the BIG birthday one

*disclaimer: this post exceeds my general 10 picture per post rule.  by a lot.  consider yourself warned.

charlotte's birthday party/birthday week was a huge success.
the weather cooperated with us for the party, allowing the kids play outside and most the grown-ups stay inside.
though i know charley won't remember this big bash, at least we have pictures to show how much we love her.  ;)

the theme was cute as a button.
though probably not obvious to our guests, i tried to have little button details on each decoration.

the happy birthday banner, hopefully it is general neutral enough that i can use it for future children's birthday, and fly boy's as well.

charley's smash cake.

monthly picture banner.

a few from the party...

getting ready for the cake, why not have a sip of daddy's beer first?

notice her left hand never moved from the cake.  i thought she would devour it, but she was quite lady-like.

opening a few presents...

the photobooth for our guests...

finally, on charley's actual birthday, opening some presents...

my personal favorite.

happy birthday charley!

our sweet little girl is ONE!

happy birthday dear charley!

birthday party

charley's first birthday party was a success.
while we are all recovering, charley is still enjoying her cake!

distracted

if you ask fly boy, there is no question that i am distracted by addicted to facebook.
so i'm taking a little sabbatical.

the monthly updated blog will still be updated, maybe even more than once a month.

so while there will be a short break from the daily charley pictures on facebook, there will hopefully be more daily charley pictures here.

see you later, facebook!

charlotte 11 months

i've said it before.
i should rename this to be a monthly blog.

here we are, 11 months.  (three weeks ago..)
it's hard to believe that a year ago today, i thought i was only a few days from meeting our beautiful baby girl.

this month...
she has a few more teeth (two bottom and one top.)
she has taken a few more steps.
she has tried milk and cheese, and loves both.
she bring joy to my life, every.day.

we love you sweet charley.

charlotte 10 months

better late than never.

hard to believe we are two short months away from having a one-year-old!

while this past month was very exciting traveling to syracuse for christmas (and seeing Charley's first snow), not a lot has changed.

-we've tried some new foods, and i have yet to find something she doesn't like (so long as it comes in the puree form.)
-charley is finally on a consistant two nap schedule.  it does make life easier being able to plan around her morning and afternoon nap.
-still crawling/pulling up on everything.  charlotte loves to hold your hand(s) and walk around the house.  i think my back will be thankful when she does walk on her own, but i also want to enjoy this stage where she wants to hold my hand all the time.
-she is in a "mommy" phase, that i know breaks fly boy's heart a little bit with each push away from him.  while i love the extra cuddles, i do hope that she goes to a dadddy phase soon too.
-it's very difficult to keep bows or headbands in her hair.  she pulls everything out and promptly puts it in her mouth.  classy.

this month i tried to take our token pictures with a blanket as a backdrop, but quickly realized a crawling baby has no interest in staying in one spot for more than ten seconds to have her pictures taken.  so i followed her.  all over.

we also converted what was our sunroom to a playroom.  this is where charley and i spend 90% of the day.  i love it.  it's still a work in progress, but it's nice to have one area for all most of her toys.

enjoy!