Touching Everything

Olivia,

Your skill right now is touching everything you see. It is so fascinating to see you focus in on something and become still as you reach out and touch it with your fingers. If I'm holding you and put a drink or food to my mouth, you try to reach out and grab it. I hold you at the dinner table and you pull the table cloth. In the bathtub, you love for me to pour water on your tummy while you try to grab it. You're beginning to play by yourself some when you have toys to reach for. When there are no toys in sight, your feet are always fun to grab. Here are some pictures showcasing your curiosity.

Learning Everywhere

Charlotte,

You're growing up so fast right before our eyes. The conversation you are using is becoming more and more adult-like. Your daddy and I look at eachother after you've said something and wonder where you learned the phrase. It's amazing how observant you are; you pick up so much from those around you. Here are some of your latest phrases.

"Ummm, yeah." or "Ummm, sure." (In response to just about anything. We are really working on "yes ma'am, yes sir" but it's tough when we say this phrase to you all the time.)

"What color you want?" (When we're coloring or when you have several things of different colors. What's funny is that if we don't say the color you want us to have, you give us the pre-determined color anyway.)

"Maybe have a couple yogurt raisins?" (You asked me this in the car on our way home from church.)

"My turn to..." or "I do by me self." (You are very focused on doing things by yourself and get very upset if we try to help or do it for you. To name a few, get on the potty, climb into your booster seat, close the door, turn the top on your cup.)

"What's that called?" (This is probably why you know so much. You ask this when you encounter something you don't know yet.)

I'm amazed at how smart you are, Charlotte. I find myself having to extend my questioning and add to the skills I throw at you. You know all of your letter names, nearly all the letter sounds, square, rectangle, circle, oval, diamond, triangle, octogon, 15 colors, AB patterns, count to 15, recognize numbers to 10.

Olivia Found Her Laugh Box

Silly Olivia is laughing all the time now. It began with grins here and there, turned into smiles at the sight of another face, and has morphed into cackling laughter whenever anyone gives you any attention. You bring so much joy to all of us.

Halloween

We made it through Charlotte's third Halloween and Olivia's first. Charlotte, you were just 2 months old on your first Halloween. We dressed you up as a ladybug and went to a neighborhor's house for a party. You did not enjoy the costume and ended up out of it and back home pretty quickly. But at least we got one picture!

The following year we experienced our first Halloween in Clarksville, TN in our awesome neighborhood, Poplar Hill. Charlotte, you were just over a year old and didn't really get the whole Halloween thing. You helped us hand out candy and went to bed early. Your silly daddy loves to dress up for Halloween and was "Mr. Ladybug" to go along with your butterfly costume.

This year we had to use the "divide and conquer" approach. Your daddy took Charlotte out for trick or treating while I stayed home and passed out candy because Olivia was already asleep for the night. Though we did get some pictures of you two while we waited for daddy to get home.

Once daddy got home, he and Charlotte took off down the block. I stayed home and handed out candy to the droves of children who live in our neighborhood. After awhile, daddy brought you back and let me take you out with our friends, Laura, Brian, and Braden Major. You had a ball trick or treating with your buddy, Braden. You two held hands and talked about the scary houses and how to say "Trick or Treat" when you get to the door. You've grown SO much in the last two years. I am amazed at what a little girl you have become!

 At the end of the night, we let Charlotte pick her favorite candies out of her bag. You chose M&M's and gummy snacks. We put the rest of your candy in our bucket and handed it back out to the kids who were still trick or treating. You were very sweet to hand out your candy to other children. We love you girls and can't wait to experience so many more fun holidays with you.

Daddy Takes Command

We attended your daddy's Change of Command ceremony last week. It is an exciting milestone in his military career and we were there to see it happen. His parents, your Gma and Papa, also came up for the ceremony and visited for a few days. Your daddy took command of 107 soldiers who maintain all pieces of his Kiowa helicopter unit. We were so proud of you girls; we got endless compliments on your behavior, manners, and beauty. Charlotte, you really enjoyed seeing the helicopter, hearing the traditional songs they sing during the ceremony, and eating the yummy food. Olivia, you were so tired and just hung out on my shoulder most of the time.

Sweet Charlie

Passing of the guidon

Your daddy and his troops

Sweet Olivia

So thankful we could all be there to support your daddy

Your daddy showing you his helicopter

Great Grandparents

Girls,

You are so blessed to have spent a week with your great grandparents, Memaw and Papaw. This couple is my mother's parents and they came from North Carolina to visit us. This was their first time meeting Olivia and the last time they saw Charlotte, she was four months old (Olivia's age now). I have such amazing memories with these people and I'm elated that you two got to spend some time with them. Memaw was an integral part of my accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was a child. I spent a week every summer at their house in Summerville, South Carolina. And Papaw was at every sporting event of mine and Uncle Brad's that he could possibly make. These are special people, who love you very much.



Reading books with Papaw.



Turns out Papaw created the honeycomb material on the heli.



We visited daddy at work.



Tea party with Memaw



Papaw said Olivia liked him best.



They were so sweet and happy to be with you girls.

Fall Changes

We've been enjoying the first few weeks of crisp fall weather. The leaves are falling from out huge oak tree in the backyard and we've got the windows open most days. We have had a great time playing around the house, as Olivia settles into a more predictable nap routine. We usually head to the gym for a 9am class on MWF and then back to the house for Olivia's morning nap, Charlotte's lunch, and afternoon nap. I feel like someone is always needing a nap, sometimes even me!

Olivia, you've dropped a feeding and eats around 7am, 11am, 3pm, and 7pm....give or take some. I noticed your naps were getting longer and I was trying to stuff that 5th bottle in there somewhere. Once I remembered that Charlotte had dropped to 4 feedings around 4 months, I tried it one day. You were much happier that I wasn't trying to make you eat when you weren't hungry. It's a tough balance between what you're told your baby needs and what your baby tells you she needs. In the end, baby wins every time! You continued with your11-12 hour nights (since 10 weeks!!) even with one less bottle. However, your did up your ounces in each bottle from 5 to 6.

Hanging out on the back porch on a beautiful fall day.

Charlotte, you're going full steam ahead with potty training! Seeing your interest and joy in this process has been exciting. All of a suddent you shout, "I need go potty!" and we run for the bathroom...or the potty in the kitchen. That's something I said I'd never do but alas, baby wins everytime. It has saved us from a few accidents here in the early stages of training. Your only issue is holding #2 until I have literally seconds to get you to the potty. Everyone I talk to says that's normal and that #2 training comes later than #1. You get "big marmawow" when you go potty and you insist that you open the pantry door.


So proud, doing it by yourself!