Ability

Charlie is growing up before my eyes. It all happens so fast, every time I turn around he is able to do new things. He is 5 1/2 months old already, and can currently roll from his tummy to his back. He is able to turn in a full circle in about 30 seconds or faster. He can scoot backwards--multiple feet backwards in just a couple of minutes. Charlie's favorite thing to do is stand as I hold his fingers. He squeals at an ear piercing pitch, and looooves to watch his sister in everything she does!!! Also, his hand, eye, mouth coordination is just super! As everything he sees he grabs and puts in his mouth if possible. This is something Gracie just never did...why do I even compare??

Biggest Fan

This morning Charlie was grinning ear to ear, looking at Gracie and squealing, as he often does. I said to Gracie, 'You are his best friend.' She said, 'Well I'm not his best friend.' In an instant it made my heart sad to hear it, but then wondered who her best friend was. So I asked. She replied, 'You are.' At that moment Gracie jumped into my arms and gave me a hug and kiss. Talk about making my heart melt. I became all teary and told her I loved her SOOOOO much. I have the best girl in the whole world!!!

Information

Just to keep you all informed...when Jason reenlisted there was a catch we didn't find out about until now. He was due to transfer in May of 2007, which also meant he wouldn't be gone for a six month deployment. However, when he applied for new orders we found out that he had been extended until April of 2008--putting him on deployment in April 2007. We could use all of your prayers through this trying time! I guess we will have more times away from each other than we planned for.

Sweet Innocence?

Gracie and I were just watching the world news and they had a blup with Donald Rumsfeld. He was behind a podium with some microphones--speaking of Iraq. Her eyes brightened and she said, 'That man is talking about Jesus!' I said, 'No, that man is a bad man. He is not speaking about Jesus.' She gave me the most perplexed look and said, 'That bad man is talking about Jesus?'

Imposters

Our little girl riding her 'horse' around and around!--I think only one of them was having a good time. Poor pony.

A tender moment between father and son...

Our tree ornament!!! She loves to hang from anything these days!!!

Admiring the perfect pumpkin!!!

The family photo--taken by a stranger.

We had the BEST time the other day at the pumpkin patch. I had the kids in their country bumpkin outfits as I have done every year. Jason mentioned he was surpised I didn't have overalls for him! There is always next year!!! Gracie had a blast, too bad we can't live in the country now. We played in a hay maze finding stamps, went on a hay ride pulled by a tractor, pet and fed a few goats and chickens--throughly scrubbing our hands afterwards, rode on a pony, picked out a pumpkin and ate some yummmmmy peanuts. I love good family days where time doesn't dictate US.

Typical

If the average picture is worth 1000 words, what is THIS worth? Obviously this is Gracie having a wonderful time at the 'swing park with the whales on it'

Heading to the Hills

hot, tired and all bruised up from falling on the sidewalk earlier in the day
but still she is beautiful

Favorite Times

Papa and Gracie together again...(I tried and tried to get these pictures in order...) A day we won't soon forget!!!!


Waiting and waiting and waiting for Papa the Sailor Man to get off the ship!!!! TWO hours later we got what we wished for!!! There were family memebers that rode home with the ship from Seattle, the term for them is Tigers. I don't know why. However, our animal lover picked up on this and now we think she believes that there were ACTUAL tigers on board. They had priority in leaving the ship, and to this day Gracie speaks of the tigers and reminds us that, 'The tigers get off the boat first.'



I pray we never have to do this (underway stuff) again after this rotation!!! It's so bittersweet, knowing that we are together but soon apart once more.
Heart wrenching.

The Thinker

What does one think about at this age?

Stupid Photographer

I picked up my pictures today from a wonderful print shop downtown. With eager anticipation upon entering my car I rip open the envelopes and start to go through the pictures...They are some of the most tender pictures of Charlie right after we brought him home from the hospital, so sweet and amazing. I about started bawling when I saw them...You can barely make out the 10 to 15 images from the 'photo session' because I didn't think to USE MY FLASH. Almost unbelievable. If it wasn't my scatter brain after having a baby, it would be unbelievable. I'm just SO sad.

Back Seat Driver

I have a new helper in the car!!! I'm sure you could all use one of your own to help you get around town too! Did you know, 'Green is means GO?' and 'Red is means stop?' This bit of information makes my daughter smarter than half of the people in our town!!! Also, did you know that my 3 year old knows which way is home from where ever we are, and if we aren't headed in the right direction she'll let me know? I'm certain I never did this to MY mom!!!

NEMBER DAT??

Gracie has such a wonderful memory and with Papa gone so much she is always asking him, 'You nember dat Papa, you nember?'

Eating Supper

Yesterday prior to supper Gracie had a couple of oatmeal cookies, not a good idea if you want your child to eat supper by the way! We were having chicken stew and I had been coaxing her to eat for about five minutes, 'Gracie, sit down. Gracie, take a bite. Gracie, sit UP. Gracie, please put some food on your spoon and eat it.' To no avail nothing worked. Finally Jason spoke up, 'Gracie, take a bite of your food or you will go to the corner.' She begins to lift her spoon carelessly and of course, purposefully there is nothing on it and she says, 'OOPS, hhahhhaaa' repeated over and over again. Jason and I think it is cute and smile at each other as she is busy pretending she can't get food on her spoon. Again he says, 'Gracie, eat some supper.' She replies, I'm just kidding Papa, I'm just trying to be silly.' We laugh and she ends up eating a bite or two of food, I guess oatmeal raisin cookies aren't too bad for supper!!!--I'm just kidding, I'm just trying to be silly. It isn't as funny I suppose when I say it.

Sisterly LOVE

Charlie has decided while nursing, his new favorite pastime would be to bite his mom. I, his mother, do not think this is such a great idea. Yesterday is a day for the books. Gracie, as always, is hanging all over the chair as Charlie is nursing. Instead of just finishing as any baby should he decides it would be a good time to shock Mom. BITE. Followed by a smile. It is all I can do to not scream, drop the baby and run away, far away. I amazingly stay seated, zip my lips and flick his cheek. This is the first time there has been consequences for his actions. Completely shocked and stunned Charlie looks at me, eyes welling with tears and bottom lip out as far as it'll go, I know it is coming...wwaaaaaaaa....so softly. I somehow feel sorry for him, forgetting what he has just done to me. Gracie has witnessed this whole encounter of her mom being mean to her brother. I look at her as she is reaching to Charlie to console him. 'Oh, Charlie it's okay,' she says with her voice crackling. Her eyes are filled with tears.--Somehow I don't think they were for MY pain. Gracie then came over to her brother and hugged him for a long time. Poor Charlie.

Blinded by the CAKE

My neighbor Dianna came over the other night and brought over some monster pieces of cake at about 8pm. Dianna set them on the couch next to her. Gracie looked like a vulture circling the cake--or maybe a kitten ready to pounce on it. Either way, I thought she would ask for a piece and I would have to tell her no, but strangely that didn't happen. I thought to myself, could it be she just hasn't seen it?? I decided to move the cake into the kitchen so if by a slim chance she hadn't maybe I could prevent her from spotting it and avoid a confrontation. She came into the kitchen with me, then spotted some Play Dough at the table and started to play. Dianna and I continued to chat for about 10 minutes, we started to wrap up our conversation and I walked her to the door. Prior to closing the door I thanked her again for the cake. I hear my daughter JUMPING off the chair RUNNING through the house to me, 'CAKE? WHAT CAKE? WHERE IS THE CAKE????' Stammering over my words, 'Ah, ummm, honey, there won't be any cake tonight.' A simple sad, 'oh' is her reply to her mean depriving mother who will shortly there after stuff her face with a piece of delicious cake.

Beautiful Children


feel the love? (does Charlie look worried? or is it just me?)

Here she is anticipating her PARTY!!!


Wonderful

More fun moments of Gracie's party!!! 3 years...

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY!!!




Gracie had her third birthday yesterday and it was a BIG hit! She woke up to her crazy mom singing happy birthday as she hid under the covers!!! Then proceeded to ask if her friends were here yet. She ate her first two meals and her cake on our special celebrate plate and ran around like a wild woman during her party, having a phenomenal time. Gracie also had tons o' presents to open which she is playing with today (thank you EVERYONE)...we are having a calm non productive day to breathe. AHHHHHHHH...

Military Style

Gracie in her two years experience doesn't realize that work doesn't make everyone in the world sad. My friend Liz was leaving for work one morning and we were saying goodbye before she left. Gracie looked at me and said, 'Her (Liz's name in Gracie world) sad.' I tried to explain that not everyone is sad to leave the house when they go to work...needless to say, it didn't register. PAPA, WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU!!!

COOL in the SUN


On vacation Gracie became quite comfortable in the pool. I think the picture says it all. ;) We were happy to arrive and sad to leave, J and G we will miss you!

VACATION!!!


As requested, the whole gang of us. Happy and healthy at the zoo!

PACKAGES

If a package arrives it is automatically assumed by Gracie that it is 'a package a me'(in this instance a meaning for.) So, with her 3rd birthday around the corner presents are arriving! This apron is made with love by Nana. (The headband is made with love by Aunt Elsa.)

OINK


I was eating an apple today, when I looked over at Charlie I noticed he wasn't taking his eyes off of it. He had drool coming down his chin and I felt bad for the poor boy sooooo, I let him take a couple of licks. That lasted for about three or four minutes. He screamed for about five minutes when I took it away. AND NO, he wasn't hungry at the time.

15 minutes

Mom, can I go ride my purple bicycle? (Her clarification of her purple one is due to the confusion with the other 30 bikes in the garage!)

zoo zoo zoo

A daily question I hear from Gracie, "Mom, can we go to the zoo today?"
"No hon, not today it is too windy for Charlie."
"Okay, my grandpa will take me and we'll ride the giraffes too!"