Updates on Charlie

We've had two milestones with Charlie this week. First, we finally figured out how to give him a bath without him SCREAMING at the top, and I mean TOP of his lungs. The key you ask? The bathroom needs to be smoking hot, so hot that I want to strip down, and the water needs to be hot tub temperature. The boy is a diva (or should I say divo since he's clearly a boy??) when it comes to his bath. Before this week, we could only work up the courage to bathe him about once a week. That's how bad the crying was. Finally, super Coco suggested we sauna-fy the bathroom, and presto, it worked!! He's had three tear-free baths already this week, including one filled with smiles just tonight.

The second milestone is good for him, but stinks for me. Two weeks ago, I stopped eating any dairy, fruit or fresh vegges because he was having so much trouble with gas. His gas really died down, so we knew the omissions were working. I decided to add some dairy back in last night in the form of Jason's super yummy homemade pizza. Was that ever a mistake!!! The gas hit him like a ton of bricks today, and of course, it had to happen while Coco was keeping him. She had to endure a screaming baby until she could get him to pass some of the gas. So, I will no longer be eating any dairy. Does anyone know if I can take calcium so I don't miss out while I'm boycotting milk products? Man, do I ever miss my nightly schooner of chocolate milk...

The Birthday Boys!!

Hard to believe, but the big boys (not to be confused with the little boys -- lucky Carter can fall into either category depending on the situation) are now 8 and 4!! We had their party at a local art studio. Each child (there were 17 kiddos!!) got to choose a piece of pottery to paint. They could also make bead necklaces, paint with watercolors, and make crowns. All the kids had a great time, and all the parents were amazed at how quiet it was with so many kids in one room. That's what happens when you keep them busy.

Griffin painted a new piggy bank with Coco. Carter painted a "fire-breathing dragon" with his daddy...well actually Daddy painted it and Carter supervised. Jason also painted me a beautiful cross for our home. We will pick all the pieces next week after they have been fired in the kiln.

When it came it to open presents, Carter was so stinking cute. With every package he opened, and I mean every one, he yelled "This is my best present. It's just what I wanted!!!" He is so precious. Griffin was a bit more subdued, but he loved all his gifts.

If you are wondering about baby Charlie, he stayed home with a very dear friend of ours, Janice. She has a precious 10-month-old grandson, so she was right at home caring for Charlie. It was so nice to be able focus on the big boys for their special day. I know they enjoyed having us to themselves for a little while.

Let's relive the party, shall we?


Griffin and his best friend and cousin, Conner.



Grif and Coco painting Ms. Piggy(bank).



Carter and Daddy paint the fire-breathing dragon.

Carter making a bead necklace.

Griffin and his crown.



Carter's super yummy cake.




Get ready to blow...



Now, blow!!



Griffin's chocolate fudge cake.





Carter loved all his presents.



Carter and all his peeps.



Griffin and his gang.

Forgot to mention...

Charlie now weighs 14.4 pounds!!! And he is wearing 6-12 months clothes because he is so LONG.

I'm a slacker, I know:-0

Yes, I realize it's been six weeks since I posted anything. My excuses, in no particular order, are:
1. 3 kids
2. working 3 days a week at GameStop
3. a baby who doesn't always like to sleep
4. 2 bouts of swine flu (Griffin and Charlie)
5. laundry and toys that multiply when I'm not home to watch them

Okay, enough whining about my life. It's really wonderful...just stressful right now. But every day things are getting better with Charlie.

So, how's Charlie you ask? He's fabulous. He smiles all the time now and makes the cutest baby sounds. He can be a real pill about sleeping during the day, so I don't get much done around the house. Charlie is almost 3 1/2 months old now (can you BELIEVE IT!!!). He just started rolling over this week, but he gets stuck on one arm, which really tees him off.







Griffin continues to love school. We got his first report card, and it was straight As as usual. He is a reading machine...he is so my child. I can remember the joy I got from buying Scholastic books at school when I was a kid.

Carter Magee has started Museum School at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. He is learning about all sorts of animals, and the class is the highlight of his week. Today, they learned about bats.

Pig party
Last weekend, we went to my cousin's house for a birthday party. Little did we know it was actually a swine flu party as three of the seven cousins who could get sick (Griffin has already had it, so he was immune) have come down with piggy fever this week!!

Here are some fun photos from the party. First we have sweet Coco and baby Charlie showing off his smile.

Here are four of my favorite men in the world (my brother is missing unfortunately, or it would be five!!) -- my hubby, my two cousins and my dad. Notice my cousin and my dad go to the same hair stylist.

Out of eight great grandchildren, there are seven boys and one girl. Sounds like me growing up -- three boys and ME!! This is my angel, Sydney, and cousin Jonathan, Carter's best buddy who is almost 4.

Are they cute or what!!

And here's the motley crew of cousins, who range from 16 years old to 3 months.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!

Today we saw the eye doc

Charlie had his first of many check-ups with specialists today...the eye doctor. Dr. N was looking at Charlie's retinas to make sure the high levels of oxygen didn't cause any damage to the blood vessels feeding the retina. After putting drops in his eyes and waiting long enough I almost fell asleep in the exam room, Charlie's peepers were finally dilated. Of course, he was totally sacked out, which made it much easier for Dr. N to look at them.

After a thorough exam, Charlie's eyes are just fine. All the blood vessels are totally normal and healthy. He has some far-sightedness, but that is very common in infants and usually resolves itself. Carter was farsighted as an infant (he had an exam for a different issue), and believe me, now he can spot a "Tom and Jerry" DVD on the rack at Target from 50 yards!!! Unless we notice something unusual with Charlie's eyes, he doesn't have to go back to the eye specialist again!!

Our next round of specialist appointments are in January with the hearing center at Cook Children's (routine hearing tests for all infants who were on ventilators) and the Child Study Center (to make sure he's hitting all his developmental milestones). Charlie certainly seems to be a perfectly normal baby -- thank you God for hearing all the prayers for our son.

Sweet Charlie

Baby Charlie has hit a fun milestone -- he's starting to smile at us. Jason finally caught his sweet grin this morning as I was holding him. How can he already be 8 weeks old on Tuesday!!!





How sweet are his little hands!!




My angel taking an afternoon nap in his crib.




The boys...Charlie wasn't too happy about this photo.




But he was more cooperative in this one:-0

Oh, to be 7 again

Griffin is such a special boy. And does he ever LOVE LOVE LOVE school this year. Tonight when we were tucking him in, he told us he was very frustrated. Jason and I braced for something about how we told him "no" again or fussing about Carter playing with his Legos. What was frustrating him shocked us.

He said he wished he could go back to school right then and that he was sorry tomorrow was Saturday!!! And he was even more upset that Monday is a holiday. He was going to miss a day of learning new things. Of course, we know the real truth. He has his first teacher crush on Mrs. D (I don't use full names on my blog to protect the innocent:-0) He told us he loves her and that she makes learning so much fun that he can't wait to get into her classroom everyday. Why can't all teachers have her enthusiasm and joy for their students. Every child should have teachers like Mrs. D. Now, how many 7-year-old boys do you know who love school or their 2nd grade teacher that much? Griffin blesses us every day with his sweet spirit. I'm proud to be his mother.

One of his latest Lego creations--he just sits in his room and makes them up as he goes. No instructions necessary!!

Carter is so proud

I received a wonderfully sweet and touching book from my friend Kay P. (fellow Southwest Christian mom) as a baby gift for Charlie. The book is about remembering your children's "lasts" instead of their firsts. For example, remembering the last time you help them tie their shoes or rock them to sleep at night. It makes me teary every time I read it as I know I've already passed so many "lasts" with Griffin and Carter. Thanks to this book and Kay, I'm taking more notice of these special moments.

So as luck would have it, a "last" happened for Carter this week. He decided he didn't want his safety rail on his bed anymore, so Jason took it off for him. It's been four nights (and naps) now, and we haven't found him on the floor yet!! He is so proud of himself for not needing the rail. I'm proud too, sniff, sniff, but how can he be almost 4 already? He was Charlie's size just yesterday, wasn't he??

Legos, Legos and more Legos!!

On Saturday, Coco and Papa took the boys on a surprise trip to North Park mall and the coolest store ever for boys...Legoland!! They were in hog heaven since both of them love to build things with Legos. We sent them with some spending money, so they each picked out a couple of sets to build. Griffin also bought extra wheels, tires and ladders, and Carter got extra Lego men. They fight all the time over the silly men, so we were glad to see a few new ones come home. This is a trip we will take them on again...but NEVER again on a Saturday. My dad said it was a zoo in that store with so many little kids and parents. He and I don't like big crowds, so our next trip to the Lego store will be during the week.

Here a few photos my mom took of the trip, including the boys standing near their favorite sculpture in the mall.

Photos pre-Charlie

These are photos my sweet cousin Amanda took of us the week before Charlie blessed our family. If you need a great photographer, she is amazing!!

Griffin is a yard boy

My boys are growing up too fast!!! The perfect example is happening in my yard now. Griffin has been begging to learn to mow the yard all summer. Jason finally decided it was time to let him try out his hand riding our zero-turn mower. I guess the years riding four-wheelers is paying off because he is doing GREAT!! He will be guiding the Dixie (as I call her) around all our trees in no time. Little does he know he'll have years to mow before he leaves our nest. Jason will have a full-blown lawn crew with our boys.

In fact, at dinner tonight, Griffin told him that soon he could sit on the back porch "like an old man" and watch he and his brothers do the yard. Personally, I can wait for few more years before seeing that around here.

Isn't my big man handsome!!




And this is sweet Carter when he's sleeping...too darling!!

Random thoughts and new photos

I spotted my first gray hairs last night while the big boys were showering/bathing. I can't imagine why I'd be getting any gray hairs with three boys, can you?? I'm so okay with getting a few grays. I have no idea what my natural hair color is anyway (does any woman really know??), so they will get covered up just like the rest by my wonderful stylist, Jan.

So I get home this morning from my 6-week checkup with my OB, and the big stool was out in the kitchen. I asked Carter why it was out, and he said, "Mom, I blowed a BIG HUGE booger out of my nose, and I had to use a tissue just like you always tell me." I guess the boy does listen to me every once in a while!!

Here are new pics that my sweet sis-in-law Sherri took last weekend.