one year photo shoot

Charlie started his life in the 33 percentile (for height and weight) and has slowly dropped all the way to the FIRST for weight and FOURTH for height. His head is still in the 60th. I feed him, but the combination of not loving food and loving to run around makes for a small little dude. He hasn't been weaned due to the fact that I want to make sure he is getting a little extra.

Here is our little handsome little squirt! I am grateful for such talented friends who took the time to take these photos. More to come....

Even though I don't love that I am so white and my hair blends in with the door, I love that I finally have a picture of the two of us smiling.

I didn't know how much I would love being a mom. It may be stressful, and I may have turned slightly frumpy, but I wouldn't trade being a stay-at-home mother for anything. I love my little, curious, jabbering, helpful, very active, Charlie!

March and all of its madness!

March was fun, very busy, and comical.

To start the month, we had to re-baby proof the house for an active, walking, toddler.

Then it was birthday after birthday for close friends, as well as Charlie and me. A good time was had (as well as a good piece of cake) at each celebration.

Luckily we were able to head to my parents' place for a weekend. While we were there we celebrated Charlie's birthday with some of his cousins. It was a simple celebration, but just what fit his desires.

Sean surprised me with a trip to a spa for my birthday. He took half a day off of work and watched Charlie while I relaxed. I have NEVER been pampered like that. I felt like I was in heaven. He definitely was speaking fluently in the language of love. Some friends had thrown me a wonderful surprise party the day before the big day, so I thought I was going to have nothing to do on my actual birthday. Thankfully I was wrong!

As we reached the end of the month Sean and I could be found sweating (and burning off the birthday cake that had been consumed) as we ran, pushing a stroller, 16-18 miles on Saturdays. Thankfully good friends made arrangements to pick us up at the end of each long run so that we didn't have to run back in the nasty wind that suddenly has settled in this valley.

The true MADness of March came last week when I noticed that my drivers license had expired by a week. I hauled Charlie, myself, the stroller, snacks, and all the legal proof I needed to the DMV. The trip was disappointing. I sat there with a fussy strapped-in toddler who wanted to be walking around the place. As I sat there waiting I watched as this poor little old man failed all his tests and had his license revoked. I felt so bad for him. I forgot about those sad feelings when I had my documents passed back to me by a lady that was telling me I had to test all over again. I thought she just meant the written, which I felt I had in the bag, but unfortunately she meant the drive test as well. I obviously couldn't test with Charlie, so off we went. I have been illegally driving for a few days as I study for my tests that I will be taking this week. I feel 16. Sean wants to set up cones and practice parking in the church parking lot. Oh I really feel 16.

Onto the Charlie pictures....

Charlie's (simple) first cupcake

We love cousins! Thankfully Eli, Ryder, and Ethan were able to come have pizza, fruit, cupcakes, and ice cream with us.

Loving that he had complete control of the cupcake!

"Here dad, want some?"

After  the cupcake face paint, he was off to the bath. Once clean Charlie enjoyed joining the big boys in a little LEGO building. He played with DUPLO while they played with actual legos.

Somewhere between Christmas and his birthday Charlie learned how to unwrap his gifts.

Loving the warmer weather!