The Baby Daddy

Mat is so much more than that title.  He is more than I could have ever imagined as a father to our children.  We were so glad to celebrate him on Father's Day!

We had just said goodbye to the Walmsley's that morning, after a wonderful visit (more to come) and were looking forward to a rather low key day, so we spent the day with a homemade breakfast by yours truly, an Open House on a home nearby (more to come on that, too), and a lunch out at Chammp's.  Mat's present this year?  A griddle!  Almost as bad as buying a woman a blender, huh?  He's been wanting one for quite awhile though!  He's our breakfast maker and loves to make french toast, pancakes, omelets, etc. so it's already gotten quite a bit of use.  No complaints from me! 

In preparation for Father's Day, MJ answered some questions about daddy and gave it to him on the big day.  Granted some of his answers are a tad off (like his age..haha!), but it's so sweet to see how he's starting to understand more and more and give sincere answers that are so heartwarming and such an illustration of Mat as a father. 

MJ's answers are in red: 

My dad is 1 years old. 

His hair is brown and his eyes are blue. 

My dad likes to wear jeans.

He likes to eat spaghetti. 

He is smart because he knows play.

My dad works hard at work. 

Daddy always tells me "go night night."

It makes me happy when daddy plays.

I really love it when my dad hugs.

If I could give my dad anything it would be a kiss. 

My favorite thing about my dad is he plays.

Guess Who's Baaaaack?

Seriously, I've been gone so long I don't even know where to start.  I use to like to blog anytime we did some type of family fun activity, a milestone was reached, or there was just something fun, in general, to share.  Well, I guess it's a sign of a great summer, but I feel sooooo behind that there's no possible way to catch up on every fun thing we've done or company we've had, so I'm going to have to lower my blogging self-expectations, I suppose. 

Let's back WAY up to the end of May, so I can share how this summer got started...

MJ wrapped up his last day of school at the end of May, before Memorial Day week.  What a great year he's had at DMS!  He's come a long way since starting the 2 year old class.  He went to preschool 2x per week for 2 hours each day, and it was a great fit for him.  For his last day, parents were invited for a special celebration. 

 MJ showing off his coloring skills on his last day.

 Hugging his best friend, Allison.  MJ adores this little girl.  Their teachers say they are 2 peas in a pod.  They stand at the door and wait for the other to arrive each morning, and spend their entire morning playing side by side. 

Showing off his certificate with mommy. 

I've been so pleased with his school that I decided to run for the Board.  I figured it would be a great way to stay involved in education, while contributing to his school.  I'm now a board member and the  secretary.  I'm looking forward to playing a more vital role in the school!

We then kicked off summer with one of MJ's favorite activities, riding the ferry, or the "car boat" as MJ calls it, which crosses the Mississippi River from Wisconsin to Iowa.  He was so excited to go for a ride this season.  Charlee enjoyed her first ride on the car boat, as well! 



It was a very hot day on the water, so we were glad it was only a short boat ride.  :)

One of our favorite cities to visit is Madison, WI.  Madison is one of the closest large cities.  Lots of diversity, plenty of fun activities for the family, and more amenities than Dubuque.  We also enjoy going there at least a couple times a year, so it also seemed like a great way to spend some of our summer family time together.  We made a day out of it and visited the Henry Villas Zoo and then the Madison Children's Museum.  Talk about MJ's dream day come true!  It was an absolutely gorgeous day...high of 70, which was perfect zoo weather!  We didn't even think about it being the very end of the school year and thus lots of school field trips being there.  Needless to say it was quite crowded at first.  It didn't seem to phase the kiddos though, and we still had a fabulous time! 

 Looking for the animals with daddy.

 MJ took a ride on the train ALL BY HIMSELF.  I'm not sure why, but this brought me to tears.  I can't believe how big and independent he's becoming. 

 Grizzly bears!



Charlotte wanted no part of just riding around in her stroller, but she was happy as can be to be worn in her carrier throughout the zoo. 

Next stop was the Madison Children's Museum.  We love this place!  It's so well designed and just big enough to have a lot to offer without being too big to be overwhelming.  We're actually going back in just a couple days.  MJ always has such a great time, and before long there's a lot Charlotte will be able to enjoy once she's upright and crawling. 

This is by far MJ's favorite spot at the museum.  He could play at this car table for hours!

 Little Miss Charlotte Noelle just hanging out.

 Petting chicks!

Hanging out in the carrier on the rooftop deck of the museum. 

As you can see our summer was off to a great start!  Sometimes I almost feel guilty about all the great family time we are able to share together in the summer.  There's no doubt that we are very blessed.  During the work year, we already are able to spend quite a bit of time together as a family, but summer time is even better!  The end of the school year was quite busy for both Mat and I, so we were really looking forward to reconnecting as a family and enjoying lots of time together.  Mat's teaching summer school on Tuesdays through Thursday, but that leaves four day weekends each and every week.  It's a huge help to have him around the house so much.  It makes it easier for me to keep up with my work load while teaching online, stay on top of the housekeeping (although I still seem to procrastinate in that area), and of course having two sets of hands to take care of two kiddos.  I'm quickly getting spoiled with this new schedule and just enjoying it while it lasts. 



Just hanging out at home on a summer evening.  How lucky am I?  

Five Fabulous Months

I can not believe that Charlotte Noelle has already been a part of our lives for five months.  I feel like it is going so much faster this time around, which seems odd to me, considering at this point with MJ I'd already adjusted to becoming a new mommy, ending a FL teaching career, packing up my home, and moving cross country.  Makes me feel kinda lazy this time around-ha!  All I've done is adjust to becoming a  mommy of two and try to keep my head above water on a weekly basis!  When I look at her, I am just so in love and awe of the little person she is becoming.  The changes happen so quickly and are so precious that I don't want any of them to pass me by unnoticed or unappreciated. 

Charlotte turned five months old on May 23, 2012....just 3 days shy of celebrating our 11 year wedding anniversary.

Happy Anniversary, babe! 

It felt soooo good to put a little effort into getting dressed up and going out for a nice date!  Mat and I went for sushi, to a chocolate bar, and then a movie.  

 She continues to be such a blessing to our family in so many ways.  At five months, she is now rolling both from belly to back and back to belly.  She doesn't really do either all too often though.  She is quite a laid back baby...content to just lie on a blanket and play with a few toys, swing away in her swing, or play on her activity mat.  She seems to like to be upright more and more either sitting in her jumperoo or in her Bumbo seat.  I guess it's a whole new view on the world sitting upright!  She really seems to like to be outdoors.  I'll bring her outside and sit her in the grass in her Bumbo and she'll just look around and watch MJ play.  It's as if she's taking it all in.  She's quite verbal-loves to giggle and coo.  She reaches for your face or mouth a lot when you talk to her and gives absolutely huge smiles!  She's such a happy little girl.  She naps 2-3 times a day still.  She always takes a morning nap after being awake only an hour or so, a nap again in the afternoon time, and sometimes a short nap in the early evening hours.  Night time has been a bit more inconsistent lately.  She goes to bed around 7:30 and will often sleep until around 5AM when she'll wake up to nurse, and then go back to sleep for a few more hours, but many a nights she also wakes up much earlier, around 1 or 2 to eat, then again around 5:30 or 6...obviously those nights lead to a bit more tired mama in the morn.  Overall, it's still pretty good for 5 months old, but she had me quite spoiled by sleeping a consecutive 12 hours so early on, that regressing backwards has had it's challenging moments.  Overall though, all is going well.  She's falling asleep on her own in her crib unswaddled now.  She's sleeping in a sleep sack.  For nap times, she's still being swaddled and snoozing in her swing. 

Of course, one of Charlee's biggest fans continues to be her big brother.  He always calls her "his baby".  He can make her giggle like nobody's bussiness.  Case in point...

  I just had to share this series of pictures, because it was so cute and so typical.  Charlotte has hit that stage of trying to fit everything into her mouth including our hands and fingers.  While trying to snap a picture of her and MJ together, she was way more interested in gnawing on MJ's arm, and he just thought it was the funniest thing ever!

 nom, nom, nom

 mmmmm

 you're yummy

 nom nom nom

Ah, finally a good one!  :)

Charlotte's biggest change is that she's now been joining us at the dinner table.  After a week or so of her giving us the stank eye while we were eating, we felt like she was ready to try to some solids.  I was leaning towards waiting until she was six months old, but she was showing sings of readiness, so we gave it a try, and began with whole wheat oatmeal. 

 Daddy gave her the first bite

 Not too sure about this stuff quite yet

Hmm...

 Mommy and MJ's turn to feed her a few bites

She decided she loves this cereal, stuff.  Gimme more!!

We stuck with the cereal for the first week and she ate every single drop each night.  Just last night we began trying avocado.  She doesn't seem nearly crazy about that, but we'll stick with it for a few more feedings.  As for now, she's just having one solid a day-usually while we are eating dinner. 

More updates to come soon on some of Charlotte's "firsts" as we've begun some fun family summertime adventures lately!  



Too Cute Not to Share

The best thing about having an iPhone (or any good phone, I'm sure) is the ability to capture so many sweet moments on video so easily.  I am so grateful for the little everyday memories I'm able to document.  MJ loves to grab my phone and look at pictures and videos of him and his sister over and over and over again.  I myself love to watch them now, and I know one day I too, will watch them over and over and over again being so glad that I have this memories of these sweet kiddos!  

MJ in his pj's reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear to me.  Mat reads him this book nearly every evening before bedtime. 

Charlotte getting some tickles from mommy at 4 months old. 

I could do a whole post just about this video, but it hasn't yet happened, so I at least have to share this video!  We visited the Iowa Children's Museum recently, which was a little slice of kiddie heaven, and MJ's favorite spot to play was in the grocery store.  He was adorable as he filled his cart, checked out, and paid for his groceries.  It's amazing all the little things he must pick up from his countless trips to the grocery store with Mat or I.  Kinda makes me feel guilty for all the times I prefer to go to the store kidless.  Ha! 

Mama's Day

The problem with not documenting something right after it happens, is I quickly forget the details.  I have a long list of things I keep meaning to blog about, but just can't seem to keep up.  Luckily, Mother's Day is still pretty fresh in my memory as it was truly a fabulous weekend!!  It's amazing to me, when I think back, how this holiday has evolved over the years.  I've experienced everything from longing for a child, experiencing my first Mother's Day as a brand new mom, experiencing a miscarriage, cautiously enjoying a new pregnancy, and this year-soaking up the love of my two precious children while also loving and appreciating my own mother.

What a great weekend it was!  Except for all the grading/school work I had to squeeze in, it was such a memorable time. Besides celebrating Mother's Day, we also had MJ's final soccer game and Charlotte's baby dedication.  My parents were able to come into town to be a part of these events and spend Mother's Day with us.  It was one of our best visits ever!  The weather was amazing, we had lots of great time with the kids, and everyone was nice and healthy at the time, and great memories were made. 

MJ is at the age where he just LOVES having company, especially any of his grandparents.  He was waiting on the porch for Gigi and PopPop to arrive and was sure to invite PopPop up to his room to play within about two minutes of walking in the door.  Anyone who visits us certainly doesn't get to rest much.  ;)  He was so excited to have them come watch him play soccer the following morning. 

That same evening we had Charlotte's baby dedication at church.  MJ joined us in "big church" for the ceremony and stood up on stage like such a good little boy.  Charlottte was a perfect little baby and let the pastor hold her and pray over her and never made a peep.  It was such a special evening!  MJ's baby dedication was on Father's Day weekend a couple years ago, and now to have Charlotte's on Mother's Day was quite symbolic.  Last Mother's Day, I was newly pregnant and so excited, but yet so nervous.  To be holding my beautiful, healthy daughter a year later is a huge blessing that I most certainly do not take for granted!  Oh, and mom was even recognized during the church service as the mother who traveled the farthest for Mother's Day. 

All dressed and ready for church

My heart is smiling just as big as my mouth is.  What a great night! 

The proud grandparents with their grandbabies after Charlee's dedication.

On Mother's Day, mom and dad treated us to an amazing brunch at Hotel Julien.  It has to be the best food I have eaten in a looong time!  Uh-may-zing!  MJ was so well behaved and there were extra hands to take turns holding Charlotte, so not only was the food great, but it was our nicest and easiest meal out since having two children.  Everything from champagne to an omelet station to a huge spread of desserts, and flowers for the mama's-we were spoiled.   The rest of the day was spent shopping for flowers for my yard, and just hanging out with the kiddos and playing in the yard. 



This is one happy mama!  

Soccer Success

Okay, well "success" might be stating it a tad strongly.  hehe  The kid loves to run though, and he ended up having a blast, so all in all, I'd call it a success!  MJ just wrapped up his first soccer season.  It was a fun learning experience for him I think and something we'll look forward to doing again next year.  They run a summer league, but due to travel plans, we're going to sit this one out.  MJ has gotten to enjoy lots of special visitors for his soccer games.  The Backes family watched him a few weeks back, Aunt Kelly was here just a couple weeks ago, and then Gigi and PopPop were here for his final game.  He loves to run by and wave to his adoring fans!  Such a ham!  At one point as he was running back onto the field after a much needed drink break, I yelled to him, "Kick the ball, MJ!"  His response?  ..... "I no like to kick the ball."  Well, gee....

 Receiving his medal for the season after the final game from coach, AKA daddy!

 Posing for mommy...love this face that he gave me when I said to give a big smile :)

 Our baby boy is growing up!

Proud Pop Pop

We'll see what the future holds.  Who knows if MJ will develop a love for soccer down the road, a different sport, maybe even a musical instrument, gymnastics, etc.  For now though it's fun exposing him to different activities and watching him learn and develop new skills.....or just run around waving to his family and friends!  :) 

4 months old

Miss Charlotte Noelle turned 4 months old on April 23, 2012.  Yep, I'm a bit late with this post.  Wanted to wait until her pediatrician appointment though for her latest stats.  Isn't she the cutest? 

This was Charlee headed to her pediatrician appointment for her 4 month check up.  She looks a little nervous, huh?  Poor baby!  Mama hates seeing her get those shots!  Charlotte checked out wonderfully.  She's meeting all her milestones (smiling at us, recognizing voices, turning head to sounds and people, raising up on her elbows, etc.)  If you've seen these thighs lately, then you're not surprised to know that she's in the 98th percentile for her weight...

Hehe!  Almost looks painful doesn't it?  I loooooove to nibble on these little thighs though, and her neck, and her cheeks, and so on.  :)  On May 4th, Charlotte was 18 lbs (98%), 26 in. long (93%), and her head circumference was 43 cm. (90%).  Charlotte was super sleepy for a few days after her vaccines, but didn't seem to run a fever or act overly fussy.  Her next appointment will be at 6 months. 

Charlee is now upright enough to sit in her jumperoo.  She's been playing in it the last week or so and seems to really enjoy it for about 10 minutes at a time.  She's discovering the little toys along the sides and learning how to reach and grab for them. 

She also has been able to get outside more and more now that the weather is turning warmer.  Last week we spent some time outside in the grass for the first time.  She was grabbing handfuls of grass and exploring.  I love this look on her face!!  Love to see her learn and explore new things for the first time.  

Her personality is developing more and more each day.  She is just full of smiles!  She loves to stick out her tongue and wiggle it around as if she's discovering it for the very first time each time.  She just recently discovered her feet and is quite enamored by those as well.  She babbles and makes all kinds of sounds, loves to suck on her hands and fingers, and is beginning to drool quite a bit. 



Charlotte continues to be blessed by so many who love her, including her big brother MJ.  He is always excited to greet her each and every morning and is sure to shower her with kisses and knuckles throughout the day.  All she can reciprocate with are big smiles, but she definitely seems to love his attention!  These two are my world, and I'm so blessed by their lives!