2009: A year in review

2009 was a good year for us. We started out with a little baby who was just learning to smile and babble and ended up with a toddler who talks all day and runs around everywhere. There have certainly been some ups (first word, first crawling, first steps, vacation in the Dominican Republic) and some downs (stomach viruses and ear infections) but I will always look back at this year as some of our best memories.
My favorite pictures from the year:

January:





February:




March:






April:




May:






June:




July:





August:





September:





October:




November:




December:

We are bottle free in the Fulcher house

Our pediatrician suggested getting rid of Charlotte's last bottle between fifteen to eighteen months. Unfortunately, I think it has been harder for me to let it go than for her....I just really love that last feeding when she is so sweet and baby-like again! We started taking away an ounce a day out of her night time bottle until we were down to two, then we switched it to a sippy cup. Christmas day was her last bottle and she was so tuckered out she fell asleep while she was drinking it. I just kept holding her and rocking her so I could look at her beautiful and innocent little face fast asleep. She protested a little bit when we handed her a sippy instead of a bottle but once she realized there was milk in it she was fine. We gave her a few days of milk from a cup and then switched it up on her again....now it is just water. All the books say that you don't want to let the sugars from milk sit on their teeth all night, so water it is. I am actually looking forward to sterilizing all her bottles and putting them away but our next obstacle is to see if she will let Bryce put her to bed instead of me!

Christmas Day

After our marathon present opening, it was off to Bryce's Mom and Dad's. We had a yummy lunch and Charlotte go to show everyone her pretty dress. Considering it was day two of only one nap, I was super impressed with how well behaved Charlotte was. She usually gets very shy around big crowds but she was interested in everyone at Christmas.


Round three of gifts and she is ripping in!


Everyone down on the floor with Charlotte again.


Uncle Charlie loves to play with Charlotte!


A picture with Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas Morning

Charlotte actually slept the latest she has slept all year on Christmas Morning. We stayed in bed until after 9:00, I think the day before (and one nap!) wore her out! We got up and out of bed and saw that Santa brought.....a Kitchen!


Charlotte played with her kitchen while Bryce and I made breakfast:

She was so excited and just kept opening and shutting all the cabinets on it.


She also kept walking back and forth from her new car to her new kitchen....she had some deliveries to make I guess!


She was now a pro at opening the presents....she insisted on taking off every piece of paper and every piece of tape and then opening the box to see what was inside. It took us over two hours to finish opening gifts!


Thanks to Mrs. D, Charlotte is a magna-doodle champion!


Santa also brought play food to go with her kitchen. This set is the coolest, you can pretend like you are cutting each piece up.




Charlotte's favorite present of the morning was a baby doll from Mommy and Daddy. She was so cute with that doll! She started clapping when we unwrapped it and she saw it in the box, and as soon as we got it out she started hugging it and kissing it! It really made me a little teary eyed seeing her so excited, and so loving towards it!


Helping Daddy take everything out of the box.


I LOVE THESE PAJAMAS!!!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house this year. We crossed our fingers and laid Charlotte down a little later so that she would only take one nap and we could hit the road. We made good time and had a little snack before we got down to business....the presents. Charlotte was an absolute doll, she kept walking back and forth between whoever was opening a present so that she could help. She loved getting to rip the paper off into little shreds and then picking up all the little shreds and handing them to me.


My baby girl in front of the tree.


Everyone was down on the floor with Charlotte this year.


go, Charlotte, go!


My Mom and Dad got Charlotte a Cozy Coupe. I wasn't sure if Charlotte had even seen one before, but she knew exactly what to do. I was trying to change her diaper when Bryce and Dad started putting it together and she took off to go sit in it. She tried to sit in in the whole time they were assembling, but I eventually had to lure her away with some food to the kitchen so they could finish.




She is ready to go!


Not quite sure how to make this thing go, Grandpa give me a push!

This is Charlotte's "Yes, Mother!" look. I gave my Mom the same one when she kept trying to get my attention.


Bryce has taught Charlotte to stick her tongue out when he tells her to. Isn't that endearing?! (Major sarcasm)

We have our cookies and milk out, we're ready for Santa!