Charlotte is 2!!!

 Dear Charlotte, Char Char, Boo boo, baby girl,

You have grown up right before my very eyes.  I remember the day you were born, we weren't expecting you to come for another two weeks.  We were supposed to have dinner with your Uncle and Aunt that night...but you had other plans! 

You came out so perfect at 1:01 p.m. weighing 7 lbs 5 oz, and 19.5 inches long.  You had perfect blue eyes, curly brown hair, and when you first looked at me I fell in love.  

You are such a fun little girl, you love to play with your babies, eat guacamole, cookies, smoothies, playing with your friends.  You talk a lot, you aren't quite to full sentences but you say little ones all the time.  The funniest thing you say is when we ask you if you are a baby you say "NO big girl" it is so cute, and you are right you aren't a baby anymore, but you always will be my baby.  

You love to run, read your books, put on make up with me in the morning, fly with Daddy, play with Cody, watch the animal sound video over and over, cook in your kitchen.  

You have tried the potty a few times, and you have a big girl bed.  You love your elephant "Ellie" that you sleep with, and two of your babies names are just "baby" and the other one is "baby Jesus".  When we say goodnight to you, you always say "Night night, love you sleep forever!".  

You are still a pretty picky eater but we have found that if we hide veggies in smoothies you will drink it.  You have a little more hair than last year, but I think this next year will be good to you and give you lots more, you are so tall, right at 3 feet, we think you are going to be around 6 feet tall! Your hair is pretty blonde and curly, you love to wear head bands, bows, and hats.  You also think wearing a tutu everyday would be great, along with your leg warmers.  You are a pretty stylish girl, and we mostly just let you pick out your outfits.  You don't really like brushing your teeth, or baths.  

Thank you for making me a mommy C, you are the very best part of me and your Daddy bear.  We love you to the moon and back.

Happy second birthday to my little favorite!!

Love always,

xoxo

Mommy

New Year/2nd birthday

 This year has been such a whirlwind year, and I cannot believe tomorrow will be Charlotte's second birthday.  My baby girl! Everyone always says how fast kids grow up but I never realized it until I experienced it! 2013 has been a great year, but I am really looking forward to 2014, we will be moving to a new state, the hubs will be getting his PhD, C will be moving to a twin bed, potty training, family adventures...I just am so excited to see what this next year brings.  

We planned a trip last night using my Mom's timeshare points to Orlando for my birthday/spring break in Feb.  I am so excited.  The plane tickets were so cheap, and it is the perfect time to get out of the cold.  We are thinking about going to Sea World, and maybe visiting some friends while we are there.  I plan on taking full advantage of the pools, lazy rivers, and SUN.  It is really kid friendly there and I cannot waiiiit!!! I invited crazy med school to come (well I pretty much told her she had to) so if she came to it would make it even better, C loves Aunt Ewizabef.

Happy New Year! and Happy birthday to Charlotte!

Christmas 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating with your families!!!

Joy of Christmas

 

I love my almost 2 year old little girl!!  Yesterday was pretty much the best day ever!! I won a 1000$ grant for school next semester, I finished Christmas shopping, and got to hang out with my little fam all day long.  Even if I do have a cold/cough/sore throat thing I could care less I am in such a great mood!!!! Today we are making chocolate chip cookies for Santa, and finishing wrapping all our presents.  I love this time of year!! We were talking about traditions we want to start for our family and so we are going to give Char one present to open on Christmas eve which will be pajamas for all of us to wear that night, and then put out cookies and milk for Santa, and then we are going to read "The Night Before Christmas" in our bed.  After C goes to sleep we will put out all the gifts, and eat the cookies.  I am so excited for these traditions.  I just looooove Christmas.  On Christmas morning we will make this yummy breakfast treat from the hubs side of the fam called Sticky buns, and then open presents and stockings.  I can't wait.  C is going to LOVE her presents!!!

throwback Thurs

A little throwback Thursday action here.  These are some of my favorite pictures that I just re-discovered on my computer.  I love this family one because my dad hardly ever smiles in pictures so it is nice to actually get one where he is happy!

I love my family, they are so great.  

It feels like it should be Friday already...today crazy med school came to visit and we got coffee and shopped it was sooo good to see her! Me and the hubs are watching Elf and drinking wine. Best night ever.

one week to go!!

One week until Christmas! Lately I have been struggling with some things and have felt spread extremely thin.  These past 3 weeks have been really hard emotionally, and it has really affected my focus with school. I told the hubs today I was tired of being there for people, but its not that, I think I am just tired. I am emotionally exhausted, and I wish I could just make everyone feel better but I need to realize I just can't.  I need to focus on making myself, God, and my family happy.  I need to focus on the season of GIVING and really make it a point to just slow down and just BE. 

I can't even believe it is almost Charlotte's second birthday, and for that matter that it is almost 2014!!! Time just literally goes by so fast it is hard to slow down and breathe! Today was the hubs data meeting which is a big step in getting his PhD, he was kind of bummed that his time line he made wasn't going to happen and that it would take a few months longer then expected.  I am so proud of him though, I really look up to him, he has the BEST work ethic, he is so smart, and he really makes me want to work harder myself.  I don't care that he will take a little longer, the only reason I want him to be done so bad is so that we can have our own house and start our adventure together in a new city/town/country wherever life takes us!

just another manic monday

Oh Monday. I feel like Monday's always sneak up on me and kick my butt.  C did NOT sleep well the past two nights, up every 2-3 hours like a newborn again...her two year molars are poking through so she has just been a hot mess for the past week or so.  She drools like niagra falls, snot is constantly running out of her nose, and she whines if ANYTHING doesn't go her way.  She has been a real joy to be around these days.  I cannot wait until teething is over with.  I was really not in a good mood this morning and yelled at her for crying.  I felt awful because I know her poor gums are probably really hurting her, but after 10 tantrums before 9 am, I really lost my patience.  I had to take a mommy time out and take deep breaths.  I realized she is almost two, doesn't know what is going on in her mouth, and just wants her mommy to understand and snuggle her.  I changed my attitude right around, and we did some Christmas crafts and made cards for people.  This age is so hard.  C doesn't know how to voice what is going on sometimes and I just need to take a step back and try and be as patient as I can.  Yesterday she was playing with my in-laws nativity set and kept rocking tiny baby Jesus and giving him kisses, and saying "night night baby Jesus" it was SO CUTE.

Christmas card pics

Our sweet friend J took some pictures to use for our Christmas card this year, and she did such a great job as usual! Char loves her and J can always get her to smile.  They turned out exactly how I wanted them too and I can't wait to frame a few in our house.  I wanted to originally do them in the snow on a sled...but we didn't have any snow so I changed my plan, turns out we got a HUGE snow storm the day of our pics but it was too late to change our minds and I am glad.  

Speaking of snow...it is STILL SNOWING!!! I love snow so much, it is so magical and a winter wonderland outside.  We took C on a sled ride around the block and she loved it except when her hands got cold and then she was over it.  Last night we braved the storm and had our moms group plus husbands holiday dinner.  It was so much fun, I am so glad we all could do it on the same day, I love all of them so much, and I feel so blessed to have them as friends.  Some days I don't know what I would do without them and their kiddos! My bestie came in from out of town too and it was SO good to see her, even if it was only for a few hours.  

Stuff the hubs says

After our 10 day road trip together:

Hubs: I am experiencing an over abundance of proximity

After asking me questions while I was trying to concentrate on my homework:

Me: You are the most annoying person ever in life.

Hubs: I am pretty sure Hitler was more annoying.

Randomly one morning:

Hubs: When we are old I want to win a dance contest for friskiest couple

Me: 

Hubs: I mean we will. 

While watching a Victoria's Secret commercial:

Me: Ugh just stop being so perfect.

Hubs: Don't listen to her, carry on.

Me: 

Char: DADDYYYY DADDYYYY DADDY BEARRRRR

Hubs: Whats up dude

Char: LOVE YOU DUDE

bunnies and Christmas cookies!

We ended up coming home early from Baltimore because of weather, so when I went in on Sunday morning to say hi to C, she said "MOMMY's HOME!!!" it was soooo cute!!! It was so worth the long drive.  We wanted to do something Christmasy so we went to this farm, it was SO COLD but Char loved the bunnies.  Later that day we made Christmas cookies and then went out for Sushi with some of our bestfriends at this DELICIOUS place in a converted mansion, it was amazing.  Such a great weekend! More on Baltimore later :)

yights

 We set up our tree last night! It was awesome once we turned the lights on, C screamed and was so happy it was SO cute!! I am so glad she loves this season as much as I do.  She loves the "yights" (lights) I am heading to Baltimore, MD this weekend for a much needed get away.  

Have a great weekend everyone!

everything.

 This week again has been a challenge. C has been having so many meltdowns and tantrums it takes everything in me not to just collapse out of sheer exhaustion and desperation.  I know it is just a phase. I KNOW that (or I am just hoping it is at least...please tell me this is just a phase) but I literally COLLAPSE into bed every night and don't feel like doing anything.  Really, how can a 30 lb almost 2 year old be THIS hard?? Ok but seriously she isn't that bad, its only tantrums and throwing herself dramatically on the floor, and refusing to eat anything other than chips that is driving me crazy.  At least she doesn't hit, or kick or anything.  I know I just need to take a breath and calm down, and I do.  I give myself mommy time outs and it helps.  I just have to stay consistent.  Sorry if this is coming out as a jumble, or if it sounds like I hate my child.  I really don't, I love her with all of my being, and it hurts sometimes how much I love her.  I just never knew how HARD this parenthood thing would be.  Hard in the best way possible because I could never ever imagine my life without her in it, but literally every day comes with brand new battles, a lesson in patience, and at the end of the day a lesson in love.  The hubs sent me a video today while I was in class and it just about melted my heart.  The hubs asked her what she wanted to say to me and she said "Umm love you Mama, love you TOO" ohhh my gosh the second she says that I just melt into a puddle. 

I have just been thinking a lot recently about the people in my life, and about how as some people drift away, others make it clear they want to stay.  I thanked crazy med school for treating me the same since having Char, and she said "Having C only made you better" it made me cry.  That is the thing, I feel like a lot of people treat me different since C came along, but the thing is I AM different, different in the ways that make me a mom, but I have the same values, the same sense of who I am.  I make it a point and try really extremely hard to balance everything in my life.  The hubs, Char, myself, friends, school, work, and family.  I think I am doing a good job... Honestly I am doing everything I can to make SURE I am there for everyone.  At the same time, it isn't all up to me.  At the end of the day I just need to realize I am doing the very best I can.  And when that little girl looks up at me I know I am doing everything for her.  That is enough for me.