Bowman West

WRECKED 'EM!!

Did you watch it?? Amazing. I've never seen our defense play like that. And by "play like that" I mean they actually showed up and tackled players on the opposing team. What a way to end a season! Many thanks to Mel & Michael for keeping Charlie last night so we could watch it in person. I know I've said it before but I LOVE college football. One of my many things that I'm thankful for this week is that we live in a town with a Division I team. Get your guns up!

The "healthy living" thing is off to a good start. I completed my first week of the Couch to 5K schedule. I also lost 3 lbs. Yay! I ate sensibly without starving myself or cutting out everything that tastes good. I'm even excited about meeting the challenge of the holiday gorge-fest head on. My tactic will be to have small portions of the absolute must-haves and just say no to sweets and the rest, except for the one obligatory piece of my Auntie Ann's pumpkin pecan pie. There's no negotiating that one. I did buy a $5 wristband stopwatch from Big Lots so that I can stick to my 5K schedule while I'm at my folks' in La Grange. I think I'll head down to the high school track, which was just dirt when I was in school but is now all-weather (woah!), and relive the glory days. And by "glory days" I mean that one track meet where I tripped three hurdles into the 300m hurdle race and ended up bloody from head to toe. Awesome. What's that you say? Why would a short girl run hurdles? Exactly.

Speaking of physical activity, I had a golf lesson last week. Andy gave me a gift certificate last Christmas and I finally redeemed it. I thought the lesson went great. I learned about grip, posture, stance, just the basics. I had three amazing hits out of probably fifty but was still excited. Yesterday I practiced in our backyard, and because I was excited to show Andy what I learned I asked him to watch if my swing had improved. This is what he said, "It looks better, but you just look so uncomfortable. When Tiger does it it just looks natural and comfortable." Uh huh. Tiger. I see. I don't think I even need to detail my obvious response. Let's just say that he quickly decided to never comment on my swing again, even if I ask him to. I love my husband every second of every day, even when constructive criticism goes horribly awry. I'm glad he does the same for me!

Charlie's been cute and wonderful over the last few weeks, due in large part to the fact that he's been well. Now he's back to a cough, runny nose and major attitude. At least he's still got his looks.

He continues to be a man of few words, but he can be bribed to say most anything. This is how I know that his lack of speech is less developmental than just pure manipulation of the adults in his life. One funny thing that he's said for a long time is something that sounds like "eye yo." It took me awhile to figure it out but it seems that this is his affirmative response. Andy thinks he's trying to say "I do." Charlie, do you want a big fat cookie? "Eye yo" (I do). I don't know what he's trying to say, I just know that it means "yes."

Charlie just sits, stares and/or laughs in most public situations. When we go to story time at the library he sits and stares when they sing his favorite songs, but as soon as we get in the car he starts requesting them one by one. The other day at story time the librarian pulled out this blue glove that she uses to sing Old McDonald and Baa Baa Black Sheep. Whenever an animal is mentioned she places a little figure of the animal on the glove. Think miniature flannel graph. Anyway, she pulled that glove out and Charlie freaked. He was terrified of it. He's seen it plenty of times before but for some reason he couldn't handle it this time. I just kept thinking that all the other parents probably assume I beat him with a blue glove or something. This kid keeps me on my toes.

Here are a few random pictures from the last few days.

This may be a sign that Charlie's getting too big for his crib. Too bad for Charlie that it hasn't even occurred to him to try to escape. We're keeping him in that crib for as long as possible, especially since he has no problem opening every door in the house.

I just like this picture. Yes, he has blue eyes. No, neither of us do. He got them from my mom and Andy's dad. Satisfied?

This is how he plays with his drum now. It's pretty funny, especially when he runs into things.