Happy Graduation Dada!

This little girl looked just like Charlie. Her parents asked if they could take a picture of them together. They just couldn't stop looking at each other.

Never...I mean never take a small child to a college graduation! It was pure misery! Jimmy graduated from CSU Long Beach this year. We are so proud of him. I don't really know what I was thinking taking a 1 year old along to watch him walk and receive his diploma. First of all, I had to include the enormous tree a spectator brought to the ceremony that happened to be right in front of us. Weird! Anyway, after about 20 minutes Charlie was DONE. I bought her a $5 balloon (my first and last donation to CSULB), Papa Jim bought her a icy lemonade (who knows how much that cost) and she played with every toy I brought for her. So after about another 20 minutes we took a walk around the campus area. By this time the graduates had walked in. I guess at the entrance shredded paper confetti was thrown because there were barrels of it all over the grass. The grounds keepers were raking it up into garbage cans. Every kid seemed to know it was there because they were all playing in it like it was snow. By the time I went back (with my screaming kid) to get the camera most of it was picked up. At one point the kids were taking it out of the cans as the men were putting it in. They finally gave up and watched the kids have the time of their lives! The next two hours consisted of playing in the confetti, meeting Charlie's twin, screaming, not wanting shoes on (weird, I know), trying to climb up stairs (I kept telling her no), screaming, almost stealing someone's taco, screaming...Needless to say, I missed Jimmy's name being called but did manage getting a picture of him walking back to his seat. Within minutes after his name being called she fell asleep! I'm so glad Jimmy accomplished his goal to graduate from college. All his hard work has paid off. We are so proud of you!

First Ferry Ride

Tracy invited Charlie and I to her dad's art show on Balboa Island. Even though it was a bit cold we had a ton of fun. We walked around the island a little to look at the art and then decided to be a little adventurous and went on the ferry across the bay to BJ's to have some dinner. Charlotte seemed a little confused about the cars on the boat. She probably would of jumped into the water if I let her. All day she kept saying "dog," "boat" and "wawa" (water) because dogs, boats and water were everywhere! She was so good at dinner...maybe sitting by the window had something to do with it. Dogs, people, and cars kept moving on by. One dog even was tied up to the bench right outside our window so that also helped. Remind me to always ask for a table next to the window! Thanks Tracy for a great Sunday afternoon. Your dad is an amazing artist!

Update

I just want to update Charlotte's growth. She is 16 months old. She only has one more canine tooth (the sharp looking one) to come in and then I hope we are good on teeth until the second set of molars come in. She just got her first two freckles. One is in her armpit and one is on her arm. Jimmy thinks she has his skin. I love freckles so I wouldn't mind. She has no idea they are even there. She is a talking parrot. She will for the most part repeat any one word you want her to. She knows many animal sounds and the firetruck sound. She loves Muno and Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba and Minnie Mouse and Donald from Mickey Mouse Club House. She still loves yogurt. She loves to dance, jump and run. She loves dogs (especially Smokey, Molly and Roxy). She loves to put balls into toys that have holes, she loves to put on "Pretties" (jewelry), and she loves to ride in anything with wheels. She loves to talk to Jimmy on the phone, she learned how to say Nicole (Cole), and she knows how to climb up and go down the slide all by herself. Of course, I stay close to catch her when she stumbles. She is the most clumsy little kid, especially when she is tired. She still loves her paci and she calls it a "Ma." I have no idea why! She likes to drink from straws. She loves strawberries. She doesn't like to brush her teeth. She is beginning to like to color. She is most ticklish under her chin and in her armpits. She gives kisses, says "peez" (please) and "You" (thank you) sometimes. Four nights out of the week she wakes up and wants milk. Piggy! I love waking up next to her. She wears size 5 shoe. She loves sparkly shoes and polka dotted clothes. She now brings me matching shoes to put on her. She in love with shoes. She wears my shoes all over the house and can walk extremely well in them. She loves stuffed animals and pushing things. She doesn't like to shop. I guess I am saving money that way. She is the most amazing little girl. I can't believe she is already so big. I love her so much and am so thankful I get so lucky to be her mother.

A Day with the Dogs

Charlotte has really decided that she loves Smokey the most...sorry Bandit! Of course, I know why. He is the one who lets her pull on his tail, open his chops and grab at his tongue and sit on his head all day long. Smokey never complains and just stares at her while she giggles and giggles. She has also just discovered his teeth. He is so patient with her and never denies her the opportunity to poke at him. Sometimes I know he sees her coming and I can see his sigh of relief when she picks up a toy instead. But most times she always goes right for him. It was so funny today. She decided that he must want some of her milk. She followed him all over the backyard trying to make him drink out her sippy cup. It was so cute! Now she also gives him hugs and kisses. He always returns a sloppy kiss or two to her and that always creates another round of the giggles. Poor Bandit...I know he loves her too but he doesn't seem to enjoy the poking and pulling like Smokey does. He will put up with it if he gets "caught" in the moment but at his first chance of escape he will run for it! They are so good to her. I even remember when Charlotte was crawling under Bandit when she was 7 months old he picked up his paw so she could get through. I love our dogs so much! Thanks Smokey and Bandit for being such amazing pets.

Mother's Day

We had a nice Mother's Day lunch at Panera with my family. Charlotte had fun running all around with Alex, Evan and Adelyn. Charlotte and Jimmy sent me the most beautiful arrangement of flowers (Jimmy had to work). I'm so glad a have a mother to spend a beautiful mother's day with. I hope I am just as good as a mother to Charlotte as my mother is to me! I love you Mom.