We heart Ms. Nina!

A couple weeks ago Nina, C's educator, informed us that she was retiring.  This news is bittersweet...sweet because we are happy that she is doing something for herself but sad that she will no longer be Charlie Claire's developmental educator. 

We have been so blessed to have been able to work with Nina - she has always been so positive and encouraging, just what our family needed! Nina has taught Charlie Claire SO MANY things and for that we are forever grateful.   

Thank you Nina for brightening our lives and we are so glad that we have gained such a wonderful friend!!

Love

Being a mom is something I have known that I wanted to do for a long, long time and while all day every day may not be rainbows and butterflies I can't think of anything I would rather do then be Jackson and Charlie Claire's mama!!

I LOVE these two littles more and more each day and I love learning about life through them!

Jackson MUST be going through a growth spurt at the moment because homeboy wants to eat ALL DAY! Last week was Nonno's (my dad's!) birthday and Jackson L.O.V.E.D. the birthday cake...so much so that he licked the plate...I can't judge him, I could have done the same!

Had we known this sand/water table would provide so much entertain we would have bought it sooner...J and C can't get enough of it! 

Love that it looks like Charlie Claire is trying to tell Jackson not to take a drink out of the toy!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this sweet face!

Happy Girl!

Yep...she likes to dunk her face!

Someone does not like to be gated in...

A certain little lady we know has accomplished all but one of her short term physical therapy goals! :)

 

Working on sit to stand with Wendy

Charlie Claire has been climbing up the stairs with help the past month or so but sister decided today that she doesn't need it anymore...!

Happy Wednesday!

Flying Pirate 1/2 Marathon!

The Team Charlie Claire runners are TROOPERS for sure! The race conditions yesterday were WET, WET, WET.  It rained the ENTIRE time.  Not only did it not stop raining but it also caused some seriously muddy conditions on the "off road" trail through the woods. Even in the most perfect conditions though the hill at mile 12.5 is just downright mean.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the runners and walkers.  We appreciate all your efforts in fundraising for the Charlie Claire Fund as well as everything else that went into being in Nags Head this past weekend...training, traveling, etc. We are super grateful to all you and are blessed that you all participated. We also want to thank our family for traveling to support the runners...it was so nice to be able to spend a little bit of time with you!


Unfortunately, due to the rain there were no Team Charlie Claire pictures taken at the race :( You have no idea how bummed we are about this. Maybe next time ;)

We did however get to spend a few days with our friends Nick and Danielle who graciously traveled all the way from MI to run with us! Charlie Claire spent most of her time flirting with Nick (watch out Danielle, I think you've got some competition) and Jackson was pretty pleased that there were two more people that he could entertain!

Monster was super interested in Nick's shoes!

Could this sleeping face be any sweeter?

Signing "more"

Aunt D snuggles before bedtime

Danielle is the one who can be thanked for the "J Monster" nickname

Nick and the littles!  

C didn't waste anytime making friends with Nick!

Clearly not impressed with our finishers medal!

Big kisses for Aunt D!

 Thank you both for making the trip and rocking the race! We love you!

Awesome Weekend!

We had an awesome weekend! I am not sure if it's the weather or what but lately it just seems that things are falling into place.  It seems that we are doing more "normal" family things instead of dealing with medical things and I must admit, it's been nice!

Saturday I did my last long run before the Flying Pirate 1/2 this coming weekend! 12 miles! I can't believe the race is almost here! I am so amazed at the time and effort people have put in to training and into making the trip down to Nags Head! We are super excited to see everyone and to run on Sunday!



I've used this Nike App on most  of my runs since I started training for the 1/2! Damn what that jogging stroller does to my average pace! :)

Sunday we spent most of the day outside! We are so excited for this summer and all of the fun, new things we are going to get to do with Jackson and Charlie Claire!

Nonno introducing Jackson to baseball!

Monster Mash helping daddy put together new toys!

Backyard play time!

Jackson was very serious about his sand!

C was much more interested splashing!

It warms my heart to see Jackson and Charlie Claire interact so much, the two of them really are best buds! This past weekend they both discovered the shower in our downstairs bathroom and they could not get enough of playing in it..together! I took a series of pictures that looks as though they are having the most serious conversation ever...it started like this...

Charlie Claire has gotten very vocal the past couple months!! She started saying "ba ba ba" a few weeks ago in addition to lots of other noises and just a few days ago she started saying "ma ma ma!!" Now, I know she knows I am "mama" but when she is babbling "ma ma ma ma" she isn't necessarily referring to me but she is certainly moving in the right direction!!

Lastly....C is officially off lamictal!!! One more down! :) If everything looks good after being off the lamictal for a week we can continue with the klonopin taper on Monday!

18 MONTHS!

Jackson:

weight:

26.5lbs

length:

33in 

nicknames:

Jax, Monster, JMonster, Monster Mash,

likes:

climbing on things (chairs, beds, tables), EATING, taking whatever Charlie Claire has away from her, playing with the dogs, Mickey Mouse, being outside, pretend cooking, putting your fingers in Charlie Claire's mouth, wearing peoples sunglasses/glasses

dislikes:

being told that something isn't for you, green vegetables, coming in from outside, getting your teeth brushed

what we love most about you right now:

your fearlessness, the way you clap for yourself after you doing anything, the way you shrug your shoulders when you are asked a question you don't know how to answer, how curious you are

Charlie Claire:

weight:

22lbs

length:

31in

nicknames:

Charlie Cakes, Cakes, String Bean, Charlie Bear, Puddin' Pop, Fiona (as in Princess Fiona from Shrek!)

likes:

bath time, reading books, riding on Mickey Mouse car, mandarin oranges, kissing Jackson and the dogs, looking at yourself in the mirror, iphones (really any phone), walking (with help!), FaceTime 

dislikes:

sitting still, taking your medicine, getting pushed over by Jackson, getting a phone taken away from you

what we love most about you right now:

how much you love to snuggle, how funny you think Jackson is,  how hard you work every day, how curious you are

Is there anything better than playing with make up brushes?!

Happy Girl

Monster discovered the goodness of chips and queso!

Bath Time Kisses!

Kisses for Grandma

Note to Mama: do not schedule check ups on days Daddy can't come. Thank goodness my sweet friend was able to help.

Don't let this picture fool you...this was a rare moment that Jackson wasn't screaming his head off as well.

Signing and PT

One of Charlie Claire's goals with her educator is to sign "more" and "all done." I am going to be honest with you, I have been failing in the signing department.  I feel sort of awkward and unnatural doing it so I thought I was failing Charlie because I wasn't consistently working on it with her.  Somehow between Nina (Educator) doing it with her once a week and me doing with her intermittently she picked up on it! :)

She does do it unprompted but it's real hard for me to get it on video that way! :)

It was super duper pretty out today so Wendy suggested we head outside for PT, it was a nice break from our usual in the house business.

Easter!

Hope everyone had a wondeful weekend!