Happy New Year

Holla...I'll be back later to post more, but I have to get baby girl down for a nap. I am just posting these pics now because my mom is tired of looking at cinnamon rolls.
Okay, I am back now. Just wanted to update about the kids and state of our corner of the world. And all I can say is, that things are great. I love our simple, happy, warm little world. Yes, we get cranky and snappy sometimes, but we mellow out real quick and things always turn out for the best. Christmas was super busy, as was everyone's, but I was soooo exhausted on Friday night, and I still had the weekend to work. You would think that I was tired of baking...oh no. I've got a ball of cappuccino shortbread dough sitting in front of me that I am just raring to roll out and cut. The only thing that sucked about Christmas was that David worked much of it. I don't mind the days that David works, but I am really starting to hate the fact that he works evenings. Oh well, it won't always be like this. Sorry this is such a random post, but they usually are when I post more than a week apart.
For the most part Joseph is potty trained. With the exception of naps and bedtime, he wears underwear and always goes to the bathroom without prompting. He still doesn't sit on the "big" potty, but we have a little system when we are out in public, and it has worked well for us so far. Can I tell you he says the funniest things. For instance, everything he sees that he likes, let's say fruit punch, he'll say, "I want punch for my birthday", or "I want trains for my birthday", or "I want stickers for my birthday". Today, as he was looking at one of David's manuals for work he say, "this is my book, my library book, from Kansas City." Or how about, "Mom, you my best friend". There are so many funnier things that he says, I need to carry around a little notepad to write them all down.

Now for the sweetest girl in the whole world. Charlotte is now four months old. At her four month check-up she was in the 90th percentile for weight and height. Sometimes I have to give her an extra bottle because I fear she is still hungry after nursing. And unfortunately she usually takes it. I may start supplementing with formula when I am at work, to extend the life of my breast milk supply. But I can say this, I am going to keep breastfeeding until I can't produce anymore milk. Formula isn't the devil, and the most important thing is that she can get whatever breast milk I can provide. And now for the big news, Charlotte has two teeth. The first one I noticed Christmas, and told everybody about it. The second one is just on the verge of breaking through her gums. She is close to rolling over, and she loves to talk. And she loves her brother so much. She gazes so intently when he is in the room. Tonight, Joseph told her, "I love you so much Baby Mae..." which are my exact words. He even used my inflections as he said it. Well, I need to go now, my one and only New Year's resolution is to go to bed earlier. So I'll try to post sooner than a week next time.

Maple Syrup and Coffee

Oh my! I made cinnamon rolls. Hillary, I wish I would have made these sooner and brought them to work. They really are pretty easy. I was a little worried at first. They looked so puny right before going into the oven.
Here is the pan I set aside for my little family. These are all of the end pieces and one left over that was cut from the center. So sad...

How the puny have risen. Out of the oven...aren't they beautiful. There's more, wait for it...wait for it...

Maple Syrup and Coffee frosting in all of it's glory. Don't you wish you were my neighbor.

Hand, Foot and Heart Disease?

Be still my beating heart. I love when babies play with their feet. While I took these pics Charlotte just stared at me as if saying, "what's the big deal mom?" She was in her own little world.
Oh, how I love chubby baby skin. I could just eat-her-up! But, I guess I'll get back to my cookie making instead.

A No Go

Santa was a no go today. This morning when I walked down the stairs, our thermostat was turned off. So for the morning we had no heat, save for two space heaters and the stove. We managed to survive though, and will try for Santa tomorrow. David is off today. So I will continue more baking adventures tonight. I do love to bake. Even if my "goods" don't always come out pretty, I still have fun.

A Whole Lot of Nothin'

Well, I can't say I have been outwardly productive. Only in my little mind am I productive. I have been back to work for two full weekends now. It almost feels as if I never left. Generally speaking, I have enjoyed being back.
As for Christmas, well, I am so excited for this year, and I am sure you can't guess why...Maybe because I don't have to work. Maybe because I love to bake. Oh yah, and maybe because I am totally enamored with my two chittlins, and couldn't be more thankful for the wonderful life that I/we live. No, I don't travel to exotic places. No, I don't eat at fancy restaurants. The last movie I saw at a theater was JUNO. In fact, I hardly leave my house these days, except to go to the store, work, or some child related errand. And Monday through Friday, I only shower every other day. But I find pure joy in watching, listening to, smelling, touching, feeding, playing with, reading to, kissing on and loving my babies. Thank our Lord and Jesus Christ for bringing Joseph and Charlotte into our life. I couldn't ask for anything more.
Tomorrow, David and I are taking the kids to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop. My friend Josie said they have a really old school set up, and the pictures are free. I have been trying to prep Joseph for what to expect.
I will try to post some pictures over the next day or so. Every time I go to grab my camera for some reason or another the batteries aren't charged. Plus I have been busy baking, and cooking so the house is in utter disarray.

Pictures Galore

I just love having my children photographed. Picture taking went well, and I knew that it would. Do you want to know how I knew? Because, for the first time in her short little life, Charlotte's hair was lying flat, not in her usual mo-hawk fashion. Don't get me wrong I absolutely adore her "hawk", but sometimes I feel it distracts from her face. I mean that with the most humility.
I swear she has my nose.

Today I held two separate photo shoots for Christmas cards. Lots of fun, but also so exhausting and frustrating. When one was smiling and focusing on the camera the other was either crying or zoned out. I decided we were finished when Joe let Charlotte fall over to the ground despite my pleas. He even snickered when she started crying. You know he is going to love putting gum in her hair. Well, at least the first time and only time he puts gum in her hair, because after the first time there will be no repeat offenses.

First Day Back At Work

What a strange feeling to go back to work after taking fifteen full weeks off. But I must say it feel good to be back - that may have been because I had a very, very easy assignment. Since Charlotte is three months old and the holidays surround us I have been trying to get their pictures taken together. But since Joe has been sick for the last two weeks I kept canceling my appointments. Tomorrow is the day though, so wish us luck, and hope that everyone is cooperative and happy.