Charlie: 18 Months

Charlie's 18 month check up was this morning and I couldn't have asked for a better exam. The nurse took all his stats and asked all the questions (is he using a spoon?, is he saying 7 or more words?, is he walking/running?, does he point to things he wants you to see?, etc. etc.) handed me some forms and then went to get the NP. I tried to keep the boys occupied with cheerios and vehicles while we waited for the NP and I filled out the paperwork. They mostly wanted to tear apart the room by pulling the step out on the bed, pushing the doctor's chair around and playing with the paper on the bed! As soon as the nurse practitioner came in, Johnny started questioning her about the train on her shirt (she was wearing a Purdue Boilermaker shirt) and the poor lady couldn't hardly get a word in after that until I asked him if he would please let the doctor ask mom some questions (I love that boy's curiosity and social skills).

We went over Charlie's growth charts first. To this day it still causes me anxiety every time I look at one. There's just something about those things that takes me back to Charlie's (and even Johnny's), first few weeks and the "lack of growth". It puts knots in my stomach every single time! Thankfully, he is right on track as he has been the past several checkups! She asked me about Charlie's reflux and if he was still having problems with it; to which I answered he did still have it but it doesn't seem too problematic for him for the most part. We also discussed his major anger tantrums (which is definitely typical), communication, fine and gross motor skills, eating habits (specifically iron and his iron-deficient results from a recent blood draw--which honestly blows my mind because he eats soooo many iron rich foods.....), and general behavior. After listening to his lungs, feeling his head, checking his belly, examining his legs, etc....she left to grab the nurse for his last vaccination until Kindergarten (minus the yearly flu shot).

A second nurse came back in to give Charlie his injection and he knew exactly what was happening. He started whimpering immediately and poor Johnny was so worried for his brother (but very curious about it at the same time and extremely THANKFUL it wasn't his turn for a shot!). Charlie took the shot like a champ, I got him dressed and out the door we went to hunt down some stickers giving nurses (and even Dr. Fahler) waves and "bye-bye's" along the way!

Overall Charlie is doing so well and we are beyond blessed to have a healthy baby boy!

Length: 32.68"

Weight: 26# 5oz

Head Circumference: 51.5cm

 

Charlie hasn't let go of his sticker all morning! 

A Play, A Field Trip, Some Friends & Everything In-Between

Things have been really fun around here!! We've had a lot of "unique" events going on and we've just really enjoyed them! We've taken quite a few pictures of all that's been going on so I figured I better post them before it gets real overwhelming....

Charlie & Johnny.....they are really starting to enjoy tormenting their mama. On this particular day, they decided to dump out some cheerios from a snack bowl and run over them with their trucks....while still eating them of course.....Their "adventure" was followed by fun with the vacuum and broom.... (totally not exaggerating here, they love to use the vacuum and broom)

The Kindergarten classes at Mellany's school each put on a weather play! The plays took place at different times during the day so our neighbor and I were able to swap babies for our "bigs" plays. Mellany was soooo excited about this and after weeks of practicing her lines for her blizzard group and songs, she was ready to go!! She did an amazing job and was totally in her element! Proud is an understatement! Johnny was in charge of pictures on my phone while John took video on his. 

***Funny Story that I don't want to forget*** 

The first day the play was introduced to Mellany's Kindergarten class, she came home and started telling me all about it. She said "Mommy, we get to do a WEATHER PLAY! And YOU get to come to it and DAD too! And we get to wear COSTUMES for it! My response was "oh Mellany that is so exciting, you are going to have so much fun and do such a great job; do you know what your part in the play is?". She responded by saying she was going to be a lizard. I kind of paused for a moment wondering why there would be a lizard in the weather play but then just figured it had to do something with heat/desert/drought....etc...The next day I started brainstorming about the costume for the play and how in the world I was going to put together a Lizard costume--after browsing eBay I found the most amazing lizard costume at an incredible price of like $15....you just couldn't even make a costume for that much. But, before I bought it, I decided I should double check with her teacher that she actually did need a costume and that she was in fact a lizard for the play. It wasn't but maybe 15 minutes later that I got a response from Mrs. Allen: 

"Oh my gosh. I'm dying! She is in the 'blizzard' group of our weather play. You don't need to buy a lizard costume!" 

I just about peed my pants I was laughing so hard--thank goodness I double checked before I bought the costume, otherwise Mellany would have been a lizard for halloween! 

(my time with G while Abbey was at the play--isnt she the cutest?!)

Charlie was insistent on sitting in the chair to watch Daniel Tiger....he didn't care that Mellany was already sitting there haha! 

While our neighbors were away, they asked if we would "fish-sit" for them and we couldn't have been more excited!!! The kids watched them just about every minute of the day and always wanted to feed them....they were so interested in what they were doing-it was super cute. (Mellany even drew a picture for them as a backdrop)

Mellany's second Kindergarten field trip was to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis to check out the space exhibit. John was able to go with her and they came home with so many stories!  

Johnny helping me do a few chores during our day at home. He really loves to help us! 

Charlie and I took the girls to ballet while Kelley took the big boys back to her house to play. Then later that night we ate Mexican, watched a movie and made a special St. Patrick's Day popcorn mix! 

 

We spent a Saturday at the mall looking at sandals and swimsuits. Johnny was with us too but wasn't really interested in taking pictures....I think he just came to see if he could talk me in to a toy.  ;)

Charlie's mountain of PB&J (this happens every time we have sandwiches at lunch)

Learning how to drive the tractor through the door...

The boys and I got to spend some time with our friend Adelaide earlier this week. She is seriously such a sweetheart! (Charlie may have been a little protective of his mama.)

My helper and I making chocolate chip cookies

Johnny snatched my phone

and then Mellany snatched it too... 

That's all for now!! Here's to a fun rest of the week!!