The Seas Have Parted!

Charlotte willingly let Auntie Stacey hold her! This is quite the miracle!! Who was happier?

Charlotte Olivia!!!!

Julia has become Miss Mommy. The other night Charlotte went upstairs on her own, and I was telling her to come downstairs. Julia was going potty, and Charlotte went into the bathroom. She "stole" the toothpaste and ran. Julia yelled, "Charlotte Olivia get back here!". Then this am I was telling Charlotte to come to me to put her jacket on while I was sitting on the floor with it. With a smirk on her face she kept telling me "no" and not coming. I asked Julia to take her by the hand and walk her to me. She tried, and Charlotte would not come. Julia said, "Charlotte Olivia go to Mommy!". It is so funny! Julia is 3.5 and is reprimanding Charlotte like I do. She's a trip!

And, we are so in for it with Charlotte. Last night while Julia was putting her shoes on Charlotte grabbed her second shoe and ran. She is such a troublemaker and she knows it, lol. Also, I have a feeling she is going to make her way out of her crib. I have a mirror/toy attached to the side, and Chris caught her once and I caught her trying to stand on it to get out. I am waffling between taking it out or keeping it in. I think it gets her to stay quiet in her crib longer in the am, but is it worth her standing on it trying to climb out and breaking a bone?? Hmmm........lol.

Yesterday, Julia "impressed" me with her vocabulary. I was picking her up from school, and she was showing me the tambourine she made for her project at school. She said, "Mama, Mr. Sunny (music teacher who comes on Thursdays) will be so impressed when he ses this!". She is too much!

I gotta say-I love my girls!!

This post is just for Auntie Lulu

We're starting her young, Lucy! She wanted to help so we ran with it! I even have video!

Julia has job security!

Chris asked Julia what she wanted to be when she grew up. She thought about it for a bit and said, "Santa Claus"! Hey, lots of toys, cookies, and milk-who would turn that down? And, she's guaranteed to be in demand for many many years! lol

Friday Chris took her to her first movie. Before that they went to lunch, and Chris thought Julia's lips look dry so he said to her that he thought she might need chapstick. She just kind of replied, "yeah, maybe".

So they were in the middle of the movie. He said every now and then she would like to bounce on the seat, but then a scene would capture her attention. At one point she tapped Chris and whispered, "Daddy, I think you're right. I think I do need chapstick." She cracks us up!

We had a really nice weekend meeting Memere and Poppie, and Auntie Lulu and Uncle Billy at the Wrentham outlets. Charlotte is now in love with Uncle Billy as well, and runs to him when she sees him. She is also pretty partial to Poppie, and loves cuddles and rides with him on his cart. It is very cute. She has really blossomed into a little girl and is no longer a baby. It blows out mind. She provides so much joy and sometimes frustration as she has a much shorter fuse than Julia ever did. But, she is cute so she gets away with it :-). Yesterday we took them to King Kone for opening day and got them ice cream. Again, Charlotte vomited all over the car. I am thinking it may have been a lingering bug, but it is ironic she threw up both times right after eating ice cream. But, she can drink milk and eat cheese with no issues so it's a mystery. I do know that the next time she has ice cream we will be home!

Lock Up Your Trash........................

if Charlotte is coming over!!!

Charlotte is our resident trash picker. She will not eat the crust on her sandwiches. But, I found her the other night happy as a clam (who came up with that saying? who knows if a clam is happy?!?!)munching away at the crust she foraged out of the trash. I yelled at her, threw it back in the trash, and then I heard the trash cover fall to the floor. Sure enough "Missy" (as Julia likes to call her) was helping herself to another snack from the trash can. (anyone remember a few posts back about her eating coffee grinds?). Charlotte is pretty non-descriminatory when it comes to eating from the trash. She just takes what is on top :-) (are my kids going to hate me when they are older and realize I posted all of this for the world to see?).

Anyways, she is exploding with new vocabulary and facial expressions. She comes off very shy, but hides behind my leg smiling (so different from Julia!!!!)while people poke her or talk to her to come out. We visited Auntie Lulu at work yesterday and she had a ball traipsing through the office (spilling cheerios everywhere along the way). She threw a very mini (thank God) tantrum-something to do with not giving her my Wasa cracker, which consisted ofher faling to the floor splayed out on her belly with her arms around my ankles. Seriously, above anything else she makes me laugh. I love that kid!

I have been loving her one tooth missing grin. I thought one of her front teeth was taking a very long time to come all the way down, but when I looked in her mouth (she hates this) the other day it looks like the tooth is all the way in but started really high. All that says to me is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, lol. But, the cuteness kills me.

On St. Patty's day they had a little celebration at school, and Julia must have received some chocolate foil coins from a lephrecaun (sp?). So when I picked them up from daycare she told me she had to get her coins. So we get them and we're walking to the car and she says she is going to give some to Daddy and put some on her dresser in her piggy bank!!!! She did not realize they were chocolate! So I told her they were chocolate, and, being my child, a huge grin came across her face and she said, "Oh!". Later that night she had some after dinner and she asked me if she could share some with Charlotte. I CANNOT CONVEY ENOUGH HOW INCREDIBLE SHE IS AS A BIG SISTER. It brings tears to our eyes when she displays her generosity and sweetness towards Charlotte. I'd love for it to last forever, but I am sure the days are numbered. We're enjoying it while we can.

So we enjoyed dinner with Auntie Lulu in RI last night. 3/4 of the way home Charlotte was asking for water, and I could not get her her cup. She kept whining which was odd-especially with it being after 9PM. Then she sounded like she was choking. I look back at her, and she recovered and then erupted-vomit everywhere! Oh my goodness-definitely in the top 3 grossest things I have ever had to deal with as a parent. I pulled into a gas station and ran inside and asked the guy behind the counter for rubber gloves. He did not understand me (argh!) so I just asked for a bag. I stripped Charlotte down to her diaper (and lacy socks-must stay fashionable even at your worst ;-) and cleand it all up. I was so proud of myself for not puking. And, I was saying to her when I put her back in her car seat (more for Julia who was kind of freaked) that of she threw up again Mommy would clean it up again. So I get back in the car and Julia says to Charlotte, "It's ok, Charlotte. Mommy will clean you up if you throwed(verbatim) up again". Ahhhhhhh-the sweetness! So anyways, the pics below of Charlotte are from after her episode, and she was perfectly happy and feeling 100% fine(notice her hand in her hair-she has been doing that when she is tired since she was about 3 months old).

Child for Sale!

Cheap!

I'm putting a DVD in the DVD player that will also catch Charlotte's attention.

Julia: "Mommy, I want to watch Shrek."
Me: "I'm not putting in Shrek. I'm putting in (whatever it was)".
Julia: (folding arms over chest)"Mommy, when I tell you I want to watch Shrek I mean it!"

Oh.My.God.

Pray for us and our future! ;-)

In other news Julia puked for the first time of her life on Friday. I guess we were lucky to make it to 3.5 years. So I arrive at school to pick her up, and she had literally just puked-covered in it. I feel terrible for her and am babying her and trying to get her cleaned up best as possible. And she says (as she does every day), "Mommy, what's for dinner?". (yes, she is my child-puke still in the mouth and wants to know about her next meal). So I explain to her she has to eat very light and get lots of fluids. We get home, "Mommy, I want a turkey sandwich." I just had to laugh. She ended up basically eating nothing as she turned her nose to saltines and pedialyte, and unfortunately she threw up again around midnight (had to be on pizza day, right?). She woke with a fever, but then she was fine and made it out Sat night for Grandpa's 91st birthday. She just kept her distance from him.

Miss Charlotte is doing her own thing. She's talking (not very clearly) and sassy. We had a few on the floor tantrums this weekend, but nothing too bad. Not sure if I posted about this, but her teacher told me a funny story. As I posted before Charlotte says "why" all the time. So the other day her teacher said, "why are you saying why?". She shrugged her shoulders and put her palms up and said, "I don't know" (in her language). The teacher said it was very funny.

She had a blast walking all over the restaurant at Grandpa's birthday. She still will not go to Auntie Stacey!! Anyways, here's some pics!

And, please also note my gorgeous nephews!

King of the Castle?

He thinks so! This is "G".



Oh, just think of the places you could go. If only you could drive!



The cats have held their own against two overbearing toddlers who do not understanding pulling their tail as hard as possible, or body hugs are not really appreciated. They are great kitties, and will be even better when they're fixed! ;-)

Ahhh....Julia Julia Julia....

She is the most wonderful child. She is so sweet with Charlotte, and just an all around great kid.

Except. At. Bedtime.

I want to write a few things about how I feel about her behavior at bedtime, but it is probably in my best interest to keep it to myself so CPS does not come knocking!!

Just kidding, but OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh does she turn into a different child and become impossible. We put her to bed, and she comes out 65 million times. And, she is much too smart for her own good. Oy. Anyways, took a few pics of her today because her eyes were beautiful. Orangish on the inside with some blue and green mixed in. I was so glad I had my camera. These were taken at daycare pickup in the back of the van.(if you want to see a good pic of her eyes you can click on the pics and they should enlarge) And,for good measure I will throw a "cheese" picture in of Charlotte.

There's a new baby in town!!!

(no, it's not mine! ;-)

LOVE LOVE LOVE our new neice Adalyn Francis born on January 9, 2009. She is the daughter of one of my very best friends "Auntie" Jen and her hubby Uncle Richie. I have had the pleasure of watching her grow, in person, almost every week, and she won me over from day one. She is so sweet and a little angel. She has beautiful blue eyes and is rocking something along the lines of a mohawk on top of her head. I got to help give her a bath today, and you'll see in one of th pics the very organized preperation Jen does before bath. It actually made me laugh out loud-with her 200 cups lined up with warm water on the edge of the sink (just in case she pees in her bathwater!). I cannot even imagine how much pee I have poured on my girls, lol. Jen is an incredible Mommy already and doing wonderfully. I'm so happy for my bestie and will be sharing many more pics of Addy in the future!

Why?

Whether you ask a question or make a statement, that will be Charlotte's reply. It is sooo cute, actually. She doesn't want to KNOW why, she just likes to SAY why.

She is such a ham. Every day is so fun with her. I am getting a little concerned about one of her front teeth. It has been 1/4 of the way through for months now. I am starting to wonder if it is ever going to come in. Part of me loves the way she looks with the crooked teeth, but the other part makes me worry a bit. I am sure it is nothing, and it sure doesn't inhibit her ability to eat! She can eat Julia under the table.

Charlotte loves the kitties. L-O-V-E-S them. Like, lay her body on top and suffocate them love. And, they take it! They let her do it. They are phenomenal. For whatever reason whenever the cats meow Charlotte says "Shhh"-each and every time, lol. Just one of her funny behaviors.

We had a great weekend with Auntie Lulu and Uncle Billy. Unfortunately, we did not take any pics, but we did get Auntie Lulu to walk around an outdoor flea market in muddy waters! That should be documented, lol. But, the girls ADORE them, and Julia has Uncle Billy wrapped around her finger. She kept asking him to carry her. We NEVER carry her anymore, and each and every time he picks her up. He spoils her!!! And, she loves it. It is quite cute.

The other night we picked Daddy up from the airport coming home from his week long "business" trip in San Francisco. I brought the girls pajamas so WHEN they fell asleep (yes, wishful thinking) we could just transfer them to their beds. So we approach the curb and Charlotte sees Chris and goes bezerk. She squealed with delight, and when he opened the door she grabbed his neck for a hug, and then started caressing his face. It was cute beyond belief. He then went to put his suitcase in back and she burst into tears, lol. She ended up falling asleep on the way home. NOT JULIA! I remember a few years ago my brother and sister-in-law would comment about my oldest nephew, Jeffrey, and how he never stopped talking. I used to think in my head, "but, it must be so cute. I would love to listen to him talk." Then I had Julia!!! Oh my God-she did not stop talking for more then 15 seconds the entire ride home. No joke. We were begging her to be quiet. A little funny I remember is Chris said "why" to her about something. Her answer was "Because, that's why". She kills us and frustrates us beyond belief, at times, but we wouldn't trade her for the world!

Julia also loves to go to every potty ever invented in any establishment we ever visit. Not once, not twice, usually 3 or 4 times. It is especially fun during meals when we're out. But, the little sucker goes every time. The one time I told her (back in December) that she was not going to the bathroom again she pooped her pants. So much for me standing my ground. She showed me. So, now we have become acquainted with every bathroom, EVERYWHERE. If you want to know about one, just ask.

So-I leave you with a few pics. All is well here-except, Daddy is, yet again, on another business trip!!

I think we need a lesson in Diversity 101!

The scene is Market Basket (grocery store)-just the girls and myself.

The aisle is dairy and the milk is chocolate.

Julia, "Mommy, can we buy chocolate milk?"

Me: "No, Julia. Go pick out the exciting pink (cap is pink) milk for you (skim-but she does not like "skin" milk so don't ever tell her that)."

Julia: "Ok."

Next aisle:

We're strolling along and pass an African American man. And, here it comes loud enough for the entire store to hear let alone this man! "Mommy, why is that man chocolate?".

He looks at me and I smile. What else do I do? I laugh. Thankfully, he laughed. As my cheeks turned bright red I explained to her we come in many colors. I don't really think she was listening, but it sounded good.

And, just as a cute sidenote we passed another man in the market who was wearing a cowboy hat. "Mommy, he is a cowboy." The "cowboy" got a kick out of that and exclaimed that, yes, he was a cowboy, lol.

We had another fun moment in the pickle aisle. I was at one end and she was at the other. She grabbed a GLASS jar of pickles much too big for her hands. "Mommy, can we buy these," she yelled. I yelled back, "No!" which received a sigh and grunt one would epect from a child MUCH older. The other woman in the aisle found it funny. I would, too, if I was guaranteed this was not a foreshadowing of what's to come in future years!

And, then there is Charlotte..........................................