Photo Shoot and (more) Sickness

Maybe some day soon my children will decide not to be sick every single week! Ok so I know its not their fault they come in contact with nasty viruses and we can try to do everything possible to stop the spread of them but some times just some times it doesn't work. But lets rewind about 12 hours before the latest virus takes over Charlotte (well technically it was already there... ).

The Big Birthday Party is just over 8 weeks away which means the actual Birthday is even closer!! So it was time to snap some photos for the Birthday invitations. I knew I wanted a white chair for the photos mostly because I thought it would be the only way the girls would sit still or they would stand and bang on the chair... at a minimum I would get them being still for a few seconds. I searched every thrift store in our area and was unable to find a chair I was happy with- so I took one of our old kitchen chairs, had my husband shorten the legs, and remove two of the back rungs.. you know to give it an "old" look; I then painted it white. During the week before our session I worked on a few craft projects for the Birthday Party. Their super cute outfits were already picked out and ready to go and I decided at the last minute to add the tutus to the mix! We opted for early morning for the photos to help keep them cool. So Saturday morning rolled around and we packed the babies and all of our props in the van and headed to a nice spot I found in my neighborhood. And just as I thought they were so interested in the chair I couldn't even get the first photo of them sitting on the blanket so insert chair and I am so happy we had it because I love the result.

An important note- we kept trying to get Olivia to smile (Charlotte too) but she just wouldn't or she would only give a half smile. Trying to get two ten month olds to look at you at the same time and smile is not an easy task. Looking through the photos I realized just how much I loved them (even with the lack of smiles and not looking at the camera as the same time)- each one made me see their individual personalities. It also made me realize that "perfect" isn't always what we think it should be.

By the time we finished with the adorable skirts from Lovey Lake (Etsy shop here) and bows from Shelby Chic Boutique (here). It was starting to get warm(er) outside and I could tell the girls were about done. They don't last long during photo sessions regardless but being outside and the temperature rising didn't help! So into the TuTus we go... 

Gorgeous Bows from 5heartstrings  (instagram shop)

Insert (more) sickness here- Charlotte starts to get upset and starts to feel warm... please don't be sick again, please don't be sick again... well I tried. We captured a few more photos and packed the girls back into the car and headed for home...

Bows by 5heartstrings (instagram shop)

The whole rest of the day Charlotte was fussy with a fever and drooling like crazy. She wouldn't eat or drink or even take her paci. So I attributed all of to teething (she still has no teeth) and sore gums. She was up all night sleeping only in 20 - 30 minute spurts and this mama was tired. She also started crying every time she would swallow. As the morning came we noticed she had yet another rash starting on her back. I thought for sure she had strep so a call to the doctor was made, she didn't think it would be strep because of her age and we made an appointment for Monday. Meanwhile the rash continued to move over the rest of her body and spots began showing on her hands and feet and a few on her face. She started eating and drinking a little at a time and her fever was gone. 

Today we headed to the doctor and she looked her over and is fairly certain she has HFMD (Hand foot mouth disease) or virus similar to the one causing cold sores. She said it was too hard to tell for sure because the virus usually creates sores in the throat and she didn't have many and the all over rash is not as common with HFMD. Either way she is okay and her rash should clear up by the weekend. And I pray pray pray that my babies can be sick free!

Supper Club... you in??

What's a better way to spend time with friends and few (12) kids on a Saturday evening? Eating dinner on the patio, drinking yummy drinks, watching the few (12) kids play and run and scream... sounds like a memory maker to me! So we did just that! On the first Saturday in June four families aka friends got together for our first ever supper club! We all know each other mostly through our husbands that work together and the wives are of course friends... and a brother and sister thrown into the mix. What matters is not how we came together or how we became friends its how we enjoy those friendships.

Our first event was a great "kick off to summer" with a few (12) kids and some (8) Adults we ate homemade pizza and burgers. The kids played in the yard while the dads chased them and well were dads running after kids. The littlest "kids" the twins climbed on every adult that would stay seated and laughed and giggled for attention (which there was no shortage of). We finished our feast off with an amazing sundae bar and ummm hello waffle cone bowls... where have you been all my life!!

About the kids... the life of the party. As I mentioned there were a few (12) :) Ages ranging from 9 months to 10 years with the twins being the youngest all the other kids are very close in age some with only weeks separating their births... 6 boys and 6 girls even- The families consisted of 4 girls, 3 boys, 2 boys, and 2 girls/1 boy respectively.  They all get a long so well and these friendships are sure to last a life time.

So here's to many more supper clubs, kids running in the yard, and let's be real waffle cone bowls... and most importantly the memories and laughs we will share.

Yea the Waffle Cone Bowls!

A few of the kids :)

Hello the most awesome moms!

Dads being dads

Pretty much sums up this crowd!

One of the things I love about true friendships- is that when we all come together its like a big family we ALL want to be a part of..

10 Months of Charlotte & Olivia

So she was right... the 18th is this week... in fact it's today and I couldn't be more proud of all of the milestones and accompaniments the girls had during the last month. Its crazy how much they changed in those short 30 days (or is it 31?... either way it was too fast).  This was the month of sickness for both of the girls starting with Olivia and finishing with Charlotte and she got the worst of it. 

Olivia

 She is becoming a lot like her big sister Madison with her smiles, noses and actions. BUT she is still very much her own little person her personality shows everyday. She is still very much an observer of what is going o around her... except when she is near mommy and daddy she is constantly crawling and climbing all over both of us. And when she sees her daddy come home from work that little butt just starts bouncing on the floor with her arms held high and a big smile for daddy to pick her up. She's also taken to flopping from one of us to the other when we put her in the bed with us- its quite funny and she sure gets a kick out of it. 

The month starting off with a stomach bug for Olivia which I first thought was associated with teething as both her top teeth came through this month. But when her sister started in with the same symptoms I knew it was worse. For about 5 days poor Olivia was feeling crappy from her teeth and the stomach bug and the fantastic diaper rash that came along with it all. She was super clingy and didn't want anyone but mama and I had to be holding her no matter what i was doing. I loved the extra cuddles of course but it left no hands for poor Charlotte. Luckily when Charlotte started in with the stomach bug Olivia was on the mend and her first upper tooth had come thorough and she became a lot less clingy. 

She has learned how to stand on her own with out needing assistance to pull her up. She even took a few steps with her walker. She has become a speed crawler all over the place it is just the cutest thing to watch. When she is on the tile she will bear crawl with her butt up in the air walking her feet and hands on the floor. 

You love music when you hear it you look around to see who is singing and get the biggest smile on your face and then that little butt starts to bounce on the floor. You've caught on to the "so big" game and it is just adorable. You've also started waving "hi" and will mimic many sounds your favorite being the tongue sticking out raspberries. Your little crinkled up nose is one of your favorite games to play with anyone willing to do it with you. 

You've been sleeping through the night off and on (story of my life) but getting to more so on... and I hope we can keep that going. You love to eat and I am pretty sure you hit a growth spurt during the month... you almost overtook your sister in the eating category. Your favorite foods are blueberries, pancakes, oranges, yogurt, oatmeal, and any kind of pasta. You have been taking your formula mostly in a sippy cup with only one-two bottles a day. I think you would probably go without the bottle but mommy is the one not ready to let go. 

Sweet Olivia you really are just as sweet and silly as can be I can't wait to see how you continue to change and grow- we love you little one.

Charlotte

Miss Charlotte and she is a little miss for sure, demanding attention in the most sweetest of ways. She is very much like her big sister Kendal. Loving and always looking for a snuggle, she is the first to lay her head on your chest or shoulder making the one holding her simply melt from her sweetness. Charlotte also enjoys watching what is going on - until she determines if its something she wants to be involved in... which is almost always a yes for this little girl. 

You started out the month on a better note than your sister but that only lasted a week until you came down with the same stomach bug as Olivia. I think we went through diapers just like they were newborns again! But poor Charlotte your stomach bug gave way to a fever lasting 4 days, then that became a rash all over your body for 3 more days and you were lucky enough to then have a UTI... which we are still treating. All of this and she was great through it all- a little fussy and extra cuddly but still your sweet sweet self. 

Poor girl you still have no teeth and I swear we are just going to wake up one morning to two or more teeth. You are also able to stand on your own unassisted and you pretty much do it all the time. Soon you will be taking steps and then we are all in trouble. 

You love to play "how big is" and you even answer for your sister. Waving hi is a new favorite thing and you will mimic anything. Your favorites are the kissing sound, saying ri ri ri (which your uncle Ryan taught you), and making the raspberry noise when you hear your sister do it. You also love music and have a tendency to "dance" when you are standing up (as long as someone is holding you up) and the music starts. Your little legs start moving and you stick your little butt out... can we say adorable! 

Sleeping is pretty good for you- this month has been tough but I am hopeful things will start to get better once you are feeling 100% again (please let that be soon). You also love to eat... still.. and there hasn't been  a food you have refused. Your favorites are pancakes, meatballs, blueberries, bananas, yogurt, any pasta, and peas. Just like your sister you do amazingly well with your sippy cup and could probably go without the bottle... maybe this month I'll have the courage to do it!

Charlotte you are such a sweet heart and I see you staying that way forever- we love you so!

Baby Girls we can't imagine our lives with out you the joy you bring to us is beyond measure and everyday we think about how blessed we are to have you as our daughters. Life works in some pretty unexpected ways sometimes but those unexpected things are sometimes the biggest blessings. 

We love you both so much!!