Lost and Found

Toys...we have bins and toyboxes and shelves full of toys.  We rack our brains at Christmas and birthdays to figure out exactly what a 9 month old, 12 month old, etc will enjoy.   We cut off tags, scrub, disinfect, put together, equip with batteries.... and what does Charlie play with?  Anything that isn't a toy!

Last week he lugged my huge stock pot into the living room and climbed right in.  Later he dragged one of Jason's closet shelves from our bathroom into his bedroom and tried to use it as stepstool to play with his favorite toy of all -- the shutters. 

We actually have an ongoing game in our house called "Remote Control Keep Away".  Charlie is obsessed with the remote control.  Thinking we were oh-so-smart, Jason and I removed the batteries from two old CD/DVD player remotes and gave him his very own.  He has zero interest in these.  Instead, he devises ways to get the "real" remotes out of hiding.  Charlie is not above sweetly demanding a hug, so he can reach behind me and grab the remote from the back of the couch!

Even better, since he as the endless runny nose of a daycare kid (guilt! guilt!), Charlie is becoming very familiar with tissues and is actually quite the adept little nose blower.  In the playroom I keep the tissue box up on the high bookshelf, to avoid replacing it twice a day -- both Charlie and Otis find emptying the tissue box to be an extremely fulfilling activiity. 

Well, on Friday we were upstairs playing when Charlie walked over to the bookshelf, stretched out his arm and blew air out of his nose.  Proud that my son was smart enough to tell me when he wanted to blow his nose, I hopped up off the bean bag, walked over and pulled out a tissue.  I turned around just in time to catch Charlie racing across the room, giggling maniacally and diving onto the bean bag to pull the remote out from under the blanket where I hide it.  I truly think it may have been the proudest moment of his almost 16 months!

Now, while he can definitely cause some damage when he gets a hold of the remote, Daddy can always restore the picture, sound, etc when he comes home.  Apparently understanding this, Charlie has moved on to antics with more permanent results.

One morning Charlie was walking around the second floor "talking" on the baby monitor -- anything can be a phone in his world.  Suddenly he decided he wanted to wear Daddy's watch instead, and Jason noticed the monitor was nowhere in sight.  Assuming it would turn up in the dog bed or laundry basket, Jason handed over his watch and continued to get ready.  A couple minutes later, Jason walked into Charlie's room and found Charlie with his hand in the diaper pail!  Thinking he was stuck, Jason rushed over to help, only to find his watch clutched tightly in Charlie's hand.  Putting it all together and risking permanent damage to his nose, flipped down the flap, peered in and pulled out the baby monitor.

Luckily, our pail has a locking mechanism that we now use religiously, but that wasn't the case with our former kitchen trash can -- so we have a brand new one from Sam's that you have to push down on to open.  After finding spoons (don't all 15 month olds stir the trash?) , Daddy's work papers and a variety of other things in the trash, we took action.  I figure we have at least 2 to 3 days before Charlie figures out how to open this one.

The best find actually happened in Miami, though.  Jason flew down for vendor meeting a few weeks ago.  As he was unpacking his computer, he pulled out the missing dog from Charlie's farm puzzle.  I can only imagine what everyone in the meeting thought.  The hen actually showed up Saturday, behind the DVDs when I was dusting.  The sheep is still missing, but I predict that I'll run across it while cleaning out the freezer, making the bed or folding laundry... life is full of surprises!

Charlie soup

If one pair makes me cool...

[Sigh]

Scene 1: Mom and Charlie are "trotting to town" on the couch around 8:25 AM

"Da-da?" Charlie asks.
"Daddy's at work," Mom replies, "just like you get to go to school today."
[Gasp] Charlie grins, wriggles out of Mom's lap and and runs to the back door...

Scene 2: Toybox Daycare around 8:45 AM

Mom walks into the classroom with Charlie and starts to hang his bag on his hook.  Charlie starts waving goodbye ferociously.  Mom sets Charlie down on the ground.  Charlie grins and wanders off.

Mom says a couple of quick words to Miss Amanda.  Charlie walks up and commences waving until he is certain that mom is leaving.

Scene 3: The Yukon around 8:47 AM

"Wow, that was quick," Mom thinks.  [Double Sigh]

Epilogue: Daycare around 3:30 PM

Mom peers in the window and sees Charlie and his friends making the wheels on the bus go round and round.  She walks into the room and Charlie immediately starts waving goodbye to his teachers and reaching for mom.  All is right with the world.

Week 2; Day 1

Today started out horribly.  Charlie was in a bad mood from the moment I got him out of his crib.  This was in part due to a topple head-first into the crib itself, but I think there was more to it.  Anyway, breakfast was an absolute nightmare.  Charlie is at the stage where he insists on feeding himself, or refuses to eat.  Needless to say, my formerly clean jeans are now covered in oatmeal spots...but they're still going to have to make it through the day.  I absolutely refuse to go through a pair of jeans before 8 AM!

Playtime wasn't much better.  Everything seemed to frustrate him.  He wanted up, then he wanted down.  He wanted the sunglasses on him, then he wanted them on me, then he wanted them on the floor.  And this entire saga was accompanied by his newly acquired penchant for squealing and whining...ugghhh...

By the time Jason came downstairs, I was convinced that there was no way Charlie could go to daycare today.  He was just having too rough of a morning to make it until 12:00 for a nap.  Plus, how could I inflict this on his teachers?  But, it's Monday, a work day and I have Access Line reports and porting reports and market assessments waiting...

As much as I'd like to blame daycare for this morning's attitude, I thing Jason and I might actually be the culprits.  We definitely didn't provide a relaxing, laid back weekend for Charlie to recover from his first week of school. 

We kicked off Friday night with a blueberry pancake dinner.  On Saturday, Charlie had a playdate at Sophia's while Mom and Dad went to a cooking class for Corrisa's birthday.  Charlie took a great nap and had a blast playing the sandbox with Sophia.  So far they still seem to play independently, side-by-side, but we're really looking forward to watching their friendship grow!

After the birthday party we all headed over to Lakely's house for her first birthday party, where Charlie flirted, climbed, laughed and devoured a hamburger and a cupcake.  Next stop was Corrisa's house for her birthday party -- and more cake!  Charlie and I came home around 8:30, and he was beyond beat.

Sunday was lower key, but still fun.  After church, Charlie and I surprised Dad with lunch at the Boathouse on IOP, overlooking the marsh.  He even had is own cup of orange juice!  By the time we got home, all Jason and I wanted to do was take a nap...so the three of us just spent the rest of the day playing and watching golf. 

Add the weekend's adventures to the remnants of last week's cold and it's no wonder that Charlie was fussy this morning, and I can't in good conscience blame any deep-seated hatred of daycare, no matter how hard I try.  Especially since he didn't even cry when I dropped him off today.  I suppose I'll eventually be relieved to drop him off on fussy days, but right now I just feel guilty. 

Plus, on top of everything else, I forgot that today is picture day, so Charlie is sporting a dumptruck playsuit -- not exactly "picture day" attire...and his spare outfit is a Bass Pro onesie.  Looks like we definitely won't be ordering any pictures this go-round!

Family pic in pink princess birthday hats

Happy Birthday, Princess Lakely!

Mmmm...OJ

Where's Charlie?

If I could just get through the glass, I'm sure I could fly!

I can do it myself!

The perfect accessory for Monday morning drama

Day 3: Daycare Etiquette??

Technically today should have been Day 4, but Charlie played hookie yesterday to spend my birthday with me and Jason at the beach.  We had an absolutely fabulous time.  It was nice and cloudy, so the beach was comfortable and not too crowded.  After playing in the waves and enjoying my first sand birthday cake, we had lunch at Poe's (yummy!) and dessert downtown at Kaminsky's.  Then, after Charlie collapsed around 6:45, we finished off the day testing out my new margarita/smoothie machine with the neighbors!  It was absolutely perfect.

Back to reality this morning, though.  I dropped Charlie off at about 8:45, right as his class was lining up for Outside Time, and I think this was a major mistake.  Not only did he get upset and start crying, but I think it's very disruptive to the rest of the class to have us come in then.  I'm going to try leaving the house a few minutes later, so hopefully we'll arrive after they get outside.  I think Charlie will be more excited to stay, and we'll be less likely to cause a commotion for the teachers to try to resolve.

The whole experience made me realize that I don't really know the "rules" of daycare.  I have a lot of questions, but I'm not sure who to ask.  Each morning when I drop off and afternoon when I pick up, I feel like I'm disrupting the flow of the class.  The teachers don't do/say anything to make me feel this way, but they are understandably distracted, which makes it hard for me to feel comfortable asking questions.  Is it rude of us to arrive and leave at off times?  Maybe, but I'm not going to drop Charlie off an hour earlier and pick him up an hour later...so what do I do?

Other questions I have:

• I still can't remember the afternoon teachers' names.  Do I ask again?  Wouldn't that be completely rude to admit that I am oblivious to who is taking care of my baby?
• I send a sippy cup of water and an empty sippy cup for his milk at lunch.  Milk is on the menu, so I'm sure they provide it...but should I send the first cup with milk in it already?
• Do I have to call in absences if we're not taking Charlie on a random day due to sickness or family in town, etc?
• They don't provide a snack menu.  Would it be rude to ask what they serve for snack each day and how much he's eating?
• What will be worse -- if he's the biter or the bitee?  I feel certain that the issue will arise, and it would be horrifying for him to come home with bite marks...but won't it be worse to find out he's biting other kids and I'm not there to do anything about it?
• How long is too long to stand outside the picture window and spy on him when I go to pick him up?  I don't want the teachers to feel like I'm a stalker, but I like seeing how he interacts.
• Kate & Sophia's daycare takes lots of pictures of the kids and has an individual snapfish account for each that the parents can access online.  How long do I wait before suggesting this to Toy Box?  Do I make an anonymous suggestion or walk into the director's office and bring it up?
• Am I crazy to be waiting for them to tell me that Charlie is their favorite?  (ok...I know the answer to this one, but in all honesty, I keep expecting it.  How could he not be!?!?)

I realize that I should just bring up these issues when I'm there, but I feel like I should already know.  Plus, I feel like the teachers have more important things to do than play 20 questions with a neurotic mom.

If this kind of stuff just gets worse as kids get older, it's glaringly obvious why most teenagers hate their moms.  I'm going to be a huge embarrassment to Charlie by the time he's a freshman...

Bet you can't find my toes!

It takes dedication to maintain this phsyique!

Hmmmm...Chocolate Cake or Snickerdoodle cake...? Both!

32 years of birthday wishes come true

Day 2

Overall yesterday went great.  According to Charlie's teachers he had a really good day -- even ate some of his fish sticks.

Today he cried when I left.  While it could be attributed to the knock on the head he got getting out of the car, it was still horrible.  I'm not ready to talk about it.

Quick Update - Due to a conference call, I made it all the way to 2:47 before I left to get Charlie.  He was doing great, looking like a little student, completely enthralled with the teacher.  I spied on him through the window for a couple minutes and it was priceless!  As soon as I walked in, he wiggled to be picked up and asked for Daddy...all is well.

Spying through the window to see Charlie with his class

First Day of School

9:07 AM: I think I'm going to be sick... but what I really want to do is run upstairs, bury my head under the covers and cry.   That would be completely counterproductive, though, (and the sheets are in the washer) so I'm just going to sit here and let the tears run down my face while I try to concentrate on work (hah!) for the next 6 hours and 9 minutes...at which point I can grab my purse, hop in the car and go get my baby.  Today is Charlie's first day of daycare and my goal is to let him stay there until 3:30, which will be immediately after afternoon snack.  6 hours, 8 minutes...

I had the best intentions for today.  I packed his bag and picked out his clothes last night (an appropriately patriotic jumpsuit for Flag Day), and Daddy gave him a bath before he went to bed by 8:00.  Everything was on track for a relaxed, optimistic, exciting first day of school.

I didn't account for the fact that both Jason and I would start coming down with a sore throat/cold, something would wake me up at 3:00 and 5:00, at which times I would come up with all sorts of crazy fears about Charlie having to go to daycare, that it would be 82 degrees at 7:05 this morning, cutting our morning walk short and making it absolutely miserable for all three of us, or that I would manage to tweak my shoulder in bed this morning during my 5:00 worries, making it virtually impossible for me to turn my head to the right.  Seriously...I guess that's why that whole adage about "the best laid plans" exists.

Despite all of that, Charlie was in a good mood this morning, looked as adorable as ever, and we buckled up and headed out right at 8:30 as planned.  The folks at the daycare were wonderful.  This morning we met the second director, Tracey and his two morning teachers, Joeanna and Amanda.  I'd already met the other co-director, Shelley, the assistant director, Linda, and his two afternoon teachers -- though I can't remember their names to save my life. 

When we arrived, his class was getting ready to go outside.  Charlie had no desire to be put down in the room, but as soon as we got to the outdoor play area (which was wonderfully shaded -- had to check that concern off the list), he wiggled out of my arms and started climbing up the slide.  I lingered as long as possible asking ridiculous questions and willing Joeanna to tell me to take him home, but like my fantasies on the drive over of his slot being taken by someone else, it wasn't to be.

I did consider immediately swooping him up and carting him back out to the car when I saw that today's lunch is fish sticks -- not out of some organic or nutritional concern, but I just hate fish sticks...what if he hates fish sticks?  No one should be required to eat fish sticks.  But knowing Charlie, he'll probably love them and the teachers and the class.  I hope so... I guess.

During the 7 minute drive, I had also tried to come up with a plan for keeping Charlie home and getting my work done during his 90 minute morning nap, his 1 hour afternoon quiet time and after bedtime at 8:00.  If I stay up until 2:30 in the morning, I could put in a full work day.  My boss is extraordinarily understanding and accommodating, so he might actually go for it...it's my husband and my need for sleep that would cause the problems.

I genuinely do believe that Charlie is ready for this.  I genuinely do believe that he'll love it.  I genuinely do believe that Toy Box daycare is a wonderful place and that he'll flourish in the environment of other kids, crafts, games, etc.  Despite all of that, though, I can't help but feel the stigma of having taken my 15 month old son to daycare to be cared for by strangers.

Just as powerful, but much more selfish, is my realization that one of my biggest issues with the new situation is that Charlie will be learning, doing, experiencing and laughing in a whole new world of which I play no part.  For the past 15 months, Jason, Donna and I and the half acre of land between our two yards have been the center of Charlie's world.  Now it is expanding beyond that.  I'm not sure I'm ready.

9:32 AM: 5 hours 43 minutes to go...

Ready for School!

Morning Patrol with Otis

What do you mean I don't get to ride the bus?

1:40 PM Update:  I've decided that 3:30 was a long-term, maybe even a stretch goal, and if I were to attain it today, I would have nothing to work towards.  So, we're going to aim for 2:00 today, right after nap.  As soon as this call ends, I'm out of here!

First Business Trip

Rumor has it that absence makes the heart grow fonder...well it apparently makes the vocabulary broader, too!

Wednesday was a pretty big day at the home.  Not only did Charlie officially reach 15 months, but I left on my first overnight business trip since he was born.  I've made a few one-day work trips around SC and NC, and I took one overnight  pleasure trip to El Paso for Angie's wedding -- but this was the first time that I would have to spend the night away for work.  It probably doesn't sound that significant, but I'm fairly sure that had this trip happened any sooner, I might have quit due to emotional trauma.

I dropped Charlie off at Donna's as usual Wednesday morning and decided not to stop in to say goodbye when I left around 2:00.  It would have meant the world to me, but I was afraid it would just confuse Charlie and possibly set him up for a rough afternoon. 

Four and half hours later I arrived in Greenville, NC and while I was driving around looking for a place to eat, I received a picture text of Charlie and Otis playing with his brown trout (not to be confused with a sea bass, I found out) and having a ball.  Picture texts are such a blessing!

After dinner I went back to my hotel and prepared for an early night and late morning...I didn't have to leave for the meeting until 9:00, so I thought this would be my first chance in 15 months to sleep in!  Well, I stayed up until 11:00 reading, then settled in without even setting the alarm...it was going to be great. 

Hours later I woke up and saw a bit of light peeping around the heavy hotel curtains.  Certain that it was at least 7:00, maybe even 7:30, I stretched, basked in the decadence and rolled over to look at my phone... it was 4:01!  Seriously!  The peeps of light were from a nearby business.  It was 4:00 in the morning and I was wide awake.  What a waste!

I dozed off and on until 6:45 then got up and went down to the exercise room to run on their treadmill.  It was apparently stuck in metric, so it appeared that I was running 10 mph and did 7 1/2 miles in 45 minutes.  I felt very fast and very fit!

Back up in the room, I called Jason and heard the sweetest story.  Apparently Charlie was a bit confused when Daddy came in alone to wake him up and kept looking to the door for me.  Then as soon as was changed, he raced into our room and tried to climb on the bed.  Once Daddy helped him up, Charlie proceeded to root around in the covers looking for me.  (Could anything make a mom feel better?)

Next they went downstairs for breakfast and it happened.  After looking around the kitchen, Charlie looked at Daddy and said, "Mommy?"  While he has said it before, it's usually as a joke, but this time he was looking for me.  My little man missed me!  Luckily, a bit of playtime in the yard cheered him right up before Daddy dropped him off at Donna's.

The meetings were fine and the drive home was long, but despite two construction zones, a downpour in Fayetteville and ridiculous number of New Jersey and Florida people that don't understand the purpose of the left lane...I made it home with 45 minutes to spare before bedtime.  Words don't do justice to how grateful I am that this is the extent of my travel nowadays.

Fishin' in the hallway

Morning playtime

15 months and counting...

That's right, Charlie is 15 months today.  It's so hard to imagine.  I can still remember every moment of the day he was born (other than those graciously blocked due to pain) as if it were yesterday, and I still can't believe that this little monster has blessed our lives.  At the same time, though, I can't imagine what Jason and I did before he came along...we were extremely happy as a couple, but it sure sounds boring now!

So, here is the quarterly Charlie update.  As of 6/09/10:


Weight - 25 lbs 6 oz (60th percentile)

Length - 32 inches (80th percentile)

Head - 48 cm (80th percentile)

Dr. Tripp's comment at 15 month appointment, "You look fantastic!"

Teeth - 4 bottom, 4 top, and gnawing on things right and left, so likely more to come

Hair - Golden blonde (gorgeous) with a slight curl.  The mullet is gone, though, since we had it trimmed for Uncle Travis & Aunt Natalie's wedding.

Birthmarks - Stork bites are no longer visible. Potato-shaped birthmark on left shin and freckles high above his right eye and on each cheek.

Naps - Good nap in the morning. Afternoon naps are a bit more regular than they were for a while -- but often as late as 4:30.

Bedtime - 7:00 to 7:30

Waketime - 6:00 to 6:30

Favorite Foods - Still loves Blueberries, Pancakes & Meatballs, but Pudding has its own dance!
Favorite Song - Toes by the Zac Brown Band (which Mom and Dad got to hear in person last weekend!)

Favorite Dance -  The pudding dance is awesome, but he randomly breaks into dance when he hears music from toys, the radio, TV or possibly just in his head.

Favorite Toys - Cups and silverware followed closely by books -- which he prefers to read on his own -- and anything electronic

Favorite Game - Running in and out of the pool, play cooking/stirring, chasing Otis, anything outside

Interests - Birds, sprinklers, headbands, phones, remote controls, sunglasses, making coffee, velcro

Recent milestones -
- Running and climbing
- Changed Otis' name to "Dog-o" and calls for him when he's outside
- Making all sort of new sounds and some new words: Thank You, Bird, Jason
- Hiding toys/other items from himself and mom and dad
Imminent milestones -
- Maybe finally say "Ma-ma"???? (still waiting for this with any regularity...)
- Starts daycare Monday (!!)

Best Friends - Otis (begrudgingly) and Wally

Hero - Da-da

Personality - (still no major changes from 9 months, but a few new characteristics)

- Even Goofier - He loves to laugh and be surprised, wiggle, giggle, tease Otis, wear his sunglasses upside down, etc
- Active - Unfortunately, Charlie is still not much of a cuddler. He is sweet and loving, but would much rather climb all over you or play tag with you than snuggle up.
- Curious - He loves to check out new things and is always craning his neck and peeking in/around/behind things to see what's really going on
 - Joyful - Charlie wakes up smiling, laughs and jokes around all day and goes to bed smiling (until he realizes that we're leaving the room). 
 - Loving - Despite not wanting to cuddle for long, he loves to give hugs to Mom, Dad, Donna and Otis and receive hugs, zerberts and kisses from everyone.
- Ornery - Or maybe willful is a better word.  Charlie is giving us all a run for our money.  His favorite thing to do is drop/toss something and say "Uh-oh" in the cutest little voice you've ever heard -- whether this be from his stroller, his highchair, down the stairs, etc.  He also loves to give Otis a treat, then chase him into the other room and take it back.  The worst, though, is his recent desire to test Mom, Dad and Donna by doing everything he's not supposed to do all at once (play in the plants, chase the dog, push buttons on the TV, play in the dog bowls, running off with the remote, etc...)

Mom's freshly cleaned house

Climbing up on our "waiting for Daddy" bench

Story Time

Mom and Dad at Zac Brown Band Concert

The Pudding Dance!!!

Such a Goofball!

A bit of light reading while waiting for Dr. Tripp

Post-shots icecream

(Mom's been waiting 15 months to institute this tradition!)

Recovery mode...

Ugghhh...the longer the weekend, the harder it is to get back to real life.  Even worse, the better the weekend, the more impossible it is to want to get back to real life.

Our family vacation was absolutely fabulous from start to finish!  Jason's and my dinner (and dessert at Kaminsky's!) downtown was wonderfully fun, and Charlie held up like a champ through all of the adventures mom and dad had planned.  He naps on the boat better than he does at home, and absolutely loved dropping the anchor and wading over to the beach at James Island. 

The roughest moment of the whole weekend was probably when we made him leave the jungle gym at James Island County Park to go over to the water park.  He was having so much fun climbing that he actually threw something of a fit.  Jason and I tried to tell him that the water park was even better, but he was angry.  Nonetheless, as soon as he saw the wading pool, all was well. 

We capped off the weekend with lunch at Taco Boy and a wander through downtown Charleston -- Charlie even got to pet one of the carriage horses, Jasper.  The whole weekend was like a dream.

Of course, with any vacation there are high points and low points.

High Points

• Friday night playdate with Lakely
• Cobbler & Tollhouse pie at Kaminsky's on the Market (just Mom & Dad)
• Naps on the boat
• Garrett, Amanda, Joey & Deanna joining us for Saturday's boatride
• Mom successfully pulling the trailer back and forth between the ramp and the marina
• Reubers, Owens and Garret & Deanna's Dad joining us for Shish Kabobs and Grilled Pineapple sundaes Saturday night
• Discovery of seaweed on the James Island beach
• Playing with the Durand Boys at the James Island playground
• "Swimming" with Alice at Splash Zone
• Walking through the fountains in the wading pool
• Going down the waterslide with Daddy
• Guacamole at Taco Boy

Low Points

• Rain out at the pool on Friday
• Two brutal head bonks on the boat Sunday afternoon
• Tantrum leaving the jungle gym
• Oscar's being closed Sunday and Monday so Mom & Dad couldn't get fancy takeout

Clearly, the high points greatly outweighed the low points.  So much so, that we've tentatively scheduled another family vacation in Charleston for Labor Day weekend!

I've got it under control, Dad

Worn out from so much fun

Let's go, let's go, let's go...back to the boat!

Another day, another nap...

Charlie isn't the only one who loves the boat

Zoom, zoom

So which one's Captain and which one's First Mate?

Hi, Mom!

Faster, Daddy, Faster!

Less than 6 hours to go...

and then vacation!  Jason and I are both crazy excited -- and we're just staying here.

Originally we had considered going somewhere for the weekend, and I think Jason actually started doing some research, but practicality (and simplicity!) won out over adventure.  We decided to take our summer vacation right here in Charleston.

The agenda:

• Friday - Date night:  Mom and Dad go downtown and Charlie goes to Lakely's
• Saturday - Boat, Boat, Boat: Putting in at Leeds Ave around 10 AM with Garrett and Amanda; lunch at Red's; afternoon of beaching and swimming, then docking at Dolphin Point and coming home for shish kabobs on the grill
• Sunday - Church & Boat: Blueberry pancakes for breakfast (Charlie's favorite!), church, then boating through the afternoon
• Monday - Tacos & Waterfalls: Morning at home, lunch at Taco Boy Downtown, afternoon at James Island County Park Waterpark

The rules:

• No cleaning
• No laundry
• No yardwork
• No Lowe's

It's going to be fabulous!  Typically I try to dread things that I'm looking forward to, to ensure that I won't be disappointed, but not this time.  Three whole days of just me, Jason, Charlie, Otis and friends!!!

It would have been fun to go stay on the beach or in the mountains or even better, to head back to Kansas City for the luau, but finances and vacation days made those options unrealistic.  Plus, the house is clean, the yard is mowed, the last load of laundry is in the dryer (and it's just towels), and the dishwasher is ready to be emptied.  All I have left is one conference call and a few quick errands before I pick up Charlie early and we stroll on down to the pool to get a headstart on our vacation!

Last weekend we actually had a little preview of the fun to come, when we took Charlie out on his first boat rides of 2010...as you can see he is definitely Daddy's boy!

My own seat

Learning the ropes

Crashed after lunch

Captain O

Daddy & Mommy crusing while the boys nap

Slowly coming around

Snack Time

Day 2 with Miss Donna & Bob

Ready to take over

Staying hydrated

Summer's Comin'

Despite the fact that May is barely halfway over, summer is in full swing down here in SC -- and we're loving it!  Charlie adores the pool.  He graduated from his Winnie the Pooh boat to swimmies this year and is definitely getting the hang of it.  My heart still skips a beat when he runs down the zero entry ramp...but he is definitely a little fish.  He loves to "jump" off the side of the pool and bob around by the rope, but the best is when he makes his own motor boat noises!

Even better than the pool is the beach!  Some of our friends from church rented a beach house at Folly this week to celebrate life -- 5 years ago Doris was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she survived and has a wonderful family and 2 new grandkids to show for it! 

We joined a bunch of church folks at the beach Sunday evening and Charlie had the time of his life playing in the sand.  I think he could have stayed for hours.  The only glitch is that he treats the beach like the zero-entry at the pool -- running into the waves at full speed.  This could get dangerous.  We're hoping to head back down this afternoon to spend another evening with the Hundleys, and this time I'm going to be prepared in a swimsuit, rather than white capris!

I didn't know summer could be so much fun.  We've already been through 2 pair of sunglasses, and we have boat rides and beach trips and pool visits and water parks to look forward to for the next 4 months or so!  And the most shocking part is, Charlie's infectious giggle even lets me forget that I'm wearing a swimsuit in public...I haven't been this un-self-conscious in lycra since I was 5!

Pool Time!

Comparing "fast" glasses with Garrett...

sadly, ours didn't survive the week

Honored

I absolutely love Mother's Day!  It is so much fun to spend an day focusing on the fact that we have been blessed with the silliest, sweetest, most precious little boy ever -- and to spend that entire day with him and Jason makes it even better!

Charlie and Jason surprised me with a stepping stone of Charlie's footprints (it was supposed to be handprints, but apparently Charlie kept grabbing handsful of the cement, so Jason switched to feet) and a beautiful aquamarine ring (Charlie's birthstone).  We spent the whole day together starting with church, followed by lunch at Bambu, and on to an afternoon of swinging, climbing, and walking the pier at Mt. Pleasant's Waterfront Park.  Finally, Charlie passed out in the truck while Jason and I drove around dreaming about the houses on the water in old Mt. P.  It was fabulous!

I am sure that all mothers feel honored and blessed to be entrusted with the lives of their  precious little ones, and for those of us blessed with the chance to carry those little people through pregnancy, it is overwhelmingly amazing.  Not to discount the experience for all mothers out there, but I believe that those of us that struggled and even gave up on having children may cherish the experience even a little bit more.  Every single day when I look at Charlie I realize that he is a miracle that I don't deserve and that each smile, laugh and hug is a blessing that I thought I would never have.

Yesterday our Pastor did a special Mother's Day sermon on Hannah, the mother of Samuel.  It surprised me that after growing up in a Bible church and spending 3 1/2 years trying and failing to conceive a baby, that I had never spent more time on Hannah's story.  I suppose that prior to finding out we were having a baby I couldn't relate, because Hannah received her miracle and I had come to accept that I would not. 

Looking back now, though, I feel extraordinarily honored to have experienced an incident so similar to Biblical history.  Both Hannah and I were truly in love with our husbands, but unable to bear children for years, and we both suffered: she from general and specific persecution, and I from the real and imagined pity of those around me.  Though both of our husbands loved us dearly, neither of them could understand the full depths of our feelings of uselessness and lack of self worth that we were failing in our womanly duty.  Now, my fabulous husband did not feel the need to take a second wife, nor did my society find me worthless, as hers did. -- so obviously I didn't have near the struggle as Hannah.

Each of us managed to maintain our faith in God and his sovereignty, despite our doubts about his plan, and each of our hopes and prayers came to a final culmination.  Hannah, at her wits end, prayed to God for a son and promised to dedicate him to God should her prayers be answered.  I, ready to give up on parenthood entirely, prayed that God would bless us with a child in advance of my July 30 "fertility" appointment, so that Jason and I wouldn't have to go down that path. 

What my pastor pointed out yesterday that struck me is that we both prayed specifically (almost in ultimatum style), and we both prayed with full faith that God could and would answer our prayers -- which after years and years of praying for a child is somewhat startling.

And amazingly, both Hannah's and my prayers were answered.  She had Samuel, and on July 26, 2008, I found out that I was pregnant with the future Charles Patrick.

Now, I am in no way proclaiming to have faith as strong as Hannah's.  Hannah offered up the one thing that she wanted most in the world, her son, and followed through by sending him away at age 3 to be raised and devoted to God.  All I offered to God was my insistance on believing that I was in control of my life, and while I definitely learned that lesson, I cannot claim that I don't frequently try to assert my will or convince God that my way is the way things should be done.  Plus, as grateful as I am for the blessing of my son and as much as I hope that he will grow up devoted to God, I am not strong enough to send him away at age 3 -- thankfully that is no longer something people do!

Jason kept laughing at me yesterday morning, because I couldn't stop crying during Darien's sermon.  Obviously, my tears were not of sorrow, but they weren't of joy really, either.  I have never felt more humbled, more blessed or more thankful than I did when I realized that I experienced a trial, a blessing and a miracle parallel to a Biblical truth. 

Motherhood is one of my primary purposes in life, and even though I went through a period of doubt and fear, God blessed me with the faith that he could and would fulfill my lifelong dream and purposes.  God blessed me with Charlie. 

"For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.  So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord."

I Samuel 1:27-28

Just shared some Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Boogying down on the Shagging Floor on the Pier

Scoping out Fishing Spots with Dad