Easter

Finally some pictures to share!
Our family:



Charlotte's 1st Easter last year - my how she has changed!



Click below for egg hunt and Kim's pro pics:

Easter 2008

Favorite. Picture. Ever.

Chris took this one of me with Charlotte last Friday night - it is the most recent picture where I really feel like we look alike! She loves to show off her teeth - just ask her next time you see her and she will flash you some pearly whites!



Stay tuned for Easter pics - I hope to have them up tomorrow.

Ryder Turns One!

We celebrated Ryder's 1st Birthday Saturday. Kim set up the entire room to look like we were at the circus. It was a blast - what a fun party! I am sure she will post many more pics on her blogs but here are just a few I was able to take. Happy Birthday, Rydoo!

Ryder's Big Top Birthday

Happy Spring!

How we spent the start of the season. Throwing treats off the deck to Brogan:




It was too windy, so she opted for playing drums while gabbing up a storm:




Cold weather, go away! Charlotte wants to be outside and play!

Snuggly

Early Easter greetings from Bella!

Date Night

We enjoyed a date night Saturday night while MM & PP watched Charlotte (thank you!). We got a few shots as a family before Chris and I headed out. Charlotte got to relax on a nice stroll with MM and then later on, she and cousin Hunter enjoyed some Chinese (they got a craving around 10pm!). Too funny! Click the pics for a closer look...

Little Leprechauns

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Networking Event

So I got to tag along with Kim at a Brides MD Magazine networking event last Thursday that brought together vendors in the wedding industry. This is the same magazine that Chris and I were published in earlier this year. It was held at the beautiful Linganore Winery. Such a fun night! Read more about it on both Kim and Kathy Freundel's blogs. Kathy, also a photographer, is lovely and amazing. I enjoyed getting to know her better - she is a wealth of mommy advice, she has eight children of her own!

I always like to see Kim in her element and feel privileged to be involved in the work she does...I can't brag enough, but my big sister is phenomenally talented!

One Year Stats

As suspected the fever from her birthday was indeed the start of a double ear infection! But she is doing great and is a growing little bean:

Height: 31" (97th percentile)
Weight: 21 lbs (50th percentile)
Teeth: 11 with a 12th poking in!

Our doctor called her a tall drink of water. That is cute now but Lord help us when she is in high school! Here she is in the waiting room:



(Below) First ever trip to the pediatrician at one week and then at one year - she really does love Dr. R contrary to the look of terror!

Birthday in Bloom

What a sweet day shared by family and friends. No stomach bug (I had it for four days prior), fever (Charlotte got one by night's end) or crazy storm (that blew through with hail and flickered power minutes before guests arrived) could take this party down!








Click below for about a million pictures from the celebration - thanks to Kim for the professional ones! Thank you everyone who helped make this day so special!

1st Birthday

Just a Taste

Here are two amazing pictures Kim captured at Charlotte's birthday party. I promise to have a web album up soon with more from the sweet celebration...

Happy 1st Birthday, Baby!

No words can express the well of emotion we feel today! Happy birthday baby girl! We love you, precious Charlotte. You have made our lives so complete.

One Year Ago...

I was in the hospital wondering why on earth my baby hadn't arrived yet! We went in the evening of the 6th to be induced, I labored all day on the 7th and didn't get to meet sweet Charlotte until March 8th in the afternoon after 3.5 hours of pushing! I thought it would be fun to include a few photos from a year ago.

This one was at Panera the evening we went to the hospital (3.6.07)



This one was 3.7.07 at 6am - I totally thought I was going to meet her that day! I am feeling exceptionally brave to post this one...



Though my labor and delivery and then post partum hospital stay were extremely difficult, I wouldn't trade any of it for Charlotte! Hard to imagine it was all a year ago!

Reunion

I got to spend Friday evening with four of my closest high school girlfriends and this was the first time since probably 2003 that we have all been together. We graduated *gasp* 10 years ago and it was so much fun to share what we have been up to since then. We are an eclectic bunch! Between acting, world traveling, future study in Italy for interior design, weddings, new careers and delivering babies (as patient and as nurse), we sure have accomplished much!



We dined at the 4 Seasons Grille in Crofton. If you are in the area you should check it out...the Lobster & Truffle Risotto was delicious! We started the night with a champagne toast and ended at Jamie's new house in the hot tub sharing freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. It was a treasured evening full of wonderful memories, new chapters and simply amazing women.

I love you girls - what a blessing to call you each friend!