Charlotte's First Birthday

12 Months

 

- Charlotte weighs about 22 lbs.
- She is walking around like a crazy woman
- She has gotten very good at drinking out of a cup
- She has learned how to nod and answers yes to just about any question you ask her
- She has started taking bathes in the tub and loves splashing around in there
- She loves to bring us books to read to her

a maker of lists

So, the boys are five and a half now. It's ridiculous. And it occurred to me the other day, that they are definitely not babies or toddlers anymore. Next year they are going to be in school. At preschool their teacher has them self-evaluate their work. They put a sticker next to the best letter they've drawn, so they can look at the others and see their mistakes for themselves.

So, I've been using the same basic principle with the boys and cleaning up their room. Usually I say, "go clean up their room" and they wander up there and start playing and then ask me to come help and keep playing and I start getting upset and telling them I am not their maid and so forth and so on. It's a pretty slippery slope. So, a couple of weeks ago I wrote them a list with pictures of what they were supposed to do. I gave them the list with a set of boxes for them to check off and a set for me to check off. It looked something like this:



Except I think the first one was in Crayola marker. Anyway, they did it. They went down the list and checked everything off. It was amazing. Then I came in and checked off the list, noting a stray sock or book they missed that was taken care of before I checked it of.

We've done this several times since then, and it has always resulted in a clean room. Sometimes they play for a while first. Sometimes they get right to it, but it gets done. And I don't scream. They've taken to drawing a reward for their work that they would like (usually Wii time) and I'm fine with that. I'm keeping the lists pretty simple for now, but I think I'll slowly start adding things like vacuuming or dusting. Anyway, I just thought I would share this small victory. Because it is exciting for me.

Oh and here is a picture Sam took of me and Charlotte. I really need to sit up straight.

11 Months

- She loves blueberries, cheerios, bananas, peas, corn, craisins, guacamole and salsa (she likes these straight from the bowl, hold the chips)
- She usually takes two naps, but sometimes takes one really long one instead
- Charlotte loves to copy. Everything she sees us doing she wants to do too.
- She has a fascination with taking things out of boxes and them (often, but not always) putting them back in.





Have I mentioned these photo shoots are getting pretty hard? This time I used a handful of craisins to keep her in one spot. Much better.

Christmas in WA - 2011

We went up to Washington for Christmas this year. It was great! I didn't take very many pictures though, so I'm stealing all of these from Michael and Steph, who took some great pics. Thanks, guys! Here is just a glimpse into the awesomeness. Enjoy!

(So, because I'm lazy I didn't resize any of the pictures, so that is why you can't see all of them. Click on them and you will see the whole thing. Sorry, but it's taken me this long, if I wait to fix it it'll never happen.)



Ben and Sam watching Uncle Michael play on his computer



Charlotte on our Winter Walk. She wasn't nearly bundled up enough and she got pretty cold by the end. But, isn't she a cutie?



Aunt Steph and Charlotte playing on the playground.



Sam running on the playground.



Sweet Charlotte



Charlotte looking cute and festive





Ben and Sam opening up their stockings! Hurray!



Ben playing with one of his new toys (I think it's a Ninjago?)



Zach and the boys putting together their new lego cars. This is Zach's favorite part of Christmas, by the way.



Sam got so excited every time he opened up a Ninjago.



Every time he said, "This is what I've always wanted!" Here he is saying that.



The Cousins. These photos are really hard to get. But there wasn't nearly as much complaining as when we took...



...this one. On a side note, the boys took to wearing their pajamas as shirts while we were in Washington. I'm not sure why. They've stopped now.



The day after Christmas/Steph's b-day we went up to see Granpa Great a.k.a. Zach's Grandpa. Zach and the boys shot guns. Charlotte and I stayed inside where it was warm.



Ben showing a leaf with a hole shot in it.

10 Months

- Charlotte stands like a champ, but she's not quite ready to walk yet
- She loves climbing up and down the stairs and she is really good at it
- She loves frozen blueberries, Cheerios, yogurt, beans, and peas
- She likes to dance by bobbing up and down
- She really likes to be turned up-side down
- Her eyes are still greenish, but they look like they may be changing to brown
- Charlotte loves to eat the erasers off of pencils. We really have to keep them away from her because she is quick about it
- She likes Ben and Sam to pick her up about half of the time that they do. Definitely not the other half of the time.
- She loves to wave hello and goodbye
- Peekaboo: best game ever!
- She loves to play with dolls and figures



P.S. These photo shoots are getting very, very difficult.

Up to Date! And to celebrate...

Some quotes I've been saving for this joyous moment!



Ben: What's a werewolf?
Zach: It's a person who turns into a...monkey!
Ben: Oh. Is that right?
Sam: No, that would be a weremonkey.

Ben: We're gonna make a robot bigger than our house!
Katie: Where are we going to keep it?
Ben: In our underground fortress!

While trying to talk me into buying a toy
Ben: I want it!
Katie: No sweetie, we don't need it.
Ben: Yes we do need it to make me stop whining about it!

Ben: Mom, isn't this cool I'm walking backwards?! If you hear a bang or an "ow" then I ran into something.

Ben: Mom, the next house we have can we have a huge house!?

Sam: (to Charlotte) Ah! How many times does Mommy and me have to tell you?! No chewing on my shoes! (It's true; Charlotte loves chewing on Sam's flip-flops)

Talking about a little boy Sam was playing with:
Katie: How old was he?
Sam: Well, he was pretty little. He didn't speak human yet.

After Breakfast Scripture time:
Sam: What's a bitter cup?
Katie: Well, bitter is the opposite of sweet.
Sam: Oh, so it's healthy.



P.S. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! You guys are awesome!