a day in the life

Ten on Tuesday

1. I am doing "Thankful" posts on Facebook everyday. Something tells me this is going to turn into a scrapbook page, perhaps even an album...someday.
2. I really have been trying to scrap more lately because I miss it, I need to do it, I want to do it.
3. I am finally reaching the end of the crazy October photo month. Finishing my last October client and on to November!
4. Charlie's new favorite word is "MONEY!!!" He says it all. the. time. And very emphatically too. Would you like some more? MONEY! Comes up with a toy box he can't open...MONEY! Charlie get off the table! MONEY! Sometimes it does sound a bit like Mommy, but he continues to call me Mama and I have heard it when I am not around. I seriously don't know what the exact definition is.
5. I crafted something Christmasy tonight. Haven't decided yet if I will make more for presents yet so you will have to wonder what it is.
6. My city only collects what limited recycling they take, once a month. And we forgot last month. Consequently we currently have seven bags and three bins FULL of recycling out for a very early morning pick up. I really hope the wind doesn't pick up tonight.
7. There is a whole lot of dress-up played around here and a whole lot of running around. Thus, tired girl, all dressed up, taking a break.
8. Tired girl taking a break learns that she may be attacked by a pirate if she rests too long.
9. Did you know that The Trifecta started a Tumblr blog? We did and you should definitely check it out.
10. You know what you should also check out? Elizabeth's new class at Big Picture. It is all about inspiration and finding it and harnessing it and using it in amazing ways. I seriously can't wait. What a great way to start the new year. Hello, she even has an interview with Amy Krouse Rosenthal, one of the most creative and inspirational people out there.

A year ago

Somehow the year anniversary of our move to Chambersburg has come and gone. Probably because I am buried under hundreds of photos to edit, and quite possibly because we have had about the busiest October on record.

But I have to point this out.

A year ago when we went to this farm to pick out our pumpkins, Charlie couldn't even sit up. This year he ran around the maze, sat up on the hay horse (almost fell off the hay horse because of some poor singing judgment of his Mama and Daddy,) and said "HI!" to the miniature horses.
What a difference a year makes.

Charlie's Day

Life around here has been ever so slightly Lily centric what with her birthday, flower girl duties, and the start of school, but this will be all about my boy.
rock climbing

Wednesday is Lily's long day at school which works perfectly because we started Babynastics today. And ohmygoodness did Charlie have fun. No camera as once again I didn't want to be seen as the uber crazy mama who has to bring along the camera where ever we go and I just didn't know if it would work while doing half double tuck flips off the balance beam. But just as I had suspected, Charlie tried EVERYTHING and loved EVERYTHING. The balance beam, flips over the bar, the obstacle course, the somersaults, the tunnel, running down the cheese thing, the balls, the trampoline; he loved every minute of it. Then we got to the big giant barrel. You know the one where you climb in and someone rolls you around and you go flipping around in it? Charlie thought the whole thing was HYSTERICAL. He just kept laughing and saying "Whoa. Whoa. WHOA. WHOA. Whoa. Whoa. WHOA." over and over and over again. LOVED. IT. I can't wait to go back.
Thanks to Abby for teaching him this. And now you know why he loved babynastics.

It was just Charlie and me. He talked more than he normally does (wonder why ;) saying "Mama" and "Whee!" and "Hi!" and "Yea" about a million times as we were leaving school-I think he is starting to realize some of the benefits of not having big sister around, but always glad to see her when she comes back.
This cat has been hanging around lately and Charlie followed it around saying "chitty."

He has been ever so slightly out of sorts as of late although it is no wonder with the appearance of his FIFTH new tooth this morning in a matter of a week and a half. I would probably be a little cranky too. When he is not a crank pot, he is about the happiest kid I have ever met. He laughs all the time-sometimes when he is playing by himself. I wonder what tickles him so. He has started following Lily around trying to play with what she is playing which I understand may be interpreted as being a bratty little brother (which can totally happen) but mostly he just loves hanging out with his big sister.
Lily choking hugging her little brother.

Besides playing chase or dress up with Lily, he still loves cars. He has started running them on everything. Benches, tables, the top of the wicker toy basket, the walls, me. Anything. He just loves cars. And trains. He also is SUCH a book lover. Where Lily would sit and read books on her own at his age, she never would let anyone read to her. I still can't get over how long he will sit for a book. We have even started doing slightly longer, non-board books because he just loves them. It is so very exciting for me. He has been a bit of a picky eater lately (probably the whole growing teeth and all) and will throw anything and everything on the floor when he is done. Let me tell you how fun that is for me-and the floor and walls. I will say that he LOVED the chicken pot pie I made the other day. I can't believe how much he ate of that.
Attempting to get a first day of school shot of both of them. He just wanted to watch the digger.

My favorite thing right now is putting him to bed. After books we turn off the lights, put on Jack Johnson, grab the binky and stripey blanket and cuddle for just a few minutes. He tucks his arms in, rests his head and we just rock. I love my Charlie boy and Charlie boy loves his Mama :)
Charlie pulling my hair so hard I literally got tears in my eyes. Photo by Bj Taylor

Charlie BOY.

We all know by now that Charlie is a climber. And a reader. And a sleeper (today up at 8:45) and most of the time an eater (except for the past week or two...mmmmhhhh.) He is also learning things every day. Like when I am doing Lily's hair it means we are almost ready to walk out the door so that is the perfect time to go over and start shaking the gate (great.) And when I brush his teeth he says "AH." Two days ago I had my camera out and he learned that of course you say "Cheese!" And yesterday he learned as we were going over where his head, belly, toes, and feet were, that this was possible. In case you weren't sure, he is pointing to his nose. I am so the mother of a BOY.

Friday five

1. I had my first "time change mix-up" this morning since Elizabeth moved. I accidentally called Katherine a bit earlier than I realized as I put her two hours behind instead of three. As soon as I realized I hung up quickly-really helpful. Luckily no one was disturbed by my mix-up. But seriously? This whole doing math to call my sisters-I don't like it.
2. More digi scrapping...
and 3. Hopefully not related to my recent digi scrapping spree, my back feels like it is in a vice grip today. I am getting old.
4. Today is my parent's 44th wedding anniversary. How about a round of applause for that.
5. In exactly one week Lily is turning 4. My baby. FOUR. And she looks so grown up to me-all toddler is gone and now she is just a little kid. My baby? I mean the real baby of the family? Oh my. I think that he may be part of the #3 problem. The back pain, not the scrapping spree. It's a good thing they are *both so cute. *It is near impossible to get a picture of the two of them-Lily either looks crazy or is strangling Charlie.

Ten on Tuesday

1. It has come to the point in the summer when I am done with the crazy heat and I just want to wear jeans and light sweaters and well, not sweat to death walking to the mailbox. Is it that time for you?
2. I am scrapping with Tina tonight-you know what that means, digi! I hope that she can teach me how to get rid of the number boogers coming out of Lily's nose. And yes Katherine I laughed OUT LOUD when I read that.
3. Anyone out there have a biter/hitter/pincher? Any advice? I'm not so happy to see this coming out of my sweet baby boy. So far I have tried "gentle, gentle;" "NO!" and yes, even the trouble chair.
4.Tina is now here and look what I did!  

No number boogers! And yes, it is slightly different, but I like it anyway :)

5. I also worked on a project for Elizabeth's FREE class over at Big Picture. I am doing a mini book with one side being all of our guests this summer and the other side being fun things we have done. So far I have two pages done. (I still can't believe how sick I was)

6. I got an itunes gift card for my birthday and really can't decide what to get. Any suggestions to make my decision near impossible?

7. And suddenly Typepad is double spacing. AND did anyone else try updating their "post to facebook" option? Seriously I love Typepad, but good heavens, test things before you release it-good thing they are quick responding to tickets...

8. Today I was at Target and a woman was in the electonics section playing "Heart & Soul." As my students will remember, that song was banned from my classroom when I was teaching as it is my personal goal to wipe that song from the music world. And it has been in my head All. Day. Long. (As I am sure it is now in yours.) I think when I go back to teach I will affix some plexiglass to my classroom piano with some easy song for the students to practice when they sit down at the piano. ANYTHING but Heart & Soul.

9. My computer is running slow as molasses. I have a lot of work to do to make some space on this baby.

10. There will soon be some exciting things happening with A Day in the Life Photography so check back next week! There may even be prizes involved!

Friday five

1. I really need to figure out a balance between blogging and facebook. I feel like facebook is slowly taking over and overpowering my blog lately. I think that needs to change. Poor blog I have neglected you.
2. I have also neglected 365-but not to worry we are up to date and now on page FIVE!
3. I just signed up for three classes over a Big Picture-one was the Milestone Class created and taught by my very own sister, and the other based on one of my favorite Amy Krouse Rosenthal books-Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life taught by Cathy Zielski called Me A-Z. I am SO EXCITED about both of these. And how's that for a super linky sentence?
4. Speaking of scrapbooking, no I didn't make American Crafts...again, but look what I did do! I finally figured out how to use a digi template! Oh. Never mind. I just noticed that somehow there is a 1 2 3 across Lily's face. Now I will have to start all over. Well. I ALMOST figured out how to use a digi template. Bah.
5. I ordered 1 2 3 4 U from Amazon as Charlie needs some new books (read:: I am tired of reading the same books over and over and over and over...) and it is ADORABLE. Lily likes it too!

Happy Friday to you all!

Can you handle the cuteness?

Today Charlie went to the doctor and to my surprise and delight is doing absolutely awesome. Yes he is still little at only 22 pounds 1 ounce, but he jumped from the 7th percentile to the 15-20th percentile. This is big as not that long ago he wasn't even on the charts. Then there is his height. This kid used to be in the 10th percentile for height but now he is a whopping 32 inches long and is now in the 75 percentile. Tall and skinny and happy and healthy. I couldn't be happier. Oh and add to the fact that he didn't make a peep when he got his shots today (gave me an extremely dirty look) which is great as the Princess of my- 22-pound-brother-brushed-me-when-he-walked-by-and-I-must-cry-about-it's four year check up is coming up soon. And yes, this Princess will soon have her own Disney movie ;) Now that you sat through all the numbers mumbo jumbo for my blog baby book, now for some cuteness.
Really. Can you handle the cuteness???

My first fohawk

A long but wonderful day

We're here in Ohio (short trip this time...) and despite a crazy running around morning, I had a wonderful crazy running around evening-playing with Lily and Charlie in the backyard. Oh how I miss a backyard. Since I am not at my own computer, how about a picture from theirs? And how perfect-it is Flashback Friday! Lily playing in the backyard in August 2007. Oh my.
photo by Elizabeth Dillow...I think.