2nd Birthday!

From Fall 2010

We are bad bloggers! Charlie has had a great fall. Pictures are to the right. He enjoyed Halloween in Ohio as we were there for Steph's baby shower. He didn't end up going trick or treating but he did have his first appearance in his Buckeye football player outfit that will fit him for a few years to come. He loved wearing his helmet (backwards - for some reason all hats are backwards) and "mowing the lawn" with the walker at my parents house. We also spent Thanksgiving in Ohio and had a great time visiting with everyone - it was such a treat to get to go back after only 3 weeks. He did much better on the flights because we bought him his own seat and brought his car seat. Getting on and off the plane was much more complicated though.

The kid talks up a storm. We don't have a good comparison of course since he is our first but people are always commenting that they can't believe what he can say. He has even started conversing with us a bit. The other day I asked him what he did at day care and he responded that they "crunched in the snow, rode bikes and ate crackers." I thought that sounded like a pretty awesome day myself! Then I wrapped a gift for Matt and put it under the tree and he told Matt "Your birthday party is coming up Daddy. Mommy put a present for you under the Christmas tree." I thought that was a pretty smart connection to make.

Speaking of birthday parties, he turned 2 a few weeks ago. Hard to imagine. We were lucky enough to have Aunt Edie in town. Charlie had so much fun with her and she helped me out BIG TIME on the party preparation. It was lots of fun and so nice to be surrounded by loved ones who care so much for our little guy. He made out on bday presents too. He even woke up at 5 a.m. yelling that he wanted to go see his tools in that pail (the Handy Manny tool set that is attached to him pretty much all the time now). He also got a stuffed animal from Randi - a sock monkey - that we have added to his entourage of stuffed animals that he takes around the house. Edie helped him name him Rodney and he has joined Max (a monkey), Frog, Bear and Giraffe.

Charlie is really enjoying all of the Christmas excitement with one exception. He does not really care for the guy in the red suit AT ALL. The other day Matt came home and Charlie was in the tub and I said "is that Santa downstairs?" and Matt heard me and said "ho ho ho." To call what happened next a freak out really does not do it justice. The kid was trembling, crying hysterically and wanted out of the tub pronto. He then wanted to go straight to his crib. No stories. No rocking. Just to bed. I really think he was traumatized. Needless to say, we are making alternate arrangements to have the gifts delivered because Santa just isn't welcome here this year. Maybe next year. In lieu of Santa, he has grown quite fond of Frosty the Snowman though. I think he would watch it on loop all day and love it. He even woke up at 2:30 the other morning singing (and I really mean screaming) the song. It was cute the next day, but not so much at 2:30 in the morning.

We have quite the festivities lined up over the next week. Tomorrow we are going to church and then Grammy, Uncle Matt, Aunt Nicky and Caroline are coming over for dinner. Then on Christmas, we are going to Uncle Jason's and Aunt Michelle's for an early dinner and then to Grampy and Patty's for the evening gathering of the Roberts family. We are staying the night at their house and then the day after Christmas we get to pick up Sami, Papaw, Julia and Jeremy at the airport. Papaw is going to fix our gate at the top of the stairs - as Charlie reminds me every time we go through it. They are staying to visit until next Wednesday when we drop them off at the airport and then head to Quechee, Vermont to spend New Year's with all of the Roberts cousins. It should be lots of fun. With all of the action, we will probably be ready for a vacation when it is done!

Sorry for squeezing so much into one post. I promise to post Christmas pics and video shortly after the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!