Way too much has happened in the last few weeks to blog about it all, but I'm sure everyone just wants to see pictures anyway, so I'll just do a few updates then lots of pictures!
When Charlie was just 2 weeks old, we went down to Auburn for the first home game, plus to see Kurt's granddaddy who had been sick. It definitely was a lot on all of us to travel so far so soon after Charlie was born, but we were brave and tried it, and we survived! Daddy and Jack went to the game while Charlie and I stayed back at Granna and Poppy's house, and then Sunday we hungout with Granny and Granddaddy all day so they could meet and bond with Charlie.
We came back down the next weekend, too, for the LSU game, and again Daddy and Jack went while Charlie and I stayed back at Daddy Mer and Mama Becky's condo since he's still too little to go to a game. We also wanted to come back and see Granddaddy, since he had gotten a whole lot worse, and since he was so sick that Sunday, we decided to come back on Monday and he passed away that night. It was difficult for us all since we were so close to him, but we are grateful he's in a better place now and no longer sick. It was hard to explain all of this to Jack since they were such big buddies, but we tried our best and he seemed to understand it as much as a 3 year old can!
A couple of weeks later we went back down to Auburn for the Arkansas game. We tailgated more for this game, plus Mommy got to go to this one, too, while Granna and Poppy kept Charlie. I was glad to finally get to go to a game, but it was so hot and at 11:00, plus we lost bad, so it wasn't all that great! It was good for just Daddy, Mommy, and Jack to be together, though, since that hadn't happened since Charlie had been born. I know Jack enjoyed having us all to himself again!
That next week, Jack had to have tubes put back in his ears again. The first tubes he got at 18 months hadn't done their job, plus the one in the left ear still hadn't come out, plus was lodged in there, so we had to get that one out then put new ones in both. He did so well and it was much better than the last time since he could understand more what was happening. The nurses said he woke up cracking jokes and making them laugh! I definitely think he was their favorite patient, and of course probably the cutest!
Later that week we went to go see Mimi since she still hadn't met Charlie. She was so glad to finally hold him and talk to him, plus she always loves seeing Jack, too!
Blakely had her birthday party that next weekend and it was a pixie and pirate party, so Jack loved wearing his pirate hat and shirt! He also got to make a sword with paint and glitter, so that was a lot of fun!
A couple of weeks after Blakely's party was Halloween week! The Sunday before, we all went to Old Baker Farm to get pumpkins at their pumpkin patch! We got some awesome orange and green ones, plus got to ride on a hayride to get to them! Besides that, Jack got to ride on a horse, feed a horse, plus climb a giant haystack! We all had a great time! The next night we went to Vulcan to be a part of the Halloween episode of the show "The Iron Bowl Hour." Jack even got a special part in it! He was a hit in his acting debut! Go Jack! We also went to "Boo at the Zoo" that week, plus that Wednesday was Halloween and Jack and Charlie looked awesome! Jack was a skeleton, and Charlie was a sweet little pumpkin! We went trick or treating for a while to get some good candy, then we came back to the house so Daddy and Jack could scare the little kids! We had a great night!
Thanksgiving was very fun-filled and family-filled! We had 5 celebrations in 5 days, so we stayed busy and very full! We had a great time with everyone, though, and are so blessed to have so much family! We actually were so busy we barely had time for any pictures if that is possible!
December 1 was Opelika's Christmas parade, so we definitely wanted to be a part of that. Jack loved seeing all the people and especially loved seeing the marching bands and of course, Santa!
On December 4th, Jack had his tonsils out. A couple of doctors said they were "ginormous" or "golf balls", so we definitely had to get them out. The surgery itself went well, but then later that night he started coughing up a little blood, then over night started throwing up lots of blood, so we had to take him to the ER down at Children's Hospital. They immediately saw he had a blood clot where the surgery was, and had to perform another surgery to fix that. Poor guy had 2 surgeries in just 2 days! They admitted him so they could keep an eye on him overnight, and thank goodness he never threw up any more blood. He had a very hard 10 day recovery, but we are all over that now and he's doing much better! Thank you Lord for getting us through that scary time! It was very hard as a mother seeing him sick like that but hopefully he is so young he won't remember it down the road!
Every Thursday since Charlie was a week old I've taken him to a breastfeeding support group just to bond with other moms and ask any questions I may have. He has done very well nursing and so far has only had to have formula a few times (when I had shingles and when Jack was in the hospital). I get to weigh him every week, and each week he gains very well, and last week he was 15 lbs 12 oz, so the lactation consultant said that's very good since he started at 8 lbs 4 oz at birth. He's getting a little chunky, too, so of course we love that!
He has also starting "cooing" and smiling, and it's the most precious thing! We love seeing a little personality develop! He's sleeping very well during the day and pretty good at night, so life is starting to get somewhat back to normal, whatever normal is! :-)
