Joy to the World

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year.  I love the family, the friends, the food, the music, the lights, the silly movies, the magic in the air, and especially the opportunity to share the joy and hope of our faith -- but this year everything is so much more...just more.

I feel like I've taken a giant step forward as far as really "getting" it.  I was raised to believe that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth and that Jesus was the son of God sent here for us, but I realized this year that I've always kind of taken it for granted.  Having a son of my own has opened my eyes to the amazing grace and mercy that is at the heart of Christmas.

While anyone can tell you that I believe that Charlie is perfect, I know that he will disobey and make poor decisions and mistakes along the way.  Nevertheless, I would never send him out into the world to be a sacrifice for anyone, much less people who would mock, hate and ignore him.  To think that God sent us His son, who actually is perfect, for just that reason astounds me.  To think that God loves us more than I could ever dream of loving my Charlie is beyond my ability to comprehend.

With these thoughts in mind, I feel like I am truly "adoring Him" for the first time in my life.  I expected Charlie to bring new joy to the presents, the lights, the snow and the time with family, but I never dreamed that my baby boy could open my eyes to the true love of Christmas.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

Merry Christmas!

All I want for Christmas...

Is my left front tooth!  Yes, on top of a booger of a cold (pun definitely intended and incredibly appropriate!) and a crazy schedule, Charlie's left front tooth is finally poking through.  At this point I'm not sure if it's the cold or the tooth that has him tugging on his right ear, but I'm praying it's the tooth!

Despite the challenges, we're having a great week in Kanas City and looking forward to even more fun with friends and family...but at this point honestly, all I want for Christmas is Charlie's left front tooth.. preferably painlessly and within the next 30 seconds, so the stinker can at least enjoy the excitement of his first Christmas...even if he has no clue what's going on.

Meeting Santa's Reindeer at Bass Pro

Learning the ropes

I never knew how early people picked up certain routines, customs and behaviors.  Since Charlie was a few weeks old he has habitually scratched his nose  (lucky kid inherited my itchy nose), raised his right eyebrow when he's curious and rubbed his little eyes when he's sleepy.   Jason and I have been suprised by how many actions are innate rather than learned.

Now that Charlie is 9 months, though, we're starting to establish some learned habits that could be with him for the rest of his life:

• Brushing his teeth (better be!)
• Playing the piano (could be?)
• Snoring in church (uh-oh!)

I was horrified this past Thursday when I noticed that my perfect son's two perfect teeth had plaque on them!  I have to admit it -- it hadn't even crossed my mind to start brushing his teeth, and he's had them since August. 

I swung by Walmart Friday morning and picked up Charlie's first toothbrush and toothpaste just in time.  That afternon at his 9 month check-up the doctor asked me if I was brushing his teeth.  While I couldn't say "yes", I was able to tell her that I had purchased the tools and planned to start right away.  How embarrassing would it have been if I'd had to look at her in confusion and say "Oh, wow!  I hadn't thought of that yet"!

So, this morning I brushed his teeth for the first time (forgot yesterday) and it went fairly well -- though I'd love to see anyone who can brush those two tiny little teeth in a "repetitive circular motion" as instructed on the toothpaste tube.

Next up is Charlie's introduction to music theory -- also known as banging on the piano keys.  Mom and Dad brought out my Grandma's piano for us at Thanksgiving, and Jason had it tuned for me as an early Christmas gift.  Pretty much all I can play is a few Christmas Carols, but I love it -- and like it or not, Charlie will take at least one year of piano.  And who knows, maybe he'll be a virtuoso -- everyone was commenting on how long his fingers were when he was born...

The most distressing habit that Charlie has worked on this weekend is snoring during church.  Since he was three weeks old, I have delicately tucked (and/or stuffed) him into the sling to take his morning nap during church. 

Most weeks he will nap until at least 11:30 or so, allowing both Jason and I to listen to the service and preventing us from having to take him to the nursery.  To be clear, our church has a wonderful nursery staffed by wonderful people -- but with all of the H1N1 mess in the news I'm paranoid.

This morning I crammed Charlie into the sling (at least al but his right arm) and he went directly to sleep.  He slept peacefully through the Christmas hymns at the begninning of the service, but when we all sat down for the sermon he started to get a little noisy.  Apparently he was scrunched over a bit far, because he was snoring like a 5000 pound elephant.  It was hilarious.  I kept trying to shift him or adjust his head, but had little luck.  Thankfully all of the folks sitting near us adore the little stinker, but it was quite embarrasing. 

As far as this becoming a habit, I have no doubt that while he might get out an initial "zz-" in the future, he won't get any further before Jason or I pop him awake.

It's truly amazing to watch our little baby develop into a person with his own preferences, interests, abilities and quirks, and to know that things we do and decisions we make today may impact him for the rest of his life. 

Quiet... I'm practicing

9 Months!

I can't believe that we have known and loved Charlie longer than we waited for him (well, for him specifically).  He is officially 9 months old today, and the time has just flown. 

I can remember every detail of the day he was born like it was yesterday -- or at least those that I could remember the next day -- I'm still grateful for my epidural!  At the same time, though, I can't remember what our life was like before March 9.  What on earth did we do all day and why did we think we needed so much sleep?!?

To commemorate this 9 month-iversary of the start of our adventure, here is the latest Charlie update as of 12/9/09:

•Weight - 21 lbs. 7 oz (50-75th percentile)

•Length - 28.5" (50th percentile)

•Head - 45.9 cm (75th percentile)

•Teeth - 2 (bottom front)

•Hair - Dark blonde/light brown and still thin, but respectable

•Birthmarks - The stork bites on the back of his neck are almost fully covered by hair, and the potato shaped birthmark on his left shin is definite.  Plus, just Monday night I found his first freckle high on his forehead over his right eye.

•Naps - 2 per day (though the afternoon nap can be a battle)

•Bedtime - 7:30 to 8:00

•Waketime - 6:30 to 7:00

•Favorite Food - Grapes by far, but he loves just about everything -- even mediterranean and thai food!

•Favorite Song - Toes by the Zach Brown Band

•Favorite Dance - Self-taught: lie on your stomach, bury your face in the floor and wiggle all over!

•Favorite Toys - Links and Push Train

•Favorite Game - Chewing up magazines -- but still loves Peek-a-Boo

•Recent milestone -

• Standing and only holding self up with one hand
• Walking beyind his Push Train
• Cruising around coffee table or sofa -- and transferring from one piece of furniture to the next
• Trying to feed himself with a spoon
• Says "Dada" and "Donna"
• Riding in Big Boy Carseat
• Sporadically giving hugs (particularly first thing in the morning)

•Imminent milestones -

• Walking!
• "Mama" - hopefully!
• Top Teeth  

•Hero -  Daddy

•Personality -

• Even Goofier -  He loves to laugh and be surprised and wiggle and giggle.
• Active - Unfortunately, Charlie is not much of a cuddler.  He is sweet and loving, but would much rather climb all over you than hug you.
• Curious - He loves to check out new things and is always craning his little neck to discover the source of a noise or to see where something came from/went
• Morning Person - Charlie wakes up grinning and ready to go and can't wait to get to bed at night...definitely takes after his mom here.

Obviously Charlie has learned a lot over the past 9 months, but I'm willing to bet that Jason and I have learned more.  A few of our recent epiphanies:

• Sometimes it's easier to just let Charlie chew up a Victoria's Secret catalog than to try to entertain him while you make dinner.
• The world will not end if Charlie's clothes are already dirty when he arrives at Donna's in the morning.
• It's possible to go through an entire day without noticing that you have spit-up all over your jeans.
• Boston Terriers may allow babies to poke them in the eyes, pull their hair and pinch their ears, but they take it out on the parents.

Here are a few shots from our 9 month celebration this morning (also known as playtime before work).

Checking out the new day

Loving life

Ho-Ho-Ho

I have to be honest, it hadn't even crossed my mind to take Charlie to see Santa...there's just so much to learn in the first year!  Jason received an email earlier this week that Santa was making a surprise visit to our neighborhood and suggested that it would be much easier and nicer than visiting him at the mall.  My response?  Of course!  (Phew!  Talk about a lucky save to keep me out of the "bad mom" club!)

We combined our first encounter with Santa with a gift exchange with Charlie's Angels.  It was too much fun!  All of us moms dressed our babies up in one of their Christmas outfits (funny how they all seem to have more than one this year...), and thoroughly enjoyed chatting and laughing at their antics.  We even had a special guest this time, Miss Kate's "Annie" joined us for the fun! 

After some playing, corraling and laughing, we paraded down Scrapbook Lane to see Santa.  Amazingly, we didn't have any criers -- and Sophia was downright overjoyed with Santa. 

And talk about instant gratification -- we walked back up to our house and the kids each got to open their first Christmas gifts!  There's nothing like setting unrealistic expectations the very first year. 

I have always loved the Christmas season and all the faith and hope in the air, but everything is brighter and better this year. 

Playing with the Girls

Waiting to see Santa

Hmmm...  Why did my Mommy give me to you?

Apparently Sophia is the only one to

appreciate the importance of Mr. Claus!

Whelmed

Well I'm not technically overwhelmed, but I'm definitely not underwhelmed, so  I guess I'm "whelmed".  I don't suppose this year the holidays are any busier than any other year -- there's just less time to spend cleaning and planning and more time to spend playing and laughing.

I've learned a few key lessons this week.  One - chewing on black construction paper will stain a baby's mouth making him look Goth.  Two - even after almost nine months, a formerly spoiled dog can act out by using the recently cleaned carpet as a bathroom.  Three - only the best husband in the world would surprise me with a massage on Saturday afternoon, while he stays at home to wait for the new washer and dryer and deal with the dreaded afternoon nap (and yes I am totally bragging!)

Car troubles, a broken washing machine, a passive agressive dog, crazy work schedules, and 100 unaddressed Christmas cards notwithstanding, life is good, and we are looking forward to the best Christmas season ever!

Goth Baby

(I swear it was almost black in person)

One of the Boys

Charlie is without a doubt a little boy.  It's almost as if someone sat him down for a step-by-step lesson on boy interests, habits and quirks.

Now, I'm sure that were he a little girl, I would interpret some of the very same things as "feminine", but since he is a boy they are extremely masculine to me.  For example, my 8 month old son has already started flirting!  The first incident was Halloween night when he clicked across the room until Lakely looked his way, then burst into a huge grin.  The next was with a bartender at Jim & Nicks!  Grins, giggles and stares left no question that he was trying to impress her.  To make it even funnier, Uncle Travis was his wing man.

In addition to flirting, Charlie has started spitting (more of zerberts or raspberries, but nonetheless) and shows a distinct preference for footballs, tools and cars over anything cute or cuddly -- and Daddy's tools are the best thing ever.  He also seems to have the inherent male desire to tear things apart -- rather than ride or push his little train, Charlie prefers to knock it over and bang on the tires.

The clincher, though, the incident that assures me that Charlie is a "boy's boy", occurred Sunday. While playing in his bathtub, Charlie stood up, grinned and started to pee into the water. I laughed/screamed in surprise, at which point he stopped, stared at me, then started again with an even bigger grin! It appears that I have a lifetime of adventures before me.

Learning from a (retired) Master

The big guns