Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia with my family.  Nilda and Charlie went in on Thursday and I followed on Friday.  It had been a few months since Charlie was there and he had some trouble adjusting at first.  Mommy left him for a few minutes and he did NOT like that.  Cousin Lacey got picked up and he wanted to go too.  Here is a video my Dad took documenting how easily Charlie and Serena took it. 

I'm glad my Dad took this video, so he could finally see what we are talking about.  "Such an easy baby!" they would say.  Dad recognized that he's tough, but nothing phases my mother.  Not even 6:15 am the next morning when Charlie was demanding to go downstairs and sit in the car. 

Things started to get better, however.  We discovered that we like playing the piano. 

We got to hang out in the car with our cousins.

Yet another grandchild discovered the wonder that is Poppop's chair.

The best part was that we left with an awesome new ride that Mommom and Poppop got for him.  Now, when Charlie cruises up to the playground in this thing, there is no question that he is the coolest 17.5-month-old in the neighborhood.  My father says he was impressed that I was able to put this thing together.  I'd be offended that it takes so little to impress him, but the truth is this is very close to my limits on being handy. 

It's not Memorial Day Weekend without a barbecue at Aunt Sheila and Uncle Alan's.  I was trying to make a little cousin laugh by making funny faces at her.  She was fooled but I look over at Charlie and he was cracking up.  Excuse me, I'm going to have to take this. 

Notice how in that video Charlie shows that he knows how to turn on the phone and that he has to hold it up to hear ear to talk.  Yes, Julie, it's a video.  Yes, you can't see it on your ipad.  Yes, I know it's annoying.  No, I don't know how to fix that.  Hey, has my niece or nephew been born yet?  Anyway, here's what else Charlie has learned:

• Charlie has started blowing on his food when it's hot. He blows through his nostrils, but it's a start.   
• Charlie knows how to access all of his favorite shows.  For example, he brings me the remote if he wants to watch The Chica Show, and he stands by the DVD player and grunts if he wants to watch Little Pim.  If you don't  know what either of these shows are, you have been spared. 
• Charlie's vocabulary is expanding. He says "mommy" and "dada" pretty clearly now, and says a pretty mean "socks."  
• We went to a baby dedication for Nilda's cousin, which was very nice, with a lunch afterwards. I wore a suit and Charlie sat on my lap for much of the lunch. I now have to get that suit dry cleaned. 
• His new favorite food is raisins.  Nilda now appreciates how raisins can impact poop.  He's starting to get music class. He knows the songs, claps along and raises his arms when everyone else does.  The teacher says he's "Charlie Unleashed."  

Here Charlie is with Mommy at the Thai restaurant chomping down a chicken curry puff...

...and flirting with the waitress.

We are ready for summer.

But sometimes the desire to go outside overwhelms the need to get out of your pajamas.

Btw, this is the face we make when we get hurt.