6 months?!?

Really?? Its been 6 months?! We can't believe it! What a blast we have been having -- I can't wait to see what is about to come. Charlotte is getting so "fun"! I mean, let's be honest... the first few months you can't really play or get reactions from them. But now -- we actually feel like we are doing this whole parenting thing right. She smiles all the time, and when we know its is for an actual reason we almost think she is trying to say, "Yep -- you guys are good. I think I'll keep you".

6 month appointment stats:
20 lbs 3 oz.
26 and 3/4 inches long

Looking forward to the holidays! Have a safe and happy one!

counting down the days...

Charlotte has been awful busy preparing for Christmas! We listen to Xmas music every morning on the way to school and observe the tree every evening. She loves the lights and shiny red balls on the tree. I think next year will be a challenge to keep the ornaments in tact! She has been on several shopping excursions and is being such a big girl. She'll be 6 months the day after Christmas, and I really can't believe it! She is eating baby food, starting to sit up (with some assistance), reaching and grabbing things, and smiling all the time! So much fun! We are really looking foward to the upcoming year!

Here are some pictures from our recent shopping trip and the neighborhood baby xmas party. 6 month appointment: December 19th!!

yummmm-o.

First taste of "real baby food"!! Butternut squash seems to be a hit!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Charlotte has attended her first parade! The Charleston City Christmas parade was this past weekend - and Charlotte was so excited to go! There were lots of pretty lights, colors, and music and she took it all in... then she even took a little nap half way through and woke up just in time for the big finale of Santa Claus! She knows she has to stay on Santas good side!

I L-O-V-E to play!

I even love playing in my activity center so much that I fell asleep in it the other day! I passed out on the musical keyboard - and when mommy and daddy found me, the music was still playing!! Haha!!

Happy Turkey Day!

We went Tuesday for the Thanksgiving Feast at Charlotte's school. What a fun time! When we arrived Charlotte was appropriately dressed for the occasion and was smiling from ear to ear. A feast it was! a bottle for Charlotte and all the traditional turkey day food for mommy and daddy (and the bigger kids)! You will notice each of the kids were given names to match something in their personality... Charlotte's is appropriate if you have heard her "growl of excitement"!!! You'll also see two more of Charlotte's favorite things about school in the following pictures -- her friend Covington and the swing outside!!

don't eat too much!
love, mm, wes, and smiling bear

nothing wrong with a little holdin' hands.

In a nice afternoon to evening playdate with Jack - they enjoyed the johnny jumper, exersaucer, and some stimulating conversation of vowel sounds. While Jacks mom, Robyn, and MM were sitting the kids beside each other, Charlotte began to reach for Jack's arm. They then batted at one another for a bit before slowly grabbing each others hand. Their first holding hands experience!! How sweet! Now, if they could only sit up on their own so we would have a free hand to take pictures of such wonderful things!!

Tarheels vs. Bears!!!

Lenoir-Rhyne College recently played the UNC Tarheels in an exhibition basketball game at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill. Wow! Since our families are Tarheel fans -- and MM (and mom, dad, suzanne,cousins, grandfather, aunts, uncles, etc...)went to LRC, we had to cheer for both!! Of course the Tarheels won - but it was such a great time - I think Charlotte had a blast!

Mommy's Birthday!

Here are some pictures from mommy's birthday celebrations. We went to the beach for a bit, out to dinner several times (which she mostly slept through), and Charlotte made mommy a card at school!!

Halloween!!

Time for one of our favorite holidays! Hopefully we have started Charlotte down the path of it becoming one of hers as well. She dressed up as... well -- Charlotte! She was Charlotte from Charlotte's Web (one of our favorite books). She did great with the costume -- she even like grabing onto her "extra legs" and trying to chew on them!! We trick or treated with Robyn, Jake, and Jack around our neighborhood. There are so many kids now in our 'hood making this year really neat. The streets were filled with kids in fun costumes and parents with flashlights and wagons. We are so lucky for a great neighborhood! Enjoy some pics!

Yes -- we saw it.

Have no fear... we have seen the news reports and heard the chatter about the Bumbo seat being recalled. How upset we were when it was announced... this is Charlotte's favorite! However, I have done alot of reading on the recall and they have approved for the Bumbo seats to continue being used -- but properly. We have never left Charlotte unattended or on high surfaces. She is still in the proper weight and age range (which was another problem... big kids using it) and as long as she is following the guidelines -- she can still use it!

No worries!! Thanks for all the emails and calls of concern!


http://www.bumbosafety.com/

latest stats...

We went today for Charlotte's 4 month appointment!! Can you believe its been 4 months?!? She had a great check up - and a great report. Even after 3 shots she was a champ and only cried for a second until she discovered the painted fish on the wall beside her! Those fish take all the pain away!

weight: 17 lbs 6 oz.
height: 25 3/4 inches

Race for the Cure 2007

As Charlotte's first charitable event - we recently walked the Lowcountry Komen Race for the Cure. We had the stroller to cater to Charlotte - but she wanted to be part of the action, and ride in the baby bjorn with daddy! She loved the sun and all the people. She was dressed for the occasion - all pink - in support of Breast Cancer awareness, but her cuteness was just too much to take -- she passed out in the carrier after the first mile! She took a nap, and woke up just in time to go through the finish line. What a trooper! We walked in honor of MM's cousin Dana and Wes's grandmother, Mum... true inspirations to us all! Here are some pictures!

These are a few of her favorite things...

- Miss Spider on Noggin
- being outside
- walks in the Bjorn with Daddy
- Wilbur in the mornings
- my "lovey"
- smiling
- my bumbo seat
- growling like a baby bear
- kicking
- vowel sounds
- James Taylor, Jack Johnson, Mickey's Bluegrass
- Jack and all the neighbor boys...

NC visit pictures

HOMECOMING '07

Lenoir-Rhyne had their Homecoming this past weekend. We all made the trek up to Hickory for the festivites and an extra day thrown in so we could show Charlotte off to the locals!! She had a blast and did great! So many people, so many new things, and the coldest temperatures she has ever felt (in her lifetime at least)! Charlotte saw her first parade (momma maggie and papa tony were riding in it), went to a BBQ, met mommy's college friends, went downtown to The Jackson Group, went to the mall, met lots of family friends, saw the NC mountains, met more family in Lenoir, and still managed to look cute during all of it!

Here are several pics from the weekend...