Birthday Boy!

Charlie James is 1!  We did most of our celebrating at his par-tay a few weeks ago but that didn't stop us from partaking in some cupcakes on his actual birthday.

We got away with minimal birthday celebrations on his birthday this year, but I know that might not always be the case.  It will be interesting navigating this Christmas Eve birthday in future years!

I just can't believe he is already ONE!  What a crazy year it has been.  I continue to wonder.. will we ever have a year without a major life change.. let alone multiple?!  I've read that having a baby, losing a job, starting a new job, and moving are all in the top ten most stressful life events.  We have yet to have a year without one, two, or three of those happening in our ENTIRE 11 year marriage!  Goodness, let's hope 2015 comes through as a year of consistency.  I'd happily welcome a year without one of those.

As stressful as life with a baby can be, this little mama's boy has also brought so.much.joy to our family.

 Please forgive these pictures.  Trying to get a picture of a 12 month old?  Nearly impossible.

Ready to see the doctor at his one year appointment!

Charlie at one year old...

• Weighs 22 pounds, 2 ounces (64%) and is 30 inches long (50%)
• Has ZERO teeth..and, according to the doctor, none close to popping through!
• Is a crazy fast crawler 
• Cruises along furniture and uses his walker but doesn't seem very interested in walking on his own
• Still loves his paci.  He has to have one in his mouth and another in his hand before he'll go to sleep.
• Loves to drink his milk from a sippy cup and is officially weaned  (sniff, sniff)
• Eats basically all food - even without teeth.  He loves oranges, strawberries, hot dogs, graham crackers, dried cranberries, applesauce, peas, corn, cheese, cucumbers, yogurt, and SWEETS!
• Signs more, all done, please and waves hi and bye
• Says mama, dada, kitty, hi, uh-oh, Babu, and bye
• Has become extremely attached to his mama.  It's a bit ridiculous, actually.  If he sees me and I'm not holding him, he's all out crying until I pick him up. 
• Loves to play with torment our kitty

Happy 1st birthday to our most favorite Christmas gift!  We love you, Charlie boy James!  

1st birthday celebrations

So, even though Charlie isn't officially one for another few weeks, we celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago.  My sis in law is a smart woman and suggested that we do a combined party for the boys. My nephew Abishai turned one in October and Char turns one in December, so November was the perfect month to celebrate both of these little men!  Plus, splitting the work = bonus!  Also, who doesn't love two little boys in matching outfits??  Total score!  

We love a good theme so went with The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  My rockstar friend Meg and Pinterest helped us with the ideas.

Loved these caterpillars with a picture of the boys from each month.

My bro and sis in law hosted and it was a full house!  Lots of kids and noise and chaos.  On our drive there, I was overwhelmed thinking of how amazing it is to drive 45 minutes and be able to be with family for the day.  We are so thankful!

Standing room only for present opening!  This was serious business.

These two boys are such amazing gifts to our families.  So special hearing the dads pray for their boys!

Note the matching outfits... amazing, right?  ;)

Cake eating was hilarious.

My favorite part was Charlie deciding hands were not necessary.  

I can't get over the cuteness!

This might be my favorite picture of the day!

It ended in disaster.  But we all survived.  

Oh and bonus - when your sis-in-law is a photographer, you get awesome party pics!  Thanks for the pics, Rox!

It was a crazy, hectic, amazing, exhausting day!  We are thankful for family who love us and our boys and that helped us celebrate them!  Oh, and thanks for letting us use trash your house, Engstroms!  ;)

10 months

Char is 10 months old!  Right now, he

~has gotten so fast at crawling.  He started bear crawling and pulling up to his knees... hasn't quite made it onto his feet yet.
~still has no teeth.  Claire didn't get her first one until 11 months... we'll see if he beats that record.
~waves hi, bye, claps, signs 'more' and 'all done'.
~says mama, dada, hi, and kitty.  His first word was kitty.  I know that seems weird, but many people have witnessed it.  He loves to 'talk'!
~gives kisses.  Read: open mouth, drooly, spit-filled love on your lips.  ;)
~nurses twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed.
~drinks water out of his sippy cup like a boss but still refuses to take a bottle.
~has no solid napping schedule, because of his older sisters and their school schedules.  Some days he takes two naps, usually 9 and 1 and other days he just takes one, usually around 11:30.
~has started crying when you take away something he wants.  Yikes!  Seems so little for that!
~loses his mind everyday around 4 until I put him to bed.  Dinnertime is the worst.  He just cries and fusses and wants to go to bed.  His mama just might be losing HER mind now.

Can't believe we are so close to turning ONE.  Parenting three has been HARD.  Much harder than I thought it would be. I am physically and emotionally spent at the end of each day.  With that said, this kid has brought us so much joy.  It is worth it.  Totally.  Love you, Char man!

9 months

Happy 9 months, Charlie James!  

He's crawling all over, drooling like mad, partial to Mama, eating any and everything, and rocking the princess helmet on bike rides in the trailer.  :)  We sure love this little guy.

Charlie weighed 20 lbs, 4 oz at his 9 month appointment this morning.  I looked back on the blog for the girls' stats at 9 months old and was fascinated to see that Claire was 20 lb, 8 oz and Emma was 20 lb, 9 oz.  Crazy that they started at 5#15, 9#3, and 7# but were almost identical weights by 9 months old!

Preschool time!

Emma had her first day of preschool yesterday and let me tell you, that girl was ready!  She has watched Claire go for the last two years and was so excited for her turn.  

It's impossible to take this girl's picture without her adding in some crazy Emma posing.

Emma with her new teacher, Mrs. Stearns

This new little buddy is in her class (of only 5 kids..score!).  He lives in our neighborhood and he and Emma have become fast friends.  After school I asked who Emma played with and she said, "Sooo much Leo!"  She also told me the other day that Leo is her home mate... combination of homey and soulmate, perhaps??

Charlie and I came home after drop off to a quiet house.. I didn't know what to do with myself!

Excited for Emma to get into the swing of school.  After a crazy few months of living with family, moving, and unpacking, we are so ready for some routine.  Welcome, school year!  We are happy to see you.   

Kindergarten.. it actually happened

Y'all. All of this crazy change lately.  Moving, settling into a new home, making new friends, missing old ones, Emma turning 4, Claire starting kindergarten.  Please, Lord... can we get a little stability up in here?  My emotions can't handle any more of this!

So, she's off.  We walked her to school this morning and kissed her teary cheeks goodbye and left.  I couldn't even offer her any encouragement because I was crying too.  She was so excited but started to feel a little nervous when we had to leave.   I think and hope she will recover from her sadness quickly and settle into the day well.

Look at this beautiful child.

I loved walking her to school and seeing all of the neighborhood kids heading there too.  There's something about school that just creates such community.  

  Excited to see what God has in store for Claire this year!