Father's Day 2013

The many faces of Charlie

The boys have discovered the camera on the iPad and they LOVE it!

Colorado or Bust!

The Summer of 2013 is winding down. But for us, the best is yet to come! We are getting ready to head out to Aspen, Colorado for our first, full-on, vacation as a family of four. This is our first "real" vacation because we are flying. As a kid that's how I defined a "real" vacation - we had to fly. I'm only a bit terrified. The boys are at such fun ages, 2 and almost 4. They are going to love everything about our week away. But the packing and the "what-ifs" - I have to actually think this through. I just can't throw one more bag in the car at the last minute. People do this all the time, right? Right!

Christopher is ready to roll - trying out a jeep for the trails!

Charlie is always one for eating outdoors, which we will do a lot next week - and eating queso with a fork!

Charlie is 18 months

Charlie is now a year and a half old. At 18 months he weighs 21 lbs (3rd percentile) and he is 32" long (45th percentile). Another slim jim!

Charlie is just a delight. He keeps us on our toes! He is a mover and a shaker and shows no fear! He climbs, tumbles and is full-force all the time. He has the best curly hair in the back and will flash a smile that will melt your heart in an instant.

He has started to say some more words - dog, aqua, kitty, ruff-ruff, in addition to the already perfected momma and dada . He was a late bloomer as far as walking goes. He finally made it upright and on his own at about 17 months and a week or so. And he hasn't looked back. Each week he becomes more and more steady. After seeing him crawl around for so many months it still takes me back when I see him upright tootling around the house!

Say it ain't so - Charlie is ONE year old!

They say time really does fly by. "They" are right. Charlie is a such a delight. We love him so much! This last month he has learned so many more tricks.

• He can wave bye-bye! Just about the cutest thing ever and it just melts my heart. Mama and Dada are still his favorite words. :) 
• Charlie had his follow up appointment with the ear surgeon and his tubes look great. 
• He's so on the verge on walking. He can shimmy all around the ottoman and it's just a matter of time before he lets go to walk.
• He's still an early bird with his sleeping - early to bed (6:30pm) and early to rise (6:30am). But the 12 hours is great! 
• He fought a tummy bug and won! The first time he's really been sick.
• More teeth! He now has 4 on top and 4 on bottom and I think there are some big ones making their way in.
• He loves to be outside, stroll to the park and enjoys swinging.
• He has an amazing belly laugh and can light up a room with it!

Funny kid

Christopher is a funny, funny boy. Not a day goes by that he doesn't have us laughing about something. I need to be better about writing these down!

The following happened within a 2 hour span this evening.

I picked the boys up and Christopher asked if I had a snack in the car. When I said yes he said, "What it is?"

Without going into details the topic of pooping came up and he said, "Do you go like this?" And proceeded to scrunch up his face and grunt.

While lathering him with lotion after his bath he looked at me and said, "You are doing great mommy."

And finally, to round out the day he sang the following song to me. They sing it at school before they eat but I've never heard him sing the whole thing. "God our Father, God our Father, we thank you, we thank you, for our many blessings, for our many blessings, A-men, A-men." Melt. My. Heart.

What will tomorrow hold?!

Deidre's 40th birthday

40th Birthday with some of my favorite things!

Cake, Wine, Family and Friends

A Perfect Night!