Engaged

We got engaged on July 7, 2009 and are so excited. We close on our first home this Friday, July 31, 2009 and will be married in September. Our little family is starting out strong and happy!

Charlie is almost 20 months, born 12-18-07 and is growing and learning so fast. He is so fun, but the 'terrible twos' stage has begun with full out fits. I just hope since he started this early, he will finish early, too. Hmmm..

We live in Des Moines, Iowa. Our new home is in Carlisle, which is just outside Des Moines. It is absolutely beautiful here, and we are so happy.

We are engaged!!!

Joel and I have been going through the process of buying an unfinished house and finishing it before the sale is final, but as of July 28 we will be the proud owners of a beautiful 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home in Carlisle, Iowa. I absolutely love it, even more so since it will be where I start this beautiful family we are creating.

On top of that, Joel proposed on July 7. It was a quiet day here at my current dwelling place, watching "Sandlot" while Charlie took a nap. We curled up on the couch and were talking when he knelt next to the couch. He was smiling and kissing me, but didn't seem too out of the ordinary. Suddenly he put a black box right up next to my face and asked me to marry him. I was thrilled!!! I knew it was coming because of conversations and other events, but it was still special and amazing!!!

So Charlie and his "daddy" and I all went to Idaho 2 days later for Scott's wedding (greatest college friend!) and had a wonderful time seeing friends and going to the sealing. We are hoping ours will be September 5, but there is a pending situation that needs to be attended to before we can fully decide and set the date.

So that is my update. We are happy and healthy and working on our new life. Life is happening, but I wish I could fastforward 2 months, then slow it down. I guess I will just take a deep breath and enjoy the process and the stresses as they come. I am marrying in to a great family, and completing my personal family with Charlie and Joel as we take this next step.

(The photo was taken by the amazing Sallyann while we were in Idaho.)

Catching Up

So I just wrote a post, then lost it... Stink... And I can't figure out how to turn the picture of Charlie, so enjoy. HAHA!

So, the recap. I moved to Des Moines, Iowa in July 2008 and couldn't be happier!!! Charlie is doing great, enjoying daycare while I work 4 days a week as a substitute teacher. I am trying to get a full-time teaching job for next year and if I do I will be buying a house here in town. I am so excited!!! Charlie will be 15 months next week and is just so fun. Such a happy kid!!! He loves to run, he wants to walk up the stairs, not crawl, and he is starting to talk. Mostly he points at everything and says 'what's that', but he says 'rama' for grandma, 'keegy' for kitty, and goes 'mmm' if you mention food at meals. He loves to ride on his rocking horse and car, he loves to talk on the phone, and even has been known to call people on my phone, and he absolutely loves to push his cars around the room.

I am doing great, too. HAPPY! I love my job, I have some great friends, the most amazing son, and I am dating the greatest guy ever!!! Joel Hanson is from here, I met him at church when I first moved here and we have been dating since last fall. We take trips to Missouri to see Olivia a lot, but curl up on the couch most of the time because we are both so tired from work. He comes over and hangs out and plays with Charlie until bed time, then we watch tv and talk until he goes home for bed. He is a carpenter with the greatest family! I love him so much!

I must also document that it is 8:55 am and Charlie is still in his crib. I am working on him sleeping all night in his crib, and through the night. He went to bed at 8:45, only woke up once at 3:30, and is still sleeping soundly. HOORAY!!!

First Tooth

Charlie is almost 8 months old and his first tooth broke through today-- his bottom left. He is getting so big. 21.5pounds, talking and playing a lot, and eating like crazy. We are enjoying being in Iowa. We have several friends, mostly young moms/kids, that we walk, go to the park, play games, and just hang out with. They are mostly friends from church and it's nice to have the added support. Here are a couple new pictures. I know I haven't kept up very well, but once I start working again and getting some money I will be able to afford to get pictures off my camera at Target and they will appear on here.

Here is Charlie eating spaghetti for the first time. He loved it, especially the bread. The other picture is me and Charlie-- he is on the swing at the park, which he loves!

Baby Charlie

So here we are, in Jackson, Mississippi. Charlie was born in Flowood, just down the road, on December 18, 2008. I was induced 2 weeks early, but ended up with an emergency c-section after 3 or so hours of labor anyway. He is such a good baby, and growing so fast. He has slept well since he was born, has stuck his tongue out since before he was born, and smiles and talks almost constantly. I work at a daycare, so I take him with me. He stays down the hall in the baby class most of the day, but I get to see him whenever I want -- and my work allows.
Anyway, so here are some pictures up to now, and I will try to keep this updated -- as his naps allow. He likes to try to type, and he pulls all the papers off the desk around the computer, so it makes it difficult. He is starting to sit by himself now, though, so it's easier to put him down with a toy for at least a few minutes. He is currently 5 months and 2 weeks old, and changing daily. I take lots of pictures, but only get them on to a CD about once a month. If that bothers you, then feel free to buy me a digital camera with a cord to connect to the computer. HAHAHA, just kidding...

(pictures, starting at the top: 1-Charlie on the day after his birthday, about 1 day old; 2-First time I held Charlie, still drugged up, about 1 hour old; 3-Charlie in his portable bed about 4 hours old; 4-Three months old taking a bath, he loves to splash and was showing off his chub to Aunt Christine after being teased for being such a little baby; 5-Four and a half months old sitting in his bumbo while I packed for our Iowa trip. Such a big boy; 6-Four months old in my room while cleaning out clothes he had outgrown (notice the pile in the background). I realized I didn't have many pictures of the 2 of us, so I set the timer and got this one.)