Weekend Wanderings

Hi Cuties,
We spent a quiet weekend in Brooklyn this weekend.  Sleep training is still really just, well, not happening, so every night brings the excitement of endless possibility.  Thursday night Charlie went to bed in his crib around 8 PM and slept through the night, all the way until 6:30.  The mister and I, of course, did not, as we checked on our sleeping baby about a gazillion times.  In retrospect, I can only surmise that Charlie sensed that Friday morning was his six month doctor's appointment, and sought to curtail any talk of sleep training before it even began. And alas, Friday night, Charlie was up at 1 AM and spent the rest of the night in our bed, only to wake up bright-eyed for the day at 4 AM.  4 AM.  So last night, we weren't sure what to expect.  But it was Saturday night, Saturday night and I was determined that we at least have a drink or two and watch a movie after the baby fell asleep.  Of course, since I'd been up since 4AM, come 5PM on Saturday I was pretty tired.  I could see where the night was going and where it was going did not include a movie or a drink, maybe not even dinner.  So as a preemptive measure I treated myself to a nice big glass of coffee.  After that, things started getting back on track.  Charlie went to bed around 8.  We enjoyed a nice dinner, started a movie (Battle Royale, so disturbing, and randomly awesome,)  even had a drink.  We were about halfway through the movie when Charlie woke up for the first time.  I rocked him back to sleep, but to no avail.  Finally the mister went in to give it a go and I waited patiently on the couch to finish the movie.  But the mister was not to return.  After a little while, I ventured to the bedroom only to find both him and Charlie fast asleep on our bed.  So that was that, movie and drinks forgotten. I washed a couple of bottles, shut off the lights, attempted to quietly brush my teeth, and climbed into bed too. Only to stare at the ceiling for a few hours, high on coffee and lingering gruesome images from the movie, thinking about my certain wake up call in just a few hours.  And there you have it.  That is a Saturday night in the household of a six-month old who hasn't been sleep trained (boo, bad parents.)
xo,
C

Happy Anniversary

Hi Cuties,
Would like to take this opportunity to say Happy Anniversary to my mister, who is the best dad ever.  This guy, this guy.  I can't imagine having made it through the past 6 months without him.  He is a pro at being a dad, from diapering, to stroller folding, to baby bathing, and he takes such good care of our little family.  The past two years have been so exciting, I really do feel like I won the lottery.  In honor of my mister man, please enjoy a few of my favorite shots of him being the best dad ever.
xo,
C

Weekend Wanderings

new stroller

new highchair, so many changes

Hey Cuties,
Pretty quiet weekend over here.  Poor Charlie is still feeling a little under the weather, and it just breaks my heart. So this weekend was full of lots of naps and the mister and I did quite a bit of eating as well.  Hopefully, this week, we'll all get back on track.
xo,
C

Fantastic Friday

Hey Cuties,
Wow, what a week.  Just when you think you are getting back into the swing of things, life throws you a curve ball.  We came back from vacation absolutely determined to sleep train Charlie, who had sunk to an all time low (no offense, baby.)  Nights one and two went relatively well.  Charlie fussed for a few minutes and then fell asleep.  Cue Wednesday night and like clockwork Charlie aborted Operation Sleep Through the Night by getting super sick with a horrible cough, cold and fever.  Ugh.  I stayed home with him on Thursday to try to nurse him back to health and he is doing better today.  Attempting to work from home is of course always a challenge.  You know on Teen Mom when you watch them try to study for their GED, and whichever teen mom of the moment voices over "I really need to study for the GED but (insert random baby name) makes it impossible to get anything done."  And you see teen mom sitting at her laptop, half heartedly scrolling down the screen, with baby on her lap squirming around and pulling at her face for like three seconds before she gives up.  And you're all like, "Girl, come on, you barely tried. You seriously can't even get your GED?"  Well, let me tell you, that is actually what it is like.  Not easy.  Anyway, my throat and ear hurt.  Probably has something to do with lot of baby germs being slobbered all over me (including in my mouth and up my nose, just so there is no question of contamination.)  

So, without further ado, Friday Finds.  

1.  Ting, the soft drink du jour of St. Kitt's.  Tastes like grapefruit and is SO GOOD.  "Oh, you mean Fresca," you say.  Wrong, much, much better than Fresca and I miss it terribly already.
2.  Gotta love that when I google imaged Ting I also found this adorable picture of my dear friend Nelson whose last name also happens to be Ting.  Talk about a Friday find!
3.  Swamplandia.  Girls, you've got to read this, you'll love it.  You know when you go through like 5 books that you are just eh about and then all of a sudden you start reading a book and it just pulls at your heart, and you're like, yes, my angsty teenage side is still in there and I can FEEL THINGS.  That is this book.  It is a breath of fresh air on the subway every morning.
4.  On a lighter note, went on a little J Crew binge before vacation and how fun is this bracelet?  And it is for a good cause, so why wouldn't you get one?
5. I also got a super cute makeup case but I can't find a pic.  What I did find was this wedding veil.  So sweet, do I hear a vow renewal?

Hope you all enjoy the weekend!
xo,
C 

PS Speaking of Teen Mom, what is up with the "rehab" Amber was visiting?  Her "therapist" or "life counselor" or whatever he was called didn't exactly seem like he had his shit together or any kind of actual background in the rehab field, am I right? Or is it just me?  

St. Kitt's

Swimming made Charlie very tired.  He kept falling asleep in the pool.  So cute.

Charlie's new float was good for one thing.  Eating.

Charlie has entered a new phase full on - grabbing.  Those little hands are so strong.  Aunt Lyss makes it too easy for him by refusing to ever put her hair up. 

Making fun of a six month old.  Funny or just plain mean? 

Hi Cuties,
We had a great time on our St. Kitt's vacation if I haven't mentioned already.  My little man was such a rockstar. Vacationing with a baby was definitely something new - very fun but also a lot of work and I'm so grateful that Charlie was so well behaved because I can't even think about the alternative.  
Some highlights:
1. We just made our flight there (note: get to the actual airport two hours early for international flights, NOT the parking lot.)  It was totally worth it because we got to cut all the lines and Charlie didn't have time to get fussy. There was a baby on the plane sitting in the row behind us the same age as Charlie and he cried while Charlie slept.  After anticipating the worst, our trip there was a dream.
2.  We got Charlie the cutest little shark bathing suit and he was a BIG HIT in the pool.  
3.  Having my family there to help out with Charlie during dinners was great.  He was so excited to see everyone and get passed around the table, he barely remembered to cry.
All in all, it was a great trip.  But now I need a vacation (I kid, I kid.) 
xo,

C

P.S. On a completely unrelated note, are you all loving Miley Cyrus's new haircut?  I kind of love it.

Vacation!

Hi Cuties,
Sorry for my lack of posting.  We just got back from our week-long vacation to St. Kitt's and I'm pleased to report that it was a great time!  The days leading up to the trip were a bit hectic and Charlie was fairly miserable for various reasons, to the point where the mister suggested we seriously consider not going.  We were both very nervous for the flight but luckily our little tike was a perfect angel the entire time.  In fact, Charlie really took to island life and was loving all the attention he got from the family this week. It really seems to be spending the day stuck in this little apartment with mommy and daddy that he takes issue with.  I've got plenty of pictures to share and, of course, since I am now an expert on traveling with a baby (based on this one time) I'll share some travel tips too.  But now I am off to bed as "vacationing" with a baby is completely exhausting and I've got a busy day of work ahead.
xo,
C