18 month update...a bit overdue!!!

July was a big month for Charlie....he started saying lots and lots of words this month! It seemed like he was waiting for the right moment to start with the words and July was it! My personal favourite is "Mick mee"! (Mickey) And he just loves "Fish"! Although he got a bit confused when we actually ate fish for dinner one night...and I said FISH....he looked at me a bit strange!

Charlie has also been doing a lot more signing. He will now sign "more" and "please" (he says "Please" while signing).

Around the beginning of July - on our way home from work...we'd just be getting to light on Broadway - turning onto Yale (just about home) and Charlie would start saying "dada dada" over and over again. He knew how close we were to home and he would get to see Daddy!

On Charlie's 18month Birthday he came downw with a mild case of pnumonia! Mommy had to pick Charlie up from daycare at lunch time and took him right to the Dr. She pretty much diagnosed him before she even listened to his chest...apparently it had been going around. But in any case - we had to go for blood work...and the medevial torture device again (aka - chest x-ray!) But he was all cleared up with a couple of doses of anti-biotics! In fact we went camping 2 days later....and he was just fine!

Here's Charlie and Daddy enjoying the campfire!

Here's Charlie copying Daddy in setting up the tent trailer...he found a little stick and would tap it against the leg jacks....just like he saw Daddy do. It was very cute!

here's pic of our campsite - this is Winthrop WA - at the KOA campground. Winthrop was a neat little western town complete with wooden sidewalks!

Just a funny picture of Charlie with a Kleenex box on his head - that he put on his head! (Doesn't like to wear a hat - but this he'll wear!!!!)

Charlie discovered a prime seat in our Sunroom. He quite enjoys watching Daddy cutting the grass from this view!

Happy Canada Day! We had a Pre-Canada Day BBQ. We had a few playgroup friends over with their Mommy and Daddy's! It was lots of fun!

mmmmm - Popcicles!

Charlie's First Popcicle!
This was Mommy's treat...and I was just going to give him a taste! Yah right...first taste...he wanted it all to himself!!!!
Boy was he one lucky boy! Not only was it a popcicle...but a creamcicle! Yummo! (Little did Charlie know...it was fat free/sugar free)! tee hee! It didn't matter to him...he ate the whole thing...even when it fell off the stick!!!

Bang that drum!

Charlie loves to bang these native drums! Daddy will be making one of these this semester in school. We can't wait for Charlie to have his very own drum!

walking along the beach in Parksvill...

Charlie, his Grandma and I went on a quick trip to the Island last week to see some family. We stayed in Parksville for our first night and our hotel was right on the beach! It was awesome! Charlie had lots of fun walking in the sand. He loved to walk a few steps...bend down...pick up some sand...then imediately throw it away! It was pretty funny!

Charlie's First Field Trip....

June 29, 2007
Charlie got to go on his very first field trip with Daycare! (Mommy tagged along too - last minute!) This was such a fun place to go...lots for little kids to do. There was a tree maze (Charlie wasn't afraid at all...in fact he freaked Mommy out - by leaning on the ropes!!!!), there's houses with "stuff" in side, cars to play on, swings, slides, trucks in a sand pit! So much to see and do! It was pretty tiring...he fell asleep on the bus ride home! (Actually all the kids fell asleep - so it was a nice quiet bus ride home!!!!)

We just might have to have a playgroup here one day! (apparently there's coupons on their website!?!?!) You can bring lunches inside - there's picnic tables. It's a huge area for the kids to RUN! Fun times!!

Picnic at Harrison...

June 23, 2007
We decided to go for a picnic at Harrison Beach. It was a bit cold, and it just about started to rain...but we had a yummy lunch and lots of fun! Charlie ate most of Mommy's Sandwhich! He got to play in the sand for a bit too!

Hawaii pictures....

Once again, Charlie is one lucky little boy! We went on a family trip to Hawaii with Charlie's Gramma and Grandpa Booth, His Great-Granny, Auntie Selena and cousin Trent. We first when to Honolulu for 4 days. Charlie got to swim at the world famous Waikiki beach! And then we wen t for 6 days to The Big Island of Hawaii! (The pictures are a bit mixed up)
Charlie loved the beach - all that sand and water!!!!!
Little surfer dude!
Family pic - Hanauma Bay (Ohau) behind us

Beautiful Hawaiian Sunset - The Big Island
Beautiful scenery shots of the Big Island!
Oahu - Hanauma Bay
Our first look at the Big Island...lots and lots of black Lava rock...quite desolate looking - we even wondered if the Volcano erupted last week!!!!

But this is the resort we spent most of our time at - a 4 1/2 acre lagoon - water/fish fed directly from the ocean!

Charlie can walk!!!!!

Well we knew it would happen eventually....and we figured it would be in Hawaii - and sure enough it happened!!!! Thursday, May 24 - was the official day!

For a couple of weeks before we left for Hawaii...Charlie was getting sooo close to walking. It started with him "forgetting" to hold on to the table/couch - and would just stand on his own. He would also take a step or two from the coffee table to the couch. And he was liking to walk with us - holding our hands. While in Hawaii - he would walk lots with us holding just one hand - one finger actually! Then he would let go of our hand and take a couple of steps....but then on Thursday night....totally out of the blue - he started walking!!!! We were in my parents room - and I didn't have my camera - but my mom quickly grabbed the video camera - so we have it on video! He was even able to get up to standing when he fell down - it was like all of a sudden he knew what to do!! It was pretty exciting! Of course he just wanted to run...forget this walking...running is better!!!!! But he's still a bit shakey!
We are sooo proud of Charlie!!!!

(Oh how our life will change...yet again!!!!!)

Going for a walk with Daycare

Check out Charlie's cool ride!

I was finally able catch Charlie going for one of his daily walks with Daycare...alot of times he goes right by my building. Today I was lucky enough to get the camera in time to take a couple of pictures!

Orange Country Choppers - The Toddler Years!!!!!

Aren't the three boys the cutest in this picture!!!!

Brief Update...

Well after many many months...Charlie has two new teeth!!!! Yeah!!! I've been saying since January...anytime now - the two bottom teeth are sooo close...but they were stubborn! Finally Monday they made their appearance!

Charlie now says "Uh Oh" when he drops something....I guess he heard me say it so many times! But its pretty cute!

Charlie has been in the Daycare at Sto:lo Nation just about a month now...and it is going really well! The first week and a half he would cry when I would leave him...but by week two - he was very content when I would leave. He's too busy eating his breakfast I guess. (I'm trying to catch him when he goes for a walk with the group to get a picture of the 4 seater stroller. I will post it when I catch them) There's typically 8 kids on a daily basis - and most are older than him. But starting Monday there's a new friend starting and he/she is 9 months old. They are kept very busy...going for walks(at 10am) then lunch at 11:15, Nap time at 12 - ?, Craft time, and playtime(indoors or outdoors) until 4. Charlie usually sleeps for about an hour. And sometimes he falls asleep on the ride home...gets a little powernap.

Charlie is loving his Winnie the Pooh Musical book at the moment...he's had it since last summer but seems to have just "discovered it". It plays songs and his favourite it "Eency Weency Spidar" He even starts to do the hand gestures! It's very cute!

(I'll post pictures soon...)

Fun on the slide

April 5, 2007

With the nice weather recently - we've been heading to our backyard and playing on Charlie's playset! He loves the slide!

Last day with Olivia....

April 5, 2007 I found out in March that Charlie was finally off the waiting list for the Daycare at my work...so he would officially start on April 10.

The week before, Rebecca drove Charlie to my office at 1 o'clock and I would take Charlie to the daycare to get used to the idea of being at a new place. He did really well (which we knew he would) He was sure tired out when I would pick him up...and would fall asleep on the drive home!

There's anywhere from 9-14 kids on a daily basis - and they are all a bit older than Charlie (by a little bit)

We will miss going to Rebecca and Olivia's - but we know we will see them often! Charlie had lots of fun playing everyday with his buddy! (they are soo cute together!)

A boy and his cars!

March-April 2007

Charlie loves to play with his cars! He's discovered that the window sill - which is can reach - but still a bit too short to see out the window - has this great ledge to drive his cars back and forth! He even makes the vroom vroom noise!!

Charlie copies so much! Which is so cute. We do this thing after his bath and getting him in his jammies - I do "flying" baby (I lift him up and go round in circle a couple of times) After - I put up my hand - and say "Tah Dah"! And he copies me with is arm! Sooo cute! Also I think his first word - of understanding is "All done"! When we read stories or finish a meal. I say "ALL done" - and put up both my hands...and he copies me... and it really sounds like he says "All Done!" Charlie also initiates play....when he's having his bath - he'll give me toy to play with....or if I'm pretending to not paying attention...he'll actually take my hand...turn it over to place the toy in my hand!!!!

Oh and Charlie knows the word "zerbert" and what it means! I'll say give Mommy a Zerbert - and he takes my arm and does it! and then smiles!!! or if its a really loud one...laughs!!

Cuddle's for Mommy

March 30, 2007

Gotta love those cuddles!!!!!

Thanks Amy for a great picture of Mommy and Charlie!

Hanging out with Olivia

March 1-23 2007
As it has been sooo long since my last update...here's some pictures of Charlie hanging out with Olivia while Mommy's been at work!

Faux hawk!

Just having some fun after Charlie's bath! Also right before Mommy and Daddy gave Charlie his first Haircut! His hair was getting a bit long...so we finally gave it a bit of a trim!

mmmm....lasagne

Charlie is such a good eater these days... we take every opportunity to let him feed himself! This is Charlie eating lasagne a couple of weeks ago! He just loved it! Good thing it was bath time right after dinner!!!!! Not too much ended up down his bib!!!!

Another favourite of Charlie's is frozen veggies! I will heat up a bowl for him to munch on while finishing dinner....He loves the peas!!!!!

Going for a Drive....

Such a cute picture...Rebecca took Olivia and Charlie grocery shopping and they got to ride in a really cool shopping cart! Daddy thought of a really funny caption:
"Honey...don't you think we should stop and ask directions....."

While Mommy's at work....

Well it has been a long time since my last entry...but when I'm at work all day...and only get to spend a short time with Charlie...there just doesn't seem to be enough time to update his blog! But finally I have a chance! Here is Charlie during his first two weeks at Rebecca and Olivia's!

Charlie loves the swings at the park....And playing some pretty serious music with the drum!!!!

Check out their cool ride! The Prince and Princess going for their daily carriage ride!!!!

All bundled up and anxiously waiting for their carriage ride! Aren't they soo cute!

The park sure is tiring! His first day...he didn't want to go in the playpen! so the floor works perfectly!

Rebecca worked some wonders with Charlie going down for a nap! She noticed that he would be tired in the morning around 9:30/10am...but at first he wanted to be held...well with Olivia there...this just wasn't possible to hold him till he fell asleep! Soo...by day 3 or 4 (can't remember which) She put Charlie in the playpen (in her bedroom) and left him there...he never cried...he also never slept...but by the 3 day of doing this...he fell asleep sitting up - leaning against the side of the playpen!!! And by the 4th day...he layed down and slept...for 2 1/2 hours!!!!!He has never slept that long for me!!!

This also got Ben and I thinking...if he would go down for a nap for Rebecca...without being held...without being nursed....then he should do it for us too! So this started our "tough love" approach. Wed (Jan 31) we put him to bed and of course he cried...Ben would go in and comfort him. He cried for about 40 minutes. (And it wasn't even full on - un-controllable crying) And he fell asleep. He woke up a couple of times during the night - but would put himself back to sleep. The next night...he cried for about 30 minutes....the next 10...and now he maybe cries for 30 seconds. And the best part is - he sleeps through the night!!!! He has never slept through the night...ever! So this has been a real breakthrough for us!!! And he's still napping in the morning for 1-2hrs! Yah Charlie!!!!