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.

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.