Charlotte's First Dentist Visit

Big girl, you did so good!! You had your first visit to the dentist today. You are always very interested in what is going to happen in a new situation. I explained what I thought might happen and you weren't scared at all. The sweet hygienist counted your teeth and you have 17! She also cleaned them with the "tickly" toothbrush and you chose watermelon toothpaste. The hygienist and dentist explained very thing they were doing and you were very agreeable. I was so proud of how brave you were! You asked me for several days afterwards if your teeth were still clean. Now you brush your teeth "like the dentist told you".

Little Girl Charlotte

You are really growing into a fun and sweet little girl. Today you showed that to me in a couple of ways. You experienced your first gymnastics class yesterday and fit in like a fish in water. Olivia and I got to watch you through the glass in the parent watch room. The class was one hour and you did so much in that time. I was so proud of how you listened and tried everything your coaches taught you. It seemed as if you had been in the class for months. You were a little concerned about not having a leotard for your first class and was awed by the sparkly uniforms hanging in the lobby. Later that day, a friend brought you one that her girls had grown out of. It's a great start but you very politely requested a pink one next time we got one. I think I am as excited as you are to attend class every week!

Another milestone of every little girl's life is telling your first secret. I thankful you wanted to tell me. Later that same day, you came up to me and said you had a secret for me. I immediately got excited because I'd been waiting for this moment. You cupped your hands, breathed into my ear, and loudly whispered, "Did you know that I love you and God loves you and daddy loves you?" You are one of the reasons I feel so loved each and every day. You are such a blessing to everyone who knows you, especially your daddy and me.

A Little Thanksgiving

While this years Thanksgiving didn't include your daddy at our table, it was a happy one nonetheless. Your sweet Chrissy and Poppie drove up to visit us for a week. We got lots of projects done around the house...some necessary, some fun. The highlight was the big red ball! Poppie took it to the tire shop to blow it up and Charlie, you took to immediately! You run and dive into it with joy. Sometimes you just lay in there and pretend you're sleeping or that you're a mermaid. Other times you roll the ball around the yard. Olivia has touched the ball but will not get inside it yet. We also went to Christmas on the Cumberland to see the beautiful Christmas lights along the river.

When it came to Thanksgiving dinner, we didn't want to overdo it. We have all been eating healthy for quite some time now and knew the feeling we get when we out junk in our bodies. We had turkey, broccoli casserole, cauliflower "mashed potatoes", cranberry sauce, sweet potato pie, and apple crisp. Charlotte's favorite was the cranberry sauce. You ate it by the spoonful after you drug all of your turkey through it. Olivia chowed down on the big turkey leg.

I love that with a little extra effort and some loving family members, we can make the best of holidays with your daddy away. We of course got to talk to him a few times. He got lots of good food with his friends in Afghanistan. But he sure misses being with us.

Dancing Olivia

We got this silly Elmo toy from a friend as a hand me down. You girls have loved playing with it! Charlotte, you enjoy taking care of him when he falls down. When you pick him up he says that you're his best friend. I think you like that. Olivia, Elmo makes you laugh...a lot. He was the first thing you wanted to play with when we came downstairs this morning. Check out the dance moves and pure joy!

Never Left the House

We had nothing on the calendar for today and I was excited for the possibilities. Library, customs house museum, extra gym day... I was going to wake up and see what we all felt like doing. This morning was so cold and rainy, the gym option went right out the window as I brewed my morning coffee. Perfect, a great day to be indoors. Would we do story time at the library or kids explore area at the customs house museum? Then I remembered it was Veterans Day (how could I forget) and the library and museum were closed. I nearly panicked but just stopped and slowed my pace. Made no plans and we never left the house. Took the day hour by hour and by the end of it we had had a really good time...even been slightly productive!

Friends Like Family

It's the last night of the Major family visit and I'm dreading the approaching feeling of an empty house. Weird that I would think empty house with myself and you two girls but we have had Brian, Laura, Braden, and Jaxson for 6 days! It has been such a FUN, loud, hectic, and laughter-filled week with great friends. Charlie, you were so excited to see Braden and picked right up where you two left off when they walked through the door. Olivia has jumped right into the running, squealing, movie-watching, book-reading, teeth-brushing, group bathing madness that has happened this week. You even grabbed a light saber and fought the boys back with ferocity. I was so surprised at how well you and Braden slept in the same room. He had a blow up mattress in the floor and you two would talk for awhile before falling asleep. One evening, we went down to Opry Mills mall and Brian took Braden and Charlotte to Bass Pro Shops while Laura and I took the littles to shop a few new clothes. Charlotte, you seemed to love your time with Brian and his doting on you. We met back up at the Aquarium Restaurant and while we ordered, Brian showed you girls the fish, patiently telling you the names of them all. The rest of the week, we played outside on our playground, at parks around town, inside with play-doh and upstairs in the bonus room on the rainy days. Laura also enjoyed getting back to Crossfit Solafide for a few workouts with our friends. More than anything, I have enjoyed my time with Laura in the evenings after we have gotten you kids down to bed and dishes washed. It's the lonely time when your daddy is away and her company is second only to his. She is one of those friends that I don't have to hold my tongue around. Honesty and trust is foremost in our friendship, despite any differences we have. I know that you girls will have those friendships in your life and I pray that you will be that kind of friend first, without expecting anything in return. Give, listen, and encourage.

Watching a movie

Play-Doh milkshakes!

Charlotte makes nails with her Play-Doh

Us girls at Bass Pro Shops

The Major family: Laura, Braden, Brian, baby Jaxson

Cozying up with the fish..."I'm not scared, mama!"

Just before you 3 went on your adventure in Bass Pro

Funny faces!

Bearded Charlie

Helping Braden out

"Cheeeese!" Showing off teeth.

Imagination Everywhere

You two pretend every...single...day. Sometimes I am so confused until I can watch or listen long enough to catch on. Olivia, your favorites are to pretend to eat something out of an empty bowl. Outside of pretending, you are also having a ball identifying nose, eyes, ears, mouth, head, hair, arm, hand, leg, and foot. You even point out daddy's facial features when you see him on FaceTime. You also like to try on everyone's shoes, saying "shoo, shoo!!". Charlotte, your current favorite is to swing your Big Nutbrown Hare on your swing outside and around in circles by his ears. This stems from the book your daddy recorded and sent to you. We read it nearly every night and the main characters are Big and Little Nutbrown Hares. The rabbit you have named is one that your daddy took with him to Iraq on his last deployment. A LOT of daddy loving going on here.

Wearing your sister's Cinderella dress up shoes.

Swinging Big Nutbrown Hare outside.



Swinging him by his ears inside.



Asking me, "Will you help me go potty outside like a puppy dog?". This has your daddy written all over it!



Halloween Helpers

Well girls, by the time we made to October 31st, you two had dressed up for the gym Halloween workout, Trunk or Treat with our church in totally different costumes, and returned to the original costumes for your preschool class parties. By the time we made it to the night of Halloween, you two were in your pajamas and warm hats helping me hand out candy. Charlotte, you loved being in charge of putting some candy into the kids' bags. Olivia just wanted to fling the candy around and pretend to eat it. You two were a hoot to watch and I was able to just sit back and relax. By 6:45, you were both ready to go inside, get warm, finish your milk, and get to bed. Had a blast with you two!

Getting excited watching the kids in the neighborhood walking around!



Olivia picking out all the candy while Charlie patiently awaits the next Trick or Treater.



Olivia was really interested in pretending to eat the candy!

Costumes and Pumpkins

We found the perfect combination of busy and rest today, girls. Love those days! Sometimes I plan too much, frantically bouncing from one activity to another. Those days feel like I'm a great cruise director but a terrible mom of 1 and 3 year olds. You girls need rest and downtime to just sit and read books and so do I. You two are teaching me to stop and make a choice...stay busy to avoid missing your daddy or slow down to allow myself (and you) to miss him, then turn to our Lord for comfort and purpose in the day.

We started with coffee (me), milk (you), and breakfast then we snuggled under blankets on the couch to watch Dora. Next we got dressed in our costumes and headed for the gym. You two enjoyed playing in the kids' room while I worked out with some crazy folks in costume. After that we came home for snack and costume pictures on the front porch. Then we went in to warm up and read through nearly every book on your shelves...even your "daddy books". The ones he recorded and mailed to us. It's so nice to hear his voice read us a story. After lunch and nap I made some cookies while you two played with play-doh together. This was Olivia's first try and you did wonderful! Small mess and no eating it...success! While dinner finished up in the crock pot, we went outside to carve our pumpkin. Charlotte, you helped pick out the seeds for a minute but just wanted to swing...your favorite thing in the world right now. Olivia, you wanted to stir the bowl of seeds with the spoon and then your hand. I agree, it felt good to swirl those seeds around your hand! Gma and Papa sent us a really cool LED pumpkin topper that lights up different colors. We finished the day with a yummy and very messy (Olivia) dinner and then baths. The best was holding you both in my lap and singing to you in the rocker upstairs. A couple more books and prayers with Charlotte and you two are knocked out sleeping. See what I mean, perfect balance. Thank you!

Package from Gma

You girls have learned that when we get a package from your Gma, whatever we are doing stops and we open that sucker up! Today was no exception... We were outside washing the van on this unseasonably warm afternoon when the package arrived. I opened it up in the garage and you two hit it like a pack of wolves. In the 10 minutes it took me to finish washing the van, you had emptied the box and showed me all your new goodies. You were very obedient and loaded it all back into the box when I asked you to. We hauled it in the house to play with some our new goodies. While I got your new clothes in the wash, you two got started on your projects. Olivia worked a scarecrow, while Charlotte strung together a candy necklace...both for daddy. Then we mixed up some orange Jello to go in the pumpkin molds. Next we nestled into the couch to read your new books and paint nails. Charlotte, you're always down for painting nails but this was the first time Olivia showed any interest. You crawled into my lap after I painted Charlotte's and held out one hand and grabbed at the nail polish with the other. I hooked you up with a pedicure, girl. It was just what we needed this afternoon. You see, you two had taken an early nap leaving a long afternoon ahead. I was prepared with a second cup of coffee and plans to play outside most of the time. I even had dinner prepped and ready to put in the oven so I could just play with you two. Turned out we had much more to play with than I'd planned. Grandmas are the best!