Charlotte's First Set of Wheels

We had every intention of encouraging Charlotte to save her own money to purchase her first car, but seeing as she's been so good lately, and we're still celebrating the fact that she's sitting up by herself, we decided to fork over the 5 bucks and buy her first used car. So, there you have it, Charlotte, mommy and daddy bought you your first car. You want anymore and you're on your own, kid!

Charlotte the Globe-Trotter ... Well, Maybe Continent-Trotter

Are my posts too few and far between? Well it just may get worse!! I may have finally stretched myself too thin. My Anatomy & Physiology class is SO MUCH MORE than I thought it would be. True, it's all memorization, but finding the time to commit all of that info to memory is proving to be very difficult. Thank god some of Charlotte's therapies are more peer-oriented now and I don't have to be in the room. That gives me a couple mornings a week to cram. So, I apologize now if you don't hear from me in awhile. But first let me tell you all about the end of our summer!

Charlotte got to do some major travelling in August. First we all spent a week in Wisconsin with tons of friends and were able to partake in some much needed R&R (especially Brian, I think he really needed some lazy beach-and-beer time). During our stay Charlotte amazed us with a new 1st .... she pushed herself up to a sitting position all by herself!! Granted it was followed by an immediate fall back and a head-slam to the floor, BUT she pulled herself together and did it AGAIN!! I was such a proud mama.

Basically our entire week consisted of eating, sleeping, golfing, hanging out on the beach, drinking beer and wine, and then some more sleeping. I've been going up to White Lake Beach Resort in Montello, Wisc. with my friend Patty's family since I was 13, and we've made lots of life-long friendships with the other families that go during the same week. It's so cool to see that now we've all grown up and we're bringing our own families up there. It may not be the most posh place to stay, but it's got lots of charm and really good happy-hour specials. Here are some great pics taken by my friend Linda.

Did you see the beer can in each pic? It's just like Where's Waldo.

Charlotte's next trip took her down to Tampa Bay, Florida, for a visit with my Grandma Teeling (my father's mother). My grandmother recently moved into an assisted living facility and I thought it was a good time for Charlotte and I to take a trip down to see her and for the two of them to meet. I wasn't about to drive down to Florida with a toddler, so Charlotte got to take her first flight!! Thank god grandpa and yia-yia (my mom) came with us and helped keep Charlotte occupied on the flight, cuz I would have probably gone crazy trying to take care of all of the logistics by myself. I can't believe how good she was. She was actually a better companion on the plane than some adults I've sat next to. I'm happy to report that both Charlotte and grandpa were very well behaved and took naps on both legs of the trip.

We only spent one night in Tampa, but during that time we were able to spend lots of time with my grandma, see where's she's living, and even frequent her favorite restaurant. And, of course, all the ladies at my grandma's new home were doting over Charlotte. And now that I know that Charlotte is better at flying then I am (I'm one of those people that will scream that the plane is going down) then we just may take another trip down there soon. I'd like to place a shout out to my Aunt Joan, who hauled us to and from the airport and took great care of us while we were down there. It was great to visit with her as well and we really appreciated all of her hospitality!

There's more to tell .... saying good-bye to some therapists, meeting some new ones, therapy buildings burning down, Brian and I run the Great Urban Race all around Chicago .... but, I gotta go to bed. I'll write more soon. I swear.

Miles to go in 2008: 122.5

Days in Office for Bush: 124

I gotta go with ..... Obama for Prez! Don't get me started on Sarah Palin!