Port A

We had so much fun on our summer trip to the beach!  Neither of the kids had either seen the ocean, so we couldn't wait to watch them play in it.  Hunter loved to jump in the waves, and Charlotte loved to sit in the shallow water in my lap or walk along the beach.  And they both loved playing with their friends, Ethan and Ronnie.  (We were able to go with our friends, the Satterfields, and the kids loved having playmates everyday.)

Char sitting pretty our first day at the beach...

Carrie brought several soaker toys, and I think Hunter had one in his hands at all times...

Hunter, Ronnie and Ethan working on their first sand castle...

Charlotte has always been a mama's girl, but lately she is obsessed.  She always wants mama to hold her and requests a hug at least once an hour.  She actually just screamed my name hysterically from her bed, and when I walked in and asked what the heck was wrong, she said, "hug" in the most pi.ti.ful voice ever.  Good thing I love her so dang much or I might go a little crazy...

One of the few smiling pictures with daddy (because she only wanted her mama!)...

Silly boys by the pool...

Our beach house had these fun hammocks, so we all took a break to relax one afternoon...

I forgot my camera on day 2 at the beach, but took lots of pictures on our 3rd day.  This is one of my favorites..

As soon as we got to the beach that day, Hunter ran over to us and said, "I found an octopus!!" We expected him to show us a jellyfish or something, but he really did find an ocotopus...

Hunter playing in the waves with daddy and Ethan...

Char exploring the beach...

She looks so tall to me here...

Oh, wait.  There's my 2 year old...

It was like a switch went off in her brain the second she turned two, telling her that she needs to start throwing crazy tantrums every day.  Do all 2 year old girls have a biological tantrum clock?  This girl sure does.

Some cuddles with mommy helped to cheer her up, though...

I loved wathing Hunter play in the waves.  It was pure joy for him...

This is what happened when I peeled our daughter off of me and forced her into James's hands...

So I took her for a walk so she'd forgive me...

After she calmed down, we got a family picture...

And a self-portrait...

I wrote her name in the sand, and she loved it...

I bet you can guess who took this picture...

Hunter didn't want his name in the sand...he can't be bothered by silly things like that when there are waves to be played in.  So when Char and I were done with her name, I wrote James a love note...

That night we went into town to look around and shop.  I'm not sure if the kids had more fun at the candy store or this shark's mouth...

After dinner we came back to the beach for family photos.  I had to include this to prove that sweet Char loves to hug daddy too...

Other than my wind-blown mom hair, I think our picture turned out pretty good...

Carrie bought glow sticks for the kids, so when we got home we went up to their bunk room to see them glowing in the dark...

We had so much fun at the beach!  It was even worth the screaming car rides:)  Can't wait for our next vacation...where we get to ride a plane!

You're Two

My sweet Charlotte,

As I was looking back at the story and pictures of the day of your birth, I began to think of your life over the past two years...the rocking and cuddling, playing and giggling, struggling and praying.  My continuous prayer for you since you were born has been that you would feel confident in the girl you are.  That you would love yourself just because God made you.  That you would see yourself as I see you and love yourself as God loves you.  Sweet girl, God's love for you is unfathomable, indescribable, unbelieveable!  He loves you so much, and he made you so perfectly.  He created your inmost being...He knows every fiber of your soul...and he loves it.  As do I. 

Right now at 2 years, 1 day old, here are just a few of the reasons I love you so deeply...

Because God made you perfectly and entrusted your sweet soul to your daddy and I.

Because your love for me and your brother and your daddy is so obvious to anyone who sees us together.

Because your giggles make my heart melt.

Because you are full of sass and laughter with those who know you well, but you are cautious and shy with those who don't.

Because you love your babies and Elmo.

Because you so want to be completely independent in all that you do, but still come running to me for hugs and cuddles multiple times a day.

Because you sing and dance like a rock star.

Because you are already so talkative...at least with our little family of 4.

Because you are a girly girl.

Because you are the queen of hugs...and you hold on so tight with each one.

Because fashion's already important to you.

Because even at two years old, you are sensitive to others' feelings.

Because you are you!  And I'm so thankful that you are...