Drawing the Line

I knew this day would come. I could feel myself holding more and more back from all of you. I think long and hard before I post a story about my children on the blog anymore. I have done a lot of reviews and giveaways and have written some posts that are about me or motherhood but I have kept the most important part of my heart - my children - to myself.

Before the last month or so I have never seen Drake get embarrassed. Sure he had done embarrassing things, but he did not know that he should or could feel embarrassed about it. But in the last few weeks I have seen him utterly and truly embarrassed and it broke my heart and put me on high alert. I know I will do things in the future to embarrass my kids. I'm guessing sometimes it will all be in fun and I will do it on purpose and other times they will be embarrassed of me or things I do whether it is justified or not.

Here is the thing - I don't want this blog to be a source of embarrassment for them.  In the world we live a quick Google search is all it takes for stories, pictures and all the information you need to know about a person is at your fingertips.  I know I can't protect my boys forever, but I can limit what I contribute to their "internet biography." I want them to make their own tracks in life- their own stories- if they want to write a  blog someday, great, but that is up to them.

So I guess what I'm saying is that the line has been drawn. This blog will continue but with a lot less of my sweet boys in it.  I will still share pictures of my boys from time to time and I'm sure every now and then I will pop in with a story or 2 about them, but for the most part I will do what a mother should do and hold the most precious and sensitive stories close to my heart just for me.

Growing up is hard to do...

What's On My Mind

On this cold and dreary Monday morning this is what I'm thinking about-

•  Drake had a lock down drill at his school on Friday. I can't even begin to tell you the heartbreak I felt as he told me "we had to pretend there was a bad shooter in the building and turn off all the lights and hide."  So, so sad that a lock down drill will now be the new normal for kids at school.

• I'm feeling really grateful for my husband lately. I have been gone a lot in the evenings the past month and my husband is wonderful about it. He never makes me feel guilty for being away and I love that I can leave and not have to give him directions on what to do with the kids because he already knows since he is such a big part of their care everyday anyway. I'm just so happy I get to do life with him

• I went to the Pink concert with my mom and sisters on Friday night. What.A.Show! Seriously, if you ever get the chance to see her concert, please do. Hand down the best show I've ever seen!

 

• Our church puts on a Turkey Mission Dinner every fall and gives 100% of the money away.  All the food is donated and the tickets are free (a free will donation is taken at the door). Two year ago the dinner raised $25,000. Last year $60,000 was raised and this year over $87,000 will be given away to Habit for Humanity and Imagine No Malaria. I get goosebumps just thinking of what God is doing in our church and how many lives will be changed as a result of this turkey dinner.

• This is my new favorite picture. I love how it captures everyday life at our house.  And Charlie's expression? Priceless! I wonder what he is plotting...

 

• I continue to be amazed at the distinct personality differences between our 2 boys. Drake is sensitive and emotional. He is a cuddler and over thinker. Charlie is wild and tough. He is busy and carefree.  They both bring so many great qualities  to our little family that I love.

And Here are a few links I'm loving right now-

• I did the Fresh 20 Meal planning a lot last winter and I'm ready to get back on the wagon again. Makes meal time SO much easier.


• Do you use Instagram? It is my favorite social media site. I would love to follow you! You can follow me here.


• I am loving these Design Dilemma posts on Young House Love. I think it would be so much fun to submit a room in our house and get some fresh ideas.


• Watch this. The message speaks to everyone.


• If you plan on buying any Fisher Price toys for the holidays here are some great coupons for you!


• I just got done reading this book. Wow, just, wow. Read it.


• I bought this cardigan for Drake last week. There is just something about little boys wearing grow-up clothes that melts my heart.

Have a wonderful week!

I am a Good Mom

Last night I was talking with a friend about motherhood. We were talking about how we felt like we were struggling in some areas- about how hard it can be and the guilt we carry around. I was telling her how I struggle to get a meal on the table for my family and how lately I feel like I am hardly keeping it together. I feel guilty about not getting down on the floor enough to play with my boys or for snapping at them in a harsh voice when all they want to do is ask me a question.  I wish that I had craft projects prepared that we could do together and that I could control them better in public. I just wish I was a better mom.

Today, that same friend sent me a link to a  video that has been floating around Facebook. Please take four minutes to watch it.  If you can't watch the video here is a quick overview-The video starts by showing moms being interviewed about what kind of mom they think they are. They are all very hard on themselves and list many of the same things that I listed above. The video then goes on to show their kids being interviewed about their moms. The kids rave about how wonderful their moms are and all the really great qualities that they have.

I cried through the whole entire video. It just hit so close to home for me.  I don't concentrate on the qualities that make me a good mom, but instead I focus on all the bad.

But you know what? I am a good mom. I love letting my boys crawl in bed with me in the morning and I cuddle and kiss and love on them. I take them on donut dates just because. I am teaching them to be kind and generous and forgiving. I love exposing them to new things and we go on lots of adventures together. I date my kids carving out special one-on-one time with them. I take pride in how they look and dress them well. I make cookies with them. I throw great birthday parties. I fill up their little pool hundreds of time in the summer just so they can swim for five minutes. I go all out for every single holiday. I have taught them about Jesus. I have pizza party picnics on the living room floor. I take time to pick out the perfect gift for them, one that I know they will love. I organize playdates. I started our special "Friday Festival" tradition. I love reading books with them. I try really, really hard to play superheros, I have dance parties with the music turned up way to loud. I love them so much my heart hurts. I am a good mom.

What an awesome thing it would be if we could all just see ourselves through our children's eyes, huh? I know that I'm going to try.

What I Don't Want to Forget

I have to start by saying I am so, so happy I have this blog. I love looking back at all my posts over the last five years and being taken back to a time when Drake was just a baby and reading about the struggles we had with reflux or flipping to the post about how the doctor could not find Charlie's heartbeat at the first appointment and the relief I felt after I finally heard it. I love being able to revisit moments again and again just through the words I have written. I don't write this blog for you or my family or even for my boys. I write it selfishly for me because I never, ever want to forget these days.

What I don't want to forget right now....



The look on Drake's face as he lined up at preschool for the first time. How his face was a mix of excitement and nervousness as he stood waiting to walk to his class. How after the teacher's helper asked what his name was and started to look for his name tag and it took just a little too long for Drake's liking he looked her right in the eye and said "It starts with a D. D-R-A-K-E." How I had to fight the warm tears from spilling down my cheeks as I smiled at him with pride.

I also don't want to forget how Charlie makes me feel so crazy and happy all at the same time. How he runs into my room and grabs 2 necklaces out of my jewelry chest and runs around the house twirling them around like a mad man. How he will run as fast as he can to the toilet when you are not looking just to splash around. How he has a temper but a charm that could soften the hardest of hearts.

I don't want to forget how Drake has been saying the sweetest and most thoughtful things. "Thanks for making me cookies, mom." or "Thanks for the special date night, mom and dad." He seems to really appreciate when people do something nice for him and it could not make my momma heart happier.

I don't want to forget how Charlie loves to read this interactive book about castles and how he can't get enough of the "evil laugh" button. He pushes it over and over and over and every time the evil laugh recording stops playing he does his own evil laugh. He then does that same evil laugh about 100 times a day as he does all of the crazy things he does.

I don't want to forget the nights that I let Drake sneak into our bed and cuddle and talk long after he is supposed to be in bed. How he told me would maybe like to be a doctor like Papa when he grows up but he thinks he better be a baker instead. How his little body still fits perfectly all curled up next to me.

I don't want to forget how Charlie loves to eat. How he could spend his whole day bringing you snack and says "please" over and over again until you open it. How he gets the biggest smile on his face when you give him what he wants and how it is next to impossible to resist his sweet little voice.

I don't want to forget how Drake and Charlie are as brothers. How they love and adore each other. How Charlie can pretty much take down his big brother at any time but his big brother does sneaky naughty things like push Charlie when he thinks I'm not looking. I don't want to forget how Drake thinks that he is Charlie's boss and tells me "Charlie is naughty but we still love him." or "Charlie will never learn" as he shakes his head over something Charlie has done.

I don't want to forget the sounds that come from downstairs as my husband plays with our boys as I fold laundry. How our boys adore him and how he loves those boys with his whole heart. How he kisses their cheeks a million times a day and lets the words "I love you" flow freely. How he comes up with impromptu breakfast dates out for donuts and how he would spend his whole entire day on the floor playing trains and cars and superheros.

These days...I just don't ever want to forget.

Our Charlie at Almost 18 Months

Our sweet Charlie Bear is fast approaching the 18 month mark and I wanted to take a little time to talk about what he has been up to these days.

Charlie has a huge personality with a mischievous smile to match.

He has a little evil laugh that he unleashes as he does something he is not suppose to.

He makes Drake cry almost everyday by beating up on him or just bugging the heck out of him.

Charlie very rarely cries  as it takes a lot to get under his skin.

He takes a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon and sleeps from 7 pm to 7 or 8 am.

He loves his blankie and his paci and can often be found sneaking both out of his crib.

He is talking more and more everyday. His favorite words are  dog, momma,  side (outside) and uh-oh.  He probably knows at least 40-50 words and sometimes puts 2 words together.

He still likes to eat and would probably live off of cheese, bananas, and go-go squeezes if I let him.

He really likes to drink out of a straw.

He likes to play cars and superheros with his brother. Skinner is his best friend and the first thing he asks for when he wakes up. Charlie could spend all day outside if we let him.

Our Char-Char is sneaky and loves to throw things in the toilet or the trash requiring us to never take our eyes off of him.

He loves to be held and points to things he wants us to take him to see.

Charlie could spend all day outside if we let him. He loves to swim and swing and has learned how to climb the ladder of the swingset and go down the slide.

Charlie loves to go shopping with me. He sits in the cart and flirts with every person we pass by.

This boy is full of spunk and charm. We just love him to pieces and have had so much fun watching him and grow.

Love you Charlie Bear!

Life Lately

I'm finding it harder and harder to find time to sit down and pound out a blog post. We spend every free moment outside playing. Our schedule is super laid back and relaxed in the summer. We eat supper when we feel like it  and come inside for baths way past bedtime. But I love it and I'm already dreading summer ending and the days getting shorter.  So for now the bullet point update will have to do. I have lots of good blog posts flying around my head but those will just have to wait for now.

Here is what we have been up to lately-

• Ben and I got went to Kansas City with our good friends for a long kid-free weekend of fun and relaxation. We had the best time touring Boulevard Brewery, eating BBQ, shopping, eating late dinners, swimming, going to a movie and going out on the town. Sometimes it is nice to be something other than "Momma" and fun to see that there are still parts of your college self that are alive and well!


• Speaking on Kansas City-Our hotel was totally overrun by teenage girls going to the One Direction concert on Friday night. Basically we learned that teenage girls in big groups of scary and little annoying. It also seems as though their outfit of choice consists of high-waisted jean short with shirts tucked in and converse sneakers unlaced. They might also be spotted in a belly bearing shirt with a belly ring showing. I'm pretty sure I never wore any weird outfits or was ever annoying as a teenager! ;)


• Ben and I will be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Eight years! After our crazy weekend I have a feeling that our celebrating will consist of throwing some sort of meat on the grill, playing with the kids and maybe if we get really wild staying up late to watch an episode of Revenge. The good news is that I can't think of anybody who I would rather do those things with than my husband!


• I'm turning 30 on Wednesday. My twenties were really good to me and gave me my husband and two sons and countless memories. I always thought I would be feeling a little sad as I turned thirty but instead I'm happy and excited to see what this next decade holds for me. I'm going to spend the day with my mom getting pedicures and going out for lunch and Drake wants to throw me a princess party when I get home.Sounds like a good way to start my thirties!


• My sister got engaged over the weekend and I could not be more excited for them.  They have been dating for quite a few years so my boys don't even know what life is like without "Uncle Chic" and we can't wait to officially welcome him into the family. And  don't even get me started on wedding planning! Nothing gets me more excited than talks of dresses and cakes and venues. SO.MUCH.FUN!


• Drake will be turning 4 on August 1st and I want to do a whole post just about him and the things he loves and has been saying lately. He makes me laugh everyday with the stuff he comes up with. He just told me the other day "I'm your boyfriend." and then started singing Justin Biebers "Boyfriend" to my.  He is basically one of the funniest people I know and he is only three.


• Charlie has been keeping us on out toes. He is wild. He likes to climb the stairs approximately 100,023 times a day and loves it the most when we chase after him. He plays with cars by sitting ON TOP of the car table or if the mood strikes him he might just start jumping up and down on the table, He climbs everything and puts everything in his mouth.  But he has the sweetest smile and when you ask him what a sheep says he says "BAAAAAAA" in the best little sheep voice. He loves to curl up on your lap with a book and like you to hold him while he suck on his paci and cuddles with his blankie. He is so very cute and too charming for his own good.

Soaking Them Up

I can't help but feel like I am a little short on words this summer. I have been busy just soaking up these sweet boys of mine. We have been having such a fantastic summer making memories together. I have been grabbing my DSLR camera a lot more lately and taking advantage of the beautiful natural light outside to catch some pretty good photos of my boys. I can't help but smile as I take the photos knowing that I will be able to relive that moment again and again just by looking at a picture.

It is becoming very evident as Charlie gets older that I am raising two very different boys.

Drake is my cautious and wild boy. The one who is witty and has the best imagination. He will be turning 4 in a couple of weeks and I am just so proud of him.

Charlie is brave and such a little toughie. He has a magnetic personality and already has charm so thick that he can get out of most any situation using it. He  is almost 16 months and bring us so much joy.

Those 2 little boys seem to make summer so much fun and I'm going to spend ever second I can soaking it up.

Happy Birthday to My Sweet Charlie

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Dear Charlie-

Today you turn one.  Do you know that the day you were born was both the most terrifying and perfect day all rolled into one? You gave us such a big scare when your heartbeat fell of the monitor and it took over five minutes to locate it. Charlie, I've never been so scared in my life. I had not even met you yet, but I knew you so well from spending every single second of the past nine months with you. The thought of something happening to you...well...I can't even put it into words. When we finally found your heartbeat I felt so much relief but was also a little afraid that we might have a firecracker of a little boy who would give us a run for our money (kind of like your big brother) and it was already starting.  Turns out that is so far from the truth as you are sweet as sweet can be.

I truly never believed that babies like you existed  When I heard Mothers talk about their babies who did not cry and were happy all the time and slept well I thought they were lying. That was until I met you. You really only ever cried if you needed something-changed, fed, burped, a nap-otherwise you were content. You started sleeping through the night at about 6 weeks and did so every night until you were 4 months old. We did hit a bit of a rough patch from about 4 months to 8 months in the sleep department but you still were an awesome sleeper waking up once to eat, chugging your bottle and heading back to sleep. At around 9 months you started sleeping from 6:00 pm until almost 7:00 am every night.  Yep, you showed me that pretty much perfect babies do exist.

From the very beginning we have said that you are sweetest boy. You love to be held and watch the world around you. When you were smaller you loved nothing more than to be snuggled up next to me in the Ergo carrier. You give your smiles out for free and have the most contagious grin.

As you have gotten older it has been so fun to watch your personality develop. You love food. Like, LOVE LOVE LOVE food. You have never met a food you don't like and some of the only time we see your temper is when you see us making or eating food and you are not getting any. You sit there and yell at us to let us know that you would like some too.

You love you brother more than anybody and it warms my heart to watch the 2 of you together. You light up when you hear his voice or see his face and you want to do whatever he is doing. He loves you so much and already stands up for you. The other day a kid pushed you over and Drake marched right up to him and said "That is my brother! You do not touch him!" Yep, I told you he loves you.

Charlie Bear you have brought so much to this family.  My eyes are filling with tears right now as I write this thinking about all the special moments that we have shared this year. Do you know what my favorite memories of our first year are? Those nights that you got up in the middle of the night to eat. I love rocking you in the quiet house when it was just you and I awake. I loved watching your face as you ate your bottle. I always rocked you longer than you need me to, but I did it for me, not you. I knew that you would not always be getting up in them middle of the night. I knew this year would fly by. So I rocked you and held you and snuggled you instead of rushing back to my warm bed. I wish I could bottle up those moments to relive over and over again.

Lastly Charlie, I want to thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being the sweet and gentle and funny and HUNGRY little boy that you are. Thank you for being that missing piece in our family. Thank you for your smiles and grins and laughs and those big blue eyes that can melt me in a second. Thank you for letting me smother you in kisses and cuddles every day. Thank you for making Drake a big brother. Thank you for giving me the  chance to be a Momma again.

And thank God for letting you be ours.

I love you Charlie,

Momma

 Edited to add:

Charlie's Stat's at 1 year-

Weight-22.2 lbs

Height 31 inches

Curious Charlie- Charlie's1st Birthday Party

Invitations from CardsJr

If you know me you know that I love to throw a party. I especially love planning parties for my kids. I initially thought that I would keep Charlie's 1st Birthday Party small...to just family...that idea lasted all of 12 seconds before I decided to throw an all out bash.

I decided on Curious George for the theme as Mr. Charlie is such a curious little guy. I kept the decoration and food simple all while sticking with the theme of Curious George and red, green, blue and yellow colors.

I decorated the chest of drawers right inside of entry way to greet guests as they came in. I framed a picture of Charlie I took for the invitations  set up a Curious George book and filled in with other things I had in my house.

I found Paul Frank treat bags on clearance at Target and filled them with Curious George fruit snacks and little packages of animal crackers to give to the kids as favors.

One of my favorite features of the whole party was the month pictures of Charlie that I hung up on a piece of twine with cloths pins  Such an easy, cheap and fun addition.

I also tried my hand at the famous tissue paper poms that are constantly floating around on the internet. They were actually super easy to make and really added something special to my decorations. The poms are still in great shape and I really don't want to throw them away so I think I will hang them up in Charlie's room.

The party was from 2-4 so I kept the food really simple. We had cake,  M&M's, animal crackers, Twizzlers bites, and chocolate covered banana slices.  For drinks I had a selection of pops, lemonade and drink boxes for the kids.

Cakes by Kick N Cakes

I really could not have loved the cake more! I told the girls at Kick N Cakes that we were doing a Curious George theme but the design was completely up to them.  I think they did a fabulous job! The big cake was chocolate peanut butter chip with butter cream frosting and it was DELICIOUS  Charlie's little smash cake was white cake with butter cream frosting and as you will see from the cake smash pictures I think he approved.

Yep, he ate about 90% of his smash cake. He loved it and just could not get enough. It was so fun to watch his face while everybody sang to him and then to see his reaction to his very own cake. I think this was probably my favorite moment of the day.

We had the perfect day celebrating our sweet little Charlie. I still can hardly believe that one whole year has already passed since we first met our him. But that is a whole other post!

This is What Dreams Are Made Of

I can't  even begin to explain how this photo makes my heart explode over and over again.

When I was pregnant with Charlie and found out at 20 weeks that he was indeed a boy I immediately started daydreaming of the moments my boys would share as brothers.

This moment right there?

Better than any dream I ever dreamed up.

Brothers.

Babies Don't Keep

The best thing about becoming a mom for the second time is the little secret that you did not know the first time. You have the knowledge of just how fast time goes. You know that a baby does not stay a baby for long. You promise yourself that you will hold your baby as much as you want. You will sniff his tiny head and try to memorize the newborn smell. You will enjoy the moment and not focus on getting him to the next milestone. You can take comfort in knowing that you DID do those things. You truly savored every single moment of this year.

Yet time continues to move forward and before you know it you are just 18 days away from celebrating his first birthday. You swear that you were just complaining about heartburn and how uncomfortable you were. Wasn't it just yesterday that you were in the hospital giving birth?  You can still feel the weight of his little body all curled up on your chest as you rocked him to sleep. It wasn't that long ago when he first sat up, was it?  Or when he started to crawl? Yet as you type this you have had to stop at least 5 times to keep him from climbing up the stairs or shoving a drumstick down his throat. He is babbling right now behind you and every time you look at him he laughs.  Your baby is growing up.

You know that the days and months and years to follow are going to be amazing. You have lived through it with his older brother and each stage is beautiful and exciting and unique.. But that doesn't stop you from tearing up when you read his birth story or look at pictures from his birth. Or from crying as you rock him to sleep knowing soon he will not need you to.

In the time that it took to write those last 2 paragraphs he has played with the dog and rolled around growling on the floor. He has tried to shove his head into his brother's football helmet and he has played with the doorstop. He is ready to grow up. You smile as you watch him go from one thing to another and thank God that this time around that you had the knowledge that babies don't keep.

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

 

Charlie at 11 Months

I can't believe we are less than a month away from our little Charlie turning 1. I've been so emotional these last few weeks thinking about him growing up so fast. I was a crying mess just looking at all the pictures from his birth thinking about what a special time that was. Anyways, Charlie is now 11 months old and still as sweet as pie.

This is what Charlie has been up to this month.

• He is such a good eater. Maybe even too good! I think if fed him food for 3 hours straight he would just keep eating, so needless to say we have to cut him off when he has had enough. Charlie has never met a food he doesn't like and eats with such enthusiasm  He is eating almost all table food now and just dropped his morning bottle so he is only taking one bottle right before bed. 


• Charlie is working on dropping his morning nap. He has never been a good napper and has always taken short (30 minute) naps in the morning so this has not taken much to adjust to. He has started taking better afternoon naps and usually sleeps for 1-2 hours then. He still goes to bed about 6:00 pm and gets up between 6-7 am. It is not unusual to hear him talking happily in his room for an hour or so before he cries for us to come and get him.


• He just had 2 top teeth break through last week so he now has 2 top teeth and 2 bottom teeth.


• Last week he started cruising around the furniture. He is getting pretty fast! I picked up a toy for him to walk behind last week and he has been going crazy pushing that thing all over. I'm betting that my 12 month update will contain news of a walker.


• He says Momma, Dada and I swear he says dog  :) He copies all the sounds we make and his new favorite sound is that of him clicking his tongue. He loves to clap but spends a good chunk of his day waving at whoever will look at him.


• His hair is getting really crazy. It is so thick and long in the back but still pretty wispy in the front. We are trying to avoid the mullet look so his first haircut is on the agenda for the weekend.


• I could go on and on about how sweet and happy this boy is but I think I've said that in every month post I have written about him. To sum it up he is just the sweetest little guy I have ever met!

Charlie at 10 Months

Charlie made such a dramatic entrance into this world ten months ago that I thought I was going to in for it with him. Even the nurses commented "He is already giving you a run for your money, you better watch out!" But as it turns out Charlie is anything but drama. From the second he took his first breath he has been  laid back, calm, content and peaceful. Hard to believe we have known this sweet boy for 10 whole months already. It seems like he has been in our family forever and like he just got here all at the same time. We sure love him to pieces!

 

• Has really gotten thi sleeping thing down. He still is not a huge napper ( hour nap in the morning and MAYBE an hour nap in the afternoon...at most) but he sleeps so well and for so long at night that we are not complaining. He usually goes to bed around 6 and gets up between 6-7 am. We usually have to go in one time in the night to replace his paci,  He is back to being such a great sleeper again!


• This boy LOVES to eat. He gets a 6 oz bottle first thing in the morning and then usually eats a waffle or some fruit while we eat breakfast. He eats a jar of baby food and some table food for lunch and usually has some sort of snack in the afternoon. He like to eat supper early and usually eats 1-2 fruits, some veggies, cheese and whatever else he can get his hands on. He also gets a sippy cup of water with his meals and snacks. He wraps his night up with an 8 oz bottle as we rock him before bed. He seriously has not had a single food that he not loved.


• He claps, waves, does "so big", makes funny noises with his lips, says mama and dada and a lot of other sounds.


• He can crawl at a speed that is so crazy! He will spot something he wants and take off after it kicking up dust as he goes. He pulls up on furniture and walks along it but has no interest in standing on his own or walking yet.


• His favorite toys are things that he should not have. Things like the smallest accessories to Drake's super heros or a toy screwdriver that he shoves down his mouth. He also has a special fondness for an empty batman pez dispenser that he carries (either in his mouth or one hand) around with him while he crawls. He has hardly played with any of the baby toys that we have because he always wants to play with what Drake is playing with.


• He is wearing 12 month clothes and is not going through nearly as many outfits a day anymore since he has stopped spitting up as much (cutting down on his bottles has helped this dramatically)


• He loves his dog and brother and people in general. He has made friends with all the people we sit by at church and gets to stay in the service with us the whole time as he sits so nicely and quietly.

We are loving Charlie at this stage-so fun and full of personality- but still our baby. He really is just the sweetest baby I have ever met!

Love you CharChar!

Charlie is 9 months old!

This month has been a big one for my sweet little Charlie.  He seems to be growing at a more rapid pace than ever and is learning something new every day!

Here is what Charlie is up to at 9 months:

• Eats 2- 3 six oz bottles and 1 eight oz bottle (before for bed) a day. He is usually eating 3 tubs of baby food a day as well. This month he also started feeding himself puffs and yogurt melts. We give him slices of apples to chew on and have given him little pieces of table food here and there.


• We stopped giving him a bottle when he woke up at night. Along with that we decided to do a little "sleep training" (I really hate that term) while we were at it. After a few rough nights, it is now smooth sailing with us only having to get up once a night to run in and replace a paci.


• This kid can crawl like nobody's business. He loves to play with toys so he has not been into too much stuff he is not suppose to be into yet.


• He really started pulling himself up on things this month. He even has attempted to take a few steps while holding on to something.


• Poor little buddy had a rough month of sickness. At the beginning of December he had RSV and a double ear infection and just lat week he got hit by the same flu bug that took down the rest of the family.


• He loves to clap and is working on waving. He says mama and dada and makes a bunch of other sounds.


• Big brother and Skinner are still his favorite things to watch. He could sit and watch them all day.


• He loves to snuggle and is usually content just hanging out in your lap watching the world.


• He goes to bed around 6:30 and sleeps until around 7:30. He takes an hour nap in the morning and usually another hour nap in the afternoon.


• We are suppose to go to the doctor on Thursday for his 9 month visit but I already rescheduled for after the 1st of the year due to the big snow storm we are suppose to get, so weight and height will have to wait. Edited- On January 3 Charlie weighed 19.7 lbs and was 29 inches long.

I say this every month so I might as well say it again- Charlie is amazing-pure and simple as that. He is the sweetest baby and I just can't get enough of my little Charlie Bear.

Love you Biggie!

Santa Pictures: More Than Meets the Eye

Last weekend we headed to Bass Pro Shop  to visit Santa.

Charlie was first up. I told you this kid was sweet and boy does this picture prove it. He was in love with Santa, all the attention being on him and all the camera flashes. Also? A baby in a bow-tie  cheesin' it up on Santa's lap? Cutest thing ever.

Drake was up next. Poor guy, he had everything he wanted to say all planned out but when the time came he was a nervous wreck and coud only  mutter "I want a bat cave"  between his trembling little lips.  But despite the nerves, he is such a handsome little guy (who looks more like 5 than 3) perched up on Santa's lap.

I love these pictures so much as they express both boy's personality so perfectly.

But upon closer examination the photos started creeping me out a little.

First, the reindeer will not quit staring at me!!! I make eye contact with him every time I look at this picture. I'm going to admit defeat, you win the staring contest reindeer, I blinked. NOW QUIT STARING!

Then there is  the pacifier that is seemingly attached to Santa's belt. I am beyond curious what that is all about. The logical explanation is that some little girl dropped it while on his lap, but that still does not answer the question as to WHY it is attached to his belt. Also, are his little "elfs" not noticing this pacifier just hanging out? It's just weird. That is all I've come up with. Weird and Creepy.

That Santa, he  is always much more than meets the eye....

Charlie at 8 Months

• 
  
  Charlie is crawling all over the place! I love watching him set his sight on something and go after it as fast as he can.


• 
  
  Playing on the floor with his toys and his brother is his favorite thing to do. He can easily play and crawl around on the floor for a good hour without getting bored!


• 
  
  Charlie still gets up 1 time a night to eat. He usually only takes a half-hour to eat and then is sound asleep again. We keep saying that we need to break the habit, but I secretly love the middle of the night cuddles.


• 
  
  He has taken much more of an interest in solid foods this month and prefers a bowl of oatmeal and fruit to a bottle. We have also started giving him puffs and yogurt melts.


• 
  
  Charlie is also called Char-Char, Chawee, Charlie Bear, Bigs, Biggie and sometimes I hear Drake calling him Chuckie (Thanks Aunt Ellie and Aunt Meggie for that)!


• 
  
  Mr. Charlie loves his bath and causes all involved to get a little wet with his splashes.


• 
  
  His hair has come in so much thicker and is pure blonde. He is so very cute (not like I am biased or anything) with his huge bright blue eyes and blonde hair.

Charlie-We thank God everyday for picking us to be your family. You always have that adorable little smile on your face and can often be found giggling on the floor with your brother. You hardly ever cry and even if you do as soon as you are picked up, fed, or changed, all is well again. We love you so very much sweet boy. Happy 8 Months to you!

Kindness

I often think about the kind of people I want my boys to be.

Honest.

Authentic.

Polite.

Generous.

Trustworthy.

Kind.

All of those traits listed above are important to me, but if I had to teach my boys one thing it would be kindness. To treat others the way that you want to be treated. To be kind even when others are not. To stick up for the underdog. That words can hurt or heal.

Ben and I try our best to model this behavior for them believing that we should lead by example. We talk with Drake about how he should be kind to his friends and his brother. That he needs to be careful of the words he chooses and that a hug can make somebody's day.

That is why these past few weeks have been eye-opening for me. I have never seen so many unkind, vicious, and hurtful things said as I have in the weeks leading up to and the week following the election. Words that are said with the protection of a screen between you and the person you attack. Words that hurt. Words that are unkind.

And then I read story after story of the acts of kindness that are taking place in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The people who have traveled far to lend a helping hand. The boxes of food that have been donated to feed the hungry. The people who have opened up their homes to their neighbors to charge their electronics. Pure and perfect kindness.

Just like everything else in life, kindness is a decision. A decision that I hope that my boys don't even think twice about. Because they know kindness is the right choice and they just do it.

Weekend Wrap

• We spent yesterday afternoon at Night Eyes, a Halloween event put on by the Blank Park Zoo. It was a little to chilly to put Charlie in his costume but he looked cute as could be anyways. Drake on the other hand, threw his Spiderman costume on and never looked back. He was so in character the whole time we were there, even going as far as to shoot webs at any other Superhero he saw. What a fun and memorable day we had!

• Charlie is crawling. And getting better and faster every single day. Life has officially gotten crazy around our house. Please send somebody to baby-proof my house and have them bring a bottle of wine.

•  Drake goes to Sunday School every week but he calls it "Someday School". I love that so very much!


• Charlie was crying and I was trying to calm him down and Drake came over looked right at Charlie and said "It's OK Charlie, God it with you." Looks like he is paying attention in "Someday School."

I am loving 3 years and 7 months. Both boy are so fun and entertaining and just plain terrific. Love it.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Charlie at 7 Months

Here is what Charlie is up to at 7 months-

• Loves to growl. This pretty much is the funniest and best thing all rolled into one.


• Still gets up 1 time a night to eat. I want him to sleep through the night, but yet I am OK with the way things are. I love the middle of the night snuggles.


• He eats four 6 oz. bottles a day with an 8 oz bottle right before bed. He usually eats cereal/baby food 2-3 times a day.


• He is ALMOST crawling. I'm not ready for this yet, but I don't think he cares.


• Charlie loves his big brother. Watching their relationship grow is just such a treat.


• Mr. Charlie is a huge flirt. He has a smile and a giggle for every person he meets


• He has outgrown almost all his 6 months clothes and is wearing mostly 9 month stuff.


• His has really started "talking" a lot. Love his little voice.


• He only really likes a paci when he is going to sleep. Otherwise he could take it or leave it.

Holy cow, this kid makes me so so happy.

Love you Biggie!

A Little of This, A Little of That

• My weight loss journey is slowly chugging along. I am down 16 lbs and getting so close to posting my 20 lb lost picture.


• Drake calls Sunday School "Someday School". Might be the cutest thing I've ever heard.


• Speaking of "Someday School", we told Drake that he is not allowed to talk about Superheros there (he is obsessed and is all he wants to talk about, play, etc.). His response? "But Jesus is a Superhero!!" Hard to argue with that...


• Thinking it is time to start trying to get Charlie into a better sleep routine. He has been sleeping from 7:00-11:30 then wanting to eat and then getting up again around 4:30 wanting to eat again or snuggle. I am tired.


• I am loving this fall weather we have been having. Perfect for boots, and leggings, and sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and chili.


• Ben and I have started having at home date nights about once a week. We wait until the kids go to bed to eat and spend the time chatting and catching up on our favorite fall TV shows.  It is a relaxing and fun  way to spend time together without spending money.


• We have owned our minivan for about 5 months now and I still feel funny driving it. I don't even really know how to explain it, except for the fact that it makes me feel so grown up.  I also love listening to loud rap music when I am all alone and driving home from work and it just feels super awkward to jam out to it in the mini. I guess I had to grow up sometime :)

Have a great week!

P.S.- Enter here to win tickets to see Phineas and Ferb Live