Happy First Birthday, Charlotte!!

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Dear Charlotte,

It doesn't seem like you have been part of our family for only a few short months.  It seems like you have always been with us.  You bring so much joy to our family and we love you so very much.

On this very special day, your first birthday, we want you to know how much you are loved.  We love your laugh.  We love your smile.  We love the look you get in your eyes when you are trying to figure something out.  We can't get enough of your jibber, jabber and you are constantly entertaining us.

You are so very much a girl.  You love having your nails done, your hair brushed, and playing with everyone's shoes.  Everything is very dramatic for you, from Cooper stealing your toys to just a small bonk on the head.  You can't walk yet, and you prefer to army crawl, but that doesn't stop you from exploring every nook and cranny.  You eat everything and we swear your tummy is bottomless.  You LOVE chicken and turkey, as well as any kind of yogurt.  You are just learning how to use utensils, but you have mastered getting food in your mouth.  You drink completely from a sippy cup, until your bottle right before bedtime.  You LOVE water and bathtime is your favorite time of the day.  You love to sing and dance and Elmo is your favorite toy.  You are stubborn, and quiet, but so, so smart.  You are beautiful.  You have been very loved throughout the first year of your life.  You've had three mommies who would do anything in the world for you and we all hope you know that you hold a very special place in our hearts.  You are a daddy's little girl now and you melt his heart.

We love you.  Happy Birthday, baby girl.

love,

Mommy and Daddy 

Separation Anxiety

Now it's Cooper's turn.  Charlotte had severe stranger danger and separation anxiety when we were in Denver in September.  She was about 8.5-9 months old.  She doesn't have it anymore and does well with strangers (at least after a few minutes).  Now Cooper has it--extremely bad.

We went to my work holiday party last night (when I get the pictures I will post them...I didn't bring my own camera).  When we left we handed a very upset, screaming Cooper to Christina and left.  It was awful to do that to him.  He cried for 2 hours in her arms before falling asleep.  He's a little hoarse today.  So sad.

Getting out of the house was tough!  I started getting ready at 4:30 while the kids were eating and I was still trying to fix my hair as we walked out at 6:30!  Having kids brings a whole new level to everything we do!

We had a great time.  The party was on the Queen Mary, which we've never been to.  It was so pretty!!  The band was okay, but dinner was delicious!  We danced a couple songs, but mostly we sat and talked and enjoyed each other's company!

Charlotte is now climbing on stuff...oh boy!

Cooper is full fledged crawling (as of a few days ago) and easily gets into sitting position.

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And since everyone got their Christmas cards...here are the bigger versions of the pictures (I'll post them on Shutterfly too...I just need to rename them).  Considering that I am not a photographer, know very little about photography and that I am only just learning to correct photos in Photoshop...I really love how they all turned out.  I used my Sony Cybershot, and waited until around 1 and opened up the blinds to let the natural light shine on them.

First the Christmas Card (I designed it using scrapblog and then printed them at home):

(I almost used this one of her standing...but I wanted her cute little shoes to be seen.)

And I also liked this one of Cooper...although this is the non-photoshopped version.

I also liked this one of them, but I couldn't ever get the edit right.  Charlotte is just a little out of focus and the light is really yellow on them.

Kids ARE like dogs

Whoever said kids aren't like dogs totally lied to me.  You have to teach them no but they never really think you are serious when you tell them no.  They poop and pee all over until you teach them otherwise.  They beg for food.  They even dig through the trash. 

We were in the middle of eating dinner and  Chris said, 'What are they doing over there, I can't see with the tree in the way.'  I said, 'Oh it sounds like they are getting into the box next to the trash can.'  We decided to look just to make sure and found this:

They both like to mess with the trash top and we had planned on taking the trash out after dinner.  Now that they understand things go 'in' and things go 'out' of containers, they obviously don't agree with us that the trash actually belongs in the trash can.  Cooper removed the lid and started pulling the trash out all over.  We had just cleaned up their high chairs (they drop bits of food on their lap while they eat).  Since the food was in the trash can, it got all over the floor and Charlotte was picking it up and eating it!!!  Gross.  So gross.

And remember how I had a picture of Cooper getting into everything, but that it has to be an adventure?  Well Chris said he heard Cooper whining, and started searching the house.  He didn't visibly see him, but could hear him in their room.  He started looking all around and then realized where Cooper was:

Yes, he climbed into the drawer that is under Charlotte's crib (the rails are bent so it's not attached).  He got stuck and Chris had to pull him out.  I think we're really in for it with Cooper...he's going to be into EVERYTHING and I am convinced his next adventure will be to climb up the bookcases.  My heart stops at the thought of finding him doing that.

It never gets old

I was trying to film Cooper crawling...which I did get a little bit of, but then Scout started in.  I don't know how many of these videos we have, but it never gets old...I still laugh every time.  As you'll notice, Cooper and Charlotte have started 'chasing' Scout...or I guess more like cornering her.

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Happy Birthday, Scout!

Scout turns 2 today, December 9!  We got her on Valentines day in 2007.  She has been the best dog ever and I can't imagine our lives without her!

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