I thought it was only fitting that since Friday I have had Charlee by myself that I write the blog entry for this week. Yes I know you all are shaking your heads right now thinking "thats impossible" but yes, Sarah and Zoey left for Washington on Friday almost 1800 miles away.. So needless to say, there was no turning back...
Actually this adventure started on Monday June 27th 2011... You see on Monday, Charlee didn't have daycare so we decided "I must have been crazy" to have both Charlee and Zoey stay home with me. So we stayed home Monday and Tuesday and Sarah's mom came up on Wednesday and thursday to watch Charlee and Zoey went to her normal school. Monday I was still shell shocked that I had both girls, but we did some dad stuff, went to the hardware store, went out to lunch, the horse farm and other various activities that I have sworn Zoey and Charlee to secrecy on. Tuesday we all went to the pool "with out mom" and Charlee rode on the lazy river with Zoey for the first time. I would be lying if I were to say that I was not nervous with both girls in the lazy river but we made it through un-scathed and without any large buckets of water being dumped on either one of the girls.
Wednesday and Thursday were Mimi days, those days are pretty much secret we really don't know what happens on those days...
Friday morning at 4:20 a.m., I got Sarah up for their trip to Washington to visit their brother. Zoey woke up immediatly and showed me how to take care of Kiley "her fish" and I helped the girls get out of the house on time for once! Charlee got up at around 6 am, and we decided to go to Village Inn for breakfast. We had a great breakfast together, and both took a late morning nap. We then decided to go to the pool and we stayed there for about an hour before Charlee had enough Sun. Friday night we stayed home I ordered a pizza and Charlee had some peas and carrots that I made her.
Saturday, we went to Grandpa Mikes and played there for the after noon and evening. We went to visit Great Grandma Jane and Great Grandpa Bob and set up a new TV that they got. Bob commented that now he can see the Cubs scores and I commented "why would you want to see that?"
Anyways, we grilled steaks and had a great dinner Charlee came home took a bath and went to bed.
Sunday, my dad called and wanted to come up and he decided to spend the night. We played most of the day talked about how similar I was as a baby as Charlee is now. Dad said that she has the same mannerisms that I had and even looks really similar to what I did. I took us out to Peppers for dinner and by the time we came home, Charlee was exhausted and had no problem going to bed.
Dad and I stayed up for a while and talked then decided to watch a movie together. I cannot say how humbled I am by his recovery from a year ago. It really shows that real determination and willpower will go a long way. My dad never gave up with his recovery and still sometimes struggles with stuff. But he does always push himself, even allowing himself to hold charlee on his lap for long periods of time and sitting on the floor with her and playing. Now if I can only get him to go to the pool with us, that is a vivid memory I have with him is playing in the pool... With time, he will overcome that mental part and join us!!
Monday was the 4th of July and we just hung out at the house, I ended up going to the store and Dad bought us lunch for me to grill. We had a great lunch and then it was time to go to the Dicken's for their annual wiffle ball tournament. There were alot of neighbors there some I had not seen in a while and some I had not met with. Charlee LOVED all the moms passing her around and talking to her like moms' do. That is something I have not yet mastered yet and that is talking to Charlee like a "mom". There is just something special that a mom has and how they can communicate and play with a child. It was fun to see that and not to lie it gave me a little bit of a break too.
After the wiffle ball tournament was over, and my dad was done heckling me for striking out twice (I did not inherit his fine baseball skills), Charlee ate, and we took a bath and went to bed. She again was EXHAUSTED and slept until Tuesday morning at 7:45 when I woke her up. The fireworks didnt wake her up but I was ready to defend her sleep at all costs and go yell at some neighbors if I had too!!!
Today was a normal day, I took Charlee to Chris' and I went to work. I did spend a lot of time today reflecting on our time together and looked back on the thought that not all dad's get the opportunity to spend time with their children alone for extended periods of time. During this time I learned a lot about myself and Charlee and we grew together or "bonded" in a way that in the past was only possible for Sarah to bond with her. I learned things about Charlee that I didn't know. I learned that when she wakes up she looks like a person who just woke up, that seems silly, but yes she itches her butt, yawns, goes to the bathroom you get the point. I never really noticed that about her until this week. I also learned that she poops constantly. I mean every hour or two!!! Its crazy I've never seen someone poop so much in my life. I also learned that she is getting older faster. She is ALMOST crawling, pulling up on things so much that I lowered her bed this week, she is all over the place. Her "go go gadget arms" are getting longer and longer by the day. Ive also learned how to better communicate with Charlee. Ive learned what she wants and when she wants it. Until now I have felt like sarah was the only person who was able to do this. I wont say that Ive mastered it, but Ive gotten pretty good.
Long of the short of it is that I ENJOYED every second with Charlee this week. We did have our arguments but I have a new found appreciation for mothers and their role in family's. I cant believe that tomorrow Sarah and Zoey come home and I cant wait to hear all their stories they have to share about their trip to Washington... Our stories however will be special to me for one reason.
I love you Charlee and I hope when you get older you read this and see that this was the first time that you and I truly bonded together!!!
Thanks for letting me share this experience with you.
Jake
No comments:
Post a Comment