Clara was 7lbs 6oz, 20 3/4 inches. She didnt like her bath until just a few weeks ago. However, she started sleeping 6 hours a night when we brought her home, and is up to 8-12 hours depending on her growth spurts. She is currently over 16lbs, rolling over (when she feels like it), playing with toys, eating blankets and her fist, and smiling and laughing at anyone around. She is always so happy and calm.
She is definately a cute addition to our family. Charlie is an amazing big brother. He loves to help bathe her, change her diapers, and entertain her. He loves giving me play by plays of what is going on with her in the car, or while I am cooking, and he dances for her at every opportunity.
She is named after my Uncle Clay and Joel's grandma Iola Jane. We love family names, and though we cheated a little on the Clara, we love her name.
On Wednesday we had planned to go see "Tangled" after nap time for the cheapest show of the day, but we had to stay busy during the day. We made Joel his banana cream pie for his birthday, and an apple pie to take to his families house for Thanksgiving on Thursday, but then Charlie and I decided to build a "fork". It was so fun. All three of us, plus Suzie Jo, could fit in. It didn't last very long, though, since Charlie would jump off the couch and collapse the fort. We had a lot of fun building, destroying, rebuilding, and redestroying it. And, yes, we loved the movie. It's the first time Charlie went to a theatre (besides as a newborn or in my belly) and he did pretty good. He had a hard time getting the popcorn out of the bag, and kept dropping stuff on the floor and didnt understand why he couldnt pick up his candy off the floor and eat it, but he enjoyed the movie too.
Finally, on Thursday, we headed north. The weather was teasing us, but it was clear enough for us to make it to my grandma's to see family. We had a great time talking, playing games, and eating yummy food. Charlie crashed on the way back to get ready for the second round. We quickly switched food items at our house and were off to Joel's parents with all of his family for another dinner (luckily we ate at 1 at my grandmas and not until almost 6 at Joel's family, so we didnt suffer too much). We had a great time seeing everyone and enjoyed another great meal. We were home by 8 to play some more and read stories before bed, but Joel and I weren't far behind Charlie with such full bellies.
We got a cute new puppy. Definately Charlie's dog! We started naming off names, since he wanted Mattie or "new puppy" and Suzie stuck. 2 days later, he added the Jo. It's so cute to hear Charlie running around saying "come here Suzie Jo". He goes outside with her, helps clean up after her, helps feed her, and they play so well together. He even walks her, though that may not last too long since she will grow faster than him. She is about 8 weeks old and a pure yellow lab.
I have gone back to work for a few weeks while Joel is waiting for his next job to start up. I was having some serious anxiety about it, along with us both wondering how Charlie would do. He has done great! He helps me get ready and they make me lunch every morning. Then they wave goodbye and close the garage.
Charlie loves taking pictures. He usually gets his eyes or a red picture since he wont turn the camera around. I started holding the camera and letting him take it, then we would look at them together. This was a picture we took out on the deck.
This past Saturday we went up to see some family. Charlie had a blast showing everyone his new puppy and seeing Uncle Clay and Aunt Julie (his favorites!). We played cards with Grandpa Jerry, had breakfast with him, Clay, and Grandma Nancy, saw Grandma's new garden and got some yummy veggies (I made pickles!), and rode on Uncle Erik's new motor cycle (well, I did), and got to go for a walk and play with Aunt Julie. It was a long but fun day!
Busy few weeks! Lots of fun and family. We are enjoying the new fall weather and getting our yard set for winter. Finishing and moving the fence, soon to get the garden plotted out and some manure in it so it will be ready in spring, and getting the dog kennel put up.
Our fun week started off at the water park in West Des Moines. It was our first time there and we loved it. We all got to go on waterslides, lazy river, and the pool. Charlie had so much fun and was so brave. We was jumping in, blowing bubbles in the water, and going under. It was a great afternoon for all of us.
Charlie, my little athlete, loves baseball. He got to play outside a lot, but we started playing with a balloon inside so we didnt have to deal with so many bugs and lost balls. Austin and Cali (my sisters kids) had fun with it too.
Charlie loved his cousin time. They all seemed to get along well, and were all clean every night thanks to fun bubble baths given by grandma. With how hot and sweaty they were getting, it was definately needed.
We had fun with Grandma and Grandpa, too. Lots of playing, readying, and watching cartoons. He even started getting used to Milo (dog). Unfortunately they had to put Maggie (Milo's mom) down our first day there. Charlie didnt really understand why she couldn't come back from the doctor. She was an amazing dog and will truly be missed!
Charlie did pretty good in the car. Lots of movies helped. He doesnt usually get to watch much tv, plus he got to color a lot, snack when he wanted, and lots of (watered down) juice. 
Here is the really tall spinning ride with a basket on each end. Charlie was so mad he couldnt ride it. I told him he was too little and he said "my not little". We just had to distract him and walk away. He is too brave with stuff like that.
We made the mistake of showing him the water, too. He loves water and wouldn't leave the fountain. He was soaked, but dried by the time we got to the car. He would run to the middle, stomp in the puddle, and run out laughing.
Charlie's favorite part was the animals! Here is the 1100+ lb pig. He wouldnt touch it, but he was talking to him and giving him rocks.
The little pigs were more his size. He just ran through the isles and pointed out each one. He wanted to pet everything, too, but we kept him away unless we were told we could let him.
Here is the baby cow that he could pet, and he happily did, about 10 times. He loved the little cow and kept going back. 
Here is Charlie at my in-laws house trying to put on his cousins goggles. He didnt really want them on, but it was so cute to see him try to do it himself. He is such a fun and active kid, and so independent (as long as Joel or I are in the area!).
Charlie loves church, too. He does well in nursery, once he is there. He loves having "Jesus' bread and water", which is the best explaination we have managed so far. He tries to sing, he stays still, and is relatively quiet. It really helps that he sees grandma and grandpa. He loves watching grandpa when its his week to conduct. This is a picture on the way home from church. He loves wearing his hat and glasses like daddy and asked for a picture. But, like daddy, he had already taken his tie off.
On June 23 the adoption was finalized. We got to the court house on time and still had to wait over an hour for our hearing since it was an open bracket time slot. Here is us sitting in the hallway between Charlie's many bathroom breaks. He does well going potty out of the house cause its an adventure, and usually he can use either little toilets or a urinal.
Along with all the other adventures of life with a two year old comes building. Charlie stacks everything, builds forts and ramps, and loves stacking blocks. He also loves these cool blocks I found that are like pre-legos. He makes towers and planes, and when daddy is home he has him make cool stuff like the dragon in the picture. He knows that these blocks and his train sets dont come out until dad is home (since I dont want to sit for hours and play with them), and he cleans up his other toys from the main area so he can really play. It is so fun. He sings the clean up song, along with many others he knows or makes up, and gets the job done.
As of July 12 Charlie and I have been in Iowa for 2 years, and July 11 was a year from when Joel proposed. It has gone so fast and been such a blessing in our lives. I couldnt imagine my life any other way.
So that is our life. Joel is working regular hours for now, but come September the overtime will pick up. His job will be on and off since its a water treatment plant, so I will be subbing when he is home to watch Charlie to make up the difference. It will be nice to get out and in a classroom again, but I will miss my little guy when I am gone.
(Charlie showing his hurt feeling, but this really expresses a lot for me... lol!)
(Joel teaching Charlie to golf on our day at the hitting range)
