Charlotte's First Official Full Head of Hair Cut

On February 24, 2012, our sweet baby girl got her first official FULL HEAD of hair hair cut. Basically, we got her mullet shaped into a normal hair cut and her rat tail was removed. We went to Salon Seven in Metamora. A girl that Anne Marie went to high school with opened it and runs it. One of Mary's best friends, Kayla, was the one who cut Charlotte's hair. She had actually cut her bangs for the first time back in June so we obviously wanted her to do this hair cut too.

See her big 'ole crocodile tear??? She had just woken up from a nap and pretty much hated her life at this moment.

The first SNIP of the hair! (Yes, I look pleasant... and thin. I blame the rude look and the double chin on pregnancy.)

To keep my little partner in crime quiet, I needed a bit of bribe.

That drink is Diet Coke. Now, granted it was the most delicious Diet Coke in the entire world, however, it wasn't the best idea for Charlotte... but you do what you gotta do.

She looks WIRED. Loves the Diet Coke.

Our growing little baby...

Almost finished!!!

We made it! ALLLL Done.

Charlotte how do you feel about this???

SO BIG!!!

A side view... doesn't she look more grown up??

It broke my heart a bit to cut off the rat tail. We worked really hard to make that look good everyday. But, we have a big girl... a one year old... a walker... a big sister... Time for a big girl look!

Thank you, Kayla,  for doing an amazing job! :) No matter what Charlotte's mood was this day (she was teething), she loved all of her time with you and so did I :)

Charlotte, Meet The Snow.

Charlotte finally got to experience snow :) We had a quick dusting of it the morning of February 24th. When we woke up and saw this nice surprise, it made us all happy... surprisingly enough. It didn't stick around very long. In fact, by lunchtime it had all melted. But it stuck around long enough for Charlotte to be able to walk in it and touch it.

We were on our way to get our hair cut. Ignore both of our hair dos. :)

Her first steps in snow.

Her first touch of snow. She was so funny... and she ate it within seconds.

How sweet... I wonder what is going through her head.

What a great way to end a few days at Gigi and Papa's house. Now on to Southern Illinois to see the rest of the fam...

Hanging at Gigi and Papa's House

The lovely thing about going back to Illinois to see family is that Charlotte gets a crazy amount of attention and I get to go see friends and run errands on my own :) (Not that I don't love my time with my crazy, beautiful baby but sometimes to be able to run in and out of a place is easier.) Here are some pictures of her time spent while I was out and about.

A beautiful mess.... that mommy didn't have to clean up :)

They both look a little drugged in this picture.

She cleans up so nice! You'd never know the previous picture even happened.

A huge treat at Gigi and Papa's house :) A piano. Noise, noise, noise.

Aunt Bare giving Charlotte her first piano lesson.

Story time with Papa.

Love this...and dad's face :)

More piano time. It's a family affair. I'm pretty sure they were play "Country Grammar"

That cat weighs more than Charlotte. He currently weighs around 20 lbs, she weighs 18 lb and 10 oz. She, however, feels as though he needs a few treats.

Gigi and Papa

Charlotte loves her time in Illinois :) It's a new adventure for her everytime.

Meeting Baby Eliza :)

I have known my friend Erin since the beginning of high school... so approximately half of our lives. She's beautiful, fabulous, loves animal print and hot pink, loves to dance, loves to talk and is an AMAZING mommy. Last year when I brought Charlotte to Illinois for the first time, Erin drove all of the way down from the suburbs of Chicago to meet her. She was very intrigued with the story surrounding Charlotte's delivery. I told her it was time for her to make a baby... and only a month or 2 later, she was pregnant!! She had Eliza in December. This was our first time meet this precious angel!!

Even though I am not looking at the camera, I still loved this picture. Erin and I with our rockstar, princess, diva little girls...they will both love pink, cheetah, feathers, sunglasses, and all things glittery.

Charlotte couldn't wait to get her hands on Eliza.

Charlotte: "Don't worry, this will only hurt a little bit."

Eliza: "What are you doing with those long tallons you call fingernails?"

Charlotte: "I just wanted to give you a hug. I love babies."

Eliza: "Ok, I can handle this. It's not so bad."

Charlotte: "Mom, instead of finishing cooking the one you have, can we just take this one home?"

Eliza: "She smells a little funny and I feel like she is going to attack at any minute. Can you get her away from me? Please?"

Some of the proudest grandparents I have ever seen :) Sweet Eliza has an amazing Grandpa and Grandma

Uncle John even came for the party... and Charlotte really does love him. She goes right to him every single time.

It was a great little get together at the neighborhood bar and grill... it's Germantown Hill's (and my parents') version of Cheers... everyone knows you name. Erin and I were so happy to get all four grandparents and our two children together. Erin, you are amazing and we loved meeting Eliza... the first of many playdates. Thank you for coming down to Metamora for the day. We miss you and can't for the next play date.

Happy Birthday Mitchell James :)

February 22, 2012 Charlotte and I flew to Illinois to see family and friends. Mom picked us up from Chicago's Midway Airport... we took the Southwest direct flight. It flew out at 6:30 am... that was brutal. I had to get up at 3:45 am so the night of sleep was majorly short. Since Alex is gone, we had to get the airport on our own, park, and drag 80 pounds of luggage, 2 carry ons, and a stroller to the ticket counter. But we did it! I am woman, hear me ROOOOAR!!!!!!!!!!

Mom picked us up from the airport and we stopped for some food for Goose to have at Gigi and Papa's house...and ended up with a beautiful Easter dress for her as well. (We went to Target, not like a Piggley Wiggley.) We then headed to Davis Junction to visit some of our favorite people in this entire world...The Robinsons!! Tracey and I are best friends from college...we don't know what we would do without each other...and our children that we keep having.

We were blessed to be able to spend Mitchell's second birthday with him!

We also celebrated Charlotte's birthday since their birthdays are only 2 weeks apart. (They are a year and 2 weeks apart.)

Happy Birthday sweet boy :) Look at that face!! 

Carter loves birthdays so much that he slept through the entire lunch and birthday cupcake celebration!

They are quite a pair and quite a sight! :) The best part of Mitchell's birthday... ELMO.

Brothers gotta hug!!!!!!

This is the best picture of all three of them together. I'm not kidding.

This is my favorite picture of these three together. I feel like they think Carter smells or something... they want to get as far away from him as possible :)

I really wonder what this look they are exchanging means... I feel certain they are up to no good.

Charlotte can't decide which one to flirt with... so many boys... so little time!

"I love you Carter Andrew. Be nice to your momma while I'm gone."

It was a perfect day and a perfect lunch.  It's always such a pleasure to see Tracey. Everytime we see each other, it's like no time has passed. I miss her all of the time and wish that we only had an hour between us... not 18. Thank you, Trace, for allowing us to stroll into your house and take it over... as usual. We love you all so much and miss you everyday. Charlotte loved see her Aunt Tracey and her cousins Mitchell and Carter...and Bailey. We don't know what we'd do without you.

Random Photos

Charlotte was so excited to have her Aunt Mary come visit her for the weekend after her birthday. Mary knew that Alex would be gone all weekend for drill (and later found out he'd be moving) so she decided to fly down and celebrate for the weekend with us. It was a perfect weekend filled with shopping, eating, playing, going to church, and just spending time together. Thanks for coming to help us get over the hump of our main man leaving, Bare :)

Naturally my little friend here is a maniac with the stairs. She loves loves loves the adventure of climbing the stairs.

"Hey, mom. Look how cool I am."

"Max! You want to come upstairs too???"

"I wonder how far I can get up these stairs without her noticing??"

"Mom, this is what you get for not putting the gate back up. This should teach you."

February 14, 2012. My pretty little Valentine! This is her allll dressed up for Valentine's Day! :) We went to Panera Bread for lunch and got a cookie. Mommy was feeling pretty sick that day so we didn't do too much. It ended up that at 6 am the next morning, Mommy was speaking to the porcelain gods and finally getting the Panera out of her system.

The sweetest profile I have ever seen.