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