Charlotte's 2nd Birthday

I can't believe our baby is two!  Time flies when you're having fun!  Charlotte makes us laugh and smile everyday.  She is sweet, funny and smart.  She talks all the time.  Yesterday she just came up to me and said, "pretty mommy!"  She melts my heart.  She also likes to sing and dance.  Charlotte loves all things girly: make up, nail polish, tutus, pink, Strawberry Shortcake, Fancy Nancy and especially princesses.  At her two year check up, she was 34'" (57%) ,  25lbs 4.8oz (32%) and 18.62" head circumference (48%).  For her birthday we got her a little kitchen and she is obsessed with it!  It has been a couple of weeks since we gave it to her and she still says to us randomly, "thank you mommy daddy new kitchen!"  We just love her so much and feel lucky to be her parents!

Here she is on her actual birthday.  She wanted pesto pasta for dinner.  She said she didn't want cake so we had ice cream instead.  Kyle (auntie kiki) joined us for dinner.

Playing with her new kitchen.

A Cinderella birthday party for our little princess.

 After she blew out her candles, she decided to try a little lick of the cake haha.

Some recent pictures of our sweet little two year old.

Drew's 30th Birthday

Drew's actual birthday fell on a Thursday.  When he came home from work Porter, Patricia and his parents were at our house to surprise him.  We went out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants that night.  We had all of our friends over on Saturday to celebrate.  It was a very fun weekend!  Happy birthday to the best husband and dad in the world! Thirty and never looked better!

Birthday dinner at Tiny's #5

 At the Party

Video of Porter and Patricia surprising Drew..... priceless!

Coronado 2012

We had another great vacation in Coronado.  The weather was perfect and it was so nice to spend time with with family.  Charlotte LOVED the beach!!!  The first day she was a little hesitant about the sand but by the last day, she was rolling around in it.  Kate was too little to really enjoy the sand and water but we all loved holding her and watching her smile.  

Daddy's girl

 Drew and I stayed the night at the Hotel Del Coronado to celebrate his 30th birthday.  My parents took the girls to the bookstore, out to lunch and to the farmers market.  Drew and I enjoyed a lunch on the patio at the Del, drinks by the pool, a little shopping and a nice dinner at the Brigantine.  We had so much fun!!!

 Congrats to the newly engaged couple!  We are so happy and excited for you two!

Catch Up.....

Trying to take a picture of both girls is hard to do;  this is how most turn out haha.

 On the 4th of July we went to a neighborhood parade.  It was very cute!  Later that afternoon we had some friends over for burgers, beers and sparklers.  

 These next two pictures are from playgroup at our house.  The kids had so much fun in the baby pool and enjoyed popsicles and apple juice.

 gossip girls

 Our happy and easy going baby Kate at two months.  She is such a good baby!

 Charlotte moved to a big girl bed.  She did so great!  We told her that Snow White, Cinderella, Fancy Nancy and Gigi sleep in big girl beds so she thinks it's pretty cool that she gets to as well.  Here is a picture of her on her first night and the next day when we took her out for ice-cream for doing such a good job.

 Charlotte started Gymboree and she loves it!  In her class they climb, sing, play with a parachute and do bubbles..... what's not to like!?  Here she is on her first day.

Easter 2012

My family came in town for Easter and to meet sweet baby Kate.  Charlotte loved finding eggs and especially liked eating the candy!!!  Here are some pictures.

Baby Kate is Here!!!

Below is the email that Courtney sent out to the family after Kate was born.  

Hello Everyone!!

 I know that most of you are anxiously waiting to see more pictures of baby Katherine "Kate" Jane Allen who was born at 12:37 pm this afternoon. She weighs 8 lbs. 9 oz and is 20 inches long. Like her big sister, she is absolutely beautiful...even all the nurses said so :). It all started this morning at 6 am. As most of you know Brittany was scheduled to be induced and was told to call the hospital at 6 am. When Britt called, she was told to call back at 8 am. At around 6:12am she started having contractions and Britt and Drew were off to the hospital at around 9 am. Brittany then called us at about 9:45 am and said that she was 6 cm dilated and that we should probably get to the hospital ASAP! Kyle, Paula (Drew's mom) and I then rushed to the hospital. We arrived shortly after Britt received her epidural and she was still feeling her contractions. Once the epidural kicked in, Britt was able to relax. At noon, the nurse checked to see how far dilated she was and when she did Britt's water broke and the nurse said that there was some Meconium (meconium is the earliest stools of an infant) in the fluid. She was also 10 cm dilated. The doctor was called immediately and Britt started 'pushing' about 15 minutes later. The nurse explained that once Kate arrived, the neonatal team would take her for about 10 min (they needed to suction her and make sure that none of the meconium was ingested in her lungs). 3 pushes later Kate was here!!  Brittany did absolutely wonderful and is a natural when it comes to childbirth. I never thought I would say this but she really does make it look easy! She seriously amazed me today and being able to witness something like that is something that I'll never forget! Brittany was born to make babies and it showed not only during labor/delivery but the second she held her new baby for the first time :)  Charlotte met her sister later in the afternoon and the first thing she said when she walked in the door was "Baby Kate". She was so loving to her sister, giving her kisses and just wanting to be near her. At least until she opened the present her new, baby sister gave her. It was a tea set which kept her occupied the rest of her visit. Majority of the pictures taken today were on Britt & Drew's camera but below are a few from mine. Congratulations to (besides mine own) two wonderful parents, Brittany and Drew!!! Love you all! xoxox, Court

On my way to the hospital

Our perfect Katherine Jane Allen.

 Charlotte meeting her sister for the first time.

2012 update

It has been a while since I last updated so thought I'd do a quick update on everyone.

Charlotte is a year and half and she is turning into such a little girl! She loves going to the park, playgroup, story time, coloring and playing outside. She would wear her tutu everyday if I let her! She goes and gets it out of the laundry hamper and wants to wear it haha. When she puts it on she says, "ooh la la." She is talking a lot now. Some of the things she says are, "thank you, love you, cucumber, avocado and hi baby." She says many other words too. Her newest thing is that she loves giving people a kiss on the cheek. She loves lifting up my shirt and hugging and kissing the baby in my belly. She is just the sweetest little thing!

Drew has been very busy at work the past few weeks. He has also been working on his latest house project.... putting up crown molding in Charlotte's new room. It looks great so far and will hopefully be done this weekend. I'll post pictures. Drew has also been going to Crossfit three times a week and on top of that, going on runs and doing little workouts at home. He is getting trim and fit and I am just getting bigger by the day!

I have been keeping busy with Charlotte. I am now 36 weeks pregnant. I'm starting to get very uncomfortable and very big! I just can't wait to meet this second baby girl but I am enjoying my last few weeks alone with Charlotte.

Here are some recent pictures of Charlotte.

Playing in the leaves.

I just gave Charlotte her first little haircut! Here is the after.

Here is the before. It was getting pretty straggly.

At the park.

Here is a picture of her in the tutu that she loves so much.