Classic Carly (with pictures this time)

As I was editing these pictures from the past month or so I realized how well they showcase many of Carly's unique expressions.  The girl can make some faces!

couldn't forget big sis

 

And my absolute favorite ones....the spaghetti face frown and two seconds later the two teeth grin.  

16 Months

Baby girl, you are 16 months old today and time is moving too fast.  You constantly want to be like your big sis and sit on the potty, use a fork and spoon, get your hair done, and try and put your socks on all by yourself.  We are seeing your little personality develop and it’s fun to see the differences between you and Katie.  While you are still our happy, sweet girl you also are getting quite the tude.  When you get mad or frustrated, you are very vocal about it and can throw quite the tantrum.  Most of the time you snap out of it with a clever distraction but occasionally nothing works and we have to just ignore you for a while.  

 You are walking and running all over but your favorite thing to do this month is climb up and down on the couch and into Katie’s bed.  You are quite the monkey and smart about it too!  The other day at Sharry’s you wanted to get up on the window seat so you figured out how to move the lego table over and use that as a step to get where you wanted to be.  You definitely know how to make mommy nervous!  

You are starting to talk more but still aren’t saying too many understandable words.  You make a lot of sounds and signs though so we can usually understand what you are trying to communicate.  Your facial expressions also say a lot.  You have perfected the scowl expression and go back and forth between that and your adorable gummy, two teeth smile.   

In the sleep department, you are still inconsistent with your wake up time.  Sometimes you are ready to go at 5:30 and other times you sleep until 6:30.  We have also made the transition from two naps to one.  There are some days when you still take a morning nap but for the most part you are down to one and it is usually a good 2 hour one which I love.  

You love playing with your big sister and there are times when I will just stop and listen to you both on the monitor.  Of course you have your moments and fight but we are working on sharing toys without hitting or pushing.  

Sweet Carly, we love you so much and are so proud of all of your accomplishments! And I just had to add this picture of Katie that I love so much.  You are growing up way to fast sweets Garner!

Enjoying the Moment

As I sit here at the kitchen table at 6:00am with coffee in hand listening to Carly babble I am once again reminded how fast she is growing up.  She woke up in a great mood which is nice because she is teething and finally getting some top teeth.  She is sitting here at the table with me playing with her cereal in a bowl, drinking her milk, and "reading" a magazine.  In other words she is entertaining herself and we are having a wonderful conversation in an otherwise silent house.   Just now she tried to say "milk", "Ozzy", and "outside".  She is eager to learn the words for everything around her so she does a lot of pointing and I do a lot of labeling.  I think it's amazing how children develop language just by hearing it around them.  This moment just made me realize my little one will be like Katie before I know it and there won't be any more quiet mornings like this.  So I am going to enjoy this stage to the fullest and soak it all up.  She is growing up too fast!

Bye Bye Formula

We are done with the crazy expensive formula that Carly has been on for 10 months and have transitioned her to regular, good ole fashioned whole milk! She is doing great with it and we are so excited and relieved that she doesn't have any lasting food allergies. We started the switch about three weeks ago by mixing her formula with whole milk. She had no problem with the taste difference and is now drinking regular milk in a cup with all of her meals. She still takes a bottle in the morning and right before bedtime but once this last can of formula is gone she will be getting 100% regular milk.

It's hard to believe that 10 months ago we were in the hospital with our baby girl and worried about her losing too much weight. Wednesday when she went in for her one year old well child exam she was off the charts in all areas, including her head! She is 26.6 pounds and 31 inches which put her above the 95th percentile. I knew she was a big girl because she is wearing 18 months clothes already. I have been a little worried about her rapid growth, but our pediatrician wasn't too concerned and said that she should slim down now that she is walking and a regular diet.

She also loves regular food and only eats baby food as a supplement to the things she can't chew. She still only has her two little bottom teeth but is doing really well with chewing. She had papaya for the first time and loved it. Some of her other favorite foods include bananas, peas, carrots, grilled cheese sandwiches, and MumMums.

This weekend the Garner's will be relaxing after having three weeks of very busy schedules. Today we are off the library and to do some shopping for Jeff's upcoming 40th birthday. I got this wonderful idea from another mommy blog and I can't wait to have Katie do it. Have a great weekend everyone!

Carly's First Birthday Party

We had a small celebration yesterday for Carly's first birthday with some close friends who are like family.  It was a lot of fun to barbecue and play out in the sunshine in our backyard. 

Our attempt to get some family pictures before the party started

Katie loved being able to reach the snack table and was able to help herself to whatever she wanted.  My sweet girl preferred to eat tomatoes instead of licorice....I love her!

Birthday girl had so much fun and she especially enjoyed blowing into the party favors

Our wonderful family friends, the Shaw's....very full and happy after eating a lot of Jeff's yummy bbq

And the most entertaining part of the afternoon was watching Carly eat her cupcake.  She ABSOLUTELY loved it and ate all of it in less than five minutes. 

 

Happy Birthday sweet girl!  We love you!

1 Year Old

Carly Girl, you are one now and your mommy and daddy can't believe just how fast this first year went! 

Right after you were born you snuggled into my arms and I nursed you easily and comfortably for almost an hour.  At that moment I had a feeling you were going to be my little cuddle bug and mommy was right (just like I will be many times in your life).

In the morning, after your bottle and before your big sister wakes up we love to cuddle on the couch and play on the floor together.  And speaking of sleep, the reason we have a good hour of one on one time is because you like to get up between 5:00 and 5:30 am.  Hopefully, you will go back to sleeping until at least 6:00 like you used to because it is hard getting ready for work in the mornings with you as my shadow.  However, daddy enjoys the early mornings because he gets to see you before he leaves for work.  Other than that you are a great sleeper and still taking two good naps a day and going to bed easily between 7:30-8:00.

Another major milestone you reached a few weeks ago was walking.  Now, you hardly ever crawl and when you fall down you bounce right back up and keep on going.  You have also figured out how to climb up onto things like your big sisters bed which is one of your favorite things to do right now.  You also love going up and down the little slide in the backyard.

Your sister and you are starting to play together more and I love watching the interaction between you two.  Katie is not always the most affectionate big sister but if you are crying and upset she will be the first to go up to you and offer a hug and a kiss and ask "why are you sad Carly?".   You LOVE her so much and have from the very beginning.  Katie was the first person you smiled at and even today you just laugh the moment she walks in the room.  One of my many favorite memories was when we were driving down to Sharry's and you started sticking your tongue out.  Katie thought that was funny so she laughed which encouraged you to do it more and pretty soon you both were giggling and having so much fun together!

Carly trying to steal Katie's hat

love the look on Katie's face

peace is made

especially when there are two hats and nobody has to share

Of course you have your arguments but that's part of life and hopefully you will grow up with a very close bond.

 Carly Barly, my little peanut, love bug, you are doing so much more than I can write about (because you just woke up crying) but let me just say this has been an incredible year!  You made our family complete and every day is a new adventure.  Thank you for making me a mommy to two beautiful daughters.  Happy First Birthday baby girl, we love you  so much!  

One Year Ago Today...

Carly Rose came into this world looking like this....

And one year later she is all smiles, giggles, kisses, and so much more!  Happy Birthday baby girl!