2 and 1/2 Years Old

I am not sure how it is possible for Miss Priss to already be 2 and 1/2 years old.  We have started to see the dreaded “terrible two’s” on some days, but on others she is as sweet and adorable as she can be.  Charley is extremely smart and has a vast vocabulary that blows me away and cracks me up all at the same time.  Her phrasing of sentences is so grown up.  I think one of my favorite things she says is, “what are we doing, else?” or “where are we going, else?”  She talks and sings NONSTOP and loves to entertain.  I love watching her, because it’s almost like you can see her little mind working and thinking about what she wants to do or say or sing next!

iPhoto shots from the last three months

Wilson County Fair

Charley has really thrown us for a loop lately and has kept us guessing on how she would handle different situations.  The Wilson County Fair is a great example.  After her not wanting to ride anything last year, we thought it would be a great idea for us to go with the Artley’s so she could have a riding buddy with Sam.   We had such a great time with Amma, Granddad, Josh, Rachel, Sam and Rachel’s parents, but Miss Priss really didn’t care if anyone rode with her!  She LOVED it!  She rode some rides with Sam, some with her Daddy, some with me, some by herself and even made a few new friends and rode with them.  We had to wait the longest in the smaller Ferris wheel line, per Charley’s request, and she even requested the big Ferris wheel but that line was ridiculously long.  The weather, rides, company and food was fantastic, but we made the mistake of going on Friday night…so we will most definitely be switching back to the week night crowd next year.  

After seeing Charley’s cooperation and excitement at the fair, I can hardly contain my excitement for our vacation and Disney trip in a few weeks!!!

Mount Juliet Church of Christ Preschool

Before Charley’s first birthday, it became quite clear that we would all benefit from her being in some type of Mother’s Day Out program or Preschool.  I called Mount Juliet Church of Christ to put her on a waiting list, because I had heard great things about their program and it was so close to home.  Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled when I got the call (a year plus after I initially put her on the list) that they had a spot for her this fall.  In preparation for her first big day we took her for a school tour, spent an hour at her teacher’s open house, got her adorable, PB Kids backpack and lunch box monogrammed, and labeled all of her school supplies.  I flew home the night before preschool from Denver in time to make sure everything was ready for her first day.  Not knowing what to expect, Charley woke up excited to start preschool.  We even had time for a photo shoot before Daddy, Amma and I took her to her very first day.  Much to our surprise, she was so excited and did great!  She went right in to her seat and didn’t shed one tear!  Things have continued to go extremely well.  On the second week of school she said, “All of those boys in my class cried…the girls did, too.”  I asked her if she cried, and she said, “No, I’m a big girl!”  At this very second I am praying for time to slow down, because she is getting to be such a big girl!  

Daddy’s Birthday Weekend

Craig’s birthday weekend was spent doing some of this favorite things in Kentucky!  We went to Catfish Kitchen, took Charley to play putt-putt for the first time, dinner at Texas Roadhouse and DQ Oreo Blizzard ice cream cake!  After Granddad Mike surprised him with his very first .22 riffle, he said it was the best birthday of his life!  Charley managed to come across practically-impossible-to-get-your-hands-on ammo for her Daddy’s birthday present, so Saturday afternoon was filled with target practice.  Our travel schedules had been pretty crazy over the summer, so it was definitely great to have a relaxing weekend in Kentucky!

Cousin’s Fun 2013 – Kobey Style

Between everyone’s crazy schedules, the summer was practically over when we worked out a modified version of Cousin’s Fun Week!  Kobey has said for years that he was going to come stay with us all by himself.  So since we couldn’t find a time that worked for everyone, near the end of July Kobey finally got to spend not one night but two in Tennessee!  We hit some of our favorite spots including Chuy’s, Target, and the pool, but I had an extra special afternoon planned at Sky High Jump Zone for just Kobey and me.  Charley was practically attached at his hip, and he was so sweet to her!  They played great together and even shared some candy!  We sure did miss Emily and Laney, but thoroughly enjoyed our special time with Kobey!  

Just a little SEC rivalry between households!

Swimming Lessons

What a difference a year makes when it comes to swimming lessons!  Charley went two weeks this year, and she was amazing!  I couldn’t be happier with Brendan Sweetman Swimmers and am a firm believer that she could save her life if she fell into water.  I plan to take her every year until she “graduates” from the program!  This summer she mastered rolling onto her back, didn’t cry one time the second week of classes and starting learning to blow bubbles to swim....and taking her to the pool post lessons has been so much fun...practically a different child!  A big special thanks goes to Amma for being able to take her to most of the classes this summer...and another exciting milestone was being invited in to watch for the last week!

Just to confirm that she is learning something, Charley’s baby doll’s, stuffed animals, and bath toys have all been to Charley’s Swimming Lessons!  In a firm voice I hear, “head back...arms out...legs straight...belly up...don’t kick!”  It is so cute to watch her “teaching” everyone how to swim.  My favorite night was in the bath and her little squirt toy had just finished a floating lesson and Charley lifted her out of the water and looked her right in the face and said, “I’m just so proud of you!”  I’d say that pretty much sums up the way we feel about Charley and the pool this year, “I’m just so proud of you, baby girl!"