We had a great weekend meeting my new nephew.  We decided to leave Friday night, as Brian says that I don't "handle it well" when Charlotte gets crabby in the car during a daytime drive.  So, sippy in hand and good book in her lap, Charlotte was happy and so was I.

Saturday morning we were itching for little Solomon to wake up.  Brian entertained Amos and Charlotte with a little story time.  Amos loved Brian - he would always look for him when he left the room.  And boy is he smart!  He just turned 2, but can say the alphabet, count to 15 and speaks in 4-5 word sentences.

Finally little Solomon decided to join the party.  Like any newborn, he was very well behaved.  He quietly let us cuddle him and only gave a peep during a diaper change.  Chris kept him well-fed, and that was probably most of the reason for his contentment.  With her second child she definitely seems more relaxed. She's getting so good at this, maybe she can talk Ben into a third :)

The kids enjoyed a little outdoor play in between rain showers.  We also had a little cake/candle celebration for Amos' birthday.  We had to let him blow it out three times.

I always wish they lived closer because we have such a nice time getting together and the kids grow so fast.   Thanks for the hospitality Chris!

Tulip Time

Tulips are in full bloom in Holland.  Tulip Festival runs May 1-8th, so their arrival is a bit premature.  We can thank our wonderfully warm Spring weather for that.  So, get to Holland while the getting is good.
Last fall I planted an assortment of tulips along our pathway.  It was such a pleasant surprise to see each different color pop up.  Charlotte loves to punch them and walk over them, but those buggers are resilient.

Stay posted for some family Dutch costume pics as soon as we get the chance to head downtown and make fools of ourselves.

Baby on Board!

For those who haven't seen me lately, I'm looking a little different these days.  And no, it isn't because I ate 5 cupcakes in one day!  Baby Burch #2 is on its way, expected arrival November 2nd.  But, with my history, could be more like Thanksgiving (haha).

I feel great, albeit tired.  We had our 12 week check up this morning with all good news.  The heart rate was moving right along at 160 bpm.
Charlotte will be 22 months when the baby is born.  She is so gentle with babies and puppies, I can't wait to see what a great big sister she will be.  Brian and I are putting it out there that we completely believe this is a boy.  So much so that Brian always forgets and tells Charlotte about her "little brother."  We won't really know the sex of the baby until the ultrasound in 2 months.
Another exciting factor is that I share this pregnancy with so many friends and family!  Brian's cousin's wife Ally, my cousins Lacey and Matt's wife Majda, friends Montelle Curtis, Jessie Hessler, Angie Derby, Julie Hoving, Katie Yates and two neighbors on my block.  At least four of these gals are due within the same week as us, Ally is due the same day.  (There is another Junior League friend who I'm not naming because I don't think she's "gone public" yet.)  This baby will have all of the playmates it ever needs!
Please keep us in your prayers that the pregnancy continues to go this well.  We can't wait for another blessing to join our family.

Some birthdays are meant for big parties and spoils, but the in-between years are some of the birthdays I like the best.  They are simple and you don't have to feel fussed over.  They are the years when you have enough time to sit back, relax, and reflect on all of the goodness that surrounds you.  I loved my birthday today.
I woke up to my 1 year old at 7 am crying for a snuggle and the smell of homemade french toast.  Charlotte and I got to enjoy listening to Brian sing at church today.  Brian and I made our very first batch of homemade ice cream together.  I already got to lick the "beater" after I turned off the machine and know that this is going to be the best ice cream I've ever had.  (I'm sure I'll say that for every batch.)  Since the sun graced us with warmth, we took Charlotte and Maggie to a local trail for a nice long walk.  Now, with a belly stuffed with Brian's roasted turkey, I get to sit back and blog while listening to Charlotte giggle with her daddy in the next room.

I know it all sounds rather mushy, but I'm feeling a bit sentimental today.  I'm a lucky girl to be blessed with so much at 31.

Riley Trails

Big Smile!

Check out my stick!

Love this girl so much!

Here is my favorite video of the week - Charlotte playing with a musical card.   Stay til the end to see her signature dance moves.

14 Months

I've come to think of this blog as Charlotte's most detailed baby book.  So please excuse my developmental posts, but I think Charlotte will love to read these back some day.

My princess is 14 months old now and is living up to her nickname.  She is particular and knows what she likes.  At about 5:30 am each morning she bolts away for her bottle and then snuggles off to sleep for another hour or two.  She has gotten so good at soothing herself to sleep now.  I can give her a snuggle and then lie her down for a nap or bed and find her shortly off to sleep.  Of course, she insists on sneaking through as many books as possible before bedtime.  She loves the peek-a-book books and Little Einstein.
Her favorite words are still "ball" and "baby."  She insists on seeing the baby on the side of her Yo-Baby container while she enjoys her yogurt.  Her new tricks are saying "woof woof" and "moo". She's also doing sign language for "all done."  She loves doing finger play for "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and plays along with "Head and Shoulders."
She is such a great walker, much to my dismay, because she moves so fast! It took some getting used to letting her walk on the pavement.  I hovered over her and held onto her hood because she wouldn't let me hold her hand.  Now she likes to run down the driveway to the road.  Stopping her turns into a major tantrum, but she's learning.
She is so friendly.  She waves "hi" and "bye" to all. She cries when we leave daycare.  I know that she has so much fun there and even moreso now that she is in the toddler room doing so many activities.
Food, of course, is still a struggle.  But tofu is working nicely as an additive to anything and everything, so I feel better about her protein intake.  This weekend she discovered Ritz crackers and fruit snacks.  She loves to exclaim "mama" as she asks for more.
Lastly, speaking of "more" - watch her sign "more" for tickling.  What a smartie.