little princess

The theme this week at the kids' school is prince and princesses.  Here's a couple shots of our very surly little princess.

he's a cool kid

Apparently they listen to music at Colin's new school.  He heard this song on the radio the other day and flipped, telling me it was his "favorite song."  So now we have to listen to it on repeat.  Here he is singing along as he does some coloring :)

snow day!

Winter has finally shown up around here.  Monday we all had a snow day when daycare closed for 5 inches of snow.  I will say our 8 years in Northern Indiana may have hardened me as it didn't even cross my mind that they would cancel until I was about to take them in and Mike checked his email...

But, we all had a fun day, including the kids who braved the arctic wind to play in the snow a little.

Anxious to get outside!

This is clearly daddy duty.

Later, some high schoolers came by and offered to shovel our driveway for a few bucks.  Charlotte stood, hands in pockets, watching them the whole time.  Not pictured:  Colin, throwing a tantrum because apparently in his mind, HE was going to shovel the driveway and sidewalk, and was very unhappy at being usurped by the big boys.  Just wait, buddy.

More snow this weekend!  Stay warm!

happy early v-day

just because this is the picture that daycare just emailed me.  It brightened my day, so I hope it brightens yours. 

2 peas in a ...

Every day these two seem to play together more and more, and it makes my heart so happy.

Here they are being two little peas in a … dresser…

...and in storage totes...

And the other night Charlotte was emphatically patting the mattress next to her and asking for “Brother!!”  He climbed in and they both said “night night!”  We even turned out the light and left, thinking one of them would start screaming.. and they were in there giggling and playing until we went in and fetched Colin to go sleep in his own bed.  At which point, she flipped out and cried, wanting him to come back!

And yes I do plan to torture them with these pictures someday…

charlotte's 2 year visit

Charlotte had her big-girl two year doctor visit last week.

(not really on our way to the doctor here, but bear with me.  It's been a busy few weeks).

Chunkamuffin is up to 32.25 inches long and 23.5 pounds.  Her head is just perfectly 50th percentile, but her length is 18% and her weight is 11%.  So not really a chunkamuffin after all.  I guess she just looks solid when I see her next to her not-even-on-the-charts brother all the time!

(I swear she eats. Everything.  Where does it all go?)

Charlotte did great at her new doctor's office!  She was friendly with the doctor and showed off her growing language skills.  She seemed to really enjoy having a new lady doctor.  She even evaded the scheduled shots since she'd already had them in Indiana.  All in all, a great visit!

(Should I be concerned this is the book the pedi gave her?)

charlotte is "twooooo!"

The big day is here.. Charlotte is "twooooo!"  

Lady had a great day with a (third) birthday celebration at school.. 

followed by a very fancy birthday dinner at Cap'n D's (never thought I'd be celebrating another birthday there... haha) 

This girl went to TOWN on some fish and chips.  I have never seen her eat more food at one sitting.

followed by a little ice cream treat at home....

Brother decided he didn't want the rest of his, so Birthday Girl helped herself to a little of both.

We had so much fun celebrating our special little girl tonight.  It's impossible to believe that Charlotte is really turning two.  How could it have only been two years since that cold, COLD, night when she decided to make her early arrival?  At the same time it feels like she’s been part of our family forever.  She is such a unique, sweet, fun little girl and we are having so much fun watching her grow.  Here is what she’s up to at 2:

·    She doesn’t talk as much as her brother (who does?) but she has tons of words and uses them carefully when she wants to.  She is putting together two word phrases.. favorites are “bye bye mommy”, “baby uh oh!” and (no surprise) “brother no no!”  That one she likes to accompany with a stern finger wagging in his general direction.  She can repeat almost any word we say, though she still refuses to say either charlotte or colin.  Baby and Brother are the preferred names. 

·        Much like her brother at this age, though, she understands nearly everything we say.  Any question you ask her she will immediate recognize it’s a question and first respond with, “ummm…” before she answers, even if it’s gibberish. 

·        She loves music, dancing and singing.  We’ll hear her laying in her crib singing to herself, or walking through the house singing.  They’re mostly nonsense but my personal favorite songs are “baby mommy baby mommy” and “mommy daddy mommy daddy”.   She is also quite a dancer.  Can’t wait to get her into some dance lessons!

·        She’s just so funny in a way that’s hard to explain.  She watches and listens to everything and gets these expressions on her face that are so hilarious and have to be intentional, but are almost adult-like.  I think she’s going to be a little character.  

·        She loves dolls all of a sudden.  It’s amazing how it just seems to be an innate little girl thing.  She especially loves her strawberry shortcake doll she got last year for her birthday (“Pink Baby”) and the almost life size doll she got for Christmas (“Big Baby.”) She loves pushing her babies around in their stroller and shoving bottles in their faces.

·        She and Colin are really starting to play together these days.  She’ll instigate a game of chasing each other around the house, or other weird little pretend games.  They have this game where colin will yell “my pie!” and then she’ll yell it back and it goes on and on.  There is never actually any pie involved.  It’s great to see them playing together though.  Until she takes a tumble or doesn’t get her way, and this kid is already tattling on him!  She’ll come in crying, yelling “brother!” and pointing at him accusatorily.  Little stinker.

·        After one extremely successful weekend on the potty chair, she now refuses to go anywhere near it.  Strong willed little girl. 

·        After two solid years of having to be rocked to sleep by mommy like a newborn, she’s finally pointing to her crib, saying “bed!” and then yelling at whoever is putting her down “Go!  Bye bye!” when she is ready to sleep.  Kind of makes me a little sad!  I miss my nighttime cuddles! 

·        She’s becoming a picky eater unfortunately.  But unlike her brother, who would just eyeball things and not try them, she tries most things.. but if they don’t meet her taste, she will promptly pull the bite out of her mouth, throw it on the table and yell NO!  Ha.

·        Favorites: pizza crust, cheese, mommy, clothes with pockets, dollies, music, reading, animals, coloring, pretending to talk on the phone, accessorizing.

·        Dislikes: being told no, sharing, fruit, new people, barrettes/pigtails, sleeping in. 

happy happy happy birthday to our little ladybug, pachach, beebs, beebers, cha cha, charlie bug, princess lady!