Labor Day...goodbye summer and hello fall!

Labor Day marks the close of Summer activities...pools close and college football starts! Mommy taught Caroline a must know chant for the upcoming Hokie football season. I say, "Let's Go!" and she says, "HOKIES!" I must say she is a natual! Here are the two of us geared up and ready for the HOKIE football kickoff game.

Caroline & Mommy in their HOKIE gear.

And more...


Caroline modeling her new sportswear...I think she is saying...GO HOKIES!

Also, with the start of Football...our warm temperatures start to disappear and daylight lessens. So, here are a few pics of one of the last trips to the park before the weather turned too cold. We had fun playing outside as a family one last time before we are stuck in the house until Spring! Enjoy!

Caroline peeking through the bubble.

Caroline & Daddy driving the school bus or BIG CHEESE if you will!

Caroline & Mommy having some bouncing fun on a Froggy at the park. Ribbit!!

Now, it's Mommy's turn to drive the bus with Caroline...Beep...Beep!

Love,

Caroline's Mommy

HAPPY ONE YEAR OLD BLOG!

WOW a year of BLOGGING!! As you can see by the archive of posts, I have slacked off a bit. When I first started BLOGGING, I couldn't get enough. Every night (well, not every night) but at least once a week or more I was BLOGGING about our sweet little girl. Don't get me wrong, we still have the SWEETEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD to blog about but something has changed...she's MOBILE and almost 2 years old...do I need to say anything else?!?

No, I won't blame my lack of BLOGGING on our little girl, BUT I will blame it on life happening and living in the moment! You see, I have so many posts just sitting in the Que waiting for me to complete them. Kind of like that commercial where the mom takes all of the kids pics with the digital camera, but never downloads them. They are all there...all the memories...waiting for all to see. They will be coming...I promise.

BUT, in the meantime, I realized that a year ago today I entered into the unknown world of BLOGGING! Who knows what I did with my time before BLOGGING and FACEBOOK! :~)
I have captured many memories for all of us to cherish. If you have a minute, take a look back at the original posts (the video of Caroline crawling and her FIRST trip to the Washington National ZOO). It's unbelievable how such a sweet little face could change over just one year. If I have to say so myself, she just keeps getting cuter and cuter, but I guess I am a little biased!

So, I have posted some pics of Caroline in August of 2008 and took some pics of her today so you all could see how much our little girl has grown in just one year!

From FIRST crawls to CLIMBING rails...oh no...what comes next!!

ENJOY!

Love,
Caroline's Mommy

AUGUST 2008...THEN...

I used to use the coffee table to help pull myself up...not anymore!

And this is how I use to get around...not anymore!

Here I come...now think about me NOW...a year later...whew!

This is what I liked to play with a year ago.

I have always liked to explore new things...climbing under not over here!

I use to like to put all of my toys in my mouth...that's how I played.

OOHH...I still make this face...some things never change!

NOW...AUGUST 2009...

Me with my new DISCOVERY TOYS MarbleWorks Castle...It's A LOT of FUN!

Oh, and look at my friends...Eeyore, Tigger, & Piglet. Our friend Pooh is missing from this shot!

WOW...

Caroline giving hugs.

AND another hug!

AND ANOTHER hug! She is actually singing Rock-a-by Baby to Piglet! So cute!

Look at me NOW...not pulling up on coffee tables anymore...I'm climbing on the backs of couches and scaling rails!

Look at this grin...I know I'm not suppose to be doing this, but Mommy is letting me because she is taking a picture. I usually get TIME OUT for this...but not now!!

The Mischievous face...you gotta love it!!

Celebrating Mommy's Birthday!

Birthday time! Most people that know me, know that I LOVE Birthdays! My parents say that I have always loved my Birthday...kind of like a National Holiday for me! ;~) Now, I know someone else that LOVES me having a birthday as much as me...Caroline! I bet you can guess why....yes, one word...CAKE and it has to be Ukrop's Cake of course. Here are some pics of us sharing my Birthday together.



Love,

Caroline's Mommy

Mommy & Caroline...she's singing Happy Birthday to me!

And yes...look at me...yummy cake!



And more cake!

Caroline & Mommy celebrating!

Messy Hands!

Ice Cream Cone...just the right size!

While on a visit to Richmond, we decided to take a walk with Grandma & Grandad up to their local Ice Cream Shop. Caroline LOVES ice cream and especially LOVED having her very own cone to hold...just her size! She was so proud to be holding her own cone of ice cream...too cute. See for yourself....



Love,

Caroline's Mommy

MMM...my very own ice cream cone!!

MMM...I LOVE Ice Cream!

Summer Fun...SAND, SURF, & LOTS OF FUN!!

We love summer time! And what better way to enjoy the summer than to take a beach trip! So, when Daddy had to go on a business trip that just happened to be in Beaufort, NC we decided to make a family trip out of it and head to Atlantic Beach, NC. So, as soon as we arrived we decided to check out the beach of course. It was a beautiful wide beach with crystal clear waters...I guess this is why they call this area the Crystal Coast.



So, Caroline and I had a couple of days by ourselves to explore and hit the beach while Daddy attended a business meeting for the first couple of days. It was a lot of fun but I will say it was a lot of work too! Have you ever traveled to the beach with an almost 2 year old! Well, needless to say, Mommy was worn out by the time she hauled beach chairs, a cooler, toys, towels etc...we REALLY missed having Daddy around this day! We checked out the local aquarium the next day while Daddy was working...we had lots of fun seeing all the fish and other sea urchins!



Then Daddy got to enjoy a few days of relaxation with his girls at the beach...fun family times!

Let's hope Daddy gets another business trip like this next year!



Enjoy the pics!



Love,

Caroline's Mommy

Beaufort, NC

Where we stayed



Another pic of the Inn we stayed in.

Caroline hits the beach as soon as we arrive.

Daddy & Caroline with her bucket & shovels in tow.

The water felt great!

Caroline & Daddy by the water's edge.

Caroline looks like her Daddy here!

The Family

Caroline just happened to find a swing on the beach...how fun!

Caroline enjoying her snack on the beach...that was before the Sea Gulls started to attack!

Daddy & Caroline on the boarwalk in Beaufort, NC

Caroline skipping rocks, well actually throwing shells, down on the boardwalk.

Mommy & Caroline on the Boardwalk

Daddy & Caroline strolling back to our Inn...Caroline HAD to push!

Daddy & Caroline exploring nature in Beaufort, NC

Caroline playing Peek-a-boo down by the Boardwalk

Ewww...look at this big Alligator Mommy! This was at the aquarium of course! ;~)

ooohh...look at that BIG turtle!

At the end of the day...Caroline posing with her green turtle while sitting on the BIG one! Did you notice what Caroline is wearing...yes, a dress with fish, appropriate right! :~)

Our bathing suit beauty!

Caroline pointing to her name written in the sand.

Daddy & Caroline hitting the waves!

Sand, Surf, and Fun...so much fun...someone fell asleep on Mommy.

Nothing like sleeping on sand and listening to the waves...life at the beach!

Mommy & Caroline watching the waves by the shoreline.

Before we left the beach, we had to get a few pics of Caroline in the Dunes...how sweet is she!

Caroline frolicking in the Dunes...she looks like such a big girl!