End of the Year Updates

THESE TWO...

ONE LEADS, THE OTHER FOLLOWS.

ONE POUNCES, THE OTHER LAYS UNDERNEATH (THOUGH NOT FOR MUCH LONGER).

ONE SCREAMS, THE OTHER SQUEALS.

ONE DANCES, THE OTHER SHIMMIES TO THE BEAT.

ONE READS, THE OTHER LISTENS.

ONE PECKS, THE OTHER DEVOURS.

ONE INCESSANTLY CHATS, THE OTHER BABBLES.

ONE BELLY LAUGHS, THE OTHER GIGGLES.

ONE SMOOCHES, THE OTHER BLOWS KISSES.

ONE CUDDLES A PINK BLANKIE, THE OTHER A BLUE.

ONE REQUESTS STORIES AND FACE RUBS, THE OTHER GOES RIGHT TO BED.

...AND THE SWEET LIST GOES ON

JOSEPH

THE LITTLE MAN HAS GROWN SO MUCH OVER THE PAST MONTH. HE IS NOW WALKING ACROSS THE ROOM FROM OBJECT TO OBJECT, GAINING MORE CONFIDENCE EACH DAY. HE THOROUGHLY ENJOYS CLIMBING THE STAIRS AND WILL CRY OUT AT THE GATE (PREVENTING HIM FROM CLIMBING SAID STAIRS) PLEADING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLIMB. HE CONTINUES TO EAT US OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME, AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STOPPING. HE LOVES BANANAS, PEACHES, ANY CARBOHYDRATE, AND ENTERTAINS MOST FORMS OF MEAT. HE HAS ONLY TURNED HIS NOSE AT SCRAMBLED EGGS THUS FAR. HE EASILY TRANSITIONED TO WHOLE MILK AT AGE ONE, BUT STILL PREFERS HIS MILK WARMED. HE IS PRODUCING A VARIETY OF SOUNDS AND "WORDS." HIS FAVORITES- DA-DA, MA-MA, GO-GO-GO, BA-BA AND "BRRR" (WHEN OUTSIDE - HOW CUTE IS THAT?!) HE, LIKE HIS SISTER, LOVES MUSIC AND FULLY PARTICIPATES IN HOUSEHOLD DANCE PARTIES, WHICH OCCUR EACH NIGHT BEFORE BATH. HE ADORES HIS DADDY, AND LOOKS UP AT HIM WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE AWE AND REVERE (IT IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD). HE DESIRES TO BE AT HIS SISTER'S SIDE ALL DAY LONG, UNTIL SHE BECOMES WEARY OF THE ATTENTION AND "ACCIDENTALLY" PUSHES HIM DOWN. HE KNOWS HOW TO TURN ON THE WATERWORKS, AND USES HIS SWEET BLUE EYES TO ENSURE YOUR FULL ATTENTION. WHEN HE DESIRES TO BE PICKED UP, HE SWEETLY RAISES ONE HAND HIGH AND PLEADS WITH HIS EYES. IT IS TRULY HARD TO RESIST.
HE IS WORKING HARD ON THE WORD "UP." HE CONTINUES TO NAP TWICE A DAY WITH HIS AFTERNOON NAP BEING THE LONGER OF THE TWO. AND, I CAN SAFELY SAY HE IS STILL A MAMA'S BOY (AND I HOPE FOREVER WILL BE, UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE AGE OF 18.) HE IS A JOY TO BE AROUND, AND IS STILL THE JOLLIEST OF BOYS. WE CONTINUE TO BE SO THANKFUL FOR OUR SWEET JOE!

CHARLOTTE

THIS GIRL...WHERE TO BEGIN?!

OUR SWEET LITTLE LADY CONTINUES TO BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY AND LOVES SOCIALIZING. SHE APPRECIATES HER FRIENDSHIPS VERY MUCH, AND ALWAYS LOOKS FORWARD TO A PLAY DATE. SHE LOVES TO GO TO CHURCH AND ENJOYS DRESSING FOR THE OCCASION IN "BEAUTIFUL DRESSES" AND HER FANCY BLACK SHOES. WE ARE SO HUMBLED BY HER GENTLE RESPONSE TO WORSHIP MUSIC AS SHE SWAYS BACK AND FORTH GIVING IT HER FULL ATTENTION DURING THE SERVICE. SHE ALSO LOVES TO PARTICIPATE IN HER SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, AND PROUDLY WEARS HER "HELLO- MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE" NAME TAG. SHE IS WORKING VERY HARD ON HER MANNERS AND WITH STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT FROM HER FATHER OFTEN BEGINS REQUESTS WITH, "DADDY, MAY I...PLEASE?" SHE IS QUICK TO OFFER A PLEASE AND THANK YOU (MOST DAYS) TO HER MAMA, WHICH IS A DELIGHT TO HEAR. WHILE NOT FULLY POTTY TRAINED, SHE IS MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN THAT DEPARTMENT AND WILL ASK "MAY I GO POTTY IN MY PULL-UP, PLEASE, MAMA?" IF WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT (WHICH FRANKLY MELTS MY HEART.) ACCIDENTS ARE RARE WHEN WEARING HER FASHIONABLE DORA OR HELLO KITTY UNDERPANTS. SHE STILL LOVES "LIPPIES" AS EVIDENCED FROM THE PICTURE ABOVE, AND APPRECIATES ALL SHADES. SHE DOES DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN GLOSSY OR MATTE, EITHER. SHE IS ENJOYING HER BALLET CLASS VERY MUCH AND IS QUITE TAKEN WITH HER BALLET TEACHER, MISS GRETCHEN. SHE SEEKS TO EMULATE HER MOVEMENTS EACH CLASS AND ALWAYS GIVES HER A HUG GOOD-BYE. SHE ALSO YELLS OUT "HEY MISS GRETCHEN! HAVE A NICE DAY!" AS WE DEPART. SHE NOW OWNS BOTH BALLET SLIPPERS AND LEOTARD, WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE (PICTURES WILL COME). I BELIEVE SHE TRULY HAS THE GIFT OF MUSIC. A SONG IS ALWAYS ON HER HEART, AND SHE OFTEN WILL HUM AND CREATE SONGS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. HER NEWEST SONG CONTAINS THE LYRICS, "JESUS, JESUS, WHERE ARE WE GOING?" (I PRAY SHE ALWAYS SEEKS HIS GUIDANCE IN SUCH A WAY.) SHE CAN DANCE WITH THE LIKES OF BEYONCE (WHICH IS BOTH INCREDIBLE AND SLIGHTLY MORTIFYING TO WATCH AS PARENTS). HER LOVE OF BOOKS RUNS DEEP AND SHE CHERISHES TRIPS TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE CAN GO ALONE WITH DADDY. I FIND HER READING IN VARIOUS CORNERS OF THE HOUSE ALL DAY LONG. AND, SHE IS GETTING QUITE GOOD AND RETELLING STORIES OR MAKING THEM UP AS SHE LOOKS AT THE ILLUSTRATIONS. HER EXPRESSIONS ARE PRICELESS. SHE LOVES TO BE IN THE KITCHEN AND MAKES AN EXCELLENT SOUS CHEF. SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO FRIDAY NIGHT PIZZA ALMOST AS MUCH AS JEFF AND I DO, AND ALWAYS GREETS THE DELIVERY MAN AT THE DOOR. SHE IS AN EXCELLENT SHOPPER, AND ALWAYS UNLOADS MY ITEMS ONTO THE CONVEYOR BELT AT TARGET, WHILE WAITING TO PRESS THE "GREEN BUTTON" AFTER I SWIPE MY CARD AND SIGN MY NAME. HER RECENT FASCINATION IS SENDING "EMAILS" AND "TEXTS" TO FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SHE OFTEN CLOSES SAID CORRESPONDENCE WITH A HEARTY "AMEN" INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL "WITH LOVE," "SINCERELY," OR "FROM." WE REALLY FIND HER QUITE ENTERTAINING. SHE IS THE PERFECT BALANCE OF SWEET AND SASS.

WE ARE QUITE SMITTEN WITH THESE SWEET ONES IF YOU CANNOT TELL.