a little more catching up

Charlie

So I had meant to post a little more about our first trip to Ethiopia last year. To share with you some photos that previous were not posted, since we couldn't show your face. Yep, life happened. So  here are some of my favorite pictures from our last day with you in Ethiopia and why I love them.

This is the first time you smiled for us. Of course your Dada was holding you. This is the picture that sets on one of the end tables in the living home and has since we printed it as soon as we got back. We didn't know you had REAL dimples yet, we would get to know them later, but you smiled. We worked so hard that first trip to get a smile. To be more honest, we worked so hard to hold you and to have you not crying/screaming. 

 This is from the last set of pictures we took our last afternoon with you. Yep, still tear up thinking about that. Your Dada held you one last time after these pictures, but the picture below is the last time I held you until we reunited in March. So hated to hear T tell us you had to go back inside to the baby house and then eventually from Wass the words, "Time to go." 

On the happy front, you have been in our arms for a little over 9 months now. We have some catching up to do when it comes to your life.  You have been known to throw back some milk while watching the Bears.

The weekend after your birthday, we took the "North Pole Express" to see Santa with your Grammie, Papa, Aunt Meg, Uncle Alex, and L. Here you and Dada are watching the train pull into the station.

 On broad the train. I am thinking you were a little excited about holding your ticket to see Santa. . .

Okay, so the North Pole wasn't the best. As soon as we got there, we had a giant small meltdown. Eventually we got it back together and we got in line to meet the big guy.

We attended an airport party for one of your friends, also a Hannah's Hope alum. Even better, we learned she had the same bed you had in the butterfly room. (LOVE this.) So this is you waiting for M to get off of the plane.

So since coming home we have added some friends to your crib and some sitting on the ledge at the top of your crib. Now when you are either first put into your crib or you want out of your crib, you take the friends down and throw them out of your crib. Recently you started something new. You will get your Street friends down and when they are all in your crib, you will talk to one of them for a bit, stand up, walk to the end of the crib closest to the door, and then throw it. I like to think you are talking with them about escape strategies and seeing who might make it. So here you are when I walked into your room one morning before you had a chance to throw the friends.

So a little out of order, but the Friday after Thanksgiving, you made this gingerbread house with your friends E, A, W, J, and L.

Earlier this month we said good-bye to an awesome woman, your Great-Grandma Willie. Charlie, I am sure you will hear a lot of Great-Grandma stories as you grow-up. She was a really special lady. This is from the first time you met Great-Grandma back in May. You are handing her a wooden block, one of the same wooden blocks your Dada used to play with when he was younger.

During your Great-Grandma's visitation, you spent some time with your Great-Grandpa Charles, aka Deward (from your Dada's other side). This was the first time you would let Grandpa Deward hold you. The smile on his face was so amazing to see. This is what your Dada and I saw when we came to pick you up.

 Because I feel I need to show you I am still baking. . . I made this cake for a dinner with your Aunt Kelli and, as of today, Uncle Jeff.

For the first time since our first year married, your Dada and I put up a tree. Yep. So here you are putting up your first ornament. It was the one you got from church doing Baby/New Child Recognition Sunday.

 Close-up of the ornament and a bit of our Christmas card.

 Our ornament celebrating Charlie coming into our family.

 So this past Thursday was your first snow. I am not sure what you totally thought about it, but I think there was confusion involved. Looking out from the garage after getting home.

 First time standing in snow.

So Charlie, I think that brings us to today. This morning we had breakfast with Santa, along with your friends E, A, W, J, and L and your "aunts" and "uncles" Marcia, Jeff, Courtney, and Brock. You didn't sit on Santa's lap, but you didn't cry. Your Dada said you talked to Santa and after your picture you even walked up again to see him and talk some more. You also won your first raffle during breakfast. You put your name in the envelope for the "Brown Dog," and won! All day you have carried around Dog-Dog, including not allowing us to take him from you. Following breakfast we saw Grandpa Edd and finished the evening with Christmas at your Great-Aunt Da's (Yep, Mama fail. She left the camera at home.)

So I think that brings us up to date, at least for now.

Love
Mama