Charlee's One Year Check Up

This is a perfect illustration of 2nd child syndrome.  With MJ, I had all his well baby check information filed away so that I could record it in his baby book, etc.  With Charlotte I haven't yet started a baby book, and I can't find her stat sheet from her one year check up.  Poor girl; good thing mama makes up for the shortcomings with lots of love and time together, because if it weren't for my very behind-the-times blog, little Charlee won't have near the memories documented that her brother did.  I keep holding off on this post hoping that I'll find the info, but for now I'm going to go ahead and post, and hope that I'll find it one day soon and can update then.  ;) 

 

 

Charlotte's 1 year check up was almost 2 months after she actually turned one year, because we had to keep trying find a time for her to be healthy enough to have the visit.  Look at her sweet little smile in the waiting room.  Poor girl didn't know what was coming...

 

 

This little sweetie is an absolute doll for the doctor!  She just curiously watches and lets them do just about anything to her.  She was having fun playing with all the supplies while we were waiting...

Here is where one day soon I'll post all her 1 year stats.  ha!  I do remember that she had grown a lot in height and really slimmed down.  She was now in only the 50th percentile for weight and closer to the 80th percentile for height. 

Not the best picture, but she was such a sore sight with all her band aids on her thighs and arm.  She had the normal one year vaccines and also had to have her blood drawn that day. She cried just a bit during her shots, and then cried for a moment when we held her down to do her blood draw.  Besides that she was all smiles!  Her blood draw returned a low hemoglobin count, which they will recheck at 18 months, but otherwise she checked out as a healthy little one-year old! 

 

Along with being one comes lots of mischief!  She is now a climber, as you can see I caught her climbing on boxes in her room as we were unpacking clothes.  She enjoys her food to the fullest and her face, clothes, and hair usually demonstrate it!  As she's been more health the last month or so, her personality has really come out!  She is at such a fun age where she is so full of joy and excitement, yet the naughtiness of toddler-hood hasn't kicked in yet.  She giggles constantly, loves to play with her brother, and has no fear!  She is going to give me a run for my money, that's for sure.  Love this little girl to pieces, and I hope she always knows that, even her mommy never gets around to making her baby book!  ;) 

Sick or Snow?

There are many things I like living in the midwest including spring, summer, and fall.  There is one big thing I don't like, and that is WINTER!  Ugh.  I'm okay with winter for about a month, like until Christmas arrives, and then as far as I'm concerned spring can arrive.  Wishful thinking, right?  MJ absolutely loves the snow, and I wish I had a bit of his enthusiasm.  At least for the first time since living in Iowa, we had a garage this winter.  Huge improvement!!  But still, the bundling, the coats and boots and snowpants required for school, and the sickness....ohhhh, the sickness.  As I already mentioned, Charlotte was one sick little one most of the winter.  MJ made it most of the winter until the last brutal month, and then he got sick, too.  When March arrived and we were still regularly in the 20's, we were all officially over it!  I'm happy to report today was spent playing outside in 70 degree weather, and going for a nice long walk after dinner.  We'll ignore the fact that there's a chance of snow later this week.  Seriously?  It's April....let's do this spring thing for real!  

 

 

 

 

 

The one good thing about sickies, is LOTS of cuddles!

 



That poor sweet boy passed out in my bed.  This was while watching cartoons and let me tell you this has NEVER happened.  That morning he'd been to urgent care because he was beside himself in pain.  It was an ear infection.  Poor guy was puking while there though and they had to give him a shot and suppository to get the meds in him.  Within 24 hours though, he was doing MUCH better!  He was a poor sight for that day though and broke our hearts.

 



This was Charlotte's crabby whiny face for most of February.  In to everything despite not feeling well!  

Can you say pitiful?  :(

 



A little rest and movie on the couch helps cure everything. 

 



 

The hives that my poor baby girl was covered in off and on all winter.  I can't tell you how many doctor appointments this poor girl had.  Such a trooper!

 

 

Ahhh, but when we were all feeling well and it was just cold and not brutally cold, there was plenty of snow to enjoy!  Charlotte already clearly loves to play and sled in the snow, and MJ would go sledding everyday if we could!  It's adorable to watch him in it!  Our house is just a block over from the Dubuque Country Club, which makes for GREAT sledding in the winter.  It's so perfect that we can just walk over and sled for awhile without having to load up the car, drive somewhere, and make a whole day of it.  I can see the kids loving to play there on snow days as they get bigger.  MJ and Mat went sledding there at least a few times this winter, and we even went as a whole family once.  We bought a big huge sled that we can all go on and go down the big hills together!

 

Off we go to the hills!

Mama Gets a Break!!

I was feeling in DESPERATE need of a break!  While I loooove my time at home with my kiddos, not having a night away in over a year had begun to catch up with me. Between a year of nursing, a move, lots of remodeling, and the winter blues I was feeling ready for some warmth, sunshine, and a couple days or less responsibility, so Mat had an awesome idea to send me to Florida for a few days as my Christmas present.  Mat has one week completely off work between when J-Term ends and the spring semester begins, so it made for the perfect time for me to travel.  He was able to be home each day with the kids.  We got an unbelievable deal on flights, and I was able to fly round trip to Clearwater for about $125!  Yes, please!  I will admit that I had a lot of anxiety about leaving.  It's not at all that I don't think Mat is fully capable because he is, and he's amazing with the kids, but I was afraid Charlotte would have a hard time adjusting to me not being around.  Luckily, it all went SO smoothly.  Once I truly got away, I was able to relax and all the anxiety disappeared.  Charlotte and MJ both did great, too!  

 

 

 

 I was really worried I might not even make it to FL.  We had a storm the day of my departure.  This was them de-icing my plane.  Luckily we were still able to take off, and Mat made it home safely, but slowly from the Moline airport before the storm got too bad. 

 

 

 

 

I began my trip with a couple days spent in Lakeland.  My friend Kelley picked me up from the airport, and I stayed with her and her beautiful family.  I adore her kiddos, so it was great to be able to be in their home and live life with them for a couple days.  I was able to visit Highland City, where I used to teach, have breakfast with a former student, and visit with old colleagues.  I also enjoyed some one on one time with Kelley catching up on The Practice episodes.  It may not sound overly glamorous, but lying on the couch in my yoga pants watching one of my favorite shows with a best friend is my perfect idea of truly relaxing!  I was also able to have a nice dinner out with some other girlfriends, Sam and Lisa at one of my faves-Abuelo's.  Sam, Lisa, and I went to college together and are sorority sisters and continue to stay in touch.  Love them! 

 

 

After my couple days of girl time, my brother came to pick me up in Lakeland.  Of course, we had to eat at my favorite sushi restaurant-Gosh!  Mmmm, so yummy!  Jeff, Mat, and I ate here many times while living in Lakeland.  We then headed to Jeff's house in Wesley Chapel.  He had to work the next day, so I was able to just sleep in and get caught up on some work (hard to ever truly escape that), and then once Jeff got home, we were headed to the beach...

 

 

Ahhh, yes-now that's what I had in mind when I was thinking of my escape from the Iowa winter.  Low 80's and a beautiful sunny day on Clearwater Beach!  This was the view from our room.  Jeff booked us an awesome room at the Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.  This was my Christmas present from him.  I'll take this present again next year, Jeff...just in case you needed any ideas.  ;) 

 

 

It was great to spend a couple days with my brother!  Such a goof!  :)  I'm so blessed to have a sibling that I am so close to.  He is too good to me and my family!  Love and adore him!

 

 He knew just what I needed to relax and really get-away.  We had dinner at Frenchy's on Clearwater beach.  It reminded me of my days living in Key West where the atmosphere is just so different and relaxed.  Best of all?  I had stone-crab claws to eat which I haven't had since leaving Key West.  Nothing like fresh seafood on the beach and nice cocktail to go along with it!  Oh, and the smores crockpot we shared for dessert was pretty great, too.  :) 

 

 This was the view from the beach looking back at Frenchy's

And our view of the beach sunset while eating dinner.  Hard to beat that!

 

Thanks, Jeff for a great time in Clearwater!

 

After my four days of relaxing, I was looking forward to returning back home more energized and ready to see Mat and my adorable kiddos.  At the airport they met me with roses and big hugs.  Such cuties!  It wasn't so fun driving home in the cold, snowy weather, but at least some sunshine followed me back to Iowa.  Thanks so much to Mat for not only holding down the fort, but having a super clean house with all laundry done for me to return home to.  I'm really thankful that he appreciates me the way he does and understands the need for a break for me and the importance it serves in role as a mother and wife.