Charley's First Birthday Party

I usually let lots of photos build up and then do a lot of blog posts at once, therefore you're always seeing them after the fact.  When it comes to videos I'm even farther behind...  they are really a pain in the @$$ to post.  I dump them onto the external hard drive linked to our desktop in the office, which we rarely use, so I have to fire it up.  Furthermore, there is something wrong with our wireless router, so it only works sporadically and sometimes poops out mid-upload (frustrating!).  Finally, it takes like an hour to upload a 1 minute video, so I have to keep coming and checking on it.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.  So, I always intend to post several videos - as this time I had some cute ones of her growling, blowing a dandelion, etc. etc. and just said forget it once I got to this point.  I do want to post some videos from her first b-day however.  Then you probably won't see any more videos for a while!  So - enjoy!

Charley, enjoying her first cupcake.

And boy did she enjoy it!  That's my girl!  :)  I found a sugar-free pumpkin cake recipe on this blog I like with sugar-free chocolate pumpkin icing - it was yummy!!!  I had several recipe requests from them!

We had pumpkins for all the kids to paint, and Charley got right in there with them!  (With a little help from "da-da").

All in all, I think fun was had by all!  My little girl is growing up TOO fast!  Before I know it we'll be having a second birthday - yikes!  I just try to cherish each day, as a day I'll never get back in her life.  (Unless it's one of THOSE days, where everything induces a tantrum, she wants nothing I offer her to eat but keeps signing she wants to eat, then throws it all on the floor, clings to my leg and won't let me move an inch from her, whines to be picked up all day long...  well, those days I sometimes just want to pass!)

Charley's First Sign!

While in Italy, eating supper one night (we did do a lot of eating, I must say...), Charley made her first sign!!!  I've been signing with her since she was probably 6 mos. old, and she finally, at almost 1 year of age, signed back!  She signed "more".

First Steps

When Grandpa came to visit in September, I took my first steps holding onto his hands.

Shell Game

Daddy started playing this game with me back in September, and I picked it up really quickly!

Two Years in Ruby Valley

And believe it or not, it kind of does feel like home.  Rod and I discussed it on our trip back from the airport (what a miserable trip it was...), and although we both want to end up back closer to "home", for now Ruby Valley kind of does feel like home.  If only it were easier (and cheaper!) to visit our friends and family, we may just decide to stay!!!  We've now been here for 2 years - wow.  During that time we went from a family of 2 to one of 3!  It's the only home Charley has ever known, but sadly depending on when we do leave she may never remember it.  What a great place it has been to have a baby and for her to start her life!  There are so many things about it we will miss terribly when we do leave.  Anyway - here is Charley, back at home, enjoying her room and new toys!

Growling at her lion!

Alabama - take 2

By now anyone reading this knows my mom is a total picture-holic, so we have WAAAAY more pics of our time in AL then MO (I don't hold a candle!).  She likes to take artsy pics of C, and I'm so glad to have them!  So, here's a second post with lots of cute Charley pics!

Surprise!

Little artist

Another present?  For me?

Sharing a banana with Nana (ha ha, it rhymes)

Playdate with Ava

Oops, maybe Ava isn't having so much fun!

Nana and Pops went to NYC and all I got was...   (just kidding!)

Now I can safely ride in the bike cart Daddy got me!

This photo is for Grandpa - we're in a Hallmark store!

Bubbles in the bathtub

Hmmm, wonder what it tastes like?

More Nana!

This is becoming a tradition - one morning Pops always has to make C a pancake!