The First Year Files - 4 Months was 3 weeks ago?

I'm blogging on Saturday night at 9 pm because I'm such a dedicated blogger.  Or because we went to Biaggi's for dinner and I topped off my pasta with a Nutella Cookie dessert.  I'm all for indulgence, but going to bed directly after that kind of meal is the stuff sumo wrestlers are made of.

The past few weeks have been nothing less than super fun.  Details and new pictures below:

4 Months: Charlie was 4 months on October 21.  Check out the rolls on this baby.  (Note: I had to finish this post because 5 months is right around the corner.  How is time going by this fast?!)

Halloween: The first couple of pictures are from the Saturday night before Halloween.  We had the Nelson's and 2/3 of the Pierce family over for dinner.  In other words, Papa Murphy's.  I turned the oven on, so I'm pretty sure that counts.

This is Adalynn (10 months) and Charlie (4 months).  Adalynn = sweet little girl.  Charlie = sweet little mega baby.

Charlie and Adalynn are going to be best friends forever, just like Curtis and I.  I'm pretty sure that getting his first kiss from a girl other than Mama means that Lydia Pierce is his first girlfriend (...and we're totally fine with that.  She is a DOLL baby.).  And she can say, "Charlie", too...so that's a plus.

On Sunday, Charlie dressed up for Beggar's Night.  Bridget and Lily got in on the fun, too.  Yoda? Shrek? A gremlin?  We went with Yoda.  Alas, I wasn't Padme...or even C3PO for that matter. And Jedi costumes don't come in tall.  Princess Leia was available in the perfect size(s), though.

Mallory, the pink lady, and Sofia, a vampire, came to trick or treat.  Charlie loves to charm the ladies.

Princess Leia before...

And Princess Leia after.

Yikes.

Last week I had to be in Florida for a work conference, so Cy and Charlie joined in the fun!  Charlie is a CHAMP at traveling and slept on most of our flights.  He and Cy had a great time at the beach.

How hilarious is this?  Pretty clear who runs the show, yes?

I love this picture.  Cy loves to hang out in athletic shorts when he is relaxing.  Obviously that translates into Charlie loves to hang out in his diaper when relaxing (and bib).  This is the makings of a child who won't wear clothes.  Mark my words.

I came back to the room after the evening event on Tuesday and opened the door to this.  Forgive the brutal picture quality because it is seriously hilarious.  Bucket of beer anyone?

Finally, here are some random shots of fun in the Phillips family.

This was the morning that Cy learned what happens when you sit on a glass coffee table.

Mini Cy.

That kid is extra sweet and snuggly when he is tired.

And he's learned how to blow raspberries.

I saved the best for last.  About two weeks ago, Charlie figured out that he has a volume button.  This morning, Cy and I woke up to him "chatting" in his crib, loud blapping with intermittent squeals.  It's the best.    A week ago, I picked him up from day care and the notes about his day started with, "Charlie was very talkative today..."  Wonder where he got that?  

The First Year Files - Charlie's First Trip

This last weekend was one for the baby book...ok, I'm not making a "real" baby book.  And isn't it your first baby that is the only one with a baby book anyway?  I'm making a MyPublisher photo book...but this will be in there nonetheless.  This weekend we took Charlie to Chicago to see our friend Hollyann run the Chicago marathon!  Here is some back story...I've run the Chicago marathon twice.  Each time, Kyle and Hollyann hosted us and made up an AMAZING marathon support crew (this where I throw in a shout out to the Hubby, Sarah and John and Emily, Mal and Ja as well!).  Given all Hollyann has done for me, I wanted to be there to cheer her in her first marathon!  SHE DID GREAT.

We decided to drive given the massive quantity of goods necessary for traveling with Charlie.  If you think I'm kidding, you obviously haven't traveled with a baby.  They even require their own seating (hello, Bumbo chair).  We got into the city on Friday night and stayed with Sarah and John at their place on Surf Street.  What a cool neighborhood!  And if you know Sarah, you know that their home is beautiful!  She has the best eye for putting pieces together and creating a really gorgeous, but really warm space.  We should have documented that with pictures, but Cy was too busy taking pictures of Charlie.  Shocker.  And maybe it is better this way so that when I copy her, you all think I am the one behind great decorating ideas at our house.  Ha.

Anyway, we had a great time with Sarah and John and Kyle and Holly!  The girls (plus Charlie since he was the cutest of the guys) went shopping while the guys went to an Iowa bar to watch the game.  Guess who had the better time?  Hello champagne flight on Michigan Avenue!

Here are some pictures of the weekend...

Sarah and Charlie...

 Sarah and I decided to make some posters for Holly.  I don't have pictures of all three, but trust me when I say they were funny.  One said, "Making this poster was hard, too."  We are all about moral support.  Anyway, we put Charlie in the Baby Bjorn so that he wasn't in his seat all day.  And it was bright, so I put his little aviator shades on him.  Have you ever seen the movie "The Hangover".  Here is a reminder...

And here is Cy.  Too bad we already have Charlie's Halloween costume because this would be PERFECT.

Within 30 seconds, runners were shouting, "Baby Carlos!" and "look at that baby".  It was hilarious...and resulted in a new poster made on the fly...

I bet you are wishing that we were part of your marathon support crew, too.  Ha.

I jumped in with Hollyann at the 17 to run for 3 or so miles.  It was a great time!  I told her that I was her marathon concierge.  This primarily involved blapping at her for 30 minutes, and I took that job seriously.  I realize that some of you may think this was a form of torture.  Anyway, here are some pictures from the fun...

Doesn't she look crazy happy for running a marathon?  And by crazy, I mean actually crazy.  Who looks that happy?  Definitely not the guy on her left. 

And here is a shot as I was finishing up at the 20 mile marker...

She still looks exceedingly happy, yes?

If I didn't like Hollyann so much, I would be upset with her for how good she looked after running 26.2 miles.  

Congratulations Hollyann on a job VERY well done and thank you Sarah and John for letting us take over your place!  We love and miss our Chicago friends and want to remind you that the house across the street from us is available for sale. :)  The realtor who is listing it is VERY cute.  And nice.

Until next time!

Meighan and Charlie

The First Year Files - 3 Months!

Charlie turned 3 months old on September 21!  I know he's already 3.5 months old and I'm just getting around to posting, but cut me some slack.  I went back to work on September 13 and things around here have been busy...to say the least.  Cy has been an awesome dad from the start, but he is getting some additional hands-on "Dad" time now that we are both working full time.  And by "hands on", I mean hands on a blow out by himself.  

Look at this kid...you wouldn't even know he's managed to rock a blow out every other day this week.  

And even though I'm back to work, we make sure to get in a ton of good family time during his bedtime routine.  You'll see that I have a weakness for footed pajamas.

We wanted to be sure and take pictures to document Charlie at 3 months, so Cy and I had a mini photo session.  You try to corral two dogs and a baby that doesn't sit up on his own and let us know how your pictures turn out.  We took 228...here are the ones we'll share.

As you know, Charlie is Cy's "mini-me".  I was even more convinced the other day while Charlie was chilling in his chair as I ate some breakfast.  See below for additional evidence...apparently smiling with ones mouth open is a genetic trait.

And finally, as you can tell, Charlie digs the Bumbo chair.

I was sitting in the office at our house typing this blog entry when our neighbors, Jen and Sam were walking to get their mail.  Sam is 7 weeks older than Charlie and I literally laughed out loud at how cute she looked tonight rocking her shades and Raygun onesie.  Her shirt says, "Iowans: the few, the proud, the extremely attractive."  Our other awesome neighbor, Kate, got it for her.  She picked one up for Charlie, too that you'll see in a future post!  

Until next time!

Meighan and Charlie

Two months, a Baptism and Football Season...

Hello, all!

The past few weeks have flown by in a complete whirlwind.  To be fair, it isn't just Charlie that is making the days fly by...it's all the fun we're having!  He happily comes to workout during stroller class, sleeps while I play tennis and loves splashing in the pool.  This has been the BEST summer. 

On August 21, our little guy was two months old!  At his two month check up, we learned that Charlie is nearly 14 pounds and is 24 inches long!  That places him in the 90th percentile for weight and 83rd for height.  Hello, mega baby.  Check out the picture in his special two month sticker/onesie (thanks Curtis and Amber!).  We made the mistake of waiting to do this until the evening.  The little guy was getting tired...

And then got frustrated...

And then he got in the bath!  He LOVES the bath and would chill in there for hours...

On August 27th, we baptized Charlie at Sacred Heart.  Father Hess, the priest who said our wedding mass, also said mass that evening.  It was such a special day for our little family!

Curtis took pictures during mass (thank you!) and captured some AWESOME shots!

After mass we had some friends and family over for dinner...and cupcakes.  And there might have been some cocktails, too.  This is our nephew, Sam, enjoying the party.  Yes, he is really that cute.

In fact, our house was full of cute kids...this is Charlie's bestie, Adalynn.  

And Charlie's pals Max and Juliet, who happily played outside with Bridget and Lily...and Cy.

Charlie watched his first Hawkeye football game last Saturday.  He was on the edge of his seat.  Can you tell?  This is Charlie celebrating a touchdown.

And a few snapshots from the rest of our Saturday watching football...

We are so blessed to have such special people in our lives!

Until next time!

Meighan and Charlie