Having fun with my Big Cousin Matt!

This is Charlie's Big Cousin Matt. He's almost 20 - and is still just a big kid...He collect nerf guns! He shared his toys with Charlie when we went for a visit! Charlie thought these were the best things ever!
check out the size of this gun! It's insane! Here after Charlie shot one missile - Matt had Charlie go get them...then he proceeded to shoot at Charlie! Nice guy! But Charlie just laughed and laughed!

Matt is also really tall...so he can lift Charlie up really really high! Charlie just kept saying "again...again!"

Whistler for the weekend

Aug. 8, 2008
Forgot to add these pics earlier...
We joined my parents and Trent in Whistler for the weekend. The weather was not in our favour - cold and rainy! But we had a relaxing weekend just the same! Charlie and Trent in the hot tub! Before the plunge into the pool!
Grandma was brave enough to go into the pool with the boys! (The pool water wasn't cold...but the air sure was!)
I know this kinda looks like Charlie is drowning...but he really is swimming!!!! All by himself....with the help of a life-jacket!
What to do when it's raining...watch a movie and eat popcorn! Yum!
So the rain did stop long enough for us to take a walk down to the lower village (We were staying inthe upper village). And we had to have a beaver tail for a snack! Whistler's beaver tails were the healthy version....made with whole wheat flour and baked! Tasty...but not as tasty as the traditional deep fried version!!!!

2nd Ultrasound

So I had to go for a 2nd Ultra-sound yesterday becuase at the first one - baby just wasn't coorperating. Baby was being very active so the tech couldn't get good shots - particularly of the baby's head.

So I went for my second one. AFter my Dr. assured me all was fine - no abnormalities found or anything - just wanted a better look at the baby's head. Well this time around - BAby wasn't moving around...it was sleeping - with it's head face down!!!!! So once again no shots of the head! This baby does not want it's picture taken! Better get used to it! (Mommy's got a brand new camera and will be using it lots!!!!)

Now I have no idea what this means...if they will want to do another ultra-sound...or just leave it. I guess I'll just have to wait to hear from my Dr.

And here I was thinking I"ll get some new pics...yeah - I got 1 lousy pic of the baby's spine! Woo hoo!!!!

Camping - August Long Weekend

July 31 - Aug. 4
For the August long weekend, we went camping once again to Hedley, BC. The Peacocks (Matt, Mandy and Keira) joined us this time around. The weather was a little on the chilly side...and it rained when we were trying to get set up...but all in all it was a great time! Lots of time spent in front of the campfire...roasting marshmellows and making s'mores! (it was great to introduce s'mores to Matt and Mandy!) But really what's not to love about them! The two kids played great together....even making other friends at the campground!

We went one day to Osooyas and visited the Nk'Mip Cultural Center. This is located in Canada's or BC's only desert (can't remmber if its BC or Cananda's...anyways...) It was HOT! So we didn't stay long! A hot desert doesn't fit with two 2 year olds and two pregnant ladies! But we did see some cool displays... Only to finish the day off with a huge ice cream from the Windmill!

We only had one mishap...Saturday morning Charlie woke up with "owies" He was in a lot of distress....I asked him what hurt. He said his tummy. So I lifted up his shirt and he was covered in red spots!!!! My first thought was Chicken pox....but really had no idea as I didn't know what to look for. Ben went up to the office to ask about the closest medical facility was. He was told Princeton (about a 20 min drive away). The owner of the campsite also said that earlier in the week his 1 yr old also woke up with a rash...it was concluded that it was an alergic reaction to the catterpillars....Still we wanted to get Charlie checked out. After about an hour wait at the "hospital" Charlie was given a clean bill of health - it wasn't chicken pox or measles or fifths disease...nothing contagious (Nothing to worry about for Mommy and baby either) But the Dr. didn't really know what caused the rash. We picked up some Children's Benadryl and calamine lotion and went back to the campsite. Charlie had a few occasions of ichiness (or "owies") as he called them...but after a dose of bendryl and calamine lotion he was fine!

It turned out by the next day all the kids at the campsite has this mysterious rash! (except Keira - lucky girl!) It was determined that it was the caterpillars at the campsite that caused this crazy rash....When we were packing up I was gathering our dirty clothes hamper - both my arms instantly got super itchy! Ben a couple days after getting home put on a shirt and started to get itchy on his side/and arms - he discovered a dead caterpillar. (Eeeeewwww - I know!!!) Those were some nasty caterpillars I tell you!!!
They were really annoying too!!!

Thankfully when we go back for the labour day weekend - they will all be beautiful butterflies!!!

But despite the caterpillars....cool weather...we had a very relaxing weekend with some great friends! Looking forward to our next camping adventure!

20 weeks....Half-way there!

August 13, 2008

I can't believe I'm already 20 weeks pregnant! It's gone by really fast! Still feeling great! Starting to get uncomfortable with sleeping. Getting stiff and sore - hips, back, legs....but that's just going to get worse - right?!?

I had my 18 week ultrasound 2 weeks ago...everything looked good. But I had a phone call that I need to go have a follow-up scan - as they couldn't get the "poses" of baby's head. (Baby didn't want to coorperate already!) So next week I'll go back to see if this time Baby is ready for a photo shoot! (Hopefully I'll get more pics too!) (These pics didn't scan too great...but I wanted to share something)

Today, I had my 20 week prenatal. Everythings checking out good. So far my blood pressure is good to. (always a bit of a worry for me as I had high blood pressure with Charlie) Baby's heartbeat was 140.

I still don't think Charlie "gets" it...but when we're getting ready for bed...after Daddy gets hugs and kisses and then Mommy...then I have him kiss and hug baby (my tummy). But I really wonder if he "gets" it!?!?

Woodland Park Zoo - Seattle, WA

July 20, 2008
Grandma Booth and Charlie on the Hippo...
These were really cool birds nests (I can't remember the name of the birds). Little hanging pods...Hard to see in this pictures tho'.
Flamingos!
Charlie sitting on the lizard
This lizard was sleeping...then all of a sudden popped his head up and just stared at Charlie! It looked like it was going to come right to Charlie - but it just kept staring at him....Charlie wasn't even afraid! Of course it helped that it was behind glass!

Cute elephant!
Posing for us!
Hippos!
Charlie on the hippo

Giraffs...Most of the animals at the zoo were soooo far away that my camera just didn't take decent pictures...this zoo is very cool - There's diffent sections that represent different parts of the world - and the animals you will find there. Then the exhibits are made to be like their natural habitats! And did I mention this zoo is HUGE! We were there for 4 hours!!!! We were soooo tired by the time we left...Oh and after 4 hours...we still didn't see everything!!!!!

Happy Birthday Ben!

July 19, 2008

Ben was lucky enough to spend his Birthday at Thomas the Train!!! What special treat for a 32 year old! We came back to the campsite for a wonderful BBQ steak dinner...and his parents stayed up til 2am baking a cake in their trailer....they had to bake it in 3 batches....as the stove and pans are soooo small! Ben - you must be special!
A new shirt!
Group shot!

A Day out with Thomas the Train

July 19, 2008

A bit late on this update...but there's alot of pictures!
Charlie, both sets of grandparents and Mommy and Daddy went down to see Thomas the Train on July 19th weekend. We camped in Seattle but drove about 45 min. to Snolqualmie Falls for the Day with Thomas.

Charlie with Sir Topham Hat. I think Charlie was more excited to see "Topum hat" Than Thomas....

On the train...



The view from the train...very pretty!

More shots on the train...

Stamping - Thomas stamps...creating the newest work of art!

Getting the Thomas Tatoo...

The best part...train sets! Lots of time was spent here!

This machine made train whistle sounds...

Oh the things 2 year olds get into....

....when left to their own devices!

Charlie and his cousin Joey were supposed to be having quiet time....Well they were quiet - but they weren't sleeping! They got into the diaper rash cream and "painted" each other, the walls, the bed, stuffies!!!! Oh it was a mess! As you can see from the video - Charlie was absolutely covered in the stuff! Joey not sooo much! (It was a big jar of the cream too - almost full!) Quick thinking Grandma grabbed Auntie Teresa's video camera...she just knew Mommy had to see what her little "angel" got into!!!!

Any one have any solutions to getting the cream out of stuffies...feel free to leave a comment!!! (I washed his blankets twice before they came clean!!! His poor hair is still a bit greasy - after many many shampoos and even a hair cut!!!!!)

Charlie's new bed....the floor!!!

The past 2 nights Charlie has decided he doesn't want to sleep in his bed...but wants to sleep on the floor!!!!! What a crazy kid!

We think it all started on Saturday night...Charlie woke up crying around 10:30....it took him a while to settle back down...I asked him if he had a bad dream...if something scared him...at first he said no...but then changed it right right away to yes....so at first I thought it didn't know what was wrong....He heard Ben come out of the bathroom and he wanted to know what the noise was (he seemed a bit scared)....so I had Ben come in - give hugs/kisses....when Ben tried to leave again...Charlie started crying! So that's when we knew something had definatley scared him....so we both stayed with him for a bit....gave him a drink of water....I left Ben with him finally and he was with him for about 1/2 hour....Ben finally brought in his light up necklace he got from Disneyland....that finally settled Charlie down enough to go to sleep...this was almost 12:30 by now! He slept all thru the night....until almost 9am! (Which was great for Mommy and Daddy!!!!)

Sunday afternoon we tried to get Charlie go down for a nap....he wanted nothing to do with it....soooo I thought "he sleeps on a mat on the floor at daycare....I wonder???...." Ben had a mat - so brought that in...that didn't work either...but he did have about an hour of quiet time...so we lived with that! Sunday night - Charlie didn't want to sleep in his bed....he wanted to sleep on the mat! Alright....whatever works right! He went down with no issues....and slept all night! Monday night....he fought again to go to sleep....finally saying he wanted to sleep on the mat! So we pulled it out...and he went right down!!!

Sooo we are thinking something really scared him on Saturday night....Hopefully he wants to sleep in his bed again soon.....but for now...we will let him sleep where he wants...(as long as it's not Mommy and Daddy's bed!!!!)

Hanging out at Grandma's and Grandpa's pool...

Saturday was sooo sunny and hot...and we had nothing to do (we figured the housework could wait!) We decided to hang out at the pool for the day! We even were able to convince Keira and her Mum and Dad to come over too (for some reason I have no pics of Keira! Sorry Keira...didn't mean to leave you out! I think your mummy took lots tho'!) Charlie all set for the pool! Goggles - check, life jacket - check! Looking ever so stylish and not at all dorky!!! - check!!!!
Ahh this is the life!
Daddy can throw Charlie really high!!!
Charlie's getting sooo comfortable in the water! He always wants to jump in from the ladder. Doesn't even mind if he goes under.... Wants to hold on to your hand still tho'....
He's holding grandma's hands here...but does really well "running in the water" to keep above the water all on his own!