farewell

It is time to say goodbye to this little bitty, tiny corner of the internets that I've called home for the last--gasp--seven years. What started off as a fun way to share my life on the left coast, turned into a baby book/therapeutic postpartum outlet and scrapbook for our family.

I've loved this space and every little thing I've recorded about my family and the boys (even my occasional over-sharing), but they're growing up and we aren't nearly as interesting just doing LIFE.

I'm actually in the process of transferring the contents of the blog over to a few volumes of over detailed baby books for the boys to look back on when they become parents. I hope they enjoy reading these posts, just as much as I have loved writing them.

So ONWARD and UPWARD, friends! Check us out over on my Instagram, where I will continue to over-share pictures of these two crazy boys.

Halloween 2014

Happy Halloween from the Waelty clan!

Charlie chose to be a sea otter, but he has recently changed his title to a "super sea otter." He might be a bit jealous of his cooler, superhero counterparts. I kinda love his choice. BUT for realz, nothing says "future science nerd" like a sea otter costume.

And Mack didn't really get a choice, but his costume might be my all time favorite ever 

AND--quite possibly--a repeat offender. 

Mack and Cheese for the halloween win!

two wheels

finally.

Four Years: Charlie

Charlie has blossomed into quite a little boy...

He is bright and funny and inquisitive. 

And we love him to pieces!

It is a amazing what a birthday will do for a toddler's mentality. Because he's four...he can dress himself, buckle his own carseat, wipe his own booty, skip naps and he doesn't cry when he falls--because pain DOES NOT = tears (thanks, Wally!)

A little Charlie rundown.

Likes: swimming, gymnastics, playing with friends, crafts, music, telling jokes, the hens, superheroes, listening to stories, working outside with Dad, Mack and "snacks"

Dislikes: broccoli, brussel sprouts, transitions, and bedtime

If this video proves anything, it's that he's a total ham! He loves playing it up for the camera.

And some four year old photos from the last few weeks...

Happy 4th Charlie!

4 year stats...

Weight:  38 pounds (60th %)

Height: 42.5 inches (88th %)

Happy 4th Birthday Charlie!

Four years ago you entered the world screaming AND you haven't stopped yet.

Happy 4th, crazy kid.

Charlie's Hairs--A love affair

Charlie's hairs.

I love his hair.

I am, quite possibly, the only person that loves his hair. 

I'm totally fine with that fact. 

Before I really delve into this post. Allow me show you the evolution of this love affair…

The beginning--15 Months: A sweet little baby mullet

18 Months: A legit mullet

Two: Surfer Hair

2.5: Bowl Cut

 2.75: Never take your kid to Great Clips

Three: I'm never, ever cutting his hair again

Does he get mistaken for a girl? Yes and No. Santa did ask if he'd been a "good little girl?" And the random grocery store clerk will comment on how "cute she is." When it happens, I just correct them and life goes on, no one dies of embarrassment.

To me, Charlie looks like a boy with longish hair. But if you call him a "her." No biggie. I won't care in the slightest. Neither will he, because he's three years old.

If you ask him if he's a boy or a girl. He'll giggle and say "I'm a boy. A growing boy!"

At some point--way later--when he asks to cut his hairs "like daddy's." I'll let him. 

Until then, back off and let me enjoy it.

Three's

God help me.

I don't think I can survive this "phase." Every single flippin' day I walk away from bedtime, wondering who in the hell this child has become and swear he isn't a product of our parenting.

2 was hard. 3 was harder. 3.5 is f*cking OFF THE CHAIN.

It wouldn't be a stretch to call this boy a sociopath, or bi-polar.

The last two months have been rough -- to say the least.

This isn't the normal kid stuff I've dealt with in the past. This isn't a few fits in the grocery store. This is being prepared for battle every minute, of every day. You never know when the switch will flip and when it does? You better be ready.

At home, his mood changes hourly, and I can't keep up. Today, he asked for peanut butter bagel for lunch. I asked him if he wanted it toasted. He said no. I asked again, just to be sure -- insert failing arms and crocodile tears. Why? He wanted it toasted, duh?

At school, he pinched August's cheeks and blew a raspberry in McKinley's face. His reply, "It's okay, Mom…it's okay." NO! It's not okay, kid. Get a flippin clue!

Don't get me wrong, he has fleeting moments of sweetness. But when I say fleeting, I actually mean fleeting -- as in, really brief. And this is actually where I'm really struggling, because why can't the boy just be content? His life is so freakin' great! We love him so much and we tell him that constantly. He KNOWS his good choices make our hearts happy. SO. Why the hell is he acting like this crazy person?

He's impulsive, aggressive and emotional and not the kid I've set out to raise as a contributing member of society.

I'm so disappointed and tired and sad.

I hate you, three's! Save us, please!

Lately.

I was incredibly lucky to have two weeks off for winter break. Of course, I reverted to my old ways of photographing every aspect of life. Here was how we spent our winter break…

We made our first loaf of sourdough bread and it was a success! We also starting brewing our own kombucha. How very earthy of us. Just wait until you hear about the baby chicks I'm slowly convincing Nick to house in our backyard.

Mack grew into a huge child. He surprised himself.

Charlie stayed goofy.

I ordered these postcards from Tiny Prints at 50% off. I LOVE them -- Nick said my heart isn't accurate. I don't even care.

Nick and I travelled to Monterey for a wedding. We spent the afternoon drinking bloody's, slurping oysters and watching the Colts win a nail-biter against the Chiefs. It was blissful.

 We took a dressed up selfie...

 …and danced the night away in celebration of Melisa and Matt's wedding. It was so much fun! Thank you for including us in your special day!

I wrapped up the weekend with a mid-morning run along the coastal trail. Seeing the ocean is always incredible to me, the awe never gets old. It's definitely my happy place and this run was no exception.

Christmas Festivites

We've been doing all the normal stuff to prepare for the holiday, here are the photos/videos to prove it.

Visting Santa on a Train

Visiting the same Santa, on the same train, on a different day. 

Because...why not?

Baking cookies

Decorating cookies

And lastly, the most boring awesome seven minutes you'll ever watch

Preschool Picture Day

School Pictures 2013.
The many faces of Charlie Waelty...

 And, my personal favorite...