And we're back!

It started out pretty rough -

Charlie fell asleep right away and her head fell forward forward forward until it was almost touching her knees. Adam set me up with a little mirror that attaches to my mirror so that I can see her. I kept staring at her little head and soon to be sore neck and pulled over, fixed it (see, we've invested in countless pillows and gadgets and dollies to help remedy this problem. Back on the road, 1 minute later, head falls forward again. Repeat 4 times - after 20 minutes, and the 4th stop she was up. Now we have four hours left in the car and Charlotte is sleep deprived by 2 hours. Thank goodness for Teletubbies. About 3 hours in I guess she got tired of Tinky Winky because she started kicking and tugging on her DVD player. I scolded her, she laughed and continued to kick, waiting for me to make that funny mean face again...

She fell asleep again 10 minutes from Columbus. Adam was already at the hotel so he ran out, jumped in the car and we left for dinner (and to drive around the area I'd already scoped out).

Previously I'd fallen in love with the midtown park district of Columbus - all these old homes, restored, loads of character and charm. Finally got to show Adam and he really liked the area (even though it was dark out and he didnt' get to see it GOOD) and it does have a lot of charm so we haven't ruled it out entirely but we haven't found the right house for us there YET...

We went for Italian, Charlie had spaghetti and limes and made a HUGE mess, I know, hard to believe...then we went to Toys R Us. Charlotte was riding in the basket of the buggy (prohibited) like Teen Wolf surfing on the top of his van when she spotted a baby doll. So, she got her first baby doll, and Charlie with that doll is so precious. She pokes her in the eyes and grabs her feet and whacks her head on the floor, then she shows her to me and I give kiss and make 'boo boo' all better for baby.

The next morning, Noni arrived (HOORAY!) to help for the day while I looked at houses with the realtor and Adam attended meetings. We're all loaded, Charlotte's in her car seat and DVD player WILL NOT TURN ON. Oh no...

I ran and jumped in the car with the realtor, poor Noni...left to drive Charlie around with no movie...But if you know Noni, you know she has a stress level of like negative 5 or something, has the most optimistic, enthusiastic disposition all of us that know her have ever known, so all I have to say about her driving Charlotte around with no DVD player? Better her than me...

It turned out to be a good day and at the end of it, when Noni got in her car to drive to Hampton and I got in mine with Charlotte, there was a Wal-Mart just 4 minutes away and we managed to get a DVD player. And as soon as I got it hooked in and running, Charlotte started kicking it...and laughing...

We went to Hampton, where Moses, Eloise, Star and Jakob were (and Popi!). Charlotte was excited to see Mo/Ellie but when Jakob came running up she squealed. When we're out walking and she sees a yellow dog she points and says 'MO' real excitedly and tries to get my attention (remember, 'Mo' is her word for 'look'). She has a Baby Einstein DVD about pets and there's a Golden and a Lab in the part about dogs and she gets really excited and tries to show me whenever she sees them. She's trying to say Jakob...

Charlotte got some Wee Squeak shoes! http://www.weesqueak.com/ They are so precious! She wants to walk all the time with those things on and I think they're helping. She'd had a tendency to step on the inside of her right feet, lead with her left and now, if she does that, the shoe won't squeak, she has to step correctly for the squeak. She wants to walk all the time, holding hands, no, not hands, HAND. One hand, round and round the house, over and over. She has no interest in doing it independently. She wants one of us right there. And it's usually me since I don't have to hunch way over to reach. Last night Adam was standing with her in the living room and she was going round and round in a circle. At the Mexican restaurant Saturday night, after she was finished with supper (chips, taco, rice and beans!) she wanted down and lead me right to this lady, and handed the lady her gnawed on cookie. Awkward. Then the lady told me her daughter didn't walk until she was 15 months by herself, even though was perfectly capable - she wanted someone with her, holding her hand...oh, great.

I know one day she'll be running around, not needing me for anything and it will break my heart. I'll long for the days she begged to have me hold her hand. I'm just going to try and enjoy them...