Thursday, November 18, 2010
Canyon cookout
When Richard and Catherine were here in October, we had to take advantage of the gorgeous lingering fall weather to have a canyon cookout. It was so fun to gather our family with Richard's family in sharing a meal and our love for the mountains! Charlie was in heaven throwing rocks in the river with Lily, Sam and Taylor (Richard and Catherine's niece). And of course, Baby Elizabeth was the star!
Still proud to be Utes
Despite two big losses, we're still proud to be Utes! We gathered to watch the Utes take on TCU and unfortunately, as the game went on, we weren't quite as chipper. But don't we look good in red?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Charlie- 19 months
Charlie has really loved getting to know his baby cousin, Elizabeth, this past month. Catherine and Elizabeth have been fun companions to have around. He's been practicing being soft to the baby (he needs a lot of practice). We ask him, "Where's baby Elizabeth?" and he loves to point to her and say, "There she is!" The other day, Cat asked him to give Elizabeth a hug and he gave her a big smooch instead. Precious.
He's gotten much more mischievous recently. He climbs on the couch, or ottoman, or my bed and loves to JUMP! I'm just waiting for the day that he takes a header off the couch- it's bound to happen one of these days. He also loves to sneak into the bathroom and play in the toilet or climb into the tub. With a house full of people, it's hard to make sure the bathroom doors are always closed.
He loves to wash his hands in the sink (maybe that's why he plays in the toilet?- he knows I'll wash his hands after.)
He's fearless on our (very tall and steep) backyard slide and at the park. He's tough, too- even when he goes down sideways, backwards or if he lands too hard at the end he's ready to go again!
He's becoming more and more interested in cars and trucks and trains. One of his favorite activities is watching the "diggers" (bulldozers and backhoes) at our next-door-neighbor's house under construction.
He recently watched his first Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp, one night when Sam and Lily slept over. He loved it because of all the "woof woof"s in it.
Charlie amazed me by sitting quietly and watching McKenzie and Emily play mancala for the longest time without interfering! And then when it was his turn to play with the marbles, he put them in each little spot carefully over and over (and none went into his mouth!)
Having some quiet time with James one day
Just cuddling with Daddy
Helping Grandma water the garden (one of the last warm days we had!)
Charlie in his super cozy nest that Grandpa made him
Borrowing Grandma's glasses- I think he looks like Chicken Little
He's gotten much more mischievous recently. He climbs on the couch, or ottoman, or my bed and loves to JUMP! I'm just waiting for the day that he takes a header off the couch- it's bound to happen one of these days. He also loves to sneak into the bathroom and play in the toilet or climb into the tub. With a house full of people, it's hard to make sure the bathroom doors are always closed.
He loves to wash his hands in the sink (maybe that's why he plays in the toilet?- he knows I'll wash his hands after.)
He's fearless on our (very tall and steep) backyard slide and at the park. He's tough, too- even when he goes down sideways, backwards or if he lands too hard at the end he's ready to go again!
He's becoming more and more interested in cars and trucks and trains. One of his favorite activities is watching the "diggers" (bulldozers and backhoes) at our next-door-neighbor's house under construction.
He recently watched his first Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp, one night when Sam and Lily slept over. He loved it because of all the "woof woof"s in it.
Charlie amazed me by sitting quietly and watching McKenzie and Emily play mancala for the longest time without interfering! And then when it was his turn to play with the marbles, he put them in each little spot carefully over and over (and none went into his mouth!)
Having some quiet time with James one day
Just cuddling with Daddy
Helping Grandma water the garden (one of the last warm days we had!)
Charlie in his super cozy nest that Grandpa made him
Borrowing Grandma's glasses- I think he looks like Chicken Little
Monday, November 08, 2010
Baby Elizabeth comes to town!
We've been lucky enough to have Baby Elizabeth visiting for over a month (along with her parents, too, of course). She is so darling and petite and full of personality! We all love her, especially Charlie! He's working on giving her soft loves. :)
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Charlie- 18 months
I can't believe that Charlie is 18 months old! It seems like such a grown up and tiny age simultaneously.
We love our "little man"!
Here's some notes and photos about Charlie at 18 months (Sept. 25th).
Charlie loves this little bus (he actually has two). He likes to put all of his other small trucks in it and push it around. One day I found him using as a little seat, too. Smart little problem solver.
Getting Charlie to show us his "muscles" (a trick we learned from cousin James)
Helping Grandma Bev water the flowers
Charlie loves to drive his trucks on the couch, on my legs, and on other people's heads (unfortunately, poor Elizabeth was the recipient of that one day)
Mama's little helper
Sharing a caramel apple
Watching Barney on my laptop with Lily
Charlie was dying to share my soda from Top Stop, but I knew what he was really after was the cup and straw so I refilled it with water and let him go for it!
Chelsea found this little table and chairs set and graciously gave it to Charlie. He LOVES it. Even though he's still a little too short for the chair, he'll still sit there happily. He especially loves sitting there with Sam or Lily or James.
He's talking so much more every day. He's much more willing to try to repeat words when I ask him to as well as just surprising me by saying a word perfectly (to this mother's ears) and in context. He's been saying Grandma or Grandpa when we start driving down John's parents' street towards their house. He understands simple instructions and will mostly do carry them out. He'll get his shoes and my shoes when it's time to go outside. He'll put toys away in the box when I ask him to. If a door is shut, he knows to knock on it to get someone to open it.
The other day I we were trying to get out the door but I couldn't find my keys. I was talking to myself and Charlie and said, "As soon as I find the keys then we can go bye bye. Charlie, where are the keys?" To my utter amazement, he said, "There they are!" (in his baby speak but with just the right inflection) and pointed to the stairs where he had thrown the keys over the baby gate!
He's even busted out a few two-word sentences, my favorites of which is "Bye, Dad!" every morning as we drop John off at work and "Nigh-nigh, Moon" every night before bed. (He loves to look for the moon- even during the day!)
Saying goodnight to the moon with Daddy
He's signing more and more, with some of his signs surprising me! He's added thank you, please, hat, help, and milk.
He loves to tell me what each animal says and for now, we haven't run out of animals that have easily identifiable sounds. (Cat, dog, monkey, fish, horse, elephant, cow, sheep, bunny, pig, bird, (What will I do when he asks me what a giraffe says? Or a hedgehog? Google help me.)
He gets so excited to see Sam, Lily or James (his favorite playmates and cousins) that he runs up to them and squeezes them hard and gives head butt "hugs". Sam and Lily can usually handle this rough affection but poor James is just Charlie's height and he usually gets a "hug" right to the face. We'll have to work on showing our love softly!
Getting Charlie to show us his "muscles" (a trick we learned from cousin James) 
Helping Grandma Bev water the flowers
Charlie loves to drive his trucks on the couch, on my legs, and on other people's heads (unfortunately, poor Elizabeth was the recipient of that one day)
Mama's little helper
Sharing a caramel apple 
Watching Barney on my laptop with Lily
Charlie was dying to share my soda from Top Stop, but I knew what he was really after was the cup and straw so I refilled it with water and let him go for it!
He's becoming the master of impossible situations- he usually will yell for help and I'll find something like this
We pulled out a few of the baby things for baby Elizabeth while she's been in town and Charlie thinks that they're really fun to sit in.
Chelsea found this little table and chairs set and graciously gave it to Charlie. He LOVES it. Even though he's still a little too short for the chair, he'll still sit there happily. He especially loves sitting there with Sam or Lily or James.
He's talking so much more every day. He's much more willing to try to repeat words when I ask him to as well as just surprising me by saying a word perfectly (to this mother's ears) and in context. He's been saying Grandma or Grandpa when we start driving down John's parents' street towards their house. He understands simple instructions and will mostly do carry them out. He'll get his shoes and my shoes when it's time to go outside. He'll put toys away in the box when I ask him to. If a door is shut, he knows to knock on it to get someone to open it.
The other day I we were trying to get out the door but I couldn't find my keys. I was talking to myself and Charlie and said, "As soon as I find the keys then we can go bye bye. Charlie, where are the keys?" To my utter amazement, he said, "There they are!" (in his baby speak but with just the right inflection) and pointed to the stairs where he had thrown the keys over the baby gate!
He's even busted out a few two-word sentences, my favorites of which is "Bye, Dad!" every morning as we drop John off at work and "Nigh-nigh, Moon" every night before bed. (He loves to look for the moon- even during the day!)
Saying goodnight to the moon with Daddy
He's signing more and more, with some of his signs surprising me! He's added thank you, please, hat, help, and milk.
He loves to tell me what each animal says and for now, we haven't run out of animals that have easily identifiable sounds. (Cat, dog, monkey, fish, horse, elephant, cow, sheep, bunny, pig, bird, (What will I do when he asks me what a giraffe says? Or a hedgehog? Google help me.)
He gets so excited to see Sam, Lily or James (his favorite playmates and cousins) that he runs up to them and squeezes them hard and gives head butt "hugs". Sam and Lily can usually handle this rough affection but poor James is just Charlie's height and he usually gets a "hug" right to the face. We'll have to work on showing our love softly!
We love our "little man"!
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