This is why we don't go to "artsy" things.

Jimmy's dialogue (with himself) while watching Cirque du Soleil perform at the Oscars
 
- That guy's gonna hurt himself.
- Yup he's dead
- OW! his back. Ow.
- Yup, first and last performance. He's dead.
- This is stuff that people used to do when... ouch... When they were kids.
- That guy fell! Go back. Go back. Go back. Go back.
- See? I bet it was that guy that hurt his back earlier. He ruined it.
- Why did he do that all of a sudden?
- Why did that guy take his shirt off?
- Why is he doing that like that?
- How is that guy spinning like that?
- Woah.
- Woah woah!
- Eeeeeee.
*sigh of relief*

(end of performance)
(audience applauds)

- I don't get it.

All babies, all the time!

So my family has had a new addition since the last time I posted - I have a new nephew! He was born on February 7th and he is squishy and adorable. My sister (his mom) is quite internet private so, sadly, I can't share any pictures or his name. Let me assure you though, he is the cutest.

Seeing a newborn has brought all the old memories back to me. When I think back to the first month (or four) of Charlie's life, I remember an extremely difficult, extremely exhausting and extremely emotional time.

Sure there was the happiness of meeting my son, and all the joy of loving him, blah blah blah. But holy CRAP it was hard.

But now? Now that I have a moving, opinionated, energetic, needy (awesome, loving and amazing) toddler? The newborn stage seems like a snap! What was I complaining about? They don't move! They sleep all the time! They just eat and lie there like a lump!

Lump - Day 2

I guess that's why second kids seem so much easier? You appreciate their lack of mobility (and lack of a temper).

The other baby that's been getting a lot of attention is Charlie's baby doll.

(from L to R: Brobee, Muno, Charlie, Baby Doll)

This is actually one of my dolls from when I was young. I picked it up at my parent's house, thinking it would be a good toy and teach Charlie to be gentle with his new cousin. He didn't really care for it at first. But then this past week he has become obsessed with it!

He watches the "Baby" episode of Yo Gabba Gabba and sits with his baby. If I put on a different episode, as soon as he realizes it, he brings the baby over to me and shoves it in my face. Like "No no lady. THIS one."

Another new thing of his is that he wants to be picked up and danced with for EVERY song of the show. It's adorable at first, but then get's exhausting (seeing as he's over 30lbs!) We had the genius idea of telling him to dance with his baby instead.


I think he enjoyed himself.

Well... until he almost threw up.

I think I need to take out the Moby...(and other rambling).

...for my cat. Seriously. He's like a needy toddler, always wanting to be picked up. The vet DID say he was teething. So basically I have two teething kids.

This is what I'm dealing with

It could be worse, right? At least he's adorable.

Charlie and I had his two weekly classes yesterday and today. He goes to music class on Fridays and sportball on Saturdays.

Music class is... fun? I suppose. It's good for him because he doesn't have a lot of interaction with kids his age (other than his cousin). But it stresses me out. For about 20 minutes of the class, the kids (and parents) are supposed to be sitting in a circle, listening to music and singing. Charlie does not agree with this lesson plan. He spends about 19 of those minutes either dancing in the middle of the circle (good) or just running around the room (not good).

It wouldn't be stressful if all the other kids were ALSO going crazy, but they're not! They all just.. SIT THERE! What the hell? It's like we're surrounded by calm, perfectly behaved angels and my kid's like the tazmanian devil (such a topical reference, I know).

The only other kid that is just as crazy is Declan, my nephew. So my sister and I are pretty much convinced that all the other adults are quietly judging and pitying us. *sigh* Hopefully they understand that it's hard to make a 17 month and 23 month old do much of anything when they don't want to.

At least they're adorable. Just like the cat.

And now for something completely different: a new video! Charlie is showing off some of his new skills! Bonus is him getting completely spooked by the dogs at the end. He's terrified but it makes me laugh. (Oh and please don't judge the awful mess. I have no excuse... it's just a mess.)

He's been making so many new sounds lately! It's so exciting.

Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday! I plan to celebrate by eating chili and wearing the one NFL shirt I own. Wee!

The oldest trick in the book

I can't believe I fell for it. "Oh, what's that mommy?"

I'm such a chump.

A glimpse at my future

Charlie and I went to Jimmy's cousin's baby shower this past weekend (are you still with me? That was a lot of descriptors.)

There were a few little kids there, but the one closest in age was a 2 year old little girl. She LOVED Charlie. She followed him around saying "Cha-lee!" and would come seek him out if she couldn't find him. He was interested in her for a couple of seconds but then was way more into the balloons and food.

At one point Charlie discovered the closet where all the guests had their coats. He ran in and not even 5 seconds later, the 2 year old came out of NOWHERE and followed him in. I spent the next minute or so trying to get them to come out.

I really didn't think seven minutes in heaven would start THIS early.

Here's Charlie and his Nanny at the shower. He's enjoying a lollipop.

(And really, could you blame the girl? He's in a sweater vest for god's sake.)

It's good to have goals

I saw this today and decided I need to start calling more people "ratfink".
I know I can do this.

(And Gerald, what's up buddy? Why you gotta be like that?)

(Note: I do not know this, or any, Gerald.)

Tell me why I (still) don't like Mondays

I've realized as a stay at home mom, my week is pretty much divided into "days when Jimmy's not home" and "days when Jimmy IS home". I much prefer the latter (see that Jimmy?). Compared to some families, I do really have it easy. He only works until 4 and is typically home by 430. I can't imagine not having my husband home until 6 or 7. The day would seem SO long.

Don't get me wrong, some days I'm having tons of fun with Charlie and I don't even notice when it's getting close to "daddy" time. But there are some days when I'm literally counting down the minutes. On those days, as soon as Jimmy gets home, I just shut right down. Literally. It's like I'm a computer and someone just turns me off - I collapse on the couch and lose the ability to form whole sentences.

So, even though I don't have a "work week", I hate Mondays knowing that Jimmy is going back to work. And Sunday night TV has sucked recently. (Priorities)

Oh wow, I'm annoying

Charlie loves to have pretend phone conversations. No matter if he's using his toy phone, one of our phones, the remote control, deodorant...

It's mostly just grunting, but I think it's adorable. But he'll only keep the conversation going if we say things - preferably questions. So try and see past my annoying babbling and just focus on the cute babby.

My best FB status to date

"Geekiest thought as a parent thus far:
Cranky Charlie, when he's screaming and crying and refusing to sleep, is kind of like a horcrux. Whichever parent is closest to him becomes pissed off, while the other parents is calm and collected. As soon as we switch, the moods switch.
Yup, I just compared my son to an item where a dark wizard hides his soul. Awesome."

Written when Charlie was almost 8 months old.

This status is also making me rethink having a second.

"Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits."

It's 2012! We celebrated the first day of the new year by sleeping. A lot. Charlie had a 2.5 hour nap (NOT his style) which I had as well. Charlie and I bedshare (the split is about 95/5, favouring him. Obviously.) I usually nap with him for his morning nap but now that he's transitioning to one nap... I still nap with him. This means I'm a 30 year old adult.. that naps for a couple of hours in the middle of the day.

It's glorious.

I honestly have no idea if I could ever go back to a job outside of the home where the day didn't allot a portion of the day to sleep.

This is our typical sleeping position.

Note: My strawberry shortcake blankie. Repeat: I AM a 30 year old adult.

Last night was New Years Eve - Jimmy and I celebrated by going out for dinner and a movie. Jimmy's mom, Sharon, is almost always willing to babysit so we get to go to movies a lot. We saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I always like to celebrate the new year with stories of serial killers, rape, and torture.

Oh and this guy.

Tomorrow is my nephew's 5th birthday party. This means Charlie gets to have playtime with his two cousins, and also his cousin's 2 cousins (wait, what?). I'm excited to see how he does with kids he doesn't know. Will he want to wrestle them? Or is that only reserved for cousins/close friends?

Only time will tell.