Weeks 30, 31, 32 (catch up)

Week 30: the first snow storm!

Week 31: Snow storm #2...quite the week and baby's sick!

Week 32: Mom's sick and Charlie's first injury!!!

Ok - and I'm kind of caught up.  Just had done such a good job with my weekly updates I was going to be really sad that one month got me down.....

Charlie: 7 months old!

All of a sudden - we had a 7 month old.  It came and went just like that.  And it was weird because in February there is no 31st day, so it was confusing to me when he was "really" 7 months old.  So because of that, this has taken another 2 weeks to post.  Haha.  Really, that's not the excuse, but we have just been living life that it took me a few days to take the pictures and then a few days to write this post.  But worth the wait.

From 6 to 7 months old, I feel like you've become such a "big kid".  From the things you are doing to just the way you look.  Your personality is coming through and it's just so fun to see.  You are still pretty happy for the most part and continually do things that crack me and your dad up. It's making me happy and sad all at the same time.

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

• You started getting teeth.  Since I'm late writing this, you have teeth now...but as of 7 months you still didn't have actual teeth.  But teething was in FULL force.
• Your talking has transformed into lots of "da-da" and "ba-ba".  Yep, you are saying da-da, not necessarily directed at your dad...but he still loves it so much.
• You roll all over.  Front, back, side to side.  I feel like we put you down on your back in one spot and I turn around and you are across the room.
• You love your toys still a lot, but also seem to love everything that is NOT a toy.  Your favorite thing this month that has made its way into your toy box?   A kitchen spoon.  You bang it, you eat it and throw it around.  Easily entertained.

• Well, we made the move to a new school.  It was MUCH harder than I ever thought it would be. Literaly the first 2 days when we picked you up I sat in the back seat and cried my eyes out because I thought we made a bad choice moving you.  Little did I know, someone else has a plan for us and it was absolutely the best thing for all of us.  Miss Shirley and Miss Tamala are your favorite teachers and they seriously love you so much.  Your friends are great and we love it too. Best decision ever at such a good time because your eating has skyrocketed...
• Speaking of eating...when you started at your new school you started taking 4, 5 ounce bottles.  You used to take just 3, 4.5 ounce bottles.  That's crazy.
• On top of your bottles of breast milk at school, you started eating lots and lots of solids this month.  Your teachers have been great at guiding and reading you on this.  You now eat 3 meals a day of solids.  Breakfast is usually oatmeal or rice cereal and a fruit.  Then for lunch a veggie and fruit and then something of those sorts for dinner when we get home.  You also eat a snack at school.  That's usually puffs or yogurt melts.  There is a funny story about you stealing puffs.  I need to write that on here.  It makes me laugh.  
• Nursing is still my favorite.  Except you are still a little distracted still but we are working through it.  But the morning feeding and right before bed...it's just you and me time and I love it.  I take in your smell and your soft skin and just think about how much I love you.  Such a lucky mom.  On the weekends, we usually go every three hours or so but it's still on demand every once and a while.  As much of a schedule person as I am...I like that we eat whenever.
• We made 2 trips to the doctor during this month.  One for your 6 month check up and then once right after the huge snow storm.  You were literally throwing up all day long and I figured you had a stomach bug.  But then I started freaking out that you might get dehydrated because you were throwing everything up, so we took you in.  A really nice male pediatrician (that we might change you to) confirmed it was a bug and said breast milk was the best medicine.  Done and done.  
• This month your poops totally transformed.  You are now a solid pooper and it blew us away.  With the texture and the new smells.  No going back from here...
• You are a good sleeper.  You will go like a week sleeping 11 hours a night without waking up and then BOOM - you get sick or you get a tooth or your stomach hurts and then you wake up once a night.  But I'll take it.  We're still working on your wake up time.  Lately you have been waking up early and I'm not a fan because I like to be ready before you get up.
• You are a pro at sitting up and because of that the world has changed for us.  Going out to eat is a whole new experience because you sit in a high chair now.  And you have started maneuvering from sitting up to an all fours position.  Crazy.
• 9 month stuff mostly on your clothes (you can still squeeze into a few 6 month ones).  But towards the end of the month, we had to change all your PJs to 12 months (WHAT!?!?) because you are too long for the 9 month ones.  
• You are still moving all over the crib at night.  You like sleeping on your side a lot and when we lay you in your crib that's immediately how you position yourself.  During naps at school you are usually flipped on your tummy.
• For your naps during the weekend at home, you take 2 somedays and then 3 others.  I feel like I would be more upset that you weren't more consistent with these, but since our weekend schedules are sometimes not as consistent, it's nice that you kind of roll with us.
• Still rocking those size 3 diapers.  Looking good little man.
• Your new favorite toys are Scout and the Scout lap top.  And what you really love?  You like it when all your toys are in the toy basket.  Then you sit there and take all of them out one at a time.  Then you flip the basket over.  Mom puts the toys back in and then repeat.  It's pretty fun and makes you seem so independent because you are quite content doing it over and over again.

Here are some of the fun bear pictures for 7 months.  Yes Aunt Lyndsay, it was a great purchase!!

The top one on the left cracks me up.  He looks so angry.  And then of course he started moving along. And check out the picture I snapped at the end.  He was on the move to get Milly.  On all fours...oh jeez.  Who knows what this next months will bring...

Charlie's 29th week

Have a few more of these that have been in teh works that I'm catching up on (finally) - so bear with me on this!!!  But holy moly, this seems like forever ago and that was week 29.  Cannot believe it!

Happy Valentine's day!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  It's half way through February already - wow!!  

Hope you got your special someone a Valentine's Day card - Hallmark of course, right?  Only if you care enough to send the very best...and by the way, Hallmark did not make up Valentine's Day.  Don't believe me?  Well wikipedia knows all, so check it out here.

As we do for Valentine's Day and Halloween every year, we had to keep up the tradition of sending out Valentine's Day cards to our family members and a few close friends.  And this year, well it was a little more fun with Charlie here.  We made him Cupid (duh!) - completed with his own bow and arrow to shoot at the dogs.  Here are our cards:

Check out our cards from 2012 and 2011 also.

Here are a few outtakes from the photo shoot - it was interesting because I attempted to take there when Jimmy wasn't at home.  So I was VERY lucky to get even a few good ones.

it looks like Charlie has a 5 o'clock shadow in this picture....

Not quite sure about this...

And we're sick of pictures, so we'll chew on the bow

And then I had to take a few of Charlie by himself in his adorable "Single and Loving it" outfit that he's sporting at school today for their Valentine's Day party.

Funniest thing?  Vanessa sent me this text message on Tuesday afternoon saying that she loved the cards...however...Chris was wondering why I would send a card out of Charlie throwing up.  What?!?  Check out what they got in the mail.

Looks like it got messed up in the mail - however, it was the perfect spot that it literally looked like he was throwing up.  I was crying I was laughing so hard.  This is something that belongs on David Letterman.

Speaking of - I had a panic attack on Tuesday night about Valentine's for his classroom.  Since we just started at this new school, I didn't even think about it, but the classroom newsletter said something about it and to only bring them for the class if you want to.  Well - OF COURSE I want to.  So it was off to the Hallmark card shop I went.  Here's what I sent with him to school today...

On the inside was the only "semi-homemade" part.  Just a little circle that says "Happy heart day!  Can't wait to play!"

I tried to spruce up the front of the envelopes.  If only I was a lettering artist versus a financial analyst!  I do think it's hilarious that they are having a party in the infant room - but kind of neat.  The one year olds get cheese puffs as their "treat" and Charlie and his friends get rice cereal.  Haha.  Not much of a treat - but just a little something extra I guess!  I think Charlie made us something on Wednesday at school because he came home with red paint on his shirt and his teacher warned me that it wasn't blood, just paint.  I can't wait to see it!!

Finally, we don't have any plans for tonight since I have class on Thursdays.  But I'll be loving on my boys and then tomorrow evening, Jimmy and I are off to dinner together and then to the Zach Brown Band concert at the Sprint Center.  Cannot WAIT!!  These tickets were Jimmy's Christmas present and are just perfect because he's wanted to see ZBB play so many times but something is always happening or comes up.  So it means even more to him!!

Week 28: Big changes

We started this week off with your 6 month appointment that was rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday.  You are a big, brave boy.  You did GREAT!!  Mom had to go with you alone and you didn't cry for too long.  Super healthy baby - besides this cough that you cannot seem to kick (and now I'm paranoid about RSV).  But you got a clean bill of health.  And guess what?  No shots at your 9 month appointment you lucky boy!!

We finally got some quality time together, just the 2 of us, and I loved every second of it.  Took me back to the good old days of maternity leave when we had all the time in the world to do whatever we wanted.  It was heaven.  And the nice weather had something to do with it too!

A big first?  The first time out to eat and you sat in a big boy highchair.  You loved it and so did mom...it was crazy seeing you sitting there looking so big.  I just cannot believe how much you change and how fast it happens.  Acting so big already!!

Finally, this week came the end of your first school/day care.  It was sad.  Really sad.  What was even more sad?  On Monday, taking you to the new school.  It was our decision and we think it was a good one for the future.  However, there was nothing wrong with where you were - you loved it and so did we, so it made it REALLY hard.  And I didn't realize how hard it would be on me to make that transition.  I trusted and knew the people at your old school.  They loved you...I knew it.  And I'm sure we will all warm up to the teachers at your new school - all we hear is great things - but it was just a change.  A big change and an adjustment for all of us.  And guess what?  You took three 6 oz bottles at day care and ate some rice cereal in the morning!  What the heck kid?  That is 3-4 ounces more in bottles than you've ever taken plus morning cereal.  I'm blaming the fact that you were "full" on why you wouldn't eat the green beans I made you for dinner.  AHH!!  It will get better and we'll get more comfortable and adjusted.  I'm just looking forward to having that feeling again because all I wanted to do was hold you all night long.

Here's to a better and more adjusted next week!!

Week 27: time is flying

Time flies when you are having fun, right?  Oh this couldn't be more true. You are growing up before our eyes and it's so awesome to see you learn and grow everyday.  You are sleeping better (hope writing this down doesn't jinx it) and eating lots more solids now.  It's crazy!!  You roll ALL over the crib when you sleep and found your voice...which means you are "talking" to us like crazy now!  You found out how much you love the dogs.

Mom and dad had a fun night out with friends this week on Saturday night and it was great for you to get to spend time with Nana and Papa and for us to get out.  We had a blast at Aquinas trivia, but I'm pretty sure I just showed people pictures of you the whole time.

Also - another PLAY DATE!!!  I need to blog about this one because you had so much fun hanging out with Arden and Jackson.  You guys are freaking adorable together.  Please always be best friends.  They are such good kids AND their parents are pretty cool too.

We ended this week with a superbowl party...you spent some quality time with Uncle Dr. Dan.  And you got to hang out with Mister the dog - you have a thing for dogs I think!