9 Months

Dear Elizabeth,
You are nine months today, honey bunny. Just like the day you were born today is a Monday. We love to watch you move and explore new things. Just this morning, I looked up and  you were in the middle of the kitchen floor! You get excited and kick your legs when we come to get you out of your crib and you like banana flavored Mum Mums much better than the original kind. You reach for books a lot and love your striped red stuffed animal. You are really interested in our phones and you reach for them whenever they are in sight. You laugh loudly in your new swing and you like to be outside. You are sitting, crawling, and making the /b/ sound each day. I love you right up to the moon and back. 
                                                                                              Love, Mommy

Dear Mary Charlotte,
You are nine months today, bashful bunny, and we love you more with each day. I love the way you smile and duck your head when you greet someone. I love the way you smile and cackle when I sing your name. You love to reach for whatever bowl we are feeding you out of and many times you have gotten it! You can hang on to anything you grip and I hope you hold on to us that tightly for many years to come. You love to jump in your jumper seat and Clifford still remains your favorite toy. You love it when we sing the head and shoulders song. The part where we point and say, "knees and toes," is especially funny to you. You have started rolling to your belly to sleep and you aren't in the same spot we lay you down in. You are beginning to move around much more, but still like to sit up the best. You are "talking" a lot and seem so serious at trying to make just the right sounds. You like it when we echo your sounds. I love you right up to the moon and back.
                                                                                                  Love, Mommy

Elizabeth with tongue out. Mary Charlotte adding some fiber to her diet. 

Almost nap time, can you tell?

"Hmmm, let me see if I can erase this before she snaps another picture." says E. 

Hello Mary Charlotte!

Sweet cheeks!

Our bashful bunny, MC

                     

Gifts

Best birthday gifts ever!

 Counting my blessings this year, two in particular, that have made life so much sweeter. 

A clothes basket is multifunctional.

Some day this won't be so cute, Mary Charlotte. 

But it sure is today!

Elizabeth says, "I think I like this."

"Yes, I really do!"

"Wonder if this whole thing will fit in my mouth?" says Mary Charlotte.
"She just thinks the clothes basket is the cool toy!" 

Sunday Dresses

The Martha Stewart bug has apparently bitten and Elizabeth and Mary Charlotte are the beneficiaries. Anna Catherine and I made the girls pink minky dot ruffle pants last week (pics coming soon) and my mom made them sailor anchor dresses for the fall. Here are some pictures of the dresses Grandma Di made. Happy Sunday!

Elizabeth and Mary Charlotte in the dresses made by my mom
and the sweaters made by a friend of my Grandma Golda's.

Our two blessings!

Don't blink E, MC is showing her teeth!

Mary Charlotte says, "I'd rather look at the quilt squares than at that box again!"

Happy Fall Y'all!

I can't believe fall is already here! The leaves are changing in middle Tennessee and I was reminded several times during our weekend visit to Illinois that summer is behind us! Glad I packed overalls for the girls, it was the only thing I brought that covered their legs. It may be time to invest in more leggings and sweaters for them. We had a nice weekend catching up with my family. The girls got to see Uncle Darren, Aunt Denise, Uncle Terry, Grandpa and Grandma Pitts, and Grandma Golda. They also loved seeing their cousins, Davis and Denae. They were both so good with the littles and it was nice having some help entertaining them. 

This week we say "see you later" to Anna Catherine. She's been living with us for the past few weeks as she's taken a new job in Nashville. We've enjoyed having her here. She has helped with household chores, entertained babies, made yummy sweet tea and also helped  make ruffle pants for our girls. She's like our little sister and we are so thankful that she is only moving five minutes down the road.  AC, you can still come for supper!

Elizabeth and Mary Charlotte are both sitting up really well now and they love to play peek-a-boo. We also play the "Where is Elizabeth/Mary Charlotte game?" at least twenty times per day. They love pulling the blanket off of their heads and we love seeing the huge smiles that follow. Last week, I took the girls to a puppet show at the library, and upon seeing a puppet carrying a book, Elizabeth started saying, "Bible, Bible." Of course it didn't sound exactly like that, but I was shocked that she associated a book with what she's learning in nursery class at church.Those ladies have something figured out because I've been working hard on "Momma, Momma" to no avail! She loves making the "B" sound and we look forward to hearing more words very soon from her. We are still not crawling, but so close. I'm really not encouraging it at this point as I'm enjoying this baby phase so much! (And also I'm not sure what I'll do when I have two curious twins that are both mobile!) Mary Charlotte also loves to babble and  is content for a long time just sitting looking at toys and grabbing on to any neck fat, leg hair (Daddy's of course), or skin she can get her hands on! Never a dull moment and I'm so thankful for the two little blessings that make our home full of noises, cuddles, and of course pink! 

Happy Thursday from Nashville!

A Weekend in the Country

We had a wonderful weekend visiting Henderson. Jason performed a wedding ceremony this past weekend and the girls and I joined him so we could visit friends. The girls loved staying with Jerry and Ann in the country. Jerry aka "Poppy" gave the girls a mule ride. At first I thought he was talking about a live animal and was a little hesitant to try it out, but once I saw the mule, I knew the girls would love it. They weren't one bit afraid of the noise or bumps. They loved looking at the boat, tractor, trees, pond and being outside. When I taught kindergarten years ago in Henderson, Jerry would show up on a tractor or for centers anytime we needed him at school. His grandson, Bradley, was in my second kindergarten class and by the end of the first week of school Jerry was the adopted Poppy for our class. I think Bradley's classmates still call him that today. The girls also got to go over the river and through the woods to their first English cottage to see Mr. Mike and Mrs. Julia. We got lots of smiles and enjoyed seeing them again. We hope Elizabeth and Mary Charlotte someday will love Henderson and FHU as much as Mommy and Daddy!

Happy Monday from Nashville!

Julia with Mary Charlotte and Lona holding Elizabeth

Miss Julia with MC and E

Mommy and MC selfie on the mule

Daddy was a little jealous he missed out on the rides!

Mr. Jerry and Mary Charlotte

Ann with Elizabeth, Jerry with Mary Charlotte

Mommy and Elizabeth selfie on the mule

Mr. Jerry and Elizabeth