Gestationally challenged

As of yesterday, I am 35 weeks pregnant. I feel like I'm 355 weeks pregnant, but it's all good. I have another ultrasound tomorrow, and I'm excited that Corey's mom is coming along to get a peek at Baby Peter. Really, she's going to have her hands full keeping Charlie Jo under control while I lie still for the scan, but hopefully she'll get a glimpse or two.

Anyway, it's been a quiet week full of sewing curtains and pillows with Joslyne and Zozo plus preparing for the upcoming weekend with Corey's parents. My blogging energy has been sucked into just making it through the day until Corey gets home, but I have big plans for a triumphant return. Until then, I leave you with a photo of the cutest scrawny pigtails ever:


Is it tacky to put Rogaine on Charlie Jo's Christmas wish list?

Helpful Jones

Charlotte is SO helpful. I tried to sweep out the garage and she DEMANDED a turn with the "brush". She even mimed brushing her hair in order to make me understand what she was asking for. She then pushed the broom around in front of her and splayed out the bristles something awful. But there's just something so cute about how little she looks next to that broom...

Just a morning in the park

The fall weather has been so beautiful this week! Joslyne and I couldn't resist taking the girls to the park to play in the leaves.





Pretending to be airplanes...




Too bad CJ was a little too cranky for us to get a similar mommy/daughter shot!

Separated at birth?

Anyone else see a resemblance between little Charlie Jo and the character Frances, from Mercer Mayer's "Little Critter" books?




I think it's the hair and the big eyes.

More of the Halloween fun

The Toddler Tantrum roadies did a sound check before the Halloween gig at the neighborhood pool.



I didn't have any idea there was a such thing as a banana-flavored Tootsie Roll Pop, but CJ sure seemed to love it.



Zozo whipped out some of her best moves at the gig.



I have no idea why we posed completely blocking the pumpkin.



First house on the band's tour!



After the girls played their gigs in Zozo's neighborhood, we packed up the whole crew (including Zozo's grandparents) and headed back to Cannonwood for some pizza before the next stop on the tour.



Backstage, the 'Tantrums ate some grub. True to the band's name, CJ threw a tantrum when I tried to put a bib on her.



After we hit a few houses in Cannonwood, the roadies made an executive decision to get the hair color washed out of the girls' hair before the band split up for the night. We were pleasantly surprised that it came out so easy.



They wouldn't be a good punk band without trashing a hotel room or two. We let them practice on CJ's room, but the most damage they did was rumpling the sheets. Oh well - there's always the reunion tour.

Shower for Peter-in-the-belly

I have been putting off posting about the AWESOME surprise baby shower Erin, Joslyne, and Alicia threw for Baby Peter last weekend for several reasons: (1) I was completely overwhelmed by the amazing surprise (including my parents flying out all the way from California!), (2) I took no photos at the party, and (3) how do you do justice to something so wonderful? Nothing feels adequate. Both Joslyne and Erin wrote some terrific posts about the party and the preparations, but here are some photos off of my mom's camera:







Peter got some killer presents, and the outpouring of love for our little growing family was amazing. Words cannot express how grateful we are for the shower and how thrilled we are that Peter will be born into such a terrific family and group of friends. Thank you!!!

Curtains

I skipped my nap this afternoon (which I usually take while Charlie Jo sleeps) and finished up the valances for the windows in CJ's room. I'm dying to put her bed up on the frame so we can use the head and footboards, but CJ probably needs a little while longer with the mattress and box springs on the floor.

For One Night Only - TODDLER TANTRUM!

For One Night Only - Playing in Franklin Green and Cannonwood - Your Favorite Punk Band - TODDLER TANTRUM!

By popular demand -- the DIAPER DANCE!

For those of you reading on Facebook, click here!

Reading the Halloween Card

Great-Great Aunt Bev and Great-Great Uncle Leo sent Charlie a Halloween card, so Charlie sat and read it to us before bed.

Once upon a time . . .

And then . . .

The end!

Puh-kin!

We carved Charlie's big "puh-kin" tonight. Not this puh-kin, but the big one.

We set up on the floor, and I realized that this could get messy. So, we got her clothes off.

Charlie was not interested in getting all messy, and instead did her happy diaper dance while I carved.

She kept close, and chatted with us while I carved and Niki shot pictures. She played with the puh-kin tools.

Happy Halloween!

CJ and her new room

Despite the dour look on her face, Charlie Jo loves her new room. We took this shot after we hung up the puffy "Charlotte" letters made for CJ by one of NanaB's friends. Now, the box springs are back and there are white bed rails, and some day we will set up the headboard (along with the rest of the bedframe), which will make the height of the letters make more sense. For now, they look a little high. I have the material to make curtains for the windows and we need to recover the chair currently draped in an old sheet, but otherwise CJ's room is just about complete!



Seeing CJ climb up on her bed and curl up with a book is just about the cutest thing ever. She also loves to drag various stuffed animals up there and then throw them off. Oh Charlie...