May 2010 Archives

At 7 1/2 months, Charlie continues to be exploring his world.  He's getting up on his hands and knees, but can't get anywhere yet (thankfully!).  He's sitting up, unsupported, like a champ!  Anything and everything he can get ahold of, which is just about everything!!!, ends up in his mouth.  His favorite's include his spoon, my hair, Carter's hair, anyone's finger ... So far, he hasn't cut any teeth, but he's been through stages similar to what Carter went through at this point.  But nothing yet.  He continues to be the most laid back, chilled out little dude around.  His best quality: that smile that goes on for miles, and his snuggle!  Boy melts my heart!



Hey Mister!



He's UP!  Charlie's figured out how to get up on his hands and knees.  He doesn't really go anywhere, which just seems to annoy him!  He rocks front to back, but so far (thankfully?!) he hasn't taken off yet!



Lovin' the bath!



Hanging out with Daddy in the garage, doing manly things!

YES, we're still in school, but the summer season is upon us: the pool's inflated and has been filled!  Thanks to Grandma and Poppy for one awesome pool!  It's big enough for Carter to splash in, play in, and have a grand ol' time, but it's not so big Charlie can't participate too (that that he loved being submerged at first!). 



Initially, Carter wasn't having anything to do with the slide: "It's scary."  But I convinced her to give it a shot, reminding her to not make up her mind until she's tried something.  Of course, she loved it!  It was slide, splash, wet butt, giggles, get out and repeat ... again and again and again!!!



S P L A S H I N G !



Charlie loves bath time.  He's a splasher, just like Sissy.  So we figured the pool would be right up his alley.  I think the POOL was; the not-exactly-warm water, not so much!  He hated it at first (obviously) ...



... but Sissy came to his aid to calm him down, then he loved it.  You can say a lot about Miss Sassafras, but she's always a great big sister!



Our neighbor-pal Cammie came to play, too.  They wanted to "water the flowers," which I guess is 4-year old speak for make a muddy mess of themselves!  Oh well ... they wash!

It's official: Carter's kindergarten-bound.  She's successfully completed pre-school (only sustaining minor breaks, bruised and bad attitudes!).

During her pre-school year, she's not only learned so much, she's grown up.  She's more responsible, she's a better listener, and she continues to have a heart of gold.  Things that are a challenge to teach a child, but priceless when learned.  And she still enjoys being the center of attention, working to please and enjoying entertaining others.  She's our cheeser!

Today, the class shared songs they'd learned over the year with parents and families.  Here are clips of her songs, each precious and priceless.  I think my favorite has to be the Tutty-Tuh song!  If it doesn't make you smile, you have no heart!



As the class entered, she was pensively scanning the room, looking for us.  We were in the front row, and she didn't notice us until this moment, as she was sitting down.



Always the entertainer!



The whole class doing "Tutty-Tuh"



She was a total cheeser!



Getting her dipolma



Carter Chalupa: pre-school graduate!



Like her mommy, she's dramatic!  She was "sad to be done with pre-school!" 



Daddy and the graduate



Mommy and the graduate

We are so very proud of the girl Carter's becoming: kind, thoughtful, insightful, loving, silly, sophisticated, inquisitive, challenging, but always beautiful.  You're our favorite girl in the whole world, Baby!  We love ya!!!

Carter, and preschool'ers, in action.  Well-worth the wait!!  Enjoy!

This evening marked another FIRST for Charlie: his first big boy bath.  He got to take a bath with Carter in the tub without his baby tub. 

It was organized chaos!  Poorly organized, at that!

Charlie did a great job sitting up in the bath.  He loved it!  He splashed and coo'ed and had a wheee of a time!  Carter also loved it!  She, too, splashed and hollered and had a wheee of a time!  I, on the other hand, was soaked! 



"MAMA!  I'm READY!"



These two were so tickled to be in the tub together!  It was adorable!



I thought he'd hate the water in his face, but he didn't mind!  He actually liked splashing!



Okay .... he loved splashing!



Totally intrigued by the water!



Whenever there's a face off between these two, the result is rarely good!


"What other cool things can you show me, Sissy?!!"

BAD BABY!

Or dumb Mommy for not picking up after herself!

After a relaxing afternoon snack of Triskets, while watching TV, I sat the box of Triskets on the floor to play with Charlie.  He needed a tissue, so I left him on the floor (feet away from my box of closed Triksets) and grabbed a tissue.  In the 14 seconds I was gone, he managed to get to the box of Triskets, open the box, remove the sealed zip-lock baggie, dump the Triskets all over and roll in the salt.

He was very proud of himself.



BUSTED!  Triskets everywhere, even in the little Sneak's hand!



Wearing the proof:  Charlie, covered in salt and Trisket crumbs!  But how could not not forgive that smile?!!

Oh Charlie!  What a big guy!  7 months already!  He's a great eater, obviously.  His favorites are greeny beanies and bananas, with carrots in a close third.  He does enjoy the occasional lolly pop and sips of mommy's punch (thanks, Stephanie!), but we limit those "treats."  :)  He's sitting up independently, and he's inching and scooting all over the place.  He likes to "chase" Carter, which really entails him scooting in her direction, which is turn drives her into squeals, which makes him more excited to "catch" her.  Those two are adorable!  Carter has been the definition of "adoring big sister."  She helps calm him and soothes him when he's upset ... but she still "ain't touching that poopy" diaper!



That's the doting big sister.  How sophisticated does she look with her big girl hair do, schnazzy scarf?!  What a doll!



Gingers of a feather stick together - LOOK at that boy's hair: red, just like sissy's!



SO BIG!  Sitting up, all by himself, with the funniest nose-wrinkle face!



No, Charlie, we eat the food, not the bowl.



That hair is red and those eyes are a beautiful blue, just like Sissy's



Carrots: the latest spring accessory!