Columbus visit #2

As I mentioned in the previous post, we went to Columbus this weekend. It is nice to be close enough to visit family during mommy's down time. In fact, we will be heading that way again this weekend if all the stars line up. Anyway, here are some pictures from Aunt Coleen's house and from lunch at Chef Lee's. A nice Chinese restaurant that the family enjoys eating at.

Zachary, Aunt Coleen and me. I asked Zachary to get some clothes on, but he said it is a southern thing and I would not understand. Ok, he is right. I do not understand!

We got a visit from daddy's sister Bernadette, funny thing is, she visited us from Alabama. Dalton and mommy and me and Aunt Bernadette.  

Here is me and cousin Gage. He liked my toy, so to see it, he held me!

Here is my Great Aunt Coleen and I outside by the fire. We were sitting outside talking and I nodded off. Sitting around the fire is a southern thing and I get it. It is just comfortable. Daddy's Aunt just sent him off for more wood when the fire got low. I was too small and cute for that kind of work.

Here I am eating.... happy to be eating something other than a bottle. I like my fruits, but will eat the rice cereal!

Here is my Great Aunt Coleen and Grandpa Ed. Ok, he is Zachary's Grandpa. But, we just try to stick with one title otherwise everyone would get confused! I am sleeping before my big meal....

Mommy and Daddy, someone actually was able to turn the camera on them.

Here I am with my Daddy's cousin Sandy and here husband Van. All their kids are grown up, so they were enjoying holding a baby.

We had a very nice visit with the folks in Columbus. This weekend if all the stars line up we will get to meet my Daddy's Aunt Doreen. I have heard some pretty interesting stories about that one.

A visit with Grandpa and Grandma Collins

Mommy got another weekend break from school so we loaded up the car and went to Columbus, Georgia. That is where daddy grew up and where his family lives, on his mothers side. While there we went to Fort Benning, Georgia that is where daddy began his career in the military and where his Grandparents, Papa and Maw are buried in the Military Cemetery. Of course dad wanted me to visit the final resting place of Arnold Collins Jr, whom I am also named after. That is where the Arnold in Christopher Arnold Newton Young comes from....

 Arnold Collins Jr.

Me trying to stand up straight next to his grave marker.

Buried there with Arnold is his wife and my Great Grandmother, Kathleen.  Daddy said if I was a girl I would have been named after her.

Here is daddy and me. The sun was in my eyes....

The cemetery was another garden of white stones. Very bright in the noonday sun. Grandpa and Grandma are surrounded by those like them, young and old, men and women and families who dedicated their lives to the defense of our nation, its values and ideals. They are never alone here and will always be remembered and loved. It was a nice visit and I know I will be back again soon. 

Working on my mobility and showing off my muscles!

If you have been following the blog, like you should have been, then you know I am growing. So I thought I would fashion my new talent. I can not crawl properly just yet and would much prefer to walk, before I crawl, but any way, I can get up and act like I am going to crawl. Of course I can't go anywhere yet, but soon, very soon!

 Me up on all 4's trying to figure this out....

Here is another angle.... and yes, I know I am cute.

I have to warn you, if you say I am cute around my daddy he is collecting a dollar processing fee for pointing out the obvious. People always say, "if I had a dollar everytime someone says that". Dad is just thinking ahead to pay for my college. If he collects one dollar from everyone who says I am cute I can go to college on my good looks!

Visit to the Officer Club

Here is mommy and I sitting on the sofa at the Officer Club at Maxwell AFB. If you go back through the blog, way back, I am told there is a picture of my mommy and daddy in this very same spot. Before they knew I was coming.... Ha Ha, would they not have been shocked then to know what we know now! Bet daddy's hair would be even grayer!

Me and mommy, she is an Officer, but not in Uniform here!

It was a fun night watching people jaust with big marsh mellow pillow sticks..... It is all part of the team bonding process.

I guess that is what they are teaching mommy in school.... hmmm. I thought the Air Force flew planes.

Just hanging out at the house

As I told you before, I ate solid food: rice cereal. I guess it is going to become a habit. I even had banana, they look different than the one mommy and daddy eat, but I was told it was banana.

So as I also mentioned in the last post, we hung out at the house some too. It was a wild place. Chris has 4 kids and each of them have a lot of friends. So I met a lot of people. Did not get a picture with each one, but I met all kinds of kids and their parents. Of course all said I was cute, so there must be something to that.

Me eating my bananas.

Phoebe and her friend playing with me.

Hannah has joined us.... I am a life like doll I guess.

Sitting around the fire with dad.... in Chris's back yard.

Just a cute picture of me.

Mom feeding me again

Heather and Chloe making dinner

Me and Heather.... she liked me. Been awhile since she played with a baby....

Of course she made me giggle and smile.....

Well that is our weekend. As you can see it was a busy one, but we had a great time. We look forward to our next visit with the Whitakers! Thank you to all who made our weekend a fun one.

Stone Mountain Georgia

Here I am another day older.... now we are at Stone Mountain Georgia. It is a huge piece of rock that people walk up so they can see the sites.

Well it seems daddy and mommy like walking up things. So here we go up another mountain. The trail is 1.3 mile straight up and 1.3 miles straight down. Going down was easier and this time I am just being carried. I have had enough stroller action this weekend.

Me and dad at the bottom before he picked up steam.

Family picture, I was checking out something else. Lots of people to watch....

Here we are on top.... we did not stop to smell the roses. It was cooler up on top at 1636ft.

Another family picture

The lake and steam boat below.... you can see it if you close both eyes.

The whole gang at the top.... Daddy, me, mommy, Heather, Chloe and Chris

I could not hold my arms up as long as dad....

Me and dad in front of an old manson.

The carving in the back ground is three people on horse back!

Ok, now you can see it....

The three guys who went hiking....

Me and daddy resting. I was not tired and neither was he, but the rock was there so why not sit on it.

Of course what post would be complete without my smiling face....

Well from here we went back to Chris' house and rested.... it was our last night so we had to hang out with everyone and make sure everyone get Christopher time right?

Marietta National Cemetery (Union Cemetery)

The Marietta National Cemetery contains the remains of the Union Soldiers who fell at Kennesaw Mountain as well as the remain of two Revolutionary Soldiers, thousands who died and served in World War One, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam and at least one who gave all during Operation Iraqi Freedom. You can see that the graves and grounds in this national shrine are far better taken care of and preserved to pay lasting homage to those who died in defense of the Constitution and the United States of America.

 Here you can see row after row of head stones in the rolling hills of the cemetery.

In the distance you can see the main gate of the cemetery.

Another view of the white headstones

 Chris in the middle of the Gardens

 The words of President Lincoln: "The Gettysburg Address." Spoken roughly seven months before the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

Private Dennis B Buckley, Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (Posthumously) for his actions on the second day of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

The Marietta National Cemetery is very typical and fitting of the National Cemeteries. It is well maintained, groomed and a proper resting place for those who served and sacrificed on behalf of our nation and the cause of freedom.