A New Year

I just read you your night time stories, and kissed your cheek while you cried trying to convince me to "sleep with me mommy". Bedtime is usually daddy's job, but tonight I took over and as usual you have a hard time saying night night to me. I love that you want me to be around :)

We had a low key New Years Eve, with pizza, movies, and popcorn. It was so nice to be home, safe and warm with my sweet little family. About half way through the movie you stood up and pulled all (I mean all) of your clothes off and started running around the den. Needless to say, you are very comfortable in your own skin.

2011 has been quite a year. You have experienced lots of change in your environment as we completely changed our house with an addition. We lost our sweet pawpaw, and you keep telling me that he is with angels. You have grown so much from a toddler to a little girl. And your life will change greatly once again as your brother arrives in a matter of days.

I have been really anxious lately in how you will handle this new little one in our house. You seem to love babies, want to care for dolls and animals, push the stroller, rock and sings to babies, etc. I just hope that once their is one that really cries and needs extra attention, you will feel the same way ;)

Everything about being a mother is a learning process, except how to love. That has been the most natural and rich love I will ever know.

silly girl.

daddy and his girl watching a movie.

Cheese.

Our New Years snack.

The only face I see if there is a camera out.

My little BFF.

Christmas 2011

This is your 3rd Christmas! Hard to believe, and yet I can't remember Christmas without you. We spent the Sunday before Christmas with Daddy's family and went to Old Town for Lunch then to our house to hang out and open a few gifts with your sweet cousin Connor.

On Christmas Eve we stayed in our PJ's until noon and decorated Gingerbread cookies for Santa. Daddy even joined in the fun. You two ate a lot more decorations than were placed on the cookies :) There is no denying that y'all are daddy and daughter, two peas in a pod.

After your nap, one of daddy's best friends, Uncle Will, came over to see you and play for a bit. He is always ready to pick you up, swing you around and listen to your demands in the playroom :)

That night we went to Grammy and Grandaddy's house for supper and our yearly "Charlie Brown Christmas" viewing. The meal was incredible (as usual) and the family time was great. You stayed up WAY too late and were too excited to reason with about anything. We did manage to leave out reindeer food for Rudolph and read a Christmas story. Next year we will pay closer attention to the time!

Christmas morning daddy woke up at 6 am to start smoking the prime rib we were making for lunch. I laid in bed watching the monitor expecting your little head to pop up at any moment. Then as 7:30 rolled around, I told your daddy to go ahead and wake you up...I know I am crazy, but we were so excited.

As I filmed you coming down the stairs with daddy and peeking around the corner to the big display from Santa, your little face was stunned. You did not speak, you walked over to your giant, pink princess castle that you have been asking for and talking about for two months, and began to play. You studied it, touched each doll sitting in it, looked back at us, as if to ask "Is this really mine?" It was priceless.

I think we expected some big squeal, but your reaction was much more genuine.

You also got an art easel to paint and draw on, some winter mittens and hats, a giant floor puzzle, a horse toy, etc. You were not the least bit interested in opening gifts this year. You wanted that castle and by the time the bottom of the tree was cleared our, so was the princess castle. Each little piece that Santa had put together was pulled out and scattered around the room. This is what has happened each day since Christmas as well. You have a blast with the castle!!

You got mommy the new Dyson dust buster thing to clean up all your messes ;) and you got daddy a new Browning pocket knife!

Grammy and Grandaddy came over for breakfast and to open gifts with us. We had fun as you are always spoiled by them :) I think you get more excited to see them than your mommy and daddy!!

Afterwards, we all got ready and packed in the car with our special prime rib daddy made for everyone and headed to Grandma Charly's house. It was full of Christmas smells, loving family and laughter. You had such a great time playing with the uncles and snuggling with the aunties. It was our first Christmas without Paw Paw, and your little spirit manage to keep most of the tears away.

We also visited Grandmommy Ada at Arbor Acres on our way home. She was thrilled to see you and you were wired and busy running from one end of the room to the other. No nap, LOTS of sweets, and spoiled rotten. Just the way kids should be on Christmas :)

As we drove home in the dark with Luminaries lit on the road, I realized that this was our last holiday as a family of three. What a wonderful time it was.

I love you sweet thing.

Daddy and you making Santa's cookies. You like to smile extra big.

Finished product.

Santa brought you your PRINCESS CASTLE!!!

And a cool art easel.

Santa's gifts.

All those presents under our pretty tree!!

You and your "cheese" face.

Your new favorite thing.

Opening presents.

A sleepy daddy giving you a snuggle.

A very pregnant mommy helping.

Some new winter gear...if only it would snow.

Christmas Festivities

Decorating our big Christmas Tree

Milk break.

You enjoyed hanging your Hello Kitty ornament.

Daddy snuck pictures of me and all my big belly glory.

Visiting Santa. A little unsure, but no tears.

Ok I think I am done.

Being silly one evening.

Running around the yard.

That smile keeps me going.

Laughing at daddy.

Vasia came over for a visit and y'all were dressed in the same dress. Smart mommies ;)

Making our Christmas cookies.

Chef Charlotte.

Eating your hard work.

Lunch at the Soda Shop in Old Salem with Grammy.

Bright sunshine picture.

Old Salem

Happy Girl.

Thanksgiving Eve

Today has been one of those days. You were fussy and teething, frustrated with me asking if you need to go potty every 5 minutes. I was frustrated with myself for seemingly not doing anything right in "mommy and wife world". The dog wouldn't stop barking. You spilt red Gatorade on my white comforter. I have been super sick all day. You peed on my brand new Christmas decoration that was laying on the floor. You won't eat anything (teething)...you see the pattern. But we got through the day. Me and you, a crazy mess of a team, we got through it, and there will be millions more, with you and a new little brother. 

Our beautiful chaos.

Tonight after daddy went and got supper, and returned with flowers to cheer mommies "no good, very bad day" attitude, he gave you a bath and read you who knows how many stories. God bless him. I stepped straight into the bath and sat, deflating from the insane day, and trying to get all my contractions to stop. Once I had five minutes to breathe, I decided that it really wasn't that bad of a day at all. That is about how long it takes me to laugh off the seemingly disastrous events, and realize how much I love this.  I sat there thinking of this life that I live each day and how amazingly grateful I am that I even have the chance to be a mother and a wife with a roof over my head and love in my life.

And here I sit again on the eve of Thanksgiving listening to music and thinking about everything and getting lost into nothing.

We have so much to be thankful for in our little world, in our big world. I tell you how much I love you every day, we redden your cheeks with kisses, we giggle and cry and get annoyed with each other (in our owns ways ;) ). We go through these days with such quickness and as much as I try to soak it all in, it is impossible to take it all in.

The beautiful life that you are and soul that you have. I am thankful for that. 

The sweet love that your daddy has for you, and his constant request of kisses from you. I am thankful for him.

The growing life that we will wrap with warmth and love in just a matter of weeks. I am so very thankful for the chance to be a momma all over again.

Your strong bond with your grammy and grandaddy, and her patience to read you stories over the phone when you cry for her. I am so grateful for them.

The way you say the entire blessing at dinner, by yourself and want us to all have our eyes closed. I praise God for this. I am so grateful for Him.

Bless you my sweet thing, I am ever so thankful for our crazy, simply, lovely little life. 

Here is a song I listen to all the time, and every time I hear it I think of you.

Taylor Swift, Never Grow Up

Your little hands wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have, honey

If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

No, no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies

And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off

At 14, there's just so much you can't do

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block

Remember that she's getting older, too

And don't lose the way that you dance around

In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

2 Years Old

Yes I am over a month late in posting this...sorry, we have been busy bees!

You had your two year old check up with Doctor Clifford right after your big birthday! She and I talked all things potty training, getting rid of your sassy at night (which she said not to fret over too much), and understanding that it is OK if you do not clean your plate every night. I was worried about you refusing certain foods all of a sudden. She said to let you manage your own choices a little, and she was right. Within two weeks of that phase you are now eating like a horse. Literally, we are talking three big pancakes, yogurt and milk for a small breakfast...and just think of what lunch brings :)

We talked about how much you talk and how well you are constructing sentences. You are now able to ask for things with a complete thought. In the past few months you have gone from, "Mommy, juice please" to "Mommy, I want some orange juice please." You are also starting to be aware of your body and emotions. When you get tired, you say, "I'm tired, can I take a snooze". This is all very helpful with the cold and flu season coming up. Saturday morning you woke up very congested and you let me know that by saying, "look mommy, my nose is dirty, lets clean it" this all followed by "I want to snuggle and watch the dinosaur movie." You are also working on the tone in your voice. When you ask a question or show concern you change the tone in your voice appropriately. I admire your compassion. The amount of clarity in your communication surprises me each day.

As you run circles around your speech, physical abilities, growth, etc. You are one stubborn little one with potty training. This is going to be a tough task, that I continue to work hard on with you. Lately you have been a little better at going to the potty if I take you. You have trouble recognizing the "need to go potty" and understanding what to do when it is that time. This is all okay, we will get it. It just looks like mommy is going to have two kiddos in diapers for a while :) As a first time mom, I am trying to learn all I can to help you in this process too. So we will just have to be patient with each other! ;)

Dr. Clifford did your stats and they are:

Height: 37 inches
Weight: 34 pounds
Head: 19.75 inches

They now do two different percentage charts. You are still in 100% for your age. But when they do the chart of with the age span 0-36 months you are in the 89%. So basically, you are still proportioned when it comes height to weight ratio, but for your exact age you are the tallest, etc. The doctor is still predicting you will be a tall girl. We will see :)

You are in 3T clothes, and size 8 shoe. Your hair is still very blonde and getting thicker by the day. We have fun playing dress up and you are very patient with me while I put it in a braid, pony tail, etc.

Your new favorite things are my makeup drawer, your play kitchen, painting and coloring, music and singing, and most of all Books. Literally, we have to take books every where we go. And you read each one over and over until the pages rip. It is hilarious. Now you have memorized several of the stories and will read them to me or your daddy.

Two years old has been quite the adventure so far, and in just 10 weeks maybe less, we will have a little baby join our fun household. Wish me luck with potty training little one ;)

Halloween 2011

Off to pick out our Pumpkin!

Of all the pumpkins, you insisted to have "the one with the bumpy boo boos, ewwwww". What can I say, you appreciate character ;) 

Trying to talk you into getting a smoother pumpkin...As you can see by the look on my face...I was rejected :)

You also took a great interest in these, but soon preferred the orange. 

Showing how strong you are by lifting the pumpkin with me!

Halloween afternoon, we got all dolled up as Cinderella. Here you are pretending with your wand. You kept calling it a "wish".

Heading out the door.

Front porch picture with one of our pumpkins.

Anna Perry came over to say hello! She was the cutest bumble bee!

Cute girls.

Family Picture!

You and Maddie giving hugs. Best Friends!

Y'all are having a conversation about something. I love how close you two have become.

Sweet Nell!

You left a serious glitter trail all over the house from your dress and the glitter I put on your eyes and cheeks. The joys of having a little girl.

Happy Halloween Sweet thing.