Happy (early) Mother's Day~ my favorite holiday

I was lucky enought to have received the lovely potted plant from Charly on Thursday when I picked her up from the babysitters. Even though she didn't want to decorate the pot like the other kids and also wanted NOTHING to do with the plant or potting it, it was a wonderful surprise and my VERY FIRST mother's day gift from my kid! I thought that was cool and then today Charly and her dad surprised me again! I was in a meeting all day at work while Andrew got to get some really great "charly time" in (since our babysitter was off for the state holiday -Truman day). Although I received text messages throughout the day updating me on how many poops she had and how tired she was at lunch time sitting in her chair (with a picture to prove it) ... I still missed out on my "charly time". Don't you worry though... I have a fun weekend planned in St. Louis to spend time with my WONDERFUL husband and my BEAUTIFUL baby girl! Since we are leaving in the morning I wanted to post my mother's day post today... and I will have to skip a day of pictures (and posts/updates) because I will be soaking up my "charly/andrew time" tomorrow in ST. LOUIS!!!

So... back to my surprise... I walked in the door and got a BEAUTIFUL potted plant (equally as beautiful as the one I got on Thursday), and a yumm-o cake from my favorite bakery- BK Bakery . We all sampled the delicious strawberry heaven! I love Mother's Day. Only now do I realize why my mom loved this holiday and why it is so important. On this mother's day I am so thankful for what I have and for the opportunity to be a mother. I realize what a precious gift that is and how important of a job I have! I have to thank God for his magnificent plan and for allowing me to trust him and for the gift he has given me. I love being a mom! I was meant to be a mom!

~I had to post the pictures of the way Charly was dressed today when I got home! Andrew is not the best at putting together an outfit, and Charly is not quite ready to "rock" the belly shirts! :)

a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

while daddy was at ball practice tonight this is what we did. we walked the driveway, and we had fun in our swing. today i got my very first mother's day present from my daughter!!! Last year Charly was 2 weeks old, and that was present enough! This year she is more than I could have asked for and the mother's day present was a nice little bonus! (the present will be revealed on Mother's day!!!)

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Little known fact: this lovely beast was due on cinco de mayo last year!

I seriously want to be 1 again...

so I can eat crackers and drink juice while working out. Tonight we went on a walk with Amanda and the birthday wagon got some miles under it's belt.

keeping up with the koppens...

So I'm trying to keep up with posting a picture and a little somthing every day, but it is hard! I find that there are not enough hours in the day.... I rush home from work only to spend a good 2 1/2 hours with Charly before she heads to bed... so needless to say... most of the pictures that will be posted monday thru friday will either consist of (a) a bath (b) a naked baby or (c) a baby in pajamas or quite possibly (d) a baby eating dinner. The reason for this is (a) that is what we do when we get home! So, if you don't like seeing (e) all of the above... just don't check back here till the weekend! :) The picture of Charly in the coffee table drawer is a picture from Sunday (the day I missed posting)... but I put it up so you can see how much she has grown in 24 hours! hee hee.... I think that must have been due to the gigantic rock she picked up at Menards today and ate. Ok, the rock wasn't gigantic (but it was kinda big) and no, she didn't eat it... she just attempted to.

Dinner...

Charly and I went to dinner with Amanda and Ryan tonight at Ruby Tuesday. This was the second time Charly has been there for dinner. I remember the first time Charly went there... she was still in the womb! We took her birthparents and sister there before she was born. I can't believe how fast the year has gone.

Charly speaks Chinese...

Not only is she walking everywhere... but now she has picked up the Chinese language and mastered it! She talks non-stop, I just don't know what she is talking about! Forgive me... I'm trying to do a picture everyday... and they may end up like these... pre-bedtime photo op... Not the best, but it is a picture!