Carmen is 18 months old

Our little sweetie turned 18 months on December 22nd.  Time is moving so fast!  Here are her stats:

weight: 27 lbs 7oz (82%)

height: 33-1/2" ( 86%)

head circ: 19" (87%)

She is growing up before our eyes!  Carmen is so sweet and lovable, but yet so tough and hard core.  She knows what she wants, when she wants it, and how she needs it.  We are raising a determined, little sweetheart.  We love her more than words can describe!

• Carmen still eats way more than Roman and we still call her Miss Piggy.  Roman questioned why we were calling his sister a pig, so we had to stop!  She loves most foods while eggs, applesauce, and yogurt are definitely her favorites.  She wants everything that big brother wants and the exact same format.  If he has a fork, she will have one too!
• Carmen is in size 24 month clothes and wears a size 5 shoe.  She is sporting a size 5 diaper also. 
• Carmen still doesn't talk much, but knows everything.  She says, dada, bye bye, shoe, and maybe a few other words.  She's really good at shaking her head yes and no.  We really communicate with her great even though she doesn't talk much.  Yet the other day, we heard her say a complete sentence, "I want breakfast".  It was crazy!  Matt and I were both looking at each other like did you just hear her?  Silly girl!
• Carmen still won't sit still for a tv show at all.  She's always on the go unless she's really sick.
• Carmen is learning her shapes and animals right now.  She loves to put together the wood puzzles and now can master all of them except the numbers.  She loves to read books with us pick out objects in the books.  She's learning every single day and it is so exciting to watch.
• Our little diva loves shoes and hair bows.  She likes to pick out which shoes and hairbow.  If I choose one that matches, but she doesn't want to wear it, she absolutley will not!  Daddy has brought her downstairs in bright red shoes insisting that she had to wear them! Silly girl!
• Carmen loves her big brother so much even though he often hits her and tramples all over her.  She still comes back for more!

We love you Carmen Dale!  You are my one sweet girl and I wouldn't change a thing about you.  We are blessed to be your parents!

Thanksgiving week

We spent the first few days before Thanksgiving at my mom's house.  We left on Saturday morning and flew to Springfield.  Everyone did great, even Captain!  We got to see my friend, Sarah, and her boys on Saturday night.  Roman and Carter played so well together. Meema enjoyed having having all of her grandchildren together for a few days.  We had a great time.

Meema and her grandchildren

Carmen was intrigued by baby Mason

Silly Roman and Carter

 We headed to the lake a few days later.  My mom drove us to Tulsa and back in the same day.  She's a saint!  We had a great time with Matt's entire family and enjoyed the peaceful lake!  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We could not get the kids to cooperate at all!  We finally gave up and this was our Christmas photo this year!

The entire Jones family at the lake.  What a great family!

Quiet time

Roman decided to dress up his superheros in silly "costumes" during quiet time the other day.  I'm actually so proud of his creativity.  He gave them gloves and shoes.  My silly boy!  He usually comes out dressed up himselft with belts, slippers, hats, you name it!  I just love my big boy!

It's beginning to look like Christmas

I made some wreaths because we now have two front doors and I just couldn't justify spending the crazy prices for the pre-made ones. It was really fun! Matt also found our first fake tree on Craigslist for only $200! We love it! The mess of a real tree was such a pain. We just miss the smell of a real tree.

lately

I'm so frustrated!  We accidentally left our camera at my mom's house over Thanksgiving.  We haven't had any good pictures since then!  Bummer!  I'm 17 weeks pregnant and have felt the little bean move a little this week.  I was actually holding Carmen yesterday and he/she literally kicked me hard!  I wasn't ready for that yet!  

Carmen has been so sick lately.  She's had RSV with a fever and cold.  We keep giving her breathing treatments.  Poor thing has literally been sick since we got back from Tulsa.  

Roman has been so much better lately.  Three years old is such a hard age!!!  He was napping every day and literally crashing, but I couldn't wake him and he would be cranky all afternoon and then I couldn't get him to sleep at night.  There were many nights that he would cry and kick the door until after 10 pm!  Yuck!! Matt finally came up with the brilliant idea of having quiet time in the play room.  He plays quietly by himself for about two hours while Carmen is napping from 2-4.  It's awesome!  Sometimes he will still walk himself in his room and put himself to sleep, but we try to catch him.  No sleeping buddy!  Everyone is happier now!

Matt hasn't flown much at all the past few months.  We have loved having daddy home.  He loves it too!  He has gotten to fix many things around the house, play golf on our course finally, and play lots of tennis with the neighborhood guys.  It's great!

We absolutely love it here in Atlanta.  I can't believe that we would be settled in so fast with so many great friends from church and our neighborhood.  We feel blessed!