Her First Birthday

Yes. I am finally going to post pictures and tell you about her birthday.

The actual day of we were at my cousin's wedding, so she had fun with grandpa and grandma. (I was only kinda sad that I wasn't with her - not that she remembers. And I knew they would shower her with love on her special day.)

We had her little shindig on Labor Day. I meant it to be simple and informal, with just immediate family, but because it was Labor Day the extended clan was over. I didn't mind that at all, but I didn't want them to feel they had to bring gifts. They did anyway. It just shows how the family loves everyone of us, even as we get more and more removed. (BTW, does anyone understand the whole great-aunt, cousin-once-removed, 2nd-cousin thing?) Charis had so many gifts and frankly she wasn't quite into them. While I am proud she has learned to be content with one toy for a while, it made it difficult to keep the gift opening going when she wasn't really paying attention.


Then we tried the cake. We set it up outside, but the mesquitos were HORRIBLE, so after two minutes we were back inside. Charis was not interested in her cake. This was her first real taste of processed sugar and she didn't want it. Grant it, the frosting was really sweet. She wouldn't play in it either. (See we taught her so well - "don't play with your food," "you don't need sugar," "be content with the toy you have"...) She eventually ate a little cake, but it wasn't the glorious and messy feast that I was hoping for.

All in all, it was fun yet stressful day. I will leave you with some pictures of her enjoying the cake batter I prepared earlier that day. (At least she kinda likes sugar!)

Puking and Lab Tests

I had my monthly doctor's appointment this past week and I lost another three pounds. Not a big deal in my mind, but it has been accompanied with puking. So my doctor made me go to the lab to get blood work to check my thyroid and she gave me a perscription for my nausea. I don't see what the big deal is. With Charis I think I lost 15 pounds in the first trimester, but I guess I wasn't throwing up. I don't get it.

Sometimes pregnancy sucks...

... but I have been feeling the baby move.

Check out Josh's Blog

You will see a fabulous update!

http://thejewfirst.blogspot.com/

Packing

So we leave for California in 39 hours and I haven't begun packing. That is pretty frightening for me. Especially now that Charis has been added to the list. And not only that, she doesn't just need clothes and toiletries. She needs her whole world to move with us to California. I mean how many of you bring your bed, lunch chair, eating utensils and all your food with you when you go on a vacation? Not many I would guess. I am just glad the airlines let you bring 3 items each. But realize that since Charis is not paying (but sitting on our laps for 4 hours!) she does not get to bring 3 items. I estimate the 6 items Josh and I have will be 1 car seat, 1 pack and play, 1 stroller and 3 pieces of luggage (I hope to pack her booster seat and fan - HA!). This would all be fine if we owned 3 pieces of BIG luggage. But no, we have the big, medium and small, which isn't "just right". (Yes, I am thinking of Goldilocks and the three bears.)
Oh and speaking of flying... I asked the doctor how I can knock out my child on this trip. He told me unoffcially that Benedryl sometimes works. He then qualified it by saying, check it first, because some kids gets wired. Yeah, Charis gets wired. Well, at least I am glad we tried it out before we got on a plane with an off the wall, non-walking, but wanting to be moving toddler.
So anyway, I need to pack. Yeah, I am going to wait until tomorrow.

Dunkin Donuts

I am not sure if I get cravings, but I have definitely been wanting some Dunkin Donuts recently, more specifically a white long john and a boston cream. So good. Josh got it for me about a month ago. He walked in to wake me up from my afternoon nap to some yummy donuts. It was wonderful... and I have been wanting it again.
Jordan and Crys sometimes get them Sunday mornings, and I almost called them to pick me up some. Too bad that they didn't even go that morning. Then Sunday afternoon Josh said he would go get me some. I was so excited. I went to my nap anticipating yummy donuts when I woke up and felt 100% okay with not sharing with my bible study girls who would be there when I woke up. 4:30 rolled around and I happily bounded out of my bed looking for the blessed orange and pink bag... but I didn't see it. I looked at Josh and asked him if he was able to run out and he said that they were out of my donuts!

I was seriously, seriously bummed.

And today was jammed packed with a quick run to the doctor to look at a TB shot and then up to Algonquin for a petting zoo with Em and her girls. But I squeezed in my Dunkin Donut run. It was wonderful and if any of you want to get me some more I will happily take them!

My Baby Turned One...

...and I can't find the camera cord. As soon as I do you will see some adorable and hilarious pics. Hey, can someone tell me how to post a movie?

My Schedule

I think it is only fitting for you all to understand my daily / weekly schedule, so maybe you will understand why I have not only not posted in forever, but why I no longer check my email or your blogs. (Ignore my double-negatives.)

I start my day between 7:30 and 8:00. This is the time I do my devotions. It is much needed and I have been VERY lax recently. But I am back in it now.

Between 8:30 and 10:00 I get both Charis and I fed, dressed and bathed (not in that order). And I try to pick up the house.

By 10:00 I tend to have something going. It is either errands, Women's Bible Study or a wonderful walk with Jan Stern through our incredibly mosquito infested neighborhood. If I am miraculously at home I try to wash dishes, vacuum Charis's leftover macaroni off the floor or fold laundry as quick as I can before Charis "helps" mama... unfold it.

Charis wants to say hi:
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12:30 is lunch time for Charis, so I get her fed and let her play while I eat. Then we hang out until nap time at 2:00.

Once she is asleep I go to work - in the second bedroom / office - PRAISE THE LORD! This lasts until 4:30 if I have a lot to do. If I don't I try to take a nap, a much needed 1st trimester of pregnancy nap.

4:30 hits and Charis needs another meal. By the time this is done Josh is home and we have started our evening. Sometimes we are out, at church or my parents, or sometimes we have his family over. Something is always going on.

Charis goes to sleep at 9:30 and I am in bed by 10:00, again I blame Colby. And yes, I get almost 10 hours of sleep each night.


So I will admit that there is lots of time that I could blog, but it just gets away from me. And as you can see from above, Charis wants to say hello to you all too, thereby making it even harder to pull a computer out. I do have more time with this job. But it is more time with Charis, and not really more time for my self. NOT THAT I AM COMPLAINING!

I hope that gives you a glimmer into my life. It isn't exciting, but I love it and amidst the "mommyness" of it all I feel very blessed. Love you all and will talk to you soon!

So Much to Say

I have so much to say and update on, so instead of doing in it one long post that will surely be delayed another week, I will write in quick little spurts. So enjoy.

And Crystal stop harassing me! : )