Apple Hill

Charles, Tracy, and I went to Apple Hill earlier this month. We try to go a couple of times each year so that we can satisfy our caramel/chocolate covered apple craving. This time we also bought a box of apples to take care of our baking desires. So far we have made caramel apples and an awesome caramel apple cake.

Hooch and I were exploring at Able's Apples and he decided to sit in the dirt.

He also wanted to drive the bus.

When we were paying for our apples at High Hill, Hooch spotted some mini apples by the register. The lady who was working the register gave him one of the apples and he carried it around all day.

While we were at Bill's Apples Hooch had his picture taken by the flowers.

Also at Bill's Apples he enjoyed playing with the little windmills. Tracy and I had fun making sure he didn't break anything.

We are looking forward to making at least one more trip to Apple Hill this year. We also have a lot of apples left. Tracy is thinking about making an apple pie and possibly another caramel apple cake.

Sneak Peak

Chad, Charles and I are going to be welcoming a baby boy in March. We are even more pleased to announce that he looks very healthy and is measuring right around where he should be. No official name at this time. Chad says it is my turn to pick the name. So we'll see what I come up with.

Our Favorite Person

Charles and I would like to say happy birthday to the Hooch's Dad. We are so lucky to have him. We love you and hope you have a great birthday.

*These pictures are a little old but they are the only ones I found on my computer at work. They do help to highlight why he is our favorite. Plus he makes a great cat house out of Legos.

In the middle

Do you ever find yourself in the middle? I was there often growing up as the third of six kids (3rd of 5 sisters). Anyway, I am feeling that theme more than ever at my home. You would think I would be used to it but it is killing me. First is poor Chad. The bar exam has been studied for and taken but the results aren't in until November. So he waits as he is told he is over-qualified for Nordstroms but under-qualified for a "real" job (need to have that passing bar score). Charles is not a baby but I don't think he is a little boy yet. Sometimes I see him riding a scooter by himself or starting to drink from a cup and I think he is officially a little boy. But then I see him sleeping in his crib or running after his dad and he looks so little and I know he is still a baby boy. Now me. I'm 15 weeks along with baby two and I am definitely showing. Some regular clothes fit, although maybe not well but maternity stuff is big (even though at the end I grow out of most of them). Then Sunday I was sure I felt the baby move twice, but alas no weird fish feeling Monday or today yet. The funny thing is soon Chad will be working, Charles will officially be a little boy (or I will officially accept it) and I will be very large and wish this baby didn't move so much as I am trying to sleep and then I will miss being in the middle.

Baby Stats

Recently, Charles went to the doctor for his 2 year appointment. Besides crying throughout the whole appointment (happy as a clam until he enters the exam room and then happy when we walk out), he did pretty well. He received good comments on everything, especially how strong he is when we are trying to hold him down for the ear inspection (otoscopy). He is 35 1/2 inches tall (its an inch taller than average which I guess it a lot), although I'm sure his second cousin Nolan has him beat. He weighs 26 pounds, which I'm told is a good, lean weight. He asked about speech and I wished Charles would talk for him instead of cry because he talks a ton. All and all he is a healthy 2 year-old boy and we are so proud.


The other baby is growing nicely, we assume. We saw him or her about 3 weeks ago and the feet were moving. The heart beat seemed good too and we hope to hear that heart beat next week when I go in at 13 weeks. He or she is not really making much of an appearance in the stomach area unless you see me at the end of the day after dinner. We can't wait until October to see more of him or her or wait until March 7th for that matter to see all of him or her.

Two Great Years

Charles didn't stop growing up, even though I asked him to stop, and now today he turned two. We had a nice family party yesterday and today was more quiet but I think we still made it fun (it helped that we have a lot of new toys to play with).
Charles 2 years ago:

Charles 1 years ago:

Yesterday at his Mickey Mouse party:

Thanks to family and friends who showered him with presents. We have already tried everything out and Charles has given everything his stamp of approval.

Charles chose pudding over cake (no surprise) and so we had pudding cups. They may be messier (see Cale below) than cupcakes so we might have to switch back.

Charles this morning on his actual birthday:

Happy Birthday Charles!

Bonus-
Cale a year ago and yesterday:

Visiting Grammy and Grandpa

Last Friday we went to Marine World. We decided to leave a little early so we could stop by the cemetery in Vallejo where Grammy and Grandpa are buried. Hooch wasn't too sure about it at first but after a few minutes didn't really mind.

Here is me and Hooch.

Here is Hooch visiting with Grammy.

He held onto that little flower for most of the day.

Here he is visiting with Grandpa.