Transitions and Life at the Y

Transition.  Change. 

Those are 2 words that are hitting hard right now with the Carter family.  In ALL aspects of life.

We moved all our stuff into a storage unit last Saturday and it was bittersweet.  And for sure could not have been done without the amazing help of Jimmy's brothers.  They are amazing.  Got all our furniture and lots of boxes into a UHaul and then into a storage until in 3.5 hours - just in time to enjoy beer and lunch on the Maloney's patio.  I went back over to our house Tuesday morning waiting for a window guy and it was crazy.  It didn't even feel like our house.  That goes to show you I guess that your stuff, your pictures, your mess really makes it a home.

So we are shacking up with my parents and it's been great so far, but we're all transitioning.  Charlie is getting used to sleeping in the office just across the hall from my old room in the basement.  We're {happily} getting used to having my parents and my cousin around.  And we are loving the meals together as a family.  Plus having an extra 3 people to hang out with Charlie means more time to get work done.  Which is NOT so fun, but life I guess.  The dogs are transitioning too, but let's be honest, they love the extra attention.

We are also getting ready to transition to having a ONE year old.  Seriously?  It cannot be true.

But what's crazy is, he's starting to look and act so much older everyday.  Jimmy and I were talking about how he's getting an attitude last night and I'm re-thinking the way I "parent" and do things because I know that he understands things a lot better now - particularly what he should and shouldn't be doing.  Like I cannot laugh when he throws his sippy cup down like 4 times and says "uh oh".  That gets a firm - "NO" and the sippy cup goes away. 

Oh discipline or our somewhat attempt at {sigh}

And finally - Charlie is getting ready to transition from the infant room to the ONE YEAR OLD room at school.  Wowza.  That's pretty crazy.  We have to walk through the one year old room to get to the infant room everyday, so we know the teachers and kids and parents in there - but it's going to be weird to have him in there.  You know, doing "kid" things like coloring, gluing construction paper and other fun activities.  I think I still think of him as a kid that just is content laying in my arms.  

But no, he's ready to explore the world.  Wanting to walk/run everywhere with his hands straight up in the air.  Boy on a mission {I almost typed "baby on a mission"...nope}

With this move, he goes from 2 naps a day to one.  Just one - and I'm hoping that it's long!!!  I'm sure during his transition, he's going to be beat tired, so we all have to learn our new way.  He also goes from napping in a crib to napping on a cot.  Seriously.  Now tell me that is not a big kid.

It's crazy.

But he's growing up.  Things are changing.  We are finding a new place we'll call home.

But in the mean time - I'm going to keep holding him close as long as he'll let me.  And pretend he's not turning one in a week and a half and it will be HIS birthday party.  

So with all this change, it was so fun to get the disposable camera that we took to the YMCA on his first day of school there back.  Hilarious because (a) didn't even know you coudl still buy these and (b) didn't know who developed them.

Apparently CVS does not develop them - but Walgreens does.  And guess what?  I laughed when they asked me if I wanted "singles, doubles...or a CD".  I kept thinking how different the world has become in that sense!!   

But here are the 24 daycare pictures that they took.  It's crazy how much Charlie has changed since he first started there in February.  Was so freaking little!!!

Just hanging out with all his friends! Haha!

It's good to know that he drops his food on the floor when he's done eating at school too.  Not just a bad habit at home.

Love his little high chair!  He literally goes right to that when we get there in the morning because he's so excited for breakfast!

Charlie and Ms Tamala.  She started tearing up this week when we were talking about Charlie moving to the one year old room.  She love him so much and it's so amazing!

Worn out and napping on the floor - haha.

He comes home with sand in his shoes on a regular basis!

Loves the playground so much!!

Big kid loving summertime!

And he goes from sitting to standing - all in 6 months!

I will say it was exciting to knwo that they were taking pictures but not see them until the end.  It's been fun to look back and see his progression.  Such a little boy now.  

With every transition and every change, comes good and bad.  We're trying to embrace the good things fully and not be afraid of the changing and unknowns (so not really bad).  From a new home to a new classroom to other new things on the horizon..we are soaking all these times in the best we can!!

Five on Friday

It's Friday - and this week just flew by.  Again, too much to do and not enough time, but still linking up with Darci and friends for this fun link up.  Ali, you sent me and email this week asking me if I feel like some days it is just an accomplishment to make it through the day with how much we have going on right now.  Yes.  Every day.  I literally breathe a sigh of relief that we all survived, are all healthy and I didn't have a nervous breakdown.  I'm trying to make it a little more calm in our lives, but I don't think there is a shot of that until we are moved.  Counting down the days.

With that said, less complaining and more random things, right?  

{ONE}

We are packing up and moving out.  Yep, tomorrow is the day that Jimmy's brothers are coming over to help get the big stuff in our house in a truck and into a storage unit.  I feel like things have been so busy with work and packing and having a kid that is everywhere that we haven't really had time to relish in our last days at our house.  

I'm getting super sentimental about it too.  So watch out.  

We were sitting downstairs watching TV while I was working Monday night and I asked Jimmy if he was sad this was our last time that we would probably sit down here hanging out together.  In our first house.  He said he wasn't sad, but excited for our new house.  Typical guy, right?  I was and am sad - maybe more reflective and thankful then sad.  I kept thinking "But this is where you were sitting when I told you I was pregnant", "this is where we had our first Christmas together as a family of five", etc.  I won't bore you with all my sappy thoughts.  

But it's getting so real now.  I cannot imagine driving by this house and not pulling into the driveway that we repaved, opening the garage door that we replaced, going through the mud room that we built, walking on the carpet in the family room that I picked out to be extra padded for my baby on the way, up the stairs to the kitchen that we redid and up the hardwood stairs that were under the carpet that we ripped up with the stain that we picked out and into my sweet Charlie's nursery that I spent so much time decorating and preparing for his arrival.

Bittersweet is what it is.

{TWO}

Ok, so that was hot and heavy.  Sorry.  On a lighter note - this has to be my new favorite app:  

Red Stamp

It is SO cool.  I love that you can essentially make cards right on your phone and then send them instantly to people via text message or email.  I love it so much.  Have used it a few times this past week for little "thank you" notes following some fun times.  Here is one I sent to Jimmy's parents after we were over at their house on Saturday night! Check it out!

{THREE}

Here's the thing.  My baby doesn't so much look like a baby anymore now that his main choice of mobility is on his 2 feet.  It's exciting, crazy and frightening all at the same time...

Watch out dogs....you never know when Charlie will come your way.

{FOUR}

Ok, so we love Charlie's school/day care.  They have just been the greatest and we love his teachers and it's so sad that when he turns one he moves to the one year old room because he just loves the infant room.  But here is what is fun - I love now that he is older and interacts with all these kids how they are already developing friendships...or crushes!  Haha.

This cute girl that's probably 9 or 10 months older then Charlie that is in the one year old room was saying "Hi Charlie" over and over again in her sweet little voice when we walked in one day with him.  Her mom and I laughed and laughed because seriously she wouldn't stop saying it and it was so cute.

The same girl that afternoon when we came to pick him up, immediately sees us and goes "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie" and started pointing to where he was.  So cute and man she's smart - I couldn't believe she knew that we went with him.  Pretty adorable.  And I was starting to think she might have a thing for our little man.

Then the NEXT day a different little girl in the one year old room was literaly standing at the half door that separates the one year old room and the infant room crying and saying "I want to see Charlie" over and over again when we got there.  OMG - I died.  How cute is that?!  He was over there and I guess she really wanted to see him.  Turns out, we let her walk over there with us and I think she was just really wanting the bubbles that he and his teacher were blowing, but still.  Pretty adorable!!

Speaking of adorable and because I wanted a picture - this is Charlie sporting his trunks and swim shirt on the third splash day of the summer.  Pretty cool because all the kids go outside for it and play with water.  Pretty much he loves it. 

 

{FIVE}

 Vacation.  

Yep - in all this craziness of moving, we are heading off to Branson with Jimmy's family for our annual lake trip.  Last year we didn't go because a certain someone was making his debut into the world and went to Omaha instead...but this year, we are picking right back up.  Can't wait for some happy hours, pool time, boat time and Silver Dollar City.  I'm pumped that Charlie is starting to walk because that will hopefully make for a few more things he can do at SDC this year.

Source

Maybe a ball pit and a few kiddie rides?  Can't wait to hang out and not have to think about work, moving, etc.  Now in the mean time, have to get packed for that since we're packing up our clothes....

Excited to also be checking out a new attraction this year...Dixie Stampede.

Apparently you get a whole chicken to eat and no silverware while you enjoy the show.  Interesting!!

Source

 Hope you all are having a great Friday!!!!

 

Mommy and me: after effects of a long weekend

Five days off work and lots of family time this holiday weekend has me wishing I didn't have to go back to work.  What a drag.  Especially with formal forecast coming up....makes me sick thinking about it.  I loved the days doing things to keep our little man entertained and even though we spent a lot of time packing up our house, it was time together.  Long gone are the few nights Jimmy and I had to just sit and watch TV after Charlie was sound asleep.  Ugh.

Sorry, don't want to be the Debbie downer this Monday...so exciting things??  Well, Charlie is walking.  After multiple witnesses seeing it on Sunday at a super fun friend/baby get together and he took like 10 consecutive steps...I'm finally calling it.  He's been standing to himself and taking a few steps here and there, but nothing that he was too confident about.  But now he loves practicing his new trick and we are thrilled. This little stinker us everywhere now...and he couldn't be more happy about it.  He was all smiles....

Twins anyone?  Just needs some more defined eyebrows and bigger teeth. 

Hope you all had a great weekend and maybe you don't have to go back to work or real life today and can relish in a few more vacation days??!

   

Weeks 41 through 43 (catching up!)

So the months of May and June seriously came and went just like that.  It's crazy to think about how much has changed since then.  But guess what hasn't changed?  I still want to make it to 52 weeks of these updates.  And I couldn't dare stop at 40 weeks.  

That 52 week is coming up WAY too fast...so this mama is trying to catch up and get everything ready for the big celebration in just a few weeks.  All these weeks were filled with firsts too and it's been so fun to experience those with our little family!!!

Five on Friday on July fifth!

Linking up late with Darci and friends, but I'm happy to be relaxing and blogging tonight after a fun couple of days following a great holiday weekend!!  Hope you and yours had a great fourth of July too!!

{ONE}

Everywhere.  That is exactly where Charlie is these days.  And you cannot stop him.

He goes from sitting to squatting to standing to taking steps with zero effort.  It's crazy.  And he's ornery as ever will be.  AKA toilets, toothbrushes and stairs seem to be his favorite things.

Not to mention, he torments our dogs.  I have to admit, it's pretty crazy fun.

{TWO}

So we are buying our dream house.  I'm in love with it and don't want to leave it every time we go.  We went on Wednesday for inspections and I was pretty nervous because I still feel like this whole house is a big joke because it is so perfect for us, such a great price and was just such a random find.  But the inspection went good (nothing major...which is good since it's a foreclosure, so if there was either we would have to fix it or walk away) and I again didn't want to leave.  Charlie and I went to play in the master bedroom closet before we left.  Because I really cannot believe this is a closet.  It's sick because it's like the size of our current bedroom.  Stupid.  But awesome.  It's going to be pretty empty for a while because we have been pretty good about donating clothes when we buy new stuff because our closet space is so limited.  That is one good thing about small closets!!

Anyone want to give me some purses?  Looks like I have storage for them now...

With a built in dresser, what do you do with your normal dressers!??!  

{THREE}

My boys are just the best.  And a long holiday weekend was just what we needed.  While we are doing some packing as well, we have had some fun times already with Thursday and Friday off work.  

And their July 4th shirts?  I die.

We did make it out to Village Fest (a festival that Prairie Village has every July 4th) after four summers of living in PV.  It was so fun and something we will have to come back to even after we move to Olathe.  Perfect for a kid Charlie's age next summer.  This summer he was a little too small for some of the activities, but next summer - I will make him ride the pony!  Ha!

{FOUR}

Sporting KC game!!

My friend and old roommate, Lauren, and her hubs invited us out to the Sporting KC game on Wednesday night...so my mom came over and hung out with Charlie, while we went to dinner and the game with them.  Neither Jimmy or I had been before, so it was pretty fun.  The weather was CRAZY earlier that day with some thunderstorms and hail, but it was a perfect night.  And I had my FIRST caffeinated beverage in 11 months.  That might have been the best part....

Lauren & I after the game (ended in a tie)

{FIVE}

Sentimental.  My little man is now past the 11 month mark and I am getting super sappy and sentimental about it.  I was watching Guiliana and Bill on TV when I was packing today and it was the episode where their son was born - he's just a few weeks younger than Charlie.  And I literally sat there watching the TV and cried my eyes out.  Remembering July 31, 2012 and all the emotions of bringing my sweet little boy into the world.  Thinking about how much has changed and how he's grown so fast.   

It's crazy.  With just under a month left until his birthday - I'm a wreck already.

Um...he's grown SO much!!!!

I'm looking forward to a couple more days at home attempting to clean up our moving crazy house and spending time with my sweet little family.

11 months - how did this happen?

I think I'm in denial.  Earlier this week - Charlie was 11 months old.  Like he's been alive a month longer than he spent cooking inside me.  That's a big accomplishment I would say in his short life so far.  Mainly that we all survived and have a healthy, happy 11 month old that pretty much cracks us up every day and makes us realize more and more what this life on Earth is all about.  Family, love, laughs and watching your sweet babies grow up.

Here are some of his 11 month pictures with the bear.  Hard to believe we only have one more of these.

But you cannot keep him in one place for very long. 

Still no idea on how much you weigh or how tall you are.  What I do know is that you eat ALL the time.  Like there is no food that I have put in front of you that you haven't liked.  I mean yes, at times you spit stuff out, but for the most part - you are happy to stick anything in your mouth.  Sometimes you ingest it and sometimes you stick your tongue out and it goes spraying out.  Oh you.

• This month you got 2 more teeth - so you are up to 8 now. 4 on bottom and 4 on top.  I forgot how not fun teething is.  Poor guy.  Waking up in the middle of the night crying.  I caved a few times and got up and held you at night.  I pretended you were a little baby.
• You stand up now - just like a big kid.  You take a few steps.  Then you plop back down.  It's so crazy to see you regularly from that vantage point.  You do this hilarious thing when you go from sitting to a half squat to standing up.  And you are so proud of yourself.  When you plop back down it's funny because you give a look like "yeah, I'm sick of standing"
• You have those teachers at school wrapped around your sweet little finger.  Case in point?  I was dropping you off the other day and you were the first kid in your classroom and they had the backdoor opened up to the playground just to bring in the cool air.  You made it very clear you wanted to go outside.  Ms Tamala said you couldn't now, but you would later (I was just standing there filling out your daily sheet) and you stood up, looked at her, got your sad/pouty lip and started bawling.  And what did she do?  Took you outside.  Seriously child.
• You take a bottle only once a day at day care now and drink breastmilk from a cup the other 2 times. Just like a big kid.  It's so crazy.  We are still nursing once in the morning and once and night and then I am down to pumping once a day at work.  But good news for me that my supply has gone down a bit, so I'm more in tune with how much milk you drink and don't wake up in pain.  wahoo!  Finally after 11 months.  We are still not ready to give up nursing.  And I keep thanking myself everyday that we have been so lucky to have this experience for 11 months. So weird to think you will just have cups of milk in just a month.
• You now pretty much eat anything we eat.  However, you are not a fan of broccoli.  I always try to sneak it in and you catch me.  You win some and you lose some.  
• You also still want to give anything you don't want to the dogs.  That means they have to now go outside when you eat.  Rough life those dogs.
• You slept the most at night this month that you ever had.  One night you were out by 7PM and I had to wake you up at 6:45AM.  Wowza.  Not a peep in between.  Most nights you stay asleep about 10.5-11.5 hours.  It's so nice, but also sad that you go to sleep so early!  I feel like half the time I'm with you, you are sleeping.  Guess that is what the weekends are for - which is why I soak them in!
• Shorts and a t-shirt are your go to attire.  Most are 12 month shorts (18 months are too big for your small waist), but you can wear 18 month shirts.  Most though are 12 months.  So right on track I guess.
• Size 3 diapers still your size of choice.  And you still move around non-stop when you get your diaper changed, making it near impossible to change you!!

Other big news this month?  Well, we sold our house.  The house you came home in and you spent your first year in.  I'm excited, but sad at the same time.  Especially because you will never remember anything about it.  But I will.  I am savoring every moment we have left in this house together.  And even though there are some things I won't miss, we truly made this our home and you sealed that deal, Charlie.  Spending just a year of your life here, Prairie Village will always have a special place in your (and our) hearts.  Since we are moving to a new neighborhood, we will sure miss our morning walks on the tree lined streets and will be taking advantage of those as much as we can!! But this new house - I know that we will make it home and start making some great memories in it right away.

Your birthday party invites are out and we are going to rock it out one more time in our old house.  I cannot wait.  So many things to celebrate and they revolve around my sweet baby boy!!

Hands down the best 11 months of my life.  I look at you every day thankful that I was blessed to be your mom and hear your laugh, console you when you cry...and hear the sweet sound of "mama" come from your lips.

Mommy and me - a great weekend

Me and my boy.  

Days with him are the best.

And guess what?  He smiled for professional pictures this weekend with the Carter family.

Good job Charlie - since you didn't smile in this picture!

Another weekend has come and gone just like that.  But this wasn't an ordinary weekend - it was a great weekend in the Carter house.  We might have got a new house, which is insane.  Nothing final yet, but will know more in a week - which is fun.  The anticipation is killing me.
In the mean time - we are trying to figure out how to move out of our house, attempt to keep up with our full time jobs, plan a birthday party (Charlie's 11 months old - today!!!), figure out how to buy a house...and keep up with this kid.  Because he's pretty much everywhere doing everything.  And he doesn't hide it that the toilet lid is pretty much is favorite thing.  That and an old toothbrush.  He knows he's not supposed to do that!!

Cheers to a long weekend - can't get here fast enough friends!!!