Caroline Jane ~ Twelve Months

This month got away from me!  Now that she'll be 13 months in four days, I should probably get her 12 month info documented. :)

Caroline Jane, at twelve months you:

• are 31 inches long.  I don't think we can say tall until you stand up on your own.  That puts you in the 96th percentile.
• weigh 23 pounds and 4 ounces which is the 89th percentile.
• still have a big head but it fits the rest of you.  It's in the 93rd percentile.
• have TWELVE teeth.  All four of your molars are now broken through.
• still take a bottle at night before you go to bed.
• have a few words.  You say bye bye, hi, mama, and ball.  Once you said all done and it was clear as day but you haven't said it since.
• still aren't crawling.  You can move all over the place with a combination of rolling, pivoting, and scooting.  You get up on all fours all the time and move your arms but you don't move your legs. 
• sleep about 11 hours at night.  You go to bed around 7:00 and wake up anytime between 6:00 and 6:30.
• are trying to cut down to one long nap, Mommy thinks.  You want to take a really long morning nap of about two hours and then you don't take much of an afternoon nap.  Hopefully we can get this all sorted out soon!
• LOVE music.  Whenever you hear music or someone says the word dance, you just start bouncing and rocking.  You love it!
• have such a fun time giggling with your brother.  You love to make each other laugh in the car. 
• eat really well.  You eat more than your brother at most meals.
• wear a size 4 diaper, 18 month clothes, and a size 3 shoe.
• love going to the pool and splashing in the water.  Even if the water is really cold, you still splash around and love it!
• are still a really easy baby.  You are usually in a pretty good mood and love watching the world around you.

Your first year was absolutely wonderful.  Mommy and Daddy are so blessed to have you as our daughter and can't wait to see you grow up!

Jackson's Third Birthday Party

After celebrating Charley's birthday just two weeks earlier, I was really looking forward to Jackson's low key Pajama Party in the Park!  He had some fun Happy Birthday pajamas to help start the celebration the night before.

 

 After he went to bed, I decorated his door with streamers and had these balloons waiting for him.  He was so excited to see them in the morning.  And he was even more excited that it was his actual birthday.  For the last several weeks he had been asking many times each day if tomorrow was his birthday.

 He had a blast at the park and loved that all of his friends were there with him!

 

We had donuts for everyone so I stacked them up like a cake and stuck three candles on them.  It worked perfectly!

 

 

 

 It sprinkled a bit but I was really pleased with the weather.  There was a 60% chance of rain but I told all the moms we would be there rain or shine since JJ was so excited for his party in the park.   Luckily, the kids got to play a lot and they didn't seem to mind the crazy humidy.  It made them all extra sticky so the dirt from the park was all over them!  It was bath time for both kids as soon as we got home.

After baths and naps we went to the mall to play for a bit and then went to get cupcakes and dinner.  We had dinner at Choo Choo Johnny's which is such a fun place for Jackson.  He loves watching the trains bring his food and riding this little train.

When we got home we had our cupcakes and opened more presents.  He was in love with this guitar from Baw Baw and was pumped to have a guitar "like Steven's."  He's still loving it and has learned how to be gentle with it.

His party was great and he still talks about it all the time!  I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I have a 1 and 3 year old!  Wow!

Charley's First Birthday

 Charley turned ONE on June 22nd but we celebrated her birthday on the 23rd.  I had so much fun making her PINK party!  I made this banner with my Silhouette and washi tape.

 This high chair was used for Jackson's party so I knew I wanted to spray paint it pink for Charley's.  It worked perfectly and made for some great cake eating photos.

 The cake was a white cake with white icing that I colored pink.  It was a bit time consuming but so, so easy.  Anyone can do it!  I even made a tiny three tiered cake for her to eat!

 

We had a huge group so even though Charley still is not mobile, I knew I needed something for the 26 kids to do!  Seriously, 26 toddlers and babies.  Oh my.  The bounce house was perfect!  After the party all the adults were jumping too!

 I'm pretty sure Jackson thought the party was for him.  He had the BEST time!

 Our back yard looked like a scene from a movie with all the tents, water toys and bounce house.  Several people said it looked like Owen Wilson might show up at any moment to crash it.  It had to have been a bit overwhelming for our friends without kids.

 

 

 Jackson was in heaven with all the chips and cake.  I made LOTS of pulled pork, mac and cheese, pasta salad, and pb&j sandwiches.  There was fruit and chips too!

 Jackson cried for his smash cake experience but I was pretty sure Charley would know just what to do!  She nailed it!

 

 

 She was so, so messy and went straight up for a bath!

 

 We waited to open gifts until after the party so it wouldn't be as overwhelming.  We only opened three before she was ready for a nap.  It took us three days to open them since we just did a few at a time.

 We loved having Meredith and Kyle (who had just gotten married two days before!) stay a bit after to chat!  They love our kids and we love them!

It was such a fun day!  Now we're getting ready for Jackson's party.  He asks me several times a day if it's his birthday.  Not yet sweet boy.  Just 4 more sleeps.

Addy's Pool

Monday was actually warm enough for swimming (it's been in the mid sixties here) so we decided to try out "Addison's  ducky pool."  My friend Renee has this great neighborhood pool with a toddler area.  The pool is 9-12 inches and has a little slide with a pad at the bottom.  JJ was so excited! 

It was perfect to let Addy and Jackson splash around (and fight over toys) while we talked and held the little ones.  Addison's little brother Rece is 10 months and there's ANOTHER BABY coming in September!  She'll be busy!

Charley played in the water some and then she was happy on a towel.  She is starting to pull up more and was really curious about the contents of the diaper bag.

Right as we were packing up we saw a little boy fall and bust his eye open right I his brow bone.  Ouch.  He was freaking out and I decided that I want to keep the kids in a bubble so they don't get hurt.  More for my sake than theirs.  It looked so gross and seemed like such a wrench in the fun pool plan.  :). I'm kidding!......kind of.

We had to snap a quick pic on the way out.  These two are so sweet to watch! Hopefully it warms up more and we can go again soon!

Bryan's Birthday

I know Charley's birthday happened first but all of those pictures are on my good camera and I've been too busy to do anything with them yet.  With Blogger on my phone, it's easy to post with phone pictures so things may be out of order.

Bryan's birthday was Thursday.  I got a text from him first thing that morning asking me to drive to the train station to pay for his spot since his parking card was empty, he had no cash, and the ATM was broken. I loaded up the kids and we turned it into a donut trip.

The kids were in heaven.  Jackson has some new food rules that "the doctor told him he had to follow" at his 3year check up.  He has to eat his whole meal before he can have snacks or treats. I was shocked when he ate an egg wrap before he ate the donuts.  The "rules" are working!!!

We shopped at the outlet mall on Thursday and then went to watch Bryan play softball that night.  The kids had a great time playing in the dirt with their friends and Bryan had a great time playing softball.  We didn't get home until 9:00 and the kids needed baths. Charley went straight to bed after her bath but JJ got a special treat.  A really late bedtime and ice cream cake!

He's singing along to "Happy Birthday" now and it's the cutest thing ever.  

He mostly ate the blue "ice" (icing) and he really thought he was special! He went to bed fairly easily after I scrubbed his teeth and then Bryan opened presents.  He got several new shirts that look great on him!  

I feel bad that I couldn't pull off a big 30th party for him.  The poor guy's birthday is sandwiched between the kids' so I'm afraid he'll rarely get the celebration he deserves.

We love you!  Happy birthday!

Kids Town Selfies

Our play group met at Kids' Town yesterday and we had a great time.  There was a groupon for it so we get to go again for cheap!  JJ had a great time and Charley went along for the ride.

While JJ was playing I was really working with Charley on crawling.  She is SO DANG CLOSE!  Just crawl already sweet girl.  Move your legs!

JJ was busy playing with the animals and lining them up.  It's his usual type of play.

The place is one big room separated onto little rooms with themes.  There is a big tunnel/slide structure and a great place for babies to play.

We had a snack break and JJ stole my phone and captured some great selfies!

He definitely loves the camera now!

Splash Splash!

The weather is finally warmer and it's feeling like summer!  Jackson has been having a blast with his water table and pool.  He mostly likes to use cups and throw the water everywhere.  Whatever keeps him outside is what I love.  Also, iPhone cameras are so good!

This morning we had our big play date at a splash park.  It was a little chilly but the kids had a blast.  Except for Charley because she didn't have a nap.  

The splash park is great for us now because  Jackson can't be trusted at a pool yet. Good thing it's close and FREE!  I'm sure there will be many more trips there this summer.