Monday, December 29, 2008

Its a Wonderful Life.

What a great Christmas Charlotte (and mommy and daddy) had! Here are just a few of the highlights...

spending time with all her cousins...

being girly in her new tutu.

her first Cabbage Patch Doll.

a little bit of tomboy in there... Nick's helmet

The new cottage.

her cottage sink -- a favorite this year.

Spending time with her favorite doggie.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Way cooler than Santa

Charlotte would have spent all day with Santa if he had been on this thing!!

After the Santa visit - we went and had lunch. During lunch, Charlotte could not keep her eyes off the merry-go-round. She'd squeal and giggle when the music started up... we knew we should take her on it. So, we finished lunch and picked out the prettiest horse on the ride and strapped her in. She LOVED it! The wind in her hair, the tunes playing, the open road... well, not really, but it was the closest thing to a convertible she's ever been on!!


Santa and his dog.

She wasn't very interested in Santa this year. She didn't cry or scream or throw a fit, she just didn't want to sit there! Santa was a nice man and took no offense to her dis-interest in him.

I was so happy when we got in line because all she wanted to do was play and look at all the Christmas-y things. In fact, she cut in front of about 3 other families and headed straight for Santa! I thought - great - she is excited to see him! But, right before we got up there she was pulling away from us pointing at Santa only to say, "doggie! doggie!" I could now see that Charlotte had no interest in Santa - but only in the "stuffed" dog that sat beside him. So, when she was placed upon his lap, she knew she was so close to the doggie - but was being forced to sit on this man's lap! Squirmy!! So, we snapped a pic quickly, petted the doggie, and moved along.

However, the night before during the neighborhood Christmas party, Santa made an appearance and Charlotte touched his beard and nose, smiled at him, and also grabbed a candy cane from his bag of goodies. Obviously, no doggie was around Santa this time.


Party Girl

Tis the season for Christmas parties. Here is a picture from pre-Polar Express night at school (parents night out). Also - relaxing before the neighborhood party last weekend. She is quite the social butterfly these days.


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Latest Stats...

We went to our new "Hickory Doctor" this morning for Charlotte's 18 month appointment. 18 months!!! Holy cow... time flies when you are having fun! Doc said everything looked great, Charlotte showed her animal sound making ability as well as how she can skip! The waiting room is a lot more fun than our previous doctors (who we loved and miss so much!) because it has a ramp, Disney Channel, and fish tanks!! Charlotte would press her nose to the glass and say. "Ish Ish Ish!". Very sanitary, I am sure. So, needless to say, I had a hard time getting her to leave the waiting room and go back for her appointment! But, she did great and we don't go back until she turns 2! By the way... I will officially start saying she is 1 and a half now. No more of this "counting months" stuff. ;-)

Here are her latest stats:
29 lbs
33.5 inches tall

After the appointment I changed her into her PJs because today is "Polar Express Day" at school. The kids get to play in their jammies all day long! Then - as a special treat tonight, the school's Christmas gift to the parents is a free "Parents Night Out"! We will take Charlotte back to school tonight around 7 where they will be watching a movie with cookies and hot chocolate! Wes and I will be finishing up our Christmas shopping and possibly having an adult dinner! Such a treat for everyone involved!

We have a Christmas party to attend this weekend and some present wrapping is on the agenda as well. I can't believe Christmas is next week!! Geez... where did 2008 go???

Have a great week/weekend...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Wow! Kinda snuck up on me!

Well the holiday season is upon us hardcore! I wasn't quite ready. However, things are coming along nicely in the Christmas planning. We are almost done shopping! And its only the 16th! I am typically a Christmas Eve shopper...

Charlotte is such a joy these days! She is learning a lot and discovering new things every day. She loves to tell you animal sounds and point out body parts (nose and belly button are her fav's). As for her creative side... she loves to color and read (aka look and point at books)! She is always dancing and singing - the girl's got rhythm! I guess I didn't realize how "girly" she really is until she recently starting skipping! So cute! She is extremely vocal... some of her favorite phrases are, "Hey Doggie", "All Done", "Thank You", "Uh Oh" and "I dunno" (said while shrugging shoulders holding hands up).

I think Christmas is going to be a blast this year with her. She is excited to play and will be tuckered out by the end of that long weekend, I am sure! I wanted to post some recent pictures to show you how she is growing everyday! Enjoy!

Happy Holidays to everyone in blog land...

yummm, corn.

color color color (as you can see - mommy and daddy color quite a bit too)

reading Skippy John Jones Colors

silent night

Friday, December 5, 2008

Around the house...

Helping decorate the tree

rockin' in her chair to Blue's Clues.

the life of a blog star

Thursday, December 4, 2008

giving thanks.

We had a great Thanksgiving! Busy, but great! We were able to spend time with MM's and Wes's family - and since we have typically had a rule that we don't travel on Thanksgiving, it was nice to be closer to some family to visit with this year. We still missed Charleston and our fried turkey in the driveway - but this year was nice.

Charlotte on the other hand didn't care a bit where she was or who she was visiting with... as long as there was food!! We discovered the girl LOVES Thanksgiving food! She always had a piece of stuffing in one hand and her fork in the other, as to not waste any time! She was also introduced to Mama Maggie's chocolate chip dessert (a family favorite)... a member of the clean plate club all weekend! Now - on to the next holiday!
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a handful of the Sticklen cousins... Matthew, James, Rebecca, & Elizabeth (who had just had her wisdom teeth out!)

The Jackson cousins - Nick, Alex, and Luke after and evening of Wii!

yummmmm. Chocolate Chips...

mommy's lil' pool shark.

proof of a good time... asleep with shoe and sock off.