Oh Dios Mio!

We made it back from Mexico without getting kidnapped and beheaded by the drug cartel! Yay us :) But seriously, we didn't encouter any problems at all and felt very safe while we were there. We didn't venture off the resort very much but the times we did, we still felt very safe. It's amazing how quickly 3 years of high school Spanish comes back to you once you're in a foreign country. Lucky for us (and all slothenly Americans), most of the staff at the resort spoke a little Spanish. There's really only a few words you need to know:

cerveza - beer
pina colada - pina colada (universal language of alcohol I guess)
Donde esta mi esposa? -Where is my husband?
Lo siento - I'm sorry (Ex: I dropped my pina colada in the pool, lo siento.)
Mar - Beach
Donde esta el bano? - Where is the bathroom?


See - not many you really need to know!



We had a GREAT time but we missed Charlie a lot. I probably could have come home on Thursday and been just fine! We knew he was in good hands with my mom. I think Charlie and Grandma had a great time together and neither looked especially excited when we got home!




I don't know how this happened but we got what I call the "penthouse" room. We had paid for an ocean front so we knew we'd be able to see the ocean and be close but somehow we got this awesome room on the top floor with 3 balconies and an outdoor shower!!! It was unreal! Unfortunatley the sand fleas were AWFUL there so I didn't spend as much time on the balcony at night as I would have liked but it was still an awesome room! We didn't end up taking very many pictures. Apparently we only think to get out the camera anymore if it includes Charlie.

Even the jacuzzi had an ocean view.



On one of the balconies



The outdoor shower. Quick funny story. The first day there I decided to go out and shave my legs in the outdoor shower. You can't really see the shower from the ocean but I was wearing my swimsuit. Brian came out to see what I was doing and we quickly found out that the door automatically locks when it shuts!! So here we were...out on the balcony, I'm in the shower shaving my legs, and we can't get in. THANKFULLY our friends we went with were playing in the ocean and Brian had his key in his pocket. We wrapped it in a t-shirt and shoes to weigh it down (Brian is a regular McGyver) and then threw it down to Erin. She ran back up and let us in. Lesson learned!



From balcony #3

That's our room on the top. Balcony on each side...seriously amazing.

Pool with swim up bar and ocean just beyond. We were here from about 10 AM- 5 PM everyday.

Drinking some random blue drink with a shot glass inside.

Mexican fiesta night!

Our friends Erin and DB. Her future is so bright...

When we got home we couldn't believe how much Charlie had chnaged in just one week! He is on the move! He's crawling (still mostly an army crawl) but he is FAST. I think he kept grandma on her toes! He gets into everything now, opening drawers, pulling down books - we have a lot of baby proofing to do this weekend!

This is his new goofy grin when we try to take a picture!

For anyone who read our blog wayyy back when it started a year ago, one of the first posts was of me "proposing" to Brian because he had lost his wedding ring and I bought him a new one. He lost his ring by taking it off at softball and putting it in the "super safe" plastic baggy. Well lo and behold a few weeks ago as he was cleaning out the garage, he came in the house looking so proud of himself. He held up both hands....with a ring on each hand. He found it!! Apparently it fell out of that super safe bag and got into his travel golf bag. So now he has a spare which I'm sure he'll eventually need!

And because I haven't posted a video in forever, Charlie has been doing this new thing since we've been back where he scrunches his nose and then sort of does some lamaze breathing and eventually starts snorting. It cracks me up. I took this video tonight after he was done eating and it represents life with Charlie...his new snorting, screaming, a yawn, and a sneeze :) I'm only missing a good belly laugh!

The Apple Dumpling Gang!

I actually can't remember what that show was about but we went to an Apple Orchard today with some friends and when Mindy sent out the email she mentioned that movie so it seems like an appropriate title. My favorite time of the year is fall - I love apple cider, pumpkin candles, candy corn, sweaters and sweatshirts and fall leaves. Unfortunately (some might say fortunate), it feels like summer right now but looks like fall! I'm sure the cold will be back before I know it but it just felt odd going to the orchard today and most people were in shorts and tanks!
Everytime I post I say that we've been having a busy week or month but I'm starting to think that's just what life is like with a child. It doesn't ever seem to be slowing down!

We had some professional pictures taken a few weeks ago and the photographer posted a few on her blog. They turned out so cute (I might be biased) and I can't wait to get the rest of them back. Check them out here:

http://grumanphotographyblog.com/

The weather and leaves were just perfect today. We had a nice little family outing! This is the road you drive down to get to the orchard. So pretty.

Charlie really enjoyed being in the red wagon. It's his own little version of Driving Miss Daisy I guess.

Henry and Charlie.

Charlie and I have both been dealing with a miserable cold for the last 3 weeks so we finally are better and got a chance to meet the adorable Amelia - Henry's new sister! I held her for a bit and I couldn't believe how small she felt to Charlie!

Charlie's actually not standing on his own quite yet. I strategically let go of Charlie's hand while Brian took the picture. I'm pretty sure we're on our way to shooting a major motion film soon.

This one's mine...stay away or else.

Still guarding his pumpkin. He's very competitive...I wonder where he gets that?!

It was impossible to get a picture with Charlie, Trey, Henry, and Anja where they were all sitting and no moms were in the picture. Notice how Charlie just stays in the same place and we try to negotiate the others closer to him. Now this was probably harder than shooting Titanic!

The Twins lost in 3 games to the Damn Yankees. Here's Charlie's reaction. It's his poop face. That's how he feels about the Yankees.

Our friends JoAnn and Miguel had tickets to Game 1 of the Twins game so we watched their little boy Brayden for the evening. Charlie and Brayden were fast friends after about 5 minutes. After Charlie's bath I set him on the floor and Brayden laid down next to him. They just sort of rolled around babbling at eachother. It was pretty cute!

We also officially have an army crawler. He goes up on all fours and rocks back and forth but then uses his forearms to pull himself forward. Poor Stella..he loves to follow her around the living room and she's so awesome with him. Pretty much his favorite toy is her tail. :) I took a video of him scooting but it's too big to upload so I'll have to get another one and post it later.

Time for some playdates!

Charlie has had a lot of "friend" time lately. I remember when I was on maternity leave and we would get the kiddos together, they would all just sort of lay there and look at eachother. But now we are starting to see some interraction which is fun. Pretty soon we will be watching them at high school football games! Well maybe I shouldn't get ahead of myself. :)

A few weeks ago when my mom came up for the Twins game, our friends Heather, Dave, and Drew bought the tickets next to us. Unfortunately, I underestimated how bad the parking would be for a day game and we didn't get there until the 6th inning!! They had been there since the 1st so we only got to spend about an inning together but Heather did remember to take this one pic of us with the boys (who were obviously not into taking pictures)!



Last night we went out for dinner with the Dorseys at Buca (a great family place that doesn't mind if your child throws 8000 puffs on the floor.) I realized how much our dogs really must eat off the floor after looking to see what we were leaving behind when we left!

We didn't have them next to each other until the end but they were cracking us up!

Charlie was a little jealous that all he got to eat was baby food but Drew got a big helping of yummy spaghetti and meatballs. Soon enough buddy!

Hi friend.

I love how Charlie is just sitting all laid back in these pictures. Like he just had a huge meal and he has to unbutton the top button of his pants.

It was also Chan and Eden Prairie homecoming so we saw A LOT of dressed up high schoolers. We were right in the path on the way to the bathroom so as the girls in sparkly dresses would walk by, it would catch the boys' attention. Dave made a comment that we should have hung up a sign that said "Babysitters Wanted" and then asked for their names, numbers, and rate!!

The funniest moment of the night happened when these 2 blonde twins walked by. I'd guess they were about 3. Charlie and Drew both just stared at them as they passed our table. Here they were on the way towards us.

You can just see them in the back. Drew had just turned his head before I took this picture but it was hilarious that they both had their heads turned looking at the girls. Drew was a great wingman for Charlie :)

What? We like-a the spaghetti and the girls!

Last weekend we had the chance to have a little playdate with our maternity leave friends (minus Colin!)

Miss Gwen and Charlie wondering how Eloise is crawling all over the place!

We did get all 3 together for a few shots before Eloise took off!

Charlie is getting very close to crawling. We're hoping he hurries up and does it before we go on vacation in 2 weeks so we don't miss it. He can scoot himself backwards but can't go forwards yet. This afternoon we were lowering his crib (to the lowest setting already!) and he scooted all the way out of his room, across the hall, and into the bathroom until he knocked over the scale and it scared him. I told him the scale oftens scares me as well!!

Photo face off 2010

Everyone has always told me that Charlie looks EXACTLY like Brian. But I think I see a resemblance of me in there somewhere. A very little. If you squint. And spin around a few times first. But I do see it!!

I don't think anyone will deny that Charlie was a little mini me version of Brian when he was born.

Me at about 5 mos...check out all the dark hair.

I swear I can see a little of Charlie's eyes and nose here.

Check out this metal contraption...think it would pass safety standards in 2010??

Me at 9 or 10 mos I think.

Brian at 6 mos.

Brian at 6 1/2 mos.

Brian at 7.5 mos...same as Charlie right now.

Ok, I think my test failed. Charlie is still looking a lot like Brian! :)

Brian's sister gave us a johnny jump up that Micah used. We finally got around to putting it up for Charlie and he loves it. The kid goes crazy in it. I will have to take a video soon of him in there and post it.

My mom came up this week to go to a Twins game with us. I forgot to get a picture of all 3 of us in our Twins shirts but this one turned out cute of Charlie with Grandma.

Charlie's days in the swing are pretty much over but the other morning he took a little catnap in it and it's crazy to me to go back to the beginning posts of Charlie and see him looking so teeny tiny in this swing.

Since I barely post anything about the dogs anymore..I had to share this photo series.

First, I came out of the laundry room to fold these clean (warm) clothes and find Stella in the basket. I'm actually not sure how she got in there because the basket is somewhat deep. I wonder if she jumped off the couch into the basket.

Notice the stack of towels next to the basket on the couch.

After I folded everything and took the other basket upstairs, I came back down to see all my towels knocked over.

And if you pull back a corner of one towel...this is what you find! Silly Stella.

Tell me this isn't a future linebacker. It was very chilly last weekend when we were in So Dakota at the grocery store so we had to pull out the stocking cap and sweatshirt. I love fall!