Charlie Ann and the Big Three

Three. Years. Old.

I know it's still a little age for a child, but in this household, 3 sounds like retiring age. How is it that my little girl is already three?

Celebrating Charlie Ann's birthday was bitter sweet for me. Sweet to see so many smiles and witness genuine excitement. Sweet to watch her understand and know what celebrating her birthday means. But bitter to know that two years old is a finished chapter.  Bitter to watch her struggle with the inevitability of growing up (namely trying to fall asleep without a paci for the first time in her whole little life). Bitter because as the older she gets, the more I realize and experience that she is her own person, not always to be fixed and soothed and comforted by her mother. I don't always know what she needs now. She is more complex in wants and needs and personality. I can't always MEET her needs and wants and understand who she is and that is a humbling place to live.  I know that these things are healthy places for all of us.  But of course, adapting to change is always a bit prickly.

But speaking of this new chapter of THREE...

Charlie Ann at three is a smart little cookie, very aware, full of adventure, confidence, curiosity and compassion for her little brother.

Three year old Charlie Ann loves Curious George, duplos, playing outside, running and walking (never riding in the stroller), purple rain boots, the color pink, Minnie Mouse, tomato soup, cleaning up her toys, drinking from a glass (with no lid or straw), climbing in and out of her car seat and buckling it all by herself, taking showers and washing all by herself, swimming, making Tripp laugh and doing everything that Daddy does.

Charlie Ann is learning to share, to draw with pencils, to ride her tricycle, to kick a ball, to climb the climbing wall, to help with chores and to be patient.

Three year old Charlie Ann sings songs she knows and makes up new ones, has just started an interest in dolls and make believe/pretend play, teaches Tripp the hand motions to multiple ditties and tries to get him to talk and walk.  Charlie Ann is very responsible and is very dependable and trustworthy.  She looks after Tripp when I am in the other room, and I hear her repeating my phrases of correction.

My sweet Charlie Ann, thank you for making me a mom and bringing to light new depths of love and fear (and consequently faith) like I've never known!  Thank you for continually refining my character and challenging me to face my own insecurities and frustrations (it's amazing how much kids can be a mirror! -yikes!)

I am looking forward to so many more years together.

Pumpkin Carving

Before I take down the pumpkins and erase my "happy fall y'all" chalkboard sign, I need to do one last autumn update.  Here are some adorable photos of Charlie Ann carving and painting her first pumpkin.

She got to stay up late and wait for Daddy to get home so we could all carve together.. hence why she is in her pajamas.

She was not really a fan touching the inside of the pumpkin.

Have you hugged your pumpkin today?

And then, after it was all carved and finished, she decided it was indeed NOT finished.  It needed to be painted.  So, round two.

 Multiple smiley faces are good.

Thats a lot of pumpkin love.

Halloween

I lied about being done with autumn posts. I just gotta show off my funny little girl, (who will not touch dress up clothes or ANYTHING princess with a ten foot pole), who suddenly wanted to be a ballerina with wings for Halloween.

{even the next day she would not put this costume on for her grandparents-ha! What a turkey!}

And of course, the most adorable and hungriest skeleton I've ever seen.

Charlie Ann and her little friend, 

"Jessie" 

Happy late Halloween!

Annual Family Photo

Here we are - fam 2014!

And two throwbacks, for kicks.

2013

2012

Tripp - 11 Months

Tripp's last "official" month as a baby. Gulllllllpppp. Someone stop the clock. For reals. 

Eleven months  

Loves: Tie-duh (Taiga), army crawling as fast as his four limbs can go, Autumn walks in the stroller, sticks and leaves and other collectables from said Autumn walks, Cheerios, smiling, talking, playing by himself, Charlie Ann... The list goes on and on.. I genuinely feel like this kid just loves LIFE! 

Hates: teething, runny noses and congestion, getting diaper changes, getting dressed, trying new food. 

Fav toy: Little People everything

Fav book: "garden animals" by Lucy Cousins (never gets old... It's been his fav for months)

Fav food: TJ's version of Ritz crackers, cheese and ALL fruit (fresh and chunked). That would be his meal of choice all day long if possible. 

New tricks and stunts: professional army crawler, pulling up to knees, clapping, signing "all done", sharing food and toys and *actually stopping* when being told "no" (ie, computer cords, {out of order} fireplace, chewing on bottoms of shoes, pulling up {and out} of baby tub, etc.) 

First carousel ride 

Eating: Tripp does a pretty bang up job of eating big people food in baby size chunks. However, to make sure he's getting a fairly balanced and healthy compilation of foods, I still will purée some veggies and meats.  Because, like I mentioned earlier, he'd just live off crackers, cheese and fruit in his little kingdom. He's like the perpetual baby shower food kid. 

Nursing: yep. Still luvvvvvvving it. Myself, ehhhh, can't wait til he's one!

Sleep: he's pretty good at it. Except when he's teething or has a cold. Both of which are happening as we speak, this week. Poor boy. I'm also thinking we are going to say good bye to that morning nap any day now. He seems to be able to take it or leave it nowadays, and it does get left a lot. 

Sleeping on Mom

Sleeping on Mom again

Size: Tripp is wearing all 12mon size clothes and some 18mon. This guy is SO LONG and skinny. The go to method is to roll the waist band of his 12mon pants in efforts to prevent him from crawling out of them. Silly boy. 

We all love Trippy Boy!