Caroline is 3!

My first baby turned 3 in October.  What a fun celebration we had!  A pink party at the park and our favorite Jalisco's mexican dinner as a family.  

This girl is so fun.  I am loving age 3 so far - just the right mix of little girl and big girl if you know what I mean. 

She is my buddy and my helper everyday.   

A fun mix of timid/reserved and then all out spunk and personality.   

She truly has such a sweet spirit.  I see it the most in wanting to listen and obey - she is my rule follower.  Of course, she isn't perfect.  I see that sweet spirit just as much when she messes up and gets in trouble as when she follows directions perfectly or loves and shares with Annie.  It is an amazing thing to watch your child (even a 3 yr old or younger) want to do the right thing, but struggle and sometimes give into their own desires.  I am grateful the Lord gives us this picture through our kids.  I know it is what He sees us doing all the time.  It is a great way to show Caroline grace.  To correct her and love on her.  To let her know we all (especially the rule-followers) mess up.       

She loves her sister and loves to be a big sister.  At first she wanted a baby brother this go around, but nowshe wants a sister.  "Then, I will have two sisters!" she says.  We will see.  

I love seeing life through her eyes.  The innocence and simplicity is such a good and refreshing reminder.  

Her imagination constantly entertains me.  I love to peek in on her playing.  

What she loves: Monkey George (aka Curious George), spaghetti, cookies, Annie, her school and the Turtles class, any kind of tiny toy -an animal, a car, hello kitty, anything miniature really,  water and orange juice, crafts, painting, climbing, talking, The Bearenstein Bears, music/dancing, her friend, Harper, t-shirts or "comfy clothes."  

She cracks us up these days with things she says.  Mostly because she repeats phrases that adults say.

Some of my favorite quotes: 

"Let me tell you something Mommy.  This is not going to be funny."

"I am a big girl.  I am getting old."

When cooking in her kitchen for me, "You need to be very patient."

"You are so sweet to me, Mommy"  

"Boys go potty standing up, but girls go potty sitting down."

When talking to Annie:

"You are so precious, Annie"

"No ma'am, Annie"

When Annie is crying: 

"I know, Annie, I know.  We are almost home and I know you are hungry."

"Annie is getting in the cords"  Or "Annie is going up the stairs"

A couple months ago we were in the car listening to an old David Crowder song, and C said,

"God and Jesus are really sweet to me.  And God made me.  And he cares for me.  He loves us!  He loves us!"  

Some of the sweetest words I have ever heard her say.  

The things she doesn't like: loud noises (specifically the vaccum, hair dryer, or yard blower), being in trouble, blueberries and strawberries, taking risks, to be told no, Lion King and Nemo.

Caroline is kind, pleasant, flexible, and easy to be around.  

"Joy and song of happiness"  is the meaning of her name and I truly couldn't put a better description around her.  The last 3 years have been true joy for us and we cannot imagine life without her in our family.  

Happy birthday to our favorite 3 year old!  We love you!

Lots of Catching Up!

Well, we will just start with the big news first.  

One random Thursday in September, John came home from work to find this picture from me and Caroline.  That's right, baby #3 coming in May!

To say the least, he was surprised!  

We had a great Halloween in our neighborhood this year.  

We had the cutest Varsity girls, Curious George, and Man with the Yellow Hat you have ever seen.  

John has been hunting several weekends this fall.  

He sent me this picture one morning.  It made me so glad to be a girl and at home in my warm house on a cold Saturday morning.

Caught these two wiped out one night and holding hands.  

The "Paci Fairy"came two nights after this picture was taken.  

I don't know if it was Caroline's personality or the fact that she is 3 and totally understood (for the most part) what was happening, but it was the easiest transition yet.  I was dreading it, but made me feel better for letting her sleep with that darn thing for 3 years.   

We took C to her first Auburn game for Homecoming.  Christian was in town and it was fun to have him join us.  She made it to the end of the 3rd quarter and Auburn won so it was quite a successful trip.   

The popcorn and the band were the biggest hit for C though.  

This cutie turned 11 months on the 12th of November.  We love seeing her little personality come out more and more.  Her top two front teeth have come through in the last month.  She is into everything and only wants to be on the floor trying to keep up with Caroline.  No interest in walking at this point probably because crawling is faster.    

She still doesn't love a sippy cup (doesn't matter what is in it).  Hope to transition that in the next month or so.  I am tired of bottles.  She loves to wave, loves to clap, loves to laugh, and babble.  She can repeat mama, dada, Hiiii, and loves to say ohhhhhhh.   

They are loving interacting more and more.  C just wishes she could do everything she can and I think Annie wants the same thing!  

We spent the week of Thanksgiving in B'ham.  It was wonderful!  We were able to see lots of friends and family, but there never seems to be enough time to see everyone and do everything.  

Lunch with Grandmama

Annie was introduced to a Milo's toasted cheese for the first time.  Of course, she loved it!  She is her mother's daughter.  We may or may not have gone twice in the short time we were in B'ham.  

The only picture I took on Thanksgiving.

Friday after Thanksgiving, my high school was in the playoffs and played our biggest rival.  Perfect opportunity to take John to his first Alabama high school football game.  It might not be Texas FNL, but it is pretty close.  

We ended Thanksgiving weekend, heading back to Atl and picking out our Christmas tree.  The picture is a little blurry, but I liked that the girls were looking at each other instead of the camera.  

 

It has taken us several days to decorate....
(Much to my dismay, my husband loves multi colored lights and has won that battle in our house).

but today Caroline and I finally finished the ornaments.  Most of them are at a 3 ft level, but it looks sweet and she had a ball decorating.  

More to come...big sister turned 3 in October and I have a birthday post to write!

9 and 10 months

Annie is quickly approaching 11 months and I have yet to post on her for 9 and 10 months.  Thankfully, I did take her picture at each month.  So, here is a little longer catch up from the last two months...

At 9 months, I started slowly dropping Annie's baby food and introducing all table foods.  She has done really well.  Occasionally, I still throw a baby food jar in my bag because it is just too easy when we are on the go, but for the most part, she is done with baby food.  

Favorite foods - banana, waffle, cheese, pineapple, ham, mandarin oranges, yogurt, apple sauce, spinach nuggets.  

Doesn't love, but will tolerate - avocado, strawberries, peas, turkey. 

Chomps on all these things with her two bottom teeth. 

She still doesn't love a sippy cup at meals, so that is our next goal.  Takes 3 bottles a day.  

At her 9 month check up she weighed

17 lbs. 13oz. and was 27.5 inches

At 9 months she was pulling up lots, but had a hard time getting anywhere once she stood up. 

She might be on the move, but she is still very snuggly.  When I pick her up from her crib, she wraps her arms around me and starts playing with my hair.  I like to pretend it is her way of hugging me.  

When she smiles really big, she scrunches her nose up and it is one of my most favorite things. 

A few new changes at 10 months...

Clapping regularly and can wave to say hello or bye bye.  

She loves this little morocco and carried it around for about a week straight.

Now when she pulls up she is starting to walk around the coffee table or from the coffee table to the couch.

She is getting into my most favorite stage of sleeping.  That stage where she is moving so much when she is awake, that she is extra tired for naps and bedtime.  

She naps about 1-1.5 hours in the morning and usually 2 hours or more in the afternoon.

She goes to bed about 7 or 7:30 and sleeps anywhere from 7 to 8 in the morning. 

This little one loves her Daddy.  She lights up when he gets home and literally crawls around the house following him and pulling up on his legs.  

Most people think she looks just like her Daddy too.  We agree.  Her eyebrows are John's for sure and are what really make her stand out to look just like him. 

But, I think her lips/mouth and nose are just like Caroline's.  

She rubs her fingers through her hair when you give her a bottle and when she is sleepy.  And if she is holding the bottle, she has one hand in her hair and one on the bottle.  

At 9 months, Annie had her first trip to the ER when her fever spiked to 104.5.  It was so pitiful.  Turns out she had a bad ear infection and croup. She was a champ and after some meds was much better.  

Starting to show some interest in this push toy.

Caroline is for sure Annie's favorite person and wants to do anything she is doing. 

Caroline loves to give Annie attention and affection too.  

She loves to sleep on her tummy.  I realized the other day that since she learned to roll over, I have never seen her sleep on her back since.  

We love this happy, sweet, and laid back girl!