kate - one month

*so, kate is now four months.  my goal is to catch up on posts before she turns five months.  #herewego

one month.  pushing up like a champ.  1% of doctor recommended stomach sleepers. adored by your big sister. sleeping a few hours at a time. already won your father's heart via facetime. born on your due date. you are perfect. 

we love you, kate.

Dear Kate

My sweet Kate,
You are back in your crib, sound asleep.  Your sister is asleep in her room, your father is asleep in our bed.  The house is quiet except for my clicking on the keyboard.  I can't sleep.  I know you don't have as many daily pictures as your sister, and I haven't even put your monthly pictures I did manage to take up yet, but it is in no way, shape or form a reflection of how much I love you.  Rocking with you tonight, your tiny little fingers wrapped around my pinky, feeling your fuzzy hair brush against my cheek, I could not help but smile.  You are only four months old, but I cannot tell you how much joy you bring into our lives.  Your sister adores you. Though by the time you are old enough to read this, she will probably be driving you crazy, I cannot put into words the way Charley love to kiss you, hug you, hold you, and so clearly already loves you in a way she does not comprehend.  You restored your Dad's confidence.  You have given us so much in your little life.  I would like to freeze moments like tonight; rocking with you, asleep on my shoulder.  There is no where I would rather be right now.  I cannot help but think the way you love me, your love for me reflects Christ's love for me.  You are so little, but have already pushed me towards Christ.  You make me a better mother, make me a better daughter, make me a better wife and friend.  I am excited to watch you grow into a little girl, but I don't want to miss a second in between.  You, my precious Kate, are the joy of my heart and I will always and forever love you.
xoxo,
Mommy

kate - newborn

our tried and true, dear friend, Kelli Campbell took kate's newborn pictures.  she always does an amazing job. kate, unlike her sister, slept through the entire shoot.  we had a hard time waking her up to get a shot or two with her eyes open.  (charley on the other hand was WIDE awake throughout her whole newborn session.)

it melts my heart every time i see charley interact with kate.  she adores her little sister, and is constantly getting her pacifier, a blanket, or toy for kate.  charley has yet to figure out that when she puts the pacifier in kate's mouth she has to let go.  she ends up pulling it back out of kate's mouth and hands it to me.  it's adorable.

enjoy!

meet catherine ann

our sweet kate was born almost a month ago.
i'm just getting around to posting her welcome post.

this is life with two under two.

my procrastination just took a turn for the worse.

it has been a whirlwind of 3.5 weeks.
and i have loved every minute.

kate was born 21 minutes into her due date.  right.on.time.  i have a feeling this punctual little one is going to make her procrastinating mommy be a little more on time.

maybe.

fly boy was able to skype in for the birth.  it was the next best thing to him actually being there.  (AND he comes home in two weeks!  we cannot wait!)

for now, a few (ahmen, twenty) pictures from the hospital and her first few days at home.  (kate's newborn pics compliments of our sweet friend and photographer kelli campbell are coming soon.)

enjoy!

flyboy skyping in

meeting meme for the first time...

charley adores her little sister

case-in-point

meeting aunt jess & uncle jon...

the girls.

my dear friend sarah played "husband."  talk about earning the gold star of friendship.

meeting the harts

getting ready to go home in the outfit flyboy picked out before he left...

first day at home with meme.

meeting the wernlys

because i can

because i can, a few more of charley's 18 month pictures.

i'm her mom, i get to do that.

and she is the one who made me a mama.

and a small part of me worries that when baby girl no. 2 comes instead of my heart growing bigger, i will have less room time to love my first little girl.

i know it's not rational, but every night when i kiss charley, i worry.  

i worry that because the girls will be so close in age i will run out of time for charley. 

i know it's irrational.

i know it's untrue.

but i still worry.

so i hug her a few extra seconds.

and give her an extra kiss goodnight.

she makes fly boy's deployment bearable.

she makes me smile when i want to cry.

she comes over, crawls in my lap, and gives me a hug when i do cry.

this little girl has no idea.

no idea the blessing she is in my life.

charlotte 18 months

she is officially a toddler.
as evident by my chasing after charley all over the backyard just to grab a few pictures.

she loves her baby doll, aka "bebe." (good thing, since her baby sister will be here in a few short weeks!)
she loves to swim/bath time/anything with water.  and LOVES putting her face in the water to blow bubbles.
she has become more particular in what foods she will eat.  still no meat.  she will even go as far to separate out the bacon from her beans in her mouth, swallow the beans and spit out the bacon.  who does that?!
she LOVES lucy!  i think i have broken the adorable habit of charley riding lucy like a horse.  the two play for hours.  charley has recently taken to chasing lucy in circles around the family room. lucy loves it too.
all animals are "doggie."  i love it.
charley has almost mastered opening the pantry door by herself.  if i forget to close the door all the way, she has no problem walking in, getting whatever food she wants and bringing it to me.  oh boy.
God is certainly teaching me patience with this one. her toddler tantrums can be embarrassing.  we have left several establishments due to the on her back, kicking and screaming frenzy when she doesn't get her way.
she loves to be tickled and will request tickles at least once a day.  of course i oblige.  i can't get enough of her sweet laugh.

we are blessed with this little one!