Charlie Mack's Firsts

Since we are extremely far behind in posting, especially on Charlie's progress, I thought we could do a quick recap of Charlie's firsts.

First Bath

First Outing (outside of Houston) to Washington on the Brazos

 First Party (Jack's 2nd birthday)

 First Easter

First walk to the park

First time sitting in the bumbo seat

First nap in the bumbo seat

First trip to Daddy's fire station on Father's Day.

 First time "driving" a tractor

First time at the farm in Kansas

First time eating cereal

First true road trip to meet great Grandma and great great Gam

First time meeting his great Grandad

First time meeting great Grandma Dixie

First time meeting Pops

First time meeting Gram (another great great grandmother)

First time meeting Ene (great great grandfather)

First 5 generation picture for Charlie

First wrestling match with his brother

First time in the walker

 First time eating veggies

First time in the bounce house

First time taking a bath with his brother

First fishing trip

First Halloween

First time starting to sit unassisted

First pumpkin patch visit

First Jack O'Lanterns

 First deer lease trip

 First time really crawling

First Christmas

First time mowing the yard

 First visit to the Houston Livestock Show

First haircut (before his 1st birthday)

First birthday

First Easter egg hunt he could actually attempt to participate in

First zoo trip

 First time really walking

First watermelon

I know there are lots more firsts to come.  I am OK if time slows down just a little bit!

First Swim Lessons for Jack

For me... this round of swimming lessons for Jack was all about exposure and learning from someone other than momma or daddy.  Here are a few videos of his swimming lessons. 

 

A Kiddo of Few Words

He doesn't say much... but he will use his signs to communicate. 

A Year in Review

   Well it's been over a year since I've last updated and much has happened since then.  Far too much to try and recap in a single post.  But, I will try and provide a synopsis of what has happened since John and I celebrated our fifth anniversary.  Of course, the majority of the post will be about our boys, Jack and Charlie Mack.

1)  John and I celebrated our sixth anniversary!  Woohoo, go us!  John took me to the jewelry store and told me to pick out a new (updated) wedding ring.  It was a GREAT surprise.  My husband is amazing!

2)  I have just completed my sixth year at my elementary school.  I love going to work every day and helping children, but I'm very glad the year has come to an end and I get a summer to relax and be with my boys.

3)  John has transferred to a different fire station and has been there just over a year.  He is much busier and often gets little to no sleep while at work (especially when he rides on the ambulance), but I know he prefers being busy (most of the time) rather than the monotony of being bored while at work.  I get to take the boys up to the fire station every now and again to see their daddy.  They absolutely love being able to play on the fire trucks and have their daddy "drive" the fire trucks with them on his lap.

Now for my favorite subject......OUR BOYS!!!!!!

Jack celebrated his third birthday last April.  I can't believe he is already three.  Where does the time go?  He is running and climbing and just being a very active little boy.  He is talking up and storm and putting together his words and sentences better each day.  A few of the things Jack is now "in to":
  -  Loves a wide array of cartoons.  Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse
     Club House....among others.
  -  Still is crazy about going outside.  Loves helping his daddy mow the lawn or do projects outside.
     Unfortunately, with it being summer and the temps regularly reaching 287 Kelvin, we
     have to wait for the evenings or morning time for our daily adventures.
  -  Loves his trucks!  Especially his construction vehicles.  Hotwheels, "Cars" (i.e. Lightning
     McQueen, Mater), Play Doh and of course, his animals.
  -  His imagination is growing leaps and bounds.  Sometimes I wonder where he gets some of the
     stuff that comes out of his mind (his daddy).  I love it though.
  -  Still a picky eater.  Another gift from daddy.
  -  He is still really shy and timid.  John says he gets it from him.  Once he reaches his comfort zone
     though, he's good to go.
  -  I had wanted to get him into T-ball this year, but John felt he wasn't ready for that just yet. 
     In hind sight, he was probably right.  :( Maybe next year.
  -  He has however, started SWIM LESSONS!!!  He loves his swim lessons at the Y.  He's goes
     four times a week in the evenings.  He is shy at the beginning of the class, but he has a really
     good instructor that is patient and he soon fills right in with his class mates and has a blast.
  -  Not sure what his current measurements are (stats), but he is still small for his age.  It sure does
     feel like he weighs a ton at times though.  
  -  Jack is becoming an amazing older brother to Charlie.  He does a good job of looking out for
     his little brother.  He does have his moments were he isn't quite in the mood to share his toys or
     want Charlie around, but those times seem to be becoming fewer and far between.  He really does
     do a great job with Charlie.  I think he has come to realize that this kid is sticking around for a
     while.
Speaking of Charlie Mack...Naturally Charlie has made the most obvious developments over the past year.  Charlie and Jack have two very distinct personalities.  I'm amazed at how two boys from the same parents can be so different.  While Jack is timid and reserved, Charlie is a dare devil and not afraid of much.  We constantly have to keep any eye on this kid to make sure he doesn't run off a cliff or jump off the edge of a bed.  He really has no fear.  
  -  Charlie is now 14 months old!  He is such a big boy. 
  -  He began to really walk on his own about a month to a month and a half ago.  He was a cruiser
     long before Jack was, but they both started to walk at about the same age.  He's off to the races
     now.  Trying so hard to keep up with his brother.  He's currently working on his running form and
     getting pretty good at it.  Although, his body eventually gets going faster than his little feet can
     keep up with and he ends up belly flopping.
  -  He love wearing his shoes (crocs). 
  -  He is not talking yet, but he tries.  He makes a lot of babble.
  -  He does however have a large word bank of signs.  More, please, milk, water, chicken, dog, play,
     daddy, momma, eat, finished, fruit, deer, yes.  He's also getting good at identifying various body
     parts (feet, hands, nose, ears, hair).  I think he understands more than what he lets on.  He'll make
     a good spy some day.
  -  Charlie loves to smile.  That kid is smiling ALL THE TIME.  It's so great.  He has such a happy
     disposition.
  -  He is probably one of the silliest kids I've ever been around.  He does things that are far beyond
     my understanding, but it is so much fun to see what he'll do next.  He has no problems entertaining
     himself and those around him.  I think we'll be getting a lot of phone calls from his schools as he
     grows up.
  -  Charlie loves being around his older brother.  Playing the same things as Jack, following Jack,
     mimicking Jack is huge.  The good and the not so good.  They seem to try and outdo each other
     is the volume department.  We have to make sure Charlie is asleep before we put Jack down or
     they'll roll deep into the night talking and laughing at each other from their beds.  It's very fun to
     watch and listen too, but not so much at 11:00 at night.
  -  Charlie is a great eater.  Pretty much scoops up everything in front of him.  I'm happy about that.

This is only a very small list of what's been going on over the past year+.  Just want to try and get back up to speed with it all.  I'll leave with some photos:
                                               

                                                 
 

Jack pulling his wagon across the Kansas prairie 

Pretty tired after a long day on the sprayer

Charlie Mack and his great great grandfather.  There is 100 years between these two gentlemen.

Lewis and Clark

Momma and Jack at aunt Holly's wedding

Fishing the surf with daddy

Charlie and cousin Kellen