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!



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!