Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

What a beautiful sight to behold with the glistening snow falling this morning. We couldn't let the day go by without Charlie experiencing it first hand. Living in Mississippi, who knows if this will happen again before he's 6! As we continue through Advent, may each of your lives be filled with the love, laughter and joy only a child can bring.............

Blessings to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Blessed Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

Just settling in from a long day of fun with our families........the beginning of memories created for Charlie! We are thankful for the gift of our precious son Charles Jackson.

Love to all,

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Blessed Thanksgiving to all!

Blessed Thanksgiving to all!

My First Halloween

Here are some pics from Halloween. Charlie wasn't much for not being able to move around and didn't care for the headpiece but he still is absolutely precious!!!!!!! He enjoyed playing with the candy in the wrapper - the crinkling noise was so funny to him. Next year he'll be all into the candy.

Preparing for his first Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love to all,

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we were headed to the beach this week but Charlie is having tubes put in on Monday so we'll be spending Halloween here. Not sure how long he'll last in his costume since he's such an active boy - he's into everything these days...........especially the things that aren't for him to play with. The front and side of his crib are missing the varnish and wood where he knaws on it constantly. He's walking all around his bed and the play yard and wants to pull up on everything.............baby proofing the house is no small chore.
We went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday at church and he didn't want much of it - I managed to get a few pictures of him - he was more interested in the grass and not the pumpkins. Enjoy our precious little boy - we certainly are!!!!!!!
Lastly, his birth certificates are here - YEA!!!!!! Now we can proceed with getting his social security card.
Love to all,
Charles, Julie and Charlie

Happy Days Are Here Again..................

Well after another sinus infection Charlie is on his way back to being himself. We still can't get rid of the congestion but it's not in his nose so what are we to do.....makes it a little hard for him to eat but this too shall pass. These days he's all over the place - I was in the kitchen the other night and Charles was in his office when I looked over and not only was Charlie off the blanket - he had managed to carry the activity gym with him and had it lifted OVER his head while half of him was under the recliner. When I looked at him, he had amazed himself as well and had that mischevious look on his face....it only lasted a second so there was no time to get a snapshot of it. I'm sure he'll do it again soon. Diaper changing is another opportunity for him to show he is in control. He will not stay still for a second and you have to make a game out of it with him when holding him down to get him changed....talk about a strong willed little boy!!!!! Next week it's back to our normal routine of work after a few weeks of not having to wake him up in the morning to get him ready to go to Ms. Kandice's. He's still sleeping 11-12 hours every night so this will be another change and hopefully it won't disturb his napping routine very much. He's such an easy going baby and adding SO much love and laughter to our lives. I never thought I could love this way again but God has opened me up to a new world and for that I am grateful. Here are a few more snapshots of our precious Charlie....growing up so fast and teaching us the wonders of little children.

Take care and love to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Here They Are..................

I'm a little frustrated with the blog - have attempted to upload these all morning with no text in post. Let's see if this is the key...................................Now they will probably post 6 times.................

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

It should have worked and could have worked and it would have worked - but it didn't. Here are the pics that shoulda been with the Saturday posting that was lost in the air until today. He's such a little boy now - no more baby............sniff, sniff. As Renee says, not mad about it, just sad he's growing up SO fast!
Love to all! Charles, Julie and Charlie

Me In My Pool....................

Here a few pics of Charlie as he explored his pool for the first time. He loved it!

Love to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Slow Down - You Move To Fast............................

We have to make this moment last. So, kickin' off your cobble shoes, skippin' around and feeling groovy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know how the lyrics go. These days Charlie is all over the place.....wanting so much to sit on his own and explore the world he sees in front of him. We've seemed to work out all the kinks with the reflux and allergies.................thank goodness for Prevacid and Zyrtec. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not really an advocate of meds unless absolutely necessary. In Charlie's case, I'm perfectly fine with something that makes him feel better. Since our last visit with Dr. S., Charlie weighs 16 pounds and is 26 inches long. Yes that's right, 6 inches growth since he was born. Growing in leaps and bounds and bringing much love, laughter, joy and giggles to the Crump household.

Here's the deal - Charlie is at the in between stage where he can't quit sit on his on for long periods of time by himself and DOES NOT want to be confined to a swing or bouncy set. Our family room looks like an isle out of Babies R' Us with all the bright-colored activity centers lined around the room and the basket full of toys. It won't be long before he's getting into all of it by himself. He found his feet and tongue in the last 2 weeks and loves to talk loudly to you. Putting his feet in his mouth while rocking back and forth is one of his favorite things to do and most of all he loves it when you are in the floor with him.

The next thing on our agenda in a couple of weeks is to finalize here in Mississippi - all documents are in order and we are waiting for the Bar Convention to be over so a judge is in town to give his "stamp of approval" and we are home free. This is a little quicker than most but persistence has been my main priority. We look forward to establishing a "Family Day" on this day with each year bringing something fun and exciting to do.....just for the 3 of us. Something incredible to celebrate the life of Charles Jackson and to relish in the glory of God's wondrous works! So church is another thing - can't quit get in a routine of going unless it disturbs Charlie's schedule so I opt not to throw him off and we have church at home. I think within the next month his naps will level out and 8AM service will be the best for us. Not an excuse - just a fact of life at this present time.

Thanks to the wonderful gift from my dear friends, Charlie will be having his pictures made at Marion Silber in early August. They do such an incredible job and we are fortunate to have such a meaningful relationship with them - looking forward to watching them make Charlie laugh. "Laughter is like a good medicine". Proverbs

Here are some pics from the past 2 weeks - no pictures showing the back side because he's bald as an Eagle - Aunt LeLe commented about his "comb over" the other night when they were here. Thanks Matt for getting me a new computer, up and running - don't know what we'd do without friends.

Enjoy his smiles and when looking at them imagine his sweet, little laughter. He is a love and truly a Gracious Gift From God! Love to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Not Feeling So Spunky................

There are "first times" for lots of wonderful things in the development and growth of our precious Charlie. Not this one though - I woke up sick on Friday and ended up seeing the doctor that afternoon - sinus infection, ear infections and all around feeling crummy. After a Rocephin shot and an oral antibiotic for 10 days, I am well on my way to recovery. But, as I drove up to the the doctor's office for my appointment, daddy called to say Charlie had awakened from his nap with a nose full of green goop. While I was at Dr. S's office, I told her about it - she said to call her if I thought he needed to come in for her to see. Got home - sure enough he had 102.4 temp and wasn't feeling so spunky himself. I could hear the congestion although daddy had already cleaned out his nose. So, I called Dr. S and she said to bring him in on Saturday morning. I told Charlie I figured out his little scheme - you see, since he had just seen her the week before for his reflux issues, he decided her really likes her and wanted to see her again and not have to wait til his June 30th, 4-month check-up. Bet after that visit he won't be so anxious to go back after 3 shots. Now we are back home on 10 days of the "pink" medicine, fortunately no ear infections for him, just allergies and sinus. He's had no fever since Saturday but I can still hear the congestion so you can bet at least one bottle a day is going to come up as he coughs and gags. Godmother Jennifer felt so bad for me since Charlie was not feeling well and I quickly remided her I had been through alot worse than this before. So as Charlie I snuggled Saturday and Sunday trying to make each other feel better, I found comfort in popsicles daddy brought home and so did Charlie.......I'm not sure whether he liked the coldness or the flavor but he loved it and here are some pics to show you just how much. Reminds me of the day my great niece Hannah, who is now 11 years old, was running around in her diaper and had eaten a red popsicle - stains all over her from chin to belly to the top of her diaper and what a cute sight to see. The other photos are of Charlie trying to tell me just how hungry he is - so hungry he could eat his play gym. Father's Day was wonderful - just having reason to celebrate it made it extra special - since we felt bad, daddy just allowed us to "hang out" and have a lazy day at home. I did "country cookin'" on Sunday - a treat we don't have too much anymore. Our final post place adoption visit was Friday and we are glad to be able to move forward with finalization in Mississippi. Just a few more "items" to take care of and prayerfully we will have a court date the first of July....likely after the 4th. Thanks for checking in on us and please keep Godmother Jen's Aunt Julie in your prayers for strength and comfort as she recovers from a broken hip, surgery on Monday and some complications. Keep Jen close in prayer too for sanity - she's got a lot on her right now and needs prayers for guidance.

Love to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

I Am Richly Blessed - Are You?????

It's been busy around the Crump Household! Charlie has his first unplanned visit to the pediatrician last week...........................reflux!!!!! I know what you are saying, it's no big deal and I realize it is easily remedied, however; my mind continues to play tricks on me when I see an unfinished bottle. Those are unused calories and Nelson HAD to have every calorie. I suppose it's just my subconscious not ever letting me forget Nelson - that's the way I like to think of it. Zantac and a little cereal seem to be helping Charlie but after a weekend of still throwing up some - we have backed down his bottle to 5 ounces. You'd never know he had it because he is not screaming like lil miss Landry used to do - he's just a happy go lucky kinda guy! He has now determined the most comfortable way to eat is looking to the far left side so I let him lead the way. Good news is when we saw Dr. S last week he weighted 14 pounds 8 ounces and she said he's growing beautifully - sweet music to my ears! He's literally all over the place - put him on the floor and walk in the next room, come back and he's kicking on the frech doors. Something Charles and I had not experienced with Nelson and boy howdy is it different! When I told her he sleeps on his stomach because everytime you turn him on his back, he flips right over again, she walked from the room with a smile on her face, holding her hand in the air saying, "I don't hear you. I'm not listening to you." Thanks for making me laugh Dr. S.

Renee reminded me the other day when I was taking Charlie to spend the night at GranJan's, just how lucky I am to have family here to do things for me - he spent the night and mom watched him so I could get some much needed therapy and my yard could get some TLC. Mission accomplished and he was the perfect angel for her - although at 4:30AM he wound up in her bed and from what I have been told, GranJan and Charlie then slept chest to chest for another hour. I am so thankful he feels safe and comforted with others. Another gracious soul is my mother-in-law, MeeMaw, who arrived promptly at 6:15AM on Sunday morning to watch Charlie while I did a couple of presentations for work. Another someone special who rescued me from the anxiety of having to think about awaking at 4AM with Charles out of town and dealing with getting myself dressed and then Charlie dressed, fed and packed up to go with me to work. Done it before and will have to do it again I know but this time I was rescued. Thanks Renee for reminding me about the little things in life really being the biggest.

So Friday the 13th is the magic day - we have our FINAL post placement adoption visit and I can't wait. We are fortunate to have become friends with our initial social worker, Kathy Burk, who because of MS. law changes last year, was not able to continue as our social worker simply for the fact that she does not work for an adoption agency - never mind the fact that she heads up the Women and Infant's program for the State Health Dept. and she LOVES placing children with families because she knows the love it brings to all involved and she enjoys seeing the Lord at work and assisting him. Our new social worker, Angela Griffin, is just as much a delight and we have enjoyed getting to know her and her getting to know Charlie - you can see in her eyes too the fulfillment she gets from seeing families placed with precious children. After this visit, the next step is to get "termination" from A Act of Love in Utah and then proceed to the Rankin County courts for FINALIZATION! Once again, Charles and I are so fortunate to have someone who cares so much about us as our liason here through this process. She has listened to countless rambling voicemails, much crying and emotional upset throughout the 2 year process, and most importantly, she has guided me with a knowledge and understanding of so much I am a better person having gone through it with her. Thanks Jenny!

All to say, our lives are fulfilled in a way no one will ever be able to fathom unless you have been through exeactly what we have experienced. We are becoming whole again and it feels so good!

Love to all and thanks for making us richly blessed in ways you don't even know.

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin..............

Happy Mother's Day to me! Mother's Day morning as Charles and I were getting dressed for church and the "big day", Charlie was playing on his activity mat - I came out to check on him and WALLAH! He had rolled over off the mat and onto the carpet. OKAY - so we missed it and thought it wouldn't happen again.....just a fluke, right? NOT! As we were getting him dressed in his gorgeous Baptismal gown, he tried hard to do it again but his feet kept geting caught in the slip. By the way, my most special Mother's Day gift was him being able to wear the gown but Renee, as always, showered the day with other special touches - she had already monogrammed Charlie's name and Baptism date on the slip along side Landry's name! It warmed my heart and was a glorious way to begin the day. The day was in fact glorious and Charlie was such the perfect little boy......all throughout the day even with no nap. I experienced one of my closest moments to Christ and will write about it this week. So it's time to head back to work this week - with mixed emotions as we adjust to new things in our lives. It's not a fear of leaving him, it's just being without him. I want to soak him all up each and every day. Fortunately I have a job where I am home 2 days of the week so I have to keep telling myself it won't be so bad. I'm thrilled with Miss Kandice who will be keeping him and I know the first week will be an adjustment for all of us so I ask you to keep us close in prayer. He will be fine and likely won't even know I am not there - I just don't want to miss one whimper or smile and now that he has so many expressions and sounds he makes, it is going to be tough. The pictures I am posting were taken last week. He was playing like a wild man on his activity mat and I was in the laundry room folding clothes. Not 5 minutes later, I turned the corner and he was all tuckerd out. I thought it was a precious moment to capture so I got on the floor to take pictures of him. As I moved to the other side to take pictures of his backside, I got down on the floor and the next thing I knew he was staring me in the face. He's got it down pat from back to tummy but gets frustrated when trying to get back over - it's coming though! Last week we had to remove the bumper pads from the bed and lower the mattress - I must say, it's looks so "empty" in his room now. No more of the cute little baby bed - just a shell of wood with an angel sleeping in it. I'll take that anyday. Enjoy and love, peace and prayers to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Charlie's Christening

Hey everyone! It's me, Renee, again :). I knew Julie was going to be beat after today so I am posting a little video of Charlie's Christening photos that I took after we got him dressed. I was thrilled to see him in Landry's gown. It made this perfect day even more special to see him presented to the Lord in something that means so much to me. In the first photo, if you look fast, you will see his name and baptismal date hand embroidered into the slip. I hope you all enjoy!

Surprise.....................

Okay! So we've heard enough about the posts not being more frequent. We will try to get better but are having such fun with Charlie that the blog has taken a back seat. It's just that I have been trying to soak up all of Charlie I can get with my return to work being right around the corner - just one more week. Goodness knows, it does not seem like it has been 3 months but it's back to the "real" world sooner than I'd like.

Daddy said we could sell the house and move into a trailer and mommy could quit her job to stay home with me. Mommy says it's sounds quite tempting, but we'll see how it works out when I start staying with Miss Candace next week. I'm not worried about me - mommy is the one who says she will miss me SO much she will cry......not all the time but until we adjust to the new routine.

I saw Dr. S last week and she says I'm growing "right on target". I'm weighing 12 pounds 13 ounces and I grew another inch since last visit. I had to get 3 shots and this is the first time mommy has ever seen me cry. She tried so hard to comfort me but those stinkin' things hurt! Daddy almost had to leave the room because it hurt him to watch it. I didn't feel so spiffy for a couple of days and actually decided that my bottles were of no interest to me on the day I got my shots - I didn't eat for 13 hours and it had my mommy worried. The next day I picked right up where I let off and all has been good since then. I love to play on my activity mat and kick around - recently I have started trying to grab the animals and bring them towards my mouth although my hand-to-eye coordination is still just a little "off", although I have no problem getting my hands, fingers and thumb in my mouth when I want. My thumb is still longer than the inside of my mouth so I almost choke on my own thumb - so for now the side of it will do. Mommy has bought me several different pacifiers but I really don't care for any of them. My favorite thing to do is laugh and "talk" when you talk to me. I will talk back and yesterday mommy and me had some "big" conversations. Mom says it's these times that you never get back! I am "blowing raspberries" and think it's the coolest thing - mommy and daddy sure do look funny doing it though!

I've got a big day coming up on Sunday - my first trip to church and I am getting baptized! It's also Mother's Day and mom says it will be doubly special for her. I'm the BEST Mother's Day gift anyone could ever give her - a long awaited answer to prayers. The baptismal gown I will be wearing is so sentimental to mommy. You see, Landry's mommy made it for her sister Sophie but she never got to wear it. Lil' Miss Landry, the future Mrs. Crump, wore it when she was baptized in January on my big brother Nelson's birthday and now it's my turn and I get to wear it. It will be a glorious day as two mommies celebrate the life of their children on Mother's Day, Landry and Charlie, never forgetting the lives of their first born children, Sophie and Nelson, who are no watching over all of us.

The pictures today are from a recent visit from the Georgia Crump's - it was the first time they saw me live and in person, of course, they think I am just adorable! They came for MeeMaw's birthday and we had a family get together on Saturday at my house - I was such a good boy but daddy said no hotdogs yet for me - next year for sure!

Thanks for checking in on us and we'll update again after I get baptized! Love to all!

Charles, Julie and Charlie

Daddy Says Lefty..........................

Things are finally getting into a routine in the Crump Household. We've had a couple of weeks of "adjusting" as Charlie has decided he no longer likes to nap in the morning.........maybe 30-40 minutes tops! Then he turns around and takes a 3 hour nap so as the book says, "they will sleep when they need to sleep". I'm good with that but my OCD tendencies want it always to be at the same time so I can plan.........guess God is showing us to slow down and let him work. We humans try so hard to control it all and never relish in the moment. Charlie is enjoying all his books he has gotten..........we read 2-3 a day. He would rather just look at the windows across the back of the house.......such simple things in life give him such pleasure. He's "talking" alot now and loves seeing himself in the mirror during diaper changes with the ceiling fan going round and round in the top of it. He just laughs and coos and it makes my heart go flutter, flutter. As Chaplain R always told us, "Laughter is like a good medicine!" Proverbs. How true it is! Since our last post, at 1 month Charlie was 10.5 pounds and 23 1/2 inches long. I'm betting on 12.5 pouns and 24 1/2 inches long at our 2 month check-up - and yes, the first shots.
The pics I have chosen to post are ones we have taken in the evening over the past 2 weeks with Charlie outside by the water pond. He can't see the fish yet but absolutely loves the sound of the waterfall - he will sit and look around, laugh and make all kinds of expressions - a delight to see. As you can see, he throwing his left hand most of the time and daddy says he's going to be a "lefty" pitcher and play for Mississippi State. Personally, I think he's smarter than that. At any rate, Charles is already dreaming of the day when he's playing ball with his son - something he never had the opportunity to do before. As with our new son, healing is in the works. I never thought I would be able to love again like before - only this time it's much deeper.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and being a part of our journey. I promise the posts will become more regular.
Love to all,
Charles, Julie and Charlie

Blessed Easter!

What a glorious day for a celebration of our risen Lord! This Easter gives new meaning to our lives with the birth of Charles Jackson, a day I was not sure would ever come. Praise God from whom all blessings flow...................

Charlie had an eventful afternoon with visits from our friend Ricardo, Aunt Karen, Meemaw, Cousin Laura, GranJan and Godfather Lynn Huhn. They all arrived with gifts in hand, some from them, some from others and we enjoyed opening them all. What a spoiled (WITH LOVE, of course) lil' boy Charlie already is. I planned on taking more pictures of him in his First Easter bunny outfit because it was so darn cute but when I got ready to do it, GranJan said she felt her leg getting quite warm - you guessed it.....so we took some quick snapshots and got him out of his wet clothes. That's one thing I'll say he does not like is having on wet clothes. We hope you all had a beautiful Easter today.

Enjoy my pictures!

Charles, Julie and Charlie