Bath Time

Peter LOVES baths. He was about a week and a half old when he had his first one and he just sat there with this content look on his face, wiggling his fingers and toes in the water. The past couple of nights, when he hears the water running and I start undressing him, he has started to giggle. It's the cutest thing! He was smiling so big tonight, until I turned the camera on. Then he just stared, but I thought I'd share the video anyway.

Charlie also loves baths, but only if he has lots of toys and lots of bubbles! He loves his foam letters and lines them all up on the wall, shouting out their names as he goes. With Charlie, the alphabet is not a quiet thing.


And by the way, thanks Alita and Mindy for the comments about Adobe Photoshop Elements. I did decide to keep it and I love it. I haven't done a ton with it, but the quality of the red eye removal alone is worth it! Can't wait to figure it all out!

A Visit With Grandpa E.

My dad showed up late Monday night for a visit. He was only here for a day, but we had fun. He bought Charlie this Pirate Pop-up game which is now his new favorite. Thanks Dad! It was great to see you!

Charlie's New Haircut

I got tired of paying $10 every time Charlie needed a haircut. And Great Clips just doesn't do near as good a job as Lisa did in Moscow. (We miss your haircuts Lisa!) So I grabbed the clippers and buzzed him. I think that if Charlie ever had any of my genes in his appearance, they are now gone.

Fantasy Portraits

We got some fun portraits taken of our boys! Many of you know Patti. Well her dad, Allen, has his own business creating fantasy pictures of kids. He does fairies, princesses, knights, dragons, mermaids, and all sorts of fun fantasy situations. He got my son making poses and laughing, something I can never get him to do in front of a camera. Here are the ones he did of my adorable kids. And as fun as these ones are, the girl ones are even more so. Check out his website to learn more here or by clicking any of the pictures below. And for those of you that know Patti, you'll recognize Ryan in many of his sample portraits.

Destructo-Boy

Yes, that's the driver's seat of our car. So my dilemma is this: Is it Charlie's fault for getting into the car and opening a little jar of touch-up paint? Or is it my fault for forgetting to chain lock the door to the garage even though I know that he likes to play in there . . . and for leaving a jar of touch-up paint in the middle console just because he had never opened the console before? Mike and I even talked just last week about having to take the paint out, but we were on our way to the grocery store at the time and forgot by the time we got home. By the way, my son is also green, as is the bathtub and my only pair of jeans that fit me. Peter managed to get out of the situation unpainted. And now that Charlie is down for a nap, I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon with a rag and a bottle of paint thinner.

A Little Obsessed

Charlie grew up in front of my camera phone. I used to send pictures to my family constantly when he was a baby, so naturally as he got older, he always wanted to play with it. At about 18 months old, he figured out that he could hear people talking, and started wanting to talk to them. By the time he turned two, he had to say hi to anyone that I talked to. Now it's getting out of hand. He loves to answer it when it rings and throws a tantrum when I don't let him. He follows me around while I'm talking saying, "Charlie's turn. Talk talk talk . . ."He knows how to call the last person who called. He knows how to call Aunt Brittany (because she's the first person on the contact list). He knows how to answer the call waiting. And he's the one that figured out how to do three-way-calling. If you missed the video that I posted of him talking to Grandpa Ron, you can see it here. No matter where I hide the phone, he always manages to find it. So if anyone gets a call from him at 5:30 in the morning I apologize. We're working on weaning him from it. :-)

New Friends

Charlie has discovered a hole in our backyard fence . . . and what should he find there, but more little boys. The two boys who live next door (aged 3 and 5) have started talking to Charlie through the fence. They show him their toys and Charlie is very good at giving them back. They show each other different ways to slide down a slide. They reach their hands through to shake hands and they talk and talk and talk. I don't know the neighbors' names, but they are so good about letting Charlie just go on and on like he does, and then they tell me what words they picked up on. It is so much fun to watch. I have had to pull Charlie off the fence a number of times because he is so determined to climb over there and play. (They have a bigger slide than we do.)

So I took some pictures. This was the day I was watching Patti and Alan's little boy Ryan, and for those of you that know them, I'll put a picture of him as well . . . and one of Peter, just so he doesn't feel left out.

Dancin' Boy

I've been trying for three days to just email this to the grandparents, but for some reason Yahoo refuses to make this an attachment. So you will all have to forgive me for posting it here. Feel free to ignore this post if you are getting sick of me talking about the kids. The problem is that I kinda like them. :-) And I find them entertaining.

In this video, Charlie and I were watching my cousin's son's campaign video for sophomre officer. Charlie really got into it.

Charlie and the Phone

Just a little video of Charlie, doing what he does best: (Please pay no attention to the mess. This is the room I am using to go through boxes and papers. The rest of my house is not quite this cluttered.)

The Boys

So I was look at pictures of Charlie when he was a newborn and I really don't think he looks anything like Peter! I was completely prepared to have another "cookie cutter" child of my husband's family. My sister-in-law's children all have their own little variations within the same look, so I figured my kids would be the same. The genes seem to be pretty strong. But I don't know anymore. Peter is completely different. Maybe it's just me and they actually look more alike than I think they do . . . We'll see what happens as he gets older . . .

Peter:Charlie:Charlie & Peter with their cousins: (Charlie's the one in orange, and Peter is the baby with the red face)

Charlie's Birthday

This is what happens when you leave Grandma and Grandpa in charge while you go to find something to light the candles with. Sorry it's sideways . . . I can't figure out how to turn it right side up. This one is from my mom's camera. I have one on mine, but for some reason it just won't transfer . . .

Yesterday was Charlie's birthday and although we didn't throw a huge party, we tried to make the family party special. He got all sorts of presents- a Woody doll (from Toy Story), balls, and a huge TeePee that I stayed up all night finishing for him (actually it's not quite done, but it's close). All those things and what did he play with all night? The helium balloons we got for decoration. This morning he has been dragging them around the house. What can we say? He's definitely easy to please.

About a Boy

Favorite Food: Broccoli or Dino Nuggets

Favorite Beverage: Whatever the parents are drinking

Favorite Dessert: My OWN ice-cream cone. Mom sharing her's doesn't count.

Least Favorite Food: Tomatos

Favorite Movie: It's a toss up between Toy Story 2 and Baby Da Vinci

Favorite Game: Steal Daddy's Shoes

Favorite Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Favorite Music to Listen to: Jack Johnson's Curious George Soundtrack

Favorite Vacation Spot: The beach at Bear Lake. It's the only vacation I was old enough to enjoy.

Favorite Book: Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton

Favorite Toy: Either the Rocking Horse or my Sit-N-Spin

Favorite Words: Yesss, All Done, and Da!! (Always yelled as I hear Dad walk in the door)

Number of Siblings: 1/2, Mom is due in March

Most impressive talents: Rolling my hands for "Do as I'm Doing" and my latest, catching a football

Things I love to do: Color, which of course involves unwrapping all the crayons, play with the hose, help Mom cook, throw sidewalk chalk and watch it break, brush my teeth, sit on Mom's lap while she's trying to type at the computer, and jump on my bed.

Biggest Life Problem: Nursery! You can't make me go!!

Reason Mom blogged this: Because she's bored and can't come up with anything more interesting to write about.