December 29, 2008

It's hard to believe, but Charlotte is one month old today!  She has been such a blessing to all of us.  It feels like she just arrived, but at the same time, I can't imagine our lives without her.  

Here's a video of the first month I put together:

Let's Get Along

I was reading a blog with Caroline on my lap a few moments ago and I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when she started "reading" a sign that was pictured in the post.  Here's the picture:  

The little 3 year old on my lap read the entire thing to me ("Cacourage udders") and told me "those are the rules."  I realized that this poster is also in her classroom at school.  Very amusing.  It also makes me feel like our money is well spent at her preschool.  

Christmas

Updated!  I was able to add the video - scroll down to the bottom of the post.  

We had a good Christmas! For some reason blogger has been giving me a hard time when I try to upload pictures, so sorry that this is a little late in getting posted.  

Caroline was a good girl (mostly) this year, so Santa brought her a "big girl bike" and a camera among other things.  She also got showered with plenty of other wonderful things from our families.  We enjoyed some good times with family and friends over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It comes and goes quickly and we are getting back to "normal life" as we clean the house and get toys put away in Caroline's room.  Charlotte slept through most of the excitement this year, but I'm sure next year will be a whole new experience with two girls to enjoy the day.  

Here are a few pictures and a video:  

A Christmas pic of the family.  

Trying to get a Christmas picture of Mama and the girls . . .

Charlotte was quickly not having any of it.  

Caroline helping Uncle Neal open a present.  

Caroline and the "big girl bike"

Sleeping Beauty Barbie

The new camera

Jeff teaching Caroline how to ride her bike.  

Here's the video of Caroline on the bike:  

Two weeks

This post is a little belated, as Charlotte turned two weeks old on Saturday, but better late than never, right?  

Charlotte had her two week check up with the pediatrician on Friday and all is well!  She weighed 6 lbs. 11 ozs. and was 19 1/2 inches long (by the time we left the hospital she was down to 5 lbs, 15 ozs.), so she's definitely eating well.  We had to bring Caroline along to the doctor because she was hanging on to a cold that she'd had since Thanksgiving; and now big sister is doing well too and is now almost totally cough free!  Otherwise, Charlotte is doing well, still  sleeping and eating really well. 

Caroline is getting more used to the revelation that she is not the center of the universe, consequently her trips to time out have been more infrequent in recent days.  There is still that lingering jealousy though, and an episode from our life on Sunday illustrates that well.  I was feeding Charlotte on the couch while Caroline was playing in the dinning room.  Caroline then ran off to her room and returned to sit next to me with her brush, a rubber band, a bow, and the nail clippers in her hand.  She said, "Put my hair up and and cut my nails, please."  Caroline hates to have her nails clipped, so I found that to be hysterical.  I complied with her requests to make sure she felt like I was paying her enough attention and I think it did the trick.  Caroline is still loving on Charlotte a lot and loves to sing to her, hug her, kiss her, and whisper little secrets into her ears (this morning I heard Caroline say, "I love you baby sister, I so glad you not in the hospital and not in mama's tummy.").   Here are some pictures from the past week:  

 

Another video

Let it Snow!

I could not believe my eyes this morning when I woke up to feed Charlotte.  As I walked through the kitchen I glanced out the window because the light looked different than usual at that hour.  To my surprise, it was snowing!  And not just a little snow, this was a real, honest to goodness, could have been in the mountains, SNOW!  I've never seen so much snow or such big snowflakes in Louisiana.  I ran to wake up Caroline because I couldn't let her miss the first snow of her life to a few extra minutes of sleep.  Within minutes she and Jeff were suited up and ready to go play in the winter wonderland that was our yard.  My brother Neal showed up a few minutes later and the three of them had a great time playing outside.  Charlotte and I enjoyed it all from the comfort and warmth of the couch; we don't have any baby snow gear, so I thought it best not to let her really feel the first real snow of her lifetime.  

It was truly beautiful, but I'll let the pictures (and I'll try to post a video too) speak for themselves!  

Here's a video (please keep in mind that Jeff and Neal were supervising this), proof that children indeed need both fathers and mothers . . .

Caroline meets Santa!

If any of you remember Caroline's attitude toward Santa last Christmas, this picture and story will be a huge surprise.  My mom took Caroline to the mall yesterday evening to ride the carousel and just get out of the house for some one on one time.  My mom called me while they were there and asked if we minded if Caroline took her picture with Santa (in case that was something we wanted to do with her).  I didn't mind at all and of course didn't want Caroline to get upset if she couldn't meet Santa, so they went to wait in line to take a picture.  Right as it was Caroline's turn to take her picture, there was a problem with the equipment, so they told them it would be about five minutes or so before they could get going again.  Caroline took that opportunity to go have a long conversation with Santa.  Mom said that Caroline ran over to him and hugged him and had a long conversation while they waited for the camera to get working.  The picture below is proof of just how excited she was; the word that comes to mind is "joy" when I see her precious face!  

Our girls

Caroline and Jeff went off to church this morning, so Charlotte and I are hanging out in a quiet house!  I thought I'd take this chance to upload a few new pictures from the past couple of days.  Charlotte is still doing great - she rarely cries (unless she is having her diaper changed or being bathed) and she eats and sleeps like a champ.  Caroline is still doing pretty well, but she is having what I'll call some "adjustment issues" and we are trying to pay plenty of positive attention to her to discourage the acting out (nothing too serious, but she is definitely testing our limits).  She is still being very sweet with Charlotte though and asks to hug her and hold her about every other minute.    

Here are some recent pictures:

Grandma and Grandpa Beck with Caroline and Charlotte

Caroline and I spent some time playing with Play-doh yesterday morning - here's one of her creations!

Caroline and Charlotte before church this morning

Caroline loving on her "baby sister"

Hope all of you are well!  

Caroline

On Tuesday LSU had a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and celebration.  Jeff and Caroline went and had a great time.  After the lighting of the tree they had games and food and music at the fieldhouse.  They enjoyed all of it!  As you'll see below, our brave girl had her first "rock climbing" experience and got to check out the LSU fire truck, which is always a treat.  The picture of her with the xylophone player is hysterical I think - Jeff said he was walking around playing Christmas songs and obviously Caroline had to get up close and personal with him, she was enthralled with it.  

At home

We've been home for a few days now and we're settling in to life with two girls instead of one!  Caroline has truly been such a sweet sister and a help to me.  She wants to hug and kiss Charlotte as often as possible and wants to hold her just about every other minute and she is learning to be gentle with her.  She wants to know why Charlotte sleeps all the time and when she is going to be able to play on the floor with her.  It is really hard to explain the concept of "months from now" to a three year old; if anyone has some suggestions, send them my way!  

For her part, Charlotte is a great baby (at five days old!).  She eats well and slept very well last night - the first few nights were less than ideal for me, but I endured 6 months of not great sleep with Caroline, so I am far from my limit yet!  Jeff is being a great husband and dad, taking Caroline to school and putting her to bed and helping her in the middle of the night when she is ready to get up to be with Charlotte.  This is definitely a transition for all of us and so far it is going well.  I feel great and am just so thankful to have a healthy, happy family with a tiny new blessing in it.  

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday.   

She's here!

Charlotte Marie entered the world at 2:18 PM on Saturday, November 29, 2008!  She weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz. and was 18 inches long.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

I've put a bunch of pictures below.  The first one has a funny story:  Caroline came back to the labor and delivery room before Charlotte was born to see me and the sight of me in that bed was a little too much for one three year old.  The picture Jeff took shows exactly how close she was willing to get to me!  Caroline was excited to see Charlotte after she was born though and told all of the nurses that SHE named her Charlotte.  Caroline also made it a point to tell all of us to be sweet to her baby sister and "don't wake up my sister."  I think she is going to be a great big sister and a big help to Jeff and me.  

We are all doing well.  We came home today and we are getting settled at home with our two girls.  Thanks so much to everyone for the calls and prayers and visits and gifts; we are truly blessed with wonderful family and friends.  We look forward to having everyone get to meet our newest blessing.  

"I love my mom!"  

Charlotte on the scales . . . weighing in a little bit smaller than Caroline did.  

Caroline meets Charlotte for the first time.  

Family photo

Caroline holding Charlotte for the first time.  

Papa and Charlotte

Getting ready to go home!  

Mama and Charlotte.