Charlie's 2nd Birthday

Where has the time gone???  Yikes - I now have a toddler in the house and sometimes I can really tell a difference!  BUT - lets talk about the party.  Charlie has been loving fire trucks, so I decided to go with a fire truck theme.  The fire station here was sooooo great and said yes to letting the group of kids come down to the station and basically do whatever they wanted.  SOOOOO GREAT!

Then we came back to the house, played outside, had snacks, and ate cake.  Charlie was a little distracted to pay much attention to opening presents, but I've been told that will change by next year!  I bought all the children firemen hats, so they wore them for most of the afternoon.  Charlie even had a fireman jacket from Grandpa and Grandma S., so you will also see him sporting that in some pictures.

We had a great afternoon celebrating with friends and family.  I loved that the weather was once again warm enough to play outside - it saved my house a little!!!!

Here are some pictures - cause I know that is what most of you want to see!!!!

Oh and if you are paying attention, you'll notice a sore on the left side of his nose.  He did a face plant while skipping down the side walk his actual birth day and got his first taste of what road rash feels like.  However, his crying lasted 30 seconds, and at the time, it didn't look like he got much damage.  Two days later tells a different story with a full blown scab on his nose for his birthday party.  So - I edited some pictures and left others.....It isn't always easy editing those kinds of problems out (especially on the edge of a nose!)

Driving the fire truck

Loving every moment - maybe just not showing it!

Finally a smile!

Cupcakes courtesy of Auntie Pookie

Couldn't resist one of Charlie's favorite snacks!

He enjoyed being sang to.....I prepped him for more than a week, so he was looking forward to it!

And he wanted to blow out his candles, although I think the wind did it instead

Kids say the funniest things

As I have said before, Charlie is talking lots.  He is doing great in the speech category, but may be lagging a bit in the coloring and drawing category! :)

Anyway - I've been writing down a few of my favorite sayings that sometimes slip out of Charlie's mouth.  Some make me burst out laughing, others give me the warm and fuzzy feelings.  Needless to say, we've captured him saying some funny things and I don't want to forget them!

We were walking downstairs (our upstairs is open to below) and Charlie says, "I have so many toys" - yikes!

Charlie was getting a ride from Daddy and burst out saying multiple times, "I'm so HAPPY!"

He also has a thing for driving vehicles and said "I'm excited to drive in the CAR!!!"

"I'm so happy to be at home" has slipped out of his mouth, but often when we are leaving the hotel, Charlie will say the opposite, "I don't like going home"

Last weekend we moved Charlie into a big boy bed, and he said to Daddy as they were getting ready to go to sleep, "I like my new blue big boy bed".  He has a white bed, but a blue safety railing so he doesn't fall out of the bed.

Charlie snuggles in close while I read to him - and said to me while I was in the middle of a book, "I'm sitting by the baby"

And the best one yet and also the most recent, "I don't like Saskatchewan."  Hahahaha - we were talking about football and the Roughriders, and without any encouragement or urging - he said it.  We didn't tell him to say it - he just said, "I don't like Saskatchewan".  We were all laughing so hard!!!!  Ok - I was laughing...... I think Doug was in shock and denial :)

We've got lots of news!

First - no baby ;)  Still 4 or 5 weeks left - maybe less or maybe more......You know which one I choose!

We've had a busy couple of weeks - Charlie celebrated his 2nd birthday and has also made a very successful switch to a big boy bed.  More to come on both of those things.

Just wanted to let you know we are still here and lots of pictures and stories will be coming shortly.

Here are a few pics from around the house.....Charlie sometimes lets me take his picture!

Look Mommy - I'm wearing Daddy's socks!

Yah - I know I'm funny!

I like wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses!

Wearing Grandpa's shoes

Last tooth

Charlie popped out his final molar last week!  He has been my teething pro.....lets hope his baby brother or sister continues the trend.  I was a little more suspect this time as he had a runny nose, but not many other symptoms.  And I'm not sure if the runny nose was part cold as Doug came down with one a few days after Charlie developed his runny nose.  Thankfully, I stayed away from the sickness!

So that's that - no more teething talk from me.....at least for 4 or 5 months!  I started this blog because I was shocked at Charlie's first tooth making an appearance just after his 4 month birthday.....crazy how time flies.

So - Charlie is talking up a storm.  He is telling me when that he is hungry....which is not always the case ;).  He said the other day, "I don't like to poop in the corner."  HAHAHAHA!  20 minutes later he made his way over to the corner.  He is telling me what he would like to eat, that he has to get gas for his trucks, and everything else that goes through his little brain.  The crazy part his that his pronunciation is really clear.  Maybe all the reading is paying off!

We are in the process of putting together his big boy bed.  We've been talking about it for quite a while now, and I'm hopeful it is a smooth process, but I'm also being realistic that it could be a little unpleasant too!  He never tries to get out of his crib (which isn't even on the lowest setting) and happily waits for us to come and get him in the morning.....sometimes 30 minutes after waking up.  So lets just say that if baby brother or sister wasn't coming soon, Charlie would be staying in the crib!

Speaking of baby, this little guy or girl is more active than Charlie.  Doug nicknamed him/her popcorn quite a while ago, and even though the name didn't stick, he/she is definitely like popcorn - moving around a lot.  BUT - I love it.  I think its the best thing about being pregnant.....there is something so special about it.  Mind you, I have yet to get a good punch or kick that hurts :)

There's my little update - I have a few pictures to post, but need to get them off my camera!!!!

First Horse Show

Auntie Crystal was up briefly for a horse show at the end of August so of course we wanted to take Charlie to watch her! 

Charlie loves horses!  More than his Mom.  He wouldn't hesitate to get up with Grandpa or Auntie Crystal - even if he barely cracks a smile!!!  Anyone who knows me from my childhood knows that I did not like horses, and really, didn't like animals growing up.  I hope Charlie enjoys riding horses as he grows up - but maybe not as much as his Auntie!

See ya Mom!

I love how he holds on to the horn!

Just a little smile for Mom - this is the face we got after singing to him!

What are you crazy people doing????

Hello!

Add caption

More Splash Park Pictures

Now that summer is over and the splash park is closed, I thought I would post a few more pictures.  He loved the splash park this summer and so did I.  It was a great place to go with friends when it was hot.  I didn't think I would like it so much!!!!  By the end of the summer, Charlie would go off by himself with whoever we were at the park with.  I was pretty impressed!  We even went a few times with Daddy - which is why I was able to take pictures.

Charlie is also eating whole apples.  One time at the Calgary Stampede, he ate the entire apple - core included!  So funny!!!!!

Charlie says "cool dude" when he is wearing sunglasses!

I love capturing his smiles!

More fun!

With tractors and Charlie's cousin's bike!  Charlie seriously loves tractors.  And he loves to drive them by himself.  No need to start up the engine or even get it out of the garage - he'll sit and play anywhere!!!! 

We had a family gathering a while ago, and his cousin's bikes were out.  He got on one and rode for a bit - notice the colours???

Notice the train in the background????

I need one of these!!!!