weekend fun in Dewey

We headed down to Dewey this weekend. Alex was still in Memphis and my cousin was in town from New Hampshire with her kids...so we spent the weekend in Dewey. It was lots of fun despite the chaos surrounding the numerous adults and children. It was nice because there was always someone around to lend a helping hand with a child or something. I must have looked like I needed to help because everyone was eager to hold Aaron, feed Aaron, or keep him from crying while I relaxed a bit...thanks everyone!On our way down to the shore
Charlie waiting patiently for us to arrive at our destination

Christy and Bode hanging out with Aaron

Christy then caught a whiff of Bode's fowl diaper...I changed it and all was right with the world!

Bode with his cool sunscreen mowhawk

Michael and Charlie waiting to hit the sand...Charlie thought Michael was super cool and kept calling him his friend!

Bode and Charlie waiting to get going. packing up that many people to go to the beach (6 adults and 6 kids) takes a while!

Aaron eating and wishing I was feeding him rather than taking pictures of him! He's really got the hang of the solid eating now...when I have time I will start making some veggies and trying them out. Right now he's had apples and pears and seems to like them!

Bode making some weird face at Code

All the kids...from L to R

Taylor, Charlie, Aaron, Michael, Bode and Elizabeth

Say Pizza!

beautiful Elizabeth...I remember when she was just a little baby and I was obsessed with her! Now she's a beautiful young lady...time flies!

Aaron talking (with Charlie in the background)

As you can hear, Charlie likes to involve me in every imaginary scenario that his cars and trucks go through ("...right mommy"). It actually gets pretty maddening to have him address me like that for minutes (hours) on end, but he's cute and I think it's more habit than anything. When I respond with "yes Charlie" or engage him while he is doing that, he does it just as much, even more sometimes. Anyway, that was a happy baby Aaron after his cereal this afternoon. He stopped sleeping as great the past two days for some reason and we don't know why, but otherwise we are plugging along. Aaron has a cardiology appointment July 13th which is basically just that we have to see cardio for them to schedule the tests they need to do to rule out a vascular ring. Silly, but I'm sure it allows them to bill more for the insurance.

His breathing seems worse to me over the past two weeks and now, especially right after his bath when he's all excited and happy and moving like a little maniac, he has stridor too, which is a much noisier breathing and more concerning to me. We go see his regular pediatrician on thursday so he can check him out.

We are officially daddyless this week. Alex left early this morning (before I got home from work, thanks Jill for the overlap!) for Memphis for five days for work. He doesn't get back till sunday afternoon! One day down, so far so good. We are going to the beach this weekend because my cousin is in town with her kids and hubby and everyone is headed down to Dewey for some chaos and beach time. I might be really stupid to head down with both kids, Aaron really hates chaos and noise and anywhere but his own house, but I'm doing it anyway!

Talking to Cousin Tammy

Passed out after a long day!

The long awaited pictures...

My big boy playing on the floor

The giant trampoline at Hallie's birthday party. Hallie is in the pink tights and pink t-shirt, Charlie is in the khaki shorts and blue shirt...he loved the trampoline!

Eating watermelon at Hallie's party. Watermelon is his favorite!

Playing on the trampoline with Hallie again...

Jumping so high!

Singing Happy birthday...I made the cake, it's a giraffe...Charlie is in the foreground clapping and so excited to eat cake!

Hanging out with my littlest at my parents' pool. Aaron was very fussy this day and was not thrilled to be away from home!

Charlie looking so grown up and so handsome!

Charlie with Chuck to bird on him...I HATE this bird...he was my grandmother's and she left him to my dad when she died. This bird is loud and obnoxious and he hates me...the feeling is so mutual!

Aaron and Abby "playing" together

Looking super dapper in his little shoes Aunt Christy bought him!

Sorry, there won't be any pictures with this post, but I have some to put up later this week (when I 'm not at work and better rested!). So I have some fun stories to tell about us...me and my boys. First, things are much better for all of us. We have come to understand what makes Aaron tick.
~We know that 5pm is a bad time for him, no matter what.
~We know that he does much better at our house than anywhere else. Other places seem to overstimulate him and while not always inconsolable, he's not always the happiest unless he's at home.
~We know that usually, when he's fussy and we can't make him happy, he's usually happiest being put to bed, with his "sleep sheep"and he falls fast asleep.
~We know that he really likes Charlie and when he hears his voice he'll look around for him and will smile ear to ear upon seeing him. It's very cute and something new over the past week.


Aaron has been sleeping 6-7 hour stretches at night which is incredible. First thing in the morning is his happiest time and he'll coo and goo for minutes on end, all the while smiling a big gummy smile. He discovered his tongue this week and likes to imitate me sticking my tongue out at him. He's also been eating cereal for two weeks now, minimal amounts, but he enjoys it and even tried some homemade pear last evening.

We went to ENT yesterday to see what they think could be causing his continued funny breathing and fast heart rate, and reflux and tracheomalacia. ENT wants to do a few more tests in conjunction with cardiology under general anaesthesia and see what they can find. His symptoms lead them to suspect a vascular ring, but it could also just be reflux and tracheal malacia from unknown origin causing all of this. So once they find a date that works for both doctors, he'll go in for the testing and see what they find. On a positive note, the apnea team called today and his last download was completely clear so he went 4 weeks with no events, therefor he is monitor free!

Charlie had a fun weekend...Saturday I took him to a birthday party where there was a giant trampoline and lots of space to run and jump and go crazy. And he did just that! Sunday, we went to a friend's house...he had fun playing with his little friends Alex and Andrew while we got to hang with the adults and eat quiche and talk about the kiddos! We then went to my parents' house and swam at their pool. Charlie had a great time jumping in to me from the side of the pool and then "crabwalking" back to the steps by himself!

Today, he was a good boy (aside from the usual end of the day meltdown) and cooperated nicely while we went to Aaron's ENT appointment. I think he was thrilled to not be the recipient of poking and prodding.

Today, I caught him talking to himself in the bathroom mirror about how "cool" he looked. He had his sunglasses on and his baseball hat on backwards. He told me he was looking to see how cool he looked and then proceeded to talk to himself about how he looked "just so cool". I almost died!

Charlie has also learned his colors in Spanish. They spend some time every week doing Spanish at his school and he knows his colors!

Alex is liking his new job and we are all getting accustomed to the hectic new lifestyle we lead. He got his first paycheck today though, so it reminded us why it's worth it! We hope everyone is well!

fun photos of two very adorable babies!

Above are Aaron looking super handsome...

and this is little Abigail looking like an angel! She is my friends Dave and Michael's little baby girl and I get to throw them a baby shower...so I took her pic for the invites! The bow is actually affixed with a tiny piece of tape...is that wrong?!

A Basket Case

No the title of this post is not indicative of my state of mind...not right now at least...it is referencing my mom's business that is expanding today! She is opening a retail store in Lititz (near Lancaster) Pennsylvania. I haven't seen it, and don't know when I'll have time to get out there to see it, but in true Cheryl Bode fashion, I am sure it will be fabulous! If you are ever out that way, stop by and check it out! They open their doors today and I want to wish her and my sister (her partner in crime) and all of the employee ladies the best of luck today and in the future! And you can always order custom gift baskets at any time by visiting her site. Good luck ladies!

Weekend in LBI

Hanging out while mommy packs the family for the beach

Waking up in LBI. Bubby and Zayda have a great new beach house that is nice and roomy...Charlie loved his room...it has Batman sheets on the beds!

Hanging with daddy. Aaron was a bit fussy while we were in LBI...I think mostly because he was not in his own environment. He really likes his swing and his bed and all of his things...the beach was very nice, but there's no place like home!

Bubby and the boys

The boys getting ready to hit the beach on Sunday. Aaron is wearing turtle swim trunks and Charlie also has a pair of swim trunks (I love turtles, therefor my children must wear turtle clothing), but he wore them saturday to the beach...alas they were not coordinating, oh well!

Charlie loved the water even though it was FREEZING!

Aaron passed out on the beach under an umbrella. He slept for almost 2 hours like this!

Action shot of Charlie on the move!

Sorry for the lack of pictures and posts...but we've been busy!

First, we have a 3 month old now. Not much has changed except a few longer stretches in his night-time sleep (last night we had an almost 6 hour stretch!!!!!!). He has awesome head control and is very close to rolling over. He has his first ear infection...we went to the pediatrician's on Wednesday last week for his "well check up" after being in the hospital...and he found infected ears....oh bother! So he's on antibiotics, and hopefully feeling better.

I have been watching Abby once a week for our friend's Dave and Mike. Here's a funny shot of my big boy next to her little petite self! She's a good baby and it was actually pretty easy to watch both kiddos! Aaron now weighs 13 pounds...in looking at Charlie's baby book for comparison...Charlie weighed 13 pounds at his 2 month check-up!

My birthday was last Tuesday and Alex bought me some beautiful flowers (above) and the roses below on the left hand side. My cousin Tammy sent me the white flowers...so sweet! I worked on my birthday at night and it was one of the worst nights I've had there in a while...so busy and so crazy and just terrible....but it's over!

Another shot of Abby and Aaron

Charlie thought she was great but prefers his brother still!

Alex surprised me on Wednesday with a very nice party with all of my closest friends and family. It was really sweet and I am not used to having a fuss made over me, so it was really great. Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate!

Aaron getting used to his Bumbo chair...

more pictures of this last weekend at the beach to come!