Happy Birthday Charity!

It's hard to believe my baby's already 3. She's such a joy! Since she came into this life it has never been dull.

I did not want a Christmas baby (I was due the 24th) so I was determined to have her early. After trying everything I could think of I went to my last resort. Castor oil. My mom had taken it and was sooo sick. I figured I'd risk it. It started my labor and I didn't get sick. We dropped the kids off at a friend and john rushed to the hospital. I told him there was no rush we had plenty of time, but he'd been denied his mad rush to the hospital with Mads and jarom so...

When I got my epidural they had me sit up and john stand in front of me to support me. It took a while cause my back wouldn't stop bleeding, and the next thing I knew john was on the floor. He had done fine with the other kids so I was kinda worried. The anesthesiologist and nurse just stepped over him and kept on working as he lay on the floor. It turns out he had come down with a bug and didn't tell me he was sick. He spent the entire night in the bathroom throwing up. He made it for her birth, held her for a minute, and went home.

She was soo sweet. She never cried at the hospital. (Madison wasn't allowed in the hospital nursery because she wouldn't stop crying) I was so tired though. I remember holding her, looking at her little bed 2 feet from my bed, and I couldn't move to put her to bed. I finally had to lay her between my knees because there was no one to take her from me and I couldn't seem to move. (The only time I've been in the hospital and didn't have nurses coming in every hour) It was a little depressing because john stayed at home sleeping until the next day. So the entire hospital stay I was alone with this beautiful little baby. But too darn tired to move.

Madison and Jarom were so excited to see her. They were so cute. Unfortunatly the CD I burned the pictures of Charity got scratched up and I only have 4 pictures of her until she was 3 months old. So I don't have pictures of them together.






She was an angel until 2 weeks old then her true personality came out. She's fiesty, demanding, silly, loving, stubborn, active, and so adorable. She had this mohawk for the longest time. I loved it.




She has been such a blessing in our lives. I love watching her grow and learn. She has such a love of the simple things in life. We love you Charity. (or Coco Huff ,Chi Chi or whatever you decide your name is)

Pictures

Not in the mood to write so here are some pictures. They are in random order.
Snow day. Charity took this picture. She loves to take pictures. Maybe she'll be a photographer.


Playing in the snow. The girl needs some gloves that fit her.

Charity's birthday party at the pizza place. Her reward for potty training. I had no desire to make a cake so Toll House did her cake this year.

At the ward Christmas party.


Mads and Jarom were santa's helpers at the Santa Fly in.


Charity is too funny. She'd sit on santa's lap and tell him what she wants, but wouldn't look at him.

Farewell. Just before I go to get my cast off. A great couple of days.

Someday

Last week Mads went to the temple for the first time. john and I went with her. It was a wonderful experience but she was too funny. I think she was nervous so when someone told her to do something she would tell them no. I kept thinking you're at the temple, not the place to say no. I should have explained things better to her so she'd know what to expect.
Saturday we went to Edgewood for the Santa Fly-in. It's a Christmas party my mom and others put on. My step-dad flies to pick up Santa and he gives presents to the kids. The kids love it. We always have fun. That night was the ward party and both of john's work parties. We chose to go the ward party.
Tonight we are having a little party for Charity at Peter Piper Pizza. I didn't want to deal with cleaning my house. She's so excited. Except it's snowing and I hate driving in snow. Maybe it won't stick. Her bday isn't til Wed. but this was the only evening that we had free.

It's always crazy this time of year. Sometimes I wish things would slow down so I could enjoy the season. Every night there is something going on, so many things to do. I remember when I was younger I would sit at night in front of our Christmas tree, drinking hot cocoa, for hours. Just thinking, enjoying Christmas. Now it's run, run, run, then crash (I can't stay up late anymore). Hopefully someday it will slow down.

Say cheese!

So I am trying to get out Christmas Cards going and because most of out family lives away we like to send pictures. I am starting to realize we are not a photogenic family.
We had our pics taken a little while ago and the pictures looked great, but we did not.
It was freezing when we took them so maybe that's part of the problem. Madison felt the need to pose in every picture. Jarom looked scared, Charity wouldn't smile, and I had more than 1 chin. Geez. We did good at last year's pictures.

Then I thought I would also get individual pictures of the kids and this is what I got.





My kids have beautiful smiles but when the camera comes out they either stick their tongue out or their smiles are stiff. Maybe we'll use the tongue photos for our cards. I'm too tired to care.