Dad has the touch

Dad came home tonight and started his nightly ritual of putting Charlotte to bed. He has been putting her to bed every night. He heads upstairs with her, warm bottle in hand. The ritual should be....change her clothes and diaper, then give her a baby massage with grape seed oil.....then giver her the bottle.....burp her....wrap her up like a burrito in her swaddle....then more milk until she is about to fall asleep.

Tonight she was just about finished with her massage when dad decided to put Charlotte on her tummy (which she hates). Mom always complains that Charlotte refuses "tummy time" which the doctor says is very necessary to develop her muscles. Dad was expecting her to start crying, but instead she lifted herself up on her elbows and looked right at him. So while this is happening mom comes into the bedroom to hook up the video monitor and she sees her daughter happy as can be on her tummy. She looked so cute and so grown up!

Oliver keeps getting into trouble during the day. Yesterday he ate a scouring pad and stole moms yogurt off the coffee table. Last week he got into the trash. Today was a leftover lolipop stick and an elastic band. Dad thinks he is starved for attention!

Here are a few pictures of the bathroom remodel job. Dad is available for hire.

Happy 1st year Anniversary

Mom and Dad sent me to the babysitters on Saturday night, they felt they should celebrate their 1st year anniversary without me. I had fun at the babysitters, Kelly tired to give me a bottle but all I could do was smile, then I went to sleep. She said I didn't even make a peep. Mom and Dad brought dessert back as a Thank You for Kelly and Dave. Mom and Dad said dinner was nice..mom drank a lot of Moscato I was told.

Sunday Dad just about finished the bathroom..it's almost done! and it looks great. Mom and I played, she read me books and gave me a bath. She also put together my 5-in-1 gym Paul and Jena gave me before I was born. She did it all by herself. I liked looking at it but I am still too small to hit the buttons. Mom did that for me so I got to enjoy it.

I can't forget to tell you that mom hemmed some curtains. They were curtains she had but they were too long so she hemmed them, all by herself. She did a good job. Grammy taught her how to use the sewing machine when she came to visit and my mom is so smart she remember how to use it..even how to thread the bobbin.

Tonight we are headed to Paul and Jena's for dinner, they are having us over again. They are so nice. We definitely have to have them over for dinner soon. Mom and dad just haven't figured out how to even eat dinner together yet..so it may be awhile. But we owe them.

playdate

Mom took me to Collin's house today, we had a great time. We rode there with Brodie and Mason in the minivan, mom and dad should get one since we all fit. We need a bigger car because Abby and Ollie need to fit, if they come in our car my stroller doesn't. So, anyway I will try to convinve them to get the minivan. Eventhough mom's going through a "new mom" crisis. She is afraid she is going to start looking and dressing like a new mom..you know wearing "mom jeans". So, back to Collin's we had a good time we got to play with all his toys. I had a harem of men around me..what a lucky girl.

Mom went to get her haircut once dad got home..once again b/c of the "new mom " crisis. Well she she asked to have a tier four person cut her hair based on a 1-6 tier and she got a 1. She knows because it went by price. Well, lets just say she doesn't look any different it's just a little shorter. So I guess you get what you paid for. I stayed home with dad, mom left at 6:40 and I was in bed fast asleep by 7pm. Dad is a pro getting me to sleep. He does the best job ever. He actually puts me to bed everynight. I dont' think mom would have a clue what to do. She's usually getting a break from me. He comes home shovels down some food then it's "dad time". I love it!

Thursday

Despite sleeping 8 hours on Wednesday night, little Charlotte did NOT have a great day on Thursday. Of course she didn't want to nap at all during the day, which of course leads us to being?? overtired. Which makes us? cranky.

Dad promises to complete the bathroom "remodeling" this weekend. He was thrown for a little loop when the "linen faux painting technique" really didn't look like linen and really looked horrible. So time to repaint the walls yet again. This makes coat number 8 of paint. We will post pictures when it is finally completed.

Sunday is mom and dad's one year anniversary. Dad says year 1 you are susposed to give paper which is awesome since he has plenty of paper products around the house. Paper nakpkins, paper plates, tissues, toilet paper, and computer paper. He might just give mom an assortment of paper, sort of like giving an assortment of chocolates.

Hard to believe in 1 year the following has happened:
Mom got pregnant (how it happened we still are not sure but we really think it was the fertility goddess in Mexico on the honeymoom)
Mom and Dad sold the house in MA
Dad took at new job
Mom and Dad moved out of the house in MA and into the house in VT
Bike week 2005, rain and mud as usual
Mom and Dad bought the house
Mom quits her job
Mom and Dad moved into the house
Dad puts in fence at new house
Mom chops off finger in food processor
Mom and Dad have baby Charlotte

That a lot of major things in one year. We hope and pray 2006 is a little less hectic and certainly less dramatic.

I WAS rested this morning

I slept for mom and dad lastnight from 8pm till 4:45 in the morning. Mom was so happy that I did it..but boy was she full once I woke up. It was great for me b/c she filled my tummy right up. I hope they don't think I am going to do this every night. I just wanted to give it a try. I haven't been napping during the day much and it has been making me crabby..and tired. But I think I enjoy my days better when I nap, so maybe in the next couple of days I'll go back to taking naps during the day which I guess would give mom a break . I really enjoy her holding me when I am crabby and sometimes it's really fun to make her try out all sorts of things to cheer me up. The songs she sings and the dances she does, I wish I had a hidden camera so you all could see her..too funny!
I'll keep you posted.

Music...Music..Music

Mom and I had our first community outing together today, we went to the community church to see Amy Conley perform. She is a musician who plays the guitar, banjo and harmonica, she also had puppets. I had fun just watching all the kids run around and misbehave. I didn't misbehave I just sat on Mom's lap. The music was great after about 10 minutes it put me right to sleep in my favorite spot..mom's arms. I stayed alseep until we left the building when the cold air took my breathe away...we walked to and from the event since the church is basically in our back yard.
We met Olivia there. My mom and her mom were in childbirth class together and have been keeping in touch since then. They both went to the class and low and behold they both had to have c-sections. Then she came over to my house and we played for a little while..she was overtired and cried so they had to go home. Then it was my turn to cry..I held off while she was over because I am 1 week older and I wanted to show them how mature I am. But, then I was overtired and hungry again so I cried.
Oh and I have kind of given in to the whole pacifier thing. I use it to go to sleep at night..sometimes. Mom and dad have been trying to get me to use that thing since I was 2 or 3 weeks old, but I liked mom better than a piece of rubber. Now I realize I am not getting mom so I may as well take that plastic thing since it helps. I think I kind of like it, but don't tell my mom and dad becuase then they may want me to use it all the time.

Not a very exciting week

This week Mom and I didn't do very much exciting. I have been a bit grumpy and I'm not sure I'm feeling very well. I have green boogers, and something on my eye lid that the doctor says is eczema ( mom doesn't believe her) it's crusty yellow...Yuck! However, we did venture out for a walk b/c two of the days were beautiful. Friday we lost power and went to Kelly's house to play with Mason and Brodie by the time we got there they had lost power as well. We stayed a few hours cause without power the more the merrier.

Friday night we went to visit Paul, Jena and Alex. Paul got a new job so we went to celebrate, we had delicious pizza and Paul made irresistible cookies... all by himself.

Saturday mom and I went to the Women's Expo in Manchester with Kelly and Brodie , he's a boy but they let him in anyway and I wasn't complaining because we had fun with our mom's. They had all sorts of women's things and stuff women like especially chocolate. They tried to make the chocolate healthy by having it cover fruit, but mom wasn't fooling me I know she was eating it for the chocolate, not the fruit. We saw the doctor that delivered me and Brodie saw the Midwife that helped deliver him (without drugs..I think his mom is crazy).
Dad was at home all day with Abby and Ollie. He's painting the bathroom and the basement.....sounds like too any projects to me but if you know my dad you'll understand. I can't wait to see it all when he's done, he's working so hard. I bet it will look great.

Another Monday

Monday's suck. End of story.

Sorry it's been a little while since updating the blog. Time flies. Last week Charlotte got her booster shots! She did not enjoy the experience whatsoever. She was very cranky Thursday night after the ordeal. A slight fever but nothing to be too concerned about. Luckily dad did not go to the pediatrician's office with them or he would have questioned every shot.

Friday night she went to dinner with Mom and Dad, Paul and Jena, and Tracey and Jon to UnWined. A very cool wine/fondue bistro in Manchester NH. We tried to time it for a 7:30pm reservation, since that is when Charlotte goes to sleep. However, she didn't sleep the whole time there. She sat there, looked at all the people, and just relaxed. Maybe it was because it was a dark place with mellow music. Dad swears mom slipped Charlotte a little sip of wine. Everyone in the place was amazed at how well behaved she was. If they only knew!

Saturday dad gutted the bathroom and the living room in the basement (aka. the gym). Two rooms at once is a little much but his ADD got the best of him.

Sunday we got snowed it. It was nice. We had the fire going, played music, and relaxed. A great family day. :)

Monday, as stated above, dad went back to work. Need I say more?

This week Mom, Charlotte, Abigail, and Oliver are leaving Dad to go to Vermont. Mom says something about visiting friends. Dad thinks she is getting cabin fever and well...she is probably getting a little tired with dad and his projects. He has a feeling she is leaving hoping that when she returns the bathroom and living room will be back to normal. Come on, you know him better than that. Expect them in shambles for a few weeks!

Im not going if he is wearing a dress too!

Charlotte takes New York

Mom, Dad, Charlotte, Abigail, & Oliver packed into the car on Saturday morning and headed to Aunt Tiffany & Uncle Ian's house on Long Island for Liam's Christening extravaganza. They left at 8:30 am and made it all the way to Bridgeport CT before Charlotte started stirring. Instead of pulling over to feed her dad decided it would be nice to take the ferry. Perfect timing. They had enough time to walk the dogs and start feeding Charlotte before driving onto the ferry. By the time mom was done feeding Charlotte they made it across the sound and were only 45 minutes from Huntington NY. Charlotte travelled amazingly well.

Saturday night was spent visiting with the family. Ian, Grandpa, and Ian's brother Rob were busy in the basement builidng walls (they are turning the basement into another room). Dad was busy doing a lot of nothing. :) We all went to bed around 10pm. Charlotte slept until 4am!! The longest stretch so far in a basenette.

Sunday dad did some work down in the basement while Mom, Tiffany, and Nanny did girl stuff upstairs. The Christening was at 2:30 and it was very nice. Liam looked so cute in his little dress...and Charlotte was a doll. Thank you Tiffany and Ian for letting us stay with you. Despite the long drive we had a great time hanging out and look forward to the next visit.

Another week has passed

Things didn't get much better with Charlotte by Tuesday....so mom took her into the pediatrician. They said she seems to be ok, but they did up her Zantac to three times a day and a larger dose. The doctor asked how she was sleeping and when mom told him that she only fell asleep in our arms he got a little upset. He told her its time to start putting her down so she can fall asleep on her own. So over the past few days we have tried it and it seems to be going pretty well! Knock on wood! The Zantac seems to be helping the reflux as well. However, mom decided to lay Charlotte on her belly tonight to give her a back massage and all hell broke loose. She was very very upset with mom, screaming and crying. Of course when dad held her she stopped crying. She really was upset with mom.

This weekend we are going to Long Island for Liams Superbowl Sunday Christening. I have a feeling Charlotte may look better than Liam in a dress. :) We will give you updates and post some pictures later on this weekend.