Seven Years...

I am giving myself 20 minutes to write this post (with a 60 pound dog that is terrified of the fireworks in my lap) while Jesse is in the shower and both girls are asleep, and then I am turning off the computer and going to watch a movie and celebrate midnight with my husband!

It's our anniversary! We celebrated two nights ago while Annabelle was with my parents. We took Charlotte out with us since she is a pretty sleepy companion! I always feel double pressure to wrap up the year and write an anniversary post on one day. Tonight I am just feeling so thankful for my little family and all that this year has brought us. So, maybe some highlights of the year and of our seven years!

The best moment of the year by far was the birth of our sweet Charlotte Grace! Watching Annabelle go from toddler to little girl has also delighted us every single day. I could not be more proud to be her mother! Other highlights: finding out I was pregnant, our big snow, my first full year of me staying home and that working for us, Annabelle's second birthday combined with week long power outage, taking Annabelle to the pool all summer, renovating our kitchen (I am thankful for this every single day!), our trip to NYC, making Charlotte's room into a nursery for her, Jesse finishing his Masters degree, starting to learn how to parent two children, having a Wednesday night at-home date night each week, going to the beach with the entire family, really learning to sew, and really getting settled into our home! 2011 was really good to our family.

Seven Years...
2 cities, 5 different jobs, 5 moves, 1 apartment, 3 houses, 2 dogs, and 2 babies later... they have been an incredible years full of change, growth, fun, laughter and lots of love. It is hard to put into words (for the world to see) what one person means to you. I feel overwhelmingly blessed every day that I get to live my life with Jesse. It seems like yesterday we were dancing in the New Year with all our friends and family, and tonight we tucked in our girls and are snuggled in at home... it doesn't get better than this!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you the merriest Christmas from our family!

Thanksgiving, Sewing, Parade and more!

As I was pulling pictures off of my camera last night, I realized that it had been a full month since I updated. Honestly, it feels like a week ago. Time is flying by...I think a combination of taking care of a baby and the busy holiday season. Thankfully, since the last post, things have drastically improved around here. We have been sleeping a little more, ventured out with both girls some (even me alone with them), and started to find a bit of a routine.

We celebrated Thanksgiving on the following Saturday and enjoyed a great dinner and watched the Georgia Tech game. It was a pretty great set up...we cleaned our house, Ellen made appetizers, and mom brought everything to us to cook dinner. Yum!

Nana had some help from the big kids and the little one!




This is my new favorite picture ever.


Just our typical Saturday morning with daddy these days... pjs, blankets, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Jesse and I have a deal that since I have to get up so many times during the night, that Saturday morning I get to catch up on a couple extra hours of sleep. I look forward to it all week!




I have been doing a lot more sewing lately and finally found a little time last week to fit in a project! I didn't have a pattern, but it felt so good to do something that used a little brain power.




Annabelle loves a parade. We march around our house playing parade almost daily with her instruments (why yes, both her parents were in band), and she has wanted to watch the Macy's parade over and over. We went to the Christmas Parade downtown, and she loved it!




After the parade, we tried to get a picture of the girls together. We practically blinded them in attempts to get one or two good ones. How do you teach a two year old to be still? I have no idea!

Annabelle lives to get a chance to hold Charlotte.

My three loves.


I found this little gingerbread house kit at Publix. The house was together, and the icing and candy were included. We looked at pictures online first so that Annabelle would know what a gingerbread house was, and then we got started. She really enjoyed it! I loved watching her decorate, but especially enjoyed hearing her ask over and over why she couldn't eat the candy, and then vacuuming up all of the rouge sprinkles. Really, it was a great little project for her! I have to admit however, I did straighten up many of the gumdrops and had to make myself not micromanage the candy placement!





Hopefully I will be back with more soon! Charlotte turned two months old yesterday, and I have more pictures to share! We have a lot to do this week...including a little music program at Annabelle's school tomorrow (I can't wait!) and a stack of Christmas presents that don't seem to be wrapping themselves!

One Month...

Well, we have officially been parents of two daughters for one month. What a joy and what a challenge! The first couple of weeks that we were home went so smoothly that I was almost convinced that we had this down! What?!? Then weeks three and four came along and things started falling apart. Now please realize that I absolutely have the perspective to realize that we are blessed beyond measure with these two girls and have no problems in the grand scheme of things. That being said, we had our tails kicked this week! All four of us had horrible colds that turned into sinus infections for me and Annabelle, and an ear infection for sweet Charlotte. To cap things off, Annabelle is apparently allergic to amoxicillan. Unfortunately, we found that out after she was very sick all night. We initially thought it was a stomach bug, so Jesse slept upstairs with Annabelle, and I slept on the couch with Charlotte as we ran load after load of laundry. Thank goodness for small mercies that it wasn't a bug! What a week! Maybe now things will seem easy!



Moving on to our baby girl! Charlotte Grace has been such a precious addition to our family! She has stolen our hearts already, and we can't wait to get to know her sweet little personality more! So far we know she will sleep through most anything, only cries when she wants to eat (but look out because she gets fighting mad fast!), loves to snuggle up under your neck to sleep, and looks cute doing anything!



She weighs a little over 9 pounds now and is starting to fill out! So far she has been a non-stop round the clock eating machine. She eats every 2 hours all day and most of the night. Last night was much better! Charlotte slept for a 3 hour stretch for the first time, and we are just hoping that that will continue to improve!

In Annabelle news...she is just plain hilarious and exhausting these days! Oh my goodness, we could not love her more! The child talks every second of the day. Nonstop. She is a constant running dialogue of everything that is happening, mixed with a thousand questions, and lots of repeating herself until someone acknowledges what she said. I swear, the girl has the vocabulary and ability to put thoughts together like an adult. When she isn't talking, she is singing. She has also gotten very particular about how she wants everything. A strawberry cut the wrong way can be the end of the world. I told Jesse that I really hoped for his sake that we lived in a house where he has a man cave before these girls become teens!

Mostly, we are just trying so hard to keep a sense of humor while learning to balance the needs of both of our girls...

and trying to keep our house from looking like this everyday!

Trick-or-treat!

Annabelle wanted to wear her big sister tutu from Ellen and Jimmy, so we found some wings to match making the cutest little butterfly ever! Jesse and I were exhausted and very close to deciding to stay home this year after several nights of very little sleep - and we are so glad we didn't! She had the best time, and it was one of those magical parenting evenings! This is one of the mental pictures of my girl at this age that I will have forever - she was just too adorable!



We made stops at a couple of neighbors and friends houses, then went down the street to trick-or-treat with some of our favorite friends! Having her big girl friend with her made Annabelle so brave and excited - I couldn't believe how much our normally very shy child loved this! At each house she would hold out her pumpkin bag and then say "Happy Halloween"! We made it to about 10 houses before Miss Charlotte had a come apart!


Enjoying a little bit of her candy before crashing!

Happy Halloween!

We are trying to keep Charlotte at home as much as possible (although we have taken several trips to the park and out for lunch) and keep Annabelle busy/entertained so we created some fall fun for ourselves at home this weekend!



Annabelle loved helping remove the pumpkin insides, but only while holding her spoon with a paper towel so that nothing touched her hand!




This was our second attempt at caramel apples this fall, and we decided that the dipping chocolate that you microwave for dipping fruit into is the best for drizzling. These were really easy to make and delicious!



We roasted the pumpkin seeds...very yummy! Just wash the pumpkin seeds well and let dry (not on paper towels - they will stick). Spread a tablespoon or so of oil onto a baking sheet, add pumpkin seeds, and salt lightly. Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes, stirring seeds after first 10 minutes.


Looking forward to trick-or-treating with our little butterfly tomorrow night...and to enjoying some of her treats after she goes to bed!

Happy Halloween!

2 1/2 years and 2 weeks...

Annabelle, You are 2 1/2 years old today!

You are such a little lady and a delightful companion!


- First of all, you have been the most amazing big sister that I could ever imagine. You have loved and adored Charlotte from the first moment that you met her. You want to hold her several times a day, and you love to help change her diaper. Mostly, you just want her to be where you are at all times.


- You have become quite the negotiator. You regularly come up with an idea that you like better than what I told you and then you say "How about that? Is that a good deal?"

- You have started to love going to "school". You talk about all of your friends, and you want to take your teachers something every time you go. You are growing and learning so much during your mornings there!

So excited to be taking caramel apples to your teachers!

- You have been talking non-stop! You switch from topic to topic - anything from something that happened that day to some random thing from months ago. Your new favorite question is "why?". It feels like you say it hundreds of times each day, and it is usually in response to something we have told you to do. I have found myself saying "Because that is what mama told you to do" a lot!

- You have such a tender heart. Anytime someone is upset or hurt, you want to make them feel better. You ask about the boo-boo on my tummy from having Charlotte several times a day.

- You have been pretending quite a bit, and it makes me laugh to hear you make your dollhouse family say things like "you need to be a good listener".

- Favorites: going to the park, chocolate milk, taking walks with daddy, books, singing, hide and seek, helping cook, arts and crafts, and curious george.


In other news, Charlotte Grace is two weeks old!
We went to the doctor today for her check-up, and she is doing great! Her weight is up to 7 lbs, 12 ounces! She has been eating around the clock, and loves to snuggle for naps. Nighttime sleeping is not fantastic right now, but I know it will be better soon! We have been enjoying her so much, and are loving learning more about her every day!

Baby Charlotte Arrives!

Welcome to the world, Charlotte Grace!
We are beside ourselves with joy that you are here!


She arrived one day before her due date on 10/13/11... a perfect 7 lbs, 2 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. With dark brown hair and big brown eyes, she looks a lot like her big sister. She has been such an easy baby so far...sleeping a ton and only crying when she wants to eat! Currently, she is curled up asleep on my chest and I couldn't enjoy it more!

We documented the hours of labor with some photos. This is about 15 hours in. I had gotten an epidural a couple of hours before and was feeling much happier!


After 19 hours, it was decided that a c-section was a necessity. Getting on board with this plan was emotional but the right thing for Charlotte.


Meeting our girl for the first time! The overwhelming flood of love for this child was the exact same as when I heard Annabelle's first cry.


Awake and alert


Bath time with Daddy while I was in surgery and recovery. I think that missing this time is one of the hardest parts of a c-section, however it was a little easier this time because I knew what to expect (and probably because we had been up for 38 hours at that point, and I just couldn't keep my eyes open).


Getting to hold Charlotte for the first time. Perfection.


One very happy mama!


Snoozing together!


Getting some love from Daddy.


First picture as a family of four.! I still can't believe that we have two daughters...wow!


Annabelle meeting her baby sister for the first time. My parents brought her up to the hospital to see us, and as soon as Annabelle walked into the room she said "Let me see that sweet baby girl!" She has held her, hugged her, kissed her, and talked about her non-stop since she arrived.


Grandad getting to know his second granddaughter.


One very proud Nana!


Visiting with Papa and Lola on day 2!




A wonderful afternoon was spent with Ellen and Jimmy.


Beautiful chaos! Welcome to life with two!!

We have had a wonderful week at home together and are slowly learning how to balance an infant and a toddler!