I just love this picture!

I just love Charlie's expression in this picture. We see it several times a day, and I was so excited when my dad captured it at the park on Saturday. I just love how everything, no matter how big or small, is so exciting and surprising to her.

Father's Day Boat Ride

As I mentioned before, we went out on the boat with my brother and Dad on Father's day. Charlie loves Uncle John's boat. She would be on it every day if she could. Somehow she got the idea that it is her boat and she gets really mad when it is not parked at Grandma's house! I don't know who would tell her such a thing! :)

Charlie got to go on the tube with Daddy for the first time.

She started out really excited...

Then she got a little scared....

Then the front of the tube got pulled under, so she got a face full of water...

Which made her really mad...

And a little scared....

But she was determined to have a good time...

Even with the freezing cold water in her face, she still loved her first tube ride with Daddy. She is still talking about it every day!

Her other favorite part of the boat ride (beside Papa falling into the water several times....on purpose) was Daddy swinging her legs through the icy cold water!

Conversations With Charlie

After we were done taking Nick's Father's Day pictures last month, we stopped to see Nick at the Fire Station. Charlie had been talking about fishing all the way across town so I finally said "Charlie, let's not talk about fishing anymore. It is a surprise for Daddy, OK?"

Charlie "Why?"

Me "Because, we are going to give Daddy a present and we want it to be a surprise, so just don't talk about fishing anymore. Remember how Papa just bought you ice cream?"

Charlie "Yeah!!"

Me: "Let's tell Daddy about that!"

Charlie "OK!!"

I was thinking...whew! I think we will be OK. I cover up the fishing poles with her blankets just to be sure he doesn't see them when he walks us to the car.

The first thing she says when we walk in the door...."Daddy I have your fishing pole!"

Crap.

Me "Charlie, tell Daddy about the ice cream." I was trying really hard to not sound like I was up to something. But Nick can see right through me.

Nick "Wait, Charlie what about fishing."

Me "Charlie...remember we are not talking about that."

She looks at me and then looks at Daddy, and then back at me trying really hard to keep quiet.

Nick "Charlie, do you want some M&M's? Is mommy hiding something?"

Charlie "Yes! Fishing poles!! We got you a present!"

Me "Tattle Tail!"

But luckily this whole time I think Nick thought I bought him a fishing pole for fathers day. I hope he wasn't disappointed! Needless to say, it is very hard to have surprises around our house anymore.

Father's Day

We had a great, great Father's Day yesterday! We had a nice relaxing morning and then spent the beautiful first day of summer out on the boat with my dad and brother.

And I am so glad Father's Day has come and gone because I have been bursting at the seams the past month trying to keep Nick's father's day pictures a secret. I will post a picture of his actual present and the pictures my dad took while we were on the boat yesterday another time. But I can not wait another day to share the gorgeous pictures my Dad took of Charlie this year. I love the fact that we started these pictures for Nick's very first Father's Day. And I love that they are pictures for Charlie's daddy, taken by my daddy. Can't get much better than that for father's day! Enjoy!!

I can't believe this is Nick's 3rd Father's day already! Charlie sure has changed since the first year we took these pictures!

Fathers Day 2007

Father's Day 2008

Conversations with Charlie

Remember last year around this time when I was still very worried about Charlie's vocabulary? Well...I am having a really hard time remembering that. I am looking back on those quiet days kind of like a old, fuzzy, good dream.

Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled that Charlie has developed an extensive vocabulary and is not afraid to use it. I just wish she also developed a love of occasional silence along with it.

I would love to post a funny Conversation with Charlie today....but all I can remember from this past week are days full of constant....and I mean constant commentary of every part of our lives. And every day I have said at some point ...sometimes more than once... "Charlie....just stop talking for a little bit!!"

And every day...sometimes more than once...Charlie gets sad and sticks out her bottom lip for about 5 seconds...then smiles and says "Can I talk now?!?"

Shoes, Shoes and more Shoes

I think everyone knows that we hit the jackpot in finding Beth's daycare last year. She is without a doubt, the best daycare in town. She goes above and beyond teaching, playing with and loving each and every child in her care. She really is amazing. And knowing that Charlie is in the best possible care is 95% what I love the most about Beth.


The other 5% is her fabulous taste in clothes and shoes... and that her daughter is just a size bigger than Charlie....and that she lets me go through her garage sale items before the actual sale. :)

I hit the shoe jackpot this afternoon. I mean seriously. (yes Nick I just typed seriously on the blog....but I don't care....seriously!)

Seriously....Shoe JACKPOT!

What 2 1/2 year old girl doesn't need a pair of Biker Boots?

Or a pair of Pink Suede boots...

Or a second pair of pink cowgirl boots...

Or a pair of slip ons that will give her at least another 1/2 in height

Pink ballet flats are an absolute must....

As well as silver sparkle shoes!

Nike's....a must have....

And sparkly high tops....she HAD to have them!

And these....Beth said these were her favorite. And they are by far my favorite as well. They almost make me cry they are so cute!

Seriously.....have you ever seen anything cuter than this?!

Now, I must apologize to Beth in advance. These shoes....the cutest shoes I have ever seen...are also Charlie's favorite. And they will not look this impeccable for long. I just hope it doesn't make my stomach hurt (or Beth's stomach hurt) when these adorable little mouse shoes show up at her house all smudged and worn.

Ok....so I know I just spent 20 minutes working on a post about toddler shoes. I think the rain is starting to get to me. But....in my defense... I have grandparents on my back about not posting enough. So there you go....something new to look at.

And just to make this post a little longer her is a short Conversation with Charlie.

As I was trying to post this, Charlie was climbing all over me. On my lap, behind me, hanging on my neck, pushing buttons on the keyboard. Finally I said "Charlie ENOUGH!"

She says "But I not making you bonkers Mom! I not driving you nuts!"

And I had to laugh...but I was thinking "Oh yes you are!"

Puddle Jumpn'

I am starting to forget what the sun looks like.

But we tried to make the best out of the rain this evening. Charlie loves splashing in the puddles. And now that I went a little shoe crazy (I will post about that later) she has some rain boots that are perfect for Puddle Jumpn'! And Charlie's friend Livvy gave her a cute little rain coat so she is set for this miserable weather.

Conversations with Charlie

We were driving out Sheridan Lake road and saw a bunch of cows on the side of the road last week.

Charlie : Look! Buffaffo!!

Me: No, those are Cows Charlie.

Charlie: NO! BUFFAFFO!

Me: No, Charlie, those are cows.

Charlie : NO!!!! BUFFAFFO!!! Leave it alone, mom.

Geesh!!

Charlie loves to role play. She love to be a puppy, or the baby, or a doctor, ect. Today it went like this...

Charlie: You be the sweetie and I be the mommy.

Me: Ok, why am I the sweetie and you the mommy?

Charlie: Because I grow really big.

Me: Oh, what are you going to do now that you are really big?

Charlie: You sit in the my seat and I will sit in your seat, because I big and I sit in a big seat. (she has something against her carseat lately)

Me: You are a big girl, but you are not big enought to not sit in your car seat. You have to be as tall as Cadeance before you can sit in a big seat.

She is quiet for a little bit.

Charlie: I be right back...ok?

Me: What are you going to do?

Charlie: I just be right back ok?

I am wondering what she is up to but I let her go out of pure curiosity. She comes back with a tape measure, pulls it out across her belly.

Charlie: See!! I big. I sit in your seat!

I yell at Charlie for being naughty.

Charlie: I not being naughty....I just a Turkey.

We are in the bathroom at Milestone. Charlie goes potty first, then I I go. Of course there is a line in the bathroom. Charlie yells at the top of her voice "YEAH!! Mommy you went potty! You are such a big girl! You didn't pee in your panties! Good Job!" I am just smiling nodding at her, trying to make her be quiet. "Mommy, you need a sticker! Mommy don't touch the potty! You are such a big girl!"

Shakn' Jammies

I don't know what Charlie's deal is with Shakn' it. But when she picked out some silky jammies for bed tonight she told me "the jammies are for Shakn' "



Oh....and she has a little attention problem. :)

Sunday Afternoon

My two favorite people in the whole world, doing exactly what you are supposed to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Accidents Happen

Charlie was supposed to be finding a clippie to put in her hair. She came back upstairs looking like this...





I asked her what happened. She said, "it was just an accident, Mommy." I guess my lip gloss just jumped out of the drawer and spilled on her face. :)