Strawberry Fields

Saturday we went to pick strawberries at Lewis Farms. Ever since we have been growing vegetables in our backyard Lily Kate has been much more interested in the possibility of food growing from plants. We ran into LK's buddy, Crawford, while we were there. At first she didn't want to taste the strawberries because they "were dirty" but once she did she didn't stop. We're really trying to get a family picture where we're all looking in the same direction. Poor Charlotte, we always pick the one where she looks bad - she's too young to get a vote :)

This screaming is Charlotte's newest thing, she's found her lungs! Those of you who have spent much time with Lily Kate know that she can hit octaves so high that only dogs can hear - I'm afraid we might have another screamer :)

Evenings on the Porch...

We had a great evening last night. We finally used this bike cart that some friends gave us a while back (thanks Bartons!) that is big enough to put Charlotte's whole carrier into. She just rode along behind me and stared up at the trees & Lily Kate rode in her seat on Parks' bike. Then our favorite little buddy, Oliver, came over and hung out with us on the porch. I still haven't been successful at getting a picture of Oliver and Charlotte where neither of them are crying. I think its all the angling and the proppoing up that makes them cry. And for the record, Lily Kate's paci is "only for night night time" (this is a sentence that I say at least 3 times a day - but hey, I used to have to say it about 8 times a day!). She was coming out to get her kiss from me before Parks put her to bed. I love those girls.

Baptism

Here's the family -all in one picture, it seems near impossible to get everyone looking in the same direction but we tried. Sunday Charlotte was baptized at church. It was a special day for us to celebrate Charlotte being rooted in a family that is committed to helping her know Jesus.

Easter Morning at our church

So, yesterday morning the 2-4 yr olds sang Alive, Alive during the service. I have been listening to Lily Kate sing this song very loud and with enthusiasm around the house and in the car the last few weeks and Parks and I just laughed during the service because she didn't sing at all. BUT she shook her egg shaker with all her concentration. It was too funny. A friend's mom who was there said that Lily Kate seemed like such a quiet, calm child. Again, I just laughed.

Above, the egg hunt at church & below, the result of too much sugar.

Easter Morning

We prayed that Lily Kate would be joyful while I was pregnant with her and now sometimes we just laugh at the amount of energy and excitement that she has.

Our Long Weekend

I really enjoyed having a long weekend mainly b/c long weekends mean that we have Parks around with us. We went on a picnic at the park on Friday and spent most of Saturday in the backyard. Parks' extra hands around the house also meant that I got to spend some more time with my Charlotte. The picture below was a little bonnet that I wore when I was little. I couldn't seem to add the bonnet and keep a smile for the picture. Thanks for the Easter bib, Mom.

A day that calls for a Celebration!

Yesterday was a big day. Lily Kate helped me make spaghetti. It was really thrilling for her to dump the pasta in the boiling water (and not get splashed) and to mix the meat into the sauce. It wasn't Top Chef but it was a little life moment for her. She made dinner! This picture is her after she ate her creation. And....(only a mom would post about this). She "poo pooed the potty" for the first time. She was a little bothered by the whole thing but flushing the toilet made the experience very rewarding. I was cheering and shouting then I offered to make little bunny cakes for her. Then I realized we didn't have enough eggs and I was nervous that all my build up was going to backfire but she just said "it's alright mommy, you ok?" when she heard the disappointment in my voice. We settled on eating some ice cream (also a big treat) and watching VeggieTales.

Charlotte & Oliver

This is Oliver. He was born 16 days before Charlotte and we have big plans for them to be great friends as they grow up. I'm sure they'll be eating sand at the beach together this summer. These are some cute pics that Stephanie & Andrew took of the babies.

Sisters

This makes me laugh, I especially like Lily Kate's impersonation of Charlotte.

Sleeping Beauty

Well, there haven't been many pictures of LK lately and that is truly because I haven't been able to get her to be still enough to take one. I have a lot of deleted attempts. Here she is - in all her wiggly-ness.

I'm glad I captured this face. This silly open-mouthed grin is Charlotte's regular "I just ate and I'm loving life" face.

Sweet Girl - 11 weeks

Getting Chunky

Bumbo

It's probably time for a little update. Charlotte is 10 weeks old now! She is really sweet. I know I say that all the time but she is just so smiley. She is finally falling into a decent rhythm during the day with some consistent napping in her crib (still her least favorite place to sleep). She is still waking once to eat at night. Kate cut that out at just under 7 weeks so I was a little spoiled. I passed exhausted a couple weeks ago but I'm getting used to this sleepy state. Sometimes I look at her and think that she looks so much like Lily Kate but most of the time I think she has her own look. I think she looks more like me than like Parks - but really not exactly like either of us. When Parks is holding Charlotte and talking to her I've heard him say, "what will you be like" at least 8 or so times. We're both so curious to know her more as she grows. I'm predicting some laid back attributes - she just often seems very content. What a blessing that will be to herself (& us!) if that remains. Parks asks Lily Kate every once in a while if we should keep her or bring her back to the hospital and I agree with Lily Kate, "we gotta keep her"

Time with Daddy

Finally - we caught a smile!

March 9th is a big day. It's Pop Pop's AND cousin Scotty's birthdays.
Happy Birthday to you both.

How sweet is it to have a naked little baby sleeping in your arms.

"Too Bright, Too Bright!"

So, the sun is out here in Wilmington! After breaking not one, but two different retractable window shades in my car Lily Kate has been riding in the sun light the last few weeks. As I'm driving along sometimes I turn a corner and change directions and the sun will hit her window and will she start to yell "too bright! too bright!". I tried to explain to Lily Kate that the shade in her window could really help with that but I know better than to buy a third one. So, yesterday I bought her some very stylish "lellow sunnies". (To her credit, Parks and I call sunglasses "sunnies" so she got that word correct). Here they are!

Sweet Face