Charlie's Words

I figured that it would be a great time to make a list of the words Charlie has in his vocabulary right now. Now some of these only I know what they mean- but they still count!

Ball
momma
mommy
dada
Pop E
shoe
backback
apple (Boppy)
cheese
water
juice
chocolate
sucker
Go Go
Bye
Hi
No No
car
Choo Choo
more
please
ut oh

Charlie also has all of his animals down- cat, dog, snake, monster, devil, monkey, lion, bear, seal, duck, sheep, pig, horse, and I'm sure there are a few more.

He knows his arms, nose, eyes, ears, throat, legs, toes, belly button, tummy, head, hair, fingers, back and butt.

This is such a fun age and it's amazing the things he remembers and knows!

So Many Updates

It's been really hard not to talk about what has REALLY been going on with the Skimmy's so I took a little break. WE ARE PREGNANT! I'm 11w4d.

For those of you that don't know- Dan and I have suffered 3 miscarriages while trying to complete our family over the last 3 years. 2 were before Charlie and one was after. We thought we had figured out what my issues were but unfortunately the doctor wasn't able to answer any questions with our last miscarriage. For anyone that hasn't gone through them- they are extremely heartbreaking. Not only because you lose that child, but because you are emotionally in pain along with physically. It is also a very lonely period of time as so many ignore you instead of saying that they don't know what to say. These are children I have lost. I will always think of them and what "could have been." Yes, I can function day to day but that doesn't mean I forget. It's also terrifying not knowing why your body is causing this to happen. The only reason we have come up with is: late and weak ovulation with poor lining.

Anyway... I can and probably will touch more on our struggles later. But I need to keep writing or this post will be 10 pages long.

I have been feeling pretty good. Not lots of energy and because of my past problems I am suppose to take it easy. No exercise, no heavy lifting, and I'm on a medicine that should help me stay pregnant. I am not even allowed to walk around the block at this point. Things should lighten up in the next few weeks. A few headaches and a little upset tummy... but nothing I'll complain about! It's all very much wanted!

Last Friday the Farmington Area Mom's Club put on an event at Pump it Up. It's basically an indoor bounce house. It's a lot of fun and Charlie was thrilled to be there and go down the slide. He was even more excited when Dan walked in! Daddy was there on his lunch break to play with him! It was a fun day until after dinner Dan complained of a headache and a stomach ache. I gave him some Tylenol and some Pepto and let him be. We went to bed and at 3:30am I heard Charlie crying. I went in his room to find that he had vomited all over his bed. Poor thing!!!! I changed him and woke Dan up to help with the bedding but Charlie was wide awake. We headed to the couch to cuddle and watch Brother Bear (his favorite movie right now) but he kept getting sick. Charlie keep throwing up until about 9:15. He kinda was quiet all day and moved pretty slow but ate some crackers and kept them down. Dan still felt rough.

Tuesday morning rolls around and I wake up and sit on the couch. My head goes right between my knees because I feel like crap! Dan went off to work and finally at like 8:30am I called him to come back home. I was already getting sick and couldn't imagine chasing Charlie around all day alone. Dan came home while I spent the day in the bathroom. My sickness lasted until about 3:45 when my friend Lisa offered to drive me to the ER. I got sick a few more times there and needed 2 IV's to get fluids in me fast enough. They retested my levels after 4 bags of fluid and I was getting better but my heartrate was at a constant 142 and my blood pressure was too low. I also started getting a fever. They decided to keep me. Dan came and dropped some overnight items off and I waited for a room to open up for me. The next morning I was spilling protein into my urine so I couldn't leave until that was clear and I could keep some food down. Dan didn't feel well this day either so Charlie was off to my in laws for the day/night. I was released at 4pm and slept most of the day.

Friday we got the call... we got my Mother in law sick :-( man this flu was deadly!!! (Thankfully she was feeling better the next day)

Dan is still feeling a little under the weather- but he played in a volleyball tournament all day yesterday and probably didn't have the best diet. (he did come in 2nd place!!!) Congrats Dan!

Today was Amanda's baby shower! How much fun. It's been awesome to see her belly grow and to watch John and Amanda get more and more excited. It's hard to think that was me 2 years ago and that it's happening again to me now. Amanda got amazing gifts and is really blessed by the family and her friends. Can't wait for that niece or nephew to show up in about 9 weeks!!!!

I'll end this now because it could go on and on and well... it's relax time for momma!!!

My Kid

I love his kid!!! He's my little buddy and makes me laugh and smile everyday. We just had a big tickle fest and now we stopped for some pretzel rods and water! I ate my pretzels and he broke his in half and just handed it to me!!! Anyone that shares food with me is the best!!!!

Short and sweet today but I am just bursting with love for him and I can't imagine my life without him in it. (Dan's ok too!!! :-) lol!)

Now we are off to Carl's Golfland for a visit and to take Charlie's Fun Aunt Robin out for her bday lunch!!! Happy Birthday Robin!

Staying Busy Doing Nothing!

A picture of Charlie's first hot chocolate (ok barely warm because he doesn't like hot things!) We had just played outside- he loved the snow and the drink!


The Skimmy's have been busy!!! But have nothing to show for it! Today Charlie and I went to Aldi to get some things we need to make a friend dinner. The FAMC makes a new mom 2 weeks worth of dinners when a new baby is born. Well, I signed up for tomorrow- she's a vegetarian so we are making Minestrone Soup. Of course Aldi didn't have everything I needed so I ran to Kroger tonight. Charlie was kind enough to go with me to get an oil change this morning also. I might have a leak in my tire so I'm sure that will be an errand tomorrow!!! I always seem to have tire issues. Thankfully I'm very familiar with Discount Tire and the places around there we can walk to while we wait.

Tomorrow is swim class. Charlie will kick his legs in the bathtub flip over and kick some more. He loves to have his ears under water and have me talk to him! We talk about blowing bubbles in the pool and he won't do it in the pool yet, but he will in the bathtub. The other day he said "Mamma" and then did it! No clue where that came from but it's cool that he actually pays attention during class.

This weekend I'm throwing a baby shower for my friend Jes. I hope it's a great time!! I doubt she likes games- but she gets no choice! I have some fun ones planned. Nothing gross, no smelling dirty diapers or eating baby food. I'm looking forward to some good food, good friends and CAKE!

Having 2 other couples over on Sunday for The Super Bowl. Dan's going to make chili and we'll have all the fixings! My high school friend Paul and his girlfriend are coming over- they said they are bringing cupcakes. I asked no more questions! We LOVE cupcakes! :-)

Enough rambling... off to make that soup!!!

Well I Tried.

I was really trying to be good about posting often so that this blog was more fun to read. But then life got away from me.

I went to the doctor's this morning and was told I have my normal case of asthmatic bronchitis again. I have a new inhaler. Hopefully the steroids will help with all of my coughing in the next 24 hours or so.

We went out and got a Wii today!!! Yahoo!!! Dan and I sat on the couch tonight (yes the same couch and same level of the house) and played for a few hours! That stupid fitness test told me I'm 76. NICE!!! Darn baseball game gets me every time! I plan to work on that though... maybe I'll be 49 by April Fools Day??

Yesterday I put Charlie down for the night. He must have been tired because he pointed to his bed once we got into his room. Then I asked if he wanted me to cover him up with a blanket. He pointed to the one he wanted. Then as I turned to close the door behind me he says "Bye" and waved! lol It was so cute that I couldn't stop laughing and I kept making him do it over and over. He NEVER asks to go to bed let alone says bye when I leave him in there! Maybe Charlie is turning over a new leaf?

Bedtime for me- hopefully I can prop myself up enough that I can sleep and not cough all night! Wish me luck!

Sorry Charlie, No More!

Tonight I was gave Charlie a bath. As soon as I set him in the tub- he did his normal- peed. He saw the stream going in the air and was watching it. As soon as he was done Charlie looked up at me and signed "More." Um, Charlie I can't make it do it again!!! For about 4 minutes he kept signing "more." Poor little guy just wanted to see the fountain some more and it was gone!

Bay City Family Xmas!

Yesterday was the big family Xmas party up in Bay City. I love my family to pieces because everyone gets to bet themselves. And boy do they!!! We were missing my Uncle Carl and Aunt Leanne, Becky and her family, Mike and his fiancée. There were 17 adults and Brody, Maddy, Ally, Cammy, Grace, Mia and Charlie running around providing entertainment for the rest of us.

Dana was nice enough to host at her new house. It fit us all and there were tons of toys for the kids to play with. Charlie loves playing with his 3rd cousin Brody who is 8. Maybe it's because Brody will play BALL with Charlie for hours and hours! Charlie received some wonderful gifts from the family and was excited to wake up this morning and play with them some more. We just need a bigger house to fit everything in!

Let's see where the strange parts started...

Was it when Katy left to go ride the mechanical bull she has been talking about all night? - nah that's normal
Was it when we decided to take a family picture on the stairs? (the nice one is above) and Aunt Linda & Dana decided to flash the camera? nah that's normal also
Was it when Uncle Tim who had had his fair share of drinks wanted to play soccer in the kitchen and knocked over the wine glass and it went flying? And yes, of course I was standing right there wearing a cream sweater! nah that seems normal for us too.
Was it when Aunt Sue mentioned that her earing hole closed up and she wanted my Aunt Linda (who is a nurse) to poke a new one? Here were the items we had on hand, rubbing alcohol, a starter stud earing,ice cube and a piece of cheese. Can you see where this is going? Yup- Aunt Linda used the cheese where most people would use a potato! I couldn't stop laughing!!! OUCH! Aunt Sue is a true woman to go through that pain. I offered her a shot and she said no thanks!
Was it when I taught my family a dirty hand gesture which then was taught to my cousin Dana's daughter! If she accomplished it successfully Dana promised her $5! Mia who is 2.5 showed us immediately that she could do it! We started clapping and it scared her to tears- Dana gave her $10!
Could it be when Charlie was showing the bigger kids how to throw balls and kick a soccer ball? It's funny how amazed people are by how well he can do this at the age of 19 months!
Was it my cousin Tim's Fiancée that couldn't say no to the Jim Beam shot and then was later found in the kitchen scrounging for food because she was drunk!?!?

My guess... it was all of the above which made it another great family Xmas!

I miss seeing my family more. They are so welcoming and make you feel like you just saw them last week when really it's been a year! I also love that they make fun of Dan and refer to him as Skinny instead of Dan even after all these years! We are hoping to plan a cousin's Snuggie bar crawl!!! Katy and Dana are 2 of my best friends and basically sisters to me. I could sit and tell stories with them for a whole weekend. We would laugh and cry and probably drink a lot!

Charlie's Potty is here!!!!

No, I'm not potty training him, but probably someday right? I did however find a great deal on the potty I wanted for him so I figured it could sit in the closet for a while. It is the Bjorn and I got it for 50% off!! So I ordered it. (Actually 2 of them- one for each floor.) Charlie was excited when he saw it! It wasn't because he knew what it was but probably because it was something I actually let him play with!

I put it on the floor and asked if he wanted to sit on it.


Then I told him he needed to turn around.




I decided to stop taking pictures of Charlie sitting on his new potty. He carried it into the Living Room and I heard a thump! So what would any mother do? I took more pictures!




Charlie was fine- cried while I laughed because he was stuck in it!!!

Thankfully he got really excited when he realized that the potties came in a BOX! (a new word now! Thanks Amazon.com!) Dan, Charlie and I played with the box for about 45 minutes. Charlie kept signing more when Dan would close it on him and he would pop out! I threatened Dan not to throw this box away for a few days! This will be great entertainment!

Advent Calendar & Some Pictures!

I figured you guys would rather see some pictures of Charlie than something I have to say!

Ohhh... real quick. My favorite thing so far about the Christmas Season is the Advent Calendar. Charlie gets to open a door after dinner every night. I sit on the kitchen floor and he comes and sits on my lap. We look around for the number for the current day and we open it. Inside is a little piece of chocolate. However, before he gets to eat the chocolate (which he does say now!! So my child!) I talk to him about what the picture is that we just opened and he kisses the picture. I don't know how that started but it's kinda feel that it just makes him stop and be thankful for each day that we do this. Now, if you have ever seen Charlie eat a cupcake (more like inhale) this is the exact opposite. He will hold that little piece of chocolate in his little fingers and lick it. Actually this sounds cute- but it's not. This just makes for more melted chocolate all over his hands and he doesn't understand that he can't go in other rooms until it's gone. So for that last two days after about 10 minutes of him licking the chocolate Dan has held his hands down and put the chocolate in his mouth. We are mean parents aren't we?? We actually make our child EAT the chocolate!! ha ha oh well... we gave him his chance and after a while he just needs to eat the slimy bit of goodness. I love doing this every night and I can't wait to do it for years to come with him! (at some point I'll let him just do it and won't make him sit on my lap- but not until he's like 17!)

onward to pictures...
I thought it was too quiet- I found him out in the Florida Room playing cards!


Even though Charlie is always on the go- he does love to color!



He already likes to lick the spoon when I bake!

Black Friday & Being Thankful

I'm getting excited to venture out on BF this year! My friend Lisa and I are gonna hit the stores. I don't know what I'm shopping for and I don't even know where we are going. Oh well... it's the thrill of it that I'm looking forward to! I haven't been in years. Well, I take that back, I went last year but it's to Kohl's and Target and I went at 8:00pm. It didn't count!

Today I am thankful for my mother in law, Laurie. We went to the zoo yesterday and out to lunch. Then she took Charlie for the night! Dan is off hunting so this meant about 28 hours to myself!!! I had the chance to pick up around the house and then go out with Lisa!! We went to BW's for beers and dinner. YUM! It's been a long time since I've had the chance to just go out and think like an adult! We had adult conversation and actually we didn't talk about Charlie or Benjamin all that much! It was very much needed. I slept in the middle of the bed, slept till 10:30am and read the paper in my pj's. I should be cleaning more but man it feels good to just do NOTHING!!! I do plan to shower and go to Laurie's for dinner time to pick Charlie up. I'm sure by then I'll miss him more than I do now! (ok ok I do miss him but I'm enjoying this!) So- today I'm thankful for wonderful family that realized that I needed a break and took Charlie for a night! I hope Dan is having fun "hunting!"

Today is Thursday.

We were diagnosed with H1N1 on Monday. Since then I have been to CVS to pick up drugs and a quick trip to Kohl's yesterday to remain sain. WHAT am I gonna do today? It's cold out, I have a headache and really shouldn't be out in public. We are bored!!!!! We are lonely!!!! hmmm any suggestions? I should clean but I don't have the energy yet for that. How much TV can a 1.5 year old and his mother watch??

Oh yeah... and Dan is going hunting this weekend so Charlie and I will have more QT together. We will be leaving the house by then!!! RIGHT? :-)

Oink Oink

This past weekend I started getting a sore throat and a cough. It gradually got worse and Monday I couldn't take it. I called the doctor. I know how fast my cough goes right to my chest and turns into bronchitis. I used the "I'm Charlie's Mom" and I got in at 11:40! I was really surprised how the appointment then proceeded to go... "I'm going to have you tested for the flu." Ummm what? I have a cough and a sore throat. But I guess some of the other symptoms I described fell into flu or piggy flu. Headache, sore throat, dry cough, tired etc. So off I went to get tested. About 10 minutes later it came back as negative! GREAT! However Doctor walks into the office and says, "Yes it came back negative, however, if it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck- I have to call it a duck." I am back on the nebulizer, cough meds with codeine and Tamiflu. Because of Dan showing some signs and living with me he's also on Tamiflu and Charlie too. Charlie got the liquid version (which he loves!!!) He always asks for more!

That reminds me... I forgot to give Charlie his second dose tonight. Augh, I think I'll go wake him up for it. Bummer!!! But I'd rather him wake up for a few minutes than get really sick!

oink oink. H1N1 has hit our house! (I'm feeling much better today just really really tired!)

We've been busy!!!

While I've had a lot going on and reasons to post... I've been a tired mommy! It all started last Thursday... In town there was an H1N1 flu shot clinic going on. I feel this is important for Charlie and I wanted to make sure he got it. They were asking that only certain risk groups got it and so Dan and I did not get it yet. We got in line at 4:40 and didn't get out of there until 8:40- yup 4 hours standing outside in line waiting for Charlie to get a shot. He was so tired and cold but I did get one picture of him with his daddy right before he got it.


We had wanted to get pumpkins this night but since the line ended up being so long we went the following night. Well, sort of. It was raining and the place we were gonna get them from had like 10 pumpkins left over (Oct 30th at 5pm) so Dan got out of the car and picked a pumpkin while Charlie and I pointed from the car! We went to carve the pumpkin after dinner and of course it was rotten. Charlie kept wanting to stick his hands in the guts but they were GROSS! Still glad we had the chance to do this as a family. Here are some pictures!






So... now we are at Halloween. Dan's parents came over along with my mom for the traditional Sloppy Joe Dinner! My grandma had 5 kids and on Halloween all the cousins would come over- grandma made sloppy joes because they were filling, cheap and easy! My mom made them for me for every Halloween and now I'll do it for Charlie! (I know my cousins do it also!) Charlie is still coughing a lot and not feeling his best so we did let him go trick or treating but only to like 15 houses and once it got colder we brought him home. He LOVED it! He had his mom and his dad by the hand and was running from house to house. He just looked at everyone in masks and didn't show fear at all. One kid even tried to scare him and Charlie basically laughed at the kids effort. It was another great holiday with Charlie! oh yeah- Charlie LOVES pumpkins and calls them pumpbump Pictures:

Scary monsters in the bathtub.

I am a mean mom. Yup. I know I am. I have a child who growls at his shadow on the bathtub wall.... I growl back. He is terrified of his shadow. No, it's not his normal shadow- it's only when I give him a bubble bath mohawk! Charlie will jump off of a couch, cut his lip, or even run full speed into a wall and not cry, but as soon as he saw himself in the bathtub he cried and needed to be picked up. The worst part about this... I've growled back more than once. I thought the first time might be a fluke- nope 2 different baths and he's been terrified! Poor kid. This is just the beginning of my meanness I'm sure!

The purpose of this blog

I have thought for a little while that it would be fun to write down just random things that are going on in our lives. I would love to be able to go back a year from now and re-read the funny things that Charlie does or say. BTW- Charlie is 16 months old. His birthday is 5.2.08 and is one funny little boy. I don't want to forget the random things that go on in my life with him right now. I also would love a way to put my thoughts onto paper and maybe get some advice when needed. Who knew that I would ever say "You do realize that you just ate your toe jam don't you?" See... it's those things that I want to come back to and laugh at years from now! Thanks for reading the blog and I hope you get to see a little into our lives!