Long time no blog, update!

Merry almost Christmas, readers, please forgive my laziness toward my blog! We've been very busy on my end, and Ive put off my daily updating until now! I wanted to do a quick recap of the past few days before Christmas hit, as I'd imagine I wont update again until Sunday, or so! Ill start with last Saturday!

Charlotte Olivia met Santa! Our complex invited a photographer to come into our community building to take photos with Santa by the fire. I had originally planned on taking Charlie to the mall earlier in the month, getting a quick photo taken, and then using that picture for our Christmas cards. Unfortunately, I never found the time. She kicked her first cold the week of Thanksgiving, and after that ordeal, I was hesitant to take her to the germy mall. Our community center is large and comfortable, though, and we know the staff very well. I was so excited when they sent out the newsletter saying they were bringing a photographer in! We wont get the professional pictures back until the 3rd of January, though, so the Christmas Cards this year had no photo inside! Next year, we plan on sending out a family picture. We dressed CO in a beautiful green dress with striped socks and black shoes. I contemplated a bow, but my girl just isn't the type. She didn't look like herself with the bow on! The babies before her all cried with Santa, so I was prepared for her to get scared, but to my surprise she didn't! She did fantastically, and Troy and I glowed while people complemented her behavior!

Charlotte Olivia 4 months

That night, Troy and I dropped Charlie off with her Memo and Papa, while he and I went to his company's Christmas party. It was a success! I always get along famously with the wives of his coworkers, and I love seeing all the children! They fed us yummy BBQ, gave away prizes, and showed everyone a great time! I put my LBD [little black dress] to use that night, paired with a dark smokey eye, winged out liner, and a red lip. The look was classic and festive. I still love dressing up! 

A quick pic before I did my hair!

This week the house has been busy! Charlotte Olivia had a friend over! Our friends Sean and Heather came by with Heather's 3 year old, Sapphire. Charlie had gotten Sapphire a gift for Christmas and she wanted to give it to her before they left for Kansas. The girls were the cutest playing together! Aside from visiting Kerri and David's baby Kimber Jane right after she was born, Charlotte O hasn't had any play dates! Seeing her with Sapphire got me so excited for her to be a bit more social! Shes tiny now, but once shes a year old, I imagine she will be having friends over a lot more often! 

Charlotte Olivia and Sapphire 12/21

My nephews James, Thomas, and Christopher also spent a few days here. They are on Christmas break, and Troy and I wanted to show them a good time! Charlie just loved having them here! The boys were angels. They helped me clean, run errands, wrap gifts, and played with Charlie! We let them play a lot of xbox, since they normally play their Wii at home. We also baked cupcakes and a cake, ate home made fried foods, watched Ghost Adventures, and played scene it! They exhausted me! 

Charlie doing the marketing with her big cousin James 12/21

James with his tree cake

Troy decorating a cupcake

Over the course of the last few days, Charlie has also discovered her Johnny Jumper! I am absolutely in LOVE with this toy, and I'm so happy that we let her open it up before Christmas! The contraption connects to a door frame, and the little one is able to jump, walk, and stand on their own! She just adores it! She will jump and play in it for long periods of time, and once shes done, she comes out and falls immediately to sleep! I think the exercise is great for her, and we notice an improvement in her leg control almost every time shes in it! Thank you Johnny Jumper, for allowing me to clean my house again. A video, if you're interested:

Please ignore any silliness on my part. Haha. 

Last night, our fantastic friends Justin and Nicole came by to drop off a Christmas gift for CO before they left for Houston. Nicole and I went to highschool together, and I met Justin last year. The two of them are just amazing! They are super laid back, gamers to boot, and very much in love. Troy and I really enjoy spending time with them, and they've loved Charlie since the day she was born! Shes very lucky to have so many people who care for her! 

Charlies Xmas from Justin and Nicole. Animals! Do they know her or what?

In other news, my grandparents on my dads side are in town from Georgia. I haven't seen them in nearly three years, and Troy hasn't seen them in closer to five. He and I were only roommates when they met. This is also their first opportunity to meet and spend time with Charlie. Tonight, she is spending the night with her Memo and Papa so that she can visit with great grandma Verbie and great grandpa Vernon all day tomorrow. Troy and I plan to spend the night out on the town, being that we wont have our cubbie! We plan to spend the holiday weekend in weatherford visiting with family, eating, giving gifts, and watching our Charlotte O enjoy her very first Christmas. 

From Sam, Troy, and Charlotte Olivia-- we wish you and your family a blessed holiday, filled with all of the joy and love in the world.