A Productive Day

Although Charlotte is not yet on the move, we have decided to go ahead and get the house ready for when she decides she wants to crawl and get into things. We installed baby gates on the stairs and also one to close off the room behind our family room to use as a play area. Our goal this weekend was to finish converting the sitting room to Charlotte's play zone. This required moving the rug, which we then put under the kitchen table (which of course required moving the kitchen table), and moving a few pieces of furniture, etc. etc.

Here are some pictures of the room after we had moved the rug and rearranged the furniture a bit.

The gate!


And here is what we were able to accomplish during Charlotte's nap time -


We knew we wanted some sort of fun rug or mat in the room but didn't want just the typical primary colors. We looked on Amazon and found these mats from 'We Sell Mats' (appropriate name huh?). They come in sets of 24 and are pretty reasonably priced except for the added shipping. Although the picture makes it look like bright primary colors, it has muted tones of red, blue, yellow, teal, purple and orange. I mean it is definately not a part of our home's current color scheme, but it isn't too loud (right?).

My other major project of the day was to sort through all the clothes that Charlotte has outgrown, or as it turns out in some cases, never wore! I bought several clear plastic bins in which to store all of the clothes so I could finally reclaim the laundry baskets I had been storing them in. I was also eager to use my new label maker to mark the bins!

The results of my efforts - (and this is just through 6 months size)

I love my label maker!




After such a busy day we decided to go out for dinner. We thought we'd be smart and do the early bird thing - get to the restaurant before 5 - but turns out a whole lot of other people must have had the same idea. We went to Coastal Flats and still had to wait a few minutes before getting a table even though we got there at about 4:45. Charlotte was yet again a perfect child - playing with her puffs (eating 1), chewing on her rings, gazing at the ceiling fan (which they turned off at some point and she looked a bit diappointed about it). We were able to have a 3 course meal with nothing more than a few little grunts, and even a smile or 2 for passing waitresses. Might I recommend the White Chocolate Bread Pudding...it is awesome! Charlotte was less than thrilled to be in the dark car on the way home, but as soon as we opened the door in the garage she was happy again. Then it was bathtime and off to bed!

Here is a picture of our little Gilligan taken at some point today. She really seems to like this hat, thus all the pictures.

Cheesecake Factory Revisited

I forgot that we took this picture of Charlotte before we headed out to The Cheesecake Factory on Monday night. Seems like we always get pics of her in the car seat, but it is an easy spot and a good angle!



She just looks so cute in her hooded jackets!

So many clothes, so little space

This afternoon Charlotte and I were hanging around looking for something to do. She seemed perfectly content to sit on my lap on the couch, clank her stacking cups together and watch yet another hour of TV, but I was determined to do something a bit more productive. So, I grabbed a few toys and a blanket and we headed upstairs to her room so I could go through some of the clothes in her closet. I had managed to go through her dresser a few weeks back and get out all of the clothes she has outgrown and replace with the latest sizes, but had not yet tackled the closet.

I believe I took out about 30 little dresses size 0 - 6 months. I recall Charlotte wearing maybe 5 of them. Several still have the tags on them. I just never put her in dresses because it was a pain to keep them from riding up every time I picked her up or held her, which was basically all the time. Anyways, now the closet is very empty (at least the hanging bar anyway). I went to Target today and picked up a bunch of plastic bins to store her clothes in. I plan to start that sorting and storing project this weekend...maybe!

While I was straightening things up in her closet I came across a cute hat and decided to see what she thought of it. Good thing I found it now, i'm not sure how much longer it will fit!

Lots of pictures here...thought they were all too cute and couldn't choose!

A Fun Outing

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr, we decided to go out for a nice dinner! Now you may be thinking that we weren't really honoring MLK and just wanted to get out of the house for the first time in a few days, but we actually clinked our water glasses together and thanked MLK for his many contributions to our country. Alright...this really did happen, but we also wanted to get out of the house. :)

Anyways...since Charlotte is not known for being much of a night owl, we decided to be early birds and head out a little before 5. We went to Cheesecake Factory for a change of pace, and also because we had a little money left on a gift card. I loaded up the diaper bag with all the usual supplies plus a delicious dinner of oatmeal, sweet potatoes and apple/strawberry/banana. Oh..and a small bag of banana puffs, just for fun! I'm guessing that on a "normal" Monday it wouldn't have been that crowded at 5pm, but it was quite busy. We got there at just the right time because there was a full waiting area almost immediately after we were seated.

Steve and I are getting better at getting the high chair set up with the lovely pink camouflage cover and putting the disposable place mat on the table. I put out a few puffs and the teething rings that she likes and we started to peruse the enormous menu. I have to say Charlotte was the picture of perfection the entire time we were there. We were able to feed her most of her dinner before our entrees arrived, and then she was happy to scan the room and people watch while chewing on her rings the whole time. I think all but one of the puffs ended up on the floor around the high chair - they are more like toys to her than snacks right now, but we are working on it.

It was funny to watch her look back and forth trying to capture the attention of the other diners. For a while no one was looking in our general direction, and I think she was getting frustrated. I noticed her staring at this one particular table and she started grunting as if to say "hello people, I am here and I am cute...look at me!" No luck! Then she saw Daddy and was all smiles again. Who needs some random cheesecake eating stranger when you have such a fun Daddy?!

We were ready to head out (with our piece of Kahlua cheesecake in hand) around 6:00. This is usually about the time we are heading up to get Charlotte in the bath tub so we weren't sure how the car ride home was going to go. In the past she has not enjoyed riding in the dark. Once again she was perfect...actually took a bit of a cat nap. We got home, got her ready for bath (Daddy had her laughing pretty loud) and got nice and clean sitting in our new bath seat...which makes things much easier for both Mommy and Charlotte, thus resulting in a happier baby. She got her snuggly PJ's on, had a few sips of milk, read a few fun stories and was off to bed.

We are glad that Charlotte now has a more positive outlook during the late afternoon and evening hours and does so well when we are out and about. I don't mind a few early bird dinners every now and then..especially if I don't have to cook them!

**Sorry we have no pictures of our outing...but here are a few cute ones...

Chewing on her favorite ring

Letting loose after a long day of overall wearing

Here are a few pictures of me as a little one. I hope Charlotte has curly hair, even though it appears that it was a bit hard to keep under control!

Visitors!

We were looking forward to this weekend because some special visitors were coming to see us! Ted and Anne were in town and stopped by for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. They hadn't seen Charlotte in person since she was just about 3 months old, and a lot had changed since then. Lots of new tricks!!

Charlotte playing with her Daddy before our guests arrived. Stacking cups are her new favorite toy.



Ted and Charlotte have similar facial expressions here. Ted was trying to get Charlotte to say "JoePa" in honor of Penn State. She is working on it, but will most likely say Tar Heels first!

Smiling with Anne. Contemplating grabbing the necklace most likely!

A stare down with Ted.


Charlotte had fun showing Ted and Anne what she had been learning the past few months. The latest thing - shaking her head side to side as if saying "no." It is so cute to see her do it, although the first few times she did it we as paranoid first time parents thought she had some sort of neurological problem. Sheesh! Just like we thought her "random" arm movements were something wrong as well. She's just practicing a new found skill, and copying Mom and Dad! Wish I had a video of it to post...it is really very cute. The "no's" are already beginning!!

A Cute Pic

Here is a cute picture that Jen took at our latest Mommy group but I didn't have at time of last posting...

Big Girl Bath

We went on an adventure to Buy Buy Baby today with the intention of looking at (and possibly buying) a new car seat for Charlotte. Of course there are a lot more things in this lovely store than just car seats! We had talked recently about moving Charlotte to the regular bathtub but had been avoiding it because it was just so much easier on us (and our knees and backs) to stand at the counter and use her baby tub. The past couple of nights though she has been sitting straight up in her baby tub, balancing her bottom on the little ledge that is meant to lean back on. She has also become more and more interested in playing with little toys while in the tub. So, while we were at the baby store we picked up some inflatable bathtub bumpers and a bathmat, both Sesame Street themed, as well as a rinse cup for her hair.

*They didn't have the car seat that I was interested in to look at in the store but we were able to order it and still use our 20% coupon...for those interested we are getting the Britax Boulevard CS in the "Lauren" print. I have not seen it in person, but am trusting that the online picture does it enough justice.

Now back to the bath! When we got home from our adventure, I opened the new stuff and Steve blew up the inflatable bath bumpers. I set up the tub while Charlotte was playing with her Daddy.



Charlotte seemed to do pretty well in her new bath environment. I'm sure it will get easier as all of us get used to the new set-up. But I don't think it will ever get easier on my back!