Here Fishy, Fishy...

Despite the fact that Charlie claimed to have "learned to swim!" after his very first lesson, I have to say that 10 weeks later we've seen a dramatic improvement.
Our very last swim lesson was Saturday morning and our little boy became a little fishy.  Throughout the weeks Charlie has alternately participated and refused to participate in various practices.  Always a fan of the 5 little monkeys jumping into the water, he's rarely enjoyed blowing bubbles (though who could blame him with the high chlorine content) or being a "little pancake" floating on his back -- his fear of which was actually one of the main reasons we signed up for swim lessons in the first place. 

This week, though, it was almost as if he understood it to be the last lesson and reminiscent of his mom's college days, stepped it up a notch for the "final exam".  Charlie was kicking and paddling and floating and blowing bubbles like a pro -- Miss Cheryl even chose him to demonstrate going underwater while Mommy let go!  I was so proud!

While Jason and I had vaguely discussed signing Charlie up for some sort of lessons this year, taking this class at the Y was actually a last minute decision, based only on the fact that Philip, his buddy from church, would be in the same class.  And I have to admit that on the first Saturday morning back in February, I wondered if it was a mistake.  The pool was tiny, the air was thick and hot and the room was crammed full of very loud parents and kids of all ages -- not the setting I had imagined -- plus our registration had been lost, so Charlie wasn't on the list, and Miss Cheryl seemed very hesitant to add a ninth member to the class. 

We muddled through the first lesson though and celebrated with an afternoon playdate with Philip.  Over the weeks we've had a few more playdates, learned some great songs and developed a love for throwing plastic toys and "swimming" after them -- not to mention spider-walking along the side of the pool and sit-diving into the water.   

Grateful as we are to have a 2 year old who can now somewhat relax while floating on his back and periodically stick his face in the water and to have a host of fun games to play when the pool opens in less than two weeks...the very best part of swim lessons was the cuddling. 

As I've bemoaned time and again in my posts, Charlie is not a particularly "cuddly" baby -- he's far to busy to sit and snuggle, but in the pool for 30 minutes a week, our little Mr. Independent clung to me and laughed with me and snuggled and gave kisses, and I loved every second of it.  I would highly recommend swim lessons to all parents...not so much for the skills but for the fun and the hugs.  It just doesn't get better than that!

Not so sure about this...

Made it through the first lesson

Mom blows bubbles like a champ!

The Itsy-Bitsy spider walks down the shiny rail...

Floating...almost...

Fun Times!

Near Tragedy...

I lost my camera! Four days of Charlie's life are completely undocumented and there is nothing we can do about it.

Yes, I realize that this statement shows just how crazy I am, but we missed swim lesson with Daddy in the pool, Charlie's response to the "mini-air show" (viewed from the Outlet Mall parking lot), Saturday night bliss following dawn to dusk with Daddy and innumerable songs, dances and smiles.

Lest I sound like a complete wackadoo -- at least one grandparent was appalled at the thought of a 4 day gap in Charlie's life, and more or less insisted that I find my camera immediately, figure out how to use the camera on my phone, or get myself to Best Buy without further delay...and I never told the other three.

Thankfully, following an extemely thorough search of the Yukon, I found my camera beneath the passenger side floormat, and the paparazzi is back in business. I apologize for the lapse and promise to be more careful in the future...

Last picture pre-blackout

Willing to cheese it up when Mom found the camera, to show off his new boots

(originally Mommy's by the way...)

Mommy's Little Cowboy

A bit of housework!

Setting the table for Mommy

(note he's even putting the napkin and fork on the left side!)

Milestones

Since he's walking (aka running), talking (constantly) and pretty much doing everything for ourself that a 2 year old could conceivably do (other than using the potty, of course), it has been quite a while since I've had any milestones to report.  Charlie is definitely learning and growing and changing everyday, but he's basically just becoming more boy, boy, boy -- until yesterday, that is.  Yesterday he showed signs of becoming a man.

The first may seem inconsequential, but since it took me 32 years and a ridiculous number of cavities (which my dentist and I BOTH blame on pregnancy) to make this a regular habit, I am proud to announce that Charlie flossed his teeth for the first time yesterday!  Granted, he and I both really just put the little flosser stick thing between his teeth a few times, but it's a start.  I honestly wouldn't have even tried, but my fabulous hygenist, Kelly, hooks me up with a new kiddie toothbrush at each of my visits and this time she gave me cute little flossers, too.  Just imagine the tartar, plaque and financial drain we can avoid if Charlie starts flossing at a young age!

Second and much more important to his physical, emotional, spiritual and eternal development, Charlie said his own prayer last night before bed.  As I've mentioned in the past, we say prayers before meals and before bed each day, and he is a big fan of the holding hands, dramatic head droop, and Southern "Amen", but in general Jason and I handle the actual prayers. 

Lately, Charlie's been chiming in though with theatrical repetion of the "Dear Lord" with which we typically start and a few phrases tossed in here and there from their lunchtime blessing at school.   Well, last night after listening to the entire Easter Story (and asking questions!), we asked Charlie if he was ready to say prayers, and he immediately launched into:

"God made the sun, God made the sea, God made me.  Thank you for the sun, thank you for the fishes, thank you for me! Aaaa-men!" -- a somewhat condensed version of the school blessing. 

Thrilled with mom and dad's obvious joy and pride, he continued, with what will probably be one of my favorite prayers of all time:

"God made the sun, God made the fishes, God made me.  Thank you for the sun, thank you for the fishes, thank you for me,  thank you for daddy, thank you for mommy, thank you for Otis, thank you for Louie! Amen!"

Yes, Jason and I were grinning at each other like fools and looking at Charlie as if he'd just cured cancer.  We know that like the flossing, Charlie's prayer was just a faint sketch of what true faith and understanding will be, but again it's a good start.  And so much more importantly, just imagine the doubt, depression and fear we can avoid if Charlie trusts in Jesus at a young age!

Finally, in addition to blessings too numerous and wonderful to count, we are celebrating the fact that tomorrow would have been my Grandma's 98th birthday.  Grandma died just over 6 years ago, so she never met our sweet Charlie, but I can just imagine her smirk if I'd told her about his prayer, followed by an amused smile of love when she turned to look at Charlie, who would likely have been reading her Little Golden Books or building mounds with the wonderful rocks around her big oak tree, before coming inside and begging for a big plate of Macaroni and Cheese.  I guess they'll just have to wait until heaven...

Grandma with another 2-year old who loved her to pieces

Can't Win For Losing

In previous blogs I have gone on at length about Charlie's addiction to candy.  If the child ever sees Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he'll be on the first plane to London, just in case it really exists -- he's an addict.

Of course, I'm not necessarily helping matters when I give him tootsie rolls for good behavior or just because he's cute or just to make him smile or just because I want one...yes, I know this, and I'm working on it, but like any 12 step program, it takes time.

Anyway, due to mom's bad example, in our house the word "surprise" is synonomous for "candy".  As in:
Mommy:  "I have a surprise for you!"
Charlie: "Canny!!!"
or
Daddy: "Surprise, I'm home early!"
Charlie: "Where my canny???"

Lately I've been attempting to increase Charlie's understanding of the word beyond sugar -- I mean imagine what will happen if Charlie's wife throws him a surprise 40th birthday party, and when everyone yells "Surprise!" he gets angry because there are no tootsie rolls... (and yes, I have started preparing myself for "the wife" now, because I know it will be difficult for me to concede my roll as the most important woman in his life...)

Anway, yesterday I had the perfect opportunity to expand his horizons.  Before picking Charlie up from school, I had to use my Kohl's cash (yeah!), and after picking out some new bath rugs that actually have non-stick on the back (you're welcome, House Guests), I had a few dollars left over and saw an adorable yellow t-shirt with a "tractor" (aka bull dozer) on the front -- and between my 30% of coupon (double yeah!) and remaining Kohl's cash it was practically free. 

Basking in the pride of a successful hunt, I picked up Charlie from school and waited patiently while he climbed into the Yukon (such an independent little monster!).  As soon as he was safely in the backseat, he turned to me and said, "I want a surprise." 

Based on his recent obsession with all types of heavy equipment, I thought this would be a great opportunity to show him that surprises don't have to be edible, so I told him that I had bought him something and once he was buckled he could have it.  So Charlie scrambled into his carseat, and I rooted through the bag for the t-shirt, holding it up proudly when I heard the click. 

He just stared at it and said,  "I don't like it.  I want canny!"

I was shocked.  I pointed out the tractor.  I pointed out the fact that it was bright yellow.  I grinned stubbornly. 

His response?  "I don't like it.  I want canny!" 

So I asked him, "Charlie, if you don't like the shirt, do you want me to give it to someone else who will like it?"

"Yes.  Give it someone else.  I want canny."

On the bright side, tootsie rolls are much cheaper than t-shirts and bikes and video games and cars...

A little bit of heaven...

P.S.  Assuming wrappers can't spontaneously reproduce, it took me 6 tootsies to write this post...

Heartbreak

It's no secret that I'm not a very sensitive person.  It's virtually impossible to hurt my feelings, and if someone manages to do so, I'll forget within minutes.  In general, I consider this a fairly positive trait, because there is just too much other stuff I'd rather focus on -- but there is definitely a downside -- my lack of sensitivity can stretch to other people, making me blind to their feelings and quite unsympathetic at times.

Again, I do tend to think it's more productive to cheer someone up than to sit around and commiserate with them, but at times I can miss things altogether.  I make a conscious effort to empathize withe people and figure out how to help them work through things, but rarely do I feel comfortable offering a shoulder to cry on.

All of that said, I had something of a sympathetic breakthrough yesterday afternoon and it was horrible.  No wonder I'm no good at it. 

Following a fabulous weekend of shopping, digging in the sand, floating on the boat, playing in our brand new teepee and stuffing ourselves on delicious food and way too many oatmeal cookies, Charlie and I took Grandma and Grandpa to the airport yesterday.  Since their flight left at 2:40, Charlie drifted off to sleep en route to the airport.  I toyed with the idea of waking him up, but honestly thought that would make the farewells harder on all of us. 

My little rockstar napper slept all the way home and for another 45 minutes in the driveway while I caught up on some reading.  Upon waking, Charlie immediately pointed out that my coffee cup from our earlier Starbucks run was empty, then turned to his right to tell Grandma the same thing, only to notice that she was gone. 

"Mama, where Granma go?" followed by craning his neck to see the passenger seat, "Where Granpa go, Mama?"

I responded with a somewhat tentative, "Buddy, they got on the airplane to go home."  At which time Charlie's face immediately crumpled, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. 

Just as quickly though, he brightened up, looked me in the eye and said, "I go find them?"

...and my heart shattered.  Why do we keep doing this to him?  Why do we keep setting him up to be sad when his grandparents leave? What kind of parents are we?

I have completely changed my mind.  I don't want Charlie to go through trials and tribulations and overcome obstacles in order to grow into a strong, wise and sympathetic adult.  I want to protect him from everything that could ever possibly even pinch his sweet little heart, much less break it. 

For a girl whose typical response to heartbreak is to "suck it up, count your blessings and act your age," life has changed as I know it -- at least as far as Charlie's concerned.  Any future friends, teachers, girlfriends, etc, better take notice, hurt my baby and you have to deal with me!

Sadly, though, that in no way solves our current problem.  Charlie loves his family and his family is spread from El Paso to Seattle to Kansas City and beyond, and we're in Summerville.  I suppose we'll just have to make sure all of the adventures completely outweigh the goodbyes...and then spoil him for a couple days to make it up to him.   Sigh... 

Flat Lucas Visits Summerville all the way from Alberta!

Story Time

Charlie Knievel

Grandma Knievel

Beach Fun

Grandma & Grandpa enjoying a chilly Sullivan's Island

First Campout with Daddy

Cruising

Frolicking Dolphins

Duck, Granpa!

Rainy Sunday in Charleston

24 Months...

Or according to Jason, "2 years."  I'm not longer allowed to refer to Charlie in months...sigh...

Anyway, we had Charlie's 2 year check-up yesterday, so I have updates -- shockingly though, I found out that barring illness, we won't be back to Sweetgrass Pediatrics until next March.  That's right...my baby that went to the doctor every week, then every two weeks, then every couple months is not required to return for an entire year!

To be honest, I'm not all that concerned with him not seeing them, but I'm really surprised that they don't want to see him more often.  After all, name another child that actually thanks the nurse after she gives him his shot!  Or upon opening his mouth and saying ahhh, looks at the doctor and says, "I did it myself."  I'm mildly surprised that they don't ask him to come back weekly just to enjoy him (and yes I'm kidding...well, mostly...)

So, here we go:

 - Weight - 30 lbs 0 oz (75th percentile) -- mmmm....cake!
 - Height - 36 inches (90th percentile) -- still not sure where this heighth is coming from...
 - Head - 49.5 cm (75th percentile) -- slowly losing the bobble-head look...
 - Dr. French's comments:  "You look perfectly healthy!"; "What a sweet boy!"
 - Teeth - stopped counting long ago, but seems to have everything but the canines from the looks of it
 - Hair - Dark blonde -- we're hoping a summer on the boat, at the pool and on the swings will brighten it back up for at least another year.  Until it's officially brown, we're going for the "Carolina" look with trimmed back and sides but floppy top...it goes with his boat shoes and polo shirts.
 - Birthmarks - Stork bites are very faint on his neck.  Freckle high above right eye hasn't grown or darkened.  Potato birthmark on left shin the same.
 - Naps - Post lunch nap usually 90 minutes to 2 hours.  He doesn't always want to go down, but you can actually reason with him now!
 - Bedtime - Pre Daylight savings it was 7:00 to 7:30; right now it's about 8:00, which we'd love to maintain, but I will be surprised if he doesn't pull it back himself.
 - Waketime - Pre Daylight savings it was 6:00 to 6:30; right now he's making it to 7:15 or even later, but again, I expect it to start edging back.
 - Favorite Foods - Just about everything.  Pancakes are still number one -- especially when accompanied by sausage and orange juice (our Saturday standard), but oatmeal with cinnamon, bananas and strawberries is a close second.  He's doing much better with meat -- even off the bone, and even ate some lettuce the other night.  And while I'm not sure it counts as "food", he is obsessed with candy.  Since Halloween he begs for it constantly, especially Tootsie Rolls and Gummie Bears.
 - Favorite Song - Toes by the Zac Brown Band, which he requests by asking for "ZBB"; also loves to sing Twinkle-Twinkle to himself in his crib and have Mommy and Daddy sing "Great Big Hairy Spider," "Buckle My Shoe" and "Bushel and Peck".
 - Favorite Dance - Definitely dancing less, but adores "Pockafoozie" and his new "Shake a Leg" dance in his Grover book.
 - Favorite Toys - Desk, phone, truck, scooter, swingset, lawn mower, weed eater, etc -- basically anything he can use to pretend to be an adult, and his blocks that he and Daddy use to build houses and then demolish them.
 - Favorite Game - Anything using his imagination to pretend. He is constantly telling us what he's doing, where he's going, etc -- yesterday a wood chip was a "mint" that he needed for his "coffee breath"!
 - Interests - Trucks, firetrucks, keys, boats, books, phones, Big Bird
 - Recent milestones -
     - Speaking in paragraphs (per nurse he should be saying 50 words and using 2 word sentences...that was about 9 months ago...)
     - Saying "Yes, Ma'am" and asking for things with "May I please have.." -- love it!
     - Watching up to 5 minutes of TV (Sesame Street) at a stretch
     - Really, he's just a little boy now.  He basically acts just like a mini-Jason...
 - Imminent milestones -
     - Starting potty training
     - Will likely move to a big boy bed sometime in the next 6 months...though he is perfectly happy in his crib
 - Best Friends - Ret, Reed, Callie & Noel (from neighborhood), Philip (from church), Aaron, Bryce, Hayden (from school), and of course, Youie.
 - Hero - Daddy, Dad or Pop -- depending on his mood
 - Personality -
     - Silly - He loves to make you laugh and then will say "I bein' silly!"
     - Active - He only sits still when eating...otherwise he's 100 mph climbing, running, jumping, dancing...
     - Curious - The questions have begun.  He wants to know what everything is and where everything is that isn't right in front of him (we take regular roll-calls of everyone we've ever met and endlessly discuss what happened to the tractor from the vacant lot, the boat that used to be for sale on the way to school and whether or not the firetruck doors will be open or closed every time we drive by).
     - Joyful - Charlie is joy in human form.  He has his difficult moments, but in general always smiling, laughing, singing, chatting and loving everyone around him.
     - Loving - While still not a "cuddly" child, Charlie loves his friends, his grandparents, his puppies, his neighbors, his teachers, his babysitter and his Mommy and Daddy.  He likes to give bear hugs and smacking kisses...the sweetest kind!
  - Overall diagnosis: Perfect.  What can I say?  Charlie is cuter, sweeter, smarter, sillier and more fun than we ever dreamed a child could be.  He is our absolute delight!

Enjoying his Post-Shot Shake

Hauling his brand new scooter (reverse is by far his preferred direction)

Ready to Scoot!

Too Much Fun??

Thankfully, that's impossible, otherwise we would have come dangerously close over the last week!  From his second birthday on, Charlie's life has been a whirlwind of friends, family, presents, balloons, boat rides and food, and he has loved every second of it!

BaBa and PaPa arrived late Thursday night and were woken up very, very early Friday morning by a very, very excited 2 year old.  While the adults leisurely prepared for Charlie's Bar-B-Q and cake mini-party with the neighbors, he lived it up opening presents, showing off on his swingset and charming his grandparents.  Throw in a ridiculous number of balloons, an impromptu playdate with Avery and an oatmeal cream pie or two and you have the ingredients for a perfect day. 

Then to cap it off, Callie, Noel, Reed, Ret, respective parents, Garret, Amanda, Chad, Corrisa and Bob & Donna all came over to feast on Duke's and Big Bird then open even more presents -- including a second trash truck for the fleet, zoo legos, a microphone that records Charlie's newfound love for singing (at its most hilarious over the video monitor) and our very own bowling set (definitely the hit of the night).  And all of that was just the first day of BaBa and PaPa's visit!

Saturday was boat day (which on any other day would have been the highlight far and above anything else) but on this particular Saturday Charlie got his first pick-up truck (in a long line, I'm sure) from BaBa and PaPa-- and was actually driving it within about 3 minutes.  As Debbie said, "He is all boy!"  Picture Jason with a brand new, fully loaded (GPS, working radio, "leather" seats, tow kit, etc) truck and you'll have a glimpse of how excited Charlie was (and still is!)  He even dispatched Mommy to the playroom for his gas pump, so he could "get gas"!

After prying him away from his truck, we had a glorious picnic on the boat and spent the afternoon cruising around Daniel Island, then enjoyed and ocean-view dinner at Huck's on IOP -- yummy!  Charlie definitely started fading by dinner, and like Mommy is quite prone to spilling things when he's sleepy, but he charmed the staff of Hucks and they let us stay.

Sunday started out with fun in the nursery at Church then another picnic on the boat and cruise through the rivers.  Charlie definitely has his sea legs and is intent on taking over as Captain long before Jason will be ready to retire.  Mini-Jason he is.

Monday was spent riding rides, slurping rootbeer floats and running in circles at the outlet mall with periodic stops in the shops, when Charlie would ask, "More outlet ball, mama???" convinced that the outside fun and games were the purpose, not the racks of clothes and shoes -- though he did get into the shopping mood when he picked out his first pair of Sperry boat shoes...it's going to be quite a challenge to keep him from wearing them to school.

We finished the day with a wonderful steak dinner at Grill 225, during which Charlie (sporting his brand new pink polo which he picked out himself) again charmed the entire staff and discovered a love for Tomato-Rosemary Risotto and salad.

The only lowpoint of the past week was when I had to explain to a very sleepy 2 year old that since he had slept in until 8:00 Monday morning, BaBa and PaPa were already on an airplane back to Kansas City.  He immediately demanded a flight to KC of his own and burst into tears when I said no -- froggy, raspy tears...like his Daddy, Charlie apparently loses his voice when he spends an entire day shrieking and laughing and yelling.

In one of my smarter moments, I scheduled a playdate with Philip for yesterday afternoon and a doctor's appointment for this afternoon, so we're coming down from the weekend high slowly (yes -- the doctor is totally a highlight for the crazy kid).  Combined with a few birthday presents trickling in (awesome ones, by the way!) and we didn't have to go cold-turkey on fun.  Plus, Grandma and Grandpa arrive next week, so we'll swoop back up to all fun, all the time for a few more days. 

We will definitely need everyone's prayers to get Charlie through the vast, visitor-less month of April...unless of course anyone is looking for a beach, boat and toddler-filled vacation in sunny South Carolina (hint...hint...)!

For me?

"I just two!"

Don't float away...

"Silly Youie..."

Checking out the options

Pretty good horsepower...may eventually upgrade the air filter, though...

Pit stop for some yard work

Everything tastes better on the boat!

Captain Charlie

They walk alike...they talk alike...

Completely Recharged!

Using his Big Boy Manners (mostly...)

Such a Dapper Group! 

One last ride before bed...

730 Days

Actually, 730 fabulous, outstanding, wonderful days!  Charlie is officially two years old and we are so much more in love (and in like) with him today than we were even 7 days ago, much less 730 days ago!

Being something of a Birthday junkie (to put it mildly), I have been looking forward to Charlie's special day for weeks -- not so much the fact that he is growing up at the speed of light, but that we get to dedicate an entire day to adoring and spoiling our little man.  Charlie and I both took the day off from school and work, respectively, so we could focus on being a Birthday Boy!

As all proper Birthdays should, the day started with Mommy and Daddy serenading Charlie with "Happy Birthday" while we opened his blinds and got him out of his crib -- The first in a long line of serenades including a duet by Grandma and Grandpa, family harmonies by Chris, Chrissy, Carter, Cole, Cade and Camden and by Willi, Rebecka, Brynn and Halley, a choir performance by the entire staff and patronage of Cracker Barrel, another duet by Bob & Donna and countless on-demand solos by Mommy -- after all, who can resist "Sing Happy Birthday to me, Mama!"

Next up? Presents of course!  Charlie walked into the living room to see his brand new Monkee puppet show and  his first lawn mower and weed eater surrounding his very own roll-top desk -- made even more cool by the fact that it was Grandpa's when he was a kid!  After doing a bit of work and mowing and trimming the carpet, Charlie dug into his other presents and found a new Big Bird, some awesome clothes (including his official Birthday shirt with Snoopy on it!), and his very own medical kit -- we might have a part-time doctor when the seas are too rough for fishing! To cap it all off, Charlie received a super-special video message from Great Uncle Jim in Kansas City.

Knowing our son as we (and Uncle Jim) do, Jason and I scheduled his Birthday "dinner" for 8 AM at Cracker Barrel -- pancakes and sausage and orange juice and biscuits, plus dozens of adoring older women, and a tootsie roll on the way out -- what more can a 2 year old ask for? 

Sadly, reality set in after breakfast and Daddy had to go to work.  Determined to have fun anyway, Mommy and Charlie went to Target in a futile attempt to replace our recently injured, beloved "Bumbee" Pillow Pet -- despite what the commercial claims, the washer may not be such a good idea.  Mommy was excited about the prospect of replacing our big Bumbee with a little Bumbee, but while Charlie enjoyed cuddling two litte Bumbees, when I asked which one he wanted he looked at me like I was crazy and said "I need big Bumbee, Mama!"  And, of course, Target didn't have any, but a late night run to CVS would fix that problem.

After Target, we got our first  2 year old haircut (a little shorter than planned since someone was still feeling the effects of the whip cream on his pancakes) then went to the Balloon Store to order the balloons for Friday and pick out a Big Bird driving a School Bus balloon (and yes, I am quite certain that this balloon was designed specifically for Charlie).

On to a fabulous playdate with our buddy Philip, then home for Macaroni & Cheese and a late nap.  After nap Charlie put Mommy through a litany of medical tests and procedures, performed his first puppet show, did a bit of bookwork at his desk, mowed the yard and "trimmed" the rose bushes -- quite the productive day.  And if we weren't having enough fun, throughout the afternoon he received a balloon delivery from BaBa and PaPa, his first Laptop "Puter" from Uncle Travis and Aunt Natalie, and some new books and Sesame Street dishes from Nanie & Grampie -- like Mommy, Charlie loves packages and is already developing a healthy appreciation for the Brown Truck!

Yes, it was an absolutely perfect day.  Yes, I spent much of it reminiscing about March 9, 2009 when we waited and waited and waited for Charlie, who finally made his "sunny-side-up," umbilical cord in a fireman's carry, "linebacker shoulders" entrance at 10 PM.  Yes, I am fostering in Charlie my same absolute adoration for Birthdays!

The icing (and sprinkles) on the cupcake was a fun-filled evening with Bob & Donna while Mommy and Daddy attended a memorial services for our dear friend from church, Barnie Reeves.  If Jason and I can grow up to be half the parents Barnie and Faye are, I know we will have "fought the good fight...finished the course...[and] kept the faith," just as Mr. Barnie did.

Soupy!

"It Unc' Jim.  Hap' Birthday, Unc' Jim!!!"

I did it!

Whoa...

My 'Puter!

Conference Call with BaBa and Nanie

Members Only

Yes, that's right, my baby made it in to the most exclusive club on the Pond!  Charlie (aka Charly [sic]) is an official member of "The Club House"!

I believe the President and Vice President are Ret and Reed, and I'm sure that Noel and Zach play pivotal roles in governing the group, while Callie keeps everyone in line, but I can't swear to the hierarchy.  All I know for sure is that when the flourescent green sign went up, Charlie made the list as a charter member -- and per Miss Dawn, he was automatically included without any parental suggestions/prodding. 

I honestly think I might be more excited about this than I will be when he gets his college acceptance letter.  My baby has friends -- and not just ones that Mommy or his teachers instigate -- he has real friends that run over and ask to push him on the swings when they see him outside and knock on our door on Sunday afternoons to see if Charlie can "come out and play".  He was even a member of the second place Scavenger Hunt team at Reed's 6th birthday party yesterday. 

I remember playing with a large group of kids ranging from 2 years younger than me to my brother Chris' age (6 years older than me) at our house in Lenexa.  Obviously, we didn't all do everything together, but even us little kids were invited to the Rock Concerts in Alex & Cutty's basement.  I am so excited to live in another neighborhood full of children of various ages who will spend the next few years playing and laughing and growing together. 

Just think, in a couple years Charlie will be one of the big kids pushing Baby Beckham Reuber (debuting this July) on the swing!  Childhood is so much fun!

Playing Pirate on the 3rd Floor

Chivalry at its best?

Swingin' Good Time

Reading with Reed