Happy 2014!

Happy 2014

Hello and Happy New Year to You!  2013 flew by in a flash and I’m sure 2014 will be the same.  I have some catching up to do since I haven’t blogged since Charlie Kate turned one in March.

Charlie Kate is talking about everything, tickling everyone, and is a little social bug.  I taught her Bible class this week and she and her friends just talk to each other and play so seriously…. It’s the best stage in my opinion. 

Sweetness          She hugs me and says, “Awe, mommy”, while patting my back.  At night when we pray, she says everyone’s name with the sweetest little voice.  I think God smiles a lot at her little prayers. 

Funnies              The funniest things that happen lately are:

When she calls Jon, “Don”…. I guess I say his name a lot! Ha!  She will yell it across the grocery store when she can’t see him, or when she is bringing him her baby doll to hold. 

Scary               A few weeks ago Jon was playing with Charlie Kate in the floor right before bedtime, and she fell face forward onto the floor very fast.  Jon brought her to me as she was crying hysterically… I looked in her bleeding mouth and saw that her tooth was pushed upward into her gums.  Jon quickly called and oral surgeon friend of ours and he gladly saw her before we put her to bed.  He reassured us that her tooth wouldn’t fall out in the middle of her sleep and cause her to choke or anything else.  However, at the time, he thought we might have to pull it, but wasn’t sure how bad it was.  We went to his office two days later for evaluation and he said it looked okay to leave it in for now.  If it turns dark or the gum turns dark, we may have to pull it.  These things are so trivial, but seem to shake the earth when they happen to your child.  Jon, bless him, was so torn up about it.  He felt like it was his fault.  He is just so tender with her, and couldn’t be further from blame, but that’s what parenthood does to youJ

Christmas           We had a blast at Christmas with her this year!  We put up a little Christmas tree in her bedroom.  We bought several little stuffed animal, unbreakable, ornaments at Target.  Anyone who came over would get the rundown of every ornament on her tree.  She knew every one of them.  Last year she just kind of played with wrapping paper, but this year she really enjoyed her gifts.  Jon and I got her some books, foam blocks, Raggedy Ann ornament, and a Raggedy Ann doll.  Nana and Poppa got her a stroller, baby doll bed, doll swing, and doll set which she LOVES!  Grandma and Granddad bought her a baby doll and another LL Bean bag to add to her set.  She carries both babies around by their head.   We will have to work on her technique since we are ….

Expecting a baby on June 4^th        

So Charlie Kate will be a big sister this summer!  There have been so many changes in our lives over the past two years.  We moved back to Florence, Jon got a job at Rite Aid, bought a house, bought a truck, remodeled a house, had Charlie Kate, Jon got a job at Payless Pharmacy (better hours, and is an amazing family owned pharmacy), I got a job teaching and helping coach basketball at Mars Hill Bible School, we are embarking other business adventures as we speak, and now we are having another baby!  WOO!  Changes, changes, changes! 

Pray for us as we continue this amazing journey.  God has major plans for us.  My hope is that we are good listeners, and hear what He is telling us.

Dear darling Charlie Kate and sweet baby Burgess,

          Mommy and Daddy have many dreams, hopes, and wishes for you.  We hope, most of all, that we can put aside our human interests for you, and hear the Lord’s plan for your lives.  We love you through and through, but your Father in Heaven loves you deeper and has even better things in store for you than we could ever imagine.  So, we pray to hear God for you until you can hear Him for yourself.

Happy 2014! Love, Mommy and Daddy

                                  

With Sam, Ava, and Nora 

First Horse Ride

McGee Farms 

Charlie Kate becomes a cheerleader

First Swim!

Beach Trip with Gracie

I love a bouncy house!

First  Haircut!

SO still!

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Summer and Such

Playing:

Mommy Poppins Playgroup

Hanging out at the mall!

Library Class

Charlie Kate is so brave, but still needs daddy' hands.

Jackson's loving, can't beat it!

Ready for errands! Sunglasses, check!  Coin purse, check!

You found me!

Add caption

Just scooting around

Weeeeeee!

Play group with Molly

Hiding Spot

Library Class

Thanks for my play-set, Nana and Poppa!

Splash pad

Auburn Friend Fun

I started a little play group for some of my close mommy friends to get together, and have some adventures with our kids this summer.  Our group is on meetup.com called, “Mommy Poppins of Florence”.  Charlie Kate loves all of the playtime, but  I just feel like I sweat a lot, given that she is on the Run 98.5% of the time.  She is going through this “everything is a toy, including people” phase.  So, she pokes eyes, pulls hair (only mine), bites (only me so far), and takes toys from others!  This is very trying on my nerves.  I know she is exploring toys in her mind, but this is unacceptable behavior according to people who have never had kids or have forgotten this part.   I find myself apologizing and trying to explain this stage. I sound like one of those moms that think her child does No wrong.  We are also in the "screaming randomly" phase…. So, church is fun, and unpredictable. 

Talking and Singing 

Charlie Kate jibber jabbers a string of “words” and then laughs as if she told a joke..  She does this often throughout the day, and it is hysterical!  I love her humor already!   Her favorite song is, “This Little Light of Mine”.  She holds her little finger up every time I start to sing any song now.  She loves for me to blow her finger when we “don’t let Satan blow it out”. 

Dancing: hope this video shows

For some reason I had the Six Flags commercial jingle on my mind for a week or so.  We would do that jingle while cooking, playing, etc. I would look at CK and she would be dancing with her hands above her head like she was under arrest. 

Sleeping:

 

Tummy Time mat is being used to its full potential!

Worn out!  

Charlie Kate sleeps very well and is now down to two naps a day.  She takes a super long nap now  in the mornings and goes down for a nap in the evening.  She gives pretty good cues when she is sleepy.

Eating:

Fruit and Vegi's are good from a pouch

Love Mommy's Cup

Morning Coffee... Milk

We are getting braver about the thickness of food we serve her now.  Since the two choking incidents, of which we had to do the Heimlich Maneuver, we were nervous to give chunks of any food.  She eats all table foods, and is starting to use a spoon!  When she is full she with shake her finger at us and shake her head. 

Random:

Daddy is home from Estonia! Yay!

Meeting uncle Rod

Visiting Big Mama

Lunch with Tripp

Grocery Shopping in Style

Jon and I were just having the conversation that we can think everything she does is amazing.  We tell stories to our friends about her, like they will make the morning news.?.  Other people are just not as impressed with our stories most of the time! Hmmm, Wonder why? ha!  We just realized that we are those people that think their kid is AHMAHZING!  But that’s how every parent is about their child, well a lot of parents.  So I’m just going to keep on sharing her silly geniusness, (that is a new word) on here so that whoever wants to know will read, and those who don’t want to know, will not have to run from us when you see us coming! Ha! 

 Dear Charlie Kate,

You have stolen our hearts and will steal many, many more throughout your life.  Our prayer is that you steer those hearts towards our Heavenly Father.  Show them that your joy comes from above.  We love you forever and ever, our sweet blessing!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

11 Months is DoNe, Charlie Kate is OnE!

 

        What happened to my little tiny ball of pure baby?  I’ll tell you it was super sneaky, but our little baby girl is now a toddler!  Yes, a toddler!!!  We are just so proud of her, and all of her triumphs and accomplishments.  She is a walking champion, and soon to be running.  She is eating anything and everything with such grace… well, she’s eating.  Talking is an understatement when referring to Charlie Kate.  She doenst really say words that we know, but she is talking her little heart out.  I am well aware of where that comes from, and completely understand that we are in for a lot of entertainment. (I have been told that I was a talker) 

 

Events:

Charlie Kate had her first birthday party at her Nana and Poppa’s house.  The theme was from the book we got her for Christmas, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.  She was the cutest thing!  She got super tired about half way through, and was the first to leave due to excessive fussiness.  When we got her home she had a super high fever and slept for 13 hours straight that night.  She was worn out, and had a slight ear infection. (Great, awareness on our part) The party was super fun, She ate a ton of her cake and loved it.  We got her a little “Radio Flyer scoot around” toy.  She, well I, opened all of her gifts and realized that she will never need toys again! Ha!  Everyone was so generous and we are so thankful to have such great support in our lives!   We are constantly reminded of how blessed we are to have such a precious gift from God in Charlie Kate, but also that we are surrounded by loving, Christian examples. 

 

 

 

This was her first Easter.  She loved hunting eggs so much that we do it nearly every day since! Ha! 

 

Adventures:

We took a trip to Oklahoma!  Katy, Jackson, Charlie Kate, and I drove out to see Great Gran, my Gran.  It was such a good trip.  Charlie Kate didn’t sleep to great on the drive, but once we got there she had so much fun with her 2^nd cousins, Kya, Audrey, and Hunter!  She loved spending time with Great Gran too!  She “rode horsy” on her knee, read, and played, played, played.  The trip back was not as much fun since we sat in two hours of traffic, but was well worth the time there.

 

 

 

Dear Sweet Charlie Kate,

We are so proud of you!  You are such a light to the world already, with your smiles and the joy you carry with you daily.  It is our prayer that you continue to be that light to others and that the depth of your light grows and grows.  You are our sunshine!

Love, Mommy and Daddy