"Where have I been?" you may ask...

I know I have been noticeably absent from my blog lately - but I swear it isn't my fault!! For those of you who may not have heard - we are expecting baby #2!! I am due April 7, 2010, and we are very excited to be expanding our family. Shortly after we returned home from California, my morning sickness arrived, and it has been making life difficult since... Although it hasn't been nearly as bad as it was during my first pregnancy, I have still been feeling pretty under the weather. I am trying to keep focused on the light at the end of the tunnel - my second trimester!! I am 10 weeks along tomorrow, so the end of this morning sickness is in sight (I hope!!)

There hasn't been much else going on in the Pinoski household. Mike has finished up his baseball season, with a 1 and 19 record. The season ended with some drama, and I am pretty sure that we will be searching for a new team come spring time. I am thrilled to have the season over, as it means that Mike is spending more time at home on the weekends!!

Charlie is doing well, and growing like crazy!! She has picked up a few new words, and has officially started running. She is into everything, and keeping me on my toes.

It's County Fair time!!

Well, last week was the Stephenson County fair!! Luckily, we live about 1/2 a mile from the fairgrounds, and we got to spend two days looking at the animals, and playing games. Charlie had a fantstic time, and LOVED looking at the animals. She called everything "doggie." It didn't matter what building we were in - cows, sheep, goats, pigs. Everything to her was a "doggie." But, she enjoyed looking at the animals and petting them. The people there were very friendly, and allowed Charlie to take pictures with the animals, and get very up close and personal with them. She actually sat right next to a dairy cow, and got to pet her. We also played a few games, and Charlie came home with a very cute pink, stuffed bear. She wasn't able to go on most of the rides, but we did go down a giant slide. I don't think Charlie was quite sure about it, although she didn't cry. Just sort of looked around, like "What just happened here?"

Walking through the barn.

Getting to know the goats.

Petting a very fashionable baby sheep.

Hugging the baby sheep.

Checking each other out.

Petting the cow. Nice "Doggie."

Yummy!! Funnel Cake!!

We are getting very excited about our trip to visit next week, and the packing has already begun. I feel like since having a child, I have to pack everything including the kitchen sink everytime we go somewhere!! We are finalizing plans for while we are in town - a baseball game, a birthday part, a trip to the beach. Charlie is going to have so much fun, seeing so many different things for the first time. She is very curious about everything, and is walking like a pro. She has also started making "car noises" and climbing on things. She loves going to the park, and usually comes home with some new bruise or scrape.

Enjoying some speghetti.

Yesteday, I gave Charlie her very first "pedicure," and she is now the proud owner of some very cute red toenails. Mike thinks I'm crazy, but it is SO adorable!! Also, on the topic of feet - Mike broke his toe at work on Tuesday. He is doing the manly thing and complaining, but he is handling it pretty well. His toe and half of his foot is swollen and bruised, and it looks pretty gross. I am offering up as much sympathy as I can muster - but it isn't much. :)

Red Toenails.

Some very cute feet.

Walking!!

Well, Charlie is oficially walking. She took her first real steps a few weeks ago (just before her first birthday), and has been gaining ground ever since. She can now walk from room to room. It is a funny sight - she looks to small to be walking!! But, she is, and now I have to watch where I am stepping, because she moves so fast!!

We had a great July 4th. We went on Friday to watch fireworks, walking a few blocks to get ice cream and settling down on the grass to watch the show. Charlie loved the fireworks, they actually held her attention for more than 3 seconds, not an easy feat. On Saturday, we just hung out at home. Watching TV, and playing with Charlie, and went out for pizza. Not your typical July 4th, but the weather here was lousy, and we loved the chance for a lazy day.

Climbing on Mommy while waiting for the fireworks.

The fireworks are going to start soon!!

Enjoying some yummy beef ravioli.

Grow Garden, Grow!!

So this year is my first attempt at a backyard garden. A friend and I have gone in on it together, sharing the cost and planting/weeding responsibilities, and so far things are going pretty well!! We have planted tomatoes (two varieties - slicing and roma), green beans, broccoli, green onions, spinach, bell pepper, onions, lettuce, and potatoes. I am hoping to do some canning this fall, as well as make spaghetti sauce from scratch. We have already harvested some lettuce, and it made a wonderful salad!! Our tomato plants, bell peppers, and green beans are starting to flower, so those plants should be producing some yummy fresh veggies soon!

The left side of the garden.

The right side of the garden.

Tomato plant.

Green bean plants.

Spinach plants.

Onion plants.

Lettuce.

Brocolli.

A Birthday Party!!

Well, I can't believe Charlie is one year old already... Where does the time go? She is growing and changing so fast, and is such a ray of sunshine in our lives. She has taken a few steps, and is bacoming a better walker day by day. Soon, she will be running circles around me I'm sure!!

We had Charlie's first birthday party this weekend, and it was so much fun. We had some severe weather on Friday, and I was nervous about how I was going to fit 30+ people in my living room if it rained during the party. But, the weather on Saturday was PERFECT!! Warm and sunny, with a little breeze. Charlie really seemed to enjoy her special day - playing with her friends, and visiting with Grandpa and Uncle Christopher. She seemed to have fun with the pinata, enjoyed her birthday cake - though she did get off on a slow and dainty start, she finally gave into the yumminess of the pink frosting!! Overall, her party was a great success, and we can't wait to do it all over again in California this August!!

The house before everybody arrived.

Taking a break mid-party to play with my blocks.

Waiting for my birthday cake.

Daddy helped me blow out the candles.

Getting a little bit of direction...

Figuring out what to do with the cake.

Now I get it!!

This is YUMMY!!

Taking my turn at the pinata. I got to go first!

Okay, okay. I know I have been horrible about keeping up with my blog. But I am going to do better, I promise!!

Things here in the Pinoski Family have been crazy as usual!! In April, we got a new fence around the backyard. It was long over due, and we have really enjoyed it since it has been finished. Whiskey and Kahlua are also enjoying it imensely, as they can now play in the backyard without being tied up!!

In addition to a new fence, we also had all the windows replaced throughout the house. I can't even begin to explain my joy. Our old windows were probably original to the house, single pane, with rotting wood frames, and let in every chilly breeze. Our new windows are white vinyl, duble hung, and wonderfully draft free. I haven't even put the blinds back up yet, because I still like to look at them!!



The living Room window before

The Living Room window after

The Kitchen window before

The Kitchen window after

As if that isn't enough excitement, we enjoyed a fantastic visit frm Grandma CoCo, Auntie Michelle, and cousin Mckenna!! We had such a wonderful time, and are already looking forward to the next visit!! We played at the park, and went for walks. They got to meet all of Charlie's friends at our weekly playgroups, and we had a great trip into the city. We ate yummy deep dish pizza, and walked along Lake Michigan. We saw the pirates at the Field Museum, and had tons of fun on the train - it was Mckenna and Charlie's first time! (They both did great!) The weather was pretty good during the visit, and we only had a few days of rain.

As for our normal daily happenings, they've been pretty busy as well. Mike has started his summer baseball leauge, and we spend at least one day during the weekend at the park, watching him play. Charlie loves to be outside and play, and really seems to enjoy going to the games.

Happy Easter!! We had a great holiday, with beautiful weather, finally! It was in the 60's and sunny all day. I think that Spring might actually be arriving soon. I was begining to think it was never going to get here!!

Our Easter Sunday was a quiet one. We went to church in the morning and then just hung out at home in the afternoon. Mike watched baseball, and I hung wallpaper. Charlie took a long nap - she wasn't feeling that well. (I think her top teeth are finally getting ready to make an appearance.) Later that night, we had a great dinner with one of my girlfriends from church, and her daughter. (Her husband and son were at the Cubs game!)

On Saturday, we took the baby to the local park for a city run Easter Egg hunt. She had a great time. We saw some of her friends (and mine) from church, and spent a great morning at the park playing and hunting for eggs. Charlie was completely uninterested in the actual Easter eggs, she just crawled around on the grass in search of leaves and twings that she could put into her mouth.

There was a special apperance made by the Easter Bunny, and Charlie seemed to enjoyed their first meeting!!

Here we are getting ready to hunt for some eggs (or sticks and leaves, depending).

We are excited about the upcoming visit from Grandma Co Co and Auntie Michelle aand cousin Mckenna!! We should have great weather all week. We are planning a trip into the city where we will visit the Field Museum and the Pirate Exhibit, and eat yummy deep dish pizza!! Then on Sunday is Mike's first baseball game of the season!!

Charlie is growing like crazy, and learning lots and lots of new things. She is pulling herself up onto EVERYTHING, and she also waves bye bye, and plays ball with you. She is a chatterbox, and talks to me all day long. She says mommy, daddy, hi, bye, all done, yummy, and doggie. We are looking forward to her first birthday in a few months, and have a party planned for her here, as well as one in California. (Mark your calenders - Sunday Aug 2nd!!)