...checking his e-mail and reading the latest news this morning with daddy (Don't let the bed head distract you from the dimples on his hand):
...reading the black friday ads on Thanksgiving morning. (Picking out presents for mommy, no doubt. Charlie, there does not appear to be enough bling in what you are pointing to. Just FYI.):
...from our little turkey:
...we spent last Thanksgiving making the rounds with an envelope with an ultrasound picture in it. The Monday after Thanksgiving, I told my coworkers that I had eaten a lot of turkey, but my belly was expanding because there was a baby growing in it. And three weeks later, we found out there was a baby boy coming. I shared the news with you on my blog that day. And here we are today. It goes too fast.
...I carried charlie downstairs the other day from his room and something didn't seem right with one of his legs. It helps when you don't put two legs in one pant leg, mommy dearest.
...some house pictures, not like what you've seen in the past. I realized the other day that the only room in our house that doesn't have charlie stuff in it is our master bathroom.
...And we wouldn't want it any other way.
...Charlie would like to wish his grandfather a very happy birthday. He said he has a very special present waiting for you that he's been saving up for a long time. And I think you know what I mean by special.
I can't tell you how fun it is to watch my dad with Charlie.
He calls him "Charles" and is teaching him how to count to five in English, French, Spanish, and German (Charlie already knows how to count to five in Chinese, Japanese, and ummm Canadian).
I hope my dad knows how special it is to have him here with Charlie every two weeks. Happy Birthday Poppy!
...this came in the mail today for my buddy. Along with a recruiting form.
...has decided that the only good thing about this baby thing is that someone is home all day to let her out so she can hunt important things like rabbit poop.
...went to the vet's office the other day for her flu shot (we're all covered now) and came home with her toes trimmed, antibiotics for an ear and skin infection, and a two inch-incision on her rear end where a lump was removed (with just local anesthetic). Talk about one stop shopping.
...ate a baby spoon last week.
...now also goes by "charlie" since that's what she's called about 10 times a day.
...is still as sweet as can be.
...swished them around and picked RO as the winner (I sent you an e-mail, Ro, but if you don't get it, just shoot me an e-mail).
Thanks for all your comments and notes. If you can stick with me for another 300 days or so, the five year anniversary is sure to be a party not to be missed.
Coming this week: Some Charmer photos. I know she is missed. Don't worry, she is still loved. She has developed this awesome new habit of thinking every time she goes outside she gets a t-r-e-a-t (we have to spell it out because she knows the word). She'll go out, stand on the back porch, come back to the door, and walk straight to the pantry. Apparently she deserves a t-r-e-a-t just because she's Charmer.
...I didn't know, until a few days ago, that Charlie is named not only after his great-grandfather, but also after his great-great-great-great-grandfather Charles:
(I see the family resemblance in the hair part, no?)
And here is my great-grandfather Harvey, his wife Louise, and his sister Amanda. (You might see some of my oldest friends comment here and call me "Laura Lou" - my middle name is Louise after my great-grandmother).
(My dad thinks I look like Louise...I'm not so sure. I do, however, think I have the same hat...)
Here is my Pop Pop Charlie with six of his siblings (he was one of eight) - he is on the far left. I love this photo of him. He looks so healthy. We swore as he aged he started to look younger and younger:
And finally, a photo from our family reunion. I am related to all these people. Wow. I am front and center.
...if my blog and I were married, I would be in the dog house because I missed our blogiversary back in October. I have been blogging for four years.
My first post was heavily influenced by my friends from Fontwerks. Since then, I've posted 762 times (763 today), had 348,204 lifetime views, and 5,722 comments. My most popular posts usually have to do with our house. Or Charmer. Or our many celebrity spottings. And then there was the great pink prom dress debate, which is sure to go down in blogging history. There were lots of posts I thought would get more comments, like my tooth twin. COME ON PEOPLE I HAVE A TOOTH TWIN. And then there was my most commented-on post on that day in April when a little boy was born.
I was a reluctant blogger, not sure that anything I had to say was interesting. I'm pretty sure it still isn't. But this blog has become more than me writing about my dog, or my house, or now my son. It has reconnected me with old friends. It has introduced me to wonderful new friends. It is my memory-keeper.
So I want to say thank you. Leave a comment and on Friday I'll pick one person to receive an initial necklace from MamaBethBling on etsy.
Have a great week! Charlie says, "stay cool" (I know you missed the sunglasses posts!)
...courtsey of his girlfriend, Madeline:
...no cavities and Madeline reminded Charlie about the importance of flossing.
...who sends flowers from their sick bed:
...being sick is no fun.
...the flu has hit our house. I finally had my infant sleeping through the night and then my husband got the flu. Yes, the one with all the letters and numbers in its name. I miss Ken. Charlie misses Daddy.
So I think I'm going to do some shopping. It's hard for me to list my esty favorites because a lot of them are getting purchased as christmas presents. So I'll list some things I'm buying for the easiest person on my list: myself.
Dribble Bibs from Indigo Elephant. I have a baby who dribbles a lot. OK, barfs a lot. But we can call it dribble. Sounds so much sweeter.
A new return address stamp from Modern Art Rubber Stamps . I've decided address stamps are like purses. You can never have enough.
I am hoping to start a slow cooking habit and love these Letterpress Recipe Cards. Totally practical to someday be covered in food goo.
Any bag from ikabags. So pretty. And reasonable.
I need a ring like I need a hole in the head. Or maybe rings are like purses too and you can never have enough. Anyway, I love this beaded ring. Beautiful.
The end. I'm off to buy some chlorox stock.
...charlie, playing in his girlfriend madeline's exercauser the other day (before she gave him a complete dental exam with her hand):
Charlie, tonight, in our living room (yes there is a baby in the toy jungle):
Daddy had his first Christmas-Eve like experience with racing to get the toy put together before bedtime. And trying to find 4,872 batteries. I tried to get a picture of Charmer's ears all perked up at the various noises this strange machine made, but couldn't quite capture it. There's always tomorrow. :)
...today, my baby boy is a half a year old. One-hundred and eighty-three days old. At six months he:
...(I get a lot of unsolicited advice. Most of which I appreciate).
So, this weekend is daylight savings, right? Fall back, right?
What's a mom of an almost-six-month-old-who-just-started-sleeping-through-the-night (praise Jesus, God, Allah, and the Three Wise Men) to do? Any tips for successfully transitioning? Because if it sucks, we might just stay on old time. We have clocks that we never change. They eventually go back to the right time.
