Got her hair did

This weekend Carlee got her first haircut. Her hair wasn't long by any means. I was actually dreading cutting it because it's taken so long to get to the length it was at. But Carlee would constantly brush her hair out of her face and rub her eyes from her hair being in them. So I guess it was time for a little trim.

We went to Cool Cuts 4 Kids. I could have trimmed her bangs myself, but I wanted her to have the whole first hair cut experience. (Ok, so maybe it was more for me.) I was really nervous because Carlee has been throwing tantrums when she doesn't want to do something. She also gets shy and clingy around new people. Here I am taking her to an unfamiliar place to have some stranger play with her hair. But with Elmo playing on the TV, a cool little car to sit in, and double fisted with lollipops, Carlee did very well.

Here is a before picture:During:


After:
Hopefully now that we trimmed her hair, it will grow faster.

Training complete

My last post was about this diva in training that Carlee has become. I guess its also called the "terrible two's". Well, I think she has completed her training and is a diva with a capital D! She has graduated from yelling "NO!" and holding her hands up to prevent the paparazzi (aka mom) from getting a good shot to attacking the camera and cameraman!!

Notice the attitude change when she realizes I'm recording her. At this rate I'm never going to be able to document the cute things. I'll only have her alter ego that comes out when the camera's on! I hope this passes soon! All I wanted was to record her shaking her booty while listening to the Handy Manny song!

Diva in training

I have a diva on my hands. Carlee no longer likes her picture taken. Not that she liked it before, but she never minded. Now you'd swear I was paparazzi and she was an A-list star. She'll wear her sunglasses into stores, the bank, etc. She gets mad if I laugh at her. (She cracks me up, I can't help it!!)

Yesterday I tried taking pictures of her to use on her birthday invitation. I knew it was going to be difficult but I thought I'd have some kind of decent picture. Nope. Carlee wasn't having it!

Here are the pictures where she's yelling "No!" Good thing she's not an A-list celebrity otherwise she probably would have spit in my face or tried to break my camera.

Piece of cake

On another mom's blog, she posted "20 things I love about my son/ daughter". I couldn't resist to post the 20 things I love about my little peanut. (although how can I limit it to 20?)

20 things I love about Carlee:

1. I love the way she gives us random kisses and hugs

2. I love how no matter what she's doing and she hears someone sneeze, she says "bless you!"

3. I love how she wakes up and says "Mama...food!" I guess the girl wakes up hungry.

4. I love she "swims" in the bath and kicks her feet

5. I love how she cries TO brush her teeth...she'd brush them 10 times a day.

6. I love how she loves her cousins. She lights up when she sees them.

7. I love how peaceful she is when she's sleeping, paci and all.

8. I love how Carlee wraps her arms around my neck when she wants me to give her a piggy back ride.

9. I love how she rubs Casey's back when he's holding her.

10. I love when she asks me to rub her back.

11. I love how she asks for us to paint her toenails then has Casey paint his! (He'd kill me if he knew I put that, but he'll do anything for his little girl)

12. I love how she makes her little humming sound when she's tired (she's made the same sound since birth)

13. I love how she's learning new words every day.

14. I love the personality she's developing even if that includes eye rolls

15. I love how she's always smiling.

16. I love how she shows enthusiasm over something (Elmo and Abby Cadabby)

17. I love how she tells us "night night" then wants to cuddle

18. I love how she pretends to have conversations on the phone

19. I love how she loves playing "OUTSIDE!!"

20. I love that Carlee is the best part of Casey and I

Partners in Crime

Carlee loves her younger cousin Sydney (and her older cousins too for that matter). I offered to watch Sydney while her brother and sister were busy with art class, swimming lessons, and tumbling class (yes, all in one evening)! Plus Carlee gets excited when she sees Sydney so I figured it be fun for her.

Sure enough when Sydney shows up, Carlee was at the front door chanting Sydney (which sounds more like "Neh-ney".) Sydney had just started walking so she is nonstop. I forgot how they are at that age. Carlee is less than 9 months older but she will play with a toy for periods at a time or sit and "read" a book. Sydney was everywhere. But she's also so easy going and mellow. She didn't make a peep the whole night. Look at that precious face!

I love these pictures. It was fun to see them interact. I got to see Carlee act as the bigger kid showing Sydney how to do things or telling her "No, No, No, Neh-ney" when Sydney grabbed my cell phone. Carlee was so excited to have Sydney around, she wanted to show her everything. When Carlee told me "poopoo" and I asked if she needed to go to the potty, she nodded then stood there and said "C'mon Neh-ney, c'mon"! She wouldn't go anywhere without her cousin.

Towards the end of the night when both of them started to get tired, that was the hard part for me. Carlee isn't used to sharing my attention so I had both kids on my hips at one point. I don't know how moms of twins or even two young ones do it! I had fun with the two of them, but after one night I was exhausted!

4th of July

4th of July is one of my favorite times of the year. Everyone's so patriotic. Great weather. Parties. BBQ's. Good times with friends and family.

This year was no different. During the day, we hung out at home. Had a picnic in the shade under the tree in the backyard. Then Carlee played in her splash pad. Then we geared up for the night festivities. We headed to my brother in law's house for his annual bash.

We also celebrated lil Miss Sydney's first birthday! Can you tell she loved the cake?

Then the best part of the night is the fireworks show. Everyone gathered on the top of the hill to view the high school's firework show. I was excited for Carlee to see the fireworks b/c last year she was already asleep. Well, this year she fell asleep in my arms during the fireworks show. Clearly she was less enthused with them!

No longer a teen

Carlee is now 20!

Ok so its only 20 MONTHS, but still! In 4 short months, my baby will be 2!
Can I still call her my baby?

Each day she talks more and more. She surprises me daily. Just last night as she's about to go to sleep she says "One, Twoooo, Tee!" That was the first time she's done that. Usually when we ask her to count, she says "Onnnnne" and holds up her index finger and it stops there.

Her newest word is "shoes". It sounds more like "shooooz" while her lips stay puckered. She says "shoes" almost as much as "outside" now. Maybe because they go hand in hand. When she says "Outside?", before I can even reply, she's running down the hall saying "shoooz, shoooz". She knows she needs her shoes to go outside!

The last 20 months have flown by (I say this all the time)! I can't imagine what the next 20 days, 20 months, 20 years will bring!

I love you, peanut!