Main Street Children's Museum

     It was a very cold, rainy weekend here in South Carolina so we decide to have some fun indoors and check out the children's museum in downtown Rock Hill.  Chase had a ball!  It was such a great place for kids, lots of fun areas to play.  It was quite busy the day we were there, but Chase had no problem playing with the other kids.  He is not a shy little boy at all, he ran right in and started having fun.  He especially loved the kitchen...opening and closing the cabinets and pretending to cook. 

     After the museum, we went out to lunch and Chase had his first Cuban sandwich!  Such an adventurous little eater.  He loved it!

  Here are some pictures from our day...

     Sunday was another rainy day so we spent the day at home, comfy in our jammies and watched football! GO PATS!!  Another great weekend for the Bowens :)

    Three weeks and counting until we find out if Chase is going to have a baby sister or brother.  We already have names picked out :)

Copperhead Island

     This past weekend, we decided to brave the cold SC weather (40 is pretty cold down here :) and spend sometime outside in the fresh air.  We bundled up, packed up the dogs and headed over to McDowell's Nature Preserve which is just a few miles from our house. 

When we got there, we realized that many of the hiking trails didn't appear to be stroller friendly so we got some insider info from a nice man that a spot just down the road was a great place with paved trails.  So, we jumped back in the truck and headed over to Copperhead island.  It was a gorgeous spot right on Lake Wylie and was super quiet.  We had a great walk around the island...and I got quite a work out pushing around my little 30- pounder in the stroller on the hilly trail.  The dogs were beyond happy and we were all glad to be outside on such a beautiful day. 

 

 

    When we loaded back up into the truck, the dogs were in the backseat with Chase.  They were both panting and Chase started imitating them and panting as well.  It was so funny...and I was lucky enough to catch it on camera. 

PRICELESS

Great Weekend and Daddy time!

    Last weekend, our favorite Wilmington peeps, drove out to spend the weekend with us.  What a weekend!  It was so nice to see our friends and show them around our new town.  We laughed alot, ate way too much, and just enjoyed being with each other!  Chase loved having all the extra attention and a certain someone who he started calling "Mama".  And yes, I was slightly offended.  But, he had plenty of extra wrestle time and was a happy little boy!  He somehow even managed to have his first cherry frozen Icee. 

   Here are some pictures from our weekend

 Chase and Auntie Caitlin

 Such a sweet face



 Auntie Megan

 Chase and "Mama"  :)

Chase and Mama

    Also last week, Derek had some time off and didn't have to work Tuesday night.  We LOVED having Daddy home for dinner and bedtime.  We all ate dinner together and Chase sat at the table in his booster seat like a big boy!  Then we all got to spend sometime together before bathtime.  Chase was in heaven playing and wrestling with his Daddy. 

     So far, 2012 has been great year!  Looking forward to all to come!

New Year...New Resolutions...

It has been far too long since my last blog entry....and there has been ALOT going on for the Bowens!  A first birthday, a big move, a new baby on the way, and the holidays have kept us very busy.  So, with the new year comes new resolutions and I have decided to make a commitment to myself to keep up with this blog.  Chase is growing up way too fast and is changing every day.  I hate to think that I won't remember the little cute things that he does each day to make his Mama smile.  Like this morning when he was watching Sesame Street and imitated Cookie Monster eating cookies....it was too adorable!  So, keeping up with this blog will be a perfect way to capture and remember all those moments.


But first....a letter to my son..


Dear Chase,


   It is too hard to believe that you are almost a year and a half old.  I watch you running and laughing or carry all thirty pounds of you around and I am amazed that you were once that little newborn I snuggled.  You are such a joy to your Daddy and me and I can't wait to see you as a big brother!  Big changes are coming this year...your little baby brother or sister will be here in July, right before you turn two. 


  You started to walk in October and are now running all over the place.  You LOVE to wrestle with your Daddy...you are 100% boy!  You love to be outside, I think you would spend all day outside if you could.  You are a big boy, people think that you are two already! 

  This is typical you right now.  Holding tight to one of your lovies, big open smile, trying to avoid bedtime.  You give big open mouth sloppy kisses (which are the best!) and hugs by laying your head on our shoulder.  Melts a Mama's heart....

  You are talking up a storm these days.  Your favorite word is "bubbles", all toys are "bubbles" :)  But you also say nite nite, mama, dada, doggie, and nana (banana).  I was a little worried that you weren't saying too many words about a month ago....no need to worry now!   You are a good little eater too.  You love bananas, scrambled eggs, oranges, happy meals (our special weekly treat:),goldfish, cheese...pretty much anything!  You aren't picky at all...thank goodness!   


  You have 5 lovies that you rotate through...a raccoon (Ricky), a frog, a giraffe, a cow, and a puppy.  I have taught you what the cow says...although you say "ooooooo" instead of moo.  I keep waiting for you to decide that one lovie is your favorite but you don't seem to mind which one you have.  We are trying to limit your time with your lovies...since we don't want you to be 6 years old carrying one around...and you really seem to only want/need it when you are tired or upset.  You still LOVE your thumb! 

  You tell us where your tummy and nose are now....you are such a smart little guy!  And observant too...you don't miss a thing!  With our move to South Carolina this year, you started at a new school and are doing great.  You seem to really love it and enjoy playing with the other children.  When I pick you up each afternoon, you always show me what you are playing with. 

  You are such a sweet, easy going, loving little boy and we just love you so much.  Somedays you wear me out but I am so thankful to be your mother.  I can't wait to keep watching you grow.....just don't grow up too fast.

I love you,
Mama

Spooky-proofing

Every now and then, a baby might eat maple sugar puffs that make him smell like a pancake.  And sometimes, that same pancake-smelling baby might have to wear Halloween pajamas in April because his Momma needs to do laundry.  This very luck baby may also have a very clever Daddy who nicknames him the Spooky Pancake.  Chase Bowen is this very lucky baby.  Our son, the Spooky Pancake.  Now affectionately shortened to Spooky. 

The Spooky Pancake has made some serious advances in the last couple of weeks.  He is now fully crawling...quickly and all over the place.  This morning I discovered this...

We were in need of some serious Spooky-proofing.  So, off to Target we went and returned armed with a variety of outlet covers, cabinet latches, and such. 

Chase was very interested in what was going on....



He even tried to help Daddy.

Not quite sure he likes what is going on...



Now that our house is secure, Chase can crawl all over.  And he is off...



Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

We are BACK....

Wow...what a couple of weeks!  We are back to our normal routine somewhat and I finally have some time to update this blog and post some pictures.

We had a great Memorial Day barbecue at our house with a bunch of friends.  Chase had a great time with his friends Taylor and Olivia.  The adults got a little wild (okay, probably just me) after the kids went to sleep.  All in all, except for one broken foot casuality, it was a great time!  I have some great pictures to post, but have them on a different camera...coming soon.

And then it was time for Topsail Beach Week!!  This was our second annual beach week and we couldn't have been more blessed with wonderful friends, beautiful weather, and lots and lots of fun and laughter!  What an awesome week! 

We kicked off the week by celebrating Chase's baptism.

Chase and Grammie

Chase and Uncle Scott

 Uncle Scott, Aunt Charu and Chase

 Canton Highlands Ladies in Topsail!

 Finally....It's BEACH TIME!

 Chase's #1 girl in her "wikini"... :)

 Chase and Daddy

 Beach Baby

 My favorite picture from the week.

 Happy Boy

 Crawling in the Ocean

 Beach Nap

 Two grandmothers attempting to boogie board.... :)

 <3

 Bye Topsail....see you next year!

Already looking forward to Topsail 2012!

Evil Knievel

Apparently Chase doesn't feel that our lives are exciting enough so he gave us a big thrill this afternoon when he decided that he was going to just roll off his changing table!  He's fine, but I don't think that I have recovered yet!  Derek and I were both in Chase's room, and he thought I was watching him, and I thought he was watching him...and off he went.  Derek scooped him right up and calmed him down, while I proceeded to have a panic attack.  Thankfully, he was okay and cried for only less than a minute, but it was a big wake up to call for us.  Now that he is mobile, we have to be so much more careful!  Let the babyproofing begin....

Here are some random pictures from the week...  More later...