First Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year with lots of family. On Christmas Eve we spent the day at Matt's parents house. The whole family was there and we had quite a feast!

 

She loves her Uncle Chris (Chuck)!

Then Christmas Eve night we went to Papa & Nana's house!! The whole clan was there, around 32 people!! It was great! Charlotte was able to meet Aunts and Uncles she hasn't seen before. She got lots of new clothes and toys. She must have been really good this year because Santa sure didn't forget her!

 

Merry Christmas!!

 

Matt, Me, Papa, Charlotte & Nana

 

Playing with Ava and Sienna!!

 

BFFs with my cousin Sienna!!

 

Wearing the cute outfit from Aunt Jenni!!

 

We spent 3 great days at Nana & Papa's house and then it was time to head home. Then on Thursday, Grandma & Grandpa Grandt came up to do a late Christmas and celebrate the new year!!

 

All ready to open some presents!!

 

She loves to do squats and get in her workout! She was doing them with Aunt Jenni and then with Grandpa Grandt!! She is getting so strong. Won't be long before she is moving about all over the place.

She got some great presents this year including a new play mat for tummy time, a highchair, a jenny jump up and lots of other clothes, books and toys!

 

She is getting better at holding her head up for longer periods of time every day! She really enjoys tummy time on her new play mat from Papa & Nana.

 

Nanny Drake is making sure she is playing safe and having fun!

She is growing so fast! She likes imitating people. Her new things are sticking her tongue out, blowing spit bubbles and copying sounds you make with her mouth. She does butt lifts all the time and scooches her way up. At night we'll lay her in her crib at one end and by the morning her head is all the way at the top. She also likes to swivel. I lay her down vertical and the next thing you know she is laying horizontal! She's definitely a mover!

 

Little sleeping Angel scooted all the way up off her blanket! 

Shots & Checkup

Charlotte had her shots on Monday and was such a brave girl. She got one on her left leg and two on her right leg and one vaccine was given orally. She cried a little at first but as soon as it was over she was all smiles and giggles! She even got 5 Disney princess stickers for being so good. It wasn't till we put her back in her car seat to go that the tears started to come.

  

She had her 2 month check up with Dr. Nick today! She is in the 90th percentile for her weight and head size and in the 75th percentile for her height!! She is growing so big and fast. Her weight is at 12lbs and 14 ounces, head circumference is 16 inches and her height is 23 1/4 inches. 

 

She loves playing!! She's getting better at holding her head up every day!!

 

We had a movie night and watched Legend of the Guardians!! She loved watching all the owls! 

 

She adores her mobile!! She watches it go round and round. Even when she's not in the crib, if she's playing in her room or on the changing table and the music from her mobile starts to play, she lights up and is all smiles!! 

We are all getting very excited for the holidays and she is anxious to meet all her relatives and open gifts from Santa!!

2 Months Already!!

 

Our little girl is 2 months old today!! Where has the time gone?! She is getting to be such a big girl. She holds her head up so good now and loves to play with her rattle. She mostly hits herself with it on accident and is getting really good at throwing it at Drake....all practice to be a great ball player one day!! Pretty soon we'll be playing catch and teaching her to bat! She definitely favors her left hand.

She officially grew out of her bassinet and is sleeping in her crib. She looked so giant in her bassinet and now so tiny in her crib.

I've gone back to work and so this past week Charlotte started daycare with Ms. Jenna and her son Blake. She has such a wonderful time there. Blake is her new best friend. She is all smiles when she comes home. She has done a couple of art projects as well!! They are wonderful! Ms. Jenna is amazing with her and I know through out the years Charlotte will benefit greatly from the attention she receives at daycare. 

 

We went and saw Santa last weekend too! She was so good and didn't cry at all. She even cracked a little smile while Santa held her. She's a very good girl and I know she'll be spoiled by Santa this year!

She loves looking at the Christmas lights!! She stares at them all the time. We've been singing Christmas carols and watching the Grinch. She is such a happy baby girl.

Baptism (12/3)

Charlotte was baptised on Saturday, December 3rd, 5:30pm at St. Mary's Church in Rhinelander. It was a horrible blizzard and we ended up getting between 5 and 6 inches of snow! She had a lovely little white gown from Grandma & Grandpa Grandt. She was such a good girl during the baptism. Afterwards we had food and cake at the house. It was so nice to have the entire family together. Charlotte received some really beautiful gifts and is so blessed to have such wonderful loving people in her life. I can't express enough thanks to our family for their generosity.

Charlotte's Godparents, Chris (Matt's brother) and Ricki (my sister). These two are the most loving people we know and Charlotte is extremely blessed to have them be apart of her life.

 

 

Papa & Nana

 

Grandma & Grandpa Grandt

 

Granny & Gramps LeClair

 

Chris & Ricki, Godparents

 

John & Ricki  

Here are just a few of the amazing gifts Charlotte received.

 

This is from Aunt Ricki and John. It is a necklace and a single pearl. Each special occasion one can purchase a single pearl and eventually it will be a full pearl necklace. Great idea and I know Charlotte will love it.

 

An Owl Cross.............fits in with Charlotte's room perfectly. 

 

Nana handmade this for Charlotte. So special and meaningful. 

Again, we can't thank our family enough for their support and generosity. We are so blessed not only with a beautiful little girl but with family to help us along the way of parenthood. We love you all!!

6 Weeks & Thanksgiving

 

I can't believe our little girl is already 6 weeks old!! It's crazy how big she is and how fast she is growing. I had bought a dress for Thanksgiving in size 3 months and was worried that it would be too big. However, it ended up fitting just barely and the tights were too small!! It was so great spending Turkey Day with family and introducing our little munchkin!! We went to Cadott first and had a Thanksgiving lunch with Dad, Colette and her family. Then we headed to Matt's parents' for a Thanksgiving lunch. It was a long day with lots of travel and love. This weekend Grandma Grandt is coming to visit!! We are planning on putting up the Christmas tree. I can't wait to see Charlotte's face light up seeing all the lights!! It's going to be a great Holiday season!!

 

 

Papa Esch and baby Charlotte

 

Uncle Keith

 

Aunt Colleen

Newborn Pictures

Jen Ruby-Durst at Ruby Photography out did herself once again. She is an amazing photographer and I'm so grateful for her patience. She came when Charlotte was 5 days old. Needless to say, we were unprepared! We didn't have a real schedule down with her yet and she woke up screaming at us!! Jen was able to snap a couple pictures but thankfully she returned the following weekend when Charlotte was 11 days old. We were very lucky, she slept through pretty much the entire session waking once to eat and show Jen her awesome "poop face"! Enjoy!!