Bed and Bellies

CHARLOTTE LOVES TO PLAY, REST, READ, AND GET NUTS ON OUR BED. NOT ALWAYS HAVING TIME TO SPEND WITH HER ON THE BED, I HAVE TURNED IT INTO A SPECIAL FAMILY ACTIVITY. THIS PAST WEEK, THE THREE OF US CUT LOOSE ON THE BED AND I (OF COURSE) TURNED IT INTO A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY.

THE LITTLE LADY.

OUR GROWING BOY.

TWO PEAS IN A COMFORTER.

OH, HOW I LOVE HER EXPRESSION!

NOT QUITE SURE IF SHE IS ABOUT TO SPANK, MOUNT, OR RIDE HER BROTHER. HE OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT MIND!

"YOU TALKIN' TO ME?"

THESE TWO ARE ALWAYS UP FOR A GOOD TIME.

"THAT'S A WRAP!"

Parks & Recreation

WE VISIT THE PARK ALMOST DAILY NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS NICE. THIS PAST WEEK, WE WERE EXTRA ADVENTUROUS AND MADE TRIPS TO THE PARK PRE AND POST NAP. WHAT A GREAT WAY FOR US TO SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS AND BURN SOME MUCH NEEDED ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CHARLOTTE NEEDS ALMOST NO ASSISTANCE (SWINGS ASIDE) AT THE PARK NOW. IT IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO LET HER INDEPENDENT SPIRIT ROAM FREE. WHILE CHARLOTTE EXPLORES, JOEY IS CONTENT TO HANG OUT IN THE BJORN UNTIL WE ARE TIRED ENOUGH TO GO HOME.

CHARLOTTE LOVES THIS SLIDE AS HER BODY SOMEHOW ALWAYS TURNS MID-SLIDE AND SHE ENDS UP ON HER TUMMY. AT FIRST I WAS WORRIED, BUT AFTER HEARING HER HEARTY LAUGH AS SHE PICKED HERSELF UP I KNEW ALL WAS WELL. SHE LOVES AN ADVENTURE!

MICAH AND CHARLOTTE.

CHARLOTTE THINKS VERY HIGHLY OF HER DEAR FRIEND AND MENTIONS HER NAME SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. SHE IS ALWAYS EAGER TO MEET HER AT THE PARK.

EXPLORING THE TUNNEL.

"WHAT'S THAT...ONLY 10 MORE MINUTES...I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT TIMELINE, MOMMY. SURELY, YOU MEANT 30."

...30 MINUTES IT IS!

THE CREW

THESE LITTLE ONES I AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO AS CHILDREN OF THE STUDY, FOR THEIR MOMMIES AND I ALL BEGAN A BIBLE STUDY FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN OUR HUSBANDS BEGAN RESIDENCY. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN WE STARTED ONLY THE TWINS (AIDEN AND JONAH, 5) WERE AROUND. FOUR BUSY YEARS LATER EACH OF US HAVE CHILDREN AND OUR BOND HAS GROWN EVEN MORE. I'M SAD TO SAY THAT THESE THREE SPECIAL LADIES WILL BE MOVING ON AFTER THIS YEAR, LEAVING CHAR, JOEY AND I TO FINISH OFF ONE MORE YEAR OF JEFF'S RESIDENCY ON OUR OWN. OH, HOW WE WILL MISS THEM!!!

MICAH, NOAH, AIDEN, JONAH WITH JOEY, CHAR, AND RYAN.

APRIL 2010

MY CREW.

A Day in the Life of Charlotte Marie

OUR SWEET LADY IS A SOURCE OF EXTREME JOY IN OUR HOME. SHE CONTINUES TO BE A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY AND ENJOYS MAKING NEW FRIENDS AT THE PARK. IT IS HUMOROUS TO WATCH HER BEFRIEND CHILDREN MUCH OLDER THAN HER. THIS PAST WEEK, SHE DECIDED IT WOULD BE COOL TO HANG OUT WITH A LITTLE BOY, WHO I GUESSED TO BE SEVEN, AT THE PARK. I WATCHED HER FOLLOW HIM, TAKE TURNS DOWN THE SLIDES, AND ATTEMPT TO TALK HIS EAR OFF. HER FATHER WAS NOT EXACTLY THRILLED WHEN I SHARED THE NEWS OF THE BUDDING FRIENDSHIP; I BELIEVE HE IS HAVING VISIONS OF THINGS TO COME.

HER HUMOR CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND WE FIND OURSELVES LAUGHING AT HER ANTICS MOST OF THE DAY. SOME DAYS SHE TEETERS ON THE EDGE OF JOY AND SORROW, AND WE FIND OURSELVES WATCHING MOMENTS OF HYSTERICS AND HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER COMING FROM OUR LITTLE LADY. WHEN SHE WAS A WEE ONE, WE WOULD STARE AT HER FOR 45 MINUTES STRAIGHT WONDERING WHAT NEW THING SHE WOULD DO, AND AT AGE TWO WE FIND OURSELVES DOING THE SAME THING. SHE IS HIGHLY ENTERTAINING, BETTER THAN ANY REALITY SHOW I HAVE COME ACROSS ON TV.

RECENTLY, SHE HAS STARTED TO HELP ME COOK DINNER EACH NIGHT. SHE LOVES TO STAND ON A STEPPING STOOL, WHILE I ARRANGE INGREDIENTS BEFORE HER AND PRESENT HER WITH A SPOON. IF YOU WERE A FLY ON THE WALL YOU WOULD HEAR HER SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, "I COOK. CHARLT'S (HER PRONUNCIATION OF HER NAME) TURN. MOMMY'S TURN. CHARLT'S TURN. I COOK." AS MY LOVE OF COOKING CONTINUES TO GROW, I'M THRILLED TO HAVE MY LITTLE LADY JOIN ME IN THE KITCHEN. IT HAS BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOURS OF THE DAY. IT WILL BE GREAT FUN WHEN ALL FOUR OF US OUR SITTING AROUND THE TABLE. I KNOW SWEET JOE WILL HAVE A HEARTY APPETITE, AND IT WILL PLEASE ME GREATLY TO FEED MY LARSON MEN.

AND NOW, MAY I PRESENT CHARLT'S DAILY CHECK LIST...

1. MAKE SURE JOEY IS CARED FOR.

(SHE TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN WATCHING OVER HER LITTLE BROTHER. THIS PAST WEEK SHE HAS STARTED TAKING TURNS HOLDING HIS MORNING BOTTLE. BOY! WAS SHE THRILLED.)

2. MAKE SURE JOEY IS LOVED AND DOTED UPON.

(AT TIMES HER LOVE IS SO GREAT, WE FIND HER LAYING COMPETELY ON TOP OF HIM. HE USED TO GRUNT TO ALERT US, NOW HE JUST ACCEPTS THIS GIGANTIC GIFT OF LOVE EACH DAY. IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS SIZE.)

3. PROVIDE JOEY WITH ENTERTAINMENT.
(HE GETS A KICK OUT OF HER, AND WHY WOULDN'T HE?! SHE HAS CREATED A WORD ALL HER OWN FOR HIS HEARING PLEASURE. "BOOM-BA" THIS SPECIAL GREETING ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE TO HIS FACE. I LOVE TO HEAR HER LEAN IN, LOWER HER VOICE AND LET OUT A "BOOM-BA, JOEY!")



4. MAKE SURE MOM STAYS ON HER TOES.
(IN THIS PICTURE SHE IS ON THE VERGE OF EXPLAINING SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. IF ONLY I COULD UNDERSTAND IT ALL.)

4. MAKE MOM AND DAD SMILE.

5. MAKE MOM AND DAD CRACK UP.

6. MAKE SURE MOM HAS ENOUGH MEMORABLE PHOTOS TO DOCUMENT MY SWEET LIFE.

7. MAKE TIME FOR DORA THE EXPLORER.

(THE OBSESSION CONTINUES.)

8. MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD.

9. MAKE TIME FOR THE OUTDOORS.

(THIS LITTLE LADY LOVES TO BE OUTSIDE. PARKS HAVE BECOME HER NEW FAVORITE ACTIVITY. SHE LOVES MEETING HER FRIENDS THERE AND HAVING THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE.)

10. TAKE TIME FOR ANOTHER PHOTO OPPORTUNITY TO DOCUMENT JUST HOW OLD I'M LOOKING THESE DAYS.

11. MAKE TIME TO THINK THROUGH NEW POSSIBILITIES AND PROBLEM SOLVE.

12. TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES.

"MAN, SCOOPING WATER IS NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS."

13. HAVE A MINOR MELT-DOWN. NO DAY WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT ONE. :)

CHARLOTTE ALWAYS ENDS HER DAYS WITH BATH TIME WITH DADDY, MILK ON THE COUCH, SMOOCHES, BOOKS, PRAYERS AND SONGS. JEFF HAS REALLY TAKEN OVER HER BEDTIME ROUTINE, AND I LOVE TO HEAR THEM TOGETHER UPSTAIRS. ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT CHARLOTTE IS HOW SHE CONTINUES TO REQUEST THREE SONGS BEFORE BED. WE ARE SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSED TO SAY THEY ARE:

1. "POT POD" - BON JOVI'S "IT'S MY LIFE"

2. "TRY" - "DEFYING GRAVITY"

3. "DA, DA, DA" - JOURNEY'S "DON'T STOP BELIEVING"

(ALL OF THESE SONGS WERE PERFORMED ON THE HIT SHOW GLEE, AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE AMONG HER FAVORITE. SHE SELF TITLED THEM ALL. THEY ARE A TRUE SOURCE OF COMFORT TO HER. SHE CAN BE CRYING IN HER CRIB AND IF YOU WALK IN SHE IMMEDIATELY WHIMPERS, "POT POD" AND, ALL IS BETTER. YOU SHOULD KNOW THEIR ORIGINAL MELODIES AND TEMPOS HAVE ALL BEEN MODIFIED TO SLOW AND SOOTHING BEDTIME LULLABIES. NOW, DON'T YOU WANT TO BE A FLY ON HER BEDROOM WALL TO HEAR JEFF SING SUCH TUNES?!)

5 Months

OUR LITTLE MAN IS 5 MONTHS OLD! AND, WHILE HE IS ACTUALLY NOT THAT LITTLE BUT RATHER A LITTLE PORK CHOP, I STILL FIND MYSELF CALLING HIM MY PEANUT. IT HAS MUCH TO DO WITH HIS SWEET AND SENSITIVE SPIRIT. HE LOVES TO LOOK UP AT YOU WHILE BEING HELD AND HIS TENDER GAZE MELTS YOUR HEART. HE LOVES TO BE TICKLED, ESPECIALLY UNDER HIS ADORABLE CHIN. AS YOU CAN TELL, HE CONTINUES TO BE A HEARTY EATER AND IS NOW SHOWING SIGNS OF WANTING BIG PEOPLE FOOD. I OFTEN REMIND HIM THAT HE CANNOT YET EAT GRANOLA, SANDWICHES, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS ON MY DINNER PLATE. HIS AFFECTION FOR HIS SISTER GROWS EACH DAY, AND HE LOVES TO BE IN HER JOYFUL PRESENCE. IT IS MY GREATEST JOY TO WATCH THESE TWO EACH DAY.

THIS MONTH'S PICTURES GOT OFF TO A ROUGH START AS WE TRIED TO PHOTOGRAPH HIM OUTSIDE. INITIALLY, HE DID NOT ENJOY LAYING IN THE GRASS AS EVIDENCED BY THIS TELLING FIRST PIC.

I TRY TO SUPPORT HIM AND TAKE THE PICTURE AT THE SAME TIME...THE RESULT WAS NOT MUCH BETTER! POOR JOE, IS ALREADY EXASPERATED.

WAIT A MINUTE...THIS IS NOT THAT BAD.

LITTLE BUDDY TAKES IN HIS SURROUNDINGS.

COULDN'T PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF HIS CUTE FEET.

NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

"HOW YOU DOIN'?"

HAPPY 5 MONTHS, JOSEPH!

OUR "LITTLE" PEANUT

JOEY TURNED 5 MONTHS ON THE SAME DAY JEFF TURNED 30. SUCH MILESTONES DESERVE GREAT ATTENTION. WE CELEBRATED BY TRYING OUT A NEW TOY...THE OL' EXERSAUCER.

HE LOVED IT AND CHAR WAS EAGER TO TUTOR HIM.

WARM AFTERNOON AT THE PARK. CHAR GIVES HER ATTENTION TO A SOARING PLANE ABOVE. THIS GIRL LOVES SPOTTING PLANES!

"CHEESE."

YOU MIGHT NOTICE THE SMALL BAG IN HER HAND. IT IS A STORAGE BAG FOR BREAST MILK, IN WHICH SHE HOLDS HER VERY IMPORTANT "PAPERS" (OLD RECEIPTS). SHE WOULD NOT PUT THEM DOWN ALL DAY. HIGHLY COMICAL.

TWO LARSONS IN A BLANKET.

HOW SOON BEFORE LITTLE JOEY IS BIGGER THAN SWEET CHAR?

MY LOVES.

Little Buddy and Miss Thang

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. THEY KEEP ME ENCOURAGED, GROUNDED, AND INSPIRED. LAST WEEK, CHARLOTTE JOINED AN ELITE CLUB OF YOUNG FOLKS ACROSS AMERICA TO PARTICIPATE IN MUFFIN TIN MONDAY. YOU GUESSED IT, THESE LITTLE DARLINGS RECEIVE THEIR MEALS IN A MUFFIN TIN. I HAVE TO THANK MY GOOD FRIEND, MEL, FOR THIS CREATIVE AND FUN IDEA. (HER DAUGHTER'S MUFFIN TINS LOOK AMAZING - SO BRIGHT AND COLORFUL. THIS IS MY GOAL.) MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT THE TINS WAS NOT SPECTACULAR. YOU COULD SAY OUR COLOR THEME WAS TAN/BROWN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BELOVED PICKLE (CHAR'S NEW FAV). CHARLOTTE LOVED THE PRESENTATION AND SPENT MORE TIME THAN USUAL SITTING IN HER CHAIR AS SHE EXPERIMENTED WITH MOVING FOOD ITEMS TO DIFFERENT TINS AND TASTING HER FOOD. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT AND SO DID SHE. EACH WEEK HER MEALS BECOME MORE INTERESTING!

"GOLLY! THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA!"
OVERALL, THE LITTLE LADY DID QUITE WELL.

EACH MORNING I AM GREETED WITH "TASK-MASTER MOMMY." UPON FINISHING HER MILK, CHAR SEARCHES FOR HER GREEN GLASSES, PROMPTLY PUTS THEM ON UPSIDE DOWN, GATHERS UP HER BABY DOLL AND HANGS HER PURSE UPON HER ARM. SHE LOOKS AT ME, SMILES, SAYS "GOOD-BYE" AND IS OFF TO RUN HER MANY ERRANDS IN HOUSE. THE OTHER MORNING SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR HER COFFEE AS WELL. I KNOW I'M IN TROUBLE WHEN SHE IS ORDERING SOY-CHAI LATTES AT THE WINDOW SILL. :)

I JUST LOVE THIS GIRL!

HANGING WITH PAPA.

WE HAD TO LAUGH AS CHAR ATTEMPTED TO MIMIC HER PAPA AND PLAY HIDE AND SEEK. TWO PEAS IN A POD!

IT IS A RARE MOMENT WHEN THE LITTLE LADY IS THIS STILL.

WHILE CHARLOTTE CONTINUES TO BE AS LIVELY AS CAN BE, I CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED BY THE QUIET, GENTLE DISPOSITION OF SWEET JOE. OH, WHAT A FACE!

ALREADY A BREWERS FAN.

FULL OF SMILES.

I LOVE THAT LITTLE CHIN.

ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION WITH MOMMY WHILE SISTER NAPS.

LIFE IS SWEET.