This girl loves her daddy!
and her thumb : )
the girls, Renata, me & my sister in law Jenny with my niece Karis in her belly : )
not so sure about the sand!
sweet Owen relaxing on the blanket
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Beach Bums
This girl loves her daddy! and her thumb : ) the girls, Renata, me & my sister in law Jenny with my niece Karis in her belly : ) not so sure about the sand! 
Birthday Week
We have this thing in our family where we like to drag out our birthday celebrations for as long as possible. It is common to hear the phrase "it's my birthday" for the month surrounding the birthday of the person desiring a little special treatment or an excuse to sit on the couch and eat rainbow chip icing by the spoonful (me last night).
My birthday was on Monday & was extra special this year because we got to celebrate all weekend with our sweet friends from Texas. Andrew, Renata & baby Owen were here for 5 days full of birthday celebrations! Another reason it was extra special is because Andrew I share the same birthday...double the fun!
We loved getting to catch up with them & enjoy their sweet baby boy Owen who was born in December. Charlotte was very interested in Owen & was actually very gentle minus the occaional eye poking or body slam : ) We spent alot of time just talking and laughing. This couple loved us so much that they helped us move from Dallas to Orlando 2 years ago this month. We were so thankful to have them to keep us company during the LONG drive! They are so kind, so thoughtful, so loyal & such precious friends to us. We miss living close to each other but the visits are always wonderful!
Here is the Birthday Celebration in photos:
My birthday was on Monday & was extra special this year because we got to celebrate all weekend with our sweet friends from Texas. Andrew, Renata & baby Owen were here for 5 days full of birthday celebrations! Another reason it was extra special is because Andrew I share the same birthday...double the fun!
We loved getting to catch up with them & enjoy their sweet baby boy Owen who was born in December. Charlotte was very interested in Owen & was actually very gentle minus the occaional eye poking or body slam : ) We spent alot of time just talking and laughing. This couple loved us so much that they helped us move from Dallas to Orlando 2 years ago this month. We were so thankful to have them to keep us company during the LONG drive! They are so kind, so thoughtful, so loyal & such precious friends to us. We miss living close to each other but the visits are always wonderful!
Here is the Birthday Celebration in photos:
The celebration started in Winter Park where we had dinner, without children thanks to our friends Eric & Jen who spent the evening with our little ones
On Saturday we went to Canaveral National Seashore & got some sunshine
It was the big 3-0 for Andrew & he has talked about wanting a pinata for quite sometime so Robby ordered one online and we had some good laughs trying to beat the candy out of it
Andrew loves candy as much as I do & he gave me all of these chewy sweet tarts....one of my all time favs! Thanks man!
For the actual birthday, we spent the afternoon at Downtown Disney then Robby cooked us my favorite dish he makes, chicken tacos. We ended the night with some 24 : )
What a great weekend! Thank you friends and family for making me feel so special with your cards, emails & facebook messages : ) They were much appreciated! Thank you Jensen family for being our friends. We love you dearly and look forward to our next visit with you!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
10 Months Old
How on earth has another month passed by already? I feel like I just wrote her 9 month update. Here is our little 10 month old baby....only 2 months away from her first birthday!
This month has been very busy for Char Char or should I say mommy since I am the one chasing her : ) She is a super speedy crawler these days & is pulling up on anything she can! She is obsessed with Bennett and Bella right now is constantly crawling to & into their cages.... I know, we need a picture of that : ) One new thing is an incredible fear of any dog other than ours. Honestly, she will lay on the floor giggling getting licked by two 70lb+ pit bulls but the second we see the 5 lb maltese across the street, she absolutely loses it! She jolts & screams louder than we have ever heard. Very sad but a tad funny when you think about it : )
She has become a little clumsy & had a few minor falls, forehead smacking on the coffee table etc. Over all, she is doing well with her moving around & is very proud when she is standing in the bathtub or in her crib when it is nap time. We are LOVING seeing her explore her surroundings.
She is still most interested in her mailbox & plays pass the letter from her mouth to her Daddy's mouth. He is sick now & thinks he may have contracted an illness from one of the pieces of mail : ) He continues letting it be placed in his mouth...her cuteness is irresistable!
She still eats like a horse. Turkey Meatloaf was new on her menu this week & she really enjoyed it! She scarfs down quite a large bowl of an oatmeal/other grains & fruit for breakfast followed by yogurt & some veggies for lunch. Dinner varies night to night & just this week she has started eating some of what we are eating. So far, I have cooked the majority of her food which has been really fun. Now if we could all eat as healthy as she does we would be lookin' good!
She says Mama & Dada alot....she says mama mostly when she is hungry or crying...very sweet. We think she is trying to say "dog" & "ruff" but maybe we are making it up ; )
She is constantly pointing at things including the planes (oh the many planes) that fly over our house.
Her hair is growing....still the same style as her Grandpa : ) Still no teeth in sight!
We took a trip to the swimming pool last week, first time this warm season. She loved it! She was "jumping" from a sitting position into my arms. Here is a picture of my little chicky in her suit...well it is just her cute little face. If you look closely, you can see her new little freckle on her forehead.
She is still a great sleeper putting in 12-13 hours at night + two 2 hour naps during the day. It seems like she is not awake long enough & it never fails that when we get in bed at night one of us ALWAYS says "I miss her," "let's go get her." We never actually do but we really feel like that : ) When it is time for bed I always sing to her and try to cuddle with her while she tries to throw herself out of my arms into her crib. So I set her down, she laughs and stands up to bang on the side of the crib, I walk out & listen to her play for a couple minutes then she is out like a light! She is always well rested & happy as can be! Here she is after waking from her nap...
This month has been very busy for Char Char or should I say mommy since I am the one chasing her : ) She is a super speedy crawler these days & is pulling up on anything she can! She is obsessed with Bennett and Bella right now is constantly crawling to & into their cages.... I know, we need a picture of that : ) One new thing is an incredible fear of any dog other than ours. Honestly, she will lay on the floor giggling getting licked by two 70lb+ pit bulls but the second we see the 5 lb maltese across the street, she absolutely loses it! She jolts & screams louder than we have ever heard. Very sad but a tad funny when you think about it : )
She has become a little clumsy & had a few minor falls, forehead smacking on the coffee table etc. Over all, she is doing well with her moving around & is very proud when she is standing in the bathtub or in her crib when it is nap time. We are LOVING seeing her explore her surroundings.
She is still most interested in her mailbox & plays pass the letter from her mouth to her Daddy's mouth. He is sick now & thinks he may have contracted an illness from one of the pieces of mail : ) He continues letting it be placed in his mouth...her cuteness is irresistable!
She still eats like a horse. Turkey Meatloaf was new on her menu this week & she really enjoyed it! She scarfs down quite a large bowl of an oatmeal/other grains & fruit for breakfast followed by yogurt & some veggies for lunch. Dinner varies night to night & just this week she has started eating some of what we are eating. So far, I have cooked the majority of her food which has been really fun. Now if we could all eat as healthy as she does we would be lookin' good!
She says Mama & Dada alot....she says mama mostly when she is hungry or crying...very sweet. We think she is trying to say "dog" & "ruff" but maybe we are making it up ; )
She is constantly pointing at things including the planes (oh the many planes) that fly over our house.
Her hair is growing....still the same style as her Grandpa : ) Still no teeth in sight!
We took a trip to the swimming pool last week, first time this warm season. She loved it! She was "jumping" from a sitting position into my arms. Here is a picture of my little chicky in her suit...well it is just her cute little face. If you look closely, you can see her new little freckle on her forehead.
She is still a great sleeper putting in 12-13 hours at night + two 2 hour naps during the day. It seems like she is not awake long enough & it never fails that when we get in bed at night one of us ALWAYS says "I miss her," "let's go get her." We never actually do but we really feel like that : ) When it is time for bed I always sing to her and try to cuddle with her while she tries to throw herself out of my arms into her crib. So I set her down, she laughs and stands up to bang on the side of the crib, I walk out & listen to her play for a couple minutes then she is out like a light! She is always well rested & happy as can be! Here she is after waking from her nap...
One last little snippet of Charlotte Grace.....enjoying the swing at Grandma & Grandpa's house in Houston! I think we could have left her there for 8 hours a day & she would have never complained! Now if we only had something other than a palm tree in our yard we could have this much fun everyday!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day 2010
We had a lovely Mother's Day at the Valentine house. We woke up a bit before Charlotte, which is always nice : ) Robby took some time to read Proverbs 31 aloud & spoke the most encouraging words to me about being a wife & mother. He gave me a sheet of coupons including: a trip to the finger & toe painter, 2 free dog washes, an all expense paid trip to Starbucks, 2 hours of playtime with daddy....not sure if that is for me or Charlotte ; ) and various other thoughtful things. He completely surprised me with a picture of the new laptop he ordered for me!!! Yipeeee! He custom built it to his liking and made it bright green to mine : ) It should be here sometime in the near future.
After a gourmet breakfast of eggs, fruit & pancakes (round for me & mickey shaped for Char) we went to church. Gregg took time to have men stand by their wives and pray over them. It was humbling time to stand next to my husband, holding my daughter giving thanks for what the Lord has done in our life. Charlotte was trying to jump out of my arms so she could crawl around....I took off her shoe & she chewed on it to occupy herself for a few minutes : ) Mom of the Year award right? ; ) Rob & I just smiled at each other knowing that moment was one we had waited for.
Through a time of waiting for God to provide a baby for us, Mother's Day was difficult. My emotions varied from feeling frustrated & jealous to hopeful & content over the course of time. It was only in the God's grace that he sustained us & provided Charlotte Grace in his perfect timing. There are more women in my life struggling through infertility & I continue to pray for the Lord to sustain them through their journey & plead with them for the Lord open their wombs. It is possible to rejoice in our suffering knowing what is promised.
After a gourmet breakfast of eggs, fruit & pancakes (round for me & mickey shaped for Char) we went to church. Gregg took time to have men stand by their wives and pray over them. It was humbling time to stand next to my husband, holding my daughter giving thanks for what the Lord has done in our life. Charlotte was trying to jump out of my arms so she could crawl around....I took off her shoe & she chewed on it to occupy herself for a few minutes : ) Mom of the Year award right? ; ) Rob & I just smiled at each other knowing that moment was one we had waited for.
Through a time of waiting for God to provide a baby for us, Mother's Day was difficult. My emotions varied from feeling frustrated & jealous to hopeful & content over the course of time. It was only in the God's grace that he sustained us & provided Charlotte Grace in his perfect timing. There are more women in my life struggling through infertility & I continue to pray for the Lord to sustain them through their journey & plead with them for the Lord open their wombs. It is possible to rejoice in our suffering knowing what is promised.
"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Sprit who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5
A little trip through time......backwards : )
Me & my girlie on Mother's Day
Mother's Day 2009- 33 weeks pregnant
Me & my beautiful Mother in 1983One other special thing about this Mother's Day...Robby and I have gotten a little glimpse of how our own mother's were with us as we have seen them with Charlotte. They were and are loving, wise, energetic, kind, patient, selfless, funny, encouraging, nurturing & excelllent mothers. I am thankful for the example I have in them as I care for Charlotte & any other children God might give us.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Ain't She Sweet.....
The SWEETEST hat & dress from Grandma & Grandpa....
Looking out to the oddly colored turquoise water
Silly goose, always sticking out that tongue!
You may notice I am holding her hands down so
One without the hat.....with Grandma instead!
Oooooo I love her!
Looking out to the oddly colored turquoise water 
Silly goose, always sticking out that tongue!
You may notice I am holding her hands down so she cannot rip off her hat again : )
One without the hat.....with Grandma instead!
Oooooo I love her! The Lone Star State
Well, we are home and settled back into our routine. Our trip to Houston was lovely....not long enough though! It never is. I was nervous to be on the plane with Charlotte all by myself but what do you know...she was perfect! On the way there, she gently stroked the arm of the young man from England who sat next to us (he said he didn't mind) & on the way home, she ended up sitting in the lap of the sweet lady next to us. Easy flying...just the way I like it with a baby!
We pretty much relaxed for 7 days. It could not have been any better....Unless my other brother Kyle was in town : ( We spent a portion of everyday outside either on the swings in the backyard, on a blanket in the frontyard or on a walk. My dad got a new guitar recently and he played & we sang while Charlotte clapped along. We watched Minute to Win It and then had our own competition. We played multiple games of Scrabble. We sewed. We cooked. We visited with friends and neighbors. We did a little shopping, a little eating out & a lot of laughing.
Here is Char with her Grandma & Grandpa
Climbing on Uncle Scott
One of my favorite brothers : )
This is my first outfit to make for Charlotte...with my mother's assistance of course but I was pretty happy with the way it turned out!
Charlotte got to visit with her friend Hannah. They are only a few weeks apart. I love that they have the same hairstyle! Hannah's mom Bethany is a friend from growing up.
We pretty much relaxed for 7 days. It could not have been any better....Unless my other brother Kyle was in town : ( We spent a portion of everyday outside either on the swings in the backyard, on a blanket in the frontyard or on a walk. My dad got a new guitar recently and he played & we sang while Charlotte clapped along. We watched Minute to Win It and then had our own competition. We played multiple games of Scrabble. We sewed. We cooked. We visited with friends and neighbors. We did a little shopping, a little eating out & a lot of laughing.
Here is Char with her Grandma & Grandpa
Climbing on Uncle Scott
One of my favorite brothers : ) 
This is my first outfit to make for Charlotte...with my mother's assistance of course but I was pretty happy with the way it turned out! 
Charlotte got to visit with her friend Hannah. They are only a few weeks apart. I love that they have the same hairstyle! Hannah's mom Bethany is a friend from growing up. We look forward to another visit as soon as we can make it! Thanks for being such an incredible hostess mom : ) We love visiting your house!
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