Snacktime

One of my new favorite things that Charlie does is follow instructions... what a pick up from a couple months ago!  He does many cute things but one of my new favorites is that he sits perfectly on the step between our kitchen and living room to eat snacks.  He of course would prefer to run around with a bowl spilling O's or raisins all over but I tell him to just sit on the step and he is so proud to do it like a big boy.  I snapped a few pictures of him the other day enjoying some O's.

Cars!

In constant search of fun indoor things to do this winter, I stumbled upon a car show going on this weekend.  We had no idea what to expect but went down to the convention center to check it out.  It was basically like CarMax for new cars... every make and model on display.  Since we are kind of into cars, it was fun but not quite as fabulous as I thought.  Charlie enjoyed climbing in and out of the cars and acting like he was driving.  Below, he and James are in an Escalade:

A New Ride

Now that Spring is here, we decided that Charlie needed a new ride to troll around the neighborhood in.  Since he is city-boy, he often needs to carry his outside toys to the park when we go play.  We found this wagon at Costco and it is perfect for all of his loot and has a cute little door he loves to walk in and out of.  He also enjoyed putting it together with James... he must get that interest from his Grandpas since things like this are not his dad's favorite (as you can tell by his face in the pictures :)).

Ready to roll!

Watch out Basketball!

Golf is here!  I found Charlie a cheapo golf set at CVS and thought it would be a fun thing to take to the park.  I was right!  He LOVES it and now in addition to Bask-ball and Oot-ball he says Of-ball (golf ball).

Dad has skills

Mommy does too!

First Basketball Game

James took Charlie this weekend to see the VCU Rams play.  As I've written about before, Charlie LOVES basketball so we figured a live game would pretty much blow his mind... and it did!  As you can see in the first picture, he was too fascinated by it all to look at the camera.  He stared at the game, clapped for every basket and yelled along with the crowd.  He took a nice long nap after it was over.

Thanks Grandma!

Grandma had a fun trip to Disney last week with the Tweedy's and was very thoughtful to send Charlie some little treats.  He loves his football (or course) and gives the bear sweet kisses too.  Thanks Grandma!

Charlie and Friends

Charlie loves walking his doggie...

And kissing him...

And his lady-friend Efa (and her rattle/phone)...

And his new "T" (ie. Train, I found these cheap wooden Thomas look-alikes at Target for $3 each!)...

Happy Valentines Day

I love my guys!

And my girl.

Charlie enjoyed making some Valentine's cards. They will be late arriving at their destinations but hopefully seeing them "virtually" will make everyone feel loved :)

Finally, here is the man with some of his loot.  "Boons" as he would say and a little doggie from Ms. Pauline (and without pants again).  My mom also sent our new favorite book Bear of My Heart. I got teary reading it... that is a great Valentine's kid book!

Ohh, curly ribbons!

18-Month Stats

We had Charlie's official 18-month check up this week and he is still consistently tall (x inches, 90th percentile) and skinny (x lb, 25th percentile).  We are lucky too that he is progressing very well in every way.  His speech was a little slow at first but he now is saying probably 20 things consistently and it seems like everyday he adds a word or two. Things starting with B's and D's are his favorites but there are a few others in the mix including hello, football, truck, kitty, and mama from time to time (not nearly as consistently as doggie, football or basketball).

Here some other pictures of what he is up to these days...

Loves trying on "big" shoes

Eats really well with a spoon...

And loves it! (seriously, he insists on eating this way sometimes)

That hair is still growing... and I still refuse to cut it :)

Loves pulling out and putting his books back on the shelf

Loves to clean the floor with a paper towel whether it needs it or not (this is not hereditary)

Goes "vroom" on his little car

Puts anything up to his ear and says "hello"

Loves Dad playing the trumpet

Loves his bedtime friends... he picked these out of the laundry and insisted on carrying all four around

BASKETBALL!!!!!

Favorite thing on earth

Wearing bigger boy clothes... moved up to 18-24 month duds and a new shoe size too (5)

Loves his "oot-ball" (actual a rugby ball) and "bask-ball" (every round ball is a basketball in Charlie's world)

Super Bowl Sunday

I don't think he understands it but Super Bowl Sunday was an important day for Charlie.  He has been very interested in football all fall/winter and today marks the last day he will see it for a good 6 months.  We tried to pump him up for it and even had a little party and let him stay up a little later for it.  He wore his best green and yellow (we have no loyalty but who would cheer for the Steelers?!?) and I think had a fun time.  Below are some pictures from our day:

Still rockin the Elvis glasses

Telling us he is ready for a nap before the game

Chilling on the couch for pregame with a snack (how much like a big boy does he look here?!?)

Why we typically don't eat in front of the TV.  James made some awesome and very messy chili.

Vegas

James and I took a 3-day trip to Vegas this week while Grandma and Grandpa Grover stayed with Charlie.  It was a work trip for me but with very little work so we had a great time and even got off the strip for a visit to the Hoover Dam. We about broke-even too despite a strong first day on the blackjack tables.

The only picture we took.  Very cold and windy day at the Dam.

Charlie enjoyed the gifts we brought home for him.  Elvis glasses and a squishy, light-up ring (both courtesy of CarMax).

A hunk of, hunk of burning love

Thank you, thank you very much

Who would want to hide those pretty eyes :)