Brian and Kara's Blog: Spring and Easter 2011

Well, as usual, time is flying by and I'm not keeping up with the blog. I think the more children you have, time seems to go by even faster! We've been doing really well and have gotten into good routine around here. Reagan has become very good at "napping-on-the-go", so we just have to pray that this will continue! :) It's been nice because Charleigh and I have still been able to get out and about. I have been able to get Charleigh and Reagan down at the same time for a good afternoon nap, which is how I've kept some sort of sanity! :) Reagan has been smiling and coo-ing for several weeks now, and for about a week and a half she's been initiating smiles and talking "sessions", rather than just smiling and talking in response to Brian and me. I also witnessed Reagan smile at Charleigh for the first time a few days ago and that made Charleigh's day!

Not only has Reagan adjusted really well, Charleigh has, too. To say she's a good big sister is an understatement. She LOVES "Baby Bah-bak" (Baby Reagan) and is always so affectionate with her. Charleigh comments on whether or not Reagan is happy or sad, attempts to give Reagan her pacifier when she's sad, and shares even her favorite toys with Reagan. As I've mentioned in previous posts, Charleigh is a very happy little girl. She's growing up so fast...it's hard to believe we'll be celebrating her 2nd birthday in a little over a month! She's learning new words everyday, and it's amazing to watch her learn to communicate better and better each day. Brian and I are always amazed at how much she understands, repeats, and tells us. Charleigh loves her baby dolls, and recently Grandma (Markle) took her to get an outfit for "Baby Doll" (that's baby doll's name...creative, huh?!?), and then a few more outfits were acquired from Great Aunt Becky and Aunt Meg. One of Brian's and my favorite things that Charleigh is saying right now is "Baby Doll's monk jam-jams on" (Baby Doll's monkey pajamas on). So precious! Another one of our favorite words she says is vitamin, coming out sounding like "dum dum". We've heard her say it for weeks now, but the other morning Brian just died laughing and said, "We've gotta get this stuff on video!" Charleigh keeps us laughing!

One morning Charleigh wanted to hold Reagan and then she proceeded to share "Baby Doll" with her...that's a BIG deal...noone can take "Baby Doll" from Charleigh! Reagan, you are VERY loved!

Reagan getting some tummy time...love Charleigh in the background in focus

We've started to ask Charleigh to smile for the camera, and this is the silly face we get! Hysterical! Anyone know a good orthodontist?

Another silly picture

Reagan's first smile on camera...love those chubby cheeks!

Love this picture!

It was just the girls and me for Easter weekend. We've all been battling a terrible cold and cough, and Brian beat it in time to go to Lexington to visit with the Taylor's and meet Aunt Kari and Uncle Dale's new little girl, Caitlin. We spent Easter morning at home going through the baskets that the Easter Bunny left the girls and then went to Aunt Meg and Uncle Jeff's house for brunch and an egg hunt. Charleigh had so much fun running around, picking up eggs, and putting them in her basket. I laughed several times watching her run past several eggs in plain sight just to get to an egg that she had her eye on. Brian got home in time to play with us outside after naptime, and we had a nice family meal together! Perfect weekend!

The Easter Bunny visited the girls

Charleigh sporting her new princess necklace with Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) on it and "putting on" her chapstick

Gonna be best friends!

Love those cheeks!

After pulling out all of the Easter Bunny goodies, Charleigh decided to take Buzz (Lightyear) for a ride in the basket, along with EVERYTHING else that could possibly fit!

I asked Charleigh to smile for the camera and this is what I got. So, I proceeded to show her this picture on the camera (gotta love digital cameras!) and told her she looked sad. So, I asked her to show me her happy face, and I got...

a very silly little girl! :)

Carrying Reagan's AND her basket

"He go, Baby Bah-bak!" (Here you go, Baby Reagan!)

Looks like Reagan's happy to have her basket, huh?!?

On the hunt for eggs

She found this green one in the tree, ...

reached up for it, ...

and it fell. She put it in her basket and turned back to the SAME tree ...

What? No more? Does she think eggs grow on trees?!? :)

This was my favorite from the day...she had dropped this egg on the ground before it made it in the basket, and all of the jelly beans fell out. Charleigh carefully put each jelly bean back in the egg one-by-one and closed the egg before placing it carefully in her basket! So sweet!