the Giraffe in his shirt

Charlie put on a short sleeve shirt that was a few sizes too big for him today. I told him he might want to tuck it in so he doesn't get a draft. He said, "What's a girafft?"

Brave Knights and Princesses

Charlie is going to be a brave knight for Halloween. He saw it on Backyardigans and was very descriptive of exactly how it had to be - including the feather for on his helmet and the "gate" that goes in front of his eyes.

The other night while he was watching his shows before bed, I told him that Aunt Maryjane was also going to be a knight. He very seriously took out his bink and turned to me and said "Mommy, knights are boys." I explained that a lot of knights are boys, but sometimes they are girls and Maryjane was going to be a very famous one, Joan of Arc. He unplugged the bink again, turned to me and said, "Mommy, knights are boys, Maryjane can be a princess." And calmly turned back to his show.

Progress

It's been several months since the last post - we've been very busy having picnics, "trimming weeds," going on bike rides, chasing each other and playing outside with our friends.

We think Janie is finally over her string of ear infections - we cut out the dairy 100% on July 3 and she hasn't had one since. No tubes!! Just a change in diet. The ENT confirmed that she has small eustachian tubes like her mum and bro and said she can probably have a little bit of cheese or yogurt every now and then, now that the fluid has cleared.

Janie took her first few steps on July 1, took a few more consecutive steps towards the end of July and by early September, she decided that walking was going to be her main form of personal-transportation.

Unfortunately though, the poor thing has spent much of the last 6 weeks in Mommy's arms as she hasn't felt well - first the flu, then a really really really bad cold. The doctors had thought she might have Whooping Cough! It was a terrible experience for everyone involved, but after about 3 weeks of it now, I think she's on the mend.

Janie does a lot of talking right now, but not much of it in a language the rest of us can understand. She clearly says "eyes" when she points to her ears, and when I ask her to say please she uses her own sign-language sign for it by putting both fists on her chest (kind of like a gorilla). She also does a very convincing 'scary dinasour' roar upon request.

No shirt - No problem

This morning at the last minute, I decided to iron my shirt. I grabbed the mini board and the iron and just put it on the dining room table took off my shirt and ironed it real quick. Charlie was asking me what I was doing (since I don't think he's EVER witnessed anyone ironing in our house). I explained that I was getting wrinkles out, etc.

I told him I better get my shirt back on because I had to get to the train and asked him what he thought people would say if I forgot to put it back on (sometimes he doesn't want to wear pants and "cover up his underware" so we have this conversation a lot about no shirt, no pants, no service).

He said "I think people would say, 'Look at that beautiful girl!'"

Brett was proud and could forget the fact that Charlie also loves to put on makeup and carry a purse!

Frankfurt

This weekend when Charlie asked where Katie was, I told him she was in Frankfurt.

"To get Grandpa?" he asked
"No, she went on a trip with Uncle Mike."
"To get a baby?"
"No, just to go on a trip."

Screw in the head?

As we sat at Chilli's for our normal Monday lunch with Brett, we had a new waiter. This waiter happened to have a piercing in his eyebrow - a rod. As the guy is taking our order, Charlie says, "Mommy, why does that guy have a screw in his head?"

Janie is growing up

Over the weekend, Janie got two more teeth. Hopefully, that is the explanation for her need to put everything in her mouth - I mean everything: food crumbs, rocks, her walker, the sidewalk. I'm banking on curiosity and hoping it's not Pica. :-)

She has also learned how to stand up on her own from a sitting position, she walks with the walker and totally rocks out to music. It's all very fun to watch.

Daddy's Pants

Today when I was getting Charlie dressed, I noticed that several of his pants were too short on him all of the sudden. I told him that he must have grown last week.

He told me "Go wake up Daddy and see if I can borrow some of his pants since I'm almost as big as he is now."

I found some other pants, not Daddy's, that seem to fit for now. :-)

Hawaii

Just as the plane touched down in Hawaii, Charlie turned to Brett and asked, "Daddy, when are we going to be in Hawaii?

Brett replied, "We are in Hawaii right now, Buddy!"

Charlie then asked, "Then why aren't we swimmin'?!"

Dear Mom and Dad

Charlie was just writing on his tablet and told me he was writing a letter to me and his dad. He then read it out loud to me. Here it is as fast as I could write while he was reading...

Dear mom and dad,
Thanks for all the nice stuff
I hope you have a nice time at work. I love you so much that I can't wait to see Dad
Thank you mom and dad, that I like to go to the zoo and the restaurant.
I hope you have a great time at your good party

Love Charlie

Finally - the eruption

Finally, Janie's first tooth has erupted today. It's her lower left. Hopefully, the others won't take so long and be so painful coming.

The poor girl is also suffering from allergies (like her brother), so she's a barrel of laughs. Luckily, she has an adorable and frequent smile to make up for it.

Janie Standing

Janie stood very briefly for the first time yesterday, April 7, 2008. Today, she stood twice (so I believe it this time). We also have it captured on video, of course. :-)

Easter Bunny

This morning after thuroughly reviewing his Easter basket and finding lots of hidden Easter eggs, Charlie said, "Thanks Easter bunny! You did a good job. Give yourself a hand."

Janie is on the move

Although Janie has been mobile for some time now, she actually crawled for the first time on Friday (March 21). We were at a reception following a Good Friday Service and Janie wanted to pull herself up on a folding chair. Brett didn't think it was a good idea and moved her further away. She decided to just crawl over and try again!

Our Latest Music Video

Music Video - Charlie, Jane and Mikey

Babies

Charlie told me yesterday that there was a baby in his tummy and some animals.
"Oh, really?" I replied.
"Yep, but they aren't ready to come out yet. They have to stay there for one year. They'll be ready next summer." (much like his sister was) replied Charlie.
"Who's going to get them out of there?" I asked.
"You are." he explained.
When I asked him who got he and Janie out of my tummy (Brett piped in and said he wouldn't know that), he replied, "Dr. Kleinburg!"
Yes Charlie, you are right.

Where does the snow go?

This last weekend, Charlie asked Brett where the snow went that was on the driveway. Brett explained that we put it on the grass.
Charlie asked, "But where does it go when we want the grass to be cleaned off?"
Brett replied, "It melts and the grass drinks it up and the leftover runs off into the street?"
Charlie replied, "Daddy, how can it do that?! It doesn't have any toes!"

Follows Instructions Well

Apparently, Charlie inherited the literal gene and/or follows directions well ...

Charlie to Grandpa: "Let's have cookies for a snack."
Grandpa to Charlie: "Good idea. Ask Grandma if she'd like a cookie."
Charlie to Grandma: "Grandma, would you like a cookie for a snack?"
Grandma to Charlie: "I don't want my own cookie but I'd like a bite of Grandpa's."
Charlie relays Grandma's request to Grandpa.
Grandpa to Charlie: "OK. Here's a cookie. Tell Grandma she can have one bite, but then she has to give it right back to me."
Charlie brings cookie to Grandma and tells her what Grandpa said. Grandma takes bite of cookie and asks Charlie to give it back to Grandpa. Charlie refuses.
Charlie to Grandma: "No Grandma. Grandpa said you could have one bite and then you have to bring it back to him.
Grandma to Charlie: "I think it would be ok if you brought the cookie back to Grandpa."
Charlie says no.
Grandma to Grandpa: "Grandpa, will you please tell Charlie it's ok for him to bring you the cookie?"

Cinderella's Castle

Earlier this week, we had to stop by Our Lady of the Wayside Church where my mom works to pick something up. As we were waiting for her to come outside, Charlie says "Mom, look! There's a castle!" (aka the church) "Do you think that's where Cinderella lives?!"

He's very interested in Cinderella and fairy tales lately. We need some fairy tales that have main characters that are men!

Grown up boys

Today as I was changing Charlie's diaper again, I reminded him that he wasn't a baby anymore and he needs to go potty in the toilet. I told him that he's getting grown up now and he's going to get to do things that only grown up boys can do. He replied, "Like get married!"

Yes, like get married.

Let's God

At bedtime, I lay down with Charlie and I ask him what he's thankful for. Last night though he said to me, "Mommy, let's God."

I said, "You mean pray?"

"No, let's God." He continued to thank God for his nice bed, his bear and bink, all his 'aminals,' the downstairs with the motorcycles (at school).

I reminded him that we are also thankful for our family and friends adn that we are all healthy and happy.

Janie is 6 months

Janie had her 6 month doctor's appt yesterday. She weighed in at 16 lbs, 11oz (although we think she only really weighs about 16 lbs since she didn't do her business until she got home) and is 26" long. The doctor said she looks great and Janie thanked her with a bunch of great big smiles and laughs.

Football

Charlie told Grandma that she couldn't play with his football. When she asked why, he responded that girls don't play football. She told him that she plays football. He said, "No! All the people that play football on TV are guys!" He pays attention to everything!!

A Wisconson in Ranch

This morning as Charlie ate his breakfast (sausage, ranch dressing, oranges, french toast), he exclaimed - "Look! It's Wisconson" -referring to the current shape of his Ranch dressing. And although Brett and I disagree depending on the angle at which you look at it - it really does look like Wisconson. Brett says it looks like Michigan.

Jump Around

We found out today that Janie thinks it's hysterical when Charlie just jumps around. Hysterical!