Charlie's first Christmas

It came and went in a blink of an eye.  Just like everything these days.  His first Christmas.  I feel like it totally snuck up on us because there was lots that we didn't do.  We FINALLY made a baby's first Christmas hand print ornament...on December 26.  So if that gives you a clue about how fast it went by.  I tried to be good at taking pictures and I got a lot of candid shots, but very few posed.  Note to self: take some more posed pictures.

Christmas Eve in the afternoon we literally packed up our entire house with everything we needed for a one night sleepover at Nana and Papa B's.  We had to take two cars if that gives you any sort of visual. That's because in addition to our thousand baby items, we had presents and 2 dog kennels and 3 dogs and a BIG wagon for Charlie's present.  So I guess it was explainable, but it still felt ridiculous driving 2 cars over to my parents just 15 minutes away.

We went to the 3PM candlelight Christmas Eve service at COR and it was packed!!  We usually go to the 11PM service, but that all changed with Mr. Charlie this year.  He did a great job, but of course I didn't get any pictures of our cute little family.  #momfail  After the service we headed home and got dinner started and it was DELICIOUS.  My grandparents came over and so did my uncle (in addition to my cousin, Brett, that is living with my parents right now) to enjoy the yummy food.  Gotta love a Christmas Eve shrimp boil.

Charlie put on his Christmas PJs and off to bed he went.  I thought about writing a letter to Santa from him, but then I went to bed.  Haha, is that another #momfail?  I figure next year we'll do it up right when he's a little older and we'll be at our house.

He was up at 6:30AM on Christmas morning and ready to go.  Being the first one out, Nana B immediately busted out Charlie's present that she had been hiding away.  A Charlie-sized recliner that matches his nursery perfectly!  He loved it and it was a perfect fit!

Once everyone else got up, dad put together his new wagon and we did one family pose in that.  Except Jimmy is not looking at the camera.  Another #momfail...but at least the kid liked the wagon.  Once he's sitting up better I'm sure he'll just love it!

Then we started opening up way too many presents.  My family was way too nice.  Jimmy got like 17 St Thomas Aquinas shirts from my mom too.  And we got an awesome coffee maker from my mom as well as some baby food freezer stuff!  Of course Charlie got some fun toys and clothes and was just spoiled rotten.  Typical first grandkid, right?!

Here are 3 of the 7 dogs....(and my dad and Brett)

Toby was really good and calm, so I guess he can come back!

Willy thinks the chair is his! 

After all the presents were opened, it was time to take care of the stocking stuffer scratch off tickets that my mom always gets!  My dad was working WAY too hard on them. 

 While Lyndsay hung out with Charlie....my grandparents came over too again to hang out!!

And then these are stupid pictures of Jimmy sneaking sausage roll.  And me laughing.  We are so funny.

Charlie was pretty chill in the exersaucer all day too.  But look at that DROOL.  oh MY goodness.  Somehow he got tall enough to touch the bottom too.  I'm not sure when that happened!!

After making the trek back to our house with all of our stuff (presents included) with the help of my cousin's truck, we were at home for one nap, an outfit change and then it was over to the Carter house for family Christmas there!! Charlie's cousins are pretty in love with him.  Norah made it clear that I know that babies love her because baby Arden loved her and held her hand!!  Precious!

Then we opened Christmas presents and it was always fun to see all the kids open stuff.  New tradition at the Carter Christmas?  Chant the person's name that is opening the present.  Pretty fun.  Charlie was first so he had a lot of fun!!!

We had lots of fun!!  Including a great present from Grana and Pops of his little Charlie backpack to match the duffle bag my mom and dad got him!

The boys traded t-shirts...

And when presents were over Charlie was POOPED.  Poor guy.

And guess what else happened?  Maren lost a tooth (well it was loose and Aunt Shellie is the tooth pulling expert and pulled it out!!!) and was so proud!  While Norah insisted on getting her picture taken too!

And Miss Kenlie?  Well she just had way too much Christmas for her own good.  She passed out on Uncle Bobby! While Charlie woke up and put on his PJs that Grana made and jumped in the jumparoo!!  Fun was had by all.

Overall it was a great first Christmas.  Have a few things to learn for next year though and maybe a couple more special memories to make.  But we're all taking this parenthood/child thing one step at a time!!!

Hope you and yours had a merry merry Christmas as well!

Week 21: Holidays!

The holidays always seem to got by way too fast!  And even more so with a little babe.  While I tried my best to stay on top of everything (teacher's gifts, present buying, holiday decor, etc.), it ended up that everything was done again at the last minute.  But hey, it got done, right?  That's what counts!!

You also had your first snow this week.  While you didn't play in it (too cold), you were pretty mesmerized looking at it.  So crazy that next year you will want to be out there running around.  That's dad's job because mom likes to stay inside!

It also marked a start of mom and dad "dating" again with our first surprise date in a LONG time.  Maybe the first one of 2012.  And the last.  But that's what 2013 is for, right?

We also had a fun play date with Jackson and then Christmas Eve was upon us already.  SO much fun this week and so looking forward to our time in Houston and time off to spend with you!!

Krista - you totally inspired me.  While I wasn't too creative, I had fun making the teacher gifts!

First snow - let's stay in bed mom!!!!

Dad/son twin day.  They are so handsome my men!!

Charlie is for sure noticing these crazy dogs now.  He's grabbing at them and everything.  Jimmy had him "ride" Willy one night and it sure was interesting.  Willy didn't seem to mind or really like it.

Cutest outfit ever from the Griffins - just dying at this.  I love him!

Mother/son day out includes feeding in random spots.  Gotta do what you gotta do, even in Westport in a parking lot.

Full stockings for all as we headed into Christmas!

Santa was WAY to nice to us this year!

Dad with his "poop stick'

Finally - the cookie dough cheesecake - YUM!!  Mom made just for dad!

Trip to Iowa

This trip to Iowa was LONG overdue for Charlie to meet his great grandparents on my dad's side.  They had seen SO many pictures of him and were so much looking forward to meeting him.  With a 6 hourish drive up there though, we wanted to make sure we got a good weekend, so we planning going with the whole Bruns family for Bruns family Christmas the third weekend in Thanksgiving, right before my Grandpa's birthday.  My dad, Jimmy, Charlie and I headed out on Friday morning around 9 and we did pretty good on time.  Charlie did good in the car...kept very consistent with his eat-wake-sleep routine and we stopped about every 3 hours to eat.  We did get to stop and get out for lunch and get him out of the carseat, which I know he liked!!!

We were ALMOST there and he just lost it because he was so hungry.  I was going to pump and feed him with a bottle, but then with only 15 minutes to go but then we figured it wasn't worth it so we just listened to him cry until we got to the hotel.  On the way there, we did hear about the Connecticut shooting which was just so awful we could barely stand it.  All I wanted to do is just get to the hotel, take Charlie out of his car seat and hug him for hours.  Which don't worry, he got lots and lots of loving when he arrived to see my grandparents.  This was the extent of our Friday night...

...staring at Charlie...

My dad and Jimmy were laying just like twins...

Friday night was WELL...interesting.  My dad and Jimmy decided they were going to the Alta boys basketball game.  So they dropped Charlie and I off at the hotel for baby's bedtime and were off to the game.  I made a request for them to stop by Walgreens for like the 7th time of our trip already to pick up some pictures that I got printed for my grandparents.  I went to bed a few minutes after Charlie went to sleep and then woke up at 10:30 and Jimmy still wasn't home.  It was weird so I woke up and checked my phone.  He sent me a text message that said "Call me when you can".  Uh - not good sign. And it wasn't good.  Jimmy hit a car on their drive down main street.  Down main street in Storm Lake, IA.  There was only one other car on the road and that was the one he hit.  Apparently the was in the left lane and needed to turn night, so instead of looking in the mirror he just went.  The poor guy didn't speak English or have insurance so even though Jimmy walked away with a $125 ticket...the poor guy he hit walked away with like an $800+ ticket, which probably meant no Christmas for his kids....

I thought I handled it decent because I didn't freak out.  That's all I'm going to say about that.

The next morning we were up early and had breakfast at the hotel and then went to my grandparents.  Charlie was rocking his new fleece...

But then he got hot and showed off one of his shirts that Jen made him at our Hallmark shower - so cute!

Around lunchtime, the rest of the family rolled in (my sister and mom were still on their way).  It was so good to see everyone and my cousins were excited to meet Charlie!

And then Charlie began getting passed around.  My uncle Dennis was sure a baby hog!!!

But at least Charlie likes him a lot!!

In the middle of the day we decided to get out and go to Santa's Castle - a Storm Lake classic.  Apparently we went there as kids, but I don't remember AT all!

It was interesting....with the decorations but fun to get out and about!

Standard family picture...

The best part?  Santa.  Um - I'm sorry 26 year old Santa with your converse tennis shoes.   You have no one fooled.  Even my cousin's 7 year old son was asked by Santa if he wanted to get on his lap and Isaac's response was "no thanks".  Up, no one fooled in that get up.

Then it was back to my grandparents house for more family time, pizza and presents!!  And of course lots of family pictures!!!!

Great grandpa Bruns and Charlie

Charlie and one of his sets of great grandparents

Charlie and Great Grandma Bruns

The family!!

My dad and Jimmy.  They are weird.

We made an early exit to get this sick kid to bed.  I was pretty sick as well and miserable, so I wanted to get to bed early too.  Didn't help that there were crazy kids in the room above us that didn't let us sleep. We were those parents that called the front desk at like 8:30 to complain...but it didn't work.

Bed time!  Enthralled by his sea horse!

The next morning we wanted to get an early start to the drive home, so it was back to my grandparents to say goodbye!  A few last minute pictures...

And...we got my grandparents to record a recordable storybook for Charlie.  Obviously we work at Hallmark and have known about these forever, but now having a baby and having my grandparent's voices reading to him forever is literally priceless.  He loves it so much!!!!!

And that was it....back in the car seat for this little man again.  He's not that big of a fan, but he does ok.

Until next time Iowa....