8(ish) Months old

Charlie is 8 months old! Well, he has been for a while. But I just took his pictures yesterday.
He's is back on track with his weight - and is gaining really well now. He's a little over 17 lbs, still little, but getting a few rolls.

I guess I need to get his haircut.

He has been a real joy at night recently : ) Poor guy is cutting all four top teeth at the same time. Lots of drool, off and on fever, snot. Infants Tylenol and Oragel are no match.

I just keep telling myself that this stage will pass. Maybe tonight is the night! I mean, it wasn't like he slept through the night before. But, at least he wasn't screaming every hour or two.
Side note - his two top teeth haven't come through yet - just the two next to them. I'm a little worried he won't ever get front teeth.

He is truly a joy during the day. He's crawling, waving, pulling himself up.
I'm hoping he learns to get down after he pulls himself up in the crib. He just gets "stuck" and screams. He gives really, really good hugs.
He follows Jackson and Cooper around. Jackson loves it. Cooper doesn't.

It is becoming increasingly difficult for him to sit still in the chair.


ooh, a blanket!


oh, oh! a camera!


Motor boat. It's his favorite noise.
Also is saying "mamama...." and "dadadada"

Whoa. Almost fell off the chair after this.


Cooper helped with the "photo shoot"


Sometimes I put clothes on him.

I'll hopefully take Charlie's 9 month pictures in a week.
We will see how much he changes between now and then!

Valentines

The Friday before Valentine's Day, we had a little party at Kent's house - one of Jackson's classmates. The boys had a great time. My pictures stink, because some lightning setting has been wrong. Whoops. I've been wondering why all of my pictures are so dark and gray...

A cup of icing ...

makes the perfect mustache.

I didn't give any thought to Valentine's Day until the day before. After I left church on sunday, I thought I would go by Market Street and get some little paper Valentines for Jackson to pass out at school. They had Xmen and Disney Princesses. So, I just figured I would make something. Not really giving much thought to the fact that it was noon on Sunday. And I have 3 kids to take care of. Whoops. I came up with some good ideas - none of which I could get done in a few hours. And I wasn't going to stay up late for this.
Maybe next year I will think ahead. I would love to make some homemade Valentines with Jackson and Cooper - just not the night before.

So, I drizzled red candy melts on some heart shaped marshmallows and that became Cooper's Valentine to exchange. Then baked some chocolate cookies and drizzled candy melts on those, too. They would have tasted great with royal icing- but this was ridiculously quick.
My mom got here on Sunday afternoon, so she helped me bag them all up. Colin washed dishes. I think they both love me.

They had a party for the patients at Colin's work - so I wanted to send something.
I burnt the first batch of cupcakes. So, made a second. Buttercream icing. Heart shaped marshmallow on top.


That took care of Colin's work, and 24 Valentines for Cooper and Jackson (for our mom's group party). Still had to get another 2 dozen Valentines for Jackson to take to both schools. No baked goods for these - only storebought food/candy. So, Colin went to Albertsons, got some paper Valentines and little bags of candy. Done. Oh, and Starbucks gift cards for the teachers.

Ha! these are out leftovers.

I got a little carried away trying to use all of the candy melts.

Sweet big brother, Jackson.
He was crawling on the floor with Charlie on Monday morning,
and requested that I take their picture together.

Here are a few pictures from our mom's group party -

Charlie carried the Valentines in.

You're my favorite Deputy

Sweet Norah

Playing in the playhouse with Dillon.

Charlie passed out before we even made it out the door.
So, we stayed and had lunch while he slept.

The kids loved Valentines so much.
Who knew it could be so exciting?

More birthday!

Saturday we went down the street to celebrate our neighbor Daniel's - 3rd birthday.
It was our first day of nice weather, and we were all THRILLED! Coop and Jack ate a good amount of sugar, and then burnt off some of the extra energy in the bounce house. Then they are some more sugar.

Have I ever mentioned what a great dad Colin is?

He is.

I'm in love with this baby.

When I was looking through all of the pictures, I stopped at this one, because I love Cooper's chubby cheeks. It won't be long when his face thins out and he looks all grown up.

(sniff, sniff)
Like his brother ...

Can't believe he is about to turn 4.
(SNIFF, SNIFF!)

Charlie was the flirt of the party. Smiling and waving at everyone.

Thing #3

Thing #2

Thing #1 not pictured.
Thing #1 isn't really into wearing silly hats/hair pieces.

And here's the Birthday Boy

Margaret's First Birthday

A while ago we went to the Louis' (in Arlington) to celebrate snow girl Margaret's first birthday.
What a fun day. We always enjoy seeing them so much.
The fact that there is always great food makes our visits even sweeter!


Rebekah had such a great spread - loaded baked potatoes for the grown ups, chick-fil-e nuggets for the kiddos (and grown ups too!), oreo truffles (YUM), sugar cookies, cupcakes (carrot, of course - how cute), ... and SMORES!

Cuteness

Adorable decorations.

Wish I had taken a picture of the snowman in the bathroom made out of toilet paper rolls. So stinking cute. And creative.

Rebekah has the best original ideas.
She thinks I am creative, but I just copy other people's ideas.
She comes up with her own great ones -
like giving out Puff's tissues as a party favor for all the winter noses.



Margaret is the third from the left.
I wish I had better pictures of her.
She was hard to get close to at her party - but I should have fought the crowds to get some face time with her : )

Check out all of their cute homemade scarves.
These are the kiddos that would agree to wear them.

(Notice Cooper is not pictured).

Love big brother Henry helping with the candle.

Here's Cooper showing off his snowman craft.
He was really proud.

Wish I had more pictures of all the boys.
More of Margaret.
More of all of the sweet details.
Seems like sometimes my choice is either to be "in" the moment or photograph it.
Hard to do both with three children.

Check out Rebekah's blog for more pictures of the sweet birthday girl.
She didn't give herself enough credit for what a wonderful party it was.
Great memories and a special celebration for Margaret's first year!

Cabin Fever

Well, we are stuck in our cabin. And all the boys have fever. Jackson got sick on Sunday morning, and he's been the only pathetic one in the bunch until yesterday (Thursday). Now Cooper is coughing, running a low fever, and Charlie, well, he's gunky. and soggy. Between the snot, drool (2 new teeth working their way in, too), eye gunk, spit up and tears - he's extra soggy. Everytime I pick him up I feel like I've been slimed. Poor guy. Has a terrible cough to go along with it.

Not much sleep happening over here. We haven't had school since Monday - and Colin hasn't gone to work since Monday either. Lots of crying, throwing up, begging, all around pathetic-ness. And lots of tv. LOTS of tv. They've probably watched around 2 1/2 -3 hours every day. Oh well, it keeps all of us from losing our minds.

I guess it worked out that this school week was canceled - since Jackson wouldn't have been able to go anyway. And, having Colin home has been a HUGE help! This morning is when the snow started. It was mostly ice until now. We got another 6 inches. Whoa.
I've gotten some cleaning done. woohoo. Feel like I should have used the time more wisely. But the "I need a tissue" comment comes at me every few minutes.

Anyway, today we threw some paint and markers at the boys, and that occupied them for a little while. Here are some photos from this morning.

Cooper painted his head.

Possibly the cutest snowman drawing ever.

And possibly the best squiggles ever.

Enjoying their artwork on display.

Here's what was going on outside -

That's our birdbath. Full of ice, then snow on top.

Here's the view out of our front window - Can't tell where our road is.
Haven't heard many cars pass this week.


Have to say, it is really pretty. And quiet.


Anyway, back to the kids. Charlie was in an exceptionally good mood this morning. Which was unusual - since last night he was up gagging and coughing and crying all night.
He's learned to wave this week.

He had snot, drool, lunch, and tears on his face, but still looking pretty cute.
He's so proud of his new ability to wave.


Later, I sent Colin and all the boys upstairs so I could vacuum the baseboards.
Oh, the excitement!

When I finished, I found couldn't find Cooper or Jackson.
Only these two little boys -

Hawaiian cowboy?


Construction worker convict? Stuck in a coal mine?

Tomorrow, it should be in the 40s! HOORAY!
I can't wait to go anywhere!
Of course, I don't think the boys are going to be in top shape to go anywhere.
But, maybe Colin and I will take turns getting out of the house.