April

April was a crazy month with Easter, Birthdays, and more, we were going and going all month long. The month started on kind of a bad note when I got the news that my Grandma Anderson had passed away. I was very sad to hear that my grandma had passed, but I know that she is in a much better place and no longer in pain. We had a very nice visitation and funeral service for her, and it was nice to see some family that I don't normal get to see.

Charlie got to have his 2nd Easter in less than a year, and it was a very busy one. Our worship team played at church all weekend, and we enjoyed our first ever Passover Seder. The Seder was really neat, and we had a wonderful time eating delicious food, and worship God. Here are a few pictures from our night.

Charlie was a good helper at Church setting up for the Easter services, here is a picture of him being roadie.

After all the church services were over we went with Nick's family to Wild Life Prairie Park for Easter brunch and a walk around the park. Here are a few pictures from our day. 

Here is Charlie's first Easter basket, he had a lot of fun opening it and it was good practice for his Birthday coming up.

Charlie's 1st Birthday was on the 11th, we spent the day together hanging out with my brother, Charlie's Uncle Bubba. We went to the park and played and had lunch with Daddy and Grandpa. 

 We had a lovely day on Charlie's birthday, and we finished it off by getting some ice cream, and Charlie got his very own cone! He really enjoyed it to.

We had a party for Charlie the saturday after his birthday and it was so fun. He got tons of new toys, and had a great time eating yummy food, and tons of cake!!!

Here are Charlie's 1 year pictures, I can't believe how much he has grown and changed over the last year. He is getting so big, and learning and growing more and more every day!

Charlie started walking ( with his car, he still won't let go and walk) this month also. Here is a little video of him walking with his cart for the first time. 

Charlie had his 1 year Doctors appointment and he did great. He is weighing 22lbs 4oz, and he's 30 1/2in long. Dr. Sureka said he looked really good, and was very impressed with his communication skills. He is saying mama, dada, rara, baba, bobo, yaya, just to name a few. He also is attempting to say some of the words the I say like lunch and shoe. He had to get 4 shots at his appointment, and he did fine that whole day, but slept in an extra 3 hours that next morning. 

Nick and I went for a week long retreat with our church the week after Charlie's birthday. The retreat we went to was called the School of Spiritual Direction with Larry Crabb. If you ever have a chance to read any of his books, or hear him speak definitely do it. Nick and I, although we missed Charlie terribly, had one of the best weeks of our lives. We learned so much for Larry and his team, and had some of the most meaningful and deep conversations with wonderful friends old and new. Here are a few pictures from the week.

Nathan making his famous Coffee

 blacklight dodgeball!

the whole group

Like I said, April was a little crazy, but it was so wonderful being able to celebrate life with friends and family. I thank God everyday for the life he has blessed me with, and I pray that I can continue to glorify him through my life.

March

March started off with some fun, Charlie and I took a trip to Springfield to visit Apple Grandma, and Grams. We had a nice time visiting Apple Grandma, and eating all food in sight. Grams of course spoiled Charlie as usual and gave him some home made strawberry ice cream!

We also had some fun at our friend Anne's baby shower. Charlie was the star of the party dispite his grumpy demeanor that day. Charlie liked touching Anne's belly!

We also took another trip to the park with Megan and Kamden. Every time we go to the park Charlie seems to enjoy it a little more. He is so much more mobile, and able to do so much more at the park that he can really have fun. He likes playing in the mulch and going down the slide the best. 

Charlie and I also had a fun time playing out on our back deck in this unusually nice weather that we have had in March. It was rather windy that day and the sheet we were sitting on kept blowing up around us and Charlie was loving it. Then we decided to make a tent out of the sheet so we sat underneath while the wind lifted the sheet tent, Charlie was laughing and smiling like there was no tomorrow. 

Charlie loves his Ugly Doll, and it's really the first toy that he has shown any affection toward. He sleeps with it in his crib at night, and he loves giving it snuggles. We named it Uggy. He also really enjoys his morning cartoon time. Every morning when he gets up he drinks his bottle and watches PBS Kids cartoons. Our favorite is Word World!

Charlie is now 11 months old, and we are busy planning his 1st birthday. Here are his 11 month pictures, one of which we used for his party invites.