First Easter

So I realize that I am incredibly late in posting pics of Charlie's first Easter, but better late than never, right? Charlie had a great morning at church while we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus! Afterward he took a LONG nap (yay) while Paul and I cleaned up from the birthday party the day before and relaxed! Then we went to Paul's aunt and uncle's house, known to Charlie as "Aunt Mimi and Uncle Boppa." There he had his very first Easter egg hunt with his "cousins" and stuffed the bounty in his mouth as fast as he could... as you can see in almost all these pictures. I think he's ruined on plain cheerios now because he gobbled those fruit loops and goldfish right down!

Aunt Megan explaining the only rule- the eggs on the blanket were only for the babies to "find."

I know, they're so hidden, how will he ever find them?? :)

the little kids

the big kids

cute cousin, Amelia

Yum!

Rain, rain

Rain, rain

go away

come again
another day

My Closest Friends

I have these two friends. We've always been close, like "bosom buddies." I've always been very supportive of them, though they never really needed me. They did pretty fine on their own. And honestly, I never really appreciated them for what they were! They were with me every step of the way of my pregnancy with Charlie. They helped me out so much! They always knew exactly what to do when Charlie was fussy. They were so there for me... even in the middle of the night, every night, there for a long time.

Now? Well, honestly, I just don't need them like I used to. Neither does Charlie. And maybe they're sad because of that, but it seems they've fallen on hard times... they really need some support now. And I've never had them so down on me like that and I just didn't know what to do. So I took them someplace that really specializes in that kind of thing. Dr. Vicki. Her "secret" was just the trick to unlocking their full potential. Now, I have to say they were a little disappointed when they found out they wore the. smallest. size. in. the. store. No lie. But about 30 minutes and 45 bucks later they were really perked up and feeling much better!

Glad to have you "back", old friends. At least for now until the next baby comes along one day and I need to rely on you again!

p.s. if you don't know what I'm talking about, you probably don't want to know. ;)

Golf Picture

I've gotten some questions about the picture in my header... it was created by our good friends the O'Quinns who are (sort of) like family. They've recently started a new photography business and are crazy creative and talented, as you can see! The picture we had made was specifically for Charlie's birthday invitations and is called an "Unformal Portrait." You can see other examples of their work on the website: http://www.caseyoquinn.com/ or on Carly's blog or Robin's blog!

Wearing Orange...

and praying for Stellan...

The Big Birthday Bash!

Happy Easter!

..."And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. BUT Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep...

...When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written is true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'

...The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gave us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1Cor 15:16-20, 54, 56-67 (emphasis added)

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Enough reminiscing... check out my little baby boy now!

To begin our birthday celebration, we went out for breakfast early this morning before Paul had to go to work. Charlie had his first tastes of a blueberry muffin and a cinnamon roll. And he LOVED it. :) Can't wait to see him go for a whole piece of cake at his party on Saturday.

Happy Birthday to my little man, Charlie.

You are one of the best things that ever happened to your daddy and I. We love you with everything that we are and are so thankful that God gave you to us! Your precious smiles, infectious laugh, independent spirit, and loving hugs are a treat for us every single day! I can't believe how much you have learned in one year. Right now,

• You can crawl fast.
• You point to everything and sometimes I really think you're saying "Look."
• I also think you might be saying "doggie."
• You love to dig through your toy box and pull everything out and are learning to put everything back in, too!
• You understand so much and are really good at communicating what you want with us!
• You have learned the signs for "more" "eat" and "milk" and are just starting to use them.
• You are an early bird... go to bed early, wake up early!
• You are really strong and demonstrate your strength during every diaper change. :)
• You "pretend" you are talking on the phone and "rocking" your baby.
• You love music and will dance to anything with a beat.
• You have taken your first steps and everyday you get a little bit braver with trying to walk on your own. Its a game to you and you laugh hysterically every time you try.
• You play peekaboo all the time and loving hiding behind curtains, sheets, blankets, anything!
• You can clap and wave bye-bye, but only do it when you want.
• You don't like to sleep with a blanket or a stuffed animal.
• You are a great eater and gobble down anything we give you.
• You take two naps a day (one short, one long) and sleep about 11 hours at night. Finally!
• You have the best laugh I've ever heard. When you laugh in public, every turns and laughs with you.
• I think you're going to have a bit of a sweet tooth...

Happy Birthday Charlie!

*The publishing of this post was interrupted by Charlie awaking from his long nap with a big ol' fever!! After a trip to the dr. he is now sleeping again and has a diagnosis of a double ear infection. You'd never know it from the way he is acting! Poor baby... what a way to celebrate your first birthday!*

Reminiscing Part 2

Tomorrow will be all about Charlie... he's a growing boy and I'm so thankful for the little boy that he's becoming. I'm loving every moment and wouldn't trade these days for a thing!!! But for right now I am nostalgic. Thinking about this day one year ago I'm just overwhelmed with memories. I knew I was going in to be induced early early the next morning and had no idea what awaited me. Paul and I spent the day packing, cleaning up the house, and then went out for a BIG dinner at this little Italian place in town. I had a huge portion of eggplant parmesan and spaghetti... and I was feelin' it all night long and the whole next day, ha! We came home and Paul made his famous chocolate chip cookies that everyone ate all day at the hospital and I couldn't have... so mean, right? (Well, apparently I didn't need them... check me out, WHOA!)

The next day we woke up at 4 am, showered, loaded up the car, and drove to the hospital in the dark, Charlie's little carseat ready to go in the backseat.

I really wanted a natural childbirth. I prayed to have a natural childbirth. I didn't want to have an epidural, wanted to go into labor naturally and use all of the pain management techniques we learned in our childbirth classes. When my due date came and went with not even the slightest progression towards labor, I began to pray harder.

Finally, at about a week post due date, my doctor said the amniotic fluid was looking a little low and we needed to induce. Since I had not progressed even a little tiny bit, he warned me that the possibility of a C-section was high. I prayed harder. I asked everyone else to pray.

I walked into the hospital that Wednesday morning ready for my induction, firmly believing the Lord would cause me to dilate and give birth the way I planned. The nurse hooked me up and started pitocin around 6 am. The contractions started. All day long I labored on that pitocin. So many of you were praying with us that day. Several times the doctor came in to check and...nothing. I mean nothing happened. Charlie had not even dropped. The contractions got stronger, I just knew I was dillating. But still nothing. Around 5pm, the doctor came by for what we knew could be the last time. If I was even dillating a tiny bit, he would break my water and felt confident I would progress. If not, I was OR bound.

Sure enough, nothing. I cried. Everyone left the room and I looked at Paul, saying "Why?" I felt like God hadn't been listening at all and that all these prayers had been pointless. I was devastated. I remember so clearly, my sweet husband looked me right in the eye with so much love and just told me that this was our chance to demonstrate faith. This wasn't how we planned it, but God was still in charge here and this was an opportunity for us to trust Him more.

Within about 30 minutes, Charlie was born... wrinkly and red, head full of hair, immediately crying, and peeing into the air! I couldn't have been more relieved, grateful, and in love! As I lay on the operating table with my new baby boy next to me getting cleaned up, I listened to the doctors taking care of him. Something wasn't quite right, they were searching for something. The anesthesiologist told me they were looking at the umbilical cord because it appeared there were only two chambers instead of three. Sometimes this can indicate a problem with his kidneys, but since he had already peed, Charlie appeared to be fine. Later he had an ultrasound done on his kidneys just to make sure, and everything came back normal.

Later I found out that usually the two-chambered umbilical cord (also called SUA for Single Umbillical Artery) is found in an ultrasound earlier in the pregnancy. When its found, the pregnancy is closely monitored thereafter as well as during labor. Labor can be especially stressful on babies with only two chambers, because they're receiving less blood flow. Because they didn't find this on any of my ultrasounds, the doctor wouldn't have known throughout mylabor. Charlie's heart rate would have dropped with every strong contraction and who knows what would have happened... most likely I would have still needed a C-section and possibly an emergency one.

Because Charlie's big ol' head couldn't fit through my pelvic bones, I never dillated or went into heavy labor. His heart rate never dropped... he was protected. All that time, the Lord already knew Charlie. He already knew about the umbilical cord and about what Charlie could and could not handle. Because He created Charlie. He protected us both in a way that I didn't even know how to pray for, and blessed us beyond imagination.

Reminiscing

It is late. I should be in bed. I should be sound asleep by now. But I just got word that some of our best friends just welcomed their new baby boy into the world. I couldn't be more excited and it just got me thinking...

I couldn't have imagined how much my life was going to be changed over this last year... its been almost a whole year. And looking at these pictures, I remember it like it was yesterday. And even while it didn't all happen the way I would have planned... it happened just the way the Lord knew it would. Charlie was born, and our lives were changed forever.

Congratulations to the Jordans on your new baby boy.

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. "
Psalm 139:13-16

Baby Steps

Check out Charlie's newest trick he suprised us with today! Only fitting considering his birthday is less than a week away!!

It wasn't until after I had taken several videos that I realized the camera was set to create files for e-mailing... hence the poor quality... our regular video camera was out of batteries!!! I know, could I be less prepared for this moment or what??

Thus begins a lifetime of walking for Charlie and a couple years of chasing him around for me. Happy April! My favorite month! :)