4 month pictures

On December 1, just one day after our little man officially hit 4 months old, we got his second round of pictures taken.  They were originally intended to be 3 month pictures, but guess what?  This mama didn't email our lovely photographer until like 2 days before he turned 3 months because that was the same time I went back to work.  Too many things to remember I guess.  When she originally said her first availability was Dec 1, I was kind of sad, but it actually turned out really well.  Why?  Because little Charlie turned into a rockstar head holder-upper (is that a skill?) on his tummy...and it made for some super sweet pictures.  And this time - we actually got some pictures of the 3 of us.  At our newborn pictures we even talked about it, but then seriously after we got some good ones of him I literally thought I was going to die.  10 days after giving birth did not look good on this lady, especially since I was all over the ground trying to help position Charlie.  You will be happy to know that everyone was in MUCH better spirits this time around.

The funny part?  Charlie smiles ALL the time.  Like every time you laugh at him her smiles or laughs back at you.  It's contagious.  Every time except when he's getting his pictures professionally taken.  Of course, right?  What a joker this kid is!! But never fear, Amanda did get some good ones!!!

Jimmy's face is silly but he was trying to make Charlie laugh!

WOAH big eyes!

Love this one so much

Haha this one was "dumbo" baby

I love this one.

And then we brought out the sled....

He wasn't sure what to think of it

FAV

And there you have it!  Charlie's 4 month pictures and some great family pics!!  Can't wait for the next round in a few months!  We're going to wait until he's sitting up pretty well to get those!

FOUR MONTHS...already!

Somehow the month of November flew by and all of a sudden you are 4 months old.  And guess what?  This last month was not easy with mom going back to work full time and everyone adjusting to that (I think your dog siblings might have had a harder time adjusting than you...) and also with some sickness...but we made it.  And looking back, we learned a lot about each other this past month and our little family has somewhat of a good routine going to keep happy parents and a happy baby!

Highlights from this month were you getting baptized of course and your first big holiday!  Mom and dad also had two nights out alone in the last month which were pretty great too and meant you got to spend lots of fun time with your grandparents! And guess what else?  In your 3 month post I talked about how you hadn't rolled over yet and I was hoping you would do it for me the first time - well you listened and did it for me, Nana and Papa B.  Dad was at a school auction and you wouldn't do it again for the camera - but then you finally got the hang of it and are doing it lots.  Even at day care - they told me but asked me if I had seen it first.  So nice of them but makes me wonder what other things you are doing that I don't know about yet!!!

Here's the list of what you are doing now...

• You still seem to smile all the time.  Except of course when we got your professional 4 month pictures taken.  It took us a lot to get you to smile then.  You silly baby.
• You continue to have lots of baby talk and respond when we make noises at you.  It's kind of like we are talking, but not really, but so awesome still.  
• You are rolling over like crazy.  You did it a lot a few weeks ago and haven't kept it up - but we'll get there.  Still no back to front, but lots of front to back
• You grab EVERYTHING!  Toys, burp clothes, blankets, and especially mom's hair!

• Your teachers love you.  When we walk in to pick you up, they are lots of times holding you and playing and you guys are all laughing.  Cracks me up.
• You have become a rock star bottle taker - 4 ounces every time.  Nice little man!
• Your sleep this month was not that great.  You started out well with the 8-10 hours straight and then you got sick.  And stayed sick.  And that was waking you up one to two times a night.  Then right after Thanksgiving you got better and started sleeping again. But then you started teething.  AH!!  
• Speaking of....you are teething.  Ms Linda and I think that you are going to get a tooth on the bottom left.  Your hands are in your mouth 24/7...you love Sophie...you drool non-stop.  You get double bibbed at school which is funny!  They say you usually don't get teeth until 6 months or so - so we'll see if you are just fooling us or what.
• You are wearing some 3-6 month clothes still, some 6-9 and all Carter's 6 months.  I was pretty much in denial when I was putting away all the newborn and 0-3 month clothes and couldn't believe you are in 6 month clothes already.  But I guess you are 4 months, so that's totally normal - but it just doesn't seem real!
• Did I mention you are a thumb sucker?  If not, I think it's official.
• You are all over your crib.  If mom puts you in vertically, you wake up horizontally.
• We are working on cutting out the midnight feeding and going to try to just leave you in your crib when you cry. Even though I don't know if I can do that because I just want to hold you and rock you so bad.  Because I love it and I miss you.
• You are in size 3 diapers and man oh man, I feel like they are getting tighter.  Growing like a weed!!

We went to your 4 month appointment today and here are the stats:
Weight: 15lbs and 10oz (75% percentile)
Length: 25.75 in (75% percentile)
Head Circumference: 17.5 (75% percentile)

You did pretty good with the shots (mom made dad hold you down this time).  Mom had this grand plan to work from home all day so we could get to the doctor and then back and let you sleep while she worked.  Well at 7:30 when she tried to turn her computer on, it didn't turn on.  So then went the fun of going into work and trying to get it fixed.  Didn't work out - so she just took the day off and we got to spend the whole day together just like old times.  She just couldn't handle taking you back to day care after those shots.  She's a wimp, I know.

Onto your oh so adorable pictures with this bear.  Compared to your 3 month pics, you look bigger I think, but also can prop up/sit up against the bear much better.  I can't wait to look at these every month as you grow (here's 2 month and 1 month).

Of course...the best part?  The outtakes.

These crack me up because they show you just how hard you were concentrating....love your little leg in the air and then the look on your face as you start to fall over.

 This first one is you staring at your dad, Charlie.  You pretty much think he's the funniest guy around.  And the last one of the photo shoot - as always you fell over but this time were just mesmerized by the light or the fan.  Pretty content.  My question?  How come we couldn't get you to smile like this in your 4 month professional pictures the day before?!?!

I just am so consumed with loving you.  As the days go by I keep thinking there is no way I could love you more than I did yesterday but I do.  I could sit and stare at you when you fall asleep in my arms all night if I could stay awake.  And you know what's weird?  If you wake up once a night, I don't get frustrated at all.  When you were going ALL night long I missed you.  I guess I'm weird, but waking up at 3AM to feed you is still nice because it's our time.

And finally, one thing I learned in the last month is what a selfish mom I am.  Selfish as in - I want you all to myself.  I need to share you a bit, but I just love you so much I always want to be the one holding you, feeding you, playing with you, rocking you to sleep.  I even told your dad the other day I was sorry if he thinks I hog you all the time - but he said he doesn't mind because he loves how much I love you.  It's true.  You have just made me so happy these last 4 months it's so weird to think about life before you.  Well Charlie - here's to many more fabulous months together.

Week 17 with Charlie

Oh man.  This week was sure a good one (so good it took me a long time to get my act together to post about it!).  Lots of days off and time spent with our little 3 person family as well as lots of good time with our extended families and even some friend time.  The perfect mix of a long weekend.  And even better...you ended this week not sick anymore and sleeping.  Wahoo!!

After a short work week, it was time for lots of Thanksgiving fun, which was a separate blog post on it's own because that holiday is just too much fun.

We ended this "week" on Monday with a great family picture because it was that time of year again - to order Christmas cards!! Wahoo - one of my favorite things to send and receive.

Still cannot believe 17 weeks have come and gone with you little man.  It seems like you have been around forever but then not that long at the same time.  It's so weird but so awesome.  Just love you so much!!!

Thanksgiving(s) 2012

Our first holiday with the little man started off with a bang on Wednesday morning.  Charlie was in a great mood, in a great outfit and ready to go for the day!

Jimmy and I both drove to work in case one of us got off earlier than the other, so I took Charlie to school and then we were planning on bringing him into Hallmark for lunch.  Jimmy went and got him and we all enjoyed HiBoy, thanks to one of Jimmy's co-worker's husband and son that was so nice to bring it in for everyone!!  Then surprise!  We both got to leave work around noon, so that was awesome because we went right home to spend time with our little man before Carter Thanksgiving.

I have to say really fast how wonderful my in-laws are.  My mother-in-law has set it up so nice because she always hosts their Thanksgiving on Wednesday night so Thanksgiving day is open for all the girls to go visit their family.  So for the last 7 years  6 years (because we broke up for one of them), I have gone over to the Carter house for a wonderful feast.  Sue really always out does herself - it is ALWAYS such a delicious meal and she always has the most beautiful table setting.  

Like I said - she really out does herself for her huge family!! (this was without 5 of us)

The rolls are always so delicious!

With this big family - it's always a good time and there is always something to keep us entertained.  This was the game of have Will point to people and say their name.  He did great!

And then Norah wanted to join in the fun.  However, it doesn't look like she's having much fun!

After our feast - literally - we always have a great time of chatting with each other and playing with the kids.  Which the latter part takes on a whole new meaning now that we have Charlie around.  It's fun because his cousins are enamored by him and it's so neat to see them interact with him and vice versa!  This whole family is baby crazy so he's always being held by someone.

I love this picture too - can you tell the difference? Haha.

Aunt Hillary looks almost like me in this picture - you know, standing with Jimmy and Charlie!  Of course it was a great time and then it was time for bed, for not just Charlie!!

The next morning we lounged around and then when Charlie woke up from his morning nap, we dressed him in his new H&M sweater (with elbow pads....) and headed over to my parents house with a green bean casserole in hand.  Jimmy strapped Charlie in the baby bjorn and he was a happy little camper.

**Notice a trend in pictures of Charlie?   He is pretty much always in a bib these days because he is SO drooly if we don't have him wear one we are changing his outfits like non-stop**

How cute are they?

I love these next couple pictures that my cousin took.  Apparently green was the in color.

While we were getting the last minute touches ready on the meal, my cousin's family had a great time on the basketball court. Her husband had a great time dunking the ball too!

My Uncle Roland and I

My grandmother had surgery on her eye the week before and had to keep her head down during recovery, so she didn't make it to Charlie's baptism, but she sure didn't want to miss Thanksgiving.  Even though she still wasn't able to see - it was so great to have her there!

After we stuffed ourselves again - we dug into some pie and Kansas dirt (my sister makes it and it's SO good), my cousin's kids wanted to jump in the hot tub.  They are just the cutest boys!!  So much fun to look forward to with Charlie!

Ahhh - that's the life, right?

Of course, par for the course, we did take like 100 pictures of Charlie.  So here are just a few...

Mom & Charlie (see the elbow pads?!)

So thankful for these guys!!  My loves!

Wide eyes..

"Look mom, no hands"

My delicious mashed potatoes that looked like ice cream!

My dad and Jimmy on the floor right after Charlie rolled over!

After everyone left, we hung out at my parents and busted out a new toy that we had got at a shower for Charlie.  The Johnny Jumper that goes on a door frame.  It was for sure a keeper!  He loved it!

Then we decided - why not just stay the night?  Jimmy and I went and got our 3 dogs and brought them over to my parents house, along with some clothes for the 3 of us and Charlie's night time essentials.  One of those being the bath tub.  Look at how cute he looks before his bath!

After bath time and bed time - my sister, Jimmy, my dad and I headed out to the Legends (around 9) to go shopping.  We did this last year and it was a blast and we found some great deals.  Oh how things can change in just one year.  Jimmy and I were both so excited that Osh Kosh b Gosh and Carter's were open and 50% off the whole store.  Shopping we did.  Mainly for our little man who was at home sleeping with Nana B and his 7 dog friends (yep, there were 7 dogs at my parents house...)

I was excited about my purchases!

The next day was my sister's 24th birthday and it was very fun to wake up all together at my parents house and wish her a happy birthday that morning.  However, after a long day of shopping - my dad was ready for a nap.  So was Charlie.  So sweet!

After a few more shopping stops, we all headed back home and it was time to organize some stuff and take advantage of this time off at home.  So guess what?  Charlie and I organized our closet and got rid of clothes I will never wear while Jimmy put up the outdoor Christmas lights!  Charlie hung out in his jumper and just loved it!!!

Here was Jimmy's completed masterpiece!!!  He loves colored lights!

Later in the weekend we also put up our Christmas decor inside the house.  The big thing this year was we moved the big tree from upstairs to downstairs, since that's where we are much more and we are loving it already!

It was such a fun weekend.  So many wonderful things to be thankful for.  It's so crazy thinking back to this weekend last year and I had spent the whole weekend knowing I was pregnant and now here we are with a little boy that's almost 4 months old and is such a joy in our lives.  Thanksgiving, feeling blessed and being thankful has a whole new meaning. When I lay you down in your crib every night I just stare at you thanking God for bringing us you and this perfect little baby form.  I'm thankful for so many things this year, including my parents and Jimmy's parents and all the support and love we have gotten from our families - having a baby I feel like brings it to a whole new level of support and love.  We are so thankful for our wonderful friends.  It was so wonderfully overwhelming all the love and support and cards and visits we got from some great people when Charlie arrived and it was such a blessing and reminder of them.  We are thankful for our jobs that provide for our family and put delicious food on the table, a roof over our heads and working cars to get us where we need to be.  We are also thankful for our health, the health of our family and our extended families.  Oh so many things to be thankful that we often take for granted.  

Jimmy and I walked into work on Monday morning saying what a fabulous weekend it was being together with our families and at home with our little man.  Cheers to the holidays!!