Charley was up for a midnight feeding to ring in the new year, but the rest of the family was fast asleep. Does anyone with kids make it until the ball drops anymore? In the morning, we dressed the kids festively (dots and stripes, oh my!) in some new Christmas clothes and posed them with their blabla guys to match. Then we built a “bear cave” with their big dotted and striped blocks. We wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!
We spent the day after Christmas at Kids Playground in Woburn, an indoor play space with huge climbers/tunnels/slides, some dramatic-play “store fronts,” and a toddler area where both kids could play together. Flora spent the majority of the time eating cheese pizza in the food court. But I bet we’ll get our money’s worth when Charley gets bigger — you could see he was dying to join in the fun!
Flora and Charley got to celebrate Christmas this year with their Papa and Amma, who flew in from Kansas City. I don’t know who entertained who more! Flora got to a bake reindeer cookies one day, go swimming at the hotel pool another, shopping at REI for new snow pants the next, and many a feasts, including seafood and prime rib, was had by all. And there certainly was no shortage of presents! Santa brought the “Koko” the gorilla and the Dora umbrella that Flora asked for, and an electronic drum for Charley. And the basketball hoop from Papa and Amma was also a big hit. Thanks to everyone who spoiled us this Christmas, and Merry Christmas to all, and a very Happy New Year, too!
I can’t quite say if it was the itchy Santa hat, the sharing of the chair with her brother, or just plain being almost-three. Merry Christmas?
Not sure this bagel actually counts as finger food — more like fist food!
Today Charley turned six months old — we almost can’t believe it!
We’re sure to have a white Christmas this year with back-to-back storms this weekend! A foot or so and counting …
This morning I had my six month checkup with Dr. G. When she walked into the exam room, she chuckled, “Charley, you are the size of a one year old!” She was pretty sure the nurse botched my height measurement, which had me at only 26.5 inches/57th percentile (a mere .25″ gain), and said they can never get a good stretch for an accurate reading. But I weighed in at 20 pounds, 10 ounces/94th percentile — a 2 pound 1 ounce gain — and my head circumference was 18″ even/94th percentile — a .75″ gain. Dr. G. was surprised to see how well I can sit up, being that I’m a big guy, and we’re usually more blob-like. But I’m no blob — I may be big, but I’m strong! And yesterday I rolled over from my back to my tummy, where I bop up and down in hopes I’ll get some forward momentum. My two bottom teeth are on the verge of breaking through — I may just have two front teeth for Christmas! This weekend, I started making the raspberry sound and the “buh, buh, buh” sound. And I’ve been saying “mah, mah, mah” for a couple weeks now. Unfortunately for Mom the doc wants her to continue the dairy-free diet, but gave her the okay to try me on some soy formula at night to see if it sticks to my ribs a little longer. Dr. G. said to load me up with cereal, fruit, veggies, and meat during the day in hopes I won’t still get up every 2.5-3 hours at night. Mom is desperate for a four-hour stretch of sleep! Check out this picture of my Dad when he was a a baby. See any resemblance?
The kids and I ran to the mall this morning for some last minute Christmas shopping (why I thought taking two kids to the mall two weeks before Christmas was a good idea is beyond me), and they happened to be dressed festively for a cookie-baking play date at Raessler’s later in the afternoon. When we were heading back to the car, Flora went right over to see Santa, and they asked if I wanted a picture. I said if Santa could hold the baby, sure. So Santa did, and on the third shot they both looked and somewhat smiled. Not bad for an impromptu visit.
We decorated the Christmas tree last night, and in a blink of an eye, this happened, when the entire eight foot tree crashed to the floor. #@!%^&!
Was it:
a) our curious cat, Sepia?
b) our defiant daughter, Flora?
c) our busy baby boy, Charley?
d) Marty?
e) Amy?
I love my hand-me-down people hat and mittens (thanks, Elke!) — I get so many compliments when I wear them!
Fortunately, we had a much milder day for this year’s Home for the Holidays. We hit the petting zoo first, where they replaced last year’s big animals with small animals that the kids could actually pet. Then we went to one of Melrose’s many churches for cookie decorating and tasting. Next was reindeer rides — Flora was too scared to go on the horses last year but LOVED the ride this year. Afterwards, we stopped at another church for a visit with Frosty the Snowman and an art project. And then finished up the morning with sitting on Santa’s lap — Flora asked for Koko the gorilla and a Dora umbrella.
View Flora and Charley’s “Home for the Holidays 2008″ photos
Apparently my baby boy is just too pretty to be a boy — within the past twenty-four hours, THREE people have called him a she. And he was wearing green and blue both days, and a very boyish striped hat. It must be those eyelashes. The comment I get the most is “they look exactly alike!”
This year we again celebrated Thanksgiving (Charley’s first) with The Swans. Nana, Uncle Greg, Aunt Tracy and Uncle Chuck, and Cousin Gregory and Jen all made the trek to feast on Marty’s traditional spread of turkey and fixin’s. Chuck won the annual eating contest, devouring four pounds of food and drink. And as tradition would have it, we went Candlepin Bowling at the Wakefield Bowl-A-Drome, where Chuck also took top honors with a score of 94. And this time we took advantage of the pool at Tracy and Chuck’s hotel, where Flora practiced swimming with her bubble and Charley kicked and splashed for the very first time. Turns out the kid is a real water baby. Happy Thanksgiving!
I don’t know what my Mom is talking about — I’m a perfect angel!
Well don’t you know about the bird? Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word! Flora’s new favorite song: Surfin’ Bird.
No toy is too big for me to taste-test. MMMM, plastic.
Flora still loves to sport a hoodie. Good thing — her hair is a fright!
Apparently Charley didn’t like wearing the block on his head (above) while he practiced his new sitting up skills (below).
Although technically not winter, we’ve had some pretty chilly weather. But that did stop Marty and Flora from taking an excursion to the local playground. I’m surprised Flora was even able to maneuver with all this bundling!
