Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! 

Charlie wasn't feeling the whole costume thing last night (never mind that we had 3 for him to choose from), so he "helped" pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters when he wasn't busy taste testing.  When we had a lull in trick-or-treaters, we danced to a YouTube version of The Monster Mash.  My Zombie impression killed.

I knew that daycare planned a little "Monster Walk" through the hospital today, so I tried to get Charlie excited about his costume.  I strongly encouraged him to choose the cowboy ensemble (the most "casual" outfit compared to the full-on dinosaur and lion ensembles).

 When it came time to get dressed, Charlie wasn't feeling the bandana or the cowboy hat.

We finally convinced him to try on his hat (which started to look more like a sombrero than a cowboy hat at this point) and I managed to catch a full-on smile...too bad that this eyes were closed.  Maybe my goal for 2012 should be to catch a picture with his eyes open AND his smile.

Meeting Bryn

We were very excited last weekend to go to Kansas City and meet Bryn, the newborn daughter of our friends Nick and Catherine.  Over the last few weeks, we've seen pictures of Bryn and her birth announcement, which have been great but can't compare to holding the real thing! 

Amazingly, the excitement of meeting Bryn resulted in even worse-than-normal picture-taking by me.  Ignore BJ's half-closed eyes and focus instead of the cuteness that is Bryn.  Bryn snuggled in on my shoulder for awhile before resting on BJ's shoulder.  I could have sat with her for the entire day!

A picture of the new parents (sorry for not catching you with your eyes open Nick).  Don't they look great?! 

 A close-up of Bryn resting with her dad...pure sweetness.

 Charlie was pretty good during our visit and especially loved running around Nick and Catherine's backyard
and trying to pick up their gigantic cat, Miller.

  
It was a short visit and we were sad to leave, but we hope to see Nick, Catherine and Bryn again after the holidays.

The crib-to-bed transition (or lack thereof) continues to drag BJ and I through the ringer.  Charlie is going to bed like a champ, but continues to wake once in the middle of night and then for the day around 5:30-6:00 (about an hour before he used to wake up).  We've tried a couple of different techniques in the last few nights but haven't been successful quite yet.  Although I'm sure that Charlie would consider the transition a huge success as BJ or I end up sleeping next to him on the extra crib mattress for a few hours each night.  How fun!  A sleepover in his room!  Too bad the crib mattresses aren't intended to provide adequate back support for adults in their 30s.

The Power Has Shifted

So Charlie figured out how to get out of his crib last week and we've been trying to regain some power ever since.  It started last week when he was a little off around bedtime...I'm not sure if it was because he was getting his two-year molars or we're starting some of the toddler personality changes or what.  Anyway, he woke up one night around 11:30 and I began the painstaking process of rocking with him and trying to get him to go back to sleep.  After an hour and a half I finally gave up decided that he needed to have some time alone to try to get back to sleep.  I walked into our bedroom and told BJ that we might have to listen to Charlie cry for a little bit. 

It turns out that he yelled more than cried - yelled for me, then for BJ and even Copper at one point.  He was very mad and wanted everyone in the neighborhood to know it.  About three minutes passed when the screaming suddenly stopped.  For a split second, I thought "wow, I'm glad he settled himself down so quickly."  The next thing I heard was the pitter patter of little feet running towards our bedroom.  The ridiculous thing is that my first reaction was absolute fear for my own life.  There is something about the sound of someone running toward me in the pitch-black house in the middle of the night that scared the daylights out of me.  BJ and I both sat straight up in bed and gasped, "he got out."  You would have thought that we were dealing with a monkey.

Charlie was all wound up and the rest of the night was a disaster.  I had high hopes that the initial crib-jumping incident was a fluke but the next night Charlie jumped out of his crib within five minutes, opened his bedroom door and marched out to the couch with his blankie in hand and gave us a few dirty looks.  It's been a rough couple of days but Charlie finally realizes that he can't leave his room when it is bedtime and he went to bed tonight without any problems.  He's still waking up once a night and is a little disoriented, but I figure that we'll deal with the middle of the night craziness in the next couple of days.

BJ went to Wartburg this past weekend with some friends so my sister and her 3 girls came to keep us company.  As always, Charlie loved the extra attention.

 I loved that Claire (complete with a post-bath head wrap) wanted to read Charlie a story when he was having his bedtime snack.

Finally, we had a family photo session this past Friday and it went so poorly that the photographer refused to charge us.  There were about 30 mph wind so Charlie's eyes were all watery and our hair was all sorts of crazy.  To make matters worse, we took Copper since the session was outdoors and Copper found some fecal matter to roll in as the photographer was trying to snap some pictures.  BJ would describe the entire afternoon as a debacle.  I'm hoping that we can be creative with the few pictures that the photographer was able to take. 

Grandparentpalooza

We've had a busy last couple of weekends with a visit last weekend from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bill and a visit this weekend from Nana and Papa Supple.  Both sets of grandparents had the pleasure (?) of attending Charlie's toddler music class on Saturday morning, which usually results in Charlie jumping in the corner the entire time and BJ and I foolishly participating by ourselves.

The weather was great last weekend so while BJ and my dad golfed on Saturday afternoon, my mom and I took Charlie to the park.

I tried in vain to convince Charlie to sit down and take a picture with my parents before they left.  At this point, Charlie was giggling and my parents were holding him upright.  Charlie finds his uncooperativeness during my picture-taking adventures absolutely hilarious.

Charlie had lots of extra hugs for Grandpa before they left...I think because his hugs are more like a tackle and Charlie loves all kinds of roughousing.

Yesterday, we took Charlie and BJ's parents to the pumpkin patch after Charlie's music class.  We took the hay wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and Charlie was enthralled to be that close to a tractor that was actually moving.

Three generations bound and determined to have fun at the pumpkin patch (ignore Charlie's scowl in this picture).  The weather was great - it was sunny and breezy.

Maybe a little too breezy because our hair didn't stand a chance and Charlie refused to take his eyes off of the tractor driver when we were moving.  I think that he would have ridden in the wagon all day if we let him.

Enjoying the corn maze.  It wasn't long before Charlie decided to break in his new pants by sitting in the dirt and running the dirt through his fingers.  I guess he's just a farmer at heart.

Venturing out into the pumpkin patch to pick out the best pumpkin that his dirty little hands could find.

I thought this was cute because I though that Charlie was taking a little break in the pumpkin patch but then I realized that he had tripped over the pumpkin vines and was caught.  At least I got a picture before his panic really set in.

 Helping Nana and Papa scope out the pumpkins.

 Following our stroll through the corn maze and the pumpkin patch, we went to feed some of the goats, which Charlie loved. 

 Absolute joy that the goats were eating out of his hand.  This morning I had a blueberry in my hand and Charlie bent over to try to lick the berry out of my hand like the goats.  Why is that he mimics the goats eating habits after a brief encounter but he's completely oblivious to the "toy picking up" habit that he's seen us do every night for the last 22 months?

 I'm not sure which hair was crazier - the goat's hair or Charlie's hair.

Following the goat adventure, we took our crazy, wind-blown hair over to the ponies for Charlie's first pony ride.

 There was one unflattering picture of BJ that I am not posting, but feel the need to explain.I kept reminding him to hold onto Charlie with both hands while he was on the pony.  I think that BJ was saying "do you think I'm an idiot?" in the picture, which was probably the same time that he stepped in pony poop.  I didn't feel that a verbal response was necessary.

Following a long day of music class and fun at the pumpkin patch, Charlie's head began to get pretty heavy and we headed home.

Thanks to both sets of grandparents for visiting us the last two weekends - Charlie loves the additional playmates!

What We've Been Up To

Nothing exciting except for Charlie's first attempted crime. 

There was an incident two weeks ago when Charlie and I went to the local post office.  We waited in line for a very long time behind an older woman who seemed a little quirky but otherwise OK, and ended up assisting with her attempted break-in to another vehicle. 

We spoke with the woman for approximately 5-10 minutes while we were waiting in line and I should have known that something was off when the woman reached the front of the line, didn't seem to have a question and promptly left the post office.  Charlie Boy and I purchased our stamps and headed out to the parking lot to find the lady standing at a vehicle next to our vehicle.  The lady (potential thief) looked exasperated and asked if I could help her try to get into her vehicle.  Of course we could!  We would love too!  Where are your keys? 

Anywho, Charlie and I go over to assist the potential thief and I start to feel like something was weird because the interior of the vehicle contained items that I would place with someone in their 30s or 40s, not 70s.  But the lady was still so nice and kept telling me how Charlie looked just like her son when he was a boy that I didn't question her.  About two minutes into this escapade, another customer left the post office, headed to the vehicle where we were loitering and trying to insert the "keys", gave us a dirty look and got in the vehicle and drove off.  What?  Did Charlie and I just spend the last few minutes trying to open the car doors for a woman that had no business being inside the car?  Just as I was about to ask if the woman needed to be returned to a nursing home or other "monitored" facility, a younger male (her son I presume) appeared and ushered her away.  I was so speechless that I didn't get a chance to explain the situation, introduce myself or say goodbye to our new friend.  I'm very happy that I did not call AAA on this woman's behalf and that her son appeared to return her to wherever she lives.  On the flip side, I'm a little distraught that I was so easily convinced to help someone attempt to commit a crime in the broad daylight.  I called Charlie "juvie" for the rest of the day and will have to remind him of his dance on the brink of a life in crime for a long time. 

Otherwise, Charlie is usually on his trike when we are outside or on his "bike" when we are in the house.  Here he is annoyed that I was snapping pictures.

 Even when he stands at the window, he must be touching the bike in some capacity.

 We have some window Halloween decorations and for some odd reason, Charlie will pull one off of the patio door, set it on the seat of his bike, do a lap around the living room and exchange the decoration for another one.  In this picture you can see the pumpkin decoration set on his bike seat.  Like I said, a little odd.

 Practicing his senior picture pose...

 Having fun with BJ on the couch, but reaching out for his "mama" when BJ finally tackles him.  It is all fun and games until you need your "mama" to come and save you.

 Following the bike and wrestling adventures on this particular night, I was filling the tub with Charlie's help (he usually throws in the washcloth and squirts a couple of drops of bubble bath) when I turned around for a second and saw that Charlie climbed into the tub with all of his clothes on.  Instead of helping him out like a good mom, I grabbed the camera and caught some of the action.

Trying to climb out without me noticing that he climbed in.

 Seeing me see him in the tub, fully clothed.  This is his "oh shoot, I might be in trouble" look.

This is his "we're all good look" - she is using the camera so it can't be that bad.

We hope that you all had a great week, that you didn't commit any crimes and that you remembered to disrobe before taking a bath.

Labor Day

We went back to Cascade Labor Day weekend for some family time and lots of fun.  We spent most of Friday night in Grandpa Steve and Grandma Jan's backyard playing with Max and enjoying a lot of four-wheeler and lawn mower rides.

Charlie's obsession continues to be lawn mowers - he constantly looks for them when we are outside and if one of our neighbors is mowing their lawn, Charlie will stand in the yard and watch for an hour.

Copper and I finally decided to join the action and the four of us went for a little ride around the pond. 

Grandma Jan blew bubbles for Charlie and Max to chase for a long time in the backyard and when the boys were finally showing signs of exhaustion, I snapped a couple of pictures.

The problem was that every time that Jan laughed, Charlie would start to laugh and look up at her instead of my camera.

Aunt Jenn even blew a couple of bubbles, much to Charlie's complete joy.  I think by the end of the night we all would have appreciated one of those automatic bubble machines.

Uncle Ben played dump trucks with Charlie for awhile...there was no shortage of playmates, which was great.

On Saturday morning we stopped at Camp Courageous for a train ride through the campgrounds and to visit the animals that live at camp.  Max and "Papa" were pretty excited about the start of the train ride.

Steve took this photo without his glasses and in close range so it turned out better than we expected.

Charlie and I spent some time at my parent's house on Saturday afternoon where the fun continued outside until Charlie put his finger in bird poop.  He very carefully held his pointer finger in the air saying "poo poo" until he saw the look of horror on my face and then he was pretty freaked out.  Thankfully, Grandma Kathy was ready to power-wash that "poo" right off of his finger.

We were back at my parent's house on Sunday for fun with the Gehl cousins.  Charlie was pretty happy to master climbing in and out of the waterless water table.

Claire, Hannah, Charlie and Jacey busy playing with some water.

Emma graciously pushed Charlie around in this car in the backyard for quite awhile.

An action shot of the crew (Dylan is the blur in green running down the hill).

A group shot with Grandma and Grandpa.  The other grandkids were quite the troopers for pictures, but Charlie quickly tired of our paparazzi-like conduct.  The rest of my group pictures are great of the entire group with the back of Charlie as he refused to cooperate.

Charlie slept the entire way home, which is exactly what we hope to have happen.  Charlie has always loved seeing his cousins, but he has really started playing with them like one of the "big" kids lately.  I have so many memories of playing with my cousins at my Grandma Green's house and it makes me happy that Charlie will have great memories as well (minus the poo incident).

Random Pictures and Random Thoughts

I was trying to think of a way to tie in all of the random pictures and activities that have happened over the last few weeks but I've got nothing. So I'm opting for numbered paragraphs instead of transition sentences...it helps my OCDness.

1.  A couple of weekends ago we checked out the State Fair.  I was truly interested in finding the famed Butter Cow, but we somehow missed it.  Charlie loved checking out all of the animals.  Below is a picture of the largest bull at the fair, which weighed in at just over 2,700lbs.  Holy cow.  Or should I say, holy bull!

We walked through all of the livestock buildings and Charlie loved seeing all of the pigs, cows, horses and lambs.  He waved at every animal and would automatically ask for "more".  

2.  Last weekend we left Des Moines on Friday afternoon to stay at my sister's house in Eldridge on Friday night before heading to Illinois for my niece Jacey's birthday party on Saturday.  On our way to Eldridge on Friday night, we stopped in Williamsburg to do a little shopping.  We let Charlie ride a Bob the Builder ride and he really liked it, despite the fact that he didn't show any enthusiasm.

While we were at Molly's house, we were able to wish Hannah an early birthday.  We can't believe that Hannah turned 5!

As always, Charlie had a great time hanging out with Emma (who somehow escaped my camera), Claire and Hannah.

On Saturday morning we woke up and headed to Illinois to celebrate Jacey's 2nd birthday.  Here is a picture of Jacey and Dylan enjoying her new tea set.

Barney decided to take Dylan's bike for a spin around the yard to provide a little entertainment for the rest of us.

Then Barney decided that it was never too early to try to teach Charlie to ride a bike.

The bike riding wasn't thrilling enough for Charlie so BJ decided to test whether Charlie will like roller coaster rides.

Jacey seemed to have fun at her birthday party and enjoyed opening her gifts.

A picture of the cake that Maria made - it tasted as good as it looked! 

A quick picture with the birthday girl and my brothers Barney, Marty and nephew Tyler.

Charlie had a great time and conked out for part of the trip back to Norwalk.

3.  Charlie's love for pudding continues.  I think that it will be a long-term relationship...

as will his relationship with ice cream.  On our way home on Friday night, I decided that we would go through the McDonald's drive-thru and get some ice cream.  Charlie started clapping when I was handed the ice cream and ended up eating 90% of it and was very reluctant to share with BJ.  Charlie would scoop a spoonful for himself but would give BJ a teeny tiny amount. 

It looks like we'll have to become a multi-McFlurry house before too long. 

4.  Charlie started a Kindermusik music class yesterday morning and we think that he will love it.  The class is for 18months-3 years so Charlie is on the younger side, but he participated in almost all of the activities and when he decided to go off on his own he was still shaking it to the beat. 

5.  We had Charlie's six month review at daycare earlier this week and it seems like he's right on target.  It was good to hear that his hair pulling days seem behind him and that he realizes "how strong he is compared to the other kids."  The teachers also indicated that when it is time to take a nap Charlie will bounce for a couple of minutes straight before finally crashing on his cot.  The teachers summarize what progress Charlie has made in the last few months and target what they want him to work on in the next couple of months.  I had to laugh that one of the items to work on in the coming months is for Charlie to learn to put his shoes on.  I guess we need to raise the bar around the house and quit treating him like a one-year-old :).