Friends Christmas

Each year our NIU friends always get together to celebrate Christmas. It's become quite an event as the many kids have been added to the group. Last year there were 4 kiddos...and 4 pregnant mommies...so this year (had everyone been there), there would have been 8 kiddos.

I'm learning it's hard to remember to take photos and socialize and make sure your baby is happy or that one of the other kids doesn't need something...so this is the only decent photo I got!

Charlie and Camryn...they are less than 24 hours apart. Last Christmas, Kristine (Cam's mom) and I announced our pregnancies at this party...and here are the children that resulted from them. Kristine was due 1 day after me...and here they are...Charlie 1 day older than Camryn.

Is it Wrong?

Is it wrong that I'm just getting around to posting some Christmas photos?? This isn't even really all of them because all of our Christmas celebrations really came after Christmas, into New Years...and I don't even have all the photos yet. But here are some...

Jack and Charlie...or Charwee as Jack says it some times...they really do like each other!

Pops and Charlie having a talk. Charlie seems to be taking good notes.

Charlie playing on Aunt Kathi and Uncle Lloyds floor.

Smiling...probably at Uncle Ted...he's a silly guy.

More to come from the Friedrich side later!

Ready to Welcome 2009

WOW! What a year it has been for our little family. The ups and downs were more than we bargained for, but we made it and all three of us are stronger for it. I can't imagine that in any year in our future, we will encounter more ups and downs, but if we do, we know we can make it through those too.

2009 promises to be a healthier year for us...and happier...who couldn't be happier waking up to little Charlie every day.

We've learned so much in the last year...or maybe rediscovered things we knew already, but forgot in this fast paced busy world we live in. Kenny is good at slowing down and living life at a slower pace...I am not. I'm trying and I will get there. This year we learned what is most important...to slow down and enjoy each other and all of the moments in life. I will work on that in 2009...just like Kenny will work on no hospital visits in 2009! :)

I've recently discovered a song...one that kind of speaks to me and reminds me to slow it down...

It's funny how the simple things in life that mean the most.

Not where you live, what you drive, or the price tag on your clothes.

There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind, this I've come to know.

So if you agree, have a drink with me

Raise your glasses for a toast.

So, to our lovely family and friends who we owe so much to for all of their support these last few months, we raise our glasses to you this new year's eve...THANK YOU!! Happy New Year! May 2009 be the best for you from our little family of three!

6 Months --- Really??!!

Strapped in, ready to eat!

Is our boy really half a year old already??!! Can it be, Kenny and I asked ourselves? Where has the 6 months gone? Charlie wasn't as sad for this day as we were...he was a happy, happy boy today!

Some things are little man loves to do:

** Chew on things...everything. This is a new favorite, a wood rattle from Uncle Ted. He actually kicks with glee when we hand it to him. It must feel good on his gums...we know there are teeth in there ready to come out!

** He graduated to his big boy car seat in Mom's car this month. Boy was he heavy to carry otherwise.

** This also means he gets to ride in the shopping cart seat. And he LOVES to stare at all that is around him. I don't think he paid much attention before.

** He had his first cold/RSV/ear infection. But his medicine smells like my old antibotic for ear infections. I just want to drink it down!

** He barely lets us leave the room at night before he has flipped himself on his belly for the night. Stinker!

** He rolls well to the right from his back...and is getting better at rolling left. And I KNOW he can roll from belly to back because he does it at night...but he doesn't want to during the day. It's easier to cry and have someone come and flip him.

** He's now enjoyed applesauce, bananas and peaches and loved them all.

** He thinks his name is Charlie Brown. We need to stop calling him that.

** He tries really hard to pull himself up to sitting. He's getting there. And if you sit him up, he's working hard at holding it.

** When on his belly, he likes to balance on his tummy and kick and swing his arms...and then stop, push up on his arms and kick some more. Is crawling coming soon??!

** He's really just a joy to be around. He's happy and fun and makes you laugh and he's just the best thing that has happened to Kenny and I. We love him so much!!

Christmas Dinner

As much as we wanted to spend the day with family, it was nice in a way to just be the three of us. We will never get to do that with so much family around...but after such a roller coaster year and especially the last week of illinesses, we enjoyed our day of sleep, gifts, sleep, food, sleep, cuddle time, sleep and more food! A day spent in our pjs! The best! If only we could have seen our whole family too!

Charlie testing peaches for the first time. He always makes this face the first time and then gobbles the whole container. So really, he likes them!

Decked out in his Christmas bib!

Our spaghetti dinner...at Kenny's request. It was yummy! Plus cannoli and cheesecake for dessert!

Christmas Morning!

Charlie has no idea what Christmas is of course, but we do! It was so fun to see what he would do with things. Taste testing them is #1 on the list!

Happy Charlie!

Yummy! We tried to show him how to ripe the paper...but it didn't work!

Inspecting a toy car...for the best play to chew on it!



There is our sweet happy Charlie!

Christmas Day

We ended up cancelling our Christmas Day plans, as we were to have left the house. So, Kenny's parents came to us Christmas morning to see Charlie for his first Christmas. Somehow, I keep missing photo opps with Grandpa and Charlie.

Charlie taste testing some keys.

Charlie and Grandma inspecting a new book about Marley the Dog.