Almost 21 Months!

I think we picked the hottest day of the year to photograph Charlie, but we wanted to get some summer pictures in before it was too late. Charlie was even sweating by the time it was done so you know it was hot.

Mark thought I was a little nuts when I told him I wanted to take a chair to the park...especially the far end of the park where the grasses aren't mowed. Nothing like hiking through the woods with your furniture in tow. The photographs turn out great so mommy is happy if nothing else.

The orange sucker was courtesy of grandma, which helped keep Charlie a little more subdued. But, as you can see she still wiggles around a bunch. Hard to believe she is almost two now. I can't stand that she is growing so quickly!

Charlie at 18 Months!

Mark and I braved the Dayton Art Institute for Charlie's 18 month session. As you all know by now, Charlie is a handful to photograph and for some strange reason we thought she would behave on location...

Needless to say she was all over the place. She even managed to eat some leaves and pebbles. Her shins and feet were all scrapped up and bruised from climbing all over the stone steps. At one point she even fell in the rose bushes and got a big scratch across her forehead...thank goodness for Photoshop.

We were there for over an hour, and were completely spent by the time it was all done. However, I think we got a few great shots. The closeup of her in the bright pink and brown outfit will be a large print in the house somewhere...its my favorite.

Charlie at 16 months!

Hard to believe Charlie is almost a year and a half old. She is growing by leaps and bounds everyday, including saying at least three new words each day. This week's latest are 'duck, grape and poop.' She is still a child on the move and will only sit still if you strap her in to a highchair or carseat. Needless to say this makes photographing her hard. This session took an hour to just get a few usable shots. Hopefully...we grow out of this stage :) We love our little monkey!

Easter Dress

Here's Charlie's first Easter Dress! I know its not a typical Easter dress, but I couldn't help it. It reminds me of something my grandmother would have worn in the sixties.

Charlie is obsessed with the shoes too! If she sees them, she has to wear them. Yesterday she played with them for nearly two hours...far longer than she gives attention to anything else! She'll cry if you take them away from her too. She wants to wear them with her pajamas, diaper, anything! I have a feeling her teenage years are going to cost us plenty! My parent's are probably laughing for the payback...

Charlie at 15 Months!

I'll sit, but not for long!

I can run, hop and spin...sometimes all at the same time!

I can climb on things too!

I got a little behind in Charlie's posts, but I promise to catch up. Family and friends are starting to get mad there haven't been updates...so here we go.

This session we did on the 10th and Mark and I were both in a full sweat by the time we were done. Charlie is a girl on the go and most of the time her legs are moving before they ever hit the ground. The outtakes from this session are hilarious. Most of them consist of her running towards the camera.

We love watching her grow and learn new things. She is learning to climb on things...as evident below. She is also mimicking as much as she can both verbally and physically. I didn't think that I would have a 'girly-girl' but so far Charlie has a very bizarre obsession with shoes and has recently taken to jewelry and purses. She has to touch the shoes of most people she meets and plays with them at home just like you would a toy. Her favorite are a pair of yellow mary-janes that I bought her that don't leave her side.

She also enjoys eating paper to the point that it was one of her first words...mama, daddy, doggy, baby, paper...go figure. We love her a ridiculous amount and will miss her horribly during our travels this month. I never thought I could ever love someone this much and it just keeps growing :)

Wecome to Charlie's Blog

We created this blog for all of our friends and family who want to share in Charlie's life. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. Sometimes we all need to refocus and get centered about what is really important in life.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child has certainly helped us to get our priorities and perspectives in order. This blog is as much about Charlie's growth as it is about our journey certainly as parents, but also as individuals who are always trying to do better for themselves as well. Not to sound cliche or cheesy here, but Charlie has certainly touched and changed us as individuals and as a couple right down to our souls.

I read a quote about parenthood referring to a baby that said, "It will be the tiniest thing that I will ever put my whole life into." We are glad that she came into our life to remind us that we need to be active participants in our lives and not just get swept along by everyday chores and mundane activities.

Thank you Charlie for granting us hope, joy, love and focus.
Love, Mom and Dad

Mod Squad Baby!

Charlie went along to help us with cousins' Jason and Tiffany's engagement session and we thought we would do a 'urban' session with this great mod inspired little outfit. Charlie did great despite the cold and its solely Aunt Lu who Charlie is smiling at. Charlie loves Aunt Lu to the point that we had to pry her out of her arms when it was time to go.

Charlie is quit the styln' baby at eleven months old...much cooler than mom and dad!