Where was this place when WE were kids?

Charlotte attended her buddy Addison's second birthday party Saturday afternoon. It was held at this cool place that is essentially a big warehouse filled with giant inflatables. There was even a sweet little play area for little ones under age three, which Charlotte adored. She played nonstop for over an hour before it was time to eat pizza (Charlotte loved the little gooey bits of crust we ripped off for her) and cupcakes (poor Charlotte didn't get any of those).

Charlotte loved the rolling donut thing.



I have no idea what to call that toy!



Charlotte was crying because she bonked her head, so our neighbor, Emery, came over to cheer her up.



Emery's dad, Jay, stole a sip while Emery consoled Charlotte.



Charlotte, telling it like it is.

More dancing in the bonus room

This time, in a cute new holiday outfit from Grandma Jo!

Turtleneck for the neck-challenged

I got Charlie Jo a cute little turtleneck onesie before I realized that she doesn't really have much of a neck. Good thing she looks cute in it anyway. I snapped some shots of her while she was dancing around holding on to the gate around the TV. She really loves that for some reason.

I love my Uncle Jerry

I think Uncle Jerry must be keeping tabs on the blog, because this is way too much like Charlotte to be just a coincidence...


I'll have to ask him when I see him on Christmas!

Thigmotaxis

Last night, I was reading a cool book given to Corey 15 years ago by his late Great Aunt Betty (according to the inscription, it was a Christmas present from 1993, when Corey was a senior in high school). It's called The Moon by Whale Light and it's by Diane Ackerman. It contains essays on different animals that once appeared in "The New Yorker" in shorter form. The chapter on penguins is especially neat to read because it contains a description of some time the author spent helping out in a penguin nursery at Sea World.

Ackerman describes how one chick she was caring for nearly fell off a table when Ackerman moved away briefly to grab a fish. She wrote, "My hand caught it. Even though it couldn't stand properly yet, evolution had gifted it with thigmotaxis, an overwhelming drive to press up hard against a parent."

Now I know most of the pictures on the blog are of Charlie Jo standing or playing alone, but we spend a large chunk of the day physically together. I'm either carrying her somewhere, cuddling her, or just serving as a jungle gym as she crawls all over me. Even if she's playing a few feet away, she returns every so often to press up against me in some way. I think she is just like a baby penguin and has the instinct of thigmotaxis.

Thank goodness we're not penguins though. I don't think I could live on an iceberg.

Little Miss Busybody

Every time I turn around, Charlie Jo is getting in to something or other. Most often, it's something naughty. Here is just a sample of what she has gotten in to over the past few days.

Blinds!



High chair seat!



Dishwasher!



Fireplace!



She sure is a curious little booger.

The Lowe down

On the drive home from Michigan on Sunday, we stopped in Ft. Wayne for lunch with our family friends, the Lowes. Sue Lowe and my mom have been friends since they were very young, and our families have kept in touch and visited each other many times over the years. Greg Lowe has many embarrassing home movies of Erin, Jordan and I playing with Greg and Sue's sons, Kevin and Ryan, when we were all going through what can only be called an awkward time in fashion and puberty. Anyway, we were excited to introduce them to little Charlie Jo. Isn't Sue going to be the sweetest grandma someday?

Winding down

Our last night in Michigan, we opened a few early Christmas presents. Charlie Jo got some very cool books, a nifty rolling duck toy, and some ornaments.





Charlie had a great time with her Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Don. We can't wait to see them again in March up in Minnesota!



The dogs had a final pow-wow with Corey on Duke's new bed. The dogs provided a lot of chaos, but they were fun to have around. Thanks for letting us all invade your house, NanaB & Granddad!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

On Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, we threw a baby shower for Corey's sister, Stephanie. We decorated onesies for Baby Sanderson, and I was amazed at everyone's creativity. The baby's room is decorated in the theme of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", so we got this cake:



Barb & Larry's dining room was transformed to party central.



Steph's onesie had a shout out to Don.



Ellie is hoping Baby Sanderson vacations at the Jolli Lodge.



Barb's onesie said "Estate Grown - 2009" on the front, and "Mom & Dad - Special Blend" on the back.



Granny's said "I [heart] Kayla".



Lisa's portrait of Kayla (Steph & Don's dog) was gorgeous.



Suddenly, Baby Sanderson's wardrobe is 14 onesies bigger!

Fun with NanaB

Charlotte's NanaB was a nursery school teacher for over a decade before she decided to go back to school and get her masters in library science and become a children's services librarian. As a result, NanaB knows lots of fun things to do with babies. Charlotte is becoming increasingly interested in the finger plays and songs, and it's hysterical to watch. Over Thanksgiving, NanaB sang her the song "This Old Man" (you know - the one where the old man plays knick knack on your thumb? What exactly IS knick knack, anyway?) and taught Charlotte to touch NanaB's outstretched hand when she sings the line "give a dog a bone". It's so funny to watch, because Charlotte reaches forward ever so gingerly and daintily touches NanaB's hand, and then she grins like "yeah, I know what you want me to do, but I'm not exactly sure why!" Peekaboo is also another beloved game, of course.

Cherry wine tasting with NanaB

NanaB taught us the proper way to drink cherry wine.


First, you sip:


Then you eat a chocolate:


Then you take a second sip:


And then the cherry flavor POPS!

Charlotte's first Thanksgiving

Hey! Is it turkey time yet? HEY! Is anyone listening to me?



Kayla, unaware that she will demoted to the position of "just a dog" in a few short months, had a lovely day.



The parents-to-be enjoyed their last Thanksgiving of peace and quiet.



Charlotte showed her Great Grandfather George P. Stringer how to clap his hands.



Four generations of Stringers, goofing around as usual.



NanaB, Granddad, and their little turkey.



Oh Great Uncle Dave, you're so silly.



The after dinner entertainment involved watching the "Chimpanzee on a Segway" video.



Uncle Dave made the crucial mistake of falling asleep on the living room floor. Corey and Don seized the opportunity to stage a more sordid scene.