Happy 8 months to Charlotte!

I know I have not been the best at posting pictures of sweet Charlotte every month but here she is at 8 months!  Here is a little update on how Miss Charlotte is doing:

Month 7 was a huge month for development! You went from just laying there, making very little noise, not interested in toys to being able to sit up (not on your own yet), having full out baby conversations, and enjoying playing with certain toys. Right now, you really like this penguin toy and also your baby wipe package (I think you like the crinkly noise).  You are a GREAT eater.  You have enjoyed apples, sweet potato's, carrots, green beans, peaches, mango's, pears, spinach, blueberries, and broccoli (Most of these were mixed together in some sort of baby food fashion). You are an absolute joy and delight to be around.  Many people have commented what a happy, easy, good baby you are.  You do not fuss when I drop you off at the nursery at church.  You LOVE to jump, most times you'll jump even if you are not in your jumper but just being held.  You are rolling over, finally, and I think you would like to crawl but just aren't there yet. You have the sweetest laugh and you enjoy watching your big sister.  You are a good sleeper! You take 2 naps a day (one around 9 and then another around 12:30 or so, for about 2 hours) and you go to bed at 6 pm. You sleep through the night, mostly, waking up again at 6 am. Sometimes you wake up around 4:30 or 5 am but not usually.  I love your smiles and the way your eyes shine when you look at us!

Our week (so far) without Daddy

Sweet Hubby left on Friday for a mission trip to Haiti!  So it's just been me and the girls this week. I have felt SO blessed by my sweet friends and family who have called to check on us, come to visit, invited us over for meals, brought food, and told us about fun things to do.  We've really had a great week so far. I know it's not a coincidence either - I have many people praying for us and William as he is away telling those in Haiti about the love of Jesus!


Hugging daddy good-bye on Friday!


"Take me with you!"

It helps that the girls and I have stayed pretty busy! Here are some photos of our activities!


picking blueberries



playing with toys

Having fun at our church cook out! Cora was standing in line for the "slip and slide" (more like walk and fall down!)






Sweet Charlotte did so well being up past her bedtime so big sister could have fun!  (Ignore the left over carrots under her nose!!)


Sweet play date with Meredith and Berkley!  Love how the girls are looking at each other, like they are sharing a joke!


Cora picking out a sticker after obeying her sleep rules!



Trying to start crawling!

Yesterday, we even got a surprise card from daddy in the mail!  It brought tears to my eyes to read my man's message to each of us!  We haven't talked since he left, just a text message, so reading his words just reminded me how lucky I am to be his wife and also best friend.








Sweet sisters in matching strawberry shirts! (Thanks Casey Kiker for sending those!)




So we are hanging in there.  The girls are behaving so well and sleeping at night so that is a praise!  It helps that a friend mentioned to us about a vacation Bible school going on this week and I signed Cora up to go! She LOVES it!  Today they learned about "Noah's Ark" complete with a petting zoo.  I was told that Cora said she saw a goat! 

Dance Class

At the beginning of March, Cora started taking ballet lessons! She went on Mondays, for 45 minutes.  Her teacher, Mrs. Allison, is a sweet friend from Community Bible Study.  She studied dance in college and was interested in starting a 2-3 year old class.


On her first day of class.  She was SO excited to put on her outfit - black leotard, pink tights, pink skirt, and slippers. Her class started at 4:15 so as soon as she got up from nap that day, she immediately found her outfit and was starting to get dressed.



Her sweet class.  Can you imagine trying to get all these 2-3 year olds to dance? 


Fast forward to today, her dance recital!!


Stretching, getting ready to dance!





Cora's fan club!  Mema Bell, Charlotte, Aunt Kat Kat and Daddy!

They did a less than 2 minute little dance to "You are my sunshine".  I wasn't sure what Cora would do as when I watched her in class, she just stood there. We practiced a little at home, but she never seemed to excited about it and would only do small parts of the dance.


Look at her go!


This little girl stole the show! 

Cora did a good job!  She danced what she could and spent the rest of the time watching the above little girl run around :)! 



Cora getting her flowers and balloon from daddy.



Oh and a big pink cupcake!!