Momma and Daddy in Chicago and Charley in Kentucky

This past weekend was like a second honeymoon for me and Craig!  We spent a long weekend in Chicago, just the two of us, and had a great time.  We saw the Beauty and the Beast play, attended a Cub's game at Wrigley field, shopped, walked around Navy Pier, ate Garrett's popcorn, and slept until 11 every day!  I have always been a shopper, but I never knew how much joy I would have shopping for my baby.  Craig and I went straight to the baby section in all the stores.  I think we would have bought all of Chicago for her, but we ended up with a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse book, stuffed Mickey and Minnie, a Juicy Couture fall outfit, some "knock-about" outfits for now, and great bargains at Bloomingdales for next summer.  We even went into the American Girl store to get prepared for what's to come in our future!

Beauty and the Beast was AMAZING!  Of course, we kept saying how we will have to take Charley when she is bigger.

Watching the Chicago Cub's at Wrigley Field

Knowing that Charley was with her Gramma and Granddad made our trip so much better!  We didn't have to worry about her, because she was in great hands!  We were constantly checking our phones to see if they had sent any new pictures.  Here are a few that they sent!

Playing on her zoo mat looking like a big girl.

Well, Granddad said that every time he spit in his spit cup, Charley would look at him.  So he decided she needed her own spit cup...awesome...he said she played with that cup for 15 minutes and really liked it!

Obviously she had been with her Granddad...notice the Mike Frizzell scowl!

Being a big girl by holding her own bottle!

Bath time on her last day in Kentucky!

The Cutest Shopper at Market

She may not be Fifty, but she is definitely Fabulous.  Charley and I went with Gramma and Carole to the July Market in Atlanta to get new stuff for their Fifty and Fabulous booth in Benton.  I honestly thought my Market days were over for a while, but Carole noticed a tiny ad in the newest market book with a man carrying his baby in a Babybjorn.  Apparently the new rule allows babies under the age of 1, as long as they are in a Babybjorn...NO strollers.  We didn't know if we were brave or stupid for taking a 4 month old to such an exhausting occasion, but she was so good!  Charley was hands down the cutest shopper at Market!  She definitely attracted a crowd being one of four babies that we saw the whole day.

Charley even wore her own badge

She had to take a little cat nap.

One of the benefits of Market is finding the showroom or booth with the best snack or treat!  I just so happened to notice a table with cupcakes, which ended up being for an author doing a book signing for her newest children's book.  She loved being able to sign a book for Charley and take a picture with her.  

Momma and Charley with Joy Allen, author of Princess Palooza

Tervis Tumblers are a personal favorite in our house, which made it appropriate for us to visit the Tervis Tumbler showroom.  We all enjoyed their yummy snacks, a mini slushy, and a photo op with Mr. Tervis Tumbler himself!

How sweet...Charley and Mr. Tervis Tumbler holding hands!

Gramma and Carole with Mr. Tervis Tumbler

We pretty much closed Market down by leaving at 7:30.  Charley definitely shopped until she dropped!

Charley's Baby Cousins

Memorial Day is pretty memorable in our family this year because of the birth of Charley's newest cousins: Lily Grace and Parker Wyatt Edwards.  Born at 32 weeks, Lily was 4 pounds, 1 ounce and 16 3/4 inches long and Parker was 3 pounds, 7 ounces and 15 1/2 inches long.  We have seen first-hand God's blessings over the twins since their birth.  Both babies stayed in the NICU for a few weeks, Parker was in Paducah at Western Baptist and Lily was flown to Kosairs Children Hospital in Louisville.  Despite their rocky start in the world, they are both now home with their proud Momma and Daddy.  We actually got to visit them while we were home for the 4th of July.  When they get stronger, Charley will get to meet her new buddies!  (How fun is Christmas going to be with 3 babies so close in age????  Can't wait!)

We are so happy for you, Jason and Tracey, and so thankful for these precious babies!  We love you guys!

4 Month Photo Session

This last month has been full of new experiences with Charley!  For starters, she no longer has to sleep in the car seat..YEAH!!!  She spent a couple of days in Kentucky and on her first night there, Gramma text me saying she had rolled over for the first time.  I was so sad that I missed it, but she did it a few more times throughout the month from her back to belly...which her doc said was the hardest way.  She also found her feet...which is absolutely precious to see her sitting in her little chair holding her feet out.  She can identify voices and follows you when you are walking around her.  At the end of the month she started sticking her thumb in her mouth and sucking it.  And her biggest "trick" is motor-boating or blowing bubbles...a special thanks to her Granddaddy for that one!  She loves it.  She pretty much rotates between motor-boating and squealing.  She had a great 4 month exam.  She had shots and did so good with them.  She weighed 14 pounds, 3 ounces and was 25 inches long...between the 65-70 percentile for both.  We start cereal and a little baby food this month, so I am sure I will have plenty to blog about!

Happy 4th of July

One of our biggest family traditions is Granddaddy Charlie's 4th of July fish fry!  I think I have been every year since I was born, with the exception of maybe one or two summers when I worked at Belew's!  It is such a great time when lots of extended family and friends get together for yummy food, tons of dessert, photo ops and lots of catching up on each other's lives!  This year seemed extra special with over 35 people , and it was Charley's first 4th of July!

1st and 4th Generations of Ann's...Ann and Charley Ann!

4 Generations of Ann's...Aunt Ann, Karen Ann, Jessica Ann and Charley Ann

Emily and Charley (Laney was asleep, which is how we finally got a picture!)

Momma and Charley

Emily and Jess

Huggin' on my Granny Katherine

Laney saying, "Cheese!" (in her second outfit of the day...adorable back-up!)

Daddy and Charley (LOVE this picture!)

The Girls!  Natalie, Karen, Jess and Emily

Great Grandkids...one of about 50 shots!

Yates Family

Robinson Family

Somebody was had too much fun!!!

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Granddaddy Charlie or Granny Martha...luckily, I think its only appropriate to mention July 4, 2010!

After everyone went home last year, we told Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie that next year we would have a new baby at the picnic...their reaction wasn't quite what I expected.  Well, Granddad-super excited, but Granny Martha (and I'm quoting word for word, "well great, what about your new job!") took a little while to warm up to the idea!  I guess she thought I couldn't work and be a Momma???  Who knows!  Now, she is probably one of the proudest Great-Grandmothers I have ever seen!  (And, of course, Granddaddy Charlie is too...one of the proudest Great-Granddads!)

Granny Martha-July 4, 2010 (after she got excited!)

Granddaddy Charlie-July 4, 2010 (already excited!)

Shopping, Pool, and Zoo Fun with Cousins

We have been trying to plan a time all summer for Emily to bring Kobey and Laney to visit us in Mt Juliet, and last week worked out perfectly...except for it went by way too quickly!!!  (*Mental note: 2 days was not enough time for all the fun we had planned!)  There was never a dull moment, and I am going to try to remember as many of the hilarious things Kobey said as I can. We started their visit with lunch at Chuy's (our signature restaurant) followed by shopping.  You would think with the ratio of one adult per child we would do pretty good, needless to say, we still had our hands full!  At Chuy's, Kobey ordered 2 straws from the waitress, because he needed drum sticks!  Not a bad idea considering they were pretty much silent compared to Laney's adorable squeal/scream.

Kobey with the new, Cars 2 surprise I had waiting in my purse

Momma and Charley (Photo by Kobey)

Shopping with three kids was pretty comical!  When we were in Belk, Kobey told the cashier she had big....earrings!  (Emily and I almost had a heart attack wondering what he was going to say...thankfully it was earrings!)  He also told the ladies at Dillard's they were "stinker pots" (which I am pretty sure he heard us calling Charley.)  Kobey's favorite "line" from their visit was to come over to me and give me a hug and say "Love You!"  He said it so many times that he finally said, "these people are gonna think we're married!"  Aunt Karen bought him a car and asked for a kiss.  I told him it was OK to give my kisses away, but he said he was afraid she had bad breath!  (haha-that one still cracks me up!)  Overall, despite the minor melt downs, snack breaks, diaper changes, stroller re-arranging and laughs, we managed to have an extremely successful shopping trip.  I am pretty sure we left the mall with goodies for everyone.  I think Emily was amazed by mine and Mom's shopping skills! (And, yes, shopping is a skill!)  We topped our first day off with our other signature treat, Sweet CeCe's, which was another big hit all around!

Kobey filled his cup with Fruity Pebbles and Sprinkles

Laney insisted on feeding herself, hence the mess!

Day two started pretty normal at the Robinson household with Charley's favorite show...Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!  She LOVES it, and it was so cute to see her watching it with Kobey.

Someone found her toes this week!!!

We spent a few hours up at the pool, which was so much fun!  Charley played for a little while, then took a nap while Kobey and Laney played in the kiddie pool and splash pool with the mushroom waterfall and slide.  Emily and Mom took turns catching Kobey as he came down the slide.  Kobey was having so much fun swimming in the big pool with Aunt Karen that he got a little upset with us when it was time to leave.  (Just another reason for them to come back!)

Charley's new swimsuit from Gramma and Laney's new swimsuit from our shopping trip

Kobey on the big slide

The cousins minus Aunt Karen

Laney looks so cute playing in the water

The only time topless is appropriate :)

Aunt Karen with Laney

When we thought we couldn't possibly have any more fun in such a short amount of time, we fit in a trip to the Nashville Zoo.  It was everyone's first trip to that zoo, and we all enjoyed seeing the different animals.  Next time we will plan to spend longer so we can see everything, but Kobey was so cute to watch on the train and merry-go-round!  

Charley NEVER puts her head down and falls asleep...all the fun wore her out!

Gramma, Momma and Charley at the zoo!

Emily and Kobey in front of the tiger!

Charley smiling big for her Gramma

A perfect ending to a great time with family!!!!

I am so thankful for the relationship that I have been able to build with Emily and love how close we are getting!  We have so many adventures ahead of us since the kiddos are so close in age...and since Kobey and I are "Best Buddies!"  Can't wait for what's next!!!!