It's my party!

So, because I am a masochist  delusional an over-acheiver I decided to not only host Easter at our house (more on that to follow) but Billy and I threw Charlie's first birthday party the day before as well.  What?  It's not normal to throw two parties in less than 48 hours?  Says who?  (Oh, everyone?  Ok.) 

Beau at the breakfast table that morning:  "Mommy, I'm sad because it's not my birthday."  He got over that pretty quick. 

Well, we learned that Charlie hates - HATES - the grass. 

Yea, so I've got a mullet.  I'm letting my hair grow out.  Leave me alone. 

OMG.  What is this sweet deliciousness in my mouth? 

 

Rare family picture.  Three out of four looking at the camera ain't that bad! 

I LOVE CAKE!!!

You've been holding out!  

The rainbow cake was beatiful even in this "deconstructed" mode. 

Charlie actually enjoyed opening up his gifts (Beau could not have cared less at his first birthday party.) 

A great turnout and lovely weather.  The party was quite the success. 



Oh My God!  A plastic hotdog!  I don't know how to contain my excitement!



Notice Beau's face just behind the jeep...

 Despite his lamentations that morning about how this wasn't his birthday party, Beau did really well all day sharing the spot light.  Until that is, when the BIG present came out.  Once again, for his first birthday, Nanny bought our child a car.  Beau got a big red cozy coop.  But Charlie, Charlie got a big blue Jeep.  As expected, jealousy ensued. 



"Ok, Charlie, I think I've got this from here."



"Oh Hell no, big brother. This is mine!"

And the race to the driver seat continues. 

This highly unflattering photograph of myself is included in this post purely to illustrate the sheer melee that ensued. 

"Fine, I'll ride on the tailgate!"  (And he did...)

Cousin Marc enjoying the party with Andrew...counting down the days until his own shindig! 

Oh well, I guess the Mickey Mouse train will do for now...or until Charlie falls asleep. 

One Year Old!

Can you believe it's been one year? One year since we welcomed our Charlie. One year since we became a family of five - yep, haven't forgotten Murphy. One year since I discovered that your love for each child runs just as deep. One year since our house became blessedly chaotic. (Ok, one year ago Saturday...I'm a little late, forgive me.) 

And away we go! (PS - this is, of course, before Billy nearly passed out. I don't want anyone to forget the fact that at one point during Charlie's birth Billy had the attention of more medical staff than I did.)

 

 "Oh, I can tell you're going to be trouble."

 "Is that mine?"

 "Hmmmm...I'm not so sure, Paw Paw."

 I can happily say that one year later, Beau still loves Charlie this much.

 About one month later (Still a little yellow, no? But so so sweet.)

 And at two months...Don't worry, I have neither the time nor patience to add a photo from each month.

Being silly in his co-sleeper. What a ham. At least that hasn't changed.

So, Happy Birthday Charlie! We love you! I can't believe how incomplete our lives were before your arrival. We're so lucky to have you here with us. Love, Mommy

Say what?!

"Mommy, shut the door.  I got this." 

"Mommy, I pull my pants down/up." 

"Mommy!  Privacy!"

Beau is not only potty-trained now, but apparently very independent.

And on that note, the most uttered phrase in the Brian residence these days...

"Mommy, no!  I do it by myself!" 

Oh Lord.  I love how independent he is, but why is it that he really wants to showcase his independence when we are running late?!  I swear, it's like herding turtles sometimes. 

Mmmm...spaghetti...

Remember how much Beau loved spaghetti? 

Turns out Charlie has a real affinity for the Italian fare as well.  Well, we kind of figured he'd love it.  The child loves noodles in any form.  Here are some highlights...

And in case you want the real experience, a little video.   

 Yes, it was a lot of fun to clean this mess up.  At least Murphy tried to help. 

Say what?!

"Beau, please don't comb your hair with your fork." 

"Beau, please don't stick dollar bills in your underwear." 

"Beau, please stop riding your brother like a horse."

"No, Beau.  You can't have cupcakes for dinner.  No, no ice cream either.  No, candy is also not an acceptable meal."

"Beau, if you have to pee pee, let's go inside instead of in the yard." 

"Beau, seriously, pull your pants up." 

Easter weekend proved to be quite humorous and eventful. 

MLS Easter Party

Well the boys have their Easter parties at school today.  Ok, well, Beau has an Easter party and egg hunt.  Charlie, not so much.  But, isn't everyday a party at daycare?  Oh, it's not?  Moving on...

I somehow forgot that I am incredibly pressed for time when I decided to make gifts for the boys classmates.  (Like I enjoy waking up at 4:45 a.m. to work out because it's the only time I can...)  Anywho, by the time I realized the committment necessary, I was in too deep.  But, I think they came out adorable. 

For Beau, I made little "chicks" cups and filled them with jellybeans (because you can't have Easter without jellybeans) and eggs-shaped rice krispie treats. 

Charlie's gifts were a little more labor intensive.  Since I thought it would be ridiculous to give infants candy I made them stuffed "Peeps."  Too precious, no? 

Now on to bigger and better things - Charlie's first birthday party and Easter - all in one weekend!!!

Nobody told me...

Beau has been pottytraining for just over two weeks now, and with great success.  He still has an accident here or there, but for the most part he "gets it."  Despite all the advice I got from friends, books I read, and questions I asked, there are a few things that no one prepared me for while potty training a little boy.  Here goes...

1.  I find random items in my toilet - like my tennis shoes or my favorite wooden spoon.

2.  Selecting which "big boy" underwear to wear today is parallel to my picking out which dress to wear to prom.  Seriously Beau, they're underwear.  No one but Mommy is going to see them, and there's still that chance that they'll end up wet at some point during the day. 

3.  "Accidents" are not limited to peeing in your pants.  Oh no, two days in a row Beau had to walk around the class room barefoot because he managed to pee on his shoes.  How's that for bad aim? 

4.  When he insisted on standing up to potty, because, well, that's how Daddy does it, I had to help him "aim." 

5.  He refuses to pee into the "big" potty because, "Mommy, I'm scared."  And so, instead he stands on the toilet seat, firmly grasping on to the toilet bowl tank.  Hey, it works. 

6.  After he mastered peeing standing up, I had to have a conversation with him explaining that pooping standing up is really ill-advised. 

7.  I have never been so glad to have the maid come on Friday. 

8.  Seeing the look on his face when he has success makes cleaning up all those accidents worth it, well, almost.  You never really get used to cleaning that up. 

Eleven months!

Charlie is eleven months old today. I’m no math genius but I think that means that next month he will be one year old. ONE YEAR OLD! Holy Moly…where did the past year go?!

So, here’s what the cutest, sweetest, most cuddlely, lovable eleven month old around is up to these days.

*  Houston, we have a tooth. Actually we’ve got two teeth. FINALLY, Charlie has two pearly white little chompers. They arrived the week that he turned ten months. He’s very proud of his teeth and likes to show them off. At his last doctor’s visit she pointed out that the two top teeth are also about to break through the skin. One of the little suckers just bust through the gums, but has yet to make an appearance.   

*  Freakish strength. Yep, just like Beau, Charlie seems to have acquired his father’s freakish strength. I was watching him on the school’s webcam the other day when he stood up against the play area. It kind of looks like this, in case you were wondering. After gaining his balance he proceeded to push it about three to four feet across the floor. His teachers were just standing there watching in disbelief. It didn’t really shock me; I’ve seen what he does at home.

*  Charlie has not been spoon fed in over a month.  He insists on feeding himself, which makes it easier and more difficult for me, all at once.  Luckily, he pretty much eats anything we put in front of him, but he is particularly fond of cheese or anything with cheese on it.  Oh, and formula...forget it.  That's for babies.  I'm lucky if I can get him to drink 18-20 ounces in a day.  Sheesh.

*  Oh, and speaking of food...Charlie has added another word to his vernacular.  We have "ma ma", "da da" (both directed at the correct party) and "Beau" and now we have "mum mum."  Oh yea, the kids loves him some Mum Mums.  I never knew anyone could get so excited over a rice cake.  But hey, to each his own. 

*  While hasn't taken any unassisted steps yet, he LOVES walking behind his activity walker.  Heck, he loves walking behind anything he can push - Beau's trucks, the kitchen stools, mommy.  He'll definitely be walking sooner than later. 

*  Unlike his big brother, he took to the sippy cup immediately.  He now casually sips his formula (see above) and water.  I can't wait to see his face the first time he gets a little juice in there. 

*  Charlie loves playing with balls.  Any type, any size.  He can now roll them to you and catch them when your roll them back.  He also has learned to throw them pretty well.  Apparently he had a lot of practice pitching his pacifiers from his crib.  (Seriously, at first I was finding them at the foot of his crib.  Now I find them hurled across the room behind furniture.  Do we have a little QB on our hands??)  

*  He also likes to crawl to the nearest pillow or blanket and bury his head in it.  He then looks up as if to say, "Did you see that?"  It's almost as if he is pretending to sleep or pretending to throw a tantrum.  I prefer to think it's the former.  Besides he does this at bed time too.  Core gave him the most darling puppy pillow, which he has used correctly since the day I put it in his crib.  My little guy is really growing up. 

*  And the best for last...remember the old addage, "Monkey see, monkey do."  Well apparently we are doing something right in the Brian residence.  Check out the note Charlie's teacher left us on his daily progress report last week.  She said if she had a video camera, it would have gone viral by that evening.  *sigh* These are the things I hate missing.