts until he gets their attention. He then proceeds to flirt with them throughout the entire meal. Today, he was making such a racket at a brewery we went to, that 3 ladies from the other side of the bar came by to see what all the buzz was about. Gunnar flashed them his adorable smile, and even with his Cheerio-crusted cheeks, he won them over.
Besides picking up the ladies, Gunnar's been discovering all kinds of new things lately...

1st Snow (it was cold and wet - not very enticing to play in)

From Gunnar 6-7 months

1st Swim (loved the water! fell asleep in Mama's arms while bouncing in the pool)

From Gunnar 8 months

1st Swing (thanks Rooty and Daddy!)

From Swing

1st Plane Trip - went to Colorado to see Aunt Lizzie & family (didn't mind plane ride - it was 1st class, after all! - got sick in Denver, then passed it on to his Dad and cousin, but still had fun!) - Here's a picture from our hike up Castle Rock.

From Gunnar 8 months

Phew! All of these adventures are enough to wear a boy out!

From Gunnar 8 months

Laughter is the best medicine!

This has been a sad week for the Rheutan family. Chick, our family dog, has now gone to doggie heaven. She was with us for almost 10 years and was the perfect dog, whether she was entertaining the little kids or being a companion to the big kids. She brought many smiles to our faces, and in her honor, I'm finally posting our first video. This was taken at Christmas, when we were all in Richmond. Aunt Lizzie was making Gunnar laugh, and this is proof that laughter is contagious. So watch out... you're about to get the laughter bug! Enjoy!