Charlie's First Tree.

Here are some pics Josh took on Friday with our Christmas tree. As you can see, Gus wouldn't hold still and Charlie is obviously hungry. Had to get a pic though..

I love my Aunt LuLu

Here are a few highlights from Aunt Lucy's visit from NYC. We sure loved having her here. I am so proud of her for all she learned during a week as well. She was hesitant at first but doing such a good job with Charlie by the time she flew home yesterday. Thanks for all your help Lucy, can't wait for your next visit at Christmas!

Thankful Thankful

Meeting Great Grandma Alice for the first time.

Smile if you love turkey!

Not loving the pumpkin hat knitted by Grandma Sally

Asleep on Great Uncle Jim

Typical scene in my parent's kitchen...

all the dogs waiting for a dropping.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Josh was able to take off on Wednesday so we loaded up the car for our first road trip with Charlie. The loading took a little longer than usual, Charlie really requires a lot of garb, but so worth it. We made it to Carthage with ease and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at my parent's house. My Grandma Alice, Uncle Jim and Aunt Lisa joined us that night to meet Charlie for the first time. Needless to say, he was broken in right by his Great Grandmother, who said to me she likes it when they are this age because "they can't squirm away" Charlie looked great in his great grandmother's shade of Estee Lauder coral lipstick.

Thursday, we enjoyed the parade and a lounge around morning... Charlie did great sleeping overnight! We had what Josh and I thought was the best Thanksgiving lunch yet at my mom's. She goes to so much hard work and it shows, it was delicious! Thanks mom! We all took a short walk and then grazed on the leftovers before packing the car back up to head home.

We missed being with our Iowa side of the family this year because of the long haul. Josh did record a video of Charlie wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving though that everyone seemed to get a real kick out of. We love our new I-phones.

Giving thanks had new meaning this year to me.. as always I am thankful for my lord Jesus Christ and the wonderful family he blessed me with, and the constant daily blessings he gives both Josh and I. And this year in particular our thoughts were all turned to this healthy, happy baby boy who has reminded us just how good our God is!

Gus enjoyed plenty of turkey!

Our first Thanksgiving as a family

Grandma and mom

Grandma Sally and Charlie

A lazy moment with Gus, oh how I miss these...

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On Sunday, we loaded the car back up and headed to Butler Missouri to be with the Armstrong side. Many more kisses and lots more passing around for Charlie. He did great though. That side of the family produces lots of noise and he was a trooper. We had a great time.

Thanksgiving on the farm...

Lounging on Grandpa Dan

Meeting Cousin Elena

Warming up to Cousin Kathryn

Great Uncle Frank

Cousin Josie

Another Wonderful Hat by Aunt Aggie.

Sisters... miss them so much already!

The boys and their guns

The whole gang.

So Thankful - 2009

Habel's Visit

We enjoyed a visit from Josh's Dad, Kerry and Stephen a few weekends ago.. here are a few pics. It was a short stay but we did appreciate them making the long trip down. More family for Charlie to meet!

Aunt Monica

Here are a few pics from Aunt Monica's visit! We sure loved having her here.

Big Weekend Ahead!

Love my new hand me down mobile.. Thanks Henry!

First Bottle

Gus on the couch for yet another lazy afternoon!

Tummy Time

New Kicks... they almost fit

It has been another good week in the life of Charlie Habel. We finally got some cooler fall weather that kept us in the house for the beginning of the week. We ventured out for a few things but mostly stayed home this week. Got lots done though and that always feels nice. I am so thankful for the time I am able to spend with Charlie one on one during the week, but I do enjoy the days when Josh can help out as well.

Aggie came to town yesterday and started her newest project, a Xmas stocking for Charlie. We treated her to a massage this morning for all her help over the last four weeks. Yes, that is right Charlie is 4 weeks old today, I can hardly believe it!!

He is really starting to sleep well through the night. We started scheduling a little more this week and it has helped I think. We are in bed by 11 p.m. and usually just up once between two and three. I can handle that. Last night combined we managed eight hours of sleep. Pretty good for a one month old I think.

We are gearing up for a fun weekend here in Springfield. We started off with a super fun play date (that Charlie slept through again) today with Holly and Henry and Hannah and Link Catlett. Tomorrow Charlie will meet lots of new family members and we can hardly wait!

Getting in the bath now, Josh is carrying him around in the baby bjorn now and he really seems to enjoy it! Promise to post more pics at the end of our exciting weekend! Until then... xoxo

Here is a pic of Aggie holding Charlie and talking to Aunt Lucy on IChat!

See you soon Aunt LuLu!

Happy Sunday Everyone

Good morning everyone... Hope you all have had a good weekend. We have been keeping busy here at home. We had a great visit with Josh's sister Monica Wednesday through yesterday when we had to take her back to the airport.. I felt bad watching her say goodbye to Charlie, I know it is hard for all the aunts to be so far away but they can rest assure Charlie will constantly be reminded of how special they are.

Josh and I celebrated our four year anniversary on Thursday. What a wonderful ride that has been so far with many more to come I am sure. We always say we are doing no gifts, and like always we both had a little something for the other one. I do love that man! Charlie had his two week appointment and got nothing but good reports... he is up to 7 lbs 10 oz and the doctor had nothing but good things to say about him. We spent the rest of the day with Aggie and Monica walking around in Branson and it was great.

Friday we celebrated Holly's bday with a playdate at Katies, OK it really ended up being more for us mom's than anything... Charlie didn't wake up, the twins were down for a nap and poor Henry had recieved five shots that morning so he spent most of lunch crying. Either way we were all together and I hope she had a good time. And a more peaceful birthday yesterday!

The Trinca family stopped in for a visit as well on Friday and brought lots of goodies to get us through the weekend. We are officially home alone now for a few days. Just the four of us. We have loved having all our family here but it is nice to have some down time as well. Josh of course can't sit still, he has already been on a run and is cleaning out the gutters as I type this post.

Charlie and I tried to take a dog walk with Aunt Sassy yesterday but he couldn't seem to get himself calmed down, then he had a few other fussy spots last night as well. Holly, the baby whisperer told me I had to get the DVD "Happiest Baby on the Block" and let me tell you watching it last night couldn't have come at a better time. I HIGHLY recommend every new mother taking the time to check this DVD out. Charlie slept an extra hour between feedings last night and he is passed out in his swing, happy as a lark right now. I love that crazy doctor!

This week is pretty quiet for us. Josh's dad is driving down on Friday and Aunt LuLu is FINALLY coming on Saturday. We will spend this Thanksgiving in Carthage where Charlie will meet his great grandma Alice and Great Uncle Jim and Great Aunt Lisa. My mom is the ultimate Thanksgiving day chef and I can't wait to use breastfeeding as an excuse to take down some serious turkey day food!

Week Three

Cousins Whitney and Regan came for a visit this week!

Stretching out with Regan at Staxx

Sleeping on the baby whisperer

Wide awake in his new pj's from Aunt Martha

So much is going on in our lives to be thankful for.. each day is a new adventure with our sweet Charlie. And we are loving life. This weekend was all about time at home. We did a lot of football watching and just lounging, so nice to have Josh here for two whole days. My parents stopped through for a few hours on Saturday for a visit. Sunday we did a little crock pot apple butter making with Sassy and Aggie and took a long walk. So fun and a huge success, delicious!

We have had a great week so far with some fun visitors. My cousins Whitney and Regan drove down last night from KC for the evening and stayed through this afternoon. They brought lots of fun things for Baby Charlie and lots of good food for us. We were able to share lots of laughs together and they were so much help. Sweet Charlie was covered in kisses by the time they pulled away today! Wish they could have stayed longer but I am so thankful they made the trip down! Thanks girls!

Aunt Monica, Josh's sister flew in this morning as well. We are looking forward to a few days with her. Tomorrow is our four year anniversary, I can hardly believe it. I am constantly reminded of the wonderful man I have the pleasure of spending the rest of my life with.. and the new light I am able to see him in as a father makes me love him that much more. Happy Anniversary to us!

We also have our two week appointment tomorrow. I am sure I will have more to report on that soon.