Last week, Mike and Charlie went to Florida for five days, and we thought that time and space would help her adjust to a post-boob life. It did, kind of, but this process is still really hard for her and me. The day they got back, we both spent a good chunk of time crying. Poor Mike.

Things have gotten a little easier since then, but now she and I are trying to figure out new routines that don’t involve nursing.  Nap-time is one of the biggest challenges.  She’s been waking up at 4:30a.m. everyday, which means she’s ready for a nap at 9:30 or so.  This morning, I tried to get her to sleep on me and then in her crib. Neither worked. She just kept wailing. She finally wore herself out, dropped to the floor, and passed out. Whatever works.

Shawnee

Charlie is so cute. And she is so much fun. We feel unbelievably lucky to to be in her life.

I think the one of Sophie is funny. I guess she wants everyone to know that she’s a street dog no more.  Classy pups like her only poo in front of ritzy 5 star resorts now.

Today I woke up thinking about my Pop-Pop.  I wish he was still here. He would have had so much fun with Charlie Grace.

Here are some pictures from our wonderful Christmas. During the day, we hung out at home, watched football, played at the park, and of course opened presents.  Charlie insisted that we take several breaks while opening presents–there was a lot to open, and she is easily distracted. I liked the pace her little time outs gave the morning. It was an especially laid back Christmas morning.  Later that night, we went to Jungle Bells at the zoo, which was really neat. All the animals were up late, and everything was lit up for the season.

Charlie stole the show today at story time.  She loves the storytellers at the Coronado library. Jeanne and Mike are a British couple, and they pick a different theme each week.  This week was Halloween themed, so they dressed like pirates and sang “one eyed one horned purple pumpkin eater.”  So fun. This afternoon we’re going to the Halloween carnival, and tomorrow Charlie is swapping her bee outfit for a Charlie Brown costume. I think I’m going to try to pull together a Lucy costume of some sort.  Should be more cute pictures to come.  Yeah Halloween!

ps we moved to Coronado. It’s lovely.  Our place is a lot smaller, but it’s just blocks from the beach and library. Yeah!

Shawnee was in the bathroom taking a bath, but she left the door open because Charlie wants to be able to see Mom and Dad whenever possible.

I then saw Charlie do the following: 1) crawl over to the bathroom; 2) push the bathroom door open; 3) stand up next to the bathtub; 4) wiggle her butt until her diaper slid down her legs; 5) pick up her diaper and 6) throw her diaper into the bathtub.

Shawnee was still waking up, so it took her a minute to realize that there was something in the tub, and that the something was a diaper. The looks on her face as she made those realizations were priceless.

Just another day with a precocious 10-month-old.

“Oh shit,” the guy right outside Charlie’s window yelled, “I have to go to Northpark to drop off my glove!”  His friend says, “It’s all good, dude. No worries!”

Their car peels out.  Yippee neighbor dog now barking.  Big dog at other neighbor’s house barking in reply.  Random gate slams.  Baby screaming (not ours, she has a boob in her mouth).  Big dog still barking.  Second gate slams. Big dog excessively barking. Muscle car pulls up out front.  “Vruum, vruuum, vruuum.” Baby still screaming.  Ghetto Bird helicopter overhead. Shinning light in yard.  yippee dog makes another appearance. he’s running loose in the street. big dog replies.

And, scene.

Loud neighborhood, annoying, I know.  But is it annoying enough to move?  Maybe not, but reason number 2 sure is:

Charlie and I took Sophie on a “Run-about” at 5:30 the other morning.  We see two black unmarked vehicles out front of the house several doors down.  ICE agents wearing bullet proof vests are videotaping (dang! The feds have nice equipment–note to self, talk to Mike about setting up some sort of agent to artist hand-me-down program) and taking photographs with a gorgeous big SLR.  A disheveled man is handcuffed out front. I see two women sobbing inside. Sophie naturally runs across the street to investigate. She sniffs an ice agent’s pants, I apologize, and we move on.

Later, I’m listening to NPR and hear that what Sophie, Charlie, and I had walked through might actually have been a METH RING RAID! Of course, after hearing this on the radio, I go google crazy and find this video of “Operation Jackhammer,”  which was shot exactly four doors down from our house.

Holy cow. There used to be the nicest Rastafarian guy that lived in that house. Why did he move?  And who the hell let the meth distributors move in?  How has our neighborhood, which used to be endearing in it’s eclectic, not-so-great-ness somehow de-volve into a place where I no longer feel safe?  It’s sad. Gentrification is lame(it breaks my heart how much my old Chicago neighborhood, Wicker park, changed), but let me tell you, so is the opposite of gentrification–whatever the word for that is, it stinks too.

Tried to buy a house three days later. Didn’t get it.  Anxiously looking.  If you find anything interesting, let us know.

This is what happens when Charlie and Dad fly by themselves.  Remember to always put babies into the overhead compartment wheels first.

Charlie loved the sheep at her great-grandmother’s house.  This was the first weekend she started standing a lot.

Charlie annihilating some watermelon while the entire Lewis clan watched on.

Charlie after a few innings at the Twins game, showing off her smudged face paint.

Charlie showing her cuteness off to Grandma.

Charlie, now a celebrity in Minnesota, on the JumboTron at the Twins game.

Charlie’s (cousins? aunts? cousins once removed?)  I’m not good at that stuff, but here are Charlie’s Dad’s cousins enjoying the game.

Photo with great-Grandma.

Just lounging at the pool.