Happy New Year to everyone!
The last month has been eventful. The holidays were busy and a lot of fun. They have apparently inspired the kids to reach for new milestones and cause all sorts of fun, new headaches for Mom and Dad.
Charlotte had her first-ever trip to the deep south, as we visited Grandma and Grandpa in their new home at the beach in South Carolina for Christmas.
Both girls also got to meet their great-grandparents Hudson for the first time as well as hang out with all the Cooper (and Salmon) aunts and uncles. We drove down in two days, stopping for the night in Petersburg, VA. The hotel stay was the worst night of the trip, as Charlotte woke up screaming at 2 and Julia did not go back to sleep. We ate breakfast at 4 and were back on the road before 5. We found out later that Julia had some sort of viral infection that resulted in a 102.7-degree fever the next day!
While in South Carolina,
we spent time on the beach and Julia got to test out her new paddle in her first-ever canoe ride.
We also got to spend time with Jim and Pam Hudson and the Sabins, Aaron's relatives.
Julia especially enjoyed hanging out with the "little boys," in particular the bigger little boy, 15 (I think) - year old Matthew, who was a hit with both girls.
On the way back north, we stopped in Maryland for Christmas with the Vennells. Both Christmas days, the 25th with the Coopers and the 28th with the Vennells, had temperatures in the 70's, so neither Christmas quite felt like those of our childhoods, but they were enjoyable nonetheless.
Upon our return to New Jersey (and days of freezing rain), the girls started to knock down one "What to expect" milestone after another. The details:
Charlotte's first tooth has broken through. She has also started getting up on all fours and then scooting herself across the floor. When she is motivated by something (usually to put in her mouth), she really gets going, legs swimming like crazy and grunts of exertion coming out of her mouth while she motors towards the object. She also scoots around her crib and has actually been able to pull herself up to standing. That is not so dangerous now that we have lowered her crib mattress.
Julia has begun drinking out of a cup, and had her first empty cup with no spills last weekend. More excitingly, while Julia was napping today , Kara went into the basement. When she came back upstairs, she heard a strange noise, and there was Julia, standing in the living room, proclaiming that not only was she done with her crib but also that she had learned to open doors - both in the same day! So, as I type, Julia is hopefully sleeping in her new toddler bed. If she's not, she'll probably make her way down here to the basement and help me type this entry...
The only unfortunate thing in all this excitement is that we have misplaced our camera (it did make it back from vacation, but we have no idea where it is now), so we have no pictures to show you of Charlotte's new lower crib nor of Julia's new bed. Once we locate the camera, we'll share.
Finally, Charlotte's six-month and Julia's 2 1/2 year checkups are Friday; we'll let you know how they go. Best wishes to everyone for a Happy New Year.
Since we've been home, Kara and the girls have been entertaining themselves around the house which resulted in a fleece fashion show in 80 degree weather. Julia is Monkey See and Charlotte is Monkey Do. We have a pretty serious case of older-sister worship these days.
Aaron took Julia on her first camping trip (in the backyard) over Labor Day weekend and they both had a great time. Aaron was convinced that Julia had a great night's sleep, until she feel asleep on her floor for two hours the next afternoon.
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