We flew back last New Year's Day and were all so happy to be back in our sunshine! Chris left for work shortly after we got back, and a few days after that Charlotte started crawling. We also stopped nursing and both of us made a great transition. Charlotte started sleeping a full night and I felt so much more rested! 
In February we took a trip to visit friends in Las Vegas. It was interesting having a baby in Vegas, but we had fun. Chris watched Charlotte one night so I could go see Love. We bought the DVD player for the car ride, and ever since Charlotte loves watching movies in the car. I guess I can't complain, she hardly ever cries in the car, and still loves to rear-face because of it, so all is good.
In March Charlotte turned one! Chris was away for her birthday (of course) but Mimi came out which made it special. We had a small party for her with our close friends and having Mimi there was perfect. We were sad to say goodbye to her when she left. It was also Chris' birthday, which he was gone for. When he got back we were very excited. Baylie also went to doggie boot camp, and came back a new dog. She has since regressed, but I like to think it helped with the barking and riding in the car. The getting along with other animal part, not so much.
In April Charlotte started to walk! Luckily Daddy was home to witness it! We celebrated Easter with our friends and the kids had an egg hunt. Chris was gone for a couple weeks and it was the very first time Chris has really surprised me by coming home early and just showing up at the house... I will always remember that since I am NEVER surprised! Charlotte and I left at the very end of the month to go back east, since Daddy was going to be gone most of May.
In May, Charlotte and I went home for most of the month since Chris was gone. We had fun visiting everyone and Charlotte perfected her walking skills. When we got back home we picked up Daddy and Charlotte got a new bike! Her helmet was her favorite part!
June was a special month. Grammy and Papa came to visit, I turned another year older, and I got to watch Lisa and Joe's baby, Markus, come into the world! Most of the month was spent oogling over the new baby! Daddy was only gone for about 2 weeks this month, and he was able to make a trip back to New Hampshire with work and surprise Grammy and Papa!
July was a fun month! Chris was gone for about 2 weeks again, but we got to spend 4th of July with him and it was a great time. I also had my eye surgery and looking back now I am so glad I suffered those couple days of pain to be able to see without glasses or contacts now! Grandpa came out to visit and when we dropped him off at the airport, we left for our 10 day road trip!
We spent the beginning of August in Northern California for Chris' pre-deployment leave. We went to Yosemite, San Francisco and Big Sur. It was so nice to have time away as a family and we really enjoyed ourselves.
In the beginning of September Mimi came out to visit, we went apple picking, went to the cove in La Jolla a few times, and spent the first couple weeks really spending lots of time with Daddy before we had to stay goodbye to him for 6 months. Charlotte didn't really understand what was going on, but it was very hard nonetheless. We only had a couple weeks until we left to go back home. Charlotte finished up her Gymboree classes which she loved, and she learned how to climb!
In October we arrived on the east coast (well actually like the last day of September, but whatever!) to spend 4 months with family. We started in New Hampshire visiting Grammy and Papa, and got to go to the fair. We drove to New York and our car arrived shortly after. Everyone was so excited to see Charlotte. I decided to make a change and started a nutritional plan and got a personal trainer and started to get my butt in gear! We enjoyed the fall and playing in the leaves. Charlotte was a froggy princess for Halloween and I made her costume, including dying the tights green. Now Gymboree has a whole little girl frog clothing line... figures. 
November was a good month too. Grammy and Papa and Uncle Rodney and Aunt Karen came for visits, we had thanksgiving, and enjoyed playing outside while it was still somewhat nice out! Charlotte continued with Soccer and Gymnastics to keep her busy in the cold.
December was a busy busy month. We started with Charlotte's first trip to pick out our Christmas tree. Charlotte started sleeping in a big girl bed. We reached about halfway in deployment (we hope at least!). We had a wonderful time with family and friends over Christmas even though we missed Daddy.
It's hard to believe that our little girl will be 2 in a couple months, and then Daddy will be home! We are looking forward to a new year and wish you all the best in 2011!
In February we took a trip to visit friends in Las Vegas. It was interesting having a baby in Vegas, but we had fun. Chris watched Charlotte one night so I could go see Love. We bought the DVD player for the car ride, and ever since Charlotte loves watching movies in the car. I guess I can't complain, she hardly ever cries in the car, and still loves to rear-face because of it, so all is good.
In March Charlotte turned one! Chris was away for her birthday (of course) but Mimi came out which made it special. We had a small party for her with our close friends and having Mimi there was perfect. We were sad to say goodbye to her when she left. It was also Chris' birthday, which he was gone for. When he got back we were very excited. Baylie also went to doggie boot camp, and came back a new dog. She has since regressed, but I like to think it helped with the barking and riding in the car. The getting along with other animal part, not so much.
In April Charlotte started to walk! Luckily Daddy was home to witness it! We celebrated Easter with our friends and the kids had an egg hunt. Chris was gone for a couple weeks and it was the very first time Chris has really surprised me by coming home early and just showing up at the house... I will always remember that since I am NEVER surprised! Charlotte and I left at the very end of the month to go back east, since Daddy was going to be gone most of May.
In May, Charlotte and I went home for most of the month since Chris was gone. We had fun visiting everyone and Charlotte perfected her walking skills. When we got back home we picked up Daddy and Charlotte got a new bike! Her helmet was her favorite part!
June was a special month. Grammy and Papa came to visit, I turned another year older, and I got to watch Lisa and Joe's baby, Markus, come into the world! Most of the month was spent oogling over the new baby! Daddy was only gone for about 2 weeks this month, and he was able to make a trip back to New Hampshire with work and surprise Grammy and Papa!
July was a fun month! Chris was gone for about 2 weeks again, but we got to spend 4th of July with him and it was a great time. I also had my eye surgery and looking back now I am so glad I suffered those couple days of pain to be able to see without glasses or contacts now! Grandpa came out to visit and when we dropped him off at the airport, we left for our 10 day road trip!
We spent the beginning of August in Northern California for Chris' pre-deployment leave. We went to Yosemite, San Francisco and Big Sur. It was so nice to have time away as a family and we really enjoyed ourselves.
In the beginning of September Mimi came out to visit, we went apple picking, went to the cove in La Jolla a few times, and spent the first couple weeks really spending lots of time with Daddy before we had to stay goodbye to him for 6 months. Charlotte didn't really understand what was going on, but it was very hard nonetheless. We only had a couple weeks until we left to go back home. Charlotte finished up her Gymboree classes which she loved, and she learned how to climb!
In October we arrived on the east coast (well actually like the last day of September, but whatever!) to spend 4 months with family. We started in New Hampshire visiting Grammy and Papa, and got to go to the fair. We drove to New York and our car arrived shortly after. Everyone was so excited to see Charlotte. I decided to make a change and started a nutritional plan and got a personal trainer and started to get my butt in gear! We enjoyed the fall and playing in the leaves. Charlotte was a froggy princess for Halloween and I made her costume, including dying the tights green. Now Gymboree has a whole little girl frog clothing line... figures. 
November was a good month too. Grammy and Papa and Uncle Rodney and Aunt Karen came for visits, we had thanksgiving, and enjoyed playing outside while it was still somewhat nice out! Charlotte continued with Soccer and Gymnastics to keep her busy in the cold.
December was a busy busy month. We started with Charlotte's first trip to pick out our Christmas tree. Charlotte started sleeping in a big girl bed. We reached about halfway in deployment (we hope at least!). We had a wonderful time with family and friends over Christmas even though we missed Daddy.
It's hard to believe that our little girl will be 2 in a couple months, and then Daddy will be home! We are looking forward to a new year and wish you all the best in 2011!
