2011 Will Be a Good Year.

What a difference a year makes. Charlie was born at the very end of 2009, but we didn't get home from the hospital until early January 2010. I had a c-section and took full advantage of the staff at the hospital and stayed as long as I possibly could in the hospital. Tuna Melt? Yes, please. Let us watch your baby in the nursery while you sleep? Mmm hmm. Take your catheter out? Shirley. Oh, those were the days.

The first 3 months of 2010 are a bit hazy for me/us. We were sleep deprived, our life changed drastically, and I left the house about 5 times. Each 3 months that passed, it got better and better. It was never bad, but there was definately an adjustment period. I was still adjusting not too long ago. It wasn't before the last month or so that I felt I adjusted to being a mom. I was reading a blog and they confessed it wasn't an easy adjustment for her, she felt lied to, that motherhood wasn't what she thought it was going to be like. I admit I felt the same way. I remember people saying very early on, "isn't being a mommy GREAT?!" as puppies and rainbows were coming out of their ears. I've always loved and adored Charlie but being a mom didn't come as naturally to me as I thought it would. I felt like I was going through the motions, second guessing myself and ached for "me time". These things made me feel like I wasn't a good mom, how can I want "me time" away from my precious baby? These thoughts sent me down Post Partum Depression Lane a few times. It wasn't severe but I definately felt off and not myself and couldn't do anything about it. I didn't like the person I was.

But...the happy ending to the story is I feel like I'm back to myself or as close to it as I can. I'll never be the same, being a mom does that to you but in a great way. For me, time has made being a mom easier (not easy, easier) and FUN! It probably has something to do with the little person Charlie is becoming, his personality kills me. So with that said, I'm very excited to see whats to come in 2011. I'm looking forward to new words, new discoveries and fun exploring the world through the eyes of a little person.

2010, you've been probably the most memorable year of my life. I've learned a lot from you but I'm ready to move on.

Deep Thoughts of an almost 1 Year Old.

Hmmm, what shall I do today?

I know, take my new wheels out for a spin! Thanks Grandpa and Nonni!

How you doin'?

2010 Christmas Festivities.

On Christmas Eve, we went to my parent's house for our annual Fondue Christmas dinner.

After dinner, we opened stockings from Mimi and Poppy. After dinner, we all parted ways. On our way home we stopped by a house that was mentioned in our local paper for claiming to have the biggest Christmas lights display in town. Not sure if it was true, but we did enjoy looking at the lights.

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On Christmas morning, Charlie slept in until 7:30 am which was an excellent gift for us. After he got up and we gave him a bottle, we got down to business.

Charlie with his Santa gift.

 Daddy helping Charlie.

 Have I mentioned Charlie likes to climb on his presents?

 After we opened our gifts, we headed over to my sister's to exchange presents and have breakfast.

From this angle, you would never know I didn't have makeup on.

The 3 Musketeers - Gracie in a mermaid dress, Charlie in PJs and Emily with her shirt worn as a skirt.

After breakfast, we headed back home to get ready for our 20 dinner guests.

Charlie with his cousin, Carla.

 

The next morning we went to my inlaws to exchange gifts and Charlie was spoiled, again. He is one lucky boy. We are trying to space out the new gifts and do a new toy every few days. We'll see how long that lasts.

We had a good Christmas and I think Charlie's first Christmas was a success. A bit hectic at times, but a good day.

Making Holiday Cookies.

We got together at my parent's house to make Christmas cookies. I was watching an active Charlie so all I was able to was mix the dry ingredients for 1 cookie batch and take the foil off some Hershey Kisses. This year was a little different than prior years. Not better or worse, just different. Well, I guess I can agrue it was better because Mr. Charlie was with us this year.

When we walked in, Gracie and Emily were all snuggly on the couch with a blanket, watching a movie. I was really jealous. I think that was the most jealous I have ever been of a 3.5 and 1.5 year old.

 Gracie asked to cuddle with Charlie. The sweet moment lasted 3.5 seconds.

 Grampy showing the kids how to use the train.

 Gracie watering her flower, Charlie.

I tried to include an image of my mom and sister making the cookies but blogger is giving me a hard time so I'm stopping here.

Happy Christmas Eve!

If You Buy Charlie a Present,

please make sure its not breakable.

The Inevitable is Coming.

In about a week, she will no longer be with us.

Well technically she will be in a box in a closet underneath our staircase but you know what I mean. The glow from her lights will not be seen from the streets or enjoyed by us on the inside. One by one her ornaments will be stripped until she is a barenaked tree with nothing covering her but the lights that no longer shine.

Bah humbug. I'm trying to enjoy the holiday season as I always do, but when I was at my mom and dad's house today baking Christmas cookies, it dawned on me that this will all be over soon. I know some people don't like the holidays and I do not understand that or try to but I love this time of year, it really is the most wonderful time of the year.

On the flip side, when my favorite season is ending, this little guy will be celebrating his 1st birthday. Now that's something to look forward to!

2nd Santa Attempt.

Taken at our Las Madres Holiday Party at the Little Gym. Taken on a cell phone so not the greatest quality but you can get the jist that it went about as well as attempt #1.

Charlie's First Vist to See Santa.

Not exactly a success, but thats ok. We're seeing another Santa tonight so we'll see how that goes.

RIP Umbrella, Ella...

Its raining a bit this morning and so I blew the dust off my trusty Eddie Baur umbrella and hiked my way into the office building. As I was walking, I was thinking about how long I've had the umbrella. My mom got it for me before college so it must have been in jr. high or high school. In college, my friend Stephanie and I would go grocery shopping together and she would laugh and say these cookies reminded her of my plaid umbrella:

I update my wardrobe and other stuff maybe more often than I should but for some reason, I've held onto this umbrella. I think it was in style, then sooo not in style, but now its all retro and in style again thanks to the trendy plaid shirts for ladies that have come back in style.

Unfortunately, I have to say goodbye to my umbrella. When I got into the office, she would not go down. I pulled with all my might but she is stuck and refuses to deflate. So I did what any other normal person would do and scrunched her up, bent her frame and put her in the garbage.

You've been good to me my friend.

I Highly Recommend This....

Smear 1 triangle on a small apple and you got yourself a one point WW snack. Mmm, you can thank me now. Or later, whatever works.

The Annual Christmas Card Photo Saga.

It’s that time of year again, the time where families gather for the annual Christmas photo. Those in the picture try to show a little effort in what they are wearing and the photographer tries to create a Norman Rockwell type of scene. Sometimes during these painful joyful photo ops, things don’t go as planned or you don’t really capture the look you were going for.


We try to have dinner at my parents house every Sunday with my sister Ashley and her family. A week ago my mom asked us to dress Christmas-y so she can take a picture of all of us for her Christmas card. We modified the dress code from “Christmas-y” to “just don’t wear sweats and take your hair out of a pony tail.” Since we have not taken our family pictures yet, I asked my mom to snap a few of just us (me, Rob, Charlie) for our Christmas card in hopes we have 1 good enough to send out to family and friends.


Here is what we got…

A stoned Charlie and an impromptu visit from cousin Gracie

No, Charlie, look over there!

Ok, fine. We gave up on the family photo. I decided to try to get some cute ones of just Charlie and I (and Gracie and a ruler, apparently). My butt to my shoulder is 18 inches if you really want to know.

This one turned out really cute I think except for, well, you know…

Well at least she is smiling in this one.

The ruler is back.

My mom’s attempt to not get Gracie in the picture.

Needless to say, we did not go with any of these pictures for our holiday card.

The Beach in the Winter (I guess we're technically in fall??)

We went to the beach last weekend, just the four of us. Friday was the worst night ever. Charlie had a late nap (woke up at 6:15 pm), then fell asleep on the way to the beach. I got him down around 9:30 and he was up at 11:30 and then back down again around 3:00 am. Luckily the four of us took a 2 hour 10 min nap together later that day.

Charlie in the morning, enjoying the view.

Charlie did this a lot this weekend. I sat on the stairs a lot, catching him. He hasn't learned what gravity is yet.

Charlie put himself in a time out. Then he couldn't figure out how to get out and got pissed. I, being the good mama I am, grabbed my camera while he was stuck, crying, with a powerstrip begging to zap his toes.

This kid loves to look at books. He'll sit there by himself and look at the pages and turn them. Its pretty sweet.

This is 5 mins later when he looked up and saw I was there the whole time.

Before it started raining, we took a family walk.

 It rained during our walk, but not too badly.

 Well, I guess it rained quite a bit....

Then Charlie played his favorite game "put your crotch on daddy's face"

 "Me too, me too, I wanna play!" -Buddy

 And then Charlie's 2nd favorite, "you'll poke your daddy's eye out, kid!"

 And third favorite, fish hooking mama

 That evening while I was chatting with my mom, I noticed the sun was going down. As we were chatting I put Charlie down, grabbed the camera and ran outside to get this. If you look closely, you can see a little bird flying by the sunset. And another little bird is on the sand.

 I was hoping to catch up with an 'ol friend this weekend but that never happened.

 Sunday morning was a bit chilly like the other days so I enjoyed some morning cocoa on floor next to Charlie and the heater vent.

 And a few hours later we were outta there. See you next month, beach!