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!

Our 365 day parenting course

Charlie is spent! His day was full and celebrated and he is clueless as to why, but he was happy the whole time. He woke up to balloons around the house and a new toy in the center of the living room-- a tunnel. We had German pancakes for breakfast, went to story time at the library, blew bubbles, had a fudgecicle, played in the dirt, went running, had finger food for dinner, read stories, had a glow-stick bath, watched Baby Einstein Signs, opened presents, and had visits from friends. Now that he is asleep I can finally write how I have been feeling.....

I don't think I could have sat in a college course, taken endless amounts of notes, read multiple books, passed several exams, and come out knowing what I know now about parenting. Maybe it's because there are much deeper feelings, in my heart, than I could have had just by studying from an outsider's perspective.

The moments that made up the last 365 days have been all over the spectrum. As I sit here now, my thoughts are bouncing all over and I am hoping I can at least catch a few to document.

The most memorable moment of Charlie's first year, for me, was captured on video. Thankfully. I can't think about it without crying, let alone watch it without sitting in a puddle of my dripping emotion. The moment was holding him for the first time and having him stare right up at me and know exactly who I was.

Two of the most hilarious moments were: one, when I was pooped on in the bath (lots of yellow mustard-y newborn poop), and two (I'm not proud to admit this), when I full on peed my pants. Yes, I learned shortly after recovering that Keigls were a must. Too bad I learned that after the fact. I lost control of my bladder two months ago. Sean was taking advantage of the fact that I had poor bladder control and that I was giggling  uncontrollably. I felt like I did when I was in kindergarten and had to come back to class with a change of clothes-- that weren't mine. My pants were soaking wet and my pride went right out the door. Note* I ALWAYS have to use the facilities before I run, otherwise....

The moments I secretly love (even though they are problematic when I try to leave Charlie) are when he wants me. He always wants me to be close to him when we are in a strange place or surrounded by lots of people. I feel he is complementing me and telling me just how much he loves me. I guess I love complements and expressions of love.

The first fever kept me up all night! I was checking on him every half hour or so. I was sure that when his temperature reached 102 we needed to call an ambulance. Thank heavens Sean is much more level-headed in those moments.

The other hilarious moments have to be when I tried to change into a swimsuit, in a car, so that I could avoid changing in a public bathroom with a baby (the things you never think of). While changing into my swimsuit Charlie moved his way up to the front seat and brought a lot of unwanted stares our way-- as if the situation I was already in wasn't challenging enough. Also, trying to use a public restroom while holding a wiggling little one, so that he doesn't get covered in germs, is always a struggle. I have learned that I MUST use the bathroom before I leave the house and then to not drink anything while gone. (Most of the lessons I've learned in life are embarrassing)

I can never get enough of the cuddly moments. I could read him all 150 books on his shelf just so that he would sit on my lap and cuddle.

Secretly I was beaming with pride when 'Mamamamama' was the first word that was recognizable. He now calls me 'MaMom' and Sean 'DaDad'.

We say 'Uh-oh' instead of 'no', and it's cute when he recognizes that he did something bad and will turn around and say 'uh-oh'.

I didn't realize that boogers could get everywhere, when your child has a runny nose. Now it's a 'duh' comment, but seriously, I was naive. My left shoulder seems to always have Charlie markings.

I used to love dressing for the occasion, but now I prefer to wear a t-shirt/sweatshirt and jeans.

I used to never sing. Pandora is set to kids songs. Charlie and I sing and dance (he loves being slow-danced with, cheek to cheek)

My life is forever changed, and I love it!

His LOVES: dad and mom, books, being sung to, dogs, knocking blocks over, bath time, Baby Einstein, showering, nursing, Patty Cake (this saves us at church). Gogurts, finger foods, story time at the library, being outside, bubbles, being pushed in the stroller, sitting in the driver's seat, doing chores (laundry, dishwasher, and making beds), toilets, tampons, garbages (all the disgusting things), and walking.

His DISLIKES: being babysat, having his diaper changed, cold food (except gogurts), things on his head, having his nose wiped, his car seat, when you take something away from him, and when dad has to go to work.

So happy he found dad

Playing Peek-A-Boo

A FAVORITE chore: making the bed

Preparing himself for his next favorite task.

Second favorite chore: unloading the dryer onto the (clean) floor

The birthday gift

pleased with his new tunnel

birthday euphoria

Our new church distraction-- puppets

He was saying "mmmmmm mmm mmmmmm mmm"

The birthday boy before the birthday nap

Glow stick bubble bath

The Dog Pound

The house we currently live in attracts dogs, much to Charlie's delight. I feel like we live in a dog pound.

Seriously, though.

The first day we were here we spent it painting various rooms. I looked out the window and there was a large Great Dane, with her six very large puppies, prancing around our fenced-in yard. The gate was closed, and I kept searching for an opening somewhere in the fence. They were such big dogs that I was too intimidated to go make their acquaintance.

The second time we had a visitor, I was on my way back from a run and saw some sort of Husky breed in our yard. Again I was intimidated and had Charlie in a stroller so I waited and waited for the dog to get far enough away to head in.

The third time we had an over night visitor at this pound. A really skinny, beautiful, and abnormally sweet Pit Bull was curled up by our front deck one night. It was brought to our attention as some friends were leaving, and came back to ask us if we had a dog. We felt so bad for the shivering, obviously neglected dog. We fed her what food we had, gave her water, and let her come in and sleep in our laundry room (since it was below freezing, and she didn't have ANY fat on her). The next day she went running with me. I came back and left the gate open and she disappeared. It was a sad relief.

The fourth time we had a German Shepard sitting on our front porch barking at any car that drove past the house. I was so confused with this one. It had a collar and just sat there protecting our dog pound. I was again intimidated to leave the house with Charlie, but we had to go pick Sean up from work. I carried Charlie above my head and loaded him in the car. By the time we returned our little protector had left.

This fifth time was my favorite. I was out for a four mile run, yesterday, when suddenly I passed a house with several loud and ferocious dogs (the house looked like an eery one you'd see in a creepy movie). All of a sudden two little puppies came running across the yard, crossed the street and started following me. I tried taking them back three times, but they insisted that they wanted to go for a run. They followed me all the way home. The little things ran three miles. I fed them (by this time, the dog pound has plenty of food to feed it's tenants) and gave them water. They were friendly, but afraid to come too close. Sean said that is a sign that they have been mistreated? I am not familiar with dogs, although I should be by now, so I didn't know. Charlie LOVED these little puppies. I fell in love with the copper one. As they started following me, being rebellious and not wanting to go back to their home, I called them Laman and Lemuel. Then, the more playful they became, I started calling them Sean and Phillip. We sat on the back deck and the three of us played with them. Charlie would hold his hands out for them to lick and would shriek, with delight of course, when their little tongues would cover his hands and then his face. He LOVED it and would cry when we would take him away from them. They stayed in hotel laundry room and then were taken to a dog clinic this morning. Sad. We liked these ones. (We did attempt to take them home two more times, but were wondering if they were just dropped off at that random corner, cause they didn't act happy to be back at 'home'.)

Anyways, we've been able to do a little dog sampling, and will have fun when we actually get to choose a dog one day to keep.

Trying to get pictures, and they thought my lap was open for relaxation.

Snuggled up on my lap. I am a sucker.

A happy, thankfully temporary, surprise for Sean to come home to.

Insert happy 11 month old shrieks

Hotel laundry room, Charlie's face and hands, and anything else that the dogs have touched have all been properly sanitized!

Bad Decision

I enjoy going to thrift stores.

One day I found a little battery operated book at a thrift store. It plays various songs as you flip through each page. Some of the songs are 'Old MacDonald','Hey Diddle Diddle', 'Hickory Dickory Dock', etc.... I bought it.

Bad decision.

Charlie isn't really amused by it, but it usually gets pulled off of the shelf with all of the other toys.

It has no 'off' button.

Usually I clean the toys up and put them back on the toy shelves, after Charlie goes down for the night. I switch all of the toys to the 'off' position, that toy being the exception because it can't be switched off.

Two random nights, in the past month or so, haven't been pleasant ones. Around 2-3 am I'll suddenly get chills down my back as I hear "Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O......".

The possessed toy goes off all on it's own. You never know when it's going to start singing.

The first night it happened, I was WAY creeped out, but I got out of bed to fix the problem. I was imagining mice running across the toy, setting it off.

The second night it happened, I was WAY creeped out, but so was Sean. He got the privilege of being woken up by the possessed toy. He got up to deal with it and told me he was imagining Chucky was standing by the toy, ready to greet him.

The toy is going back to the thrift store.

Sunday Checklist

1. Wake up to Charlie wanting to get out of his crib.
2. Roll over and wish there was a snooze button.
3. Don't fight Sean as he says he'll get up and get Charlie.
4. Have Charlie crawl all over us, in bed, which gets us up and moving.
5. Sean showers as I get breakfast going.
6. Eat breakfast
7. Lay Charlie's clothes out (so he doesn't end up in something completely mismatched), and the two of us (Charlie and me) jump into the shower.
8. Sean gets Charlie ready as I get ready.
9. Nurse Charlie
10. Pack bags (diaper and lesson) and load them into car.
11. Quickly get my clothes on.
12. Try taking new routes to church that have fewer traffic lights (cause we are late).

Today we needed to add a couple more items to the list.

13. Turn bright red as a kind soul wanders up to the front of the chapel to tell your husband that his wife's shirt was on inside out.
14. Run out of the chapel, bright red, to switch clothes around.
15. Thank kind soul on my way back up to sit with my family.

And that was a fourth of our day. Thankfully the last half included pajamas (which were put on correctly), naps, and good food!

We need a full length mirror. Today proved that!

(I had a couple other people tell me that they saw my shirt on inside out, but weren't brave enough to come up and let me know)

The After Party

The partying did not die down, once Christmas day passed. We played games, went shooting (guns and archery), spent a day in Seattle (Pike's Place, monorail, H&M, and the Ballard Locks), attended a family baptism, exercised, hiked, purchased lots of great children's books at Value Village, went after Christmas shopping, got pedicures, and took family pictures.

After a crazy week like the one we had, I have drawn a conclusion: I LOVE FAMILY!

Family members love you despite your quirks, mood-swings, lack of sleep, when you have a running nose, if your zipper is down, if you have bad breath, when you beat them over and over again at the same game, and so forth.

I don't want to imagine what life would be like without family.

I went through a family 'cleanse' the week after break. It was more like a week of withdrawals. Severe ones. I was SO homesick, lonely, tired, etc.

We left the kids at home and went for a relaxing pedicure. The two hours away was the only time the women were completely without children. Bless those children, but bless those two hours!

Visiting one of Seattle's hot spots-- the gum wall

On the monorail

A nice way to end each day

Robin Hood (my dad) took little Sean and the others out wandering through the woods, shooting cardboard animals. Apparently it was tons of fun-- I was on baby-sitting duty.

My FAVORITE picture from the week! I love Sean, Micah, Emily, my dad, and Eve's expressions. I also love Shane sneakily applying his mustache.

Love the mustaches and expressions on all of the men (and Ryder)!

I am Charlie's favorite person in the middle of the night. Sean and my dad are the favorites during waking hours. He is always reaching, crawling, or climbing up on those two. I get slightly jealous. They go out and have fun, I stay home to watch the little one and he STILL prefers the other two? Unfair!

Teaching Ethan to shoot

Couples' therapy.....

And we lived happily ever after.....

So did they!