Sweet Home

A "few" pictures from our recent trip home. 

We were greeted by Grandaddy and Uncle Stephen (who Charlie simply calls "football") at the airport where they met Samuel for the first time. 

Then, on to my parents for a few days of rest (at least for the ones not sleeping with Sam. Bless you GG). 

I thought I was leaving it behind......

but snow followed us. 

Yeah, the hat, I know. Should have looked in the mirror. 

a full length one. 

We ended up having a great time and I was so glad that everyone got to play with Charlie in the snow. Though it didn't take long for him to call it quits. 

motley crew ~

Do I really belong in this family?

 

Segway, cute baby ~

One of my many favorite cousins (why didn't I get a picture of the rest of you?)

Samuel finally got to meet his Gurney. I think she liked him. 

In true Southern form, the blizzard was gone by the afternoon, and the next few days were spent getting some much needed vitamin D. 

and learning a few things~

Aunt Lacey was sure to leave her mark on him as well ~

Before heading on to the Davis's, we stopped by the Conner's. The boys had a blast (as dd the adults). 

We only had a couple of days with them, but it was sweet.

Charlie loved playing with his cousins. Everyone says this one could be his sister. 

Ma-Ma and her granbabies (minus two cuties in Colorado)~

more Sam

We were on our way to the bath when a quick glance in the mirror stopped me in my tracks.

something......

or I should say, somebody, struck me as awfully cute. 

We stopped this little photo shoot as soon as my scarf started getting wet. and my shirt. and jeans. carpet...

three

If you know him, I imagine you are head over heels for him too. 

Happy St. Patrick's to you too

Just 30 minutes ago....

somebody was a little dazed and confused. Can you guess who (other than the our friend the owner, pictured with us)?

Bryan and I were winding down for the night when we heard bagpipes ~ real ones ~ just below us. We figured we were going to hear them anyway, so why not go and watch them as well? 

We drug poor Charlie out of his snuggly bed and took him with us to the loud, hoopin' and hollerin' downstairs restaurant, pj's, paci's and all. He was so confused, but excited, asking "bye?" as we were walking down the stairs. 

I'm not sure he will remember it in the morning, but it was fun while it lasted (which was not long. I just got a quick look at what was going on and then went back upstairs with the babe. The other 2 just stayed a few minutes).

Horrible parents? Nah.

As I now sit here, about to hit "publish", I am bouncing.......I think they've turned to Irish dancing now. Oh well. It's not like I sleep much anyway. 

love, Charlie

To all his favorite people, I hope your valentine's make it to you on time.  They were made with love!

cler-chunk

It was a glorious morning. Yesterday the sun was shining, the temp was in the 60's (!), and the sidewalks were beckoning for a walk. 

In all the excitement I did the unthinkable.......

the horror of every mom.....

I locked myself out of my house.

while the kiddos were still inside. 

*to my mom and mother-in-law....we are all now sitting peacefully together. all alive and well*

It is always a little hairy getting both boys and their gear down our steep stairs that lead to the front door and outside into the stroller, car, etc. I had decided to take the diaper bag down first, and once down I thought I'd go ahead and get the stroller set up outside the door. I thought I had left the door propped open and unlocked behind me as I usually do....but as I stepped out I heard the dreaded 'cler-chunk'. Not quite phased yet I grabbed the door knob, only then to realize the horror. no no no....no! 

My cell phone was in my bag (still inside) so I ran to the restaurant next door to call Bryan, all the while reminding myself the boys were fine. Sam was in his bed, and Charlie is always out and about everywhere in the house anyway. But every mom knows there is not much calming about your babies being alone in the house. 

To add to it all, it was not until I was in the restaurant that I realized I had not yet put my jacket over my 'whisper thin' (as the Gap calls it) t-shirt. Oh...to laugh or cry? None of the cleaning crew that was there spoke English ~ which meant I had to play a little game of charades in my panic. in my whisper thin. I finally got the phone but couldn't get the call to go through. One of the guys was trying to help me, s.l.o.w.l.y.......he didn't know the situation. Tears finally broke loose as I yelled "my kids are upstairs! i'm in a hurry!". Cell phones began to appear and I finally reached Bryan. I prayed he would make it in one piece,  knowing he would break every NY law to get there fast. 

I then decided to try and see if I could see Charlie through the back door. My fear was put to rest when I saw him pacing the hallway, simply waiting on me to come back. I played my second game of charades of the day, and we both laughed. But after a few minutes he realized something was off. Why wasn't I coming in already? He then started banging on the door screaming, "Mom!" (yes, my 1 year old calls me not "Mommy" or "MaMa", but Mom). When he realized that I was not coming he (now this is the whole reason I am writing out this story....) left, came back with his blanket and paci, and layed by the door. Pick my heart up off the ground! It was precious. 

It wasn't too long before my knight in starched business attire came to my rescue. And yes, he did break every law to get there. 

6 weeks

I know, I'm going backwards, but I forgot about these......

Just as I had set up everything for a little "shoot", somebody came toddling over....sabotaging our set up. 

But no worries. He made it better. 

He actually picked the book out himself. 

Ahhhhh!!! I didn't see this until I was looking at the pictures later. 

two

I've tried not to, but I'm going to start this post as I did nearly each month of Charlie's first year, and I as I'm sure I will each month of Samuel's.....

I can't believe how fast the time has flown! 

Really, it seems like yesterday I was admiring my growing belly, wondering how much bigger it would get,  

wondering what he would look like,  

wondering how our lives would take shape as a family of four.....

And here you are! You've brought immense joy to our family already in your short two months of life, no matter the sleepless nights. Your smile melts me. and your Dad. He actually came running to find me yesterday with you in his arms yelling "he laughed!". We now will turn upside down ~whatever it takes~ to hear your tiny little giggle. 

But that is about the only thing that is tiny. If he is not smiling and laughing, he is usually crying. Hot or cold he is.  I'm still hesitant to say it is his personality, wondering if things will change when he grows out of reflux. 

His brother loves him dearly and has yet to show any signs of jealousy. He is quick to let us know (as if we couldn't hear ourselves) when Sam is crying, and will try to find his pacifier and shove it into his mouth. He also loves to read and sing to him. Especially sing, especially when Sam is crying.  It may be a game to see who can be the loudest. 

We are surprised to see that his eyes are still blue, and wonder if they will stay. He looks just like his brother did when his eyes are closed, but when awake ~ it's me! His rock star hair, as I like to call it, has a mind of it's own. Does this speak of his personality? Time will tell. I just wish time would slow down a little. 

You,  little guy, have stolen my heart, wrapped it tightly around your little finger, and let me know in no uncertain terms that I may never, ever, have it back.

a picture is worth a thousand words

My favorite pictures are often not the "perfect" portraits, but the simple snapshots of moments that I want to remember. 

Ten things about this picture~

1. This isn't on our bed, but in the living room, where I had slept (dozed a little?) the night before in order to give Bryan a good nights sleep, and to better prop myself up so that the reflux afflicted baby on my chest could sleep better. 

2. Toddlers think sheets are really cool, and have a thousand different uses (we had just taken down our fort). 

3. I laid Sam down first, and Charlie ran over to lay next to him. because he loves him. 

4. Thankfully the sheet is white so you can't see the spit-up that happened only seconds earlier. 

5. If you look close, you can see that the toddler's hands are purple. He thinks it's more fun to color on himself than on paper. 

6. If you look even closer, you may be able to see that same marker on the sheets ~ from days earlier. 

7. My baby's pj's are unsnapped because he has, sniff, grown out of his newborn clothes. 

8. I was too tired to take those pj's off and put on ones that fit. 

9. My big baby is wearing his new pjs. 2T. sniff, sniff. no more baby clothes for him. 

10. I love this exhausting, often chaotic, seemingly mundane, beautiful "moment" of my life.  

math lesson

toddler

snowman

toddler + snowman 

beanie baby

Because I am pretty confined to the house these days due to the cold, the highlight of my day is often getting the mail. Yesterday it did not disappoint. I ripped open the package from Portland Beanie Company addressed to Baby Samuel, knowing that I would love what was inside. There was no note as to whom it came from, but I instantly knew it had to be from Katie.

She knows me well. 

Thanks friend. We love you too.