Charlie is going to have a ...

I tried for 20 mins to get him to hold the sign and smile - I had to settle for the sign laying on his feet

This is how Charlie really feels about it being a girl - he threw the sign!

Baby H # 2 is a girl!!  Steve and I had bets going into the ultra sound yesterday - I thought the baby was a boy and he thought the baby was a girl.  Obviously, he was right :)  This little girl is LITTLE!   Currently she weighs 11oz and is in the 40th percentile.  (During my pregnancy with Charlie at this stage, he was 1 lb 3oz and in the 64th percentile.)  She is predicted to be 6 lbs when she arrives in August - a petite little thing!

Here are some things our little girl has in common with her big brother:

• She was sleeping with one arm above her head - Charlie was sleeping like this during his ultra sound as well (they both get this from their mommy)
• She has big feet (the ultra sound technician said her feet are 'hard to miss')
• She wiggles and kicks then falls asleep (just like Charlie did)

For the most part, Charlie does not notice anything is happening since he is so little.  Once in a while he will hit my belly but I think it is because he is wondering why it is getting bigger and bigger.  I try to have him feel his little sister kicking but his attention span is shorter than our dog, Bosee.  Charlie has been such a trooper going with me to all the doctor appointments.   It helps a lot that the doctors love him and most of the doctors at the practice know him because of the 32 hours of labor I experienced with him last March :) We went through 5 of the 8 doctors during our marathon labor and delivery and so now when I wheel him into the office, they all know and remember Baby Charlie!

I can't believe I am half way through this pregnancy!   I have been telling myself to breathe a lot these days since I am getting slightly freaked out at the thought of giving enough love and attention to two little nuggets and to Steve.   According to the doctor, freaking out is very natural with the second baby (especially when they will be so close in age) Thank you doctor!

We are so excited to be having a healthy baby girl - it is going to be so fun for Charlie to have a little sister and for our little girl to have a big brother that will look out for her and take care of her.

Let the baby girl shopping begin!

Week 20 (Charlie's BDay Bash Day)

Happy 1st Birthday Charles Kevin!

"Days turn to minutes and minutes turn to memories..."

This is a line from a song that my Dad used to keep tucked away in his wallet.  I think he kept it as a reminder to enjoy every moment and be present in every moment; because moments turn to memories in a blink of an eye.  This line has been echoing in my head for many weeks now as I have been thinking back on the first year of Charlie's life.  I can hardly believe all of his precious moments and our wonderful moments as a family have already become memories - some of the best memories life has brought to the three of us.   It is amazing how a tiny human can turn your world upside down in the best way possible!

I knew Charlie was going to be pretty special after he was 9 days late and then had me hooked up to tubes and medicine for 32 hours (making me look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man) until he decided to come out.  I thought, 'this little guy has a mind of his own and is going to take his time at life.'  And was I ever wrong!

Since the day he arrived in the world with his eyes wide open, he has had zest for life that no one can take away from him (and if anyone ever tries, they will have to get by me first!)  His energy, curiosity, smiles and innocence are truly an inspiration to me.  While Charlie taught himself to roll over, crawl, stand, and now walk, he was teaching me how to take a step back from life, slow down and enjoy each and every moment.  

I look back on the first year of Charlie's life with such fondness and love, I could burst.  I am so proud of every little thing he has accomplished, all his smiles, all his laughter and all the love he gives.  He is my little man and I hope through the years, I will be able to teach him just as much as he taught me in his first year of life.

Happy 1st Birthday Charles Kevin! 

March 26, 2012 

Never forget, you are 'the one and only ever you'

2011 - 1 Year Ago

2012 - 1 Year Later

Now, the fun stuff!  We threw Charlie a 1st Birthday Bash over the weekend at a local restaurant not only to celebrate his first year of life, but also our first year of surviving parenthood! Our family and friends were able to celebrate with Charlie and us.  The Birthday Boy had an amazing time proving once again, he is the life of the party.  He enjoyed his smash cake but it took him a few minutes to get used to the idea of smashing.  But in the end, he did a pretty good job covering himself in frosting.  I bet if he could talk, he would say his party was "amazeballs" :)

The Very Happy Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to you!

Here we go!

I love frosting but not in my eye lashes!

So yummy!!

The smash cake (before it was smashed)



We hope all of your 1st birthday wishes come true!
Love Always,
Mommy & Daddy

Doggie Kisses

Naturally Charlie is obsessed with dogs, he lives with two dogs of his own.   When he sees his dogs (and now his cousin-dog, Begley) he crawls as fast as he can to them and buries his face in their fur.  I call it giving the doggies a kiss.  Well, now he has taken it to a whole other level by giving kisses to the doggies in his favorite book called "Dog"  Actually, it looks more like he is making out with the dogs - he is a crazy little guy!

"Dog" (the book)

Kissing the dogs in the book

Going in for the doggie kiss with Kenadee

A Message from a Little Leprechaun

St. Patty's day was supposed to be my birthday but I decided I did not want to share it with all the leprechauns.   Since I am a nice guy, I will still celebrate the holiday with them.    I am Irish because of my Mommy so I am going to party big and show these leprechauns what I got.   I will be going by the name of Charlie O'Leary today - in case you need to find me.

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone...

Slainte!

Charlie

   

Charlie's Top 3

Here are the top 3 things Charlie loves to do these days - he does all 3 in a row as if he is following an agenda:

1)  Open his drawers and throw every single item on the floor (socks are his favorite item to throw, probably because he knows they are the most annoying for me to clean up)

2)  Take his books off his shelves and see how far he can throw them (they usually land by his feet)

3)  Flush the toilet 

 I should mention one other thing Charlie is obsessed with (Steve, don't kill me) He loves to play with his bathtub basketball hoop while Steve is showering.  As soon as the shower goes on, Charlie motors into the bathroom and starts shooting hoops.  I think it is so funny! But the other morning I heard Steve tell Charlie, "this has to end soon buddy, one day you will not want to be in the shower when daddy is in the shower"

The sock drawer on the floor

The book pile

Flushing the toilet

Shooting hoops while daddy showers