Tracks

I can build a figure 8 track in about 30 seconds flat now - I've totally mastered it. Something that I think Judd is a little jealous of - considering he had to read the directions on Christmas Eve in order to put the Thomas track together.

I think Judd and I may have more fun with the train sets than Charlotte does now, but she will sit and play with them for a few minutes at a time. She's not quite there yet, though. Give it a few more months and she'll be a pro.

Why isn't she quite there yet? Well, she knocks it down, or moves it around because she isn't careful. She isn't careful to watch where her feet or hiney go when she sits down or moves a train around the track - so then I have to fix it. I have to fix the track a hundred times per minute when we play trains.

But, if anything having a toddler has taught me - playing isn't perfect - it's playing. As frustrating as it is to fix the track a hundred times per minute, I'm not sure I'd want her to move the trains so carefully around the track as to not mess up my beautiful figure 8's. I have to let her play how she wants to - I want her to make her own tracks.

Because 50 degrees feels like summer

Dear Atlanta Weather,

Thank you for coming back to us. We have missed you SO much. That blast you sent us from the Antarctic was some sort of joke, right? I know that I personally take you for granted -maybe that is why you left us for SO long? I promise to appreciate you more now.

Love,
A mother of a toddler with cabin fever.








PS. I'm not totally crazy, the toddler with cabin fever refused to put her coat on - I realize that we are not out of winter weather yet. We only took a few shots and went back inside to our old drafty house with space heaters blasting.

Big

She is going to be 2 years old in 20 days. The days are long, but the years are so fast.

Cold

I believe it was 12 degrees outside when we woke up this morning - with a 5 degree wind chill. My thin Yankee-turned-southern blood is not taking this Artic air too well.

We actually had a light snow on Thursday evening the remnants of which are still in our driveway turning into a solid sheet of ice. It hasn't gone above freezing in a few days. Judd ended up working from home on Friday which was nice. All it took was a 29 car pile up reported on the news Friday morning to keep him at home. We haven't done too much other than huddle up inside. There was a venture up to Suwanee yesterday to capture Marshall's first birthday (pictures posted soon). Today a trip to the mall. Other than that it has been playing with baby dolls, trains, play kithchens and watching TV.

One good thing that comes from cold weather - yummy hot chocolate.

A favorite place

With her favorite things - pink blanket and pink paci. I hope she never grows out of her crib.

Routine

We're back in it. Sigh. Charlotte's at school and Judd and I are sitting at work.

This week has been a little tough for me, I missed Charlotte a lot. I took off the week between Christmas and New Years to be with her since day care was closed that week - but I probably would have taken it off even if day care wasn't closed. I had the best time with her. We played with her trains, played with her kitchen, played with her baby dolls, read books, went to a play date, ran errands, ate lunch together, and snuggled in my bed watching TV.

Each morning she would call out from her crib, and I would go and get her. Then she'd snuggle into bed with Judd and I and watch Nick Jr for a few minutes. She'd ask for "nilk" and I'd go get her a cup of milk. Judd would get up and get in the shower, but Charlotte and I would just lay in bed - heaven.

She is changing right before my eyes. She plays and pretends - while not by herself, I have to be there - she gets really into it. She knows how to do so much it amazes me. She says the funniest things and talks all of the time. On Sunday morning she picked up her baby and wrapped her in a blanket and sang, "You are my Sunshine", laid baby in her bed and said, "Wuv you baby". It brought tears to my eyes. Judd and I sing "You are my sunshine" to Charlotte every night before we put her down, we lay her in her crib and say, "I love you". The video below is of Charlotte singing "Jesus Loves Me" to baby before she puts her down. (You really just hear her say "Jesus" over and over.

I miss Judd too - he was home for a lot of the week and it was fun to have him there. We spent a lot of time together, just the three of us. We make a great team.

Happy New Year

Another year gone? It is so hard to believe. I just read my New Year Post from 2009 - I talked about picking out our new couch and hanging curtains - I honestly thought I did that 6 months ago.

For the past 3 days I have been thinking about what to write in this post. How do I categorize 2009? We had a good year. Judd landed his dream job. Charlotte blossomed into an awesome toddler. I began working part time and started C. Davis Photography. We were truly blessed to have accomplished so much in such a rough year.

I even accomplished something from my 2009 post - I improved my photography skills and took on some clients. However, I didn't lose the flab around the midsection - in fact I believe I've added to it. I also didn't post on the blog 4 times/week - but I did keep it going. As for being more patient with Judd and Charlotte -well, I guess you'll have to ask them.

What do I want to do in 2010?
1. I will turn this blog into multiple books through Blurb.com - one for each year. I am already almost finished with the book for 2008. I will post the results when I am finished with that project. This blog means so much to me. I would be devastated if I lost it. I want something tangible that I can hold in my hands - and one day that Charlotte will hold in her hands.
2. Take C. Davis Photography to the next level. I want to move out of building a portfolio and booking each month chock full with sessions. I have started this by creating a new blog that will allow me to expand and grow - check it out and update your bookmarks (cause I know you all have it bookmarked :) ) - http://cdavisphotography.com/blog
3. Embark on a daily picture project - the discovery project. Judd just laughed and rolled his eyes when I told him this. "Just what you need - something else to stress you out" But, the camera is in my hands just about every day anyway. I'm not committing to posting the pictures every day - rather every week or so. I believe posting the pictures is the stressful part - taking them is the fun, creative, wonderful part - so I want to separate those two pieces of the project. I hope you'll follow along.
4. Grow as a mother and a wife. Pick the battles that need to be fought - let the other stuff roll off of my back.

Sounds like it will be a busy year.

2010 started out wonderfully. We celebrated with the Himes family on New Year's Eve. Judd and Erin cooked a great meal - we even got to enjoy it without toddlers hanging all over us. We waited until after 8:30 pm to eat - Charlotte went to bed like a champ in the pack and play in Erin & Dave's room.

I don't think Judd, Charlotte, or I got out of our pajamas until after 3pm on New Year's Day. For the past 2 days we have just played, laughed, and hung out. Charlotte's had a couple of temper tantrums - but other than that has been so much fun to be with. I have loved every second of my time off from work.

And because posts are more fun with pictures - here is a little something I've been working on for Valentine's Day. What do you think?