It is just a little more than 24 hours until Charlie will have his first birthday. I can't believe a whole year has gone by since this tiny bundle entered our lives. It is difficult to remember a life without Charlie in it.
Here are just some of the things he impresses us with ...
*He waves bye-bye and says, "Buh bye"
*He blows kisses
*He says, "Hi!"
*He puts his finger in the hole in his nose and says, "Nuh." (He had discovered the hole in his nose and had his finger in it all the time, so we decided to teach him that he was touching his nose. He won't finish the word, but he gets it started with, "Nuh".)
*He says, "dog".
*He says, "papa" and "Mom-mom" and "Dad-dad". No "grandma" yet, but I keep trying!
*He crawls quite well, but isn't too interested in trying to walk yet.
*He loves to stand behind the steering wheel of the car and "drive" while he makes a motor sound.
*He calls his bottle or sippie cup his "baba". (Rebecca is weaning him from the bottle - cups only!)
*He loves to take Grandpa's glasses and hat off of him.
All he really has to do to melt my heart is give me one of his big grins. He's got Grandma wrapped around his little finger ... and I have no intention of changing that!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Charlie can ...
Charlie's First Halloween
Celebrating Halloween with costumes and trick-or-treating is not so popular these days. However, I still remember how great it felt to get dressed up in a costume and have fun, so I'm glad Rebecca and Billy are okay with dressing Charlie in a cute little costume and take him around to a few friends, neighbors, and family for a little harmless fun.
Rebecca and I took Charlie to the Pumpkin Patch in Murrieta to get a couple of pumpkins. They had a hughe air-filled slide that Rebecca rode on with Charlie. There was a petting zoo and some other rides, but it was hot and time was slipping away so we chose our pumpkins and headed out. Billy and Becca came over with Charlie to carve pumpkins. Brandon, their housemate, came with them. While Rebecca decorated a little pumpkin for Charlie and Dave and Billy carved pumpkin masterpieces, I made chili (Rebecca's favorite!). Brandon handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters that came to the door while we got Charlie dressed in his costume. I had purchased a "Squirt" costume at Downtown Disney. (In case you don't know ... Squirt is the turtle from the animated movie, Finding Nemo.) He was too cute for words!!!!!
We took him to a couple of houses where we knew the people and then it was time for him to go to Grandpa & Grandma Sump's for some more fun.
We're already planning next year's Halloween fun!
Rebecca and I took Charlie to the Pumpkin Patch in Murrieta to get a couple of pumpkins. They had a hughe air-filled slide that Rebecca rode on with Charlie. There was a petting zoo and some other rides, but it was hot and time was slipping away so we chose our pumpkins and headed out. Billy and Becca came over with Charlie to carve pumpkins. Brandon, their housemate, came with them. While Rebecca decorated a little pumpkin for Charlie and Dave and Billy carved pumpkin masterpieces, I made chili (Rebecca's favorite!). Brandon handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters that came to the door while we got Charlie dressed in his costume. I had purchased a "Squirt" costume at Downtown Disney. (In case you don't know ... Squirt is the turtle from the animated movie, Finding Nemo.) He was too cute for words!!!!!
We took him to a couple of houses where we knew the people and then it was time for him to go to Grandpa & Grandma Sump's for some more fun.
We're already planning next year's Halloween fun!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Memories - Wedding & Seaport Village
In May we were invited to a wedding in San Diego. I was anxious to show off my perfect little grandson. Rebecca and Billy couldn't go to the wedding but they were delighted to have us take Charlie with us. They wanted everyone to meet Charlie, even if they couldn't be there. They agreed to meet us the day after the wedding to go to the San Diego Zoo.
We had a great time at the wedding and Charlie was his usual charming self. We went back to the hotel after the wedding and Charlie entertained us. Dave was feeding Charlie - who was propped up in the corner of an overstuffed chair. At one point Dave got a little "frog in his throat" and turned his head away to give a little cough. Charlie thought that was the funniest thing he had ever seen! Every time Dave would turn his head and "fake cough" Charlie would laugh with that beautiful belly-laughter of a baby. He laughed so much and so hard that he got hiccups. This went on for about half an hour. Later, all we had to do to get Charlie to laugh was to have Dave fake cough. I'll never forget the sight and sound of him that night.
The next morning we got ready for our first trip to the zoo with our grandson. Billy and Rebecca had some things come up and weren't able to meet us, after all. I told Rebecca that I would understand if they wanted to be there for Charlie's first zoo trip, and we would not go to the zoo. Through tears, she told me that she really wanted to be there ... so we changed our plans and took him to Seaport Village instead. We took him on the carousel. He grabbed the pole and held on just like he knew all about riding a carousel. He smiled and cooed and had almost as good a time as Grandma and Grandpa!
We had a great time at the wedding and Charlie was his usual charming self. We went back to the hotel after the wedding and Charlie entertained us. Dave was feeding Charlie - who was propped up in the corner of an overstuffed chair. At one point Dave got a little "frog in his throat" and turned his head away to give a little cough. Charlie thought that was the funniest thing he had ever seen! Every time Dave would turn his head and "fake cough" Charlie would laugh with that beautiful belly-laughter of a baby. He laughed so much and so hard that he got hiccups. This went on for about half an hour. Later, all we had to do to get Charlie to laugh was to have Dave fake cough. I'll never forget the sight and sound of him that night.
The next morning we got ready for our first trip to the zoo with our grandson. Billy and Rebecca had some things come up and weren't able to meet us, after all. I told Rebecca that I would understand if they wanted to be there for Charlie's first zoo trip, and we would not go to the zoo. Through tears, she told me that she really wanted to be there ... so we changed our plans and took him to Seaport Village instead. We took him on the carousel. He grabbed the pole and held on just like he knew all about riding a carousel. He smiled and cooed and had almost as good a time as Grandma and Grandpa!
Memories - Charlie's First Easter
In preparation for Easter, I found Charlie a little outfit with a necktie. How cute is that?
The Easter Bunny brought Charlie toys, books, and other things. Except for a chocolate bunny, there wasn't really any candy since he was too young to eat candy yet. Still, he made out like a bandit!
It is our tradition to color Easter eggs and hide them along with plastic eggs that contain money and/or candy inside. Rebecca and Billy searched for the hidden eggs that included the grand prize egg with $50 in it. Smaller denominations of bills were hidden inside the other eggs - ones, fives, and tens - but the search was really about finding the $50 prize. Dave and I sat on the front porch swing with Charlie while his mommy and daddy looked for eggs. The much-prized egg was nestled between Charlie and me!
At the end of the day, Charlie, his mommy, and his daddy took home huge Easter baskets and a cash prize totaling $100. Watch out ... next Easter Charlie will be finding his own eggs!
The Easter Bunny brought Charlie toys, books, and other things. Except for a chocolate bunny, there wasn't really any candy since he was too young to eat candy yet. Still, he made out like a bandit!
It is our tradition to color Easter eggs and hide them along with plastic eggs that contain money and/or candy inside. Rebecca and Billy searched for the hidden eggs that included the grand prize egg with $50 in it. Smaller denominations of bills were hidden inside the other eggs - ones, fives, and tens - but the search was really about finding the $50 prize. Dave and I sat on the front porch swing with Charlie while his mommy and daddy looked for eggs. The much-prized egg was nestled between Charlie and me!
At the end of the day, Charlie, his mommy, and his daddy took home huge Easter baskets and a cash prize totaling $100. Watch out ... next Easter Charlie will be finding his own eggs!
Memories - Valentine's Day & St Patrick's Day
In January, after getting permission from his mommy, we took Charlie to Sears for a photo session. The resulting pictures would be a birthday gift for his daddy. We bought him a new outfit, complete with pants, shirt, sweater, and shoes! The pictures could not have been cuter. The photographer turned out to be someone that knew us and she went the extra mile for the photographs.
Charlie had the cutest outfits for Valentine's Day and St Patrick's Day! I took lots of pictures.
Just before St Patrick's Day, Dave and I wanted to go to the Orange County Swapmeet. Since it was close to Cindy & Al Brady's house, we asked if Charlie could come with us. It would mean an overnight stay. Mommy and Daddy said it would be okay, so Grandma, Grandpa, and Charlie set out for a little adventure. At the swapmeet, we found some great things for our little grandson - some high-top Vans, some low-top Vans, shopping cart covers, and more. There were also a few things for us and some things for Billy & Rebecca, but who really cares about those ... it's really all about Charlie, you know!
While we were visiting with Cindy and Al, they received a phone call from Cindy's son, Matthew. He and his wife wanted to announce their pregnancy. It was very ironic that the call would come while we were there. Matthew had grown up calling me "Auntie Debra" and I had been there so often as he grew up ... until we moved to Hemet. Then, the visits were few and far between. Cindy and I would become grandmothers at almost the same time, even though there was almost fifteen years difference in the ages of our children! Isn't life amazing?
Charlie had the cutest outfits for Valentine's Day and St Patrick's Day! I took lots of pictures.
Just before St Patrick's Day, Dave and I wanted to go to the Orange County Swapmeet. Since it was close to Cindy & Al Brady's house, we asked if Charlie could come with us. It would mean an overnight stay. Mommy and Daddy said it would be okay, so Grandma, Grandpa, and Charlie set out for a little adventure. At the swapmeet, we found some great things for our little grandson - some high-top Vans, some low-top Vans, shopping cart covers, and more. There were also a few things for us and some things for Billy & Rebecca, but who really cares about those ... it's really all about Charlie, you know!
While we were visiting with Cindy and Al, they received a phone call from Cindy's son, Matthew. He and his wife wanted to announce their pregnancy. It was very ironic that the call would come while we were there. Matthew had grown up calling me "Auntie Debra" and I had been there so often as he grew up ... until we moved to Hemet. Then, the visits were few and far between. Cindy and I would become grandmothers at almost the same time, even though there was almost fifteen years difference in the ages of our children! Isn't life amazing?
Memories - Rebecca's Birthday
For Rebecca's birthday, we - Dave, Rebecca, Billy, Charlie, and I - went out to eat. We went to Acapulco Restaurant, in Hemet. Santa had brought Grandma & Grandpa Miller a digital video camera and Charlie's daddy needed to show them how to operate it.
We had dinner, opened presents, and enjoyed some cake - all caught on film, thanks to Billy!
We had dinner, opened presents, and enjoyed some cake - all caught on film, thanks to Billy!
Memories - Charlie's First Christmas
During the month preceding Christmas, we were lucky enough to have Charlie visit us often ... even spend the night with us. He was such a sweet spirited baby. I enjoyed each moment I could hold him, cuddle with him, and give him a bottle. We set up a complete nursery at our house so that his visits could be spur of the moment without much need for preparation. He slept in the cradle that my dad had built for Rebecca, when she was a newborn. He was rocked to sleep in the rocking chair that we used when Rebecca was a baby. And of course, there were many new bells and whistles that we didn't have when we were the parents of a newborn. I did a lot of shopping!
Rebecca asked us for a baby swing she had found. "Please! If I get that swing, I won't ask for anything else." Well, Santa Claus overheard her request and on Christmas morning, there next to the tree was the swing she wanted with a tag that said, "To: Charlie ... From: Santa". There were plenty of other presents for everyone, including Rebecca. (Thank you, Santa!)
Billy had taken a job at KB Toys. You can just imagine all of the toys he brought home for his new little son! There were toys he could use then, and toys that would be saved for later. Little did they know how advanced Charlie would be. He was able to make use of the toys much earlier than the ages stated on the boxes. That's my little genius grandson!!!!!
Rebecca asked us for a baby swing she had found. "Please! If I get that swing, I won't ask for anything else." Well, Santa Claus overheard her request and on Christmas morning, there next to the tree was the swing she wanted with a tag that said, "To: Charlie ... From: Santa". There were plenty of other presents for everyone, including Rebecca. (Thank you, Santa!)
Billy had taken a job at KB Toys. You can just imagine all of the toys he brought home for his new little son! There were toys he could use then, and toys that would be saved for later. Little did they know how advanced Charlie would be. He was able to make use of the toys much earlier than the ages stated on the boxes. That's my little genius grandson!!!!!
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