Pumpkin Picking

Our family took a recent trip to Silverman's Farm to pick out a pumpkin and take a few family pix. The day was beautiful and the Farm was crowded...but we had fun nevertheless!!

Posing with a spider?...

Dylan hanging out with Daddy...

Say "pumpkin!" boys!!!

We haven't been too successful in the family photo department lately...this appears to be no exception: a little too bright for me and the boys.

Random pix from Nonna's visit

Nonna visited us last month for a couple of weeks...and what a fantastic time we had (as usual!). I was a little nervous at first because, as is often the case when Nonna comes on her own, I thought Mommy and Daddy might be heading out on their own...but, much to my delight, everyone stayed here together and enjoyed Nonna's visit.

Nonna spends so much time playing with me...and I LOVE IT!!! We take lots of walks, go to the playground, ride bikes (OK, well I ride mine while she walks)...and that's just a quick list of the outdoor fun. Here we are at the playground close to our house.

I'm think I'm trying to explain to brothers how to smile for the camera.

Sometimes we find it easiest to strip the boys down to their diaper when it is time for a meal. Dylan always has a smile on his face when it is time to eat!

And so does Beckett!

We love this photo...thanks, Nonna, for sending all these great photos! I'm not really sure what is going on here but it certainly looks mischievous. I wish we had a few pictures of Nonna - though she's often the one behind the camera. My mom thinks she has a few on her camera that have yet to be downloaded onto the computer...stay tuned. And miss you, Nonna! xoxo, Charlotte

Back to school, Part II

Here I am on the first official day! I eat my lunch and a snack at school this year...check out my polka-dot lunch box. And I get to bring my backpack, too, just like Dora (except that mine is clearly not as animated as hers).

Heading out to the car...

Looking very grown-up and serious in this shot.

OK, mom...let's open the door and get this show on the road! I was very excited to be back to school and have adjusted well to the new schedule, teachers, classroom and friends. I don't nap anymore (though did I ever?...) so I tend to be exhausted at the end of each week...such is the life of a preschooler! I embrace each new day with enthusiasm and can't wait to share the details with mom and dad in the evening. There are a few fall activities coming up at school (our Pot Luck supper and Fall Family Fun Day)...check back for pix! Love, Charlotte

Back to school, Part I

I've been back to school for a little over a month now and it has been a great adventure. We've returned to the Learning Community Day School for the 3's program, which meets 5 mornings per week. Here I am getting ready for my first day of orientation, which involved meeting my teachers and seeing the classroom in a smaller group setting.

Just checking my purse to make sure I have everything....

OK, brothers, I'm ready!!! Mom has clearly asked me to "smile" here, so I'm giving it my best shot! And then we were off to school...

Brothers: oh, how they've grown!!

It's hard to believe but the boys are almost 7 months old now...it is just amazing! I'm so in love with my brothers and each new developmental stage has me excited...I'm convinced that they'll be running around with me before you know it. Here are some recent shots of them...aren't they the cutest??

Hanging out in their car seats...this photo is taken from the 3rd row seat in our van, which is where I sit. I usually can't see both brothers but I always have a view of at least one of them.

And here they are in Dylan's crib. While they are not sitting up totally on their own, they are sitting well with support. And don't they look so much alike in this shot?

Daddy and his boys!!! I know I will always be a "Daddy's Girl" but daddy has a special bond with his boys, too.

Dad and his three kids!!

Still loving the stroller...the boys really enjoy being out and about.

The bouncers get daily use and mom doesn't know what she would do without them. And the boys are getting really proficient at bouncing, especially Beckett.

Mom and Dad were joking about Dylan looking like a Jedi with his towel down over his head...

And finally, Beckett is happy after a bath in NYC. We went in to celebrate Mommy's birthday and had a blast at the Trump Soho Hotel...we were happy to be part of Mommy's big day and she was thrilled to have her family all together for the celebration. We will try to do better with posting photos of the boys as they are changing so much each day. They continue to be very mellow, happy guys who delight us with their laid-back personalities and sweet smiles. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have two amazing brothers. xoxo, Charlotte

Catching up...yet again!!

Hello friends! Well, we haven't been here for awhile but, in our defense, we really are very, very busy with brothers (more on them later), back-to-school (more coming on that, too!) and just life in general. The summer was great: I had so much fun at camp, making new friends and, as usual, celebrated many birthdays...including my OWN! So happy to be 3 years old. Here are a few highlights from my Big Day.

Open wide, daddy! There really were a LOT of presents (some might say, "too many"...but I was OK with it!) and this Doctor kit from mom and dad was one of my favorites. We've spent many an hour since my birthday listening to heartbeats, taking temperatures and blood pressure readings and testing reflexes. Mom thinks I'm a natural!

And the obsession with babies continues... I really, really love taking care of my babies: feeding them, bathing them, changing their diapers, etc. My friend Nikita gave me this baby for my birthday...I just love her!

When we talk "birthdays" around here, we need to be clear on one thing: birthdays always mean cake or cupcakes! After all, what's a birthday party without a sweet treat to celebrate? My mom knocked it out of the park this year with this beautiful, delicious Pirate Dora cake. Here is a shot of me and my friends waiting anxiously to dig in.

My birthday party, held again this year (for the 3rd year running) at our beach, had a Pirate theme, which was SO COOL!!! And the boys had to get in on the action, too, with their pirate outfits...and check out Beckett's eye patch? Can you say, "ARGGHHHHHHHH?!?!?"

Though I spent most of my time in the water (swimsuit not required, apparently), I did take a pizza break. Running, jumping, swimming and splashing requires lots of energy...and I definitely worked up an appetite!

I don't exactly remember what I'm saying to my mom here but it is clear that I am declaring my thoughts with conviction. I hope I am saying something like, "you are the BEST mommy in the world for throwing me the most incredible of Pirate Birthday Bashes!" My 3rd birthday was a grand celebration and, even though we are late in documenting it here, it was a day we won't soon forget! Thanks to all my friends who were able to attend my party...you really made it special. With love, Charlotte xoxo

4 Months!

What a busy summer we've had...and it's not over yet! Dylan and Beckett have had many milestones this month: first airplane flight, rolling over (Beckett), giggling and laughing, "talking" up a storm and turning 4 months old. It's been challenging for everyone to remember the infant days (especially me!) but mommy clearly remembers hitting the 4-month mark with me and, along with it, how many exciting changes are in store. My brothers seem to have emerged from their infant cocoons, coming into their own.

Dylan...he's just chillin!

Beckett: he's always smiling and making us laugh.

LOVE my brothers!!! xoxoxo, Charlotte

More about brothers!

Hello Friends! I'm not sure if you can tell from this photo but I'm attempting to get my brothers to wave at the camera...not sure they are catching on, though. That said, they do more and more with each passing day - and I feel quite sure that they will be enjoying pizza and brushing their teeth (I've promised to share my toothpaste with them) before we know it!

Brothers and I (PS - I generally refer to them as "brudders," though mom and dad are very impressed with the fact that I can now tell them apart) have been enjoying so many fun activities this summer, including days out on the boat. Though I prefer to spend my time wandering around or playing on the swim platform, Dylan and Beckett seem to prefer to lounge on the bed where it is cool and shady.

Here the boys are dozing in their stroller as we venture over to Cedar Point's 4th of July picnic. We've had a VERY hot summer here in Connecticut and so brothers have not spent as much time in the stroller as mom would like... oh well, they'll have their chance as soon as the fall arrives. :)

Beckett in the tractor shirt, which is Daddy's favorite. The boys share all their clothes, which is lucky for them, though not as much for mom since she has SOOOOOO much laundry to do these days!

Dylan just hanging out on the couch...look how well he sits up! The boys are both very alert now and enjoy sitting up in their bouncy seats.

I'm just so happy to have two such terrific brothers! We've really been having fun together and I can't wait until they can do even more things. Even though I understand that they are babies, I remain uncertain about how long it will take before they are big like me. Time is a very challenging concept for the almost-3 year-old mind. More soon! Love, Charlotte (PS, Mom hopes you are impressed that we have been able to get 2 posts thus far in July!!)

My silly brother

Here is a recent video of my brother Beckett...isn't he SO CUTE??!? And though we've had the best of intentions, we haven't been very successful in keeping our Blog up-to-date. Brothers keep us pretty busy these days! Hope to get more up soon. XO, Charlotte

Keeping busy with Brothers

It has been a LLLLOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG time since our last post...and boy, have we been busy around here! I introduced you to my brothers back in March and mommy and I have been working really hard ever since. Dylan and Beckett are doing great and I love spending as much time as I possibly can with them. Here is a photo of Beckett on his play mat...isn't he cute???

This is Dylan, probably checking out the monkey that is hanging over his head.

Brothers!!! I can usually tell them apart by what they are wearing, though Dylan is still bigger so we are able to keep them straight (most of the time!!).

Normally I am not allowed to lay on the mat, though mom thought it would make a cute photo...so here we are! OK...back to the brothers! Hope to put up more pix and posts soon. Love, Charlotte

Princess

Check out my new princess dress-up costume (actually, 1 of 4), a gift I received for my special, new job of being a big sister. I just LOVE it!!

Looking at my rings...just like mommy has!

I'm ready for the ball!!! Mommy was hoping to delay the introduction of Disney Princesses for a year (or two!) but it looks like that is a losing battle. I haven't fully caught on to the breadth of the Princess line (toys, dolls, DVD's, etc.) but it's only a matter of time...xoxoxo, Charlotte

Easter Egg Roll

Daddy, Nonna and I went to an Easter Egg roll today at Pequot Library in Southport...it was so much fun! Not only did I get to dye eggs and meet the Easter Bunny, I took 1st place in the Egg Roll (among 40 2 year-olds). Here's my "warm-up" video! xoxo, Charlotte

Baby Brothers have arrived...

"I'm SOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!" My baby brothers are FINALLY here: Dylan Walker and Beckett Mitchell arrived shortly before 5:30PM on Saturday, March 27, 2010. And though we were prepared (mom had been going for ultrasounds every 2 weeks throughout her pregnancy!) somehow no one could believe how big those boys were: Dylan weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz and Beckett at 7 lbs 5 oz. For those of you who have a little trouble with math, that's over 15 Pounds of babies in mommies tummy.

I was so excited to meet my baby brothers...I could hardly contain myself! I finally got to go to the hospital on Sunday (actually, I was there on Saturday night, too, but it was a little too soon for me to see the boys). Here I am with Dad and Beckett in mommy's room.

Dylan, also known as Baby A (that's because he was the first baby to come out!), peaking out of his swaddle during his first hour of life. Such a sweet face!!

Dylan and Beckett side by side...just look at those handsome boys! My baby brothers are home now and we are so happy to be all together. I'm going to do my very best to be a great big sister and cannot wait for the day that Dylan and Beckett are big enough to color with me, to play and have adventures, to ride bikes, etc. Our family is so fortunate and blessed that Dylan and Beckett are healthy, happy and...finally...home. Love, Big Sister Charlotte xoxoxo