Watch me grow

September 15, 2008 Birth-Day:



October 15, 2008 1 Month Old:



November 15, 2008 2 Months Old:



December 15, 2008 3 Months Old:



January 15, 2009 4 Months Old:



February 15, 2009 5 Months Old:



March 15, 2009 Six Months Old:



April 15, 2009 Seven Months Old:



May 15, 2009 Eight Months Old:



June 15, 2008 Nine Months Old:



July 15, 2009 Ten Months Old:



August 15, 2009 Eleven Months Old:



September 15, 2009 One Year Old:



Oh Charlotte, how I have loved watching you grow!

12 month check up

Our little girl is growing beautifully! At one year she is in the 50th percentile for both her height and weight at 21 pounds 1 ounce and 29 inches tall. She is reaching all of her milestones (saying words, pointing at things, looking at books, clapping, waving, cruising, etc.) and has four teeth. She has two more on the top that are threatening to pop through any day now.
Both Bryce and I have food allergies in the family so I have been hyper-vigilant (some would say paranoid) about the foods she eats. In preparation for the flu shot, which is made with egg whites, I gave Charlotte some banana bread with egg in it, then a bite of eggs, then worked our way up to eating scrambled eggs for breakfast last week. She did fine with it and it was a HUGE relief to avoid that obstacle. We've been given to go ahead to try berries next though the Pediatrician suggested we hold off on peanuts for at least another 6 months. The shots were absolutely horrible this time. Charlotte screamed so loud and would not calm down. Usually I can interest her in something else but she cried and cried until we actually left the Doctor's office this time. Taking the band aids off during bath time so I could inspect the injection site was round 2 of the screams. Awful!!
We are going to start the transition to whole milk at the end of the week. Since this was Charlotte's first flu shot (plus she got an MMR and chickenpox vaccine) I want to make sure she does not have a reaction before we start something new. I have gone back and forth about whether or not to do organic milk. It seems to fall under my philosophy of giving Charlotte the best of everything but I am getting such mixed signals about what "the best" is in this situation. After we have made the complete switch to whole milk we will start weaning from the bottle. Charlotte has been drinking from a cup for one feeding any way so I think we will be ok. Because we wake up so early in the morning during the week I am going to keep her on two naps a day for as long as I can. I feel so bad that her night time sleep is getting cut short, we have to try to make it up somehow! Once we have used up all the jar food we have I am not buying any more. It is so bittersweet to think I have bought my last can of formula and my last jar of baby food for Charlotte. Now I have a whole new food arena to obsess over!
Everyone at the Doctor's office oohed and aahed over how pretty Charlotte is. She was waving at everyone in the waiting room, and she is really into giving her toys (and Bryce and I!) hugs and kisses right now. I could not be more proud.

Party Time!

We threw our first birthday party. I am a planner and an organizer and this definitely tested my every skill. I have lots and lots of experience with children's birthday parties, so I have been taking notes for awhile now. I had a vision in my head of how I wanted things to be and I think it was pretty well executed. More than anything, I wanted Charlotte to be able to look back one day and realize that this was a celebration of her life. She means so much to us that she deserves the best party we can give her!


We had such a cool surprise when we woke up that morning. Mrs. D had our lawn decorated to welcome everyone to Charlotte's party!


It felt like Christmas when Bryce yelled out to me, "Hey Babe, I think you should look out the front door!".


Charlotte just kept looking and looking, she thought our new yard was very cool!


The paparazzi were out in full force! Charlotte getting her picture taken.


Can you believe we've had her for a year?!


I looked everywhere for her dress!


Her cake looked just like her invitation.


The happy birthday sign in the window was my favorite thing!


Charlotte finally warmed up a bit to everyone and started playing.


Charlotte did so good during present time!


She even helped a little bit!


I actually did get a little teary eyed listening to everyone sing happy birthday. I could literally feel the love in the room!


Outfit change for cake time was a must!

Charlotte had such a good day! Thank you so much to everyone who came and helped make this day special!

Charlotte's First Birthday!

Bryce and I took the day off to be with Charlotte on her very first birthday. It is such a monumental day for all three of us. We spent the day at the Aquarium and Charlotte absolutely LOVED it. She was pointing at everything and saying her gibberish words like she knew exactly what each thing was called. I couldn't tell her happy birthday or how much I loved her enough times today.

Checking out her beautiful new chair from Grandma and Grandpa McCratic....and a gift from Mommy and Daddy


Hmmm....what could it be?! (a little people build and carry birthday case)



From the moment we walked in the door Charlotte was pointing
and talking to those fish!


Entranced.







Just a few pictures for Mommy....



This place is too cool to sit in a stroller...although Charlotte did
walk with us for a part of the way.


Charlotte was not scared to touch anything! She was splashing and touching
everything she could.


Back at home....well rested from a nap and fed. Now it's time to play!


My new I'm One bib from Tara


Happy birthday sweet baby girl!!


She might not ever agree to eat carrots again!

My favorite pictures from the day:

The Past Year

All day long I found my mind drifting back to what we were doing a year ago. I remember being anxious, excited, and a little bit scared. Bryce and I have been going through all of our pictures of Charlotte and we simply cannot believe all that this year has encompassed. Being with Charlotte in the hospital feels like such surreal memories. I remember feeling so tired but every time she cried more adrenaline kicked in and I was ready to go again. That first shower in the hospital was the best shower of my life! Bryce and I were amazed when we walked outside to the car and found that in the three short days we stayed in the hospital the weather had turned cold. I arrived to the hospital in shorts and a t-shirt and left in pants and a sweatshirt. Bringing Charlotte into our home for the first time was one of those moments I will never forget. We walked her around the house and showed Charlotte her room. The whole house took on a different meaning to me once we had a little baby in it. Breastfeeding is absolutely without a doubt the hardest, most selfless thing I have ever done. I am so glad I was able to do it and keep it up for so long. Some of my most treasured stolen moments with Charlotte are times we were left alone to feed. There's not a whole lot to do while you are in a nursing session except think and pray and thank God for your blessings. I am so glad I was able to stay home with Charlotte for so long now too. Especially now that I know how fast they grow...I could never have those days back if I had missed them. Seeing Charlotte learn to crawl for the first time is probably my proudest moment of the year. She wanted it so bad, and then all of a sudden she just took off! She was so excited at her own accomplishment it literally brought tears to my eyes. This summer with Charlotte was so much fun. It was the perfect time to be home with her. Developmentally she was getting so social and loved to learn about her surroundings. Add the fact that she was much more mobile and it's needless to say there was never a dull moment! I just really feel we were able to focus on her so much and really take the time to work with her and teach her about her world. Since we've started school again, Charlotte has learned how to play with others at daycare. She has become much more vocal...she has an amazing ability to imitate. I really know I've got to watch my language now, the other day Charlotte copied Bryce saying "lobster"! She is really into anything that makes noise, anything that seems silly, and turning things on and off. Her sign language has expanded to include "milk, more, ball, water, all done, and bye bye". She can also point to her head, point out parts of someone else's face, and blow a kiss good-bye. She is amazing.

The past year has taught me to stop and look at things from a child's perspective. To enjoy the little things. The past year has taught me that I am a strong woman....I truly honestly believe that birth and the newborn stage taught me more about myself than going away to college did! The past year has taught me how fragile life is. How much I need Bryce. How grateful I am. Loving my child has made me happier than I have ever been.

I think she knows she's pretty....

Weekend View

Started out looking pretty.


A package came in the mail for me, but it is a birthday present so I have to wait.


Caught a few rays.


Kissed a pretty baby.


Walked in the park and fed the ducks.


Posed with Mommy for a picture


Laughed when Daddy said "Quack Quack"


Finished it off with a pair of shades. Still looking pretty.