Happy Birthday Grammie

We hope you have an excellent day!

Back to Work

My blog posts will probably decline because....I'm started back to work today.
Here's a pic of me on my way out the door this morning:

That's right...maternity leave is over.  :-(  His grandmothers are keeping him for a couple of weeks so he has a little more time to adjust and I am only working part time so I also have some time to adjust.  So, this morning, Charlie was fast asleep.

He had a good time playing with his Mim today and here are some pictures that she took for me to see what they did during there day.

I know that there can be strong opinions about staying at home vs. working.  And while there are few that are fortunate to have the choice, most of the time it boils down to doing what best suits individual families.  A lot of moms that stay at home choose to make huge sacrifices in order to be able to do so and my hats are off to those mothers.  It's not an easy job to be a SAHM and I don't think I could ever do it.  I love my sweet boy so much but I also enjoy my job.   I'm fortunate that I have a good job and I also love my career. 

I love this cute little boy so much and think day care will be good for him.  I have a positive outlook about going back to work but realistically know it will be hard to be away from him.  I'm sure there will me monumental moments that I will miss like rolling over for the first time but it will make every minute that I'm with him that much sweeter.  And, I couldn't wait to get home and see this sweet boy tonight.  It was pretty cute because when I first walked in, he couldn't take his eyes off me.  Actually, I think both of my boys were excited to see me.

And those sweet moments will be the highlight of my days.

Catch Up

I'm a little behind in some blog posts but it's been busy around the Wheawill house.  Last week, Charlie started sleeping horribly.  Matt and I couldn't figure out why the dramatic change was going on and we certainly weren't happy about it.  I stayed up with him a couple of nights and then Matt had one night up with him as well.  We ended up taking him to the pediatrician and they think it is his reflux again.  I hate this reflux stuff and am hoping that we find a solution quickly and he grows out of it.  Anyways, we increased his medication which took a few days to work but I'm happy to report that we are going on night #3 of getting a 6-7 hour stretch.

I ended up sick with mastitis.  Breastfeeding is a lot of work and I find that it can be very lonely.  It means when we are out that I have to leave the group.  I am not sure that I love it but I'm doing it for the benefit that it provides Charlie.  Anyways, I had fever, chills, aches all over my body.  It was the worst that I've felt in a really long time...maybe ever.  Not to mention that feeding him was painful.  That part took the longest to go away.  I'm still on medicine for it but am feeling much much better.  Matt's sister, Courtney, came over the day that I came down with it and I owe her big time.  She truly was a lifesaver, keeping Charlie for me.  Thanks Courtney! 

(This is an old pic but that day I wasn't up for taking pictures.)
Charlie and I will do something special for you very soon.


Charlie has all kinds of recent developments.  He talks up a storm.  He's holding onto things with a little more purpose behind them.  He sucked his toe with some help from his Aunt Courtney.  He's real into those feet these days.  He laughed for the first time.  It's so much fun and so cute.  I don't have any pictures or video to accompany but will try to get some soon.

We had some company over the last few days.  My mom is here helping out and I have started back to work (I'll do a separate post about that.)  Matt's family dropped by on Saturday to meet Charlie.  We were having a rough morning as Charlie was having some reflux issues which seemed to worsen after they left but minutes prior to getting them, he threw up on me, the couch, and himself.  I think I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get us straight before they got there.  Anyways, I'm glad that they got to meet him.  Here are some pictures with his cousin Katy

and Aunt Lisa.

Feet

This sweet boy

discovered his feet today.  He kept looking at them trying to figure them out and of course, as soon as I got up to get the camera, he stopped.  Anyways, here he is looking at those feet:

(not a great picture, but as good as I could get)

Cute Faces

But I love this one most...

Meeting A New Friend...

We had such a nice night yesterday and I actually got pictures for once.  Charlie's friend Charlotte came into town this week.  We didn't have the opportunity to see them since we were out of town at the beach but managed to squeeze in a short visit last night.  Charlotte is about 3 weeks older than Charlie so they are very close in age.  For me, I enjoyed getting to compare and contrast babies.  Charlie likes to nurse a little more often than Charlotte (imagine that, my big boy is a hungry man all the time!).  Charlotte takes longer to nurse because she is a lady and Charlie is in a hurry afraid he is going to miss the opportunity.  Charlie is very behind on the sleep department which I kind of guessed since he is back to getting up at 2 hour increments...ugh!  (I'm pretty sure there would be a lot more parents with only 1 child if they all slept like Charlie.  I'm going to have to forget about this sleep deprivation before Matt and I can think about having another one so maybe the rest of the world forgets too.)  He and I are having a battle of wills and he is winning at the moment so it's a little bit of a sore subject.

Anyways, Charlotte is super cute.  She was a little tired from her busy week of meeting all kinds of new people which I understand completely.  It's got to be overwhelming for these babies and then we parents go and mess up their schedule (which I'm hoping is Charlie's problem with his non-existent sleep). 

Matt talked to Charlie on the way over about how he shouldn't get nervous when he sees a pretty girl and needs to compliment them and give them cute smiles.  That wasn't hard for Charlie to do because Charlotte is a doll.
First introductions...

Charlie really seemed to listen because he was a perfect gentleman until he decided to lean on Charlotte.  We need to work on teaching him some better moves because he's a little bigger (about 2.5 pounds) than her. 

Charlie is real sorry that he knocked you over, Charlotte.

Future babysitter...

All the children:

(Wells, Kalli, Charlotte and Charlie)

Charlie had a great night and so did Mommy and Daddy.  Thanks for having us over, Nathan.  The single brave guy without children invited this craziness in his home.  :-)  The McGreevy's have a baby girl on the way and we can't wait to get her on the couch for the next get together.  

Charlotte shared her activity mat with Charlie and Kalli played with him.  

Charlotte, we will miss you but hope you will come back to Richmond and visit real soon!

(Photo taken by Kalli)

Our Vacation and Charlie's first trip to the beach

We traveled to the beach with my family for the first time since our family has expanded. 

On our way out of town, we dropped off our first child, Wally, with his grandparents.  They were kind enough to babysit with some help from Matt's sister, Courtney.  I think he wore his welcome out and is busy resting today.

You think he's happy for us to be home?

Before getting on the road, we had a family photo.  Wally was probably too busy getting attention from Grandpa.  :-) 

Wally settled right in and made himself right at home.

Charlie was the best traveler and was wonderful in the car.  I traveled in the back seat with Charlie and that helped with giving him his pacifier when needed.  And for those that know me, sitting in the back seat for that long of a car trip was a little bit of a gamble but I'm happy to report that I did not get car sick.  Thank goodness!

This is the life...

We  got a few minutes in at the beach with Charlie.  He's a little too young for sunscreen and it was just too hot for him anyways.  So, we went out early in the mornings a couple of times and only for a few minutes when we were out. 

Wish we had some cool sunglasses for him.  Next year...

He didn't seem to mind the tiny salt water that I sprinkled on him.  Just a yawn...

The ocean just put him to sleep.

The sun just really wears you out.

We all enjoyed ourselves.  I especially did.  I got some good time on the beach thanks to help from the rest of the family, especially my mom.  We all ate some great seafood. 

We rested and relaxed.  And, of course, everyone got good snuggles and smiles from Charlie. 

We are sad to see vacation end.  Matt goes back to work on Monday and I go back to work in a week.  Reality is setting in.