on the move...

laurel is sitting up on her own now and continues to scoot only backwards. her first tooth has broken the surface but you still can't really see it. she is SO MUCH FUN these days. here are a few pics (and videos) from around the house over the past couple of weeks...

thanks, kathryn holley, for the "baby legs" so i don't hurt my little knees...









sometimes i get stuck. maybe i'll learn how to move forward soon...

please pack your knives and go

laurel is making a plug for our favorite show today.  

ready for the new season to begin, so we can "watch what happens..."

ready to eat.  notice a theme?  the rayners LOVE food.  :)

peep eye with daddy

hilarious video

first pedicure

it was harder to get a good picture than it was to paint them...

whoa, mama needs one too!

perfect!

7 months

the days after gustav were some of the prettiest days i've ever seen in destin.  thank you pops and abbi -- we had an awesome time with you and we love you so much!

7 months old on sept. 4th

even the elephant made the trip!

that sun is so bright, mommy.  hurry up!

whew, that's better

pops looks all relaxed and happy

ouch!  why do i do this to myself?

my friend sheri scruggs and her two kids came to visit on friday

hey josh!  josh was born 20 days after laurel and weighs 4 pounds more than she does and already has 2 teeth!

big sister sydney and laurel.  i'm so glad we got to see the scruggs.  what a treat!

laurel can sit up on her own now... for a few minutes  

i took this before we left sunday.  we love you abbi.  thank you for all of your help and for loving us so much.

gusty gustav

pat and laurel and i stayed at the beach for labor day with mom and dad.  we watched the ocean change dramatically, but thankfully, we only got some rain and not-so-scary wind.  

dancin'

labor day weekend in destin

every labor day we have a johnston family reunion at the beach.  this time there were 18 adults and 8 kiddos.  we missed you sommerville, jp, and sarah   :(  

we celebrated katie's (and sarah's, in absentia) 21st birthdays and merrill's, barbara's, and mary katherine's 40th birthdays.

my uncle claudie, aunt maureen, cousin gilbert, and dad looking on as the birthday boy and girls open cards

all 8 of the kids - lucy helen, duncan, caroline, elizabeth, laurel, merrill, rebecca, and maury

caroline and lucy loving their cousin laurel

all 6 little girls!

caroline and lucy - bff

abbi and some of her girls

merrill is outnumbered big time, but he is such a sweet brother and cousin

watching a storm approach.  it is SO BEAUTIFUL in destin

barbara and the big girls, watching a slide show of pictures from their sailing trip this summer

boys, doing what boys do best - watching football!

sweet rebecca

precious girl, hamming it up

rebecca and laurel are 14 months apart.  they will be quite a twosome next year!

"hey!  i'm just hanging out with crazy uncle mark!"

"he's telling me stories and singing songs..."

"... and wearing me out!"

maury and caroline, being sweet to duncan

this is duncan, my cousin mary katherine's little boy.

he LOVES baby laurel

see?

aw, how sweet!

laurel and pat, before the state game.  

she looks like such a little boy!

aw, and after the game.  it hurts to lose.  (or maybe it just hurts to wear this shirt...)