Super Bowl Sunday

I don't really care about football on Super Bowl Sunday. I didn't even really know who was playing tonight until I asked Judd about it in church today. Of course as soon as I asked he gave me a quiz - "Who are their quarterbacks?" I said, "Well the Colts have one of the Mannings - and I don't know the other one." See, I really don't care about the football part.

What I am thinking about today, and can hardly believe, is that I met Judd 10 years ago during Super Bowl weekend. We met at a party he and his roomates hosted. I was invited by one of my friends to go. I had broken up with a boyfriend about a week before and wasn't really in the mood to socialize, but my friend dragged me into the car and to the party. I looked horrible - I don't think I had make up on, had a crummy sweater and jeans on - just looked like I didn't care.

I remember having a pretty good time. I was surprised that one of the roommates(Dave) was in one of my classes. Judd and I ended up striking up a conversation later that night out on his porch. He asked for my number and - be still my heart - programmed it into his flip phone! I was amazed he had a flip phone - I didn't even have a cell phone let alone a FLIP phone.

Judd called me on Super Bowl Sunday and I met up with him later that night to hang out. The rest is, well, history. We were together pretty much all of the time after that. We "studied", went to movies, hung out, went out to eat - but the thing that I remember most is that we would just sit in his room and talk and talk and talk. We talked about everything. He made me laugh, I made him laugh, we understood each other. It didn't take me long to fall for him.

There is another thing I am thinking about today. We brought Charlotte home from the hospital 2 years ago on Super Bowl Sunday. So, 8 years to the date (almost) that Judd and I met, we brought home our little girl.

So, Super Bowl Sunday doesn't mean football to me - it means so much more. I'm reminded of the beginnings of my family.

Happy Friday!

We're trying to make the best of this very rainy Friday. Just remembering the wonderful afternoon we had at the park earlier this week. I just love this little girl.

Blog Book

I completed my first blog book, for the year 2008, a few weeks ago and very nervously hit the "Submit" button. It was delivered last week. I couldn't wait to see it - I ripped the package open and was very pleased with the result. It is 181 pages of awesome.






I used blurb.com to create and order the book. They make it really easy. You download their book making software, then choose the "Blog to Book" option. After you enter your blog login credentials it "slurps" all of your posts into the software and you pick and choose which ones you want to include in your book.

I spent about 4 evenings getting the pages/posts just the way I wanted them. Because a lot of my images are sized for web, I had to import the original images, or manipulate the size of the image from the blog. It was tedious - but worth it.

I chose the smallest size, 7"x7" because I knew that the images from the blog would have a low resolution. I was a little nervous that it would be too small, but the print is easy to read. Some of my pictures are really small - so I know what to do differently for the 2009 book. I think I will have to import a lot more of the original images. I don't mind spending the time, these are Charlotte's baby books since I didn't keep one for her. So, I just think about all of the time I would have spent working on that.

The price was reasonable - for 181 color pages with a custom dust jacket it was around $55.

I have started putting the 2009 book together and I think it is going to look even better than this one. I love having a version of this blog that I can hold. Now I know that it is backed up in at least one place!

Pulling the Plug

There has been a debate going on in our house for a few months - to take the paci away from Charlotte or not. Judd thinks the sooner the better. I think naps and sleeping through the night are awesome and we should keep everything status quo.

Judd headed off to San Antonio and Austin this week. Talk about trial by fire with this whole stay at home mom thing. My first week and I'm alone with Charlotte for 3 days and 3 nights. So, what did I decide to do the first day he was gone - take away the paci. Smart huh?

I didn't intend to do it - it just kind of happened. She was laying in our bed watching TV and said something about "Babies and Pacis". So I said that, "Yes, babies use pacis - not big girls - and you are a big girl." She thought about it then I heard "UH HUH".

My heart started to race - this was my chance.

So, I said, "Well, we could send your pacis to Aunt Sally's baby, so when the baby is born he can have pacis." She said, "send pacis to Riley." (Riley is my mother's dog)

I decided to just go with it. So, I ran and got a box and we went through the house looking for pacis. We ended up finding about 8 pacis - they were under her crib, in my purses, etc. She did this happily - too happily. I was a nervous wreck - I wasn't sure I was ready for all of this to happen.

We headed to the post office. I actually chickened out at this point, I didn't think I could really go through with it. I needed the pacis as much as she did. I put my bills and cards in the mail box and pulled out of the parking lot. She said, "Send pacis to Riley, Mommy?" So, I pulled back in and we got out of the car.

We went into the post office and stood in line. When it was our turn we handed the box of pacis to the nice postal worker and I said, "We would like to mail these pacifiers to Riley". She just kind of stared at me. I said, "Yes, we want to send these, so can you please mail them." Then I looked at Charlotte as to say "Hint, Hint." I mouthed, "You can throw them away - PLEASE, just take them." She then got the point and said, "Sure thing - yes, I will send these - would you like a sticker?" Charlotte was thrilled with her new 1st class sticker and we went on our way.

Easy, huh?

Not that easy. On the way home from our other errands she started to get tired and whine. Nap time was horrible yesterday. She cried for 45 minutes before falling asleep for only 40 minutes. It was heartbreaking. She LOVED her pacis. They comforted her. I could hardly stand it. I tore open my book bag from our plane trips and found an extra. I was about to go in and give it to her - but then she got quiet and fell asleep.

Last night actually went well. She talked about it, but ended up falling asleep without a tear and slept through the night. I was THRILLED!

Today we went and bought a new special blanket because she was such a good girl to give up her pacis and send them to Riley. She went down for her nap well, but about 5 minutes later started crying. She cried for 20 minutes before falling asleep. So, the new blanket helped a little bit I guess.

This was a really hard thing for me to do. Probably one of the harder "growing up" things we have done so far. Bottles didn't bother me, even ending breastfeeding didn't bother me as much as this. I have been just as dependent on the pacis as Charlotte - but I knew the time was going to have to come sooner or later and jumped at the chance.

It is funny - I can already tell a difference. She talks to me a lot more while I read to her before naps and bedtime. She also sings along with me now when I sing to her in the rocking chair. Hopefully naps will get back to normal within a week or so.

One thing I learned - I won't attempt any other major changes while Judd is out of town!

Two, part two

Charlotte had her 2 year appointment yesterday. It may have been my mommy ears - but I'm pretty sure the doctor said that she was perfect in every way.

Stats:
Weight - 28 lbs 8 oz - 50-75%
Length - 35 inches - 75-90%
Head - 19 1/8 inches - 75%

What is she doing now that she's two?

• She is speaking in sentences - her vocabulary amazes us every day.
• She has recently started to use pronouns rather than "Mommy", "Daddy", "Charlotte" - she says, "I", "Me", "You", "she", "he", etc.
• She is still sleeping in her crib - we don't have any plans to take her out.
• Not potty trained - but we are pretty close to going for it.
• She is singing more - she can sing all of "Happy Birthday" - and will sing parts of "You are my sunshine" and "Jesus loves me"
• Can count to 10
• Sings the ABC's if you sing it with her. - She skips some letters, but gets a lot of them.

She is a bright light in our lives. She makes every day happier. Sure, she has her stubborn, independence seeking side, but for every one of the times that side shows it's colors, there are five moments of joy. There are many times a day that I just look at her and my heart feels like it will burst.

Charlotte's 3rd and final birthday party was yesterday afternoon. We had a small party with a few of her best friends - you'll probably recognize the usual suspects.







Thanks for coming over and celebrating with us - I know that Charlotte had a great time - even if she did have some trouble letting everyone else play with her toys!

Two

It's official, she's 2.



We had a whirlwind of a day - 2 year appointment, grocery shopping, cleaning, lunch, nap, a little birthday party with friends, dinner, bath, and conversations with grandparents. Now Daddy is rocking and singing Birthday Girl to bed. I hope he read Dr. Seuss' Happy Birthday To You to her tonight.

"Happy Birthday Dear Baby, Happy Birthday To You"

More about her birthday day tomorrow.

Let the party start

We kicked off Charlotte's birthday weekend with cupcakes in her class on Friday afternoon. She was SO excited that Mommy and Daddy were bringing cupcakes to her class. She is one of the last in the class to have her 2nd birthday - so I think she has watched all of the other kids have cupcakes in their honor - finally it was HER turn.



It was also her last day at school. Her class made her a card and everyone wished her well and gave her big hugs. I got a little sad that this chapter of our life was closing - but very happy about the next one just beginning.

We celebrated down at the Davis' today with lunch, a cake, and presents. It was a lovely party with lots of love and family.





Her new bike:



Monday is officially the big day - we will celebrate again with one more little party.