Joined the league of vans

It's true, we have officially joined the hoards of suburbanite moms that drive vans. 

I can't say that I'm "proud" to drive a van, but man, they sure are convenient! Charlotte considers it her personal playground.  She loves sitting on the middle console and fiddling with all the buttons.  She runs around in the back (I have all the seats except for hers down right now) and looks out all of the windows, which just happen to be right at eye level for her.  The other day, Koby was mowing and she watched happily from the van, yelling encouragement every once in a while. 

Second trip away

A month after my first trip away from Charlotte, we left her with Koby's parents while we spent the weekend at a beautiful hotel for David Poole's wedding.  This time it was so much easier being away from her.  I'm sure it was a combination of a shorter time period (a weekend vs. 4 days) and it not being my first time, but I have decided a weekend away is the perfect time-out for me!  It was so relaxing.  I tend to forget how easy it is to do anything or go anywhere without a baby  toddler to cart around.  Wow. 

Anyways, I don't have any actual pics from the trip, but these were taken at the airport as we were waiting for the flight home.  Since we left late in the evening, we assumed Charlotte would conk out on the car ride home from the airport, hence the pyjamas.  She looked just precious waddling around in her pj's, hugging her baby so tight. Sorry if the pics are hard to see - they were taken with my phone.

Waving bye-bye

P.S - she did super great on the flight there and back - we had people tell us they didn't even know there was a baby on board.  That's right, my girl is awesome!

First trip away

Well, this just goes to show how far behind I am on this blog:  I took my first trip away from Charlotte almost two months ago and am just now loading the pictures.  :)

In early January Koby and I flew out to Mammoth Mountain with some friends to celebrate the boys' 30th birthday with a ski trip.  Amazingly, there was so little snow that the pass to Yosemite was still open, so we took a day trip up there and saw some gorgeous scenery.  The following pictures just don't do it justice.

 

 

 

These are just a sampling of what we saw.  It was pretty chilly out, especially when the wind blew, but for being early January, it was downright spring-like!  Normally all of this is blanketed with snow.  We did a couple of short hikes, enough for me to know that hiking here must be spectacular during the summer.

The other days I spent reading while everyone else skied, which was absolutely fabulous.  I forgot how wonderful it was to sit in one place all day and read in the silence.  I read The Hunger Games trilogy, which was a great, quick, entertaining read. If any of you are looking for your next book, I highly recommend it.

I wish I could say being away from Charlotte was easy, but I really missed her, especially the last day.  The plane could not go fast enough!  I got home (well, to my mom's house) just in time to put Charlotte to bed.  I laid in the guest bed, rocking her, and the sweetest thing happened - baby #2 started moving!  Amazing feeling.  I'd be lying if I told you my eyes didn't water up a bit.  Anyways, it was a fabulous trip, but I sure am glad to have such a precious little girl to come home to!

I'm pretty sure these next two pictures sum up how she spent her time without me: outside either being pushed around in the "boom-boom" or messing with one of the four dogs roaming around.

 

And she was kind enough to help me unpack when we finally made it back to Houston.  So helpful!

Cloth diapers and tiny potties

It's true, I am testing out some cloth diapers, and I have a little potty sitting out for Charlotte.  I heard a rumor that cloth diapers help in potty training, since they can feel the wetness, and I've always kinda wanted to try out cloth diapers anyways, so I figured we'd SLOWLY start thinking about potty training. 

So far, I like the cloth diapers.  For those who are acquainted with the old-fashioned cloth diapers, rest assured those are not the ones I have!  They are new-fangled, fancy versions.  They're actually pretty darn easy, and Koby has even changed one or two and said they're not that hard.  (The compromise being he changes no poopy cloth diapers...)  I think Charlotte looks cute walking around in them!

 

 

 Meanwhile, she really likes sitting on her potty.  I figure I'll start attempting to potty train her once she can actually communicate about it; it'd be super great if that happened before baby #2 arrives.  If not, no biggie.  Either way, it can't hurt, right?  And we've cut down A LOT on disposible diapers in the meantime! 

The blue circle is the cushion for the potty, which she usually takes out...hmmm.

Jewelry theif!

She seriously has walked around with this necklace on for the past three days.  My jewelry doesn't stand a chance!

Run-In with a Rose Bush

My poor, poor little girl.  All she wanted to do was smell the roses, which she does every time we go in the backyard and there's one in bloom.  Instead of a nose full of sweetness, she got a face full of thorns.

She went to smell them and just lost her balance, I think.  Needless to say, she was not a happy camper.  But she got right back up on that horse a few days later:

Also, she might be taking revenge on the rosebushes because she's taken to destroying the roses if I don't stop her: