Now he is 4.

These pictures are from Charlie's second swimming lessons. He had his ups and downs, but things ended on a very positive note. So, Mommy and Daddy were happy, and Charlie would like to go back again. He LOVES monkey crawling, but isn't too crazy about sticking his head under water without plugging his nose.

 One of Charlie's chores is taking the diapers out of the dryer and putting them nicely on the changing table. He is very good help... not so sure what Juniper's train of thought is, when she's trying to "help" Charlie.

 Happy Birthday! Chocolate angel food cake with 4 candles. Took a while to make a wish and blow them out, but it was a big wish for a machine that does a lot of different things. So that explained it.

xoxo,

Becky

See you all at the campground!

The Monster Truck Show.

The green truck with the teeth was his favorite. And he was only a little bit scared. Also, he did not get a picture of himself on Daddy's shoulders; but next time he will if someone else goes with them.

Charlie said they got to eat at Pizza Doctors! Which he also heard about on the radio, and has wanted to go to ever since. I guess we have to be more careful about what he is hearing.

~Charlie

Rock N' Roll Charlie.

Give this boy a guitar, and he will play it for hours. He says that he still prefers the banjo. Not sure if its because TaTa plays the banjo or possibly because the strings are looser. Or maybe he prefers the sound, the twang, that good old-fashioned bluegrass feel? He does like Mumford and Sons...

~Becky

"I need YaYa."

Says Charlie this morning. He has limited vocabulary, and I think he means he misses having her here- he got a little used to waking her up in the morning. I told him what I always have to remind myself, since we live in a city away from our family... time spent with people you love is never long enough, but you just have to enjoy the heck out them while you get them. 

I am currently blogging with blanched broccoli in the sink, a fritatta in the oven (originally I was planning on cold cereal), and the baby actually sleeping in her bassinet. The boys have been in the garden since 6 a.m. Why are we up so early? One would assume baby J, but you would be wrong (she slept 6 hours in a row last night! I know I shouldn't worry because she's gaining plenty, but is that okay?!? new mom anxiety). 

Charlie was up at 5:30 a.m. and woke that baby girl right up. She was at about 3 and a half hours that time. I probably could have slept until 7 a.m. this morning! Oh well, then I wouldn't have been so productive. Don't call to see how I am doing later... we'll all be napping.

                  

 So, safe to say that Charlie had a lot of fun over the past week (note tattoos and cupcakes; there were also bubbles, sidewalk chalk, hide and seek, shopping and eating out, to name a few). But now Daddy's got his (garden) partner in crime back- you can catch them green-handed, ha ha.
I can't believe that Juniper is already over 2 weeks old (and, ahem, 9 pounds!!!).

 

Another new thing, which of course my pictures do not do justice... my kitchen island, and Charlie's mini kitchen, courtesy of Grandpa Steve. I can't believe how spoiled we are, so spoiled in fact, I haven't really used it yet. YaYa did all of my cooking this week. If you are wondering what to do for a new Mom, the nicest thing you can do is cook for her. We also enjoyed so many types of fruit this week, which was a treat as well as refreshing, healthy for Mom and fun for Charlie.
I may not have used my island much yet, but Charlie has used the heck out of his. He's been washing vegetables and fruit in his sink (stainless steel bowl, which is removable so we can dump it) and cooking up a storm. He sat on his stool and watched his (mini) cupcakes bake, and then insisted they go in his oven afterwards. They are getting a little hard now, but he's still eating them. After all, they probably taste better since he made them "himself". I'll have to review my island with a few better pictures when I've used it more and rearranged my kitchen things to fit my drawers. Its funny how in a rut you get, or anyways how used to where things are, its a little tough to move things around! Oh, but I'll adjust to the extra storage all right. Currently I have an extra drawer! How does that happen?

Enjoy your lovely day! (Lot's of exclamation points this morning!)

~Becky

The day that Baby Juniper joined the family.

Charlie and his big boy bed.

Now that I know Katie has seen Liz's big announcement post, I can put up pictures of Charlie's new bed. His Grandpa and YaYa delivered it today. Grandpa Steve made it to match the toy box he made for Charlie about a year and a half ago, and it has storage galore. Charlie is so far in love with it. I'm only a little worried because its kind of tall, but he's probably big enough to handle it at this point. It was funny to tuck him in with a top sheet tonight and blankets tucked in the the mattress; and in that way he had outgrown his crib-sized bed. I feel like he is as snug as a little bug in there tonight (tucked in with Pooh, Pooh #2, the frog, Geoffrey the Giraffe and Shake-A-Bear, and with room to spare; but no more friends in bed, that's the limit).

And of course I had to put up a new picture of Charlie and his Kali. She delivered Charlie's Ikea mattress on Saturday, and we loved having her stay with us. Charlie wouldn't even let me enter the room sometimes, he thought maybe I would ruin his fun (and I didn't even mind).

~Becky

Becopotty.

I am proud to say, that Charlie made it 6 or 7 out of 9 or 10 times today! You know, to the potty. The Becopotty to be exact...

When he gets done using it, we're going to plant it in the garden (and you're all invited, you know, to the potty planting ceremony).

So we've been using mainly Gro-Via cloth diapers so far and they have these adorable (in my mind anyways.... weird the things that change when you have babies... I used to watch Sex and the City and dream about shoes. Actually on a side note, I may be one of the only people that think there should be a third movie. But this time Carrie and Big should have a baby! You know, because I have one AND can you imagine the clothes!?! LOVE baby clothes). Anyways, they are way too expensive for a stay-at-home mom's budget; but there's these patterns all over the internet that are similar to this style. I am hoping they will be my next project, but if so, I had best get sewing!


~Becky

And a major PS side note.
I just talked to my Dad, who was still out in the barn when I called, because my Mum was prettying up Millie (the cow). Apparently tomorrow people are coming from the Dairy Star or some such newspaper to photograph her. At least according to DHIA records, she is currently the oldest and highest producing cow in all of Minnesota! Congrats ol' gal!

Them Lingens.

Good buddies Gladys and her (three generations of) boys

Charlie and his Kali

We had a wonderful Easter weekend with the Lingens- I didn’t actually take too many pictures, but the ones I did get I think are worth sharing.

~Becky

National Start Walking (and Swinging) Day.

Charlie was in a total zen the whole time we went for a walk today, and while swinging (a relief for the poor baby and his poor teeth and gums). I think pushing Charlie in the swing for the first time was my complete favorite moment in life thus far.

~Becky

Gardening Barefoot

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/ We're for any cause that means going barefoot. (Charlie was so adament that he ripped his socks off while napping and threw them on the floor from his crib.)

Maybe more on the gardening front when baby goes to bed. He's having a rough day with that poor fourth tooth.

~Becky

My Baby.

-Becky

Greatest Hits (Holiday Style). AKA Charlie's first Christmas.

~Becky