Picture Time

If there is one thing you will learn about this family is they love to take pictures.  Which is why I have mastered the art of photography.  I don't mean taking photos, just posing for them.  Seriously, I should get paid.

Here are your amazing newborn pictures.  Now, you were only 3 weeks old so I won't hold it against you that you weren't smiling or posing all that much but I must say you did quite well.  Me on the other hand, not my best performance.  I had a bone that I had been protecting for a whole week, so I didn't want to leave it and go snap some pics.  But, I tried my best.

Hey that's mom's teddy bear, Ben.  She got that from grandpa when she was born!

Smiling already!  You're gifted.  

Who put dad in charge?!  

Uh, are you staying?  For good?

My bone is right there.  Nobody move.

Family snuggles.  Don't move my bone.  

The smell of baby.  Almost as good as the smell of dog.

Good job on your pictures baby Charlotte.  Not bad for the first try! 

Love, 

Nelson

The Dark Days

You're 6 weeks today!  It's been said that the days prior to today are known as The Dark Days.  While you eat and sleep, mom does a lot of reading.  Books, online, blogs, etc.  You name it, she's probably at least browsed through it.  (I'm here to tell you that she has yet to fully finish a book though).  During her reading, she found that the magic number is six weeks.  Supposedly you're supposed to start sleeping better, fussing less, and being more alert.... all TODAY!  I can't wait!  The term The Dark Days are somewhat true.  But, once mom realized this was reality, she quickly wanted to get ahead of these dreaded days.  That's way every morning we all three go for a long walk together.  Even when it's so hot, we are outside and out of the house!  We've also tried to go somewhere each afternoon.  Whether it's the post office, gas station, the mall, or lunch (I don't get to go to those), we try to leave the house.  When we can't leave the house, we started a new TV series.  Mom's really in to Ray Donovan.  Dad was too...which is why he stayed up till 5:10AM one day to watch it all at once.  Idiot.  These are just a few of the ways we began to survive The Dark Days.

During these days you in fact HAVE become more alert.  You love to lay under the ceiling fan in the living room.  Despite the fact that we have $1000 in contraptions to set you in, you prefer the plain old floor and that silly fan, and it's not even turned ON.

Seriously Charlotte, you've got me to play with, yet you still prefer the fan.  

So I play with your toes. 

I took you to visit the farm.  You did really well and enjoyed seeing me play outside and visiting your great grandparents.

You love to snuggle with daddy.  He really is a good cuddler.  Plus, it's a great way for mom to run an errand or even just eat dinner!  

You were told your whole life that we weren't going to be bow people.  So I don't blame you for your disappointment on this matter.  But my goodness you're super cute.  

And of course, you still LOVE bath time.  And so do I.  

Happy 6 weeks baby Charlotte.  I look forward to more sleep, less screams, and lots of smiles.  Since that what the books say.  

Love,

Nelson

Ode to Grammie

Speaking of your first month here, we were SO blessed to have our Grammie stay with us for 4 whole weeks.  She had a trip planned to be here before you were born.  Her trip was scheduled for June 11.  What are the odds that you had the same trip planned too!  I think you just didn't want to waste a minute of spending time with her, and I don't blame you.  Having Grammie here was the best thing for all of us, I mean ALL of us!

For me, she loved on me, walked with me, fed me (over fed me), gave me treats, and loved on me all day.

For dad, she greeted him at the door, made him coffee, did his laundry, cooked him dinner, and helped him with you when you were upset.

For you, she held you all the time, and boy did you love it.  I think you liked her "pillows" :)

She changed your diapers, organized your room, did TONS of your little laundry, fed you your second bottle, rocked you for hours, made sure others washed their hands before holding you, and talked to you all day long telling you how much you are loved.  She fell in love with you from the first moment she saw you, and I think you did too.  

For mom, she did EVERYTHING.  When it was time to feed you, she would bring her a drink and snack.  In the morning she would make her two breakfasts.  She was always up when we came down in the morning, ready for the day with us.  She walked with mom, drove you and mom around town, cooked dinners, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the house, did all her laundry, refilled the diaper station that she also created.  The list is endless.  But more than anything she was just here for us.   Having a baby is a scary thing.  Having gram here made it not so scary.  

But, 4 weeks came and went way too fast and we had to say goodbye.  All of us were so sad.  She was the glue that was holding our routines together!  Now I know that we can do it without her, but it's just not the same.  It was nice having someone here that I didn't have to entertain!

Soon, the training wheels quickly fell off for mom.  Grandpa came and saved the day on Day 1 without Gram.  He babysat while mom got her hair cut.  

He did a good job.  

On day 2 without gram, the training wheels pretty much fell.  Mom tried taking a shower, sister lost it.  Mom has learned to do things in a warped speed.  Put on make up, shower, eat, clean.  But, mom realized she could do things by herself (although they weren't as fun).  She took my sister to a doctor visit, she had lunch with dad, and went to FOUR whole stores all while you slept.  

There is no doubt that we miss gram more than anything.  I would pay my whole freezer full of dog food to have her back.  But, it just makes us look forward to her next visit that much more.  It better not be that far away.  

We love you gram.  Thank you so much for being here for us.  We can't wait to see you soon. 

Love, 

Nelson

One Month!

Sister, you are one month old...or four weeks?  I don't really get how to track your age and my mom is too dilerious to ask for clarification.  Anywho, I can't believe you have been in our lives for one whole month.  I sure have a lot to tell you about you life here so far.

First, we became good pals right from the get go.  You're a bit noisy at times and it makes me rather uncomfortable, just because I don't know what to do to make you feel better.  So, I decided the best I could do is kiss your toes because they are always out.  (By the way, I think you have mom's feet and her monkey toe).  Mom and I love your toes.  She loves to look at them wiggle when you eat.

You have tummy time a few times a week.  It tried helping you out on this one.  You looked so helpless!  

You also love to be swaddled.  And you never let me get swaddled.  I try and lay perfectly too!  

During this first month you have met a TON of people.  This started to bother me, and mom a tad.  It bothered mom because she is so tired and has to make sure to be awake when people come visit.  And  you would get really fussy when people would pass you around and around.  It started to bother me because I am your big brother and need to protect you!  So, anytime people came over I would let them know how tough I really am and would bark REALLY loud.  I meant business.  Strangely that didn't scare people off and they still came in.  So, just to play it safe I would sit on you and mom so people wouldn't get too close.

Meeting your great grandma Frazier

Meeting Grandpa Cooper

You also got this thing that lays on my floor called an activity mat.  You sure love to lay in there a lot.  Personally that thing freaks me out.  

During your first month you pretty much lived in this recliner.  

Or lived in your carseat.  Every morning we walk together.  You do a really good job.  Which would suck for you because I was not about to compromise my morning walks.  You can take my sleep, my space, my ability to lay on the couch, and my moms memory, but you are NOT taking my walks.  

Also this month I think you started to realize we have pretty awesome parents.  Mom loves to snuggle  and luckily so do you and I.  Dad loves to lounge, and luckily that's all you do right now.  

Bottom line is you and I are becoming quiet inseparable.  

One of your favorite time of the day besides eating is bath time!  Man do you scream while waiting for you spa time but once you get in you instantly lock it up (phew).  You just love to sit and soak. This has quickly become my favorite part of the day too.  I help at every bath.  I CANNOT wait for you to get out so I can dry you off.  I'm not sure why they even get towels, I can lick you dry quicker than a towel can work. 

Also this month you received your first bottle.  Mom was really worried about doing this.  In fact, she left the house to go get a pedicure and grocery shop and left dad here to do it.  (Let's be honest, she left Grammie too, just in case).  Man sister, you sucked that thing down in less than five minutes!  But dad sure loved that time bonding with you.  

You tried out your crib for the first time!  Mom didn't know where to set you while she went to the bathroom.  Uh hello, how about that big expensive piece of furniture that is called her BED!  You don't sleep in here yet but you sure do look cute.  (I don't know what I'm going to do when you move rooms?!)

You also started leaving the house without me, which I'm not quite a fan of.  Mom says she "wears" you.  You've been all over and it REALLY makes mom happy that she can get out of the house a little bit with you.  Your first trip out was Whole Foods...already learning the importance of healthy food.  

Luckily I get to come sometimes too.  Our first outting together was the Farmers Market.  

And finally, during your first month you became the most photographed baby ever.  I mean, I thought I had it bad, you got it way worse sister.  And us together, well, lets just say we always need to watch our back because there is sure to be someone ready to capture the moment on film.  

"When I wake up you may want to check on a little something i've been working on"  -Charlotte

I can't wait to see what is ahead in the next month!  I love you sister.

-Nelson