The Quotable James Hardin - Part 2

(While playing outside)

James: Can I play in my socks?

Mama: No, I don't want your socks to get dirty.

James: Can I play in my toes?

James: Do you want a soo-vie?

Aunt Steph: A what?

James: Soo-vie

Mama: Smoothie

Aunt Steph: I'm sorry I didn't understand you.

James: I'm sorry I said soo-vie that way.

(James sneezes)

Mama: God Bless you!

(James sneezes again)

Mama: God Bless you!

James: Oh!  I made two God Bless yous!

(About an hour later, James sneezes a third time)

James: Oh!  I made three God Bless yous!

(While helping me making buttermilk pancakes)

James: I don't like buttermilk.  I like white milk.  It is fun to drink.  And to look at.

(While getting his diaper changed)

James: Cookie Monster is angry.

Mama: Why is Cookie Monster Angry?

James: Because I made a stinky.

(I look down and notice that he's wearing Sesame Street diapers, and there's a big picture of Cookie Monster's face on the butt!)

James: Oh, no!  Curious George broke his armpit!

(Talking to Matthew after he returned from a run.  James likes to watch him out the window.)

James: I saw you running really fast, Deda.  Then I looked out and thought I saw you again, but I didn't.

Deda: Oh, did you see someone else running?

James: No, it was just a house.

James: Oh no!  Curious George broke his armpit!

Charlie's Big Day

Charlie's first birthday was filled with things he loves to do.  There was lots of eating

Clockwise from top left: 1)Birthday pancakes at First Watch 2) Picnic lunch at the zoo 3) Where big brother only wanted to eat pretzels 4) Pork, peas, and sweet potato dinner 5) A bedtime snack of some yummy toes

 Lots of playing

A little present opening

James playing with the toy he just gave Charlie while Charlie plays with the wrapping paper

 Some really bad selfies

Our customary birthday family photo 

(ok, maybe this wasn't a favorite of Charlie's, but hopefully some day he'll be happy we took it!)

Lots of smiles

And a nice bedtime story with Deda, James, and his toothbrush 

(the kid LOVES brushing his teeth!)

And then over the weekend, Grandma and Grandpa paid us a visit

And brought Charlie this awesome Little Blue Truck cake

We had such a nice time celebrating Charlie and his first year of life.  Many thanks to our family and friends who wished the little guy a Happy Birthday!  We'll be sure to have a party next year!

Happy Birthday, Charles Norman!

So when I put this together last week, I totally forgot to include Charlie's monthly pics!  So here's version 2 :)

Charlie's First Haircut & A Gift for James

This past Saturday, we decided it was time for Charlie to get rid of his mullet.  His haircut wasn't as emotional for me as James's was (read about that here), but I still teared up a little bit.  He did awesome.  He sat still (for the most part) and only tried to grab the scissors a couple of times!

Here's the before and after:

He has a neck!

 James also got a little trim while we were there.  He's been having his hair cut by the same barber since his very first cut (with the exception of "the incident" when I tried to give him a trim).  His barber (Gary) had a signed baseball in a plastic case that James loved, and Gary would often let James hold onto it while getting his haircut.  They liked to discuss baseball and Charlie Brown.

We told him when we were there on Saturday that we're going to be moving, and that we weren't sure if we'd be back in before leaving town.  After their haircuts, the boys were playing with some toys in the waiting area of the shop, and Gary came over and told James that he had something for him.  He gave him the baseball and handed me a signed baseball card to hang onto for when James is older.  They're both signed by Chuck Harmon, who was the first African American to play for the Cincinnati Reds (you can read more about him here).  Mr. Harmon still lives in Cincinnati and attends Reds games, which is where Gary met him and was given the signed ball and baseball card.

I was really touched by this - the fact that he barely knows James, but knowing that he loves baseball, he gave him a wonderful gift that put a huge smile on his face.  I hope that someday James & I can pay it forward to someone else!

Charlie - 11 months!

Pictures this month were a little difficult, because Charlie would not sit still!  Most of them ended up being a blur, but I did get a few keepers...

This little guy LOVES to climb!

And he's always on the move.  He has permanent bruises on his knees from crawling and he face-plants about once a day when his back end gets going faster than his front end, but that doesn't stop him!  He started standing on his own this month (without holding onto anything), so I fear think he may be walking soon!

PS - Click here to see Charlie's side-by-side monthly photos!