19 Months Old Today!

Happy Birthday Charlie.  You are 19 months old today.

You can. . .

Say about 35 words (favorites are bye bye, hi, moose, help, hat)

Eat with a fork and spoon

Turn the TV on by yourself (not a good thing)

Go up and down the slide by yourself

Jump into the pool

Float on you back in the bathtub

You love. . .

Singing and Dancing

Wearing Hats

Throwing Balls

Playing with Cars and Trucks

Dumping your toys out their bins and making a mess

Playing Ring Around the Rosie

Playing with Older Kids

Swimming

Taking Baths

Giddy Up!

Notice the hat?  He grabbed this one off the store shelf and would not put it back!

Love that smile!

Playing in hut with Daddy.  Another one of his favorite things to do!

He always rides the fire engine backwards. . .????

Modeling his hat in the mirror!

Time Really Flies

I spent this morning searching  and organizing old photos and I came across this one.  It's one of my all time favorites.   I took it about a year ago (maybe a little less).   He looks like such a baby here - he's growing up so fast!  

Turtle Back Zoo

I was scheduled to find out the sex of baby # 2 today - but Chuck asked me to cancel. . .work got too busy - (that's the story of our lives).  So we rescheduled the appointment and headed to Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, NJ to meet up with our friends.  Charlie had a fabulous time today.  He loves seeing all the animals.  He literally fell asleep when his head hit the carseat for the ride home and he's been sleeping ever since.  I'm going to have to wake him up in a few minutes for dinner.

It was a beautiful day and the zoo was very impressive. . . so much so - that I signed up for a yearly membership.  We'll be back soon :-)

Waiting in Line for Pony Rides. . .So exciting!

Seeing the sights on the train ride

She is beautiful!  I love this shot!  Edited with Leah's Colorful Action!

She always takes such good care of Charlie.  This was one of the many hugs for the day

Hiking the Trail at Wyckoff Wildlife Center

Finally a nice day!   I think it has rained here for about a week straight.  Charlie and I were definitely getting cabin fever so today we took advantage of the nice weather and went for a little "hike" at the Wyckoff Wildlife Center.  I think we went a bit too far. . .because I ended up carrying him piggy back about half way through - What a sight!      

Taking a break on a tree stump

A burst of energy!  Running the trail.

Another rest stop -  look how he is slouched over - he's getting pooped

A wild deer we saw on our hike

These trees dropped pink petals all over the place - it looked so pretty

Some kind of wild flower. . . I need to brush up on my botany

Another One for My MomTog Friends. . .Bloom Workshops!

For my MomTog friends/readers. . .I signed up for an online workshop "Bloom Workshops" hosted by two of my favorite photographers.  It's starts on Monday and I am so excited!  I'll let you know what I think and hopefully share some of my new skills with ya'll! 

20 Weeks Today and Bad Bad Mr. Ben and Mr. Jerry. . .

I have officially reached the 1/2 way point of my pregnancy.  I am 20 weeks today - I only know this because I was notified by babycenter this morning.  To celebrate this milestone - I thought I'd share with you one of my many indulgences. . .  Chocolate ice cream with fudge swirls and peanut butter filled pretzels. . . Mr. Ben and Mr. Jerry are two of the many individuals to blame for my rapidly growing gluteus maximus!  How can anyone resist that sweet and salty combination?  It's not really me who craves it. . .It's the baby.  I swear!  :-)

Momtog

I wanted to share this link www.momtog.com with all my fellow Mom Photographers out there.  I really love this blog.  She offers great tips, tricks and hints on a weekly basis.  Her photos are awesome and there are links to some other great resources.  Check it out!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Catching Up. .

It's been awhile since I've posted on here. . . life has gotten a little hectic lately.  I meant to post these awhile ago.  These are pic's of Charlie - (pre haircut) playing with his new outside toys.  We are trying to add to our collection to be ready for the summer.

He loves this car

Ready. . . Set. . . Go!

I think he looks like a little surfer dude here (it's time for a hair cut though)

I need to Renew Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification. . .

I haven't been employed as a lifeguard in over 10 years and my certification has since expired.  However, recently I have been seriously considering getting re-certified.  Not because the economy is THAT bad and I need to get a job (although, if our medical bills don't slow down. . . that might be my next blog post) - it's because my son has turned bath time into ultimate swimming/drowning fest.  I have never seen anything like it.  The child flops around like fish and then practically drowns himself while cracking up hysterically.  I am usually soaking wet after each bath from practically jumping in the tub to rescue him.  Tonight, I attempted to video tape this nonsense and take a few photos.  It was quite a feat - as in between shots. . . I was saving my sons life.  The quality of the photos aren't the best. . . but you get the picture.

Our After Bath Ritual - Hurricane Charlie

Bathtime occurs every evening around 6 or 7 pm in our house.  Right after the bath, a severe storm whips through our house (well actually Charlie's room) - we call it Hurricane Charlie.  I swear. . . up until this point each day - his room is clean.  It only take about 3 minutes for Hurricane Charlie to destroy everything in it's path.  Take a look.  . .

You wouldn't expect this innocent face to be the culprit

Notice that Hurricane Charlie strikes EVERYTHING in his path

Happy Anniversary

I don't want to brag - but I think it's safe to say I've been a pretty good wife this year (well at least according to my husband).  Today is our 3rd anniversary.  Not only did my husband remember our anniversary - but he showed up BIG!!!!  This morning before work he presented me with a card and an AWESOME gift (Tiffany Keys Floral Key Diamond Necklace).  I can't say this enough. . . "I love love love it!!".  AND that's not all . . . this evening when he came home from work I received a beautiful flower arrangement which included hydrangeas (our wedding flower).  Needless to say - I am one happy wife today, but the skeptic in me keeps thinking that there must be a Vegas trip planned for somewhere in the near future.  My husband is no dummy. . . he'll probably bring it up sometime this evening.  I'll won't give him any objections. . . he definitely knows how to work me (Flowers and Diamonds).  Happy Anniversary to Us!

My flower arrangement - isn't is pretty?