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The missing 1 year old post

Just like that, my little Charlie Bug turned one.  And then?  Started walking.  It was an emotional time for me and I'd love to tell you that's the reason I haven't posted her one year stuff yet, but the truth is that I've been chasing her around start to finish of all of our free time and by the time that girl lays her head down at night, I am exhausted and trying to get some of my work done.  My house is a mess, my desk is a shit show, and overall, I'm really just trying to make it through the week without getting fired or having a nervous breakdown.

So there's that.

And the fact that we've been busy busy busy over here!  Last weekend, Charlotte had her first overnight trip to stay with my parents so Porch and I could have some kid-free fun.  First, we casually strolled through e v e r y aisle at Target with Starbucks in hand.  Nothing went into our cart that we didn't put there and no one had a tantrum about not being able to hold something.  It was fabulous.  Then we met up with my brother & sister-in-law at a local park where they are hosting a beer garden.   Never been to a beer garden? Let me summarize such an activity:  show up, get stein of beer, sit in park and enjoy good music, great people-watching, and amazing company.  We headed over to India Fest which was being held in the same park.  Long story short, trust no one.  Especially a woman who says she'll give you a henna tattoo.  In the dark.  For $5.  I'm currently sporting a tattoo that looks like I let a small child doodle on my arm with a brown Crayola marker.  That's not even a joke.  That's my life right now:  explaining to colleagues why I have a shit henna tattoo.  Life is all about having good stories to tell though, right?

Sunday we had brunch at Honeypie, a restaurant we had been meaning to explore but knew entertaining Charlotte for the longer wait times that we used to shrug off before having a baby toddler (!!) would be like herding cats.  We spent the afternoon at my parents' house, trying to enjoy some time outside without melting into a straight-up puddle.  Charlotte was a crab apple when we got home and a natural struggle surrounding bedtime ensued.

I'm so glad we're back to a 'normal' schedule now and I'm hoping she's down for the night now... she's been struggling with sleeping lately.  Teething is no joke.   But those chompers are pretty cute.  And useful.  She's been eating more and more table food.  There's nothing that we have that she can't really, although to be fair, if she had what we were having, she'd be having frozen pizza 2/week.  I like to make her plate a little more varied and a lot more healthy.

It's almost Wednesday already and I am looking forward to our weekend at home.  If it's not surface of the sun hot this weekend, maybe we'll finally make our way over to the zoo!  If not, I'm all about the swimming pool filled with plastic balls, tunnel adventures, and climbing the stairs 100 times.

Hope your week has gotten off on the right foot & you've found your groove for the week!  The big 1-year-old update is coming, I promise!  I'll even add extra pictures!  From a professional!  Maybe even before Charlotte turns two! 

xo
Mama Porch

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