Christmas Joy

I have been remiss with this blog lately. A combination of holiday busyness, and lack of motivation I suppose. But, here is the catch-up:

December was a spectacular month. We decorated for Christmas, hosted a big Christmas party, attended several Christmas parties, enjoyed a week with our brother, sister and nephew, celebrated Christmas 4 times, cleaned up the Christmas decorations, took a trip to Sacramento, and played at the park almost daily.

According to her Uncle Jon, Charlotte (summed up in 3 descriptions) is currently:

Extremely talkative

Big personality

Loves boxes

Though Charlotte is far from understanding Christmas, she absolutely loves the event. She is a present opening pro! A loves to exclaim, "wow" when she discovers what's inside. She was showered with generosity and love. It completely melted my heart to see our families loving on my baby girl, we are so blessed. She got books, and music, and dollies, and play kitchen! Now, I just need to bring myself to pack away the baby toys and accept the fact that she doesn't look like this anymore:

The biggest change in Charlotte this month is her comprehension level. I can say to her: "Charlotte, go get your shoes and come sit on your bottom so we can put them on" and she will do exactly that. "Charlotte, let's go wash your hands." She runs to the sink rubbing her hands together.

Her sign language vocabulary has exploded. More, please, thank you, help, eat, are all used in proper context to convey her needs or desires.  Yesterday, we were in R&R Meats and there was a display of fresh baked cookies on the counter. She frantically started signing, "Eat, more, please, please, please! Eat, more, please, please, please!"

Another thing I am starting to notice more and more is her determination. Though she is an easy-going baby, she absolutely knows what she wants, when she wants it. She will stick with something until she achieves her goal. When she wants to play with a certain toy, no other toy will do. When she wants toast to eat, no other food will do. She is learning she has an opinion, and she is letting us know about it.

The love affair with baskets and boxes continues. Any open container is fair game, and she is climbing inside the first chance she gets.

I was torn about a trip to visit Santa this year, for several reasons, but ultimately decided the picture would be a great keepsake 20 years from now. So off to the mall we went. She was immediately stand-offish. But I sat her in his lap and he might as well have been Hannibal Lector. So, I held her, bribed her with crackers, and this is the best we got.  Keepsake, right?

And much to our dismay, she seems to be quite girly. Purses, necklaces, bracelets, cell phones, are all extremely popular around here.

The joy of Christmas increases exponentially when experienced through a child's heart. This was by far the most joyous Christmas I have experienced. 

Hugs for Charlie

Loves to be in a box

After a Christmas Nap

What every dad does at 11:00 Christmas Night

Status Quo

Things have been pretty mellow around here following the adventure that is Thanksgiving.  With all the fall decorations packed away, Christmas trimmings have graced this home.  This year we decided on a fun new decorating theme: 3 ft and higher.  As in, nothing within Charlotte's reach. The tree looks beautiful, from the waist up :)

Charlotte is keeping me on my toes lately. She runs through the house emptying exploring one drawer after another. I don't mind spending 10 hours a day picking up one mess after another. It brings me such joy to see her little mind learning and growing.

She loves the outdoors, which makes this dry December very convenient. Who would have thought we'd be outside in short sleeve shirts 2 weeks before Christmas?

She is in the process of dropping her morning nap.  Not tired enough to fall asleep, but too tired not to fall apart.  But, this state does make her generous with kisses and hugs, so I'm definitely not complaining.

Yesterday, I was getting ready and Charlotte was being ominously quiet. I came out to find her and discovered this:

She brought the basket out from her room, put the hat on her head, found a rogue paci under her bookshelf, and decided to have a little basket R&R.

Beautiful handmade sweater from Grandma Ging

Thanks

Over the past year, my understanding of gratitude has deepened beyond my what I knew to be possible.

Never before did I find myself, with any kind of frequency, stopping throughout the day, and giving thanks to God. Now it is the constant stream of conversation.

Thankful for my incredible husband. Who works tirelessly all day, only to come home and continue working. Who makes his family his priority, even when his personal time gets lost in the shuffle. Who loves, supports, comforts, entertains, and provides for me.

Thankful for my beautiful daughter. Who has shown me a glimpse of the depth of God's love for us. Who makes me laugh daily. Who challenges my inner strength, patience, love, and dependence on God.

Thankful for my family and friends. Who are "the village" I need to help raise my daughter. I am so glad we live and breathe community.

Give Thanks. Absolutely.

  

Good Song, Daddy

Charlotte has the gift of encouragement. Or,  at the very least, enthusiasm. There isn't a single song played in our house that is unworthy of clapping from our sweet girl.  Even a 3 second jingle on a toy earns a few cheers.

A few nights ago Jeremy was putting Charlotte to bed. He had bathed her, jammied her, read to her, and was moving onto the final step, a goodnight song. As he stood in her dark room, she snuggled her head into his chest and he sang her off to dream land. Until the song finished. She immediately popped her head up and offered him an enthusiastic round of applause.

"Nice song, Daddy."

 

Gardening and Friends

Our new backyard has payed for itself ten times over already. Ever since its (almost) completion, we have spent every possible moment playing outside. Charlotte loves to push her toys up and down the patio, and Abbey loves to be destructive.  We have had friends over to enjoy the yard and Charlotte happily shared her toys with her best friend, Charlie.  We went to the nursery and picked out our winter vegetables for our raised garden. Charlotte was instrumental in the selection process.  Here's hoping we have something edible in the near future. 

Beautiful Birthday Dress from Grandma Ging

A Walking Bee

I think she was waiting to turn one before she started walking. Maybe she knew it would break my heart if she did it too soon. Is people pleasing genetic?

Charlotte is officially a toddling little girl. She is choosing two, instead of four appendages now. Though, when in a hurry, she settles for the safer, faster method of crawling.

She had her one year check up! 40th% in both height and weight. Everything looks great.

For Halloween she was the cutest little bumble I ever saw. She hated the entire event. Our church's Fall Festival was Saturday night, and dinner/bedtime, with a million people and way too much candy pulsing through everyone's system.  I've never really seen Charlotte so overwhelmed and unhappy, but this was definitely not her cup of tea. She did manage to find a Reece's cup on the floor and eat half of it (including the foil) before I ruined all her fun. (Don't worry, I let her finish the candy, just took away the wrapper, I'm not completely heartless).

12 Month Check-Up (20 lbs, 4.5 oz, 28.5 inches) 

There's got to be something better than a Graham Cracker around here

Bzzz...

Best Friends and their Bugs

"Ok, you distract them and I'll escape out the back door"

A Bee and her Monkey

A Tweet Birdie Celebration

We did it. We fed, bathed, loved, snuggled, laughed, cried, played, changed, cared for Charlotte for an entire year. One year. Because this event was guaranteed to break my heart, I decided to redirect my focus on planning a fun celebration. I know, "Charlotte won't know it's for her." You're right: it was for me.

I had so much fun scouring the internet for clever ideas, making decorations, baking food, it helped me to concentrate on what a blessing she is and what a true celebration her birthday is; rather than wallowing in self-pity.

The party was so a blast. It was the most perfect day outside and the yard passed its first real test with flying colors.

Charlotte seemed to have a wonderful time. She was showered with generous gifts and thanked everyone with big smiles and excitement.

Part Favors

Birdie Cake

12 Month Banner

Bird's Nests

Food Table (All Birdie Themed)

A New Favorite Toy

Excited about a new Dollie

Mmm... Baby Apple Cake

Birthday girl and her Daddy

Drinks 

One

Dear Charlotte Grace,

Today we celebrate your first birthday. I knew it was inevitable, this day, but somehow I had hoped maybe it would take a little longer to arrive. You are the personification of joy. You have taught us more about love, patience, family and God than we ever could have imagined. We thank God daily for entrusting your sweet little life to us and can't imagine a bigger blessing.

Over the year you have grown, developed and changed so much. The first moments I saw you were a blur. I remember thinking how much you looked like your daddy.  How surprised I was to see your bald little head.  Lying in that hospital bed on the night of your birth, hoping that I would fall in love with you soon. Holding you, smelling you, nursing you. I had no idea the love I was in for.

At one point I remember thinking to myself, "You are going to be a newborn forever." And now, in a blink of an eye, we are celebrating your birthday.

Over the months, we watched you wake up. You started smiling and cooing and interacting. We were hooked. You didn't make us work very hard for those first smiles, and you haven't stopped smiling since.

We rejoiced and cheered at each milestone you reached. You learned to sit, and roll, and scoot, and crawl, and stand, and climb. Soon you will running.

You have gained 14 pounds and grown 10 inches. Your hair has not grown more than 1/4 inch. You have 6 teeth. You say words like, "Daddy" "Ball" "Dog" "Dollie" "Mama" "All Done" "More" "Buh-Bye" "Hi" "Charlie."

You play games like Peek-a-Boo and Pat-a-Cake. You read books. You hug and kiss you dollies (and your mommy). You climb on EVERYTHING. You are fearless. And trusting.

Every night your daddy and I sneak into your room and give you one last goodnight kiss. You are so sweet in your jammies, with your monkey close by.

Thank you for making me a mother. We love you more than we ever knew we could.

Squeezing Sand

I had no idea how difficult this would be. My baby turning one. The sadness does not stem from the stage she is currently in, it comes from the speed at which she reached this stage. The reality of the overly warned cliche, "it goes so fast" has finally sunk in. It really does go too fast. I feel like I'm squeezing tight my handful of sand and it continues to slip out between my fingers.  Trying to redirect my focus.

She is the most enjoyable one year old I have ever gotten to spend time with. She makes me laugh and sing and dance all day long.

I have been having so much fun planning her Birdie Birthday Party. This occasion is cause for serious celebration!

As if we needed more motivation to party, the backyard will be complete in time for the guests!