Charlotte is 10 months old!!..... and other stuff...

Way late.. My birthday. George baked and frosted the cake all by himself! It was an awesome birthday!Charlotte's bubble hair.
Standing for the first time.

We took some pictures with the neighbor's camera a couple weeks ago. I found a semi good editing program online, but really want to save for a nice photo editor. Anyway, here they are!
She LOVES this baby!! (Thanks Eliza!)

Charlotte was sick of being outside..... so was I.


Charlotte's Can-Do's

-standing

-beginning to cruise around furniture

- crawling EVERYWHERE and super speedy!

-mimicking us

-folds her hands when we pray before bed (stinkin' cute!!)

- eating all solid foods, cut up nice on her high chair tray

- loves to be outside

- loves to have her back scratched. She stares off into space the whole time you do it :)

- is content to watch Baby Beethoven and Baby Mozart for hours

- very fidgety in church, she wants to be crawling and hates sitting still for 3 hours

- wearing size 4 diapers still, but in 12 month clothes

- loves buttons and zippers.... and shoes..... and cords..... and lint...... and hair..... gag

-has ONE cute little snaggle tooth

- taking 2 naps a day (finally back on a real schedule!)

---- That's about all I can think of.

Our Family's Update

-George is still in school and totally loves it. It's so nice to see him so excited and happy about his future career.

-George also got a job at Carmax for the time he is in school. It's a light class load and no take home work or projects, so a job is easy and they are willing to work around his schedule (yay for income!!!)

- I got called as the Primary Chorister in our ward!! I am so excited and can't wait for my first week. I think this will be the best calling so far!

- The weather is finally getting better here. It's been cooler the past couple days, but at least it's in the 50-60 range and sunny outside most of the time. I finally know spring!

--- That's all folks. Leave comments to validate me :)

I'll post more pics and a couple videos soon!!!!

Mommy Makeover 2010

I am doing a "Biggest Loser" type blog/contest. It'll be so much fun! Before I give major details and rules, etc. I'd like to get a number of how many women would be interested. Let me know if you are!!

A new me.

Well, I have decided to make myself healthier. I watched an amazing and super informational movie called Food Inc. It ruined my life.... actually, no. It totally changed my life and has changed the way I will eat FOREVER! I found a natural foods market here in town that sells chickens that are farm raised here in Tulsa and then are brought to this store and frozen. They are only about $3.50 per whole chicken. So I am going to cook them each in the crock-pot without any seasonings, shred them up in 1lb portions and then freeze the cooked meat. As for beef, there is a farm about 40 mins away that sells fresh and frozen beef that is already portioned out into roasts, steaks and ground beef. I will NEVER, EVER buy meat from a regular grocery store again. I am also only buying in season produce. In April, the Cherry Street Farmers Market opens and I will only be buying my produce there. It will actually be cheaper to get my meat and produce this way because there are no shipping costs. And it makes me feel good. I feel like I am helping the farmers here stay in business. I feel like I am supporting them. For my birthday George got me a bread-maker. I will be baking my own bread once or twice a week. This will save us money on bread and will be better for our bodies.

For the exercising part of me, I am running outside by the river, doing the Tony Horton 10 min Trainer, Wii Fit and an exercise ball routine. I love it. So far I have gone a week straight of working out at least 30 mins everyday. I feel so good already. I feel like I have more energy. I feel like I am sleeping better. I feel happier and less irritable. I've been eating better and journaling my food for The Ladies Olympic Challenge and although I feel kind of hungry at night, I know I am doing something good for ME. MY body feels better, which makes ME a happier wife and mother.

I am so excited about this new way of life. I have let myself go and this is me starting over and becoming a new woman. FOR ME!!!

Home Sweet Home!

Well, we're here and settled in. George left on Saturday the 2nd with our good friend, Josh Edwards to make the LONG drive to Tulsa, OK. They were able to make it completely safe and sound and in 2 days. Charlotte and I arrived on Monday the 4th, by plane :) We were not about to make that long drive with an 8 month old. She did so well on our first flight. It wasn't full so we had the whole row to ourselves. She slept and talked to everyone. It was cute. Second flight she was SOO tired and the flight was completely packed. We got shoved all the way back.... in the second to last row.... window seat... by a 12 year old that was TOTALLY in love with her :) She cried and cried for the last 45 mins or so. Then RIGHT as the plane was landing, she finally fell asleep on my shoulder. Stinker. George came and picked us up at the airport and took us to our humble abode.... oh wait, scratch that. He took us to our fancy hotel..... nope. I had pre booked us the cheapest hotel for a couple days, and it was DEFINITELY cheap. We were a little scared that the owners were terrorists :) jkjk

I was immediately in love with this city. It's the perfect size. It's large enough to feel like I'm in a big city, but small enough to feel cozy. I love that there are a TON of trees here. In the spring the city is going to be so beautiful! OH, and the fall, with all the leaves changing colors! I'm so excited to be in a place with seasons!

My amazing sister in law found us the wonderful apartment we are now happily moved into. She rocks. It is right next door to the Arkansas River! Cool huh!? Our home is also about 10 minutes away from the campus George will be attending. The school is wonderful. It looks really nice and he's so excited about the next two years of school!

We have absolutely WONDERFUL neighbors.... so far :) By day 4 of being moved in, everyone in our building has introduced themselves to us. Super nice. Our upstairs neighbors have a little almost 2 year old. They are a cute family and I think we'll end up being good friends.

We went to our new ward today and were very pleased with how friendly everyone was to us. And, small world, one of the women in Relief Society actually grew up in my hometown, Roosevelt, UT. She went to HS with my aunt and her dad was my mom's 4th grade teacher.... HAHA! Awesome.

Charlotte has been sick for the past 3 days. Her cough seems to be getting worse, and I'm sure it's just a cold. No fever or anything. But she can't sleep because she keeps coughing. And I think I'm getting it too. My head feels like it's tripled in size in the past hour... not good. Oh well.

Well, here's a bunch of pictures from the last week. Courtesy of Ferlayna. I still can't find my camera :(

Downtown Tulsa. Pretty buildings!


Ha ha, this sign was awesome. We are totally in the Bible Belt here, so there are a million gospel radio stations and every church you can think of!

One of the display planes at the TCC Tech Center, where George will go to school.



Charlotte last night on our car ride. She was FREEZING! But FINALLY was able to sleep since she was sitting upright and could actually breathe. Poor thing :(

The Burger King that has free Wi-Fi that we used so we weren't stealing it from our neighbors :)
The Arkansas River.On our moving day. George heading out :(
Getting the truck all set.We were sad to leave. I was sad to be without my hubby for a couple days.
George's mom was so sad!
Edwards. He's the man. He drove all the way with George so we could get both cars here.
Sad mom :(
That's all for now, until I find my camera. Miss and Love you all!!!

7 months

Charlotte is now 7 months old. So crazy. There aren't a whole lot of new things she's doing.. She can sit up all by herself, she can roll all over the place, she gets SO excited when people talk to her, she can put her binky in her mouth all be herself. She can say "da-da", "na-na" and "ne-ne". Random, but I'll take it :) She has started throwing tantrums if a toy gets taken away from her, not ok! She crawls on her back. That's right. She lies on her back and arches her back and pushes her knees backwards. She's so weird! I love it though. She's still not eating a ton of solids. SHe gets bored about halfway through a jar. But believe me she's not starving! :) I don't have any pictures right now. I'm a slacker mom. When we moved in with George's family I lost the camera. So we'll have no pictorial records of Charlotte for 2 months :(
We move to Oklahoma at the beginning of January. George leaves with the truck and our cars on Jan. 2nd and Charlotte and I fly out on the 4th. We can't wait to be there and start our new life. We also can't wait to have our own space again! George's family has been so very kind to us. I especially feel so grateful for them. I'm not even their real daughter and they sincerely make me feel like I am. I love them so much.
I love MY family so much too. I look at my little brothers and sisters and it almost makes me cry. They are getting so grown up and doing so many things!! I love them.
I love my friends here in Vegas. I am so sad that it could quite possible be years before I see some of them again. Also, I might not EVER see some again! This emotion needs a name. Sad to leave but excited at the same time. Bitter-sweet is a boring and overused term I think.
Anyway, hopefully next time I'll have pictures!

2 YEARS!!

Well yesterday was our 2 year anniversary. It was a fun night together! George's sister, Ferlayna, babysat for us so we could go out. Our friends had given us some free tickets for the Stratosphere buffet and tower admission. So we went there first. After we ate and were up in the tower looking over the city, we both got kind of sad. This city has so many memories for us and we are going to miss it so much. :( After that we went and saw New Moon. Yes, my husband is amazing and actually WANTED to see it with me! Love him! The movie was fantastic and so way better than the first. I felt like this one followed the book so much more. Loved it! After the movie we went to the Cheesecake Factory and got some cheesecake to take home. We still haven't eaten it, but we will tonight I think. George got me a BEAUTIFUL red coat for winter and I made a book for him. It was so nice to be out for a long time together and reflect on the past 2 wonderful years and look forward to eternity together.

So grateful for him and for our forever family together :)

Almost 6 Months Old!!!

Utah trip pictures :)

And Halloween :) Cute little pea pod. George said if you take the peas off she would be Reptar!

Well, I can't even believe how fast these 6 months have gone by. We have been soo busy and crazy. Here are some things that Charlotte is doing...

-occasionally rolling from back to tummy

- eating peas, rice cereal with apple juice, bananas, sweet potatoes, squash and her favorite CARROTS

- loving bath time! She get so excited when we turn on the water and just start undressing her. When she gets in the water she kicks and splashes like crazy!

- sucking on her toes. Sometimes all 10 of 'em if she can!

- screaming in a really high pitched voice, kind of through her nose. She just does it when she's happy and just babbling, but her nostrils flare when she does it. It's hysterical!

- grabbing small objects

- sleeping from about 7:30 or 8 until 6:30 or 7

-taking two or three 1 1/2 to 2 hour naps

- trying to sit up. She's got pretty good balance until she turns her head one way, then she falls over. :) She'll also be lying down on her back and to see what's going on she'll lift up her head and legs in some sort of pilates pose and hold it forever just to see us all.

- she likes people. Anytime people look at her or talk to her she gets a huge smile and giggles at them.

- every time I open the car door to get her out, she smiles at me and chuckles 3 or 4 times. It's never a laugh out loud, just a way of saying, "Oh, MOM! Ha ha ha, you came to get me, how nice." It cracks me up everytime.

- when she gets fussy, sometimes the only thing that calms her down is having daddy sing "Hush Little Baby" over and over. If I sing it, she keeps wailing. Only daddy can sing this song.

-her favorite fun playtime song is "Willaby Wallaby Wee"

- she loves things that make noise. She also just discovered the piano and loves to pound on it when I sit with her.

- her toes are always pointed. She looks like a little ballerina :)

- she is still bald :(

- she rubs her eyes when she gets sleepy. Love it!

Well, that's all I can really think of. We love our baby girl and are so grateful to have her be a part of our family. She brings us so much joy and happiness. Every night when we put her to bed, we get all mushy and teary and just stare at our beautiful little girl. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father trusted me enough to be a mother to one of His children.

We love you Charlotte!

Random fun

We went to Krispy Kreme's with my family and Grandparents (it's tradition). Here's my dad holding Charlotte. Look how much she's grown since this picture!?

George eating yummy doughnuts!

Charlotte was pooped :)

Trying to eat the camera.

Sweet girl.

Lovey Great Grandma Jex.

Great Grandpa Jex.

Cute Grandma.

Charlotte drools.

A lot :)

Fun at the Park!

At our ward picnic on Friday night, Amanda and I decided to put the girls in the swing together. They loved it! We had 'em both giggling! Here's some shots I got.

No Charlotte!!!! Don't suck on that!!! I'm such a bad mom! :)
Cute daddy!

And we walked in to check on her the other night and found her like this. She loves this bear. We got it in Oregon from Ben's dad. THANKS!!