Sunday, December 30, 2012

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE AND JACOB....


At 12:04 a.m. and 12:08 a.m. on December 30, 2010 our world as we knew it changed forever. Charlotte and Jacob had arrived seven weeks early and only weighed 3 lbs 15 oz and 3 lbs 5 oz. Despite their early arrival we were so excited to meet them and welcome them to our family!

Today our tiny bundles of joy are two...yes TWO. It is so incredibly hard to believe how quickly these past two years have flown by and how much has changed. We have watched them go from being two tiny helpless babies to two amazing little people. Charlotte is definitely the more stubborn of the two! They are both caring, affectionate and enthusiastic individuals who love playing with their toys, reading books, going outside and being older siblings to their little brother Oliver. 

Their vocabulary has grown leaps and bounds over the past few months. They are both putting two and three words together now, have an incredible understanding of what we say to them and can carry on a "conversation" with each other! Both can pronounce each others names, sing parts of songs - including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Happy Birthday and Frosty the Snowman" and end lines unprompted in certain nursery rhymes including Humpty Dumpty. They spend endless amounts of time walking their toy stroller and grocery cart back and forth  on the main floor of our house and love spending time with Claire (our nanny) during the week. They have lots of little friends they hang out with including Wesley, Ethan, Ali, Mia and Jayden. They spend time at the Central Eglinton Community Centre attending music programs and playtime and love going to the library for their story time program. They love to eat and don't really have an aversion to any food we've introduced. At times Jacob can be more picky than Charlotte choosing not to eat dinner or only small bites of lunch but all in all we can't complain when it comes to their eating. They love bath time especially when bubbles are involved. They have gotten better at being in their car seats in the car. They used to fuss shortly after our car adventures began but now they enjoy looking out the window and chatting with us from the back seat. They absolutely love music and dancing and are always up for "entertaining". 

We are so blessed to have Charlotte and Jacob in our lives. Not a day goes by when I don't stop and think about how tiny and vulnerable they were when they were born. I find myself looking at whatever it is they are doing at that particular moment and am in awe at how much they've accomplished in such a short amount of time. I also feel fortunate to be home with them at this time of growth since I'm currently on maternity leave following Oliver's arrival in October. What an amazing gift I've been given to spend this special time with each of them!

Today has already been filled with lots of excitement and it's only 9 a.m. The kids have come down to see the main floor decorated with balloons, a happy birthday table cloth on the table and sign on the window and number two candles ready and waiting for them to blow out later today. At 4 p.m. we will be welcoming family and friends to help us toast Charlotte and Jacob and all their accomplishments to date! 

We can't wait to celebrate today and long into the future with Charlotte and Jacob! 


Charlotte and Jacob's presents waiting for them on the table
A birthday hug 
So excited to be two! 
Five days after Christmas and Charlotte and Jacob are opening presents again...yay for a birthday in December!
So this is what turning two looks like...
Siblings celebrating together

Grammy and Jacob 
Snuggles for Oliver - thanks Aunt Kelley and Jal

Our family...hard to believe how much has changed in two short years

Birthday cupcakes
Aunt Kelley and Charlotte
Jacob and his cupcake 
Charlotte and her cupcake
Enjoying the eating part much more than the candle blowing part

I guess this is what Jacob would look like if he grew a moustache ;)

Oliver with his cousins Kieran and Quinn









Saturday, December 29, 2012

CHARLOTTE'S FIRST HAIR CUT...

We took Charlotte to get her first hair cut today. We tried to go on Boxing Day but Crazy Cuts was closed, we tried again on the 27th and 28th but it was still closed this time due to staff illness. But today we were in luck...they were open...so away we went! 

Charlotte chose to have her hair cut in the pink "princess" car instead of in the Thomas Tank or Fire Engine chairs. I'm trying very hard to avoid the whole princess scene so we told her that she was in a lovely pink car with ladies...I think she bought it ;) 

At first she was unsure of what was going to happen but quickly warmed up to the idea of getting her hair cut. Since she didn't have a ton of hair to cut we asked the lady to leave the front of her hair in tact and only trim the back but not too much because we wanted to maintain her wispy curls. The whole process took about 10 minutes. 

I'm not sure Charlotte really notices anything different but today was a fun milestone for us given that tomorrow is her 2nd birthday. She sure has come along way from the bald head she arrived with two years ago! 

Before....
Getting used to the pink car with the "ladies"
Hard at work trimming and cleaning up the ends 
Almost done...looking much neater in the back
Sitting oh so still...such a big girl! 




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

CHRISTMAS 2012...

Christmas 2012 is officially in the books but not before leaving a very memorable mark. We had a great day filled with family, fun and food. 

We started the day at our house and ended it at my mom's place. We also enjoyed a visit with Grandpa, Grams, GG and Aunt Jally here after the kids woke from their nap. 

Although Charlotte and Jacob didn't understand the full meaning of Christmas they certainly understood how to open their many presents! Oliver also enjoyed his first Christmas!  

It was great watching the magic of Christmas come alive through the kids eyes.

We must have been on Santa's "nice" list this year! 
Oliver's first stocking
Jacob and his stocking
Charlotte and her stocking
Opening their joint gift from Santa - a frog pod to store their tub toys! 
Their individual gifts from Santa - Leapfrog computers

Visit with Grams
Charlotte opening GG's gift - a bedtime bunny!
Grandpa and Charlotte look at her new aquadoodle from Grandpa and Grams

Aquadoodles for everyone! Well Charlotte and Jacob at least 
Charlotte helping Grams open a present 
Snuggle time for Oliver with GG 
A quiet moment with Grandpa
Aunt Jally and Oliver bond over a bottle
Look at all the stuff under Grammy's tree...
Group shot - Me, Grammy, Doyle, Oliver,
Uncle Mike, Uncle Andrew, Jacob and Charlotte
Charlotte and Jacob watch Uncle Mike open his gift from them 
Let the "eat off" begin....

Post stocking fun...
Charlotte and Jacob helping Grammy open her gift from them



Monday, December 24, 2012

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS....

It's hard to believe it is Christmas Eve....so exciting!!! 

We have spent a lot of time the last few days talking about Christmas / Santa with Charlotte and Jacob. Although they don't totally understand what awaits them tomorrow they certainly know who the "characters" of Christmas are - especially Frosty, Rudolf and Santa. 

We are very much looking forward to seeing their faces tomorrow and sharing the day with them. We have lots to look forward to including a visit with Grams, Grandpa, Aunt Jally and GG and dinner at Grammy's (my mom's) with Uncle Mike and Uncle Andrew. 

Until then...Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Charlotte, Oliver and Jacob in in their Christmas jammies

Merry 1st Christmas Oliver



Saturday, December 22, 2012

LET IT SNOW...LET IT SNOW...LET IT SNOW...

Today we woke up to snow on the ground. It was a pretty exciting morning in our house given the fact that Charlotte and Jacob don't remember winter last year so this essentially is their "first" winter. They were pretty interested in the white stuff on the ground. Both kept screaming "SNOW SNOW" while looking out the doors into the backyard. 

We have spent a lot of time talking to them about snow over the past few weeks. We told them that when it snows they have to wear their hats, mitts and boots - but they were excited to wear those even without the snow on the ground. After seeing the snow through the windows they kept saying "need hats, boots and mitts....need hats, boots and mitts"

I thought this was also the perfect opportunity to introduce them to their "snow suits" since they wouldn't remember wearing those last year either. They love them and couldn't wait to put them on. 

Once outside they were intrigued with the snow but were not scared. They enjoyed walking through it and sweeping it from the patio in the backyard. We will venture to shovels eventually - baby steps into winter please....

Excited to be outside in the snow

Let's sweep...

Taking a break...sweeping is hard work

Great work J-man

Friday, December 21, 2012

CHARLOTTE AND JACOB'S CHRISTMAS PARTY AND EARLY BIRTHDAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS

Today we hosted six of Charlotte and Jacob's friends and their nannies to celebrate Christmas and sing Happy Birthday "a little early" to C and J. It was a great morning filled with a big play in the basement, Christmas music and lots of eating. Each of the kids also went home with an ornament for their tree. 

Charlotte and Jacob weren't quite sure what to do when their cupcake and candle were placed in front of them but they quickly figured out that it was all good once they dipped into the icing and ate the cake! 

We can't wait for more celebrations in the days ahead....

The table all decorated for the party


Charlotte and Jacob's friends and their nannies
Ali and Ethan
Jacob attempting to blow out his candle
Digging in....yum!
Claire and the kids