One Month Old!

I'm going to try to take a photo of Charlotte every month for the first year of her life so we can see her growth. Here's her one month photo taken on December 28th, 2011.

 I added the below two pictures because you can never have too many newborn photos.

Charlotte's Hospital Picture

It was important to me to get hospital pictures of Charlotte because I never got the chance to get any with Morgan. I loved the pictures the hospital photographer took! I chose the cheapest package which meant that we only got one pose but I'm still thrilled with them. I love that Daniel is holding her in his hand and I love that his Aggie ring is showing. These pictures were taken while we were all waiting for me to be discharged from the hospital. It was a very happy time and I'll always think of those days when I look at this picture.

Christmas 2011!

This year we got the privilege of visiting with Aunt Julie and the cousins a couple of days before Christmas!

 Cousin Nicole

 Cousin Allyson

 Some Christmas time moments...

 My siblings holding my girls...

Oscar the cat 

 Morgan and I made cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

 Some of my earliest, fondest memories of Christmas is watching Christmas cartoons in the dark in a back bedroom on Christmas Eve.  

 Morgan accidentally dropped Santa's cookies but he didn't seem to mind. He ate them anyway. My sister's house is so clean that you could eat off her floors anyway. :)

 Oops!

 Can't forget the milk!

 Christmas morning...

 Cutest Christmas bloomers ever! Oh, and the the booties are adorable too! Charlotte got those in her stocking.

 My girls on Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas! Not sure why I don't have any pictures of Daniel...Sorry Babe! I actually felt like I was too busy having fun to take many pictures this year. 

The Girls Meet Santa!

Daniel and I took the girls to see Santa. Morgan screamed while meeting Santa a couple of years ago so we waited until she was ready again. Thankfully this year she kept asking to see him.

Charlotte and I

We were thrilled that Morgan was so well behaved while waiting in line. Our wait was about an hour but Morgan patiently waited the entire time.

I know I've said it before but this child does not get out enough. She was so excited to be at the mall. She had the expression of a kid at Disneyland!

She asked to ride the escalator.

Even Charlotte met Santa!

Maternity Leave

I'm absolutely loving being on maternity leave! Don't get me wrong because I still love my job and if there was any place I'd have to work and be away from my children, it would be at my current job. I love what I do and I love my boss and workplace etc. I feel fortunate to have a career and not just a "job." However, I could also get used to this being at home business :)! I love that when I'm in the car, I'm not driving with stress to quickly get from point A to point B. I turn the heater up so it's nice and toasty and I've been turning on Christmas music for the kiddos and I to listen to. I love that I can leisurely drive and just let everyone else tailgate and pass as they stress to get to and from the office :).

This morning I did feel lonely for a few minutes and then I strolled into the kitchen with my warm comfy pajamas and made myself some breakfast at a leisurely pace and quickly forgot about my loneliness. I actually think I was just missing Morgan because Daniel took her to daycare after a few days of her being home with me. I've been enjoying making dinner every night for Daniel. I've enjoyed just being able to focus on things that usually get pushed aside with my hectic schedule. I still haven't gotten enough of a routine down to where the house is dusted and the floors done, but I'm working on it. Charlotte is only 2 and a half weeks old so I still have an excuse. My day just flies by but I can tell you I"m enjoying every minute of it (except when Charlotte doesn't want to sleep at night)!

Charlotte's shirt says, "Baby's 1st Christmas." We were given the hat and booties at the hospital and I just love them!

We recently braved the cooler temperatures to get some fresh air. Luckily it doesn't get too cold here but it was still chilly. Morgan tried to catch leaves as they fell from the tree.

She chose her hair accessories. She requested that I put in the red flower but she insisted on putting on the headband herself.

We played with bubbles and enjoyed getting outside for awhile. It's easy to be stuck in the house for most of the time with a newborn.

Christmas Tree Time!

Christmas tree shopping...

What a difference a year makes! While there I remembered shopping the year before as a family of 3. In just one year, we got pregnant and had a baby and was now shopping as a family of 4. Crazy!

This is what Charlotte did while we picked out our tree. She slept in her sling.

 We drank hot cocoa while decorating. Yummy!

 My older fashionista...

 I actually went to dinner with Charlotte, Morgan, my mom, sister and friend Tammy. Charlotte again slept in her sling.

 Random photos...

 My younger fashionista... I wasn't patient enough to wait to take the picture until she was happy. At least it's an honest picture.

 Morgan has been enjoying being a mommy to her dolls. I often find scenes like the one below.

 I've been impressed with Morgan's art lately. I even bought some nice, heavy art paper and let Morgan paint a picture and then I framed it and used it as art in her room (I don't have a picture of it). I hang the other paintings in our kitchen.