Photo op

Note to all travelers...allow all day and then some. If you can find an affordable non-stop flight DO IT. I know you will hear nightmare stories all during the holidays, that's to be expected, however...Charles and I flew on the 9th and flights are cancelled left and right, willy nilly, connecting flights as much the issue as departing flights. Luckily, Charles was a FANTASTIC traveler and kept other weary, irritated travelers cheerful.
Also, instead of burying your nose in a book, look for ways to be a blessing to others around you. If God really does guide our every step, then logic would say that He delayed YOU for a purpose...so look around for it! At Newark, after going through security I was getting everything back together and reassembling the stroller etc. Next to me was a young woman starting to panic b/c she had lost her passport between the metal detector and 3 feet from where we were standing. She had gone through all her things twice and security looked up and down everything too. I wished her good luck then actually prayed that she'd find it as I walked all the way to my gate. Well, I ended up right next to her at a sink in the bathroom in Denver! I exclaimed "Hey, did you find your passport?!" She was all excited and said "Yes." So I told her that I had prayed for her but didn't want to tell her at the time. She replied "Thanks. It worked.." Anyway. it cheered us both up. And cheer is what you'll need if you're flying anytime soon. LOL

OK, some pix...


Charles's first snow!!!



lll

.

Nona teaching Charles some Christmas carols

Charles singing in the choir


My older sister, Erin, who lives in DC came up...hope that Charles's blue eyes are from our side of the family.


all bundled up for a day in Manhattan

Peace and Love to all from Woodstock, NY everyone! Yes, "THE WOODSTOCK" of Woodstock Fame. Ha! This is where my "little" sister lives! Yes, I think I've seen a few people who may have come out for a concert and never left. Pretty cool. The day we arrived, Laney had a dinner party to go to so Charles was the life of the party being passed around all night, perfectly content! I was surprised. He was just totally laid back...he must know we are in great company. All of her friends say they don't lock their doors and they leave their kids in the car if they just need to run in quickly to a store. Talk about kick back to another era... I love it. She has a great place surrounded by woods and we actually ventured out her back door to cut down a Christmas tree and haul it right into the house. Yes, I could get used to this in a NY minute!


This is my 'little' sister. I say "little" b/c though she is younger, she's several inches taller than I.


Laney thinking about doing a Michael Jackson impression.

On our way to cut down a tree and make a snowman.


sophie being a good cousin and feeding Charles.


Sophie is only 4 and in preschool and can write her name!! Amazing little girl. Here she is at the party teaching Charles a thing or two with refridgerator magnets.


I wouldn't have believed it myself...good things can come of children playing with their food.


What a photo op!!! We awoke to 2-3 inches of snow. This is the view out Laney's back door!

sUNDAY MORN.

Good mornin' to all
Hope twas a good night
Tis near 8 am here
as creatures stir near.
The deer from the woods now on the back porch
Who've come up for a snack on some savory brush

Charles all bundled up. Mr. California Baby is OK with the cold!

New Jersey sites

Just look how beautiful New Jersey is! Charles and Nona hanging out together. This one is very brief as dad and I are fiddling with getting photos off my camera. Daddy said "I miss my boy...where's the blog updates." Anyway, we've been in NJ for 2-3 days now enjoying the deer, the rain and the nice cool weather. The trip here was less than smooth. Be wary travelers...at least on United, there are many canceled flights, our plans changed 3 times before we actually took off. Patience and flexibility are a must, getting irritated will get you nowhere but pleading not to be charged $15 for luggage WILL! More later when we figure out how to get photos off my camera...or we'll just keep taking them with Dad's camera!

Funny face

Just some of the funny faces we get a kick out of.

What Charles might look like with hair. This is actually Clay's hair.


Here is Charles about to go on overload at Thanksgiving...


And here we are actually ON overload, just moments later.

Ok, so does anyone else knit? I've been knitting hats and have had GREAT success. No, really. Don't let this be an indication. I started several different hats with this "fun fur" but none of them looked manly enough. No matter what I tried they looked a little girly even though the yard in blue. So then I saw a cute picture of just a plain skull cap and gave that a whirl. Well, we took the pictures to prove it but I vowed never to let Charles out in public. We couldn't think of any sports team donning this color to bring him to a game disguised as a die hard fan...so the hat has been dotated. (I am not a woman who is afriad to face the truth--or my mistakes!)

I'm going to late for EVERYTHING today!!!

NEW FOOTAGE!!

Today Charles is 8 days shy of 6 months old. I went to the store for an hour as he was fast asleep. Tomas had to write a paper but has the baby was fast asleep, he agreed to watch over him. Yes, ONE HOUR was all I needed. Tomas called me in the middle of Safeway to tell me this!!!

There's more but the lighting was no good and Charles fell asleep after we overdid it taking pictures and letting him play in a sitting position.

Life can be rough when you can't do ANYTHING that you see those around you doing. Can't walk, talk, get from here to there, eat...gosh darn it, just can't do anything on your own. Well, Charles has finally found something he CAN do that none of the big people around him can do. Really, go ahead, I DARE you to try it!! Betchya can't!!

First Election

Here are some photos of election day back on the 4th. Some days Charles is just like a little toy doll. I dress him up and play with him! So here he is dressed as an 'All American Baby' on his way to the polls to cast MY vote.

B my name is...

This post is brought to you by the letter B.

Big Boy bamboozles the bumbo!

Baby boy bounced to dreamland.

Charles really likes to bounce in his "johnny jumper." I wish I had the video, but imagine him asleep like this, cracking his eyelids just a bit and bouncing HIMSELF back to sleep.

Big Bipedal baby bouncing in brother's basketball sneakers.

baby blue eyes initially bemoaning bananas soon decides...

...
"bring it on broad! This stuff is belicious!!!"
He's actually grabbing my hand and shoving the spoon into his own mouth in this picture.

FOLLOW ME

Hey, so I found this "follow this blog" thing and put it off to the side there...on the left...see it? Could you try clicking it and becoming a publicly known, card carrying groupie? Then tell me what it's like? I THINK it will notify you when I've updated the blog...not that I mind doing that...but I don't always do it right away. It might make you pick a gmail account, however, you do not have to use it. A lot of these things allow you to use your own email act. even though they make you sign up with them.
Thanks!

THE BEST REALITY TV AROUND!!

I had just fed Charles and he was lying across my lap kicking his feet as if he wanted to go somewhere...so I layed him down on the floor and LOOK!!! (For those of you who know what a big lug my husband is, you'll get a kick out of his bull in a china shop move on the first one!!)






After a good 20 minutes of filming, Charles collapsed, pooped. Steve tickled Clay or something and Clay squealed but notice how Charles doesn't even flinch at Clay squealing...really, watch it again...he doesn't even flinch!!

Cutie Pie Pix

Charles can be particularly cute when he wants to be which-- in my highly biased opinion--is much of the time. Here's some recent proof of that and you can be the judge.

Ol' Blue Eyes. Yes they are STILL that blue!!

The other day, when Charles's telepathic powers were on the fritz, I was bringing his bottle to him and I guess he was hungrier than I thought because he grabbed it from me, stuck it in his mouth and downed the whole thing on his own while his "little brother" documented the entire event on film...well on digital. Now we're working on explaining to Clay that it was a fluke, we still actually have to hold the bottle for the baby because Clay just hands it to him now. LOL

The talented Kim White. Charles and I hung out with her at her booth during a fall carnival at the school. Charles was modeling one of her floppy hats.

And Grandma Judy--equally as talented--sent him his traditional baby blanket. LOVE IT!! Here he is modeling just how precious he can be some moments.

Another book worm in the making if I have anything to say about it.