Big Girl Bed

Daddy and I decided to go ahead and get you into your big girl bed. After you crashed out of your crib one night and cried for what seemed like hours, and you could easily climb onto the railing...we thought it was about that time. I must say it was A LOT harder for me to say goodbye to your crib and nursery than it was for you. It took all of five minutes for you to crawl into your bed, shut your eyes, and that was that. It took me about two weeks to actually move all of your furniture out of your nursery and into your big girl room. Your nursery is presently being turned into your brothers room.

Here are a few final pictures of your messy nursery as we prepared to move you across the hall!

First night in your big girl bed!

The rails keep you on the bed :)

Pretending to be asleep for daddy!

Surprise, look at me daddy!!

Since you have been in your big girl bed, you have slept so much better. Fingers crossed, you have been sleeping until at least 7:15 every morning! I think you just needed some more space to stretch out :) xoxo, sleep tight sweet thing.

Great Grandpa Howard

As your mom, I am obviously proud of you all day every day...minus the spats of tantrums or attitude (yes you have one developing quickly, let us not forget you are a girl!). I watch you learn new words, memorize and recite songs, ask me how my day was...all of these things make me proud. It also makes me proud to see you smile, to see you run and play, to see you sleep...I couldn't be prouder that you are mine. With all of that said, I need to tell you about the past few months, and how proud I am to call you my sweet thing.

Great Grandpa Howard has been very sick with Cancer for the past few months. He has been sick with it for years, but they just found it recently. He seemed to fall ill quick and before we knew it he was bed ridden. I have spent almost every Sunday of my life at his house with grandma Charly and grandpa Howard. I instilled the same schedule in you and it became the norm to visit with them once or twice a week. You love being at their house. Who doesn't!

I was worried that you would see grandpa in his state and be scared, or simply not understand what was going on. The first time you saw him asleep in his hospital bed, you came out of the room running and crying. As I rocked you and tried to calm you down, I realized it was not fear you were crying about, it was sadness. It was like you realized that he was sick. Every time after that, you walked back to his room with such a casual manner. As if you were there to see how he was doing. You would crawl onto his bed, hold his hand, ask him how he was, etc. You were not scared. You were brave. Braver than your momma. 

A few times when I wasn't looking, I would find you going back to his room. Where is Paw Paw, momma? 

As his condition worsened, we moved him to Hospice for his final days. As we visited you continued to crawl into a chair hold his hand, and fearlessly sit with him and stare. Once again, braver than your momma. 

I don't cry in public, or in front of people and never in front of you. Especially in this situation because I had to be strong for you, for Grammy, for my grandma Charly. Instead, you were strong for me. Looking at you gave me strength in my faith. All the moments of swallowing my tears, as I watch my grandma sweetly rub my grandpas head and comfort him in his pain, I would look at you. Your smile was like a zone for me. 

Grandpa Howard passed away peacefully on September 17, 2011. We got to say goodbye. He was surrounded by love, and now he surrounds us.

I love you my sweet thing. Thank you for being my little rock.

Your Second Birthday!!

Abby Cadabby Party!!

This summer I began to see just how much energy you had balled up in those strong legs and arms. Playing in the yard became a bit redundant and you needed activity. I decided it was a good time for a swing set. So your daddy and I research and research and decided on a wooden swing set. Your Grandaddy Bland put it all together with your daddy and my help. (But he really did it all). During the building process I decided it would be a perfect setting for your birthday party!

So we had a early morning party with Abby Cadabby all over and lots of little friends came over to play! It was really hot and the weekend of the air show, so as everyone played, planes circled above. It was a perfect day!!

Here is the evidence:

You used to be petrified of the swings, but now you are an "old pro" :)

Playing in your house with Evie Rae.

Sweet Sally

Miss Lucy was such a great helper!

Cutie Anna Perry

Your precious friend Wade and his daddy Trent.

Your adorable friend Rand!

The little stud muffin Porter! 

Holding my sweet girl as everyone sings Happy Birthday!

You are very loved.

Blowing out your candles with Lucy's help!

Being silly.

The hilarious Charlotte Show.

You got a princess castle! Very exciting :)

On your actual birthday you celebrated with birthday pancakes with mommy in the morning. Then Daddy and I took you to school and you had juice and donuts with your friends. That afternoon we had a big cookout with your great aunts and uncles and great Grandma Charlotte.

Wearing your birthday crown!

Can't believe you are already two!

Say Cheese!

Seeing your new kitchen for the first time!

Quick family shot on our way to school1

I love this shot of you and Uncle Jimmy snuggled watching cartoons. He loves you to pieces!!

Opening gifts. You were spoiled to say the least!

A new doll from Aunt Jan.

Laying on your new pillow pet.

Blowing out the candles on your princes cake :)

That's my girl!

Nothing like kicking your feet up after a long, fun, exhausting day!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweet Thing.

love, momma

Summer Break

I decided to take a "break" from blogging this Summer. As we spent long and lingering days in the hot, humid, unbearable southern heat, I took in each moment and placed sticky notes on my brain of things I wanted to tell you about. As a wild 'almost' two year old, several of these moments have no picture to document, but are hard stepped into my heart, and the laughter wrinkles around my mouth.

You seem to blossom more and more as a little individual and as a little girl. I see your mind soaking up every single word you hear (literally) and either questioning it, or repeating it...which has given your daddy and I a lesson or two in having the mouth of a sailor. You carry on conversations so well, and I really enjoy hearing your perspective on things. It always makes life much lighter and clearer during stressful times. Throughout the past few months, you have taken on quite a strong opinion, i.e. tantrums and attitude. While I have tried to prepare myself and stay grounded through each one, sometimes I just throw in the towel and give in. Hey, I guess you have to choose your battles sometimes. Your incredible ability to teach me both humbles me and prides me.

Your legs are full of mosquito bites, scrapes and bruises. You are daring, care free, and beautiful. The hair on your head is sun bleached blonde and your knees and feet are extra tan from dirt each day. We spent long mornings at the pool, and long afternoons in the front yard with your best friend Maddie. You two are hilarious. I lightened up on strict bedtime and you went a few nights with bath time in the sprinkler. Our sidewalk is permanently stained with chalk...not even the summer storms takes it away completely. Nothing stops you. You are tough, super duper social, funny, strong, caring, and did I say beautiful.

As life brings happy times it also brings hard times. Your paw paw, my grandpa Howard is very sick. He is battling cancer for the second time, and this time things are looking rough. We spend as much time as we can visiting and seeing him. I must admit it is hitting me hard, and your sweet response to him gets me the most. Each time we walk in to grammy Charlotte and paw paw's house you say, "Paw Paw, (running back to his room) you alright?" You love on him and hug him. You talk to him like he is your friend. You simply don't hesitate, and tell him "you can do it Paw Paw, come on". I am not kidding, these things come out of your mouth with the most sincerity. I have explained to you that he has a boo boo in his tummy. That suffices your questions. Sitting here retyping this experience gives me so much joy and so much sadness. Joy in your compassion and innocence. Joy that he his so loved and has had such an amazingly full life. Sad that he is hurts, and that you have to see that. Sad that my sweet Grandma and mother and aunts and uncles have to hurt. But with my strength in faith the joy seems to take over.

We got away for a few weekends to the mountains. We fed the fish, rode in the Kabota you coined "Buddha". Our entire family came up for a reunion and you had an absolute blast with your second cousins. You all painted each other, chased around in the grass, rode the 4wheeler, played in the water, and just enjoyed being kids.

You also helped me keep a big secret from May until June, and it was really fun to talk about it with you and for you to be with me when I found out that we are adding a new little person to our family. This is something I had been praying and praying for, for a while and we feel so incredibly blessed. A week ago, we found out that this little miracle is a baby BOY!!!

You are still saying "baby sista, mommy, can I see her" because everyone kept saying it was a girl. But as usual your grammy said from day one that it was a boy and that made mommy and daddy think it was a boy too. Grammy is always right :) I can't wait for you to have a little brother and experience the joy and journey of having a sibling. It is fun to watch our little family grow and grow! That has been our big Spring/Summer news and he will be here in early January. I will tell you all about this joy in another entry.

I would say it has been quite the summer. As any parent will say, my love grows for you each and every day. It is so true. I read a quote today on a friend from college's facebook (thank you Susan) and it said: "We lose ourselves in the things we love. we find ourselves there, too."      

This stayed with me in each moment I watched you today and it will stay in my heart forever as it brings such clarity to motherhood and what it means to me. Thank you my dear sweet thing. Can't wait to spend tomorrow watching you grow.

Say Cheese!

Sweet smiles.

Sit and Spin. Notice all the toys are pulled from your bins.

Painting, coloring, play do...your favorite things.

Boat ride with daddy.

Big brown eyes and sweet cheeks!

Not even kidding when I say, you put these on yourself and positioned your Barbie and said "Look Mommy, I'm a princess." All of this at 6:30 am. Hilarious does not even explain.

Riding in daddy's truck, fast asleep with your book.

Love that pretty skin and chunky arms. Your wrists have tan lines.

"Poppysicles!" Some things are easier without shirts to stain!

Rain on the pond.

My sweet child, dancing in the rain.

Sneaking in a picture with Mommy and Auntie before we went to Auntie Lauren's wedding!

love you kiddo, 

mommy

Boy do I have a lot to catch up on!!!

It is official, I am terrible at keeping this thing up now that pictures are harder to capture:) Excuses, Excuses. Here is a snap shot at some special moments from the past two months!

It seemed like you were sick the entire month of April. You were pitiful and had everything from fever, chest infection, ear infection, to symptoms of asthma. After steroids and antibiotics you finally got all cleared up and do not have asthma! Thank the Lord for healthy times!!! This picture is from Easter lunch which did not last long as you cried the entire time. Pitiful.

Daddy taking you to school one morning! You do much better if he takes you. Less tears.

On our way to pick strawberry's.

You found your sunglasses. Always being silly!

I did not think you would actually pick strawberries, but once you tasted one, you proceeded to try and eat the entire row. It was hilarious to watch your face light up each time you got one off the plant and into your mouth.

"Here daddy, eat this!"

Mommy's uncle Jimmy got married to our new Aunt Tammy in May. You were one of the flower girls!

Fun with the petals.

Front porch picture from the last day of Preschool!! Notice you somehow got one of mommy's real bracelet on your wrist.  That did not make it to preschool with you ;) You are obsessed with my jewelry box.

On the way to the car you found the neighbors cat Gilly, this made you extremely happy and you wouldn't leave it alone. Gilly loves you.

This is what happens when you don't get what you want. It was time to say bye to the cat and go to school.

Each morning while I am cleaning up from breakfast or getting ready, you are off to explore on your own around the house. Almost 99% of the time, this is how I find you.

Sitting in your playroom, buried (literally) in books. One day you pulled every single book off the shelf onto your lap. Fun times cleaning up ;) I will never complain about any mess from a love like this.

Daddy and I took you to the NC Zoo. Here you are watching the sea lions swim past!

Riding to "Africa" on the train! Sitting with your favorite guy :)

Fun with the Ostrich eggs.

The awesome Elephant. We were so close we could feel the water they sprayed from the pond. Now when we talk about the elephants at the zoo you respond: "And they got water, and sprayed and washed and got wet."

Your first hair cut. Mommy was not excited as I am a fan of long hair and letting it grow naturally. But enough people convinced me that your mullet was a bit aggressive.

You did well, but we had to resort to the "sassy" so that you would sit still.

Happy Miss Jenny was all done!!

Charlotte's first blow out :)

I must also update about you and how you are growing into a wild woman. Each morning around 6 I awake to you reading or singing in your crib. I wait until you say Mommmmmmmmmmyyyyyyy before coming to get you because I am trying to get you to sleep later. It is never going to happen. As soon as I open your door you say, "good morning mommy, I slept good, took a long nap."

About 15 minutes later you tell me you are "hungy mommy, want cheesy bread, and pancakes, and bacon, and yogurt..." the list can go on and on and on.

Once you eat breakfast the day either begins smoothly with various activities, cartoons, books, etc. Or you are grumpy and we battle tantrums for an hour. It is hit or miss. I have learned that having you active 24/7 makes you happiest. So we go to the pool almost every day. 

The pool has become your haven. You think you are Michael Phelps with your water wings. You try to go under and kick your legs, but once you get to the three feet side you get worried and want me to come help you to the wall. I am teaching you not to panic and that you can float and we are making progress. I love watching your love for water.

The amount of vocabulary and structured sentences you have amazes me. It also tells me how much I must talk around you and how careful I need to be. Just the other day I was trying to get you dressed and you were refusing. You looked up at me and said "No mommy, just don't worry about it, okay!" I tried not to laugh, but I did. You also say, "Oh my goodness" about everything. AND the fact that you can sing songs on the radio...like "Blow" by Ke$ha (not the greatest song). Not only can you sing, but your put your hands in the air and bob your head. Let's just say Raffi went into the CD player this week.

Life is so fun, and such a challenge. We are so happy that, that challenge is you.