Family BBQ

This year we were intending on having our bbq on the weekend of the 4th again but unfortunately a bunch of people couldn't make it. So, we moved it to the weekend of the 11th. It turned out to be good because the weather on the fourth was rainy and dreary.

I was very pleased at all the people that came! My grandparents made the trip which was very nice for them to see our home. Jim's mom, sister, aunt and cousin came with her little boy Jackson. My Mom, Dad, Frank, Jesse and Cheryl came. And a lot of my aunts and uncles and cousins made the trip. Even Sofia (Shaun and Sara's newest addition to the Skudler clan) came!

Here are some pictures of the days events:

Jim, Jayke, Charlotte and I

Jayke playing in the pool.

Helping Charlotte play

Charlotte in my arms. She pretty much wanted me or Dad all day.

And her she is with Dad.

My Dad grooving with Jackson's sunglasses on.

Jayke climbing high

Jackson hadn't really noticed Charlotte until Glee held her

Charlotte and Cheryl. I love this picture.

4 Generations. Charlotte, me, my Dad, and my Grandparents

New Photography Website

Ok, so part of the reason I have been behind on posting is because I have been trying to get the new blog site for my photography stuff up and running. After much finagling I am pleased with how it turned out. Check it out at:

http://www.mandymariephotography.com/

2 Month Present

I never did post pictures of Charlotte with her 2 month present but here is a little video of it. It is a fisher price kick and play toy. We looked for one in the store and no one makes anything quite like this any more. We read some reviews and everyone said they wished they had this one isntead of what they had and we happened to find one off of craigslist here in Des Moines so we got it and Charlotte LOVES it!

Goal

In the next few days I am going to try to catch up the blog, this week behind stuff is driving me crazy! So bear with me...here goes.

Mom and Dad's Night Out

Jim and I headed out for a date on Sunday night, July 5th. They were having the fireworks at Jordan Creek Town Center and so we made reservations for BRAVO! and asked Barb to watch Charlotte for us. We had a great time! Dinner was amazing and we certainly took our time and enjoyed ourselves. The fireworks were awesome too!

We ended the night with our 11 week family photo (July 5th, 2009). What a great weekend!

Fireworks!

Charlotte did walk with us to the end of the block to watch the Urbandale fireworks later that evening. She seemed to actually enjoy them! She was at the very least interested in that section of the sky! We hadn't planned on watching because it had been so rainy and icky, but it cleared up shortly before they began, and I am glad we all watched together.

4th of July Parade

The 4th was pretty low key for us this year. The most exciting thing, Charlotte started to sleep THROUGH the night. She had been doing very well, going at least 5-6 hours but as of this weekend she really made the transition to going all night. On Saturday morning she didn't wake up until 9:00!! We were very excited because we didn't wake up either...wow sleep is nice!

After waking we got ready for the Urbandale 4th of July parade. It begins right down the street from us and Emily and Kameron were coming over to head down with us. We got Charlotte decked out in her adorable 4th of July outfit and off we went. She was snoozing by the time we were at the end of the block.

Kameron abslutely loves Charlotte! He used to go to daycare with her and fell in love with her. He had to check on her constantly and it was too cute! "Watching" the parade from the comfort of her stroller.Elvis was stylin'I can' believe this dog was back again! Still the ugliest dog I have ever seen!I just did not understand this parade entry. Urban Liquor...a class act! Look kids...a bottle of Jaiger!Charlotte and I as the parade ended.Charlotte and Daddy getting ready to head home!

Although the day was a bit rainy and kind of dreary we certianly had a good time at the parade!

So Bothered

This story (http://www.kcci.com/news/20050191/detail.html) has been bothering me quite a bit since it came out. After everything we went through with Charlotte on the surface this story could have been talking about us...however with this story the parents truly did harm their baby and turned themselves in. The entire thing makes me sick. The whole time we were trying over and over to explain to the hospital, DHS, and detectives that WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING and it seemed so absurd to us that people would actually harm their baby. Then here it is....hard to believe.

Harder to believe is that his child was taken to the hospital with injuries on multiple occasions. After what we went through I can not believe they were released with the the baby multiple times. I really hope that the Grandfather working for DHS had nothing to do with that, because now look where that adorable boy is at now. It's just so sad.

Pretty Pathetic

Jim got this email from me yesterday at work. It speaks for itself.

From: Davis, Mandy [mailto:davism@wdmcs.org]
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 3:46 PM
To: Davis James (OMG Midwest)
Subject:

I just fell asleep pumping, was gone for over 45 minutes, I woke up and didn't know where I was. I looked at my phone and thought it was 3:30 am and couldn't figure out where in our house I was. Not to mention that no matter how long you leave the pumps on, you don't get any more. You just get raw. I have sleep lines on my chest from where my top was bunched up and my head was slumped over. I am so embarassed.

Our 10 Week Family

Sunday, June 28th.