Charlotte's Fort

Charlotte has now decided that her new favorite place to play is her "fort." We know it as the little spot between the love seat and the chair...but Charlotte has claimed it as her own. She'll just crawl back there with a few or her toys and hang out.

I was very happy to see Charlotte when I got back from New York! Her and Daddy had such a great time together when I was gone, I don't think she noticed at all...which is a great thing!





The attached video is for those of you saying, "She's not really walking, right...she's only 10 months...." Watch the video and then you will understand how my life has changed forever!!! Even the grandparents will tell you how a day watching her is exhausting!!! She is a BUSY BODY!!! Anyway, now that we are back in our groove, we should have more blog posts! Have a great week!

Spring Break Update

FYI...flirting worked.  We are going to a taping of Letterman tomorrow!  I think it will air tomorrow night!!  Exciting!

Mom's on Spring Break!!

Well, for those of you who don't know...I am taking a little "spring break" trip.  My sister, Liz, and I are in NYC for a few days.  We flew in this morning and, as you can tell from the picture, I am reminded of Charlotte everywhere!!

We have already done so much...St. Patrick's Cathedral, Magnolia Bakery, we saw The Lion King...  We are going to see Billy Elliot tomorrow and we are hoping to go see The Late Show with David Letterman either Monday or Tuesday (crossing our fingers that flirting with the audience coordinator worked...) We are also going on the NBC Studios tour.  So much to do!! It's actually good we are so busy, it helps me keep my mind off of little Charlotte.  She was staying at my parents house Friday and Saturday night and she will be spending the rest of the time with her daddy.  Kevin is really excited about getting some alone time with Charlotte.  I am trying to be really good and not Skype her or talk to her on the phone.  She tends to be "out of sight, out of mind" with me.  So, I don't want to take the chance of getting her upset if she can see or hear me.  Kevin and I found that out the hard way when I took the dogs out the other day..she started crying, so Kevin brought her over to the window so she could look out in the yard and see me.  She just stood at the window and bawled.  It was heartbreaking to say the least :(  

Here's a picture of me enjoying my red velvet cupcake from Magnolia Bakery in NYC.  Talk to everyone later!!

St. Patty's Day at the Zoo

Yesterday, Charlotte and I met our friends Jill and Lila (HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, LILA!!) at Lincoln Park Zoo. It was going to be 72 Degrees outside and there was no way we were staying at home. As we were pulling into the parking area, it became evident that a lot of moms in the area had the same plan. It was stollers galore!!! We got to the zoo around 11:00 and Charlotte usually naps around 11:30-12:00, so she slept for a good part of the trip. I think she saw a Lion..she seemed to follow it with her eyes. We had a great time and it was so nice to be outside and spend a little time with Lila on her birthday! Charlotte also ate a cupcake in honor of Lila's day!! Mommy had a few little bites, but she pretty much ate the whole thing herself!! Charlotte is getting used to walking outside in shoes...it's a lot different than being inside with her socks on. She just takes off when she is inside, but she is a little more cautious outside (which is good...I don't want her taking a hard fall on the concrete).

Walking Machine

Little Charlotte is a walking machine. She just goes and goes...and falls and falls. We've had a few good bumps on the forehead the last few days, but she just gets up and goes again. Since it was so nice out today, Charlotte and I took a walk to Panera for a late lunch. She got a grilled cheese off of the kids menu..it was just beautiful out! After lunch, I went across the street because there is a baby store there going out of business and I thought I could get some shoes on sale. No such luck...but, then low and behold, in the same plaza was a children's shoe store!! I had never noticed it there before...I guess I never had reason to notice. So, we went in and they actually measured her little feet in the metal foot thing... So, we found two pairs of shoes for her to start walking outside in. Her first pair of "real" shoes! Charlotte turned 10 months old yesterday! She is growing way too fast!!! I can't believe she is almost a year old.

Enjoy the attached video of her...she's too smart for her own good sometimes!

St. Patty's Day Weekend!

It is an exciting few days for Miss Charlotte....it's her first St. Patty's Day (well....a little early).  Charlotte spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa Cannata's on Saturday night so that Kevin and I could go to a friend's birthday party.  Then, on Sunday, we went to pick her up and stayed for some corned beef and cabbage.  Charlotte ate some carrots, potatoes and soda bread....but, I think she wasn't quite sure about the corned beef. She also enjoyed some mint chocolate cake that Grandpa bought for her (that's what happens when Grandpa goes grocery shopping).  

You would think Charlotte has been walking for weeks the way she walks all over the place now!!  She is a little pro!    

We're REALLY in trouble now!!

Well, she is barely 10 months old...and she is walking. We can't believe it. All of the sudden on Wednesday, she just started and hasn't stopped since. She is growing up so fast!!!!

Is there anything Charlotte won't eat??

Last Sunday, we had the Clinnin's over for dinner. It was a great time, Charlotte was in such a good mood all day. She was a riot..that girl loves an audience. She had so much fun playing with Grandma and Aunt Colleen! For dinner, Kevin made lasagna...the attached video is Charlotte enjoying her first ever taste of lasagna. I am sooo blessed that she is such a good eater. She amazes me.

The cutest thing happened the other day... When Charlotte really hurts herself, I always go and pick her up and put her pacifier in, rub her head and tell her that it's okay. So, the other day, she was sitting in my lap and we were messing around and I was making her laugh. All of the sudden, she accidentally head-butted me right in my nose... I started covering my nose and reeling in a little bit of pain. Well, Charlotte immediately took her pacifier out of her mouth and tried to put it in mine!!! I swear, in all of the months I have known her, that was about the cutest and smartest thing she has ever done.

We are still praying for some warmer weather...this cold is awful!! We have such cabin fever! Charlotte just hates being in our basement now. It's really the only carpeted area that is babyproofed and where she can have the freedom to play. Everytime I just open the gate to bring her down there, she starts crying. She hates it as much as I do!! Tonight, at about 4:30 ,I looked at her and said, "You and I need to get out of here before we both go crazy." So, I bundeled her up in her snowsuit and took her to the bar down the street. It's not as bad as it sounds!!! It's a neighborhood bar that serves food...also, around 4-5, there are a lot of neighborhood families in there getting dinner. Plus, for those that don't live around here, Chicago has a smoking ban...so, it's actually a nice place to go. I ordered a few appetizers (half-priced apps on Tuesdays!) and I got an order or tater tots for Charlotte. She was sooo happy for the change of scenery! She just sat in her highchair and laughed and ate her tots. It gave both of us a much needed mental break.. (Plus, a glass of wine for mommy didn't hurt either). She smiled at all of the waitresses and laughed at everyone in the place. It's nice to have a little place around the corner where I can bring her just to get out for a little bit! I just can't wait until we can go for walks again!


Here's a video from last week when she was teething really badly: