Bethany Beach...

We knew that with Charlie being so new, we couldn't do anything too big for Memorial Day weekend. I was worried about him crying at a hotel, and wasn't really eager to pack for something like that anyway. We decided Sunday morning to drive to the Delaware shore. We left the house by 9am, which is good for us, and headed out. The traffic was great because everyone was already where they were traveling to for the weekend! Normally the 3 hour drive can turn into something much longer because of all the cars. We made it to Bethany by 12:30, and shopped, got caramel corn, and some lunch. We headed north after that to one of the State Parks and got down to business. William was a little hesitant to go in the water at first, but once he got in, it was hard to get him back out! He loved it. The highlight for him was when I found a dead horseshoe crab. He talked about it all the way home! He also found a very cool sand Mermaid sculpture someone had made. He helped finish decorating it. Though the weather was in the 90's the beach was very windy and kinda cool. I didn't take this into account, so poor Charlie got kinda chilly, but thankfully I had blankets in the car. William would stay in the water until he was frosty and then come wrap up and play in the sand again to warm up. We left as the sun was going down, stopped and got fish and chips for dinner, with some great ice cream for dessert. It was a very fun day, and it was totally worth the drive.

Beach Preview...

We decided to take a quick break from the heat today and head to the beach in Delaware. It was great and William had a ball! More tomorrow!

Cuteness for Cuteness Sake...

Cute Nakedness...
Passed out after a good bottle...

William spent the morning practicing glueing.

More Nakedness...

The boys at the Nature Center. William wanted Charlie to ride in the dugout with him...I let it happen just long enough to take this picture!

The $10 Dollar Tomato...

William used his sand scoop to fill the pots with soil...very slowly.
Charlie hung out on the sidewalk while we worked...

We thought it would be fun to grow our own tomatoes and peppers this year on the deck. I would never have guessed how much money it would cost though. With the pots, soil, and plants I am guessing each tomato and pepper will cost about 5 bucks! At least it's good for William to see where veggies actually come from!

1 Month Well Baby...

Charlie went in for his one month visit yesterday. He got his first Hep B shot, which he barely seemed to even notice, but he was pretty fussy last night. He has gained a lot of weight this month, seems to be making up for the low birth weight! He was 10lbs 2 oz (55%), 21.25 inches long(35%), and a head circumference of 38.3 cm (48%). His head is only a little bigger than Will's was at birth! He is starting to have more and more alert times, and he seems to love being outside just like William did. We are back in cloth diapers as of this week, which helps save money. I love my fuzzi bunz, and he looks so cute in them! He is outgrowing his clothes fast, so I am glad I didn't run out and buy a whole wardrobe in 0-3 months. The only problem we are having now is sleeping, and feeding. He really wants to be held 24 hours and day and wants to eat 1 oz every hour. I am opposed to this plan on the basis of protecting my sanity. We are working on stretching out the time between feedings and today I started making him fall asleep on his own. It worked great! If I had known he was this good at it, I would have done it last week! I am so glad I have kept this blog though, it makes it so easy to look back at William's stages and remember how it really was. That way, you don't end up looking back through rose colored glasses....which I was totally doing before I read back through it!

All Aboard...

William waiting for the train to pull out of the station, since this one is on the playground, it will be a long wait...
Charlie, staying cool in the shade while his brother plays...

You can sort of see the train, but the picture is kinda dark...

William checking out the scenery...

Charlie is less than thrilled by the train ride...

William finished the big day on the carousel...

Meeting Matt...

Me, Matt, Brooke, and Charlie...


Brooke thought Charlie was very sweet...

For the last 2 and a 1/2 years I have read a blog by Matt Logelin. He is a fantastic Dad from California who has a daughter named Madeline. She was born prematurely and had to go straight to the NICU. Her mother, Liz, was recovering from the c-section birth, and was going to be allowed to go see the baby the next morning. While getting up from her bed, she suffered a pulmonary embolism and it killed her instantly. Matt had to pick up the pieces and keep going for his little girl, and I think he has done so beautifully. He has recently published his book "Two Kisses for Maddy" and was in Gaithersburg signing books and speaking at the Book Festival. I was thrilled to meet him, Maddy, and Brooke (Matt's Girlfriend). Blogs are such strange things. I decided it's like a strange one sided friendship. I know so much about him, and his life, and the life of Maddy, and yet, he has no idea I exist (until today). It was great chatting with him and Brooke, and seeing Maddy in person. She and William are so close in age, I feel like we have been raising our kids together!

4 Weeks...

Charlie is 4 weeks today. It seems like he has always been here now. He is getting more and more alert, but still sleeps much of the day. I weighed him at home on the baby scale and he was 9lbs 7oz! Wow!! William is beginning to pay more and more attention to him, and asks lots of questions about him. He is also very kind to him, especially when he cries, he will say "It's okay Baby Charlie, calm down!" It's very sweet.

William Quotes...

"I love Baby Charlie. Charlie's head is VERY important!"
"I need to look at the potty with my magnifinding glass..."

So Long Grandma! Hello New Routine...

Today is the day when I am doing it alone again. Jason took Mom to the airport this morning, and I was alone with both kids. Charlie woke up at 6:30 to eat, and he had soaked through his sleeper and blanket. Then, William came in totally soaked in pee, and he informed me that his bed and pillow was wet too. Great way to start the day. I need to start reducing Will's liquids right before bed. He is in the largest diapers they make, so I can't get more absorbency than that. William is also running a fever today, thankfully not anything serious, but it makes things a little more complicated. Charlie is still pretty gassy and fussy. I am starting to wonder if he has reflux. He will be nursing or drinking the bottle and will come off the nipple and straighten out and scream in pain. That is a pretty classic sign of reflux. Thankfully, it is a pretty easy fix. We had a similar problem with William, and Mylanta seemed to help a lot. I am also keeping him upright more after feeding, and making sure he burps frequently. Poor guy. So, now I need to start on the rest of my day, and hopefully catch a nap at some point.

Farewell Aunt Molly...

Molly got back on the plane after 3 weeks spent helping us out here. I have no idea how I could have managed without her. I am very glad she got the chance to bond with Charlie and spend lots of time with William. I am a little worried we have scared her off the idea of having kids any time soon! The newborn period is always hectic, emotional, and exhausting....but so cute!

Reading to Charlie...

Up Close and Personal...

These pictures remind me SO much of William! Charlie has a very alert time every evening from about 8 or 9 pm till 11, and we enjoy some time with just him, since William is in bed already...

Randomness...

Party Animal...

Charlie hanging out on the quilt Aunt Julie made for him...

Charlie still has his nights and days mixed up. He sleeps much of the day and then wakes up around 8pm, and stays awake for long stretches of the night. I am getting very little sleep, and it really makes me worry how I am going to survive once my family leaves and I can't nap. Charlie also seems to have a lot of gas, and I am not sure that his formula agrees with him. I may need to change it...In other news we have been having fun, going to the park, and we went to the petting farm on Monday. William is testing me quite a bit more frequently these days, and I can't tell if it's because he is 3 or because of the baby. I think it's because he's 3.

Burning Off Some Steam...