Charlotte the Mechanic

Yesterday, you helped your daddy change the oil in his truck. Just the two of you went to Walmart to get the oil and filter. Of course, he dressed you in your Kiowa helicopter shirt and let you run around the store, whereas I keep you in the cart. You had a ball!

Once you two got home, you wanted to help him but weren't sure about getting under the truck. You handed him tools and rags. I love seeing you two spend quality time together and your daddy was in heaven!

Flipping Olivia

Olivia, you've discovered how to flip from your tummy to your back! You are very strong and do it easily while playing and when you wake up. You've done it a few times in the middle of the night. You get pretty upset because you like to sleep on your tummy. I end up having to come in and flip you back over so you can sleep again. But I don't mind because this is what I get to see.

You're such a nut! You were mid-flip here.

Beach Vacation

Wow, what a vacation! Very much needed after 2 years of no beach time and your daddy being restricted to Clarksville, TN due to his job. Your Gma and Papa have been renting a beach house on Mexico Beach, Florida's coast for 15 years now. It's a quaint town with very few hotels or condos and mostly family-owned beach houses. I will let the photos speak for the trip...

You built (and stomped) many sand castles!

You were watching Charlotte and Gma having all the fun!

You loved wearing your sunglasses!

You weren't fond of the "big water" so your daddy ended up digging out a pool of "little water" for you to play in.

Doing "happy swing" was your favorite! Here's the full body photo 3 months after having Olivia. Proud of you girls and unashamed of the body that carried you.

A morning walk with my sweet girls. Your daddy was fishing with Papa and Uncle Chris.

Playing in the hose after the beach was your other favorite. We had to pull you away to make you go inside for lunch and nap.

Watching the sun go down one evening. Your daddy is so handsome...especially with a cute baby in his arms.

Stealing some sweet kisses out on the beach.

You loved feeding the seagulls. You squeeled and said "in mouf" every time the gulls would eat the crackers you threw.

You were "helping" Papa fix your fishing pole that you had tangled. We were cracking up while you made the problem worse and worse.

What a beautiful family!

Took a lot to pull off family photos during sunset when both of you girls were tired and cranky for your beds.

Family Road Trip

We embarked on our first family road trip on September 23, 2011. We drove 6 hours from Clarksville, TN to Gma and Papa's house in Columbus, GA. We stayed there one night and continued our trip the next day with a 4 hour drive to Mexico Beach, FL. Neither of you girls slept very well during the road trip. Charlie begged to get out every hour and a half to two hours. Olivia yelled until you finally fell asleep...for about 20 minutes and then it started all over.

Here is Charlotte trying hard to go to sleep with "nah nah and frawg".

We even tried letting you get out of the carseat and lie down on the floor of the van on a blanket. SO against the law these days but your daddy and I remembered stories of our parents putting us in the back of a station wagon with blankets. We figured if we survived, you would too.

Olivia was a spoiled little 3 month old and got held by me so she would go to sleep. Then I would put you back in the 5 point harness carseat and hope you kept sleeping. It worked....sometimes. Somehow you always seem to have a smile when you woke up. Here's a pic on the way home with Olivia sleeping sweetly and Charlotte's foot hanging out of her carseat. Your daddy was a trooper and drove the whole way while I hung out with you girls in the back, unless you were asleep. Then I snuck up and talked with your daddy.



You girls were amazing on our first family road trip. It was stressful at times but we had fun along the way. One sweet memory... We stopped at a Chick-Fil-A on the way home and your dad and I each had a girl in our arms. We laughed at how we used to look at parents overtaken with children and laugh. We are those parents now and LOVE it!

In the Moment

Having a new infant--no longer a newborn, *sigh*--reminds me to stop, soak in, and celebrate the small things I encounter everyday. I can think of something fantastical that happens each and every day. It's a perspective I choose instead of one that comes natural.

This evening, Olivia did not want to eat during what "should" have been a normal feeding time. Instead she smiled at me through the bottle. I was overjoyed at her smiles, gurgles, and coos. I am so thankful for the seemingly small moments that I get to savor with these girls everyday.

Olivia, thank you for reminding me that schedules don't rule and to enjoy the moments before they pass me by.

My Workout Buddy

I joined a Crossfit gym about 7 weeks after Olivia was born. There is no childcare, which was a difficult change for me to make. However, I was doing crossfit workouts at the YMCA and just not seeing results. I needed more intensity and a change in my routine to continue the post-baby weightloss and body redemption. I didn't just want to get back to pre-pregnancy weight, I wanted to SEE huge results. Anyway, Charlotte loves the "new gym" because she actually gets to see me exercise and sometimes even do some of the workouts with me. Olivia just hangs out with the other babies in the "baby bucket corner". Charlotte loves to swing on the rings and is working on her abs by holding her legs out. This is a poor quality picture since it was taken with my phone.



Next, I had to do 40 sit-ups and Charlotte came over and sat on my feet. When I came up, she would bend over and crunch her abs too. Everyone at the gym was cracking up but didn't have a camera to take a picture. Luckily, she didn't get enough at the gym and asked to do some more sit-ups when we got home. I managed to get a shot using the timer on the camera.

I am loving having my girls more involved with exercising. Before, I dropped them off at the Y daycare and they played with other kids. While that was fun, I am hopeful to impact the girls' appreciation for health by seeing me exercise.

Peaceful Olivia

Olivia,

Thank you for giving me such a peaceful ending to my beautifully busy days. I sneak in your room for your last feeding and this is the satisfied face I get to look down upon.

What a way to end the day! I literally have to remind myself to not squeeze you too hard because you are so snuggly. Those cheeks are so kissably soft and I must give you a dozen before I force myself to lay you down.

I mean, seriously kid....it's a crime to be this cute! You found your fingers one night and now you comfort yourself back to sleep when you wake up. You began sleeping 12 hours straight at just 10 weeks! You are super baby!

I love you,

Mommy