We are still alive

Hi! Remember us? We do still exist and a lot has been going on in the last 3 months. We wrapped up our summer of first birthday parties and now it seems like Fall has gone by in a flash. Sam has started kindergarten and is loving it, Charlotte took swimming lessons (in addition to all her many other activities!), we spent a weekend in Baton Rouge, a weekend in Chicago, and 5 days at DisneyWorld. One of the biggest accomplishments came in August when we finally got a babysitter (not until after everyone was asleep of course :)) and Derek and I WENT OUT for our anniversary. I think it was the first time in over a year that I'd been out of the house after dark. Also, Charlotte has gone to Mom's Morning Out at the YMCA a few times and is doing...okay. It is her first time to be apart from me and some days she loves it and some days...well, some days she doesn't end up staying for more than 5 minutes :)

Charlotte is in such a cute phase right now as she is picking up new words nearly everyday and is mimicking everything we do. If I am sweeping the floor...Charlotte is sweeping the floor, if I am cooking dinner...Charlotte is stirring imaginary bowls with wooden utensils, when I say "okay, it's time to go"...she grabs her purse and baby doll and runs for the garage door. One of the cutest new things that she says is a word she learned in DisneyWorld--"wow!" She also loves to say "woof" and "quack." She is really good at spotting dogs and ducks and will let you know as soon as she sees one! Our favorite outings right now are probably to the zoo where she loves to chase the birds and peacocks and to the mall where we ride the carousel and the train. It seems like she has also really started to recognize her friends. We hang out with the same few people nearly everyday of the week, but just this past week when we met up at the park, she ran right up to her friends and gave them hugs. So cute...especially because they all happen to be boys :)