December!

What a month! It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone, and with it, December. Here's a big, long monster post of our December.

December 5th was little Charlie's blessing day. We all made it to the Church before our 9am sacrament meeting, dressed and everything. Charlie was a bit tired, and I was afraid he was going to cry through the whole thing. Thankfully, he didn't. (He waited until the sacrament to cry.) Allan gave him a beautiful blessing. He blessed him with good health; the Holy Ghost to help and direct him and to avoid the pitfalls of Satan; the ability to gain a strong testimony; the desire to choose to be baptized, receive the Priesthood, serve a mission, and be married in the Temple; and the ability to bring love to those around him. My dad, Allan's dad, Brett, Micah, David, and Bishop Lunt were in the circle. Afterward, we had a little get-together at our house. It was a big day, and Charlie took a big nap afterward to prove it! Here are some pictures from the day:















We celebrated my birthday with the Ferguson's on December 13. A little early, but very much fun! We ate yummy Olive Garden take-out and cake and ice cream. I blew out 27 candles on the cake--holy smokes (literally).

The birthday celebrations continued on the 20th with the girls. We went to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and got treats and then went to Color Me Mine where Joanna and I painted ceramic masterpieces. Thanks, girls, for the fun night!




My actual birthday, the 23rd, was a lovely day. Charlie gave me one of the best birthday presents by sleeping NINE WHOLE CONTINUOUS HOURS the night before. It was nice to be home with my boys and relax and enjoy. Charlie also gave me an iTunes gift card so I could buy music and apps for the iPad. Allan surprised me by giving me lovely sapphire earrings that matched a necklace and ring set he had given me a few Christmases earlier.


That night Grandma Stewart came over and watched Charlie while Allan and I went out to eat. An hour or so by ourselves! It was nice. I missed my boy, but it was lovely to hold hands with my husband (hands which are usually full of baby and/or baby things) and talk to him in complete sentences (instead of sentences which are often interrupted with "ohs" and "ahs").

Christmas Eve was the next day. We had a relaxing morning and headed over to Ferguson's in the afternoon. Shelby and I played a little Super Mario Brothers 3 before dinner. I used to be AWESOME at that game...Shelby is far superior now. We then had a DELICIOUS turkey dinner with all the trimmings: potatoes, stuffing, gravy, rolls, green been casserole, jello salad, veggie tray, drinks, and pasta salad. YUM! After that, we read the Christmas story from the Bible and opened presents. It was a good night, but Charlie was ready to go home to bed. So, we came home, watched the Nativity, and called it a night.


Charlie's shirt says, "Mommy and Daddy's favorite gift is ME." So true!








Christmas morning came. We went down and opened presents. We gave Charlie board books and a onesie and some blocks.

I LOVE this onesie. I think it's SO funny.


These are mad scientist blocks. K is for potassium. Ha ha!


Allan and I also exchanged gifts. I gave Allan some Lego sets (he wants to start building his collection), and Charlie gave him a mouse pad with his picture on it (I helped a little ;) ). Allan gave me The Origin of Species illustrated, a Roberts gift card, and Charlie gave me Life on BluRay. (It's made by the same BBC group who made Planet Earth, and it's AMAZING!) We also got Rock Band 3, Ticket to Ride, and Lost Season 6 as family gifts.

A happy little family on Christmas morning:


After playing with our gifts for a little bit, we headed over to Stewart's. We exchanged gifts and ate and ate and played. And ate some more. (There were some very tasty treats and food--I couldn't help myself!)

Now we're trying to recuperate from the holidays and get back into a regular schedule. This week we're working on naps. Charlie hasn't been doing so well with naps lately, and I know he needs good ones. So we're working on it. So far, so good today--he's been asleep for an hour, and that's the longest he's gone by himself in a long time. Maybe it's because I have the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack on repeat. He loves piano music.

Charles is three months old today! I love him so much. Sure, there are trying days, but when he smiles and talks and giggles at me, it makes it all worth it. He is now laughing, but we haven't got it on video yet. He loves the piano, and I'll put him in his bouncer by the piano. I'll play songs and sing, and he'll join in the singing. His "singing" is just really long "ohs" and other vowel sounds, but it is super cute. We have successfully recorded this. He loves his little stuffed alligator and has a fun time playing the "alligator is giving you kisses" game. He is doing really well holding his head up by himself. He hates tummy time, but we work it in somehow. He is (maybe) getting better with baths and lotion, although he still hates getting dressed. (Sleeves are the bane of my existence right now!) He is doing a little better at sleeping long periods at night, but it is still kind of a one-day-at-a-time thing. He has found his hands and knows how to bring them to his mouth. We're working on grasping toys and bring them to the mouth. He likes looking at himself in the mirror. He still likes to be bounced and walked around by his Daddy. He loves his Daddy so much. Allan will come home at the end of the work day, and Charlie gets all smiley and happy. When Allan's not paying attention to him, he'll stare at him and fuss, and then when Allan looks over, there are smiles and coos all around.


What a month December has been! We're looking forward to 2011 and all the new adventures a new year will bring.