February 11, 2009

Happy 1st Birthday Charlie!!!!

On February 11, 2008, daddy and I dropped Henry off at Grandma & Grandpa’s house to spend the night since we knew we needed to leave for the hospital early, early the next morning. I remember trying to keep my mind occupied later that night by watching sitcoms, but instead, I sat on the couch, holding my very large tummy, imaging what our next year was going to be like. Of course, I had these same thoughts repeated throughout the previous 38 weeks that I knew you would be coming, but that night, I just sat there thinking that 11 hours from that moment, I’d actually get to see you, hear you and hold you. You were so still and quiet. Ten hours later, I lay in the surgery suite, shaking from nerves and lord knows what else, knowing that within the next hour, I’d get to see you, hear you and hold you. As every parent does, I wondered what would happen if you weren’t perfect, or if you were sick and I cried at the thought. The anesthesiologist tried to comfort me with awfully silly jokes and stories and I politely tried to giggle and banter back. The room was moving so fast, I had a hard time keeping up with what was happening, but then daddy showed up and before I could process what had actually happened, I heard Nate saying “he’s perfect, he’s perfect, he’s beautiful and perfect!”. Which were the exact words I needed to hear until I could see you for myself. You were born with a knot in your umbilical cord and you had been using the cord as a scarf. Little did we know, that was the very moment you told us what your personality was like!
You are an amazing little human, who has the undeniable ability to capture the attention of everyone in the room, if not for your personality, for your wonderful hair which stands almost straight up. You feel the beat when music is played and have been dancing (or more like grooving) for months now. When you play on your piano, your crazy hair flies around like Mozart’s did. You were born with certain intensity which translates today to your amazing attention to detail and observation. We cannot get you to sit still for a mere photo, but you study someone’s snapping fingers for a few moments and can immediately imitate it perfectly. Sometimes I feel like I need to remind you that you are only ONE, little man, only one. To put it mildly, you blow our minds. You are so unbelievably sweet and always willing to give a hug or a really wet kiss (or bite, but we aren’t picky!) and you love to pick out a grumpy stranger in public and turn their day around with your wonderfully contagious smile and wild hair.
You have added so much to our family in this past year and perfectly fill that space that we had. Though I often fear to see what you will learn to do or say next (i.e., climb over the baby gate, or climb into the bathtub, etc.), I am unbelievably excited to see where you go and what you do and I am forever grateful and honored to be your mommy. Happy birthday baby Charlie! We love you so much.
Here are a few of my favorite photos over the past year:












































Love, B

February 4, 2009

Superbowl and Sunshine!

I think I have figured out why I have been blog-blocked! I just haven't been taking as many pictures (and this is a photoblog for pete's sake) because I am tired of taking "inside" pictures where the light just isn't as good as it is outside. The sun was out today and we actually took the camera outside and it reminded me of how much I like taking pictures of my little toots outside. And then I wanted to blog. Problem solved. 
I should first start with last Friday night - PlayHouse Disney! We bought tickets for the evening show and were so excited to take Henry and Charlie - though I did not have high expectations for Charlie's attention span. Rightly so. It was just awful - the show, not Charlie. Nate and I laughed through most of it. It was just cheesy. Poor sound, bad effects (no effects, really), cheesy acting...it was like all of the "actors" (term used loosely) were all cruise ship rejects that had just finished drinking at the bar with all of the fired drunk santas at Christmas time. And Leo, from the Little Einstein skits, oh Leo...we won't even walk that path. I'll just leave it as too soft and waaaaay to energetic. But then....I looked down between Nate and I...and I saw Henry, eyes as big as dinner plates, the biggest smile on his face and answering the questions that were being yelled out to the audience. 
Host: "Are you ready???" 
Henry: "YEAH!!!"

We saw "cruise ship rejects", Henry saw DISNEYLAND. It was so cute. So, in the end, it was the best show we had ever seen. He still talks about it. 

Sunday we watched the Superbowl from my parents house. Here are some pics:
Henry does not like taking pictures. I still don't have one of Henry and Charlie together! But Kysa put on the extra-cute for me!
Kissy-Kysa

Mom & Dad just hanging out on a Sunday:


It's not really going to pop out at you, you goofs!

These are fingerless gloves that Grandma made. I am going to start marketing her on Etsy.com. More info to follow on that project!
Henry giving Sissy as sassier hairdo:
The sun is out!!!! This is me begging Henry to stand next to Charlie for a picture. It started out, Henry, put your face next to Charlie's. I was ignored. Henry, just stand next to Charlie, you don't even need to look at the camera! The result:
It's too bright! I can't see!


Charlie's poor eye! We are one week out from his 1-year appointment. If his eye doesn't clear up by then, we will likely need to do something about it. I am not looking forward to that. I am still holding out hope that it will clear before then. 

Henry rode his bike while I pushed Charlie in the stroller. Big boy!!! Look at that sweet face!
So sweet, you get to see it twice!


Charlie cruising around outside - I love the outdoor lighting!
Who is going to be ONE next week???
Charlie has all kinds of new parlor tricks now. He can do the hand motions to "itsy-bitsy spider", he can sign language "more", he can sing our silly "wa-wa-wash" song, gives kisses and big, big hugs! No walking yet, but any day could be THE day.
Mmmm...what's this? Maybe I should put it in my mouth. Is it a leaf? Bark? Poop?
Poop.
Kidding. It was a leaf. It was his second course. His first course was a large rock. 
Love, B