Thankful

This year, like every year, I am truly thankful for the many things and people in my life. This year I'm especially thankful for:

-my husband. I love that man more than I could ever put into words.

-my crazy, amazing, genius, silly, goober, stunning daughter. God truly blessed me with her.

-the fact that we have so many living grandparents and great-grandparents that we have to travel to be able to spend the holiday with them.

-that Joe will be promoted to Captain next month. he works so hard, and truly deserves it.

-the roof over our heads, and the cars we are able to drive. 

-that I can provide my daughter with a wonderful Christmas and amazing birthday party.

-that my husband isn't deployed.

-that we have truly amazing friends to share our lives with, and who's children Charlotte will forever have friendships with.

I hope y'all have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

11 Months

11/13/2012

My baby is 11 months old today. I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. It feels like just yesterday I was going to the hospital to give birth, and now I'm planning her first birthday party. It's crazy how time has gone by so fast. I'm so happy she's growing and thriving, but it's also heartbreaking that she's no longer my teeny tiny baby. These conflicting emotions are tricky.

Charlotte you are so big girl! Everyday you get closer and closer to walking. You've now mastered being able to stand on your own, and you even do things while just standing. You'll pull up on something, and then walk backwards until you can barely reach what's holding you up, and then you'll push off and then just stand there. You'll laugh and grin, and it's very obvious you're extremely proud of yourself. Walking still makes you nervous, and you'll take a step or two, but then you stick your arms out and dive into Moma or Dada's arms. You're getting there though.

You continue to love books. That's your favorite thing to do these days. You'll sit forever and just turn page after page. You'll point to the pictures and talk on and on. It's almost as if you're reading the story to yourself. It's too cute.

You love you a pickle. I personally think they're disgusting, but you and Dada could pickles all day, everyday. 

You continue to breastfeed regularly, and refuse a bottle. You're really too old for a bottle anyway, so that's not really an issue. You've never cared for baby food, and we're officially throwing in the towel with giving it to you. You've never had a problem with "grown-up" food, and you continue to love everything we give you except green beans. I can't get you to eat a green bean for anything.

You're sleeping much better at night now, only waking up once or twice for a quick nurse. Sometimes you don't nurse at all. That will make your transition into your crib much easier on Moma. You're getting kicked out of our bed after Christmas. I was going to do it right after your birthday, but we'll be home in NC for most of December and I realized that sleep training is probably not a good idea when you're in an environment you aren't used to.

You love to share! You're always sharing your snacks with Keech, or whoever we're with. You always offer a nibble to us, which is sweet, but I'm not crazy about slobbery yogurt bites :) Your paci is another silly thing you share. Dada taught you how to put it in your mouth backwards, and that is one of your favorite games to play. 

You've started to become attached to a Wubbie (Lovie) lately. You have your silky blanket, and Rosie the Traveling Monkey. You think Rosie is hilarious! You'll give her kisses and snuggles, and play Pat-a-Cake with her. Blankey seems to calm you. Peek-a-Boo is a favorite of course.

You have started to climb into things. Your favorites are underneath your changing table, and in the baking cabinet. The changing table b/c there's a curtain, and you'll peak your head out and laugh like a crazy person, and then pop back in and repeat. It's hilarious every time. The baking cabinet is b/c it's the only cabinet you're allowed in. I taught you how to make noise with the pots and pans, and that thrills you. Dada wasn't happy about it, but he's quickly gotten over it seeing how happy it makes you to make your own music.

You're going to be 1 year old next month, and I'm starting to freak out. Time is going too quickly. I'm excited for your party though, and all of your friends and our friends who have known you since you were born will be there to help celebrate with us.  It's helping distract me from the fact that you are no longer a baby, and more and more of a toddler everyday.

We love you bebe, and are excited for what lies ahead with you! You never cease to amaze us with your brains, charm, and just plain old silliness. You're our favorite Charlotte!

Xoxo,

Moma & Dada

9 & 10 Months

I'm so behind in updating! I've made notes so I don't forget anything :)

Chawley-Walley you are just too big! You are looking more and more like a toddler, and less like a baby everyday. It breaks my heart, and makes it swell with pride all at the same time. You are still as bald as you were the day you were born, and I think that's the only reason you've managed to keep your sweet baby look.

You are starting to "talk". Nothing solid yet, but Moma and Daddy know what you're talking about. Mama-Moma, Dada-Daddy, NmmNmm-Num Num (you want to nurse), Ahdin-All Done, Yeah Yeah- Yeah Yeah, Chchch-Keech, Ccht-Cat, I Not-I'm Not. There's a few more that I can't quite remember, but I'll be sure to update as they come along.

You do this thing when you're doing something you're not supposed to be doing, and I've told you "no" a bazillion times, I'll get close and firmly tell you to stop, you'll look me dead in the eye and holler/ growl "I Not!". It's the funniest thing and cracks me up every time! You already have such a personality!

You aren't walking yet, but you're trying! You took your first steps the other night. It was so exciting, and I thought Daddy was gonna pass out from being so worked up! Haha. You love to hold hands and walk everywhere, and pull up on everything and walk along it. You still crawl everywhere, and you are super fast! 

You eat everything we give you! The only thing you seem to not like is green beans. Everything else is fair game to your little palate. Breast milk still makes up 90% of your diet, and you continue to nurse like a champ. Daddy wants to cut you off at 12 months, but Moma decided that she's going to let you self ween. I think he just misses being in charge of my boobs Haha. 

You make the funny faces! You do this thing where you crinkle your nose and make a heavy sniffing noise. It reminds me of a cranky bull. You've also figured out how to make fish faces and smack your lips at the same time which is hilarious. You can also click your tongue, and pop your lips. You crack yourself up when you do these things, and then I burst into giggles b/f of you laughing at yourself. 

Keech continues to be your best friend EVER. You crawl all over him, pull on him, snatch his bone out of his mouth, steal his toys, whatever you can do to annoy him. He takes it like a man too. The only time he gets a little pissy is when you try to get into his food bowl when it has food in it. He's not a fan of that, and kinda loses his mind when you go near it. I don't think he'd ever hurt you, but he does growl which makes Moma nervous. I try to keep you away from it, and tell you "no" but you're still too small to understand. You'll get there :)

You go to childcare everyday at the gym while Moma works out, and you do really well! The ladies are all very nice, and you seem to have fun. It makes me feel better knowing you do so well, and it opens up different possibilities for Moma and Daddy. They do a "Date Night" once a month, and we're going to try it out this time. Don't get me wrong, we'll miss your guts more than anything, but it will be nice to go have a fancy, grown up dinner without you. But we love you more than anything!

 You are such a sharer! You love to hand us whatever it is that you have, and you won't take it back until you're satisfied that we played with it thoroughly. It's so sweet to see how kind and thoughtful you already are. You and Brayden will just pass things back and forth to each other, and you always make sure the other has a toy to play with. Except pacis. I'm not sure why, but you're both always trying to steal each other's pacis. It doesn't make sense, but it's so funny to watch.

You love to sing! Your favorite right now is "I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee". You also like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Patty Cake", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Little Bunny Foo-Foo", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", "Your Are My Sunshine", and "This Little Light of Mine".

We love you Bebe! You're growing so much each day, and we couldn't be prouder of the sweet little girl you're already becoming! 

XOXO,

Moma & Daddy

Stats @ 9 months checkup:

Weight: 24.2 lbs 99% You're a chunk.

Length: 25.5 inches 5% You can't help that you're short, :)

Head Circumference: 18 inches 95% You get your big 'ole dome piece from your Daddy. 

Diaper size 4

 Clothes: Anywhere from 6 months to 18 months. It depends on what it is, and who makes it.

I wanna be a hot ass again. So I joined a gym.

I feel like the title pretty much sums it up. 

Right before I got pregnant, I realized that I had gained a few pounds since the hubs had gotten home from deployment. Essentially, I got fat and happy. I wasn't "fat" by any means, but I had some fluff that I wasn't happy with. So I joined a gym, and for a whole 2 months I exercised regularly. Then we got orders and I got knocked up. 

When we got down here to Ft. Benning, my doctor said he didn't want me exercising too much since I didn't have a solid routine prior to getting pregnant. Then all my complications happened, and he told me I could walk the dog, and walk to the car and that was the extent of any physical activity I was permitted to do. I was more than happy to sit on my butt my entire pregnancy. B/c of said complications, and the amount of water I was being forced to drink daily (4 liters. Every. Single. Day.) I gained 60 pounds. I was 194 pounds the day Charlotte was born. I was 164lbs two days later when I left the hospital. I had lost that much water weight just by giving birth! It was nuts! Skip ahead 10 months and I'm not happy with where I am size or weight wise. Weight wise, I'm exactly where I am before I got pregnant. But my body is different.

 I have a muffin top that I've never had before. My arms are no longer toned, but flabby and wing like. My butt, my pride and joy, is no longer perky. My legs are ok-ish, but not my fave. So I told my husband that I wanted to join a gym for my birthday, and if we could afford it, I wanted a personal trainer. The hubs must love me, b/c he delivered!

I LOVE my trainers Lynette and Teri. Lynette is the boss of all the trainers, and she is one of the nicest, most optimistic, and friendliest people I have ever met. Teri is a doll, who has 4 grown up children and knows exactly what I mean when I say I want a healthy mom body. I've been going 5 days a week for 3 weeks now, and I a;ready see a change! My jeans fit better, my arms and core are stronger, I sleep better, and I feel better about myself overall. Teri and Lynette think I'm going to respond quickly, and I agree. I'm fortunate enough to still be breastfeeding which helps with the extra calorie burn, and I'm motivated.They think they can have me at 125 pounds, with a nicely toned body in 6 months. I'm so down with that time-table!

I'm going to do my best to update my progress every other week. I think by sharing with all of y'all, I will keep motivated. And hopefully I can inspire someone else to get healthy :)

 A few things about these pictures:

1. No nasty, mean things. I'm tough, but still.

2. My husband is a terrible picture taker.

3. Ignore my stupid faces I'm making. See above #2.

4. No judgies :)

See what I Mean? Terrible.

Hubs made me :)

See?! Perky booty gone!

I've been a bad blogger

I have been a terrible blogger the last 3 or 4 months. I just haven't been into it. I've had zero motivation to sit down and write anything, or when I do have the desire to, I just don't have the time. The baby demands my constant attention, and gets really mad when I sit down at the computer for more than 10 minutes. Oh, and my computer is all jacked up, so I'm having to use the husband's. That's fine of course, except all of our pictures are on my computer! It's a problem I tell ya. 

We've had a lot going on, and I want to share it with everybody. I just gotta get motivated to actually share. Starting this week I'm going to challenge myself to post at least once a week, twice if I can. We'll see how it goes, and I'll do my best to get everybody caught up on our lives :)

I'll see y'all bright and early Monday! Well bright, maybe, but definitely not early ;)

Random picture of the bebe I found. She used to hang out in the sock basket when I did laundry.

She was so tiny then! And still very much a diva.