Happy Birthday, Charlotte!

This week we've been celebrating our Lovie Lou.  She's three-years-old!

Rabbit ears for our Somebunny is Turning Three party.

 A giant dress from Tia Shaun, layered over a purple tutu from Poppy and Gigi.  

Yes, we are so happy to be celebrating with this little girl.  What can we say about our Charlotte Rose to capture how much we love her and how much joy she brings our family?  Over the past year, Charlotte has grown and learned so much.  She's our social butterfly who charms all with her smiles.  She can be stubborn and opinionated, but we don't usually mind.  Recently, she has declared her love of pink and green and all things glittery and sparkly.  She still snuggles her hoppies (stuffed rabbits) each night and often carries them throughout her day as well.  She enjoys riding her tricycle, painting, and sticking stickers.  She likes saying what Forrest says and doing what Forrest does.  She loves to be silly, especially with Gigi, and she is always happy to face time with family.    

We love you Charlotte.  Blessings to you during your next year!

Fall 2018

Now that our last little baby isn't such a baby anymore, I guess my blog doesn't need to be marked only by monthly milestones and major holidays.  Time to blog, well, whenever. 

Over the past two months since Jonathan's birthday, life has been humming along pretty smoothly.  Jonathan has turned into a toddler, walking everywhere.  He's also sleeping quite well these days.  Hooray!  What a difference that makes in my quality of life.  Charlotte continues to be our sweet, funny, and silly little girl.  She's looking forward with great anticipation to her third birthday next month, and with that, joining Forrest at school in the new year.  I can hardly believe it.  Right now Forrest is passionate about Berenstain Bears books.  Who knew there are over 300 of them?  We don't have quite that many, but our collection is growing. 

Things are going well for Joshua and me, too.  We're approaching our 11th anniversary this week.  Wow!  The years have flown by, yet it seems like we've been together forever, in a nice way.  We work so well together, and I think we both feel lucky. 

A few pictures from the past months:

Over the summer, we had Grandma Grogg's piano delivered from Uncle Ed's house.  Forrest has started piano lessons online.  Don't roll your eyes!  They are great!  He seems to have an ear for picking out melodies and is catching on quickly.  Since this picture was taken, we've had to replace Grandma's piano with a newer one.  Unfortunately, hers just wouldn't stay tuned.  We were sad to let go of the family piano but are enjoying a new-to-us Yamaha so much!  Right now we're practicing for a Christmas recital at Mom and Dad's.  

Happy Halloween!

We enjoyed trick-or-treating with good weather and good company last week!

What else has been happening?  Jonathan is walking everywhere!  He even has his first pair of shoes, so he's looking like quite the little boy.  I cut his hair for the first time.  There aren't any pictures because, well, he's the third :0)  We're enjoying this fall so much.  We've been able to be outside plenty.  We're a happy group!

Happy First Birthday!

We celebrated Jonathan's first birthday on Friday.  We were so happy to have family over for dinner on the driveway.  There was plenty of food and lots of smiles.  We love our little boy!

 

No thank you to the birthday cupcake.  Please pass another chicken tender!  Seriously, wouldn't do more than squish his cake.  What a goof.  

At one year old, Jonathan has taken his first steps.  He is so proud to walk short distances, usually from a piece of furniture to me or Joshua.  He has five teeth, with the sixth coming any day.  He is getting to be a better sleeper, usually just one fit during the night and up at 5:00 to eat.  We're getting there!  He's still the happiest boy you've ever met.  He loves to laugh and has a delightful sense of humor.  He and Forrest are buddies; hope that lasts!  He loves to be outside; coming in usually inspires some protests.  His favorite foods continue to be yogurt, ice cream, and toast.  Maybe some day he will eat fruit and vegetables?

Yes, it's been a year of growing and learning for all.  There's something about a baby's first year that makes some moments last an eternity, yet months pass by in a blink.  It's hard to understand how that works.  With that said, we're certainly a comfortable and happy group.  What a blessed family we are!

6 Years Old!

Last week we celebrated with Forrest as he turned six.  Wow! 

Forrest has grown so much the past year.  Right now I'm struggling with what to say about our smart, thoughtful, goofy, stubborn, not-so-little-anymore boy!  We love so much about him!  We love that he knows nearly every country name, location, and flag in this world.  We love that he can give us accurate directions to nearly any spot in Peoria.  Yes, Forrest's visual-spatial skills and organization are amazing and astound us often.  He's also turned into quite the reader over the past several months.  His passion right now is Berenstain Bears books.  He loves them!  Yes, Forrest's mind makes us so proud. 

We're also so proud of the kind and compassionate boy he is.  He is so sweet to Jonathan, trying to teach him new skills and cheering him on as he learns.  He often translates for Charlotte if I'm not understanding her.  He thinks about his friends and enjoys his time with them.  He still gives me a big hug before bed and usually wants me to lay by him for a few minutes.  Then it's bittersweet to remember little toddler Forrest and little baby Forrest. 

Yes, my Forrest is growing so quickly, beginning his Kindergarten year in his Montessori classroom.  We're so excited for all he will do during the upcoming year. 

Party with friends at Glen Oak Park.  His cake had a Robin Hood decoration on top.  It has been his favorite movie for a long time now!

11 Months

Little J. Scott is 11 months!  What else can be said about this happy little boy that I haven't been saying for the past 11 months?  Jonathan brings such joy to our family with his sweet disposition, joy, smiles, and laughter.  During the past month, he has continues to grow and develop his adorable little personality.  He still loves Mommy the best, but Forrest and Daddy are favorites as well.  He and Charlotte seem to get in each other's way!

Sleep can still be a challenge for Jonathan.  Yep, I'm still feeding him each night and telling him to go back to sleep at least one other time, but we're doing okay.  He and I have graduated from our basement bedroom up to the main floor, and he is now able to put himself to sleep in the evenings and often for naps without big fits.  We'll take progress as it comes!

Besides spending time with me, Jonathan's favorites include playing silly games with Forrest, eating macaroni and cheese, taking baths with Charlotte, and playing in the sandbox. 

10 Months and a Vacation

It seems that I'm still getting caught up from our two week adventure to Wisconsin earlier in the month.  During our trip, Jonathan turned 10 months old!  What a big boy he's getting to be!

During the past month, Jonathan has continued to be the smiling baby of our home.  Our family is blessed daily by his sunny disposition.  Jonathan's current favorites include yogurt, Toasted crackers with cream cheese, sipping water and milk from a cup, trashing rolls of toilet paper, cruising along the edge of the couch, and chasing his siblings while Daddy holds him.  His dislikes are watching me leave a room, sleeping at night (although he has improved a bit, and he and I have graduated from sleeping in the basement), and long car rides.

During the past month, I've gotten pretty good at getting Jonathan into the backpack style carrier.  It's a hit!  I wish I would have tried this with Forrest and Charlotte.  

While I'm here, I'll toss up a few of our favorite Wisconsin pictures.  This year was truly a memorable trip.  We had great weather, enjoyed our house and boat on Whitefish Lake (and the new air conditioner), spent time with Grandma, and relaxed as much as a family with three young children can.  

Joshua and Forrest are headed back up in a week for a "man trip."  It looks like my dad may even join for a couple of days this year.  That will mark the end of summer, but not the end of fun for us.  On the horizon, we have a 6-year-old birthday party, a first birthday, and a possible trip to Adventureland.  Can't stop the excitement!