Keeping busy (Part 3)

Well, we made it! Tomorrow, Daddy comes home after being gone! One of the key things, of course, was keeping busy. Charley and I are worn down, but we've mostly been happy and distracted. So, without further ado, this is our last post of busy-body-ness:

We visited Grandpa's work a few times, and helped him stay organized by sorting his stash of goodies! Some ended up in the trash can. Mommy rescued them, but Grandpa said it was okay.

Another Grandpa event - Mommy and Grandpa cleaned out the garage while Charley sorted rocks. Wonder where he gets it from?? No, Mommy's not entirely comfortable with this play idea, and yes, it was in the front yard where neighbors saw Charley running around in his pampers. Ugh.

This next section warrants its own introduction. When Mommy's back is against the wall, it's time to get creative and choose between Charley screaming like a banchee or making a huge mess. Since cleaning is soothing to Mommy, she votes for a mess! Hence, fun with rice:

I hate that for some reason, my picture quality wasn't as good on this blog as it has been. Not sure you can appreciate the extent of the mess by looking here.

Another vantage point. Again, the damage is far reaching and unknown, even to today...

I couldn't help but capture this on camera - he moved some rice to the top of his cup by meticulously placing a few pinches of rice at a time. I have to admit I was impressed!

Does this really need a caption? On the other hand, I can come up with several witty things to say...perhaps I should hold a contest to see who can come up with the funniest caption for this pic!

A picture only a mother could really love (and want to frame) - footprints in rice! :)

Imitating Mommy sweeping. He did surprisingly well! That's my boy!

I added this picture because you have to appreciate that this is (well, was) Charley's secret stash that he kept returning to.

Needless to say, we'll be finding and vacuuming rice till Kingdom come. But it really was worth it. He had a blast for about 45 minutes, which provided me with some much needed respite. And, as I said, the cleaning was therapeutic.

One last pic - perhaps my most favorite!

Skyping with Daddy during breakfast!

Since Mike is coming home tomorrow, I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing, *not busy* weekend for once. Let's see what really happens...

Keeping Busy (Part 2)

It's been pretty hectic around here lately! Trips to the beach and museum, clothes shopping, interviews at potential schools, and lots of time at Mimi and Grandpa's! One more week till Daddy gets home! 

Here's what we've been up to this week:

Charley found himself in Mommy's cell phone camera view!

These are a little late, but some pics of Charley at his 1st birthday party!

And today, a visit to the museum! Mommy hadn't been there since the 7th grade, so it was fun to go back and see some of the same displays, but also all of the improvements made! Charley had a great time with his cousins, Penny and Cooper!

Stairs, our favorite pastime!

Only buttons can trump stairs!

Cooper showing Charley how to play steel drums.

Playing tic tac toe with Penny in the playhouse.

Organizing the checkers! Cooper cleaned the "sticky kitchen!" (One of my fave quotes of the day!)

Of course, what's a day downtown without hanging out at the Water Garden? It has it all - water, stairs, and vegetation with lots of dirt!

Hopefully next week's post will have pics of Daddy's homecoming! Stay tuned!

Keeping Busy (Part 1)

So, since Daddy has been gone for a few weeks, Charley and I have had to find things to do to keep us busy. Since there are so many things to post, I'm choosing to break it up into parts. This is what we've been up to so far:

The inspiration for my blog title and lead photo - he *really is* a hurricane!

Shopping at 1/2 Price Books. Mommy and Mimi loaded up, assisted by Charley of course!

When the Texas summers make it unbearable outside, the only solution is to play in Mimi's sprinkler!

Charley and Penny getting in some cousin time. Penny was so sweet to show him how her toys work!

Taking after Mimi and Mommy - getting hooked on Wheel! Mommy gets to shovel food in her face in the meantime...

Lunch with Nina (my M-I-L) at On the Border. Nina came to play for a whole week!

This past weekend was really busy for us. Once again, Mommy and Charley hit the open road by themselves to visit family and friends in San Antonio. The trips left much to be desired, but we managed to survive all the same. Here are some (but not enough) pics of our adventures:

Mommy attempting to distract Charley with a Thomas the Train DVD. It lasted 5 minutes up and 0 minutes back.

We stopped at Inflatable Wonderland to hang out with cousins Owen and Colsten. This is the least blurry pic I managed to take. Charley liked the bouncy house thingys but his favorite thing to do was to open and shut the fort door. Mommy didn't get pics of all the boys together - we could never keep them in the same place at the same time! We also got to hang out at Aunt Peggy and Uncle Eric's for a while.

We got to spend the night with Auntie Sam and Uncle Dax (Godparents) and they were kind enough to get up *early* Saturday morning to hang out for a bit before we left for a birthday party! Charley was too busy studying Uncle Dax's beard to pose for the camera.

At Carter's 4th birthday party! Carter is our Godson, and we've been lucky enough to be able to make all the parties. This year though, Mommy chased Charley around the whole time and didn't get any pics until it was time to leave. Once again, not enough pics. Not even one with Aunt Jennifer (another Godmother). The party was cowboy themed, and Charley's favors were a cowboy hat (that I'm still trying to get good pics of him wearing), a bandana, and a hobo sack filled with goodies (GENIUS!)! Mommy wants to hire Aunt Jennifer to do all of Charley's parties from now on.

Whew, another blog down. We have 5 more days till we get to talk to Daddy, and 11 days till he's home. We still have lots to cross off our list before he gets here! Until next time...

I have to start somewhere...

Well, I've finally jumped on the blog bandwagon! Hopefully I'll be better at this than with my son's baby book! Now that Charley is creeping up on 14 months old, I figure now is as good a time as any to start chronicling his life. I'm sure when I'm dead and gone he'll be relieved I took the time. 

Anyway, I might as well start things off with a few pictures...

Charley Ryan Fulton, born June 24, 2011, at 10:42 am. He was 20 1/2" long and weighed 7 lbs 12 oz.

Proud Grandpa! (And Mimi!)

The next day...

We are lucky enough to have *two* professional photographers in the family! Mike's sister, Misti, did a newborn shoot when Charley was only five days old:

Nina and PawPaw

Misti's kids, Hudson and Jenna

Daddy's Senior Boots!

What a way to ring in your one month birth day anniversary! Too bad Mimi's not having fun...

Napping on Auntie in his favorite position!

Uncle Ryan's turn to shoot! Charley at three months:

Baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Corpus Christi on October 9, 2011

First Halloween = Dalmation puppy costume!

Watching the Steelers with Uncle Ryan. No worries - no indoctrination going on here!

Merry 1st Christmas!

Happy Valentine's Day!

But wait...there's more...

Easter Sunday egg hunt and family time across the street from our house!

Fast forward to summer...

Pool time with Daddy!

And last, but most definitely not least...

 

1st Birthday shoot, curtesy of Uncle Ryan!

Well, that just about does it for today...

When we've all fully recovered from this post, I'll write another one. Until then...