It's Been Awhile ....

Well, I have managed to make it back home. Things have been CRAZY the last week or so and I promise to share more, but right now, I am tired! I have been at the office today since before 8 am and have been going strong all day. I have managed to do a great deal of Holiday Clinic paperwork, visit the ill at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to spread some holiday cheer and sit through nearly 4 hours of practice already. And, lucky me, I am getting ready to go back to practice again!!! Hopefully this one won't be near as long!! Who knows though ... when school is not in session, our players are subject to however long the head coach feels is necessary. Ahhh, I remember those days at WKU!

I did want to post the link before I head back to the gym for Charlie's slideshow ... it turned out awesome I think!

http://rpetersphotography.squarespace.com/rpeters-blog/2008/12/19/charlie-8-month-session.html

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak of pictures to come from Charlie's 8-month photo shoot ..... done before he was sick!

Sick Day!

Today is our first official sick day with Charlie. He had to come home from the babysitter's home early yesterday after spiking a pretty high temperature and getting sick all over Ms. Candi. This morning seemed to be a little better, but after drinking his bottle, he proceeded to throw it up all over me and the bed ... Yuck! So, while Eric is out with the snow crews, I will be staying home and getting Charlie feeling better ... hopefully sooner than later!

A little late, but still great!

I was away yesterday traveling with the team. Thank goodness Eric remembered the routine. Hard to believe little man is 8 months old!! Really loving the Christmas decorations and lights.

ELF Yourself

I love this thing ... haha ... Merry Christmas!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/GFXcevqdaYyi8g3dVhqH

Enjoy!

Busy, Busy ...

Things have stayed busy, but things are good. Eric, Charlie and I traveled to St. Louis this past weekend with the basketball team as we had a game on Sunday. I must say that Charlie did AWESOME on the bus ride. I was a little nervous because I have a hard time sleeping on bus trips so I wasn't sure how a 7-month old would react for a 4 hour trip each way. He was great though. He did almost lose it at the end of the ride. We were about an hour from home when some of the kids behind us starting getting loud. They, of course, woke him up from a sound sleep (it was about 10:45 pm) and he could not get back to sleep. He was so tired and it was just not working with all the talking. Luckily, it was quieter and darker up where our head coach sits so I sat with her for a little while. Still unable to go to sleep, I elected to try and fix a bottle for him. Bonnie volunteered to hold Charlie while I was making the bottle and sure enough, the little guy fell asleep in her arms. He slept the rest of the way home with Bonnie :) It was a fun weekend ... we got the win and my parents and sister were able to be there as well.

We are going to be staying in Kansas for Thanksgiving this year. We have practice each day this week so we are going to plan on celebrating the holiday at our head coaches house after practice on Thursday. We play this weekend at home so we are not traveling, but we still have to be in town for practice.

Some Charlie news ... it looks like he is getting his first tooth. It has just cut through on the bottom gum and it is SHARP!! He keeps rubbing his tongue over it and I think he is trying to figure out what it is, but I think we finally have one. I expected it to come in much earlier, but guess we had to wait 7.5 months, which is fine as he is growing much too fast for me as it is!

Great Day

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUMPY! My dad is 60 years old today :) I was the first to call this morning with birthday wishes at 5:22 am .... YEAH!

Second, our team played on ESPN today at 11 am against Iowa. We got the win and we looked great! We have made some great progress already this year so let's keep the ball rolling. Next game is Sunday at St. Louis.

Back to dad -- Charlie and I spent the weekend in IL with my family. Saturday morning we flew back to Chicago and met up with my sister-in-law, Lindsay, to head down to Bloomington. Once we got into town, we surprised my dad at lunch. He had no idea we were coming! That evening we had a small family celebration for my dad's 60th birthday (which is actually today). Then on Sunday, following breakfast, Charlie and I said "good-bye" and my dad thought that was it. He went on about his day working with the other boys (my brothers). Little did he know that my sister, mom and sister-in-laws were preparing for a surprise party! Over 60 of dad's family and friends joined in the celebration and I can honestly say that we did it ... he had no idea! It was a great afternoon and I am glad that we were able to pull off the secret!

Later that night, Charlie and I did head back to Chicago with Teddy and Lindsay in anticipation of our early morning flight Monday. It was a quick weekend, but well worth the trip!

This is how I feel ...

Just too tired to jump in his toy .... laid his head down and that was it!!!

7 months and Counting!!!

This is what Charlie really thought about the sign!!

Pics for the Grandparents ...

Charlie's first baby mohawk!
Halloween with Mom and Dad
(please excuse how tired I look --
we had 5 am practice and I was getting ready to go back again
to practice after this picture was taken)

Charlie sitting with the help of our neighbor friend, Sydney.

From the Weekend ...

Halloween was fun! We went through nearly $40 in candy for the neighborhood kiddies. Even had to break into the pantry to make sure we had enough stuff as they just kept coming. We were able to attend the Briarwood Boo Bash on Friday night before returning to practice. The kids were so excited as it meant they could finally go trick or treating ... Charlie was like "whatever!" He just wanted out of the halloween costumes as it was over 70 degrees outside. He did like checking out all of the other kiddos, who were all dressed and ready. Charlie is the little orange pumpkin ....

Happy Birthday to David ... my younger brother! He and his wife, Angie, just moved into their new home this past weekend. They have moved from city-life to country-life. They will love it, I am sure! Looking forward to seeing the new home :)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Capps Family!

We will be attending the Briarwood Boo Bash before heading back to practice this evening at 6:30 pm. Good thing Charlie is still too small to trick or treat ... I would really be sad.

Eliot

Two nights ago, I was lying in bed having just put Charlie to sleep upstairs. I was watching television and much to my delight, the Oprah show came on (it is replayed each night at 9 pm on one of the NBC stations). I was able to catch part of the show that night and it was on "Miracle Children." This morning, then, I saw this clip on YouTube and was so excited as I wanted to share the story and message.

One of the features on the show was about a baby named Eliot. They showed a video and it brought absolute tears to my eyes. Seeing this baby with tubes connected to him and knowing that he was fighting an uphill battle, the parents celebrated every moment of this child's life. It was inspiring. The showed this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0 to explain Eliot's journey and there was not a dry eye in the house. In a way, it reminded me of our start with Charlie. The tubes, the NICU, the weeks before he was born of the "unknown."

I could not help but think about how lucky we are to have Charlie and how blessed he is to be so healthy as I watched this video. We had a rocky start with him, but he is HEALTHY and HAPPY! I can't imagine (and hope that I never do) how these parents feel knowing they gave birth to a baby that is not going to be on earth very long. Putting their own feelings aside, they formed such a strong bond with this little boy and celebrated every moment of his life. I am sure that is why this littly guy lived so much longer than most babies with this condition -- many never even make it through birth.

Eliot's short time on life was planned by God. It was his way of reminding people to be thankful for what they are given and to slow down and celebrate the small things in life. Most of us are guilty of now celebrating the small things. We are so busy with our jobs and other things in life, we forget to celebrate small accomplishments or to enjoy simple pleasures ... a dinner with a loved one, a hug from your child, a smile or note from a friend. Charlie is teaching me so much about my own life. It is not about me ... life is about him and what I can do to help him grow. Things that I have stressed over in the past seem so stupid now considering what we have been through in the last year. Finding a balance is so important to living a happy life ... I am really trying to work on that. We only get one chance at this and making sure that you take full advantage is so important.

Every Woman

'MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a feeling of control over her destiny..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

In Full Swing!

I have tried to remind people as much as I can that basketball is in full swing. As a result, I have not been very good at returning phone calls and emails the last couple of weeks. I am SOOOOO sorry if this is you! I promise that I will get to all of them, but please be patient.

I am still getting used to juggling work and home now that Charlie is part of the equation. No longer do I sleep in just a little later and get to work on time .... now I find myself packing the night before to make sure I don't forget anything (especially now that it is getting cold!) We are usually out the door no later than 8 am (which yes, is a few minutes later than some of you), but I make up for it on my nights and weekends.

My evenings go just as fast as the mornings ... practice is usually over around the 6 pm hour so I get home somewhere around 6:45 or so and then have until 8 pm to play and spend time with Charlie before putting him off to bed. I am trying to make the most of the time when Charlie is awake so the cleanliness of our house has suffered a little bit. Don't worry -- it is not gross or anything. Eric helps out quite a bit so we are able to do it all. It is not perfectly kept, but gosh, with a hubby, drooling baby and drooling bulldog, that is almost IMPOSSIBLE! To me, it does not have to be perfect .. there are more important things going on right now.

Sunday Night Thoughts

HaHa!!! I have gotten several emails from friends and family telling me how "sad" Charlie looks in his Halloween costumes. You all -- I promise that he doesn't hate them. I will admit that I like dressing Charlie up (for Halloween or just going to the grocery store), but I don't "torture" him with it. Theresa took those pics of Charlie last weekend and he was just over us and the noises we were making and the TONS of pictures we were taking.

Nothing too exciting this weekend to report. I was in the gym most of the day today as I ran our Coaches Clinic. I had to be there shortly after 10 am this morning to make sure everything was ready to roll and everything ended up there about 5:30 this evening. Eric and I had a nice dinner then before heading to the grocery store. The temperature has dropped and the wind has increased. I will admit ... I was impressed to see that Eric had actually packed a winter hat for Charlie to wear while we were out this evening. He stayed home with Charlie all day as I was at the gym. Even managed to get Charlie to nap, get him dressed in a "cute" outfit and get him to dinner without getting cold! Yeah, Eric :)

Tomorrow is our "day off." We are required to give our players one day off per week during the season. These will usually fall on a weekday so it is not really a day off for us as we are in the office most of the day. But, we need to win ballgames so that is the way it is.

Option #2

Maybe he should be a pumkin!!!

Little Monster!!!

One of his Halloween Costumes ... he also has a pumpkin and a Tigger outfit!!

Can't you tell how excited he is???

Late Night!!

This weekend was a busy one!! Friday marked the first official day of practice and at KU that means Late Night in the Phog. It is a CRAZy celebration in which the men and women perform skits and then scrimmage to get fans ready for bball season. This year was really fun and I thought our players did a GREAT job.

My younger sister came out for the weekend. She has been to games and other KU events, but never to Late Night. She arrived early in the afternoon on Friday and then left early this morning so she got some quality time with us. Unfortunately, I had to be gone quite a bit as I had recruiting responsibilities much of the day, but she was able to tag along on some things. During the other time, she hung out with Charlie and worked her majic to make sure Charlie sees her as his favorite Aunt :) He loves her that is for sure .... she loves to spoil him and was able to give him LOTS of attention. Theresa also took lots of pics of Charlie this weekend .. especially some of him in his Halloween costumes.

Free time for me will be scarce for the next several months. We get off one day a week now, but most of our days off from practice are during the week so we are still in the office. This year might be a little bit easier on me now that I am not pregnant ... we will see :)

The talking has begun!

Charlie has really started to use his voice! Only problem is that the one who get to hear it most is HUEY, our bulldog!! Everytime Charlie sees Huey now he wants to carry on a "conversation." Huey will sit there with him and just look while Charlie tells him all about it. When in his exersaucer, Charlie also likes to "pet" Huey and give him the occasional tug of the jowl. It is certainly cute to watch!

This morning, however, was hilarious. While I was getting ready, I put Charlie in his exersaucer, which was in front of the bed. Like normal, Huey will roam around it just to check out what is going on and to keep an eye on things. This morning, he decided to sit there and just listen to Charlie "talk" for about 10 minutes. Finally, Huey got bored and went and laid down in the closet. Charlie was devastated! When he realized Huey left him, he started to scream bloody murder ... waterworks and all. I, of course, was trying to figure out what he had done. Was he caught somewhere? Was he hurt? Did he hit his head on one of the toys on it? What?!?!? Then, sure enough, Huey made his way out of the closet to see what the commotion was about and when Charlie saw Huey, the racket stopped!! Charlie was fine ... no more tears. He started his conversation again like Huey had never left.

Eric and I had discussed the possibility of getting another dog so that Huey has a buddy since we spend so much time with Charlie. But, Charlie has made it CLEAR that he plans to befriend Huey whether he likes it or not. This poor pup is not going to know what hit him.

I am going to get the video camera out tomorrow morning and see if I can catch the "chat" on camera!!

Lil Punkin!

We had a great weekend ... very relaxing and lots of family time! On Saturday, Eric got up and worked on the yard for a little while. Charlie and I took advantage of the time and made our way to a local dog show so that we could check out the Bulldogs in the ring. It has been a long time since I attended a dog show -- gosh, the last one I remember was when we got Rudy in Michigan. We had to PLEAD with my parents to let us get him, but we all agree, he was an awesome dog. Saturday, though, I wasn't puppy shopping --I just wanted to see some of the different dogs. Charlie got a kick out of it too as we were able to sit fairly close to the ring. He sat and just cooed at them before falling asleep.
Saturday afternoon, then, we made our way to the Pumpkin Patch here in Lawrence. We went with some of our neighbors (whose kids are older than Charlie). There wasn't much for Charlie to actually do, but he enjoys people watching and there were LOTS of people to check out. It was fun and it got us into the Fall season! We did go out into the "patch" and pick some pumpkins for our front porch. We got a big one, a white one, and two small ones. Last year was the first time Eric had ever carved a pumpkin so maybe we can get a repeat and see another of his "creations." Charlie was asleep in his stroller before we even made it back to the car so I think it is safe to say that we wore him out. I am excited to see how his reactions will change to as he gets older and we take him on "fieldtrips" like this.

Today, then, we spent most of the day at home. We did venture out to return a couple of movies and grocery shop at Wal-mart. The rest of the day was spent at home cleaning and enjoying some time off. This was my last "free" weekend for awhile as basketball season starts on Friday and from now on, I will be in the gym most weekends until March Madness.

Charlie -- 6 Month Update

Charlie with his Uncle David getting ready for the wedding!

We ventured to the doctor earlier this week. Charlie weighed in at 18.5 lbs and measured 27". He is in the 67th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. The doctor is very happy with his progress and is astounded at how "fast" he has caught up! We are looking at some things to try and help prevent RSV (as is it really bad for infants -- especially premature infants). Other than that, it was a great visit.

I wish that I had my camera on me when we went because Charlie was FASCINATED with the mirror that was next to the doctor's table. It was right at his level and at one point, he had his head sideways trying to get "closer" to that face looking back at him! It was really cute.

Speaking of my camera, it came back from the repair shop. It last about one picture and then broke again. So, it has been sent off yet again to be repaired. This happened with our computer a few weeks ago too. It took 2x as long to get it fixed because DUMB customer service people did not want to listen to the full extent of the problem I was telling them. Frustrating!! Eric lets me handle that type of stuff as he knows I will get what I want (most of the time).

No big plans this weekend! We are going to try and make it out to the pumpkin patch tomorrow and pick out some pumpkins for the porch. I think that some of our neighbors are going to join us so it should be fun!

More on the wedding!

Well, I am happy to say that the new bride and groom, Alisa and Bobby, are enjoying their honeymoon in Costa Rica. It has been nearly a year in the making, but the time has come for them to enjoy all the planning and headaches that go into putting on such a big event. There wedding was a bit "different" than they expected, but absolutely unforgettable!! We all had a great time at the reception and are glad to see them FINALLY married :)

Their photographers also do a BLOG and here are some of the photos they have shared. I am not sure if the bride and groom have seen these yet, but I am sure they are anxious to share them with everyone. They are great!!

http://rbrownweddings.com/recent/?cat=1

Six Months Old!!

Our little man is getting BIG!! Today marks six months old for Charlie. He actually goes to the doctor tomorrow for his six month check-up and shots so I will have more "stats" then, but for now you can enjoy his ever-thickening hair and that sweet smile.



You will have to excuse the "crumpled" sign. Charlie has found paper to be a fun toy lately. He loves the sound of it as he crunches it and tries to tear it to pieces.

Wedding Weekend!!!

I have lots of stories to share from the wedding this past weekend ... those of you who were in attendance know exactly what I am talking about. Overall, though, it was a BEAUTIFUL day and Bobby and Alisa are now officially married. We had a great time and it was wonderful to be part of their day. I am back in the office now and have lots to catch up on!! More soon, I promise!

Good News!

Our camera is being repaired!! I submitted the payment on-line late yesterday so Canon has gone ahead with the repair. Hopefully, we will have it back before we leave for IL on Wednesday, but if not, we have our old one that can stand in and capture all the memories of the wedding. I am excited to get our smaller one back, though, as we don't have very many pics from this month. Here is one of Charlie trying to warm up!!

One more week!

In less than a week, we will be traveling back to IL to celebrate the wedding of my brother, Bobby, and his fiance, Alisa. They are set to be married next Saturday, October 4th! It is sure to be a fun event ... they will be married at the church in the afternoon and then a party is planned for that evening out on our family land in the country. So, far all of my brothers have been married at the same church, as well as myself, my parents and my grandparents. It has become very special for us all!

We are heading home to IL next Wednesday evening. We decided that is would be easier to leave on Wednesday night (as opposed to Thursday morning) so that Charlie can sleep during the ride. With it being dark out, it will be a little bit easier to get him to fall asleep because there will be less to look at. Surely, it will be a long drive for Eric and I (about 7 hours), but I would much rather be there late in the night than drive all the next morning. My family will have some time to spend with Charlie before Me-Maw Eva gets there and wants Charlie too. It is ok to say that he will get lots of loving next weekend!

Alisa and Bobby are just about ready for the big day. Alot of planning has gone into the big event and it is sure to be wonderful! I am a bridesmaid and Eric is a groomsmen so we are involved all day long. It will be a TON of fun though! I am really excited.

To check out more about the wedding, feel free to check out Bobby and Alisa's wedding website ... http://www.bobbyandalisa.com/

Happy Birthday ....

TO ME!!!! Yes, it is my 29th birthday. Thank you to all who have called, emailed or sent text messages. It has been a busy day filled with work, but I am going to head out early so that I can spend some afternoon time with Charlie at home today. This evening, then, we are going to dinner with some friends who have a son a few months younger than Charlie.

I can say that I have already gotten the best gift in the world ... here he is!! This was taken last night after his dinner. The boy loves to eat now!

Camera is DEAD!

Unfortunately, our camera is out of commission for the next few weeks. It was dropped in the sand this past summer while we were on vacation and it appears that a small particle is still stuck in the lens and has caused a malfunction. We cannot even use it :( I have sent it off for repairs to the Canon Service center, but it will be a few weeks till we get it back. Too bad the warranty is out!!! We have our old camera still so I will be digging it to use for the time being.

I have been able to get some photos of Charlie using my camera phone, and to my surprise, they are actually half-way decent quality. Here is one of Charlie at the tailgate this past weekend before the KU football game.

Lauren's Testimony

Many of you are familiar with Eric's cousin, Lauren Futrell Hicks. For those who are not, she is one of the sweetest people. Those of you close to us know of Lauren's tough year after suffering a brain aneurysm in summer 2007. Lauren was home alone with her 16-month old daughter, Lilly, when the pain in her headache got so intense that it caused her to become physically sick and need life-saving help. She was taken by ambulance and spent nearly 20 days in ICU as doctors worked to save her life and that of the 11-week child growing inside her.

This past week, Lauren was able to talk with her church members for the first time about her faith and how it has been strengthened over the past year. I invite you to listen to her story by clicking on the link below and then going to the 9/14 sermon. It is a broadcast of Lauren's words.

http://www.goodhopechurch.org/mp3s/

Yeah for BRANDY!!

I knew this picture would come in handy someday! Happy Monday, Brandy!!



I have to give a shout out to one of my best friend's, Brandy!! She finally communicated with me via the BLOG :) Ha, ha!! No really, I do love Brandy as she is one of the sweetest people I know. Brandy and her family (hubby-Chris and son-Paul) went with us this summer to Myrtle Beach and it was a blast. I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked "catching up" with her because I pretty much always had a baby on my hip. We had a great time none the less and I can't wait for Christmas as that will be the next time we will see them. Here is Brandy with Charlie lounging on the couch at the condo in SC. She is itching for another one (I know it!!)


In other news, the rain has FINALLY stopped. Everything is very green out here right now, but also very mushy. We spent the weekend catching up on chores and relaxing. Our computer is out of commission for awhile. It appears the hard drive has crashed so it is being worked on this week. Hopefully they can work quickly as it stinks not having the Internet at home. We were smart enough to buy an external drive so luckily all of our pics and music is safe and sound no matter what happens with the computer.

Media Guide Family Picture

Here is the picture that will be used as our family shot in the media guide this year ....

Starting to Play!

Charlie is really starting to enjoy these nice toys that are crowding our house. Here is is in his exersaucer. I guess this toy has taken the place of the "walker" as they were found to be unsafe for kids as they allowed too much freedom. Geesh!! He will sit in this thing and is able to turn 360 degrees to see what is going on. He has really started to grab at the toys and will even "bang" a little bit.

Five Months Old!

Charlie is FIVE months old today!! Hard to believe. He has grown so much and is really starting to develop a personality. He is now "attempting" to eat cereal (mixed with formula) from a spoon each day. We started off with banana flavored thinking the sweetness might be better. WRONG!! He hated it. Bloody murder screams!!! This little guy is pretty even tempered, but not when it comes to banana cereal. Today I tried just regular rice cereal and it went better. We got about 6 bites down before he had enough. It is going to take some time to get used to the consistency, but it gets better everyday.

We are also starting to get our fair share of giggles. Each day we get more and more from him. Today, he started to giggle for no reason. It is absolutely the best sound in the world. He has also started to utilize his jumperoo this week. We put it together a few weeks ago thinking he was ready for it as it said to use for 4+ months. He could not touch the floor when in it so we waiting a few weeks longer. We put a pillow beneath the toy this time and he really enjoys it.

I think that our days of being in the swing are pretty much over. He is almost too big for it and he would rather be in the jumperoo or exersaucer now. Charlie is really starting to pay attention to the world around him so he likes to spend his time upright as opposed to lying down.

He is off to bed for the night so I am going to get ready for tomorrow!!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my husband of THREE years!! It has been a wonderful ride so far and it continues to get better everyday ..... we are incredibly lucky!

First Football Game

Charlie attended his first football game last night. After the 4 pm mass at Corpus Christi, we headed to the stadium at KU so that we could check out the action. Luckily, we were able to sit upstairs in the suite so Charlie was able to stay out of the sun and the noise was not nearly as loud. People were a little worried about him though as he passed out next to the cooler of drinks :) Good thing it said Coke and not Bud!!!

Overall, he did great and the Jayhawks won so it was a fun night!!!

Four Month Stats

I haven't had time to post Charlie's 4 month stats, but here they are a few days removed from the doctor's visit this week.

Height = 26.5"(85 percentile)

Weight = 15 lbs, 5 ozs (42 percentile)

Head Circumference = well, we won't go there, let's just say he is a CAPPS (known for BIG heads)

He did have to get another set of shots this time around, which made him scream bloody murder. It was so sad!!! He was pretty sore the rest of the night. I didn't mind holding him though and Eric even managed to get a few giggles out of him.

D0c said that Charlie looked great! She was surprised at how fast he was catching up given his early arrival, but was very happy with his progress. She told us to go ahead and start on cereal now with him. I know that many of you started your little ones much earlier than 4.5 months, but with Charlie being so small at birth, we decided that it would be best to wait and let him "catch up" before we start throwing anything new at him. I think he is doing pretty good, so we had our first taste of cereal last night via a spoon. He gagged a few times and I think more ended up on his bib rather than in his belly, but overall the experience was pretty good. We will keep trying as we are going to work our ways up to fruit and veges. The looks we get are precious and hilarious!

Not a big weekend planned. Charlie is going to attend his first football game on Saturday. We have a suite for the game so it should be alot easier on him (noise wise). I have a baby shower then Sunday afternoon for a soon to be girlfriend of Charlie's and then Sunday night Eric and I are going to dinner to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. It was three years ago this weekend that we tied the night in Illinois. Because Sept. 3rd is a Wednesday this year, we are going to go out a few days earlier.

Have a great Labor Day!! I

Bank Account

My mom sent me this, and it sort of put into persepective how to view your day/life .....

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. 'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. 'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do . Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing. Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more .
5 . Expect less.

Great Weekend!!

We really didn't get alot accomplished this weekend, and it was GREAT! I was up bright and early yesterday morning so that I could get some shopping done on my own. I went before the boys were up and was able to hit a HUGE consignment sale, Sam's Club, Kohl's and the mall. I will say, the ladies at the consignment sale don't mess around. I had never really been to one of these, man 'o man, these women weren't messing around. They had their bags, laundry baskets and buddies with them to haul their findings. No strollers were allowed and for GOOD reason. I found a couple of toys and some books, but missed the big deals as I didn't realize I needed to be there before the doors opened. Now I know! (Although I don't think that I need anything that badly -- they are still fun :)

When I got home, we just sort of hung out at home for the remainder of the day. I did finally get Eric to the tuxedo place to be fitted for his tux for Bobby's wedding. Was supposed to have this done in April .... only 4 months late! It is done though and I will call his measurements in tomorrow morning. We then stopped and got some groceries before heading home and grilling up.

Today then, Eric had planned to work out in the yard for a good part of the day while I hung out with Charlie and cleaned indoor. Well, after about 3 swipe of the yard, I heard a big boom and saw black smoke from the side of the house. Upon making my way over, I found Eric just sick to his stomach. The riding mower that David had let us borrow was DEAD!! Eric said the engine had blown and he felt horrible as it isn't even ours. He let it cool down, while he push mowed the rest of the side/front yard. Once he was able to get a look at the engine, he was right, there was a hole about the size of a quarter in the side of the engine. He was going to talk with some of his mechanic buddies about getting a new engine, but the mower itself is over 25 years old so we might see what David thinks before spending the money to get this one running again.

Since his time was limited to the mowing, Eric and I spent some time out with the neighbors before both coming inside to clean. The house was not bad at all, we just keep getting more "stuff" now that Charlie is here. We are trying to keep everything (beside the "entertaining toys") out of the living room, so I spent time putting things away and back where they go. The house is once again looking presentable so we made progress. We have found that now that we are back at work that things like cleaning can wait on the weekends as that is our time with Charlie. We want to enjoy him and spend as much time playing with him and snuggling so those "other" things can wait till he is napping or has gone to bed for the day.

Tomorrow brings about another week. Not too much planned as far as big deals, so it should be pretty easy going. Here is another pic of Charlie ...... Hope all had a great weekend!

4 Month Pics!

They are ready ... to check out Charlie's slideshow, click here ....

http://rpetersphotography.squarespace.com/rpeters-blog/2008/8/22/charlie-4-months.html

Prayers Needed ...

Please add Russell Coleman and his family (Wife-Ashley and 8 month old daughter-Annie) to your prayers tonight and for the next long while. Russell, a good friend of Eric's, was diagnosed with a very RARE disease that has left him unable to walk. It is called TM for short and affects only 1 in 1.3 million people! Russell and his family recently moved to the DC area so they are in an unfamiliar place with so much uncertainty. They are in need of all the prayers they can get!

To learn more about Russell and his illness, Ashley has created a BLOG (like this one) and is keeping people up to date. Please check it out .... http://keepinupwiththecolemans.blogspot.com/

Too Cute!

Rebecca came and took some 4th month pictures of Charlie ... here is a sneak peak. The rest will be ready in a week or so!!

Long Day ...

Before I really even talked with anyone today, I got a text message from my older brother that read "jerk." I guess it was deserved as I kept a secret and lead him to believe that he would be flying to see me today and play in our golf tournament this afternoon. Instead, his wife had planned a "big day" for him in Chicago to celebrate his 30th birthday. He was able to have breakfast with all the family (except me) and then golf with the boys and finally had a surprise party at his home later in the day. I hope that he is not too mad at me, I am just REALLY good at keeping secrets like that!!

Later in the morning, I headed to the golf course where I spent the remainder helping with our booster club golf tournament. We had 58 teams in the tournament, which was a great showing. Eric kept Charlie throughout the day while I helped out at the course. Following the dinner at the golf course, I headed home and spent some time with little man before putting him down for bed. He went down just in time for me to catch Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal -- all I can say is "WOW!!" I love watching this guy swim and have really enjoyed watching the Olympics this year. He is a great Olympian!!!

Tomorrow, Rebecca is coming to take pics of Charlie at 4 months. She has a really cool way of working with him so I am excited. I am pretty tired and am ready for bed. This is the last weekend before school starts out here so I am trying to enjoy it. Not hard to do when Charlie and Eric are around :)

Time to Slow Down ...

Eric and I have been on the go the past few weeks. We spent time in NC and SC for a week, then returned home to work for a few days and then headed back to IL this past weekend to help throw a couple of wedding showers. It was fun, don't get me wrong, but I am worn out and ready for a couple days of peace and quiet. This weekend, though, we have the Hardwood Club (bball booster club) Golf Tournament, so I will be busy meeting and greeting all day on Saturday. Then on Sunday, Rebecca is coming to take pictures of Charlie .... that will be fun though!

Things should be pretty quiet this week. School has not started at KU yet so we don't have to worry with players here and several of the other coaches are out of the office this week so the days are pretty quiet. I have pretty much caught up at work now so I am not too stressed there. The biggest thing is getting camp wrapped up and putting together the fall schedule so that will take some time. Nothing too crazy, though!

We had thought about returning to KY for Labor Day weekend, but I don't think that we are going to make the trip. With all that we have done the past few weeks and the fact that it is our anniversary weekend, I think that we are going to take advantage of the long weekend and get some things done around the house and just relax. I think that we are actually planning to have a date night that weekend as well. We always said that we would not be one of those couples who stay home all the time after their child is born. We don't stay home, but we do take Charlie when we go. We LOVE being with him and don't feel like we have missed out on anything this summer. We are going to take some time for ourselves though and have someone spend the evening with Charlie so that we can have some "us" time, which I think will be good for both Eric and I.

Well, I am headed off to bed. We have been going through bags and trying to get the house picked up tonight. We are both tired so we have pretty much called it quits and are headed to bed!

Can You BELIEVE it!?!?!?

Charlie goes to the Beach!!

I just finished uploading all of our vacation pictures to my wal-mart site. There are nearly 200 of them!!! WHOA .... I sent them out to several people, but if you did not get them and want to see all of them, please drop me a note and I will forward the album to you. Here are a couple of my favorites from the trip! We got to see ALOT of family and friends and it was a great time!!

We're Back!!

Ok, we got back home last night about 1:00 am. We had a GREAT time, but both Eric and I agreed that we were happy to be home. I have lots of pictures so I will try and post some tonight for you all. Charlie had a very FULL week ... met a ton of family and new friends, went to the beach, swam in pool, traveled throughout NC and SC!!

Today is also my first day back at work. I dropped Charlie off at the babysitter's this morning and then headed here to the office. I was very proud as I didn't shed a tear (I was close a couple of times). I am very comfortable with the lady that will be watching Charlie so that makes it easier I think. I have been off from work for nearly 4 months so I have lots to do ... I am just going to take my time and tackle one thing at a time. I did work at home and spent some time in the office while I was on "Maternity Leave" so it won't be too bad.

I don't usually fill these things out, but .....

1. I've come to realize that my mom...is a an amazing person who taught me a lot of important life lessons.
2. I've come to realize that my job...is important, but that my gravestone will say "wife, mother, daughter and sister," not bball coach!
3. I've come to realize that when i'm driving...I like to daydream and talk to myself.
4. I've come to realize that I need...to hear "I love you."
5. I've come to realize that I have lost...the need to "please" all of the time.
6. I've come to realize that I hate it when...people don't say please and thank you.
7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk..my husband is annoyed.
8. I've come to realize that money...cannot buy happiness.
9. I've come to realize that certain people..will never enjoy the real gifts of life.
10. I've come to realize that I'll always be...a daddy's girl.
11. I've come to realize that I have a crush on...my boys!
12. I've come to realize that my dad...wants the best for his children and worked so hard so that we had the best.
13. I've come to realize that my cell phone is...not an extension of my arm.
14. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning...I have been given another chance to do good in the world.
15. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep...I rocked my baby to sleep and enjoyed evey minute of it because in a few short months, that too will be a thing of the past.
16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking ... I really should go to bed. 3:30 am is going to come REALLY fast and I still have some packing to do.
17. I've come to realize that my sister....is the VERY best godmother for Charlie and is turning in to one of my best friends.
18. I've come to realize that when I get on Myspace...I love to see what people have been doing.
19. I've come to realize that today...was a day filled with chores and errands, but I am lucky b/c I get to go on vacation and many people would trade spots with me in a heartbeat.
20. I've come to realize that tonight...I love my life and wouldn't change any part of it (well, except to make Kansas 5 hours closer to IL and KY)
21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will...enjoy my vacation and not get annoyed with travel problems (which always happen when we fly!!)
22. I've come to realize that I really want to...be a good wife, mother and daughter and sister
23. I've come to realize that yesterday... will never come again so I need to get over it.
24. I've come to realize that love...is earned, not given.

Great Life!

I can honestly say that I have a FANTASTIC life. I am totally in love with my hubby and have the best baby in the world. Being a wife and now a mom is the coolest thing. I highly recommend it!! I don't know what I did to deserve such a great life, but I am so thankful. I am excited for my brothers and sister (in-laws) as they will someday experience this and they will "get" why I am so happy and why I have changed in the past few months. Having a baby really does change your life, but it such a great way!!

We are heading out on Monday for our week-long vacation in the Carolinas. I am excited to be getting away and to get to spend time with family and friends. It really should be a relaxing and fun weekend. For the first time, I actually feel like I can go on a vacation without worrying what is going on at the office or where my cell phone was placed last. These last few months have been stressful on both Eric and I, so this is a needed time together. I am looking forward to a nice long walk on the beach with Eric and Charlie --- just the three of us!

We will be heading to IL later in August so I will get to spend time with my side of the family too. I love going home even more now as they are all so excited to see Charlie (especially my parents and sister). He will soon rule the family (until another lil one comes along) so it is so much fun. I know that some can get annoyed that Charlie is the main attraction, but that is what life is about ... enjoying family and loving it!!

How Sad!!

You would think this po0r child was being neglected by the look on his face!! We have been trying to capture this "expression" for some time now, but every time the camera comes out, the lip goes away. Our friend, Rance, was able to capture the image on his cell phone tonight after dinner. How sad!!

Good Times!!

We had a great weekend ... Evan and Kelly, our WKU friends, made the trip from Tennessee to visit us and meet Charlie. Evan has been here once before, but this was Kelly's first trip to KS so we spent the weekend showing her the sights and sounds of where we live/work/play. We always have a great time with them and when we get together (which is usually 1-2x a year), it is like we haven't been a part at all. They are a really fun couple and have had some great "worldly experiences" so we always enjoy seeing them and catching up on what has happened since we were last together.


Not a lot going on this week. I am enjoying my last two weeks of maternity leave at home with Charlie. We are hanging at the house and catching up on things that have been put on the back burner this week and then will be heading to the Carolina's next week for a fun vacation. I am soooo excited to be getting away. We have a lot planned, but it will be great to see everyone and to get a TAN!!!

In other news, our computer is on the fritz :( I am not sure what is wrong with it, but sometimes (more than others) it doesn't want to turn on. So, I am not able to post as much as I want because I don't have computer access. I still have e-mail (thanks to my phone -- oh, the wonders of technology)! I will try and update you on our vacation pending computer access. Don't worry, we will take lots of pictures for you all!

It's Official!!

I am D-O-N-E with summer camps ... YEAH!!!! Camp ended yesterday at noon. Things went really well, but I am glad to have them all over. Now I can stay at home and enjoy my last two weeks of maternity leave with Charlie. We will be home all next week and then head out the following week for the Carolinas where we will be seeing all of Eric's family in addition to some of our friends from college. I am very EXCITED!!

My parents left early this morning to head back to IL. They were out again for the past week helping with Charlie and running the camp store. It was great to have them out so much this summer. They were able to spend so much time with Charlie. It is hard being so far away from everyone, but we are blessed that they will travel and see us. I was talking with my mom how there really hasn't been a weekend of no visitors this summer. Eric's family has been able to come a few times, my parents have been here several times; my brother Bobby and his fiance Alisa have come; and my sister, Theresa has been here. It really has been awesome!! As hectic as it may get, I would much rather have them come then to stay away. I really want Charlie to know his family!!

In other news, I received a call this morning from my sister-in-law, Jennifer. She is married to Eric's brother, Andy. Jennifer is pregnant with her second child and is due in December -- right around Christmas. It looks like we are going to have another boy join the clan!! She had an ultrasound this morning and Eli is going to have a baby brother :)

It is nice a quiet here in the house this morning. Charlie is sleeping beside me on his boppy. He woke about 7:30 am and took a bottle and has since gone back to sleep. I am going to do a few things while he sleeps to get ready for our visitors tonight!! Evan and Kelly -- our good friends from college are flying in tonight and will be here for the weekend. They currently live in middle TN, but spent nearly two years in Japan as Evan worked as an engineer for Nissan. They returned home right before Christmas and are settling back into a new home. We are so excited to see them!! It should be a really fun weekend :)

Camp AGAIN!!!

Yes, it is that time again ... CAMP!! All I can say is this is the last one of the summer and by far the easiest. It is our JUNIOR JAYHAWK camp. I have right at 100 1-5 grade boys and girls Monday-Thursday of this week from 9 am - Noon. This morning went pretty fast so if that is any indication of the next three days, then I am happy!!

My parents are once again out here for the week. They are helping with the camp store and also with Charlie. My poor dad woke up this morning not feeling so hot and by mid-afternoon was throwing up!! YUCK! He had caught the stomach bug that my mom had this past week. We thought it had past, but I guess not. Therefore, ol Bumpy has been quarantined to the upstairs of the house while the rest of us hang out downstairs on the main level. He is feeling much better this evening (now that everything is out of his stomach). Keep your fingers crossed that we don't get the bug -- especially Charlie :(

On that note, Charlie continues to improve with his sleeping habits. He has been sleeping in his own room since the first of the month and has slept through the night for over a week now. He usually goes down between 9-10 pm and then will sleep until 5:30-6:30 am, at which time he wants a bottle. As soon as he finishes eating, though, he is back down to sleep for another couple of hours. On Sunday, he slept until 10 am!!!! Tonight will be the first time this month that he will not sleep in his own crib, but we are not taking a chance as his room is upstairs and Bumpy is up there with a case of the "icks!"

Life Changes

I am amazed how much my life has changed over the past year. I have heard that having a baby changes everything, and that is RIGHT! I absolutely LOVE being a mommy ... it has really brought meaning to my life. I am responsible for this little man and his life.

Eric and I find ourselves just staring at Charlie watching him sleep or just look around the room. You can't help but wonder, "what his he thinking?" As each day passes, I find myself with mixed emotions. On one hand, I want him to stay small and a tiny little baby forever, but then on the other, I want him to grow and respond to me. I love when he looks at me with his big, blue eyes and just lets out the biggest grin. It is enough to melt my heart!!

So many things have been put into perspective for me since Charlie's birth. I have come to the realization that I need to slow down and enjoy life a little more. Basketball is not everything and things at work can wait until tomorrow. I know that I am young and can go-go-go, but sometimes it is better to sit back and just relax. There is no reason to stress over little things ... it is just not worth it.

I am starting to "fret" over is the idea of going back to work full time. I have really enjoyed being him with Charlie since his birth. I am apart of his life and know what is going on at all times - I love that I am the one that can calm/soothe him. Going back to work is just around the corner (Aug. 5) and I am just not sure if I am ready for it. Charlie will be going to an in-home day care just miles from my office, but still, I will miss out on so much I feel. I really do enjoy my job and love having the income to live the life we enjoy, but I can't help but feel guilty that I am putting him off on someone else to do "my thing." I know that women do it everyday and that it is a normal thing, it is just hard to think that I will have to leave him. I may have to have Eric take him the first few days and I am beginning to think that I will be a mess. (Heck, I cried when I had to leave my dog for the first time!!)

I am not sure what is causing these feelings, I just feel like my time with him is so precious. It is so hard to explain ... I just feel like I have changed so much. It doesn't upset me, just scares me as it has opened my eyes to a whole other side of life. As each day passes, I realize that I will never get these days back. As I told Eric, we have gone through so much in life already -- college, wedding, first pregnancy, etc .... there is so much that has already passed. I really want to make sure and embrace all that still lies ahead!!

3 months old!!

Oh how time flies!! Charlie is THREE months old today. I put him on the bathroom scale this morning and he weighed in at 12 lbs, 2 oz., which means he has gained 1 lb since going to the doctor two weeks ago.

Bobby and Alisa

My brother, Bobby, and his fiance, Alisa, have spent the weekend here with us. They are heading back to IL after a LATE breakfast and some more time with Charlie. It has been alot of fun having them here.

They got in late Thursday night (around 12:30 am) or so. After a good night sleep, we hung out at the house and enjoyed the day of not having to do anything. They spent alot of time with Charlie and loved all over him. Later in the day, we headed to our friend's house, Rance and Amy, and had a YUMMY steak dinner. Right before dark, we decided to head back to our house so that we could put Charlie down. Much to our surprise, we got back to Eudora to find the town all lit up with fireworks. It was CRAZY!!! This was our first 4th of July here at this house and we were not expecting such a show. Everyone in town was on their driveway cooking out and lighting the fireworks. The streets were a mess come Saturday morning!!! Of course, Eric and Bobby had to join in the festivities and flood our cul-de-sac with smoke bombs, mortars and other "explosives."

Yesterday, we enjoyed another morning of sleeping in and then headed to Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. We had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and then spent the afternoon walking around and shopping. It was a fun, relaxing day.

Alisa and I got up this morning and took Charlie to Church and then just arrived home for biscuits and gravy ... YUM! They are going to be getting on the road here shortly, but it has been fun having them here. We got some things accomplished for their upcoming wedding too so it has been productive. Here is one of their engagement pictures ..... they are all so good!!

Yeah For Charlie!!

Charlie spent his first night in his OWN bedroom last night!!! Yeah!!! We decided that now that camps are over and I can relax a little bit, that it was time to really try getting Charlie to sleep in his own crib, in his own room. I only had to get up with him one time. He went down a little after 9 pm and slept until 2:30 am. After a bottle, he was back down until nearly 6 am!!! We will see how tonight goes ....

Few More Pics from the weekend!

The THREE Muskateers (Huey, Grandpa Bumpy and Charlie)

Charlie with his grandparents (MeMaw, Grandpa Bumpy and Granny Jo)

Does he look like his daddy or what?!?!?

Wonderful Weekend!!

As tired and as stressed as I was last week, this weekend was WONDERFUL!!! The Jamboree was very successful (depsite a bus accident in the parking lot) and Charlie was baptized yesterday!!! It really was a great weekend and we are blessed that many people shared in the wonderful event.



After a L-O-N-G week of camp and long days, I was ready for Saturday to come and go. Everthing went really smooth throughout the week and I was lucky to have my parents here to help with Charlie so that I could make it through. I am glad they were able to help with camp, but I am even happier that they were able to spend some quality time with Charlie. They left late last night (after a cat nap) and they were definitely not ready to say good-bye to the Lil' Man. If it was not for the fact they were running out of gas as they sat on my driveway, they still might be out there saying good-bye to him. I had to keep a close eye on my mom and she was conspiring to take Charlie with her back to IL.

On Sunday, we all awoke early and got ready for Church. I knew I was going to be tired, but I was so excited that the day had come for Charlie to finally be baptized. It really was a great day and he did so good. He let out one good wail during the beginning part of the ceremony, but once the water was being poured over him, he was good to go. My sister, Theresa, and Eric's brother, Andy, will serve as Charlie's godparents. As his godparents, they have promised to always look after Charlie and to guide him in Christ's ways should anything happen to Eric and I.

Following the ceremony at Church, we headed home and had a cookout with all of the family and our friends. We had several people come over and enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and all the good fixings that go along with it. By about 5 pm, Eric and I were knocked out in an afternoon nap. My parents also took a snooze before hitting the road back to IL. Andy, Jennifer and Eva (Eric's bother, sister-in-law and mother) got on the road shortly after 3 pm for their trek back to KY. It was such an awesome day and I am glad that they were able to take part in it.

I still have one more camp to run in July, but it will be rather easy considering what I have been dealing with over the past month. I am excited to be able to spend time at home again with Charlie. He will start day care the fifth of August so I am anxious to spend as much time with him as I can before I have to go back to work. As I sit here typing tonight, I am listening to the sound of his breathing through the monitor. We decided that tonight is the night!! Charlie has been put up in his own room and we are seeing how he will do in his own crib for the night. It is time to start weaning him out of our room (as much as it kills me)!!

STRESSED!!!

I am ready for NEXT Sunday to be here ... I know that it will all get done, but camps are really wearing me out this year. I am not asking for sympathy, just some understanding that having a 9 week old at home DOES make things a little bit more difficult, especially when he is still trying to catch up. People don't realize that babies require ALOT of attention, especially when they are premature and feedings are still happening every couple of hours.

Yesteday was the first day I had to leave him with a sitter all day (I had to go in and work all day to make sure camp is ready to go on Sunday). Poor Charlie was SOOO off schedule .. he finally fell asleep at 5 a.m. this morning!!! When I had to get up before 7 am, I felt like crying :( I had to leave him again today so we will see how tonight goes. My parents are coming in all next week so it should be better as they are pretty familiar with how we do things. Thank goodness for their help!!

When they say "having a child changes everything," they are not joking. I wouldn't trade it for the world -- just need to get through next week. After that, I can go back to enjoying my maternity leave and soak up the last few weeks of my time at home with Charlie. It is something that I will never get back again!!

One week down!!

The first of my three "hell weeks" is over and done with. I was able to survive Elite Camp this past week and am proud to say that it went very well. I got a text message from our head coach late last night that said we got a commitment from a Texas kid yesterday so that made my day (that meant camp went really well.) My parents were here all week as well helping with Charlie and then with the camp store too. It was great to have them around and I love that they were able to spend time with Charlie.

Mom and dad headed home Saturday afternoon then once camp was over. They are trying to get their front yard re-landscaped so there is lots of work to do there. They will be heading back to KS though this coming weekend to help with camp and Charlie once again. We will have about 250 girls in next week (Sunday-Wednesday) so I will be busy and need their help. I will have two days to prep then for the Jamboree, which is on Saturday. We have about 50 teams coming in for that on June 28th so we will have nearly 600 HS girls on campus that day.

If that were not enough to do in one week, we are also going to have Charlie baptized that weekend. On Sunday, June 29th, Fr. Mick will baptize Charlie at Corpus Christi Catholic Church here in Lawrence. That is the church that I have been attending the last four years. Eric and I really enjoy Fr. Mick and are excited that he will be celebrating over Charlie's first sacrament. Our parents, as well as Charlie's godparents (my sister, Theresa and Eric's brother, Andy) will all be here to celebrate. I think that we will plan to have a lunch then here at the house for friends and other family. It should be fun.

Last, but not least, yesterday Eric was able to celebrate his first Father's Day!! It was pretty uneventful, but it was a nice relaxing day (something we don't have alot of lately). I feel bad as I didn't get Eric a "gift" for the day, but he did get his "daddy's chair" a few weeks ago, which was supposed to be his gift. I will take him down to the Plaza in KC to pick out some cigars from his favorite store. It has been a whirlwind few months, but it has been awesome. I am very lucky to have such a great daddy for Charlie!! I, myself, am also blessed to have a great dad (yeah, eat it up Bumpy!!). I enjoyed him being out here all week and love watching him with Charlie. I think those two will be good buddies in the coming years ;)

Busy, Busy!

Camp season is officially here!! I say that like I am excited??? It really is not that bad. Things have been a little stressful now that Charlie is here, but we are getting things figured out. My parents have been out all week helping care for Charlie during the days so that I can be in the office and get ready for camp. Our first camp will run Thursday-Saturday and then we have a week off and go again Sunday-Wednesday. We get two days off and then run a team jamboree for over 600 kids that Saturday. In mid-July, we will run a half-day camp for the little ones and that will be it. If I can just get through the next 2.5 weeks, I will be in good shape.

Good news is that Charlie is doing great! He is over 2 months old and really starting to get a personality. We have decided that he does not like to be left alone and really LOVES being held. He is still pretty little, but eating like a hoss! I am doing pretty good too. My blood pressure continues to go down and is now back in a "normal" range. It has taken awhile to get there, but finally, I can get off the meds :)

Wish me luck that everything goes well over the next couple weeks. I can get through camps and then be able to enjoy Charlie stress free for the rest of July before heading back to work in August (ughhh!)

Making Plans ...

This week has been all about getting plans made. Plans for summer camp, plans for Charlie's baptism and plans for a vacation (yes, we are FINALLY taking vacation!!)

I really thought I would be able to take it easy with summer camp this year as I was "supposed" to have a baby last week. But, alas, Charlie arrived early, which allowed me to get back into the swing of things faster so once again, I will be directing all of the summer camps again this year. I seem to always stress myself out getting ready for them, but things always come toghether and they turn out to be successful. This time next week, I will be getting ready to open the doors for our Elite Camp check-in. Elite Camp will run June 12-14, Individual Camp June 22-25, Jayhawk Team Jamboree June 28 and Junior Jayhawk July 14-17. It feels like all of my summer revolves around camp as I am planning/running/wrapping up for most of June and July.

I am not allowing myself to stress out that much because I am still working to get my blood pressure down. I still am fighting high BP as a result of the HELLP syndrome, but it has gotten ALOT better. Today it was 129/73!!! Plus, having Charlie makes me realize there are much more important and serious things in life so there is no sense in stressing over something that will turn out just fine.

This week, I was also able to Charlie's baptism scheduled. He will be baptized in our Church on Sunday, June 29th. My sister, Theresa, and Eric's brother, Andy, will serve as his Godparents and will pledge to allows raise him Catholic and make sure that he is cared for should anything ever happen to Eric and I.

And, finally, we confirmed last night that we will be traveling to North and South Carolina this summer for vacation. We are going to be flying in and out of Raleigh and will spend 5 days in Myrtle Beach while we are there. We are excited because the Bibbs and the Moores have decided to trek along with us! It will be a blast spending time with them and being at the beach :) And, if that were not enough, the McCaslands are also traveling to see us in July (18-20). Evan has been here once before, but Kelly has yet to make it out so they are coming to stay with us for a few days and to meet Charlie. We are so very excited!!

I remember how the summer months used to last forever when I was little. Now, it seems there is something going on every weekend and the time just FLIES by!! I am not complaining though ... we have been very blessed!!

Doing Great!!

Charlie ready for the party!!

It seems the past few weeks have been extremely busy, but I don't remember having THAT much to do!! Charlie and I trekked back to Illinois for the Memorial Day weekend. Upon our return, we hosted a baby shower for our friends Rance and Amy Holt. They are expecting their first baby (a boy!!) in July. We had a lot of fun putting that all together and are excited about Layton's impending arrival. We are hoping that Layton and Charlie become best buds as they grow bigger.

This past weekend, Charlie made his first trip to Church. We have put this off the past few weekends at the suggestion of our neonatologist as many people can't keep their hands off babies. And, with Charlie coming so early and being extra small, he thought it was best to give it a few more weeks to help build up the immune system. We have seen some tremendous changes in Charlie though over the past few weeks with regards to growth, so we were pretty comfortable venturing out. We were stopped on our way into Church by our pastor who had to get a look at the big guy!! Charlie did great. He seemed to enjoy it as he spent a good deal of time checking things out -- especially the different lights. I was a little nervous how he would respond to the music, but Charlie loved the organ!! We did have to feed him mid-way through the mass, but he was great. As I was burping him following his bottle, I kept hoping that he would not "BELCH" when it was really quiet. Eric, on the other hand, thought it would be great if he would "grace" the people with his noises!! On our way out, Charlie was grabbed from my hands by Fr. Mick!! I thought he just wanted to get another look, but he wanted to hold and love on. It was so sweet!!!

Home from Church!!

We don't have alot of plans for this weekend, except to do yardwork and RELAX! This is the last weekend I have until camp season begins. I wasn't really expecting to have to do all that much for camp once it started this year as I was supposed to have just given birth, but because Charlie came so early, I am back on board and will be directing it all again this year. I don't mind ... I just always stress a little bit as it is nerve-wracking having nearly 1000 young girls under you for a few weeks in June!! My mom is supposed to be coming out next week to help with Charlie. She will be staying for a few weeks then so I some help getting through the hard weeks of camp!!

Memorial Day Weekend Re-Cap

Aunt Theresa (my lil sis) with her FAVORITE nephew & godchild

Charlie and I made it home safe and sound this morning from Illinois. We were supposed to come back yesterday, but I couldn't muster up the energy to get things together and then drive for nearly 7 hours. I was exhausted and had gotten a nasty headache early yesterday afternoon so it was probably best that we stayed otherwise the drive might have been just unbearable. We stayed the day in Illinois and enjoyed a cookout at Bobby's house to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. It was nice just sitting around in the backyard enjoying the nice weather and watching everyone love on Charlie. I always intend to go back home to relax, but it seems that never happens as we are always on the go. With all of the Wulf kids home for the weekend, there was always something going on.

Here are some pics from the weekend ... way to many to add on here .... may have to do it over the next few days! Thought I would show off the little guy meeting his aunts and uncles for the first time this weekend. My youngest brother, Johnny, is the only one not pictured here, but he had the "honor" of living with Charlie for the first few weeks of his short life so he is pretty familiar with him.

Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Teddy (my older brother)

Uncle Bobby (my brother) and Aunt Alisa

Aunt Angie and Uncle David (my brother)

This trip was Charlie's first "road trip," and he did great. We were able to go with only one stop each way (7 hours each way). As long as I stopped once to change and feed, all was right in the world. Now the biggest thing will be to undue all of the spoiling that occurred this past weekend.