Cousins

13.5 and 11 months

11 months

I know, I know, I missed 10 months.  We were returning from Arkansas and I was exhausted and by the time I got around to it, it was mid August and I thought, "Meh, I'll just catch up at 11 months."  Because, to be honest- I didn't write it down and now I don't remember what she was doing at 10 months :(

So here we go!  Charlotte is really slimming out. She's still in a size 9-12 month with disposables and 18mo with the cloth. Although she won't stand independently (but can- she did it once a week ago) she will instantly pull to stand up when set down.  All she needs is something to steady herself.  And boy is she fast-especially up the stairs.  I went from saying, "Nah, it's ok she doesn't know how to go up yet" to "SHUT THE GATE! QUICK! HERE SHE COMES!" within 24 hours.

Someone forgot to close the bathroom door...

She's also figured out signing.  She still won't do it to unless it pertains to the situation (ie to show off) but she accurately and consistantly signs more, eat, drink, milk, down, bath-time and bye-bye.  She also has a very distinct belly-yell that means, "I WANT THAT BUT I CAN'T REACH IT" which also includes when Samantha has taken something away from her to play with (because wow that book/calculator/ball is suddenly interesting now that the baby is looking at it).  It's so distinct that I can yell at Sam to "give it back!" without even needing to see what's going on. 

Speaking of which, Jeremy and I refer to Sam as Charlotte's favorite and least favorite person.  They can't get enough of each other (Charlotte reeeeaches for Sam the instant they are in the car together and Charlotte won't nurse if Sam is in the room unless Samantha is cuddling with us as she nurses).
But Charlotte is also constantly fighting for her life when Samantha is around.  Or more accurately- for her head to stay on and working properly.  Because that is the one thing Sam just can't stop touching/covering/poking/petting/pushing/rubbing. 


My new background picture.

She loves water as much as Samantha.  You know bath-time has ended when you hear the insane protest crying from the bathroom upstairs as she is taken from the bath-tub.  She also looooooves music.  She hasn't mastered the sign yet, but she recognizes it and will start to "dance" before I even get the music going. 

Charlotte is such a dream baby when it comes to sleep now (haha, get it?).  She goes to bed at 7pm sharp and wakes up around 7am.  Although the babysitter only napped her once today, she will nap for a solid two hours in the morning and 30-90 minutes in the afternoon.  And all you have to do is give her her giraffe blanket/binky, give her some snuggles and lay her down.  Awake.  And when she wake up she wakes up HAPPY.  Happy as in "Oh-my-gosh-I've-missed-you-and-I-can't-hold-still-I've-got-to-kick-and squeal-life-is-so-good!"  SUCH a welcomed change from Samantha's sweaty screams and hours of grump post-nap.


Baby with Binky and Sister's booty.

I took it out to get a GRIN and she popped it back in before I could get the camera pointed at her.

But food.  Oh good golly this girl is picky.  Unless it's a GOOD piece of fruit (or freeze-dried bananas-not fresh or dehydrated), this girl wants only perfectly cooked meat, grapes and some sort of bread/pasta/rice.  Nothing green or even remotely colorful. Now, she'll TRY everything, but if that first bite isn't perfect-forget it.  I've tried avocado so many different ways that she recognizes it and won't even try it anymore. I'm glad she still nurses so well, but MAN it's frustrating to clean up after her with all the rejected food on the floor.

Oh, and seven teeth.  Not 2, 4, 6 or 8.  But 7.  For about 2 months now.  #8 is finally deciding to show up but it could be a while yet.

Randomly she'll bust out a very distinct and emphatic "NO!" in the highest and cutest voice. I can't help but hope for and laugh at her every time she does it. Otherwise she "talks" to herself- and it is the CUTEST thing in the world. I wish I could get it on camera but it's so quiet that the camera has to be real close and then she sees it and...well, see the below pictures to understand why I can't capture it...



What is THAT?
 

GRIN.

Why do you keep pointing that?  And what is that red light?

Cheeeeese!

Hey.

CHEEEEEESE!

Ok, now let me see what you're looking at...

"more"

Oh, hey there.

Let me SEE!!!

She kept blinking, it was hilarious!

She was enthralled by the camera. 

I kept trying to get her to GRIN and Sam obliged.  Charlotte then inspected.



There we go!

Now let me SEE mom!


 

Finally, our favorite things about her right now:
Kim- the GRINNNNNN
Jeremy-the fact that daddy is just as good as mommy. Or as he says, "That mommy is not the preferential option."
Samantha- her hugs

The end. Next month- A YEAR!!

Note to Post Pregnancy Future Self

11 months.  Just give yourself 11 months.  And don't worry about anything until summer, when you aren't in survival mode.  You've done it twice, you can do it again.  And you'll feel great.  Just remember, portion control, water intake, and don't keep the junk in the house!

May

September

 PS  Jeremy really doesn't notice unless you show him before and after pictures.  Then he'll say, "Wow, I didn't even realize you had the weight to lose!"

Arkansas 2014

 It. Was. Crazy. Awesome.

 

The drive stunk.  We learned the hard way that we do NOT start a trip before children would wake up normally.  Especially if they don't/won't sleep in the car.

 

The 8 hr drive took 11 hrs.  I made him take over child-care-duties the last 2.

First we visited this guy's house.  I loved his missing tooth!

Charlotte was in heaven with the new toys...

...especially the lego table.  She got really fast, btw.

Max was FLOORED that Sam could read a book that she'd never read before.

Part of their morning routine.

Max was disappointed that Sam didn't bring her My Little Ponies.  But he was ok playing with the princesses instead.

This is ALL she wanted to do the entire week.

Sam was every impressed by their ability to just build anything they wanted.

BLUE day!

THEY HELD HANDS. 
At one point after playing outside they coyly came up to me (holding hands) and told me that they were married.  He was spiderman and she was spider woman.  His uniform was red and hers was pink.  And they had weapons.  Sam described their colors and how they matched the outfits, while Max informed us on their functions and how to use them. 

The Wewers house is always full of fun.

And TV.

And Razorback outfits.

And CHEATERS!! Michael actually taught Sam how to cheat in Go-Fish!

Charlotte found her lounging chair.  Her name is Mary Kate.  They were quite the inseperable pair.

Charlotte was SO popular.

Seriously, everyone always wanted to be around her.  Everywhere we went, whenever someone would walk into the house there was always a chorus of "Do ya wanna see the baby?!"

Michael and Mathew were CONSTANTLY wrestling.

Luckily they are well matched and both love it.

Charlotte was not amused.

These two were so cute.

Mathew is a true gamer. 

So. Popular.

Sam found her match for someone as obsessed with Frozen as she is.

Jake so badly wanted to be INHERFACE but was very good about keeping his distance...most of the time :)

I stayed away from the puzzle as long as possible.  But then I started and just couldn't stop.  Luckily Jake was there to help.

These two!

It was such a relief to our backs to have someone smaller walk with her.

And then we went to the lake!

The fairy godmother.

Much to my stomach's dislike, she got to go tubing!

The clan of 5-9 year-olds.  Pretty soon they'll all be awkward teenagers!

Even Charlotte's lounging chair came to hang out.

My favorite picture of the whole trip.

She splashed non-stop for 15 minutes.  And then SCREAMed when I made her stop to rest.

Over and over.

Lil miss popular.

I decided against the boat  ride after we tried the life-vest for her.

She enjoyed pushing this stool around instead.

Um..excuse me?

Charlotte's bath while Jeremy and I made our first of three attempts to make it to mass.

FIRE!

So yum.

We have the amazing oportunity to stay here next year instead of loading and unloading a million times to visit everyone.  It will be so much more relaxing!

I mean seriously, look at the view from the road!

We can't wait for next year!  Jeremy is already counting down the days!!