Charlie Loves his Daddy!

We have had a big week here! Spring Break 2010 for Charlie and he has been living it up! We have been on several walks, finally... after last weeks freak snow, it is warming up! Josh kept him on Wednesday and I stayed home Thursday.

We had a play date yesterday with the Carroll twins, Henry, Karsten and sweet baby Harlow. Charlie is able to get down sort of play with the other big kids now. It is so nice to get together with friends who are going through the same things you are as a mother and just vent and ask questions! I don't know what I would do without you girls so thanks!

Last night I had dinner with the ladies from the store and Josh is in St. Louis cheering on his beloved UNI Panthers as I type. Charlie and I are going to catch up on some laundry and just hang in tonight. No real plans for the weekend and I am loving that! Temps into the 70's next week, I am currently shopping for an outdoor swing for the little guy for this summer. Something for us to do while dad spends countless hours on the grill! Can't wait.

More BIG NEWS. Charlie's first tooth has broken through on the bottom. Not really enough to see just yet but I'll get a picture ASAP. He seems to be handling the teething thing pretty well. Lots of slobber though! He is still doing well with the rice cereal morning and night. I am going to start making some baby food this weekend I think, only a few weeks until he is eating like a big boy! Time is really flying by.

Looking forward to being in Sedalia with family for Easter and then the return of Aunt Aggie to Missouri on the 6th! YEAH! Hope everyone enjoys a peaceful weekend!

Here are a few pics of Charlie and Josh spending some time together last night in Charlie's room. That boy loves his daddy! No one can make him smile like Josh... we are both so lucky!

Sedalia Roadtrip

My mom and I made a trip recently to see my Grandma Alice. I am so glad we did... it really seemed to brighten her week. Charlie was a total angel. My grandma loves to squeeze and Charlie allowed her to get her fill. He smiled up and made her day!

It has been a long winter for all of us but especially for someone who isn't as comfortable getting out in snowy conditions. Since this picture was taken she has been in the hospital, this breaks my heart and makes me wish I was closer for more frequent visits. We have planned a visit over Easter though and I can't wait to see her again.

Grandma Sally

These pictures are from a few weeks ago when my parents where in town. They try and make it over to Springfield at least once a week to squeeze on those precious cheeks. I need to work on my photography skills... I wish Charlie's face was not blurry because he is so smiley and it melts my heart. He loves his Grandma Sally.

Rice Cereal

So my baby boy is getting so big and eating rice cereal now. We started it on this last Saturday. He gets three teaspoons in the morning and three more before bed. He is doing so good and actually takes quite a bit of it down. Here are a few pictures of his first attempt.

Crafting

These are a few pictures of Charlie doing his first craft at my mom and dad's in Carthage over my birthday weekend... too funny!

Almost Five Months

So I actually found a minute to breath, Charlie is strapped in the bjorn with Josh right now... so I thought I would update everyone on what our son has accomplished in the short five months he has been around.

The happiest news to report is that he is sleeping thorough the night. This is huge, I require a good amount of sleep.. chuckle chuckle from the peanut gallery - i.e. my family... and I guess I never really appreciated it like I should have. Going without it for the last few moths has been the pits, to say the least. So last Monday, March 1st, J and I let him cry it out... the first few nights he was up a few times but a pat on the bottom and some shhhhing usually did the trick. Since Saturday though he is straight through, not a peep.

Here is a day in the life of Charlie:

6:30 wake up

Breakfast

Jump Time

8:00 nap

10:00 School - Tues, Wed, Thurs

10:30 Mid Morning Meal

2:00 Home from School

2:30 Afternoon Feeding

3:30 nap

Play Play Play

6:30 Dinner

9:00 Bath and p.j.'s

9:30 Bottle Book and Bedtime

It's hard I know.

He is eating 6 ounces at every feeding and 8 before bed. We are introducing rice cereal this weekend, I'll let you know...

Other fun facts in Charlie's world:

He has discovered his furry brother, he follows Gussy with his eyes every where he goes and will put his hand out for licks on occasion.

He loves his toes and will do just about anything to get his socks off and play with them

His thighs and wrists seem to be where he is putting on the most weight, seriously, you have never seen such sweet things!

He loves being kissed on the neck, that and a good tickle on the top of his ribs can win you a great belly laugh, my favorite!

It looks like he is going to keep my blue eyes and they are beautiful, a real crowd pleaser.

He LOVES his daddy, I couldn't ask for a better partner in raising this child.

We are having the best time watching him do something new each day! And feel so blessed to have such a happy, healthy baby. We love you Charlie!

Ride a Little Horsey...

On our trip to Carthage my mom brought out a horse that was mine as a child, the twins and I all agreed it seemed a lot bigger then. I had to hold Charlie on this time but I can see many horsey rides at Grandma and Grandpa's in the future. This time he was more interested in eating the old yarn!

Aunt Aggie and Aunt LuLu came home

We Armstrong's sure know how to stretch a Birthday... we like to make it at least a week long celebration... this worked out so well growing up since the twins' Bday was just 5 days after mine. Some how we always end up together during this time of year and I couldn't think of two better people to spend my Birthday season with. Last year Josh surprised me and we flew down to see Aggie in Savannah, on top of that LuLu surprised us and flew down as well... What a difference a year makes... it was last year, that I found out we were expecting and my how that has changed our lives! Here are a few more pics from the girls' visit. We had a wonderful time and I am already counting down the days until we are all together again!

Happy 24th Aggie and Lucy!

Just Hanging

My mom and dad always go overboard on gifts...

This is Charlie's new thing... give him something (and I mean anything)

Straight into the mouth

Nevermind... that didn't taste very good!

Opening Gifts

Check out my rolls

Hanging out with my sweet Aunt Aggie

Aggie, Lucy and Kathryn

Lucy and Uncle Dick

Aunt Deb and Will

Do you have to go?

My sad face... come back soon Aunt Aggie and Aunt LuLu

My Birthday

My final Birthday in my twenties was on the 25th of February. I woke up to a wonderful breakfast prepared by all my boys. And tons of fabulous presents. Josh really outdid himself this year... and of course I loved EVERY minute of it.

My Thoughful Bday Breakfast

My Boys

Dinner that night with great friends

(The Rosses, The Greggs, The McGees, Jess and Sass)

Just the Ladies

My dear husband who treats me like a queen everyday... not just my Bday! Love you!