Christmas Pictures

Hi Cuties,
I'm updating the blog.  I'm busy and it's fine and I'm just gonna do it and that's it.  So, yeah, Christmas is like tomorrow so we are trying to create one of those photo Christmas cards with Charlie as the star.  This kid, this kid though.  There are two kinds of Charlies in a photo.  No Big Deal Charlie comes out when you are really, really trying to capture a happy moment.  Think planned photo shoot or any kind of "first time" doing anything.  NBD Charlie couldn't care less, not even enough to cry.  Let's just say he's not really buying what you're selling.  He's just chillin' in a kind of vacant way.  
On the other hand, Active and Engaged Charlie shows up for photos in less formal settings.  As you might imagine, Active and Engaged Charlie can't sit still so most of those photos turn out blurry.  Both my family and Erik's family are sending out Christmas photos featuring NBD Charlie so the pressure is really on for us to send out a card featuring the elusive Smiley Charlie.  In real life Charlie smiles all the time and it is the most precious smile you've ever seen.  We're going to try capturing it first thing tomorrow before we leave for work.  Because we always have lots of extra time when we're trying to get ready in the morning...

xo,
C

Robots

Hi Cuties,

The mister was nice enough to clean the apartment today but, sadly, I've been rather lacking in the cleaning department.  If you've been wondering why I haven't updated the blog, it's because every morning I outline about 25 crucial tasks to complete throughout the day and night.  And I usually get about ten completed.  So blogging isn't really making it to the top of the list (and probably won't until I can make the transition to professional blogger, hahaha.)  And neither is cleaning.  Hence, the robot.  I saw a commercial for the newest Roomba this weekend and it seems like a for real robot, which is so exciting.  Totally expensive, but a robot, guys, a robot!  This seems like the only viable solution.
xo,
C

Hi Friends.

Hi Friends,
So, I know that I've been very, very MIA.  What can I say?   Do you ever feel like you can give everything about 10% or give 10% of things 100%?  Does that even make sense?  Anyway, I've realized that I am a person who has grand ambitions and complicated expectations that grow to epic proportions inside this little (big) old head of mine.  Right now, I would like to find a way to simplify my life.  I think maybe other people have perfected this art in a way that I have yet to figure out yet.  Maybe I am an overthinker?  
Well, whatever, things are rather complicated over here but I'll try to make it simple on the blog.
The mister and I had a lunch date today, which was very nice as even though we spent the entire weekend together, we really didn't get to talk much.  We happened to realize on Thursday that Charlie's daycare was closed today (oops) so Aunt Lyss was nice enough to volunteer to spend the day with him.  I'd imagine she's drowning in a big glass of wine right now somewhere in Brooklyn after being peed on (once) and thrown up on (twice.)  Our little guy is lucky to have such a sweet aunt. 
Hope you've all been well!  Will try to get back to more frequent posting...
xo,
C

meanwhile, back at home...

Welcome, Fall

Hi Cuties,
Sorry it has been so long since I've posted.  You know when life is really kicking your ass and all you can do is hang on? Well, yeah.  I am hanging on by the very, very tips of my fingers.  I hate playing the busy, stressed out game.  Nobody wants to hear that work is busy.  Nobody wants to hear about the challenge of the JUGGLE, the balance between work and home, ugh, ugh, ugh, just ugh.  So the blog has been silent.  But yeah, I'm juggling, definitely.  Juggling successfully?  I'm not so sure.  I want to sit down and write, really write, some of the things that have been on mind, because I love to write.  That's why I have this blog and that's what helps me keep my life in focus.  But there's not enough time, not enough silence.  There's not enough time for a lot of really important things right now.  So writing has had to be back burnered, along with pretending I am going to work out, watching Real World St. Thomas, and calling my friends back.  Sigh.
This weekend we went out to Long Island to visit with Erik's family and Charlie was introduced to the ipad.  He was pretty into doing anything that his cousin was doing and playing with an ipad immediately skyrocketed to the top of his to-do list.  Until ipads are drool proof,  I think Charlie's still a little young, but what a glimpse into the future.  
Hope you are all juggling with more success than I am!
xo,
C

Milestones

Hi Cuties,
We spent the weekend on our annual trip to the lake where we got married and it was really nice.  This is the second anniversary of our wedding and I can't believe how much has happened in the past two years!   Going back to the lake for the second time really made me realize how much weight this annual trip holds and how many memories we'll have the chance to create with our own little tradition.  Last year, for our first anniversary, I was just pregnant with Charlie, and now, he's here!  It's exciting and completely overwhelming (in a good, yet emotional way) to think of the many annual check-ins in our future.
Have shared some pics from my phone and lots more to come!  We got some good ones this year, even a family shot ;)
xo,
C

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