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.

Water Fun

WITH THE WARMER TEMPERATURES, CHARLOTTE AND I DECIDED SHE NEEDED AN ENGAGING OUTDOOR TOY. AFTER BROWSING HER FRIEND, ROBBIE'S FAMILY BLOG, SHE THOUGHT A WATER TABLE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE. SHE LOVES THE FEELING OF THE WATER AGAINST HER HANDS, FACE, AND ANYWHERE ELSE IT LANDS. I LOVE TO WATCH HER EXPRESSION AS SHE DUMPS WATER ONTO HER CLOTHES AND "OOOOS AND AHHHS." SHE ALWAYS LOOKS AT ME AS IF TO SAY, "IS THIS OK? DO WE CHANGE MY CLOTHES NOW?" WHAT A FUN WAY TO SPEND THE MORNING!

THIS PICTURE SAYS IT ALL...

FIRST SANDALS OF THE SEASON. I CAN JUST PICTURE HER LITTLE TOES PAINTED ONE DAY.

GEARING UP FOR WATER FUN...

"THE TEMPERATURE OF THIS WATER IS JUST RIGHT, MOM!"

FULL OF WONDER AND DELIGHT.

THINGS ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET CRAZY!

Blessings From Above

CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN HOLDING ON TO SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE EXPECTING OUR SECOND BABY THIS NOVEMBER. WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE LORD FOR THIS LITTLE ONE, AND ARE EAGERLY AWAITING HIS/HER ARRIVAL.

CHARLOTTE BEGINS TO MENTALLY FOCUS ON BEING A BIG SISTER. FRANKLY, SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S COMING, BUT SHE LOVES HER NEW SHIRT.

BABY LARSON PART DEUX

ARRIVAL : EARLY NOVEMBER

JUST A LITTLE WAVE FOR YOU!

My How You've Grown

OUR SWEET GIRL BEFORE BED.

LOOKING SO OLD...WHERE DID OUR BABY GIRL GO? (BY THE WAY, SHE TOOK ABOUT A MINUTE TO JUST SIT AND POSE FOR THE CAMERA WITH THIS SWEET SMILE. JEFF AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.)

I SOMETIMES WONDER IF SHE KNOWS HOW CUTE SHE IS. I THINK SHE DOES AND USES IT TO HER ADVANTAGE.

OUR PRECIOUS GIFT.

MOTHER'S DAY

FILLING OUT HER CARSEAT! IT IS HARD TO CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING WHEN SOMETHING THIS CUTE IS IN YOUR BACKSEAT.

SPORTING OUR BREW CREW T-SHIRTS. IT WAS A PROUD DAY.

Vegas Bound

THIS MAY JEFF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO LAS VEGAS FOR A CONFERENCE, AND WE DECIDED TO TURN IT INTO A COUPLE'S VACATION WITHOUT CHILDREN. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME AWAY FROM CHARLOTTE FOR MORE THAN A WEEKEND, AND WHILE WE MISSED OUR LITTLE LADY, IT PROVED TO BE A WONDERFUL TIME OF REFRESHMENT AND RELAXATION. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS WERE LAYING POOLSIDE, FABULOUS DINNERS (WITHOUT INTERRUPTION), TAKING IN THE SIGHTS, AND SEEING THE LION KING AT THE MANDALAY BAY. JEFF ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH ME HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK AND WE ENJOYED HITTING UP THE TABLES. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I CAME OUT AHEAD, BUT IN THE END IT WAS JEFF WHO BROKE EVEN. HE CONTINUES TO CARRY OUR HOUSEHOLD FINANCIALLY. :) WE CAME BACK EXHAUSTED AND READY TO BE WITH OUR SWEET CHARLOTTE.

OUR FAITHFUL TRAVELING COMPANIONS, THE STACEYS.

ENJOYING A VISIT WITH GRANDMA AND UNCLE TOM.

FEELING LUCKY!

READY TO HEAD HOME AND SEE OUR LITTLE PEANUT.

Growing Girl

CHARLOTTE SEEMS TO BE GROWING LIKE A LITTLE LADY WEED THESE DAYS. EACH TIME WE CAPTURE HER ON CAMERA WE ARE AMAZED BY HER GROWTH AND THE FEELING THAT SHE IS NO LONGER OUR LITTLE BABY GIRL. SHE CONTINUES TO BE A VERY ACTIVE YOUNG LADY, AND ENJOYS SOCIALIZING WITH ANYONE WHO WILL GIVE HER AN EAR. SHE PARTICULARLY ENJOYS THE FREEDOM OF BEING LET LOOSE IN A STORE AND EXPLORING EACH AND EVERY CORNER OF IT (THANKS TO HER FATHER). I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED THAT SOLO TRIPS TO THE MALL SANS DAD LEAVE ME ONE FRUSTRATED LITTLE GIRL BOUND IN HER STROLLER. OH WELL, ONE LESS TRIP TO THE MALL IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING!

CHARLOTTE AND I HAVE ALSO ENJOYED OUR WEEKLY BABY BOOK TIME AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY. CHARLOTTE'S PASSION FOR BOOKS CONTINUES TO FLOURISH AND SHE WAS AMAZED TO DISCOVER NOT ONLY ROWS UPON ROWS OF NEW BOOKS BUT NEW FRIENDS TO SOCIALIZE WITH ALL IN THE SAME PLACE! I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO SIT AROUND THE CIRCLE, CHARLOTTE COMPLIED, BUT TRUE TO HER INDEPENDENT NATURE, SHE DECIDED THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO RALLY ALL OF THE OTHER CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN SINGING, CLAPPING, AND LOUD NOISES. EACH WEEK, I WAS AMAZED TO WATCH OUR LITTLE GIRL BOLDLY WALK IN AND AROUND THE CIRCLE LAUGHING, DANCING, AND GETTING IN OTHER PARENT'S FACES. SHE NOT ONLY LOOKS JUST LIKE HER DADDY, BUT HAS A WAY OF WORKING THE CROWD JUST LIKE HIM. SHE IS A SITE TO SEE, AND I HAVE A HARD TIME TAKING MY EYES OF OFF HER. WHAT A LADY!!!

AN AFTERNOON ON THE SQUARE.

A PRECIOUS FACE.

SPORTING A FABULOUS SPRING OUTFIT.

ATTEMPTING TO EAT WITH A SPOON; IT WAS NOT EXACTLY SUCCESSFUL.

POSING FOR THE CAMERA!

CHECKING OUT HER GROWING SHADOW.

CHARLOTTE LOVES HER SOME B-BALL. JEFF IS ATTEMPTING TO TEACH HER HOW TO REBOUND HIS SHOTS.

Cold Season

AFTER MAKING IT THROUGH THE WINTER IN (MOSTLY) GOOD HEALTH, CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN BATTLING HER FIRST MAJOR COLD OF THE SEASON. EACH MORNING WE WAKE TO FIND HER POOR NOSE RUNNING, LEAVING AN AWFUL RASH BELOW HER NOSE. DETERMINED NOT TO LET THIS COLD GET HER WAY, CHARLOTTE WAKES UP EACH MORNING FILLED WITH ENERGY AND PROCEEDS TO GET HER HANDS INTO EVERYTHING AROUND THE HOUSE. SHE HAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED HOW TO OPEN ALL OF THE KITCHEN CABINETS, AND ENJOYS LEAVING PLASTIC LID TRAILS AROUND THE HOUSE. (NO, SHE DOES NOT FIND IT AS FUN TO PICK THEM UP.) SHE WAS BROKENHEARTED WHEN A RANDOM UTENSIL PINCHED HER FINGER YESTERDAY. SHE RETURNED THE FAVOR BY THROWING IT ACROSS THE ROOM, IGNORING IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. LESSON LEARNED?!?

NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THE RETURN OF GOOD HEALTH AND THE ARRIVAL OF WARM SPRING WEATHER!

BEDHEAD BABY.

FRESH OUT OF BED AND READY FOR THE DAY. IF ONLY WE ALL WOKE UP WITH SUCH ENERGY!

WHAT A FACE?!

PLAYING (STRANGLING) HER NEW KITTY. CHARLOTTE DOES NOT REALIZE THIS IS THE ONLY KITTY SHE WILL EVER HAVE IN THE HOUSE, AS HER PARENTS ARE DOG PEOPLE.

CHARLOTTE SURPRISED HER DADDY BY WEARING HER LED ZEPPELIN ONESIE FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST GIFTS TO HER.

"I'M READY TO ROCK OUT, DAD!"

CHARLOTTE'S NEW FAVORITE CORNER TO PLAY IN. I OFTEN CATCH HER RUNNING HER HANDS ALONG THE BOOK SPINES. WE LOVE THAT SHE IS ALREADY INTERESTED IN THE CLASSICS.

BEING PLAYFUL FOR THE CAMERA.

LOOKING PRETTY CUTE IN SPITE OF HAVING A NASTY, RUNNY NOSE.