Happy 1st Birthday Charly

It was so fun to be with family for Charly's 1st birthday. Recreating last year's cousins picture.I made a strawberry flower cake for her. After she blew out her candle all the kids started requesting to lick the candle. Unfortunately there was only 1, so the birthday girl got the privilege.She, of course, enjoyed her cake.

stats
17lbs - still a tiny little babe
crawling, but no walking, not even standing

Today we had an evaluation for her gross motor and language skills. Right now, they do not feel she needs physical therapy, but if in a month or two she is still not standing we may consider it. Her language, or lack of variety of babble sounds, is a concern. We don't feel her hearing is a factor, she's just on an 8-month old level as far as the type of sounds she makes. She makes the most noise with an opened book in front of her. She flips the pages and 'reads'.I stopped nursing a few weeks ago and she has yet to drink more than 2 oz of any type of liquid during the day. No matter what type of cup or what is in it. She seems to like straws the best. She'll blow bubbles, then drinks. She eats like a champ despite having no teeth.

She folds her arms to pray, waves, gives kisses, claps. Her tongue is ALWAYS hanging out. Everyone, even strangers, comment on her crazy tongue. She loves to dump out everything in the kids cabinet. Adores her daddy and loves to play with him. She gets so excited when he comes home or walks in the room. Me, she just gets mad when I leave the room or put her down on the floor.

She is such a joy to have in our family. I love watching her play and interact with her sisters and daddy. I can truly see her love for them. As much as I complain about her always wanting me to hold her, I love to cuddle with her. She sticks her two fingers in her mouth and will just cuddle right up into my neck. I know there will be a day when she won't want to sit in my lap constantly to cuddle, so I need to enjoy why it lasts.

So many pictures

I have literally thousands of pictures to go through of our last few weeks. Leland was in a musical/pageant with my mom called The Promised Land, we spent some time at Smith Mountain Lake with my family, Charly turned 1, and July 4th.

But here is a little taste of the fun at the lake. Trying to get a family picture is always a treat. (Did anyone watch Modern Family season finale? Kind of like that.)I love Leland's look she's giving Noah, Sarah and Emily still stuck in the "make a funny face" mode, and Nick kissing the air.
Suz and I hanging on to dear life. We did, until Todd sunk our raft.But Chuck paid Todd back.
Chuck with the tongue ever so slightly hanging out. His body paying for how much time he spent on the raft...just a reminder that he's not 16 anymore.

Girly girls

While at mom's house to watch the pageant, Suz and her girls came too. It was fun swimming at the pool, playing dress ups, and just having fun.
Before the pageant, outside the amphitheater there were pony rides, games, and crafts. I love this picture of Lucy on the pony. We really were out in the middle of farm land. During the pageant, there is a scene representing the Revolutionary War and they shot off guns. The first night, we had no idea it was coming and Emily and Lucy started crying hysterically. When the shots go off, guys on the stage fall to the ground. Lucy kept yelling "They're dead!" I reassured her that they were not really dead and once the lights dimmed they would walk off the stage. Once she saw them all get up and walk off, she calmed down. The second night we watched the show, we had about 10 people come up to us before the show warning us of the loud shots that were going to be fired and may scare little children. I'm sure the screams from the first night let them know they should have given some warning.

The Promised Land

Leland went to my mom's house for a week to prepare and participate in The Promised Land pageant in Bath, NC. The story follows a few generations of a family and their experiences through the Revolutionary War, joining the Mormon church, traveling West, and what one can learn from the Book of Mormon. For any of you that have been to Hill Cumorah Pageant, it is a micro mini pageant of that type, but a wonderful experience for everyone that participated and watched.

Leland had a fabulous time and was a trooper through the heat and long nights. Because of the extreme heat, many of the practices didn't not start until the evening and would go past midnight. Apparently is wasn't too bad because she's already talking about doing it again next year and maybe our whole family can be a part of it. Many of the families that were a part of the cast and crew were from Raleigh and camped all week while preparing. They come on Monday, practice all week, then perform Friday and Saturday. I think my mom's dream is to one year be in the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
One exhausted little girl. Her pink pioneer "costume" is a dress that my sisters and I all had matching ones of for a family picture.Top - The entire cast. Bottom - All the kids. After searching for Leland, she informed me that she is hiding behind a girl in a blue shirt because she didn't want her picture taken.It was amazing watching Leland up on stage. Even though she was just one in the crowd, she took her part very seriously, especially learning the words to the songs. It was an amazing pageant to watch.

Thanks again mom for giving Leland this wonderful opportunity.
Group and rehearsal pictures courtesy of Ed.

Girls weekend

Every year I try to get together with my 2 best friends from college around our birthday month. Last year, I was having a baby and moving, so it didn't happen. Well we are making up for it this year. Kristen is getting married!! So Liz (who lives in Ohio) came to Baltimore to throw her a bridal shower. I'm so glad I was able to go up for the weekend. I can not wait till Seattle in August. It's going to be fabulous!An added bonus was that we got to also spend some time at Christine's house and play with cousins and Nana.

Dress ups are always a favorite activity.Playing in the sprinklers.Kissing cousins! These two are a riot!Leland decided to make water (snow) angels on the glass doors and got Nick in on the action too. Sorry Tine for teaching them a new trick. Payback for the silly bandz!