Happy Birthday and Happy Christmas!

Maybe someday I'll be organized enough for Charlotte's birthday to have a post before Christmas?  Well, not this year.  Sorry, little girl!

We celebrated Letty Rose's special day with family and a lasagna lunch.  As expected, the weather did not cooperate, and about half of our guests couldn't make it.  It really was okay because giant birthday parties really aren't what one-year-olds love anyway.  Olive Garden made lasagna, and I made cupcakes.  Shaun and I have decided that catering is the way to go sometimes.  When the point is food, make fancy food.  When the point is to join in celebration, go for catering.  It's delicious and saves so much on the busyness that can distract from the enjoyment of the gathering.  The cupcakes I enjoyed making and decorating with edible rice paper butterflies from England.  They were beautiful! Yes, the day was enjoyed.

Happy birthday, Charlotte Rose!

After the party, it was right on to planning Christmas, which was at our house this year.  We, of course, celebrated Christmas Eve near Atkinson.  No planning there, thanks to the aunts.  Christmas day we hosted the grandparents, Mom and Dad, Kati and Ryan, Shaun, Bill, and Will.  Shaun and I made beef tenderloin, baked potatoes, rolls, green bean casserole (fancy version, delicious!), with pumpkin pie and raspberry cake for dessert.  I was quite pleased with the cake, which was made for Dad's birthday.  (Good intentions were interrupted by a birth last year.)

Forrest was excited for his gifts, and as always, Charlotte was excited for whatever Forrest was doing.  The highlights for Forrest this year were a USA floor puzzle, "pillow with handles," 3M wall mounting stickies, and countries of the world 100 piece puzzle.  The kiddo is into geography right now, seriously into it.  

Thanks, Shaun, for the Christmas pajamas!

Christmas card photo taken back in November.

11 Months

We're closing in on one-year-old, and we're loving life.  It's been a beautiful fall with lots of lovely weather and activities with Charlotte and Forrest.  Here's what she's been up to.

Yes, our little Letty Rose is as charming as ever and busy as can be.  She loves spending time near Forrest and is on the go.  No longer is she content to be held when there is something that needs to be investigated.  She's also not so interested in two naps each day.  Are we moving to one-nap-a-day already!?  (Forrest did at 11 months.)  She still enjoys meal times; her favorite foods haven't changed, but she does continue to add new foods to her menu, like apple cores, crunchy Cheerios, and prunes.

We love our little girl and are happily planning a sweet butterfly-themed birthday party in a month!  Hard to believe!

Happy Halloween!

Forrest was ready for Halloween this year.  He vowed to "make it all the way to Northmoor!"  He would have, too, if it wasn't bedtime.  Yes, he trick-or-treated for a long time and was so excited to see all the candy.  This year, he decided to be the alphabet.  Love that little boy!

10 Months

Despite me completely forgetting what day it was, Charlotte has turned 10 months old.  Poor second child!  She didn't seem to mind and happily ate our paper 10 immediately.  What a little sweetheart our Letty Rose is.  She continues to charm us with her smiles and tricks.  She babbles, waves, folds her hands to pray, and claps.  She's on the move, crawling and pulling up all over.  Mealtimes are her favorite; she loves to eat yogurt, cottage cheese, toast with peanut butter or cream cheese, strawberries, bananas, kiwi, and many other things.  We are so glad to spend our time with this little girl.

9 Months

Another delightful month spent with Charlotte has passed.  Each time I think this little girl can't be more pleasant, there she is warming our hearts again.

During the past month, Charlotte has gotten to be a chatty girl (finally)!  She babbles with /d/ and /g/ sounds, and we are thrilled!  She isn't breaking any speech records, but we don't care.  Patient growth we can do.

Charlotte has also learned to crawl, fast, and decided that maybe she will be a standing girl, too.  She's slowly (and now the last few days not so slowly) pulling up and not tumbling down immediately.  She continues to enjoy trying new foods, lightly toasted bread with cream cheese or peanut butter are current favorites.  Other favorites right now are all things Forrest is doing, swinging in the garage, licking and munching everything in sight, and throwing fits when it's time to change her diaper.

What a little sweetie she is!

In other news, I just arrived back from Orlando after three days and four nights.  What!?  I can't believe I just typed that!  Joshua had, and is still attending, a medical conference, and I joined him for a vacation at the Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort.  Oh my, that place is amazing!  Great weather, fantastic pool, lots of delicious food.  We so enjoyed our time!  A huge thank you to my mom for caring for Forrest and Charlotte.  What a blessing to vacation and know they are being so well-cared for.  I missed them but didn't worry a bit.  Another thank you to Charlotte for being a good little sleeper.  Quite often these days she will do an 11 hour stretch with barely a peep.  We never could have imagined that with Forrest at 8 or 9 months!

Four Years and Eight Months

Yesterday was a big day for our family.  Forrest Edward turned four years old!  Doesn't that sound like a big step?  It felt like a big step.  As is the tradition, we had a family party at Poppy and Gigi's.  Four year olds like traditions it seems.  A party in Peoria would not do.  The theme this year was letters, numbers, and snakes.  Oh, this little boy is passionate about his interests!

While Forrest turned four, Charlotte turned eight months.  She's a growing girl!  During the past weeks, she has learned to scoot around (not crawling, but getting where she wants!), has started eating so many things (muffins, yogurt, and ice cream are favorites), enjoys screaming for pleasure, and wants to do whatever Forrest is doing (if only Forrest wanted the company).  

What a happy family we are.  We love our children and look forward to seeing them grow and learn!