The Happenings of Charlotte Anne

Charlotte Anne and I have been getting our quality time in, and it has been great getting to know this new little person!  Everyone says "every child is different" and until you have more than one in the house, you just don't know how true that is.  My girls look like they could be the same person (SK looked exactly like CA at the same age), but their quirks are very different.  

Also, our 5 week "preemie" has grown up and is now squarely on her growth chart right on track.  We went for her 2 month appointment and she was 23" and 9lbs 7oz (75% on height and 25% on weight - just like her sister).  We are so blessed that our baby girl is doing so well!

So far, in my 11 weeks of getting to know her, here is what I have figured out about our newest little missy...

She is a MAJOR mommy's girl!  She has been turning her head when she hears my voice since about 3 weeks old.  There are times when she wants mommy and no one else will do.  At times this is tough for me, but I know the first time she reaches for someone other than me I will melt down.

She is totally intrigued by her big sister.  Charlotte Anne watches Sarah Katherine all the time, I think she is studying her.  She even saved her first smile just for SK when she thought mommy wasn't looking.

She has a tough time with tummy troubles.  We are weaving our way through the new world of gas drops, gripe water, sensitive formula, bicycle legs, and giant man burps.  SK would spit up a good bit when she was little, but that was easy enough to just clean up and move on.  Our poor Charlotte Anne gets really painful gas bubbles and needs extra help to work them out.  The doctor said not to worry and as she eats "real" food it should work itself out.  That is easy to say, but when you are watching your kiddo in pain and you have done all you can think of and she's still crying, not worrying isn't much of an option.  I can already tell a large improvement over the last few weeks, so hopefully when she starts cereal (in about 6 weeks) she will have all this behind her.

She is going to fuss more over food than over sleep.  SK was like Jekyl and Hyde over food.   Tired baby = crazy sad fussy baby.  Well, Charlotte Anne's push point is going to be food.  Girlfriend knows when that 3.5 - 4 hour mark is and will let you know it!  That is easy enough to take care of, I'll run a mini grocery store out of my bag!

She loves being outside and around people.  (This one was a specific prayer request God answered.)  This little girl thoroughly enjoys people (well, people watching right now) and warm breezes.  Maybe she will be our outdoorsy girl.  She's never as calm as when we are outside.  Also a good trick for when those bad bubbles come up.

She is an angel in public.  Just like her sister on this one - in public everyone says she is a complete perfect child!  No one believes girlie can crank it up sometimes.  I'm not complaining, if she's going to fuss I would rather it be at home though.

She is strong.  This "little" girl is already rolling over.  She flipped from tummy to back twice when she was 5 weeks old, and has done it with almost every tummy time since!  Granted she was not happy to be on her tummy at the time and it was a by-product of the huffiness, but it totally counts.  

I am so excited to see what the next few months have in store when she will really start showing her personality.  She is a tiny little miracle and we are so unbelievably blessed to be able to raise this baby girl!  

Here are some new pic's of her.  Now that she is starting to smile on a regular basis, we need to get in a studio soon!

She can't find it every time, but prissy found her thumb the other day.  If she's like her mom and sister, this is a the start of serious relationship!

Charlotte Anne LOVES the fan!  I even found her "talking" to it the other day.  :)

Laughing with daddy.  Isn't that little dimple so precious?! 

Sister playing.  SK has a blast talking to her sister.  She is so loving and gentle with her, it truly melts my heart to see them together.

Beach Trip!!!

We decided a trip to the beach was much needed after all the hecticness over the past few months!  We loaded up and went with some friends down to Panama City Beach.  David found a great deal on a condo and I discovered PCB is way classier than it was back in the day. :)  That is a great thing, especially since we are now bringing kiddo's with us.  It was a relaxing few days of listening to waves crash, hanging in the condo, watching the kids play, and just enjoying the beach and the company.  We did hit up a few hot spots while we were there (well, as hot as it gets for running with a 3 year old!).  

On our way back from dinner at Captain Anderson's, we found the cutest mini amusement part for little kids.  SK had a BLAST riding all the rides and topping off her evening with a snow cone.    

The next day we went to a mini-water park that is in the city park (AKA - not expensive!).  The big kids loved playing in the shallow water, slides, squirt guns, etc!  The kiddos played for like 3 hours (which for a 2 and 3 year old - you know it's got to be awesome).

Charlotte Anne has discovered the outdoors from the coziness of her bouncy seat and she LOVES it!  She has some gas / colic issues, but whenever we were outside and the warm breeze was blowing - this girl was a happy camper.  While SK splashed and was out in the sun, CA and I chilled in the shade.

After 3 fun days we had to head back.  Here is a pic of SK and Jackson at lunch on the way home.  She thinks J-man is her "baby" to take care of, but she will learn soon he is going to be like 2 feet taller than her and not exactly a baby!

Father's Day 2012

We had a wonderful, memorable Father's day this year!  

First, this is David's first Father's day with not one, but TWO crazy girls.  David is such a great father, and all his girls are head over heels for him (even mom)!  

An extra special event was David got to baptize a little boy from the cub scout pack he worked with.  This little man was asking his mom some tough questions, so she asked if David would mind talking to him.  We invited them over for dinner, and before dessert this fella prayed to receive Christ!!!  Since David is ordained in our church as a deacon, he was allowed to have the honors of baptizing him.  So, I got Charlotte Anne ready to make her church debut and we were there to watch (and maybe cry a little!).  The pictures are pitiful - since it was our first Sunday getting everyone ready, I didn't quite have it all together.  My phone doesn't zoom very well.

Happy Birthday Gram!

This weekend we went to Anniston for my grandmother's birthday.  She can't ride to Birmingham, so this was also her first time to meet Charlotte Anne.  We had a great time visiting at my Aunt Kathy's house with Gram, my Aunt Deb, and my cousin David and his family.  Sarah Katherine had a blast playing with her cousins!  We are so very blessed to have our Gram and such great family!  What a great way to spend an afternoon!!!

Adventures in VBS

Since I was off for maternity leave and since we had been shut up in the house for 5 weeks, I decided to help out at vacation Bible school.  SK's daycare brings her class over and there is a nursery for bitsy, so we were all set.  

Let's just say I got more than I bargained for!  The last time I helped in VBS was as a youth at my much smaller church.  Now I am a "real" teacher at a VBS that has over 500 in attendance.  Thankfully I worked with some wonderful ladies and after the initial shock of the first day (we had 65 third graders!) it was a great way to spend the week.  Our pastor presented the gospel and lots of kids came to know Christ!  One kid in particular was a big problem kid before that and afterward he was totally in to listening to the lessons, was nice to his friends, and even thankful to us teachers.  It was obvious God made an immediate change in this boy's life and I was so blessed to be able to watch it!

Here are some pic's from our week...

Charlotte Anne ready for her first big day out.

 And Charlotte Anne after her first big day out :)

 My third graders listening to the lesson - yes all 65 of them!

SK in her class with her buddies.

 She's a little monster!

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

We had a big memorial day weekend this year!  We were supposed to all go see David's sister graduate, but unfortunately they got a bought with the stomach bug.  Needless to say we couldn't take a 4 week old kiddo up there, so we sent David on his way and we sadly stayed home.  Thankfully the graduation was streamed online, so we got to watch our beautiful Aunt Becca graduate.  This great lady is saying goodbye to high school and hello to a fully paid for college life on her way to being a doctor!  We are so proud of her!!!

So, with David gone that left me at home with both girls by myself.  Praise God they were super sweet for mommy!!!  We did all sorts of fun stuff...

Friday night was big girl movie night.  SK and I watched Cars 2 and cuddled - great theatre!

 Saturday was Eli's first birthday party.  We had lots of fun seeing our friends and just getting out and about.

Saturday afternoon I filled up SK's new pool and she got to go swimming.  She thought her new pool was just awesome.  A great way to use $20!

Sunday was church and then David got home.  He was wanting to do something fun, so we got a good rate at a hotel downtown and packed up for the night.  SK got to swim then we went to dinner and watched a movie!  SK LOVES staying in a hotel, so you would have thought we were at Disneyworld because of how excited she was.  :)

Then came Monday and fun times with the Connells.  We had not been able to get together with them in a while so SK was itching to go play with Daniley!  We had so much fun visiting and grilling hot dogs.  After lunch the giant slide was ready for action, and I think SK went up and down it a zillion times.  Girlfriend was pooped when we got home!  (Mommy was too!)  Charlotte Anne slept through the whole adventure.  Maybe next year she can join in the fun.

What a fun time!  I think I'm staring to get this mom of two thing!!

Mommy's Day Tea Pic's

Here are some more pictures of our mother's day breakfast at SK's school.  We had such a great time!