Charleigh's Birthday in Pictures

Charleigh Grace is 2

My sweet baby girl, how are you two years old already!? Where has the time gone...

You are so full of life and energy.  You keep mommy and daddy on their toes, for sure!  But we wouldn't want it any other way :)  You are silly, loving, energetic, kind, joyful, and such a precious gift!

You no longer use a paci (pas pas), you sleep in a big girl bed, you have a lot more hair than you did a year ago ;), you have a big girl car seat, and you talk non stop!

You can count to 10!

LOVES:

Taking showers :)

Being "sha-booty sha-booty"...what you call nakey!

Playing with cousin Laney-and your friends Paigey, Jude & Brooklyn

Animals of any kind

TinkerBell, Bubble Guppies & Dora

Reading your books

Stickers!

Both your blankets (pink & blue)

Wrestling with dad-dad

Cuddling with mommy

Char Char bites (donut holes)

Swinging

Saying prayers

Favorite foods are apples/nectarines (to you they are the same)...but only as long as you can hold the entire thing and take bites out!, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, broccoli and oatmeal.

DISLIKES:

Getting out of the bath

Putting jammies on (still)

Leaving Mah & Pop Pop's house

You don't dislike much-but you are at an age where you don't like being told what to do.  We try to offer you choices, but sometimes that's just not enough.  Big tantrums have surfaced from you :)

For your birthday we got you a bunny!  You love going out and feeding him/her (not quite sure).

Bunny had a name (Hopper), but you changed it to Birthday.  When we gave bunny to you we kept saying "Happy Birthday!" so I think you got a little confused :)  But it is the cutest thing ever.  Everytime we go outside you yell "Hi Birthday!!"

You will be a BIG SISTER soon!!

Texas 2013

Two weeks ago Charleigh and I began our great Texas adventure!

Thankfully my mother joined us.  Not sure I could've done it without her...ok ok, I COULDN'T have done it without her.  Being 32 weeks pregnant and chasing a rambunctious 2 year old through the airport...WOW.  

Thanks Mom :)

We arrived in Texas around 12am their time, so 10 pm our time.  We were all tired, but not completely worn out.  Charleigh had a melt down trying to get her to sleep in her own bed at my sister's house-so that took some time (and energy) out of my mom and I.  Finally we put her to sleep between us.

About an hour later I see my phone light up...weird.  Oh well, I will just go back to sleep.  Well....I should check it because it usually doesn't do that.  My sister is calling me?? Why? She is downstairs...is she wondering if we got here ok?  But Garrett picked us up, so she should know.

"Hello?"

"My water broke."

"You're joking. Ok, I'm coming downstairs, hold on."

When I left the house Char was snuggled up fast asleep with "Mah".

:)

Sure enough, we went to the hospital and she had the baby that morning!  

Phew.  Talk about timing!

the only picture of us preggo together :)

Little Miss Daphne Jeanne Anderson

6.7 lbs

18 inches long

SO HAPPY I got to be there!!

So that was the first 24 hours of our Texas adventure :)  

The rest of our visit was filled with fun adventures with Laney and Char Char.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

30 weeks l Baby #2

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 22 lbs...and gaining ;)

Maternity Clothes: YEP! Finally bought a pair of maternity jeans....ahhh! I didn't have any with Charleigh.  Ok I take that back, I had some, but they were hand-me downs and would not stay up!  I thought I hated having something cover my tummy (like most maternity pants do), but these are life changing.  I may never go back to normal pants again!

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good still-but having to pee about 3-5 times.

Best Moment this week: Having Charleigh help the midwife measure my tummy and listen to the heartbeat.  It was seriously the cutest thing ever.  And having Char pat my tummy and whisper "Hi Baby Sisser"

Gender: GIRL!!!!

Movement: Rolls, kicks, spins. :) I love em all!

Food Cravings: Same ol, same ol....Fruit and cereal!  And ice cream :)

Food Aversions: Mexican food...still. Sorry Jonny! 

How's Mama? Doing good!  Getting a little anxious for my trip to Texas though! I leave next Saturday and stay for a week and a half!  SO very thankful that my mom is flying with me and Char!  Not so sure I would've ventured out if that hadn't been the case.  Excited to welcome baby sister Anderson into the world!  I'm hoping and praying that she doesn't come until her Auntie Jen Jen is there!!

What I am looking forward to: Seeing what Baby #2 looks like! And having Char meet her baby sister :)

How is Char doing:  The "terrible twos" have hit with a vengeance the past couple of weeks.  We are working out kinks here and there in our parenting...it really is a daily challenge!  We learn something new everyday.  Who knew I had even MORE patience stored up somewhere? Sheesh.  But I honestly love every minute with my baby girl, and she is so her own person, for sure! She is teaching me how to be a better mommy with every new obstacle she throws at me-and I am thankful for those (maybe not in the moment...but I get there eventually) ;)

24 weeks and a little update

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 24 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 13 pounds...and I'm feeling every ounce of it lately.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly maternity-some bigger stretchy clothes that I can still squeeze into from before.

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good! Can't complain here.

Best Moment this week: Hearing baby's heartbeat-always makes me smile!

Gender: GIRL!!!!

Movement: Rolls, kicks, spins. :) I love em all!

Food Cravings: Fruit, cereal (especially cinnamon toast crunch!), and wanting a big sandwich stuffed full of lunch meat...but I'm waiting til after baby is here to indulge in that one.  That was actually the first thing I ate after Char was born.  A turkey sandwich and a gigantic jamba juice! YUM!  Can I place orders now!?

Food Aversions: Mexican food...still. Sorry Jonny! 

How's Mama? Doing well.  Need to get my booty into gear though! I have only touched my pregnancy pilates video once through this entire pregnancy!! I'm starting to feel it too.  I need to get the move on and just commit.  But when Charleigh goes down for her nap...all I want to do is nap!!!! AHH! I need to focus, focus, focus!

Also this past week I had some intense upper stomach issues.  I could barely stand up straight.  I ended up in the ER, but they said all tests came back normal, and they even checked on baby to make sure she was doing good, which she was.  The midwives I see said it sounded like a gall bladder attack/upper intestinal irritation (which would eventually go away on it's own, and is caused by eating fats)  

I feel SO MUCH BETTER now!  And the day I felt awful was the day I ate biscuits and gravy, grilled cheese, and BBQ beef ribs.  Talk about fat overload! (no...I don't eat like that everyday!...only every other. Ha..Juuuust kidding) I am definitely watching my food intake more carefully now!

What I am looking forward to: Char meeting her little sissy!  We had our 20 wk ultrasound and they said everything looked good with our little girl.  She kept covering her little face, so we didn't get a great picture of her face, but from what I could see during the 3D part she already looks like her big sister!

How is Char doing:  Charleigh is a wild beast! :) I love every minute with her!  She explores, tests the limits, and is a lovebug all in one.  She calls me "mom-eee" right now, and it is the cutest thing ever.  She is in a big girl bed at the moment, which has been an interesting transition for ALL of us.  She broke down when I took her crib apart and put her big girl bed in its place.  I had NO CLUE how attached she was to it, or else I would have made the switch a little less quickly.  I just didn't want her to get hurt (she had climbed out of her crib two nights in a row), and we got a toddler bed a lot quicker than I thought we would.  But she is doing much better.  Wakes up at the first morning light....::yawn::....but she is adjusting well.  After seeing how she reacted to the crib being taken out I'm glad we decided to make the switch before baby comes!  

Char is being a typical two year old these days, and I am learning right along with her on how to deal with different emotions and circumstances.  I am so thankful that I get to call her my daughter and that I get to watch the little girl she is growing up to be.  There are days that I just stare and stare at her-amazed that she has grown so much in these last two years.  I can't really wrap around my head that I will have another little one soon!

Will she be like Char?  Will they be complete opposites?  How will they interact?  Will they look alike?

A couple more months and we shall see! :) :)

Beach Day

Today was a perfect beach day. We met Jenna and her "pack" there and joined forces to round up the kiddos. Charleigh actually did well this time. Only a taste or two of sand (compared to mouthfulls).

Icky.

Aren't they supposed to be way passed that stage by now?! Come on Char Char! Let's hope baby sister doesn't inherit the same "put everything and anything in your mouth" thing. We shall see :)

The beach was beautiful and we enjoyed every minute (except when Charleigh made her great escape and ran ALL the way to the water before this preggo mommy could catch up!)

Thank you Jenna for a lovely mommy outing!