Time with Charlie

Not that I had anything else going on ... but I recently got to have Charlie all to myself (well sans parents) for a wonderful week.

Jen was flying all over the country (7 schools = 14 flights) checking out possible Universities to teach at. She was fortunate to have so many schools wanting to fly her out to check out their school for her consideration. It was great that she had such a diversity in schools ~ and surprising to her that ones she thought she'd love, she really didn't and ended up falling in love with a last minute consideration. And because she is such an incredible person ~ I'm happy to report she received and accepted her first choice of schools, Salisbury University in Maryland. This will bring her (along with Jeremy and most importantly Charlie) under 3 hours from where we will be living. I am one happy GRAMMY/MOMMIE!  I'm also incredibly proud of her and the work she has done and continues to do.

Anyway...back to Charlie...  Since Jen was gone for the week and Jeremy had to work, Charlie came to stay with Grammy.  I had so much to do but I'm telling you, there is nothing I wouldn't do for this child so everything else took a back seat to my little Smooshy!   She is now almost 8 months old and just getting cuter and cuter.  So much fun and so quick to smile.  She's also becoming very mobile... crawling all over the place.  She actually pulled herself up while she was in the pack and play so I had to take the top bed piece out.   She had a bit of a cold while she was here and as much I hate her being sick I loved that she only wanted to be with Grammy at  times when she was tired.  Speaking of tired, I was worn out!  This is why people my age don't have babies.  Thank goodness for Grampy, Auntie Julz and Uncle Nate taking turns with Charlie, giving me a chance to make dinner, straighten up or just collapse!    Special props to Julz who had Charlie just screaming with laughter.  I wish I had been able to get video.  Charlie and I were sitting on the bed and Julz would run and flip over and off the bed, jump up and say "Ta Da!" and Charlie would just crack up... Julianne is so smitten with this child.  She said "I would do ANYTHING to make her smile." How adorable is that?  And Charlie loves her right back. Here she is giving Auntie Julz baby kisses!
I can't believe that after Christmas I will have almost 3 months till I see her again.  Good thing I will be busy unpacking, learning my way around Virgina and getting settled in.  You can believe one of the first things I'll do will be to set up Skype!

One of the coolest moments of having Charlie here though was her seeing her mommy and daddy when they came in the door after not seeing them for a week.  I've never seen a baby smile so big.  I have to say, I was happy to see them too.  We all had a wonderful evening  ~ we all ended up in my room, more specifically most of them in my bed.  Hanging out, playing with Charlie.... catching up with each other and just having great family time.  I will say, though I think we may need to get a family bed cause there was a point where all 7 of us (not to mention the pups) were on the bed.
The next day we all went to the Cocoa Christmas parade.  Nate was marching with his school band (drums, of course) and so we all braved the cold to cheer him on.  Charlie was excited to see all the bands and cars and horses go by.  Julz got pelted with candy and came home with a big ol bag full.  All in all a successful parade.