Charlie's turkey sleeper. 
The feet say little turkey on them.
*This first one involves a short story. I've been struggling with Charlie turning on his tummy at night to sleep, mainly because he hasn't yet rolled from tummy to back. So, I check on him at night from time to time, and many times have flipped him back to his back. This morning when I first woke up, I found him sleeping on his tummy, but I let him be since I was going to wake him up in 45 minutes anyways. It came time to go and wake him to get ready and he was already waking up, moving around. As I walked in and said good morning as I approached the crib, I watched him flip from tummy to back!!! He seemed a bit shocked at himself as if to say "what did I just do" and Kenny started cheering him on from the living room (he heard me getting excited for Charlie's latest accomplishment)!!
With Mommy at a model train display.
Awww..
In his adorable yellow coat from Norma.
Charlie tries so hard to hold the bottle himself and is successful many times.
Charlie tasting mixed grains cereal...not a favorite.
Green beans...DEFINATELY not a favorite.
First taste carrots...
At the end of the container of carrots...now these he likes!
Mary, Penelope (in the belly) and Charlie!
Charlie hanging out in the high chair.
Isn't he just the cutest? Loved this outfit!
Anniversary Self Portrait
Our favorite card this year...from Charlie (with assistance from Grammy!).
Isn't it the best??!!
Charlie entertaining himself with Spongebob while Mommy and Daddy had dinner!
Charlie and Ava. Ava LOVES Charlie and is sooo sweet to him!
Gwen and Charlie...Gwen is 3 months older than Charlie.
Aunt Barb -- September 2005This is a bit of a tribute to our sweet Aunt Barb who passed away 1 year ago today, very suddenly. Kenny and I miss her so much and know that she is one of those special angels watching over us. We feel like she has taken special care of us this last year, in delivering Charlie to us safely and then again, being with Kenny as he got through surgery after surgery and dealt with the healing process. There have been many times in the last few months I have said a silent "thank you" to Aunt Barb for getting us through another day. When she passed away, Kenny and I asked ourselves alot, "why Aunt Barb?" and that became clear to me in this last year, that our family needed a SPECIAL angel watching over us and Aunt Barb was just that.
She was one of those people that weren't just your aunt, but she was your friend too. She was in the Packard Club with us and that means that we travelled with her alot and we spent a good deal of time with her. Kenny has literally seen all parts of the country with her and made amazing memories with her.
Today, we remember some of the wonderful things and memories about Aunt Barb with the hope that some day, we can tell Charlie all of these great things about his GREAT Aunt.
**She was my short Friedrich family member and could understand what it was like to have a husband that towered over you.
**She always made me feel so welcome with the Friedrichs from day one.
**In the last few years of her life, she lost much of her vision. She never really let it get to her and she learned to live with it so well. Many times, while out at Packard functions, someone had to help her along to see things in the stores, or keep up with the group. At times, she would get left behind and someone would turn around to look for her and there she would be on Gary's arm...he never forgot her. That memory always makes Kenny and I smile.
**She loved this salad dressing that she could only get in Perrysburg and each year that we went there in May, she would go to the grocery store across the street to "stock up" on it and get a few jars of it to use over the next year.
**The last year we were in Perrysburg, she and Megan and I took a walk across the street to find a new CD player for her to listen to her books on CD. We took our time walking and then wandering through the store looking at all kinds of things and then helping her find the perfect CD player...something simple that would do the job -- She never wanted fancy things, a lesson we all could learn from.
**Before Kenny and I got married, she and Kenny's mom used to sit with me and joke that it wasn't too late for me to get out of this crazy family. They actually told me to run! She had a great sense of humor.
**She made beautiful baby blankets. And the wonderful part about that is that her daughter Lauren has continued that tradition and made Charlie a beautiful, soft baby blanket.
**The last time Kenny and I saw her was at our niece's baptism, a few weeks before she passed away. She surprised us by bringing a homemade pumpkin pie, which I'm so happy that I had a slice of that day. Always so good!! And that's another tradition that Lauren has continued --- making yummy pumpkin pies!
**Kenny remembers having wonderful homemade pizza at Aunt Barb's house as a young kid. He said it was fantastic...I wish I could have had some. She was a wonderful cook! There was never a bad meal served at that house.
**She loved babies. She really bonded with our nieces, especially Anna, and we can only hope that she looks down on Charlie often to see what a sweet kid he is. He's missing out on some great love from his Great Aunt Barb. We hope that he has a little part of her in him.
**She was funny...and always could sit and have fun with Kenny. The last time we saw her, I remember watching her and Kenny sitting on the couch together quietly picking on the family and laughing together.
**Kenny remembers mixing up her name with Uncle Jim's. So, he would call her Uncle Barb and him Aunt Jim. Sometimes he still says it that way! But again, they always found it funny!
**She never bragged about things that she did for others. Kenny and I were surprised to learn how much she served others, during the amazing talks that were given at her funeral. We knew that she was active in their church, but never to the extent that we heard that day. A model for many of us to follow.
**She was just one of those quiet, sweet people that made people smile, did nice things for others and didn't expect things in return.
Thank you Aunt Barb, our special angel, for taking care of our family this year! We love and miss you so much!
Charlie on Election Day...He hopes that everyone voted!! 
The Van Camps, wonderful friends in town from Utah. Isn't Kylie the cutest??!!
Our group dinner with the Van Camps. As my mom said that night "it's not everyday we have ALL of our kids together." Brian was like a brother to Ted and I, called our parents Ma and Pa, had a key to our house, etc. while we were in High School together. We always love to see them when they are in town for a visit. HOPEFULLY, some of us will travel to visit them sometime soon!
Charlie eating Barley for the first time.
Thinking about the barley.
"Hmmm, I think the barley might be ok!"
How I found Charlie sleeping on Saturday morning. He flips himself on his belly some times and the funny part of this picture is his butt up in the air. I used to sleep like this!
I was trying to get Charlie in his shoes, but cut them off in this picture. But I couldn't resist his smile here!
Our HANDSOME little man!
He's been reaching for the bottle for weeks now and trying to hold on to it while we feed him. Saturday morning, I showed him the bottle and he grabbed it, so I let him go with it. It's still too heavy for him, but he's TRYING SO HARD to hold it on his own.
Saturday night brought a sleep over with Grandma and Grandpa so Mommy and Daddy could go out to dinner and then celebrate Grandma's birthday on Sunday morning. Here's Charlie and Grandma having some barley for dinner.
Pops, Charlie and Grammy 
The kids all dressed up for Halloween...see Charlie crying because someone was clapping and it scared him! 
Here's another one of the kids
Sweet Sailor Charlie...isn't this outfit adorable??!!
It was a VERY windy day...so Charlie was covered!
Next year Charlie can do this too!
Aren't the girls so cute holding hands?
Some good decorations!
Back at the birthday party, Charlie tried out a jumparoo!
And wasn't so sure about sitting next to Gwen.
She tried to hold his hand to make him feel better.
He doesn't even know I'm staring at him! 
So peaceful
Could he get more comfortable?!
