Daddy/Daughter Bonding

WHILE MOM IS AWAY...DADDY AND CHAR PLAY!

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny

WE CONTINUE TO LOVE EACH DAY THAT WE SPEND AT THE POOL. CHARLOTTE IS BECOMING MORE BOLD EACH DAY (AND AS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER HEATS UP) AND ENJOYS WADING IN WATER UP TO HER NECK! SHE EVEN TAKES THE OCCASIONAL DIP UNDERWATER. AS YOU CAN SEE HER BEAUTIFUL LARSON SKIN IS ALREADY AGLOW WITH A LOVELY SUNTAN.

FIRST DAY OF SWIM LESSONS!

AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING ONE'S SKIN.
REFLECTIVE MOMENT AT THE POOL.

WANTING TO SHARE WHAT'S ON HER MIND.

Blair Baby Project

It's a Boy!

WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CHARLOTTE WILL HAVE A BROTHER COME NOVEMBER. WE FEEL GRATEFUL TO THE LORD FOR THE BLESSING OF A SON, AND WE ANXIOUSLY AWAIT HIS ARRIVAL IN OUR HOME.

"IT'S JUST A TINY BIT CROWDED IN HERE RIGHT NOW."

GIVING HIS DAD THE OLD ROCK-ON SIGN.

(THIS PICTURE DELIGHTS HIS DAD TO NO END!)

OUR LITTLE MAN. WE HAVE NOTICED THE CHARLOTTE'S 20 WEEK ULTRASOUND PICTURE AND HIS RESEMBLE EACH OTHER!

CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU, LITTLE BUDDY.

Another Day, Another Suit

POOLSIDE LAST SUMMER

THIS SUMMER CHARLOTTE AND I PURCHASED A POOL MEMBERSHIP, COURTESY OF DAD. WE ARE MAKING EVERY ATTEMPT TO GO EACH DAY IN SPITE OF THE RAIN THAT IS CONTINUALLY FINDING IT'S WAY INTO THE FORECAST. LAST YEAR, WE STARTED GOING TO THIS POOL WITH OUR FRIENDS, THE STACEYS. CHARLOTTE'S ABILITY TO MANEUVER IN AND OUT OF THE WATER IS QUITE A DRASTIC CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS SUMMER. AT 5 MONTHS OF AGE, SHE FOUND THE GENTLE WATERS SOOTHING, AND WAS OFTEN LULLED TO SLEEP. NOW, I AM BARELY ABLE TO SIT FOR SHE IS CONSTANTLY ON THE GO. IT IS GREAT FUN. SOME OF HER FAVORITE ACTIVITIES AT THE POOL INCLUDE: WALKING UP TO FAMILIES TO ENGAGE IN A STARING CONTEST, BEGGING FOR OTHER CHILDREN'S SNACKS, INTRODUCING HERSELF TO RANDOM CHILDREN (AND TAKING THEIR TOYS), SNEAKING INTO THE LIFEGUARD REST AREA, BEFRIENDING LIFEGUARDS AND WEARING THEIR GEAR, RUNNING AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE POOL AIMING FOR THE DEEP WATER, AND TESTING HOW FAR SHE CAN WADE INTO THE POOL. I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

ENJOYING A COLD BEVERAGE.

"MOM, DID YOU KNOW YOUR WATER BOTTLE IS MUCH COOLER THAN MINE."

OUR LITTLE BEACH BABE.

BEING AFFECTIONATE WITH HER "NEW" BEACH BALL.

YELLING "THANK YOU" TO THE NICE LIFEGUARD WHO GAVE HER THE BEACH BALL.

ENJOYING HER FIRST JUICE BOX POOLSIDE.

Summer Days

WARM TEMPERATURES HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED, AND WE HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BEING OUTDOORS. CHARLOTTE CONTINUES TO ENJOY HER FREEDOM IN NATURE, AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ANY MOMENT TO RUN FREE OUTSIDE. I OFTEN COUNT THIS AS A DAILY WORKOUT FOR MYSELF. CHARLOTTE IS ALSO SLOWING ADDING TO HER VOCABULARY. WORDS THAT ARE IN HER CURRENT ROTATION ARE: BUBBLE, DA-DA (FOR HER FATHER AND ALSO FOR LIGHTS. WE ARE WORKING ON CORRECTING THAT ONE.), NO-NO, WHAT'S THAT (IN A HUSHED VOICE), AMEN, NIGHT-NIGHT (PRONOUNCED WITHOUT THE "T"), OH, "TWEET-TWEET" AND FINALLY MA-MA. SURPRISE WORDS TO BE SPOKEN ONCE AND NEVER AGAIN: NECKLACE AND BECKY. SHE CONTINUES TO MAKE US SMILE AND LAUGH ALL DAY LONG.

TODAY'S OBJECTIVE: DINING ETIQUETTE.

"SO, HOW DOES THIS WORK, MOM?"

REFINING HER SKILLS.

"I'M NOT SURE I'M READY TO USE THIS FORK WITH EVERY BITE."

CHARLOTTE IS CLEARLY HAPPY TO SEE HER FATHER AFTER HIS ROUND OF GOLF.

CHARLOTTE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HER FIRST "BIG GIRL" BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR FRIEND, ANNALISE. THE EVENT WAS HELD AT PUMP IT UP, AN INDOOR PLAY FACILITY. CHARLOTTE DID NOT STOP MOVING THE ENTIRE TIME, THUS THE FOLLOWING EXPRESSION POST-PARTY.

WANTING TO FIT IN WITH THE OLDER CHILDREN,

CHARLOTTE LISTENS TO THE INSTRUCTIONS INTENTLY.

GETTING NUTS ON THE TRAMPOLINE.

"WHHEEEEEEEE..."

"LET'S GO AGAIN, DADDY!"

"YOU TALKIN' TO ME?"

LOOKING CUTE IN HER SWIMSUIT.

WORKING HER WAY AROUND THE POOL.