Things Mostly About Charley

Clearly it has been forever since our last post. So much has been going on around here and life just keeps getting busier. Since I'm no good at doing updates as things happen, here is a very quick recap of our last year... with lots of pictures.

During the spring after Charley was born:

• Greg and I managed to finish our semester at school though it was tough focusing on school work with such an adorable baby around.
• We attended several weddings, including my dad's and Greg's sisters.
• Charley had an infectious disease she some how picked up. She's a tough one and we all managed to get through it... naturally, she was so grumpy and fussy all the time.
• Charley was blessed June 12th. I always love having lots of family in town for things like this. Greg gave her a beautiful blessing and afterwards we put on lunch for everyone.
• We helped my dad and Michelle move out of both their house, then into a rental and finally into their new home. phew!

Helping Grandpa pack.

During the Summer:

• We both took a couple summer classes, had lots of family visit, floated the river several times, traveled down to Utah, went to Lagoon, and watched our baby girl grow up.

Fall:

• Greg and I started another semester. (Someday we will be done....)
• We went to the corn maze and bundled Charley up in Greg's coat. She loved it!! She just watched everybody and enjoyed the scenery.
• We celebrated Halloween by going around to all of our families houses showing off Charley, because everyone just had to see her. :)

Thanksgiving and Christmas:

• We spent Thanksgiving down in Utah with Greg's side of the family. We stayed in Spanish Fork with his grandparents for the better half of a week and had a busy, fun packed time. We got to visit with lots of family, see good friends, shop, visit the temple (Boise is closed) eat lots of food, and shop some more. We also went to Temple Square and saw the lights. I always enjoy doing this, but I enjoyed it even more this year with our little girl. She was so entranced by all the lights and people.

• Christmas was a little more chaotic this year. We spent the night at my dads, as tradition (which, unfortunately for Taylor, has to end soon) and went to church with them that morning. When we got home we gathered around to open presents. Right as we were beginning, Cameron (my step-brother who is on a mission) called, while they were talking we made brunch. In the middle of making it, Greg's parents called and they were ready for us to head over there for gifts. So we quickly left, missing the meal, opened gifts there and then headed back to my dads to finish up presents. Then back to the Jensen's for dinner. It was non-stop chaos but it was so fun. And Charley of course was the star and made one heck of a haul! Her pile of gifts was never ending, but she loved the whole experience. She loved playing with the paper and bows, and figured out that there was something inside and would help rip off the paper. She would get most excited when she opened a book.

Helping Great-Grandpa put up lights

Sadly, she had a blowout in her Christmas dress, so she is wearing PJs she got from Great-Grandma Clifford. But, she was excited about her book!

After Christmas we enjoyed the rest of our winter vacation. My mom came up from Boston and watched Charley while Greg and I headed for our Caribbean cruise, which of course, was so much fun.

Charley is now 9 months old and she has been the biggest thing to hit this planet in our little world. She is seriously the most popular thing ever. Both families are equally obsessed with her (as are we) and we can't go anywhere without her being the center of attention. She is becoming such a big girl and is very independent. I have a feeling she is going to be a bit of a stubborn one when she gets older....

She is doing all the baby things, eating, growing, crawling, (almost walking!!! Oh my!) putting every dirty little thing in her mouth... At her 9 month appointment she weighed 17 pounds, has a big head and is a tall chicka.

This kid has one heck of a personality. She can draw in anyone around her. She has the biggest grin and knows how to work it. She loves to blow kisses, clap, fake laugh, make animal sounds, and copy everything anyone does. She won't drink out of a sippy cup, she has to drink out of a regular cup, and loves to use a straw. She doesn't like to watch tv, but she loves to sing along with the ABC phonics song, trying to mimic the sounds of the letters. She loves our ki-ki (cat) who sometimes lets her pet her. (which she does softly) She is the biggest flirt and LOVES loves kids, and will laugh her head off at every single thing they do. She loves to dance, especially to Club Can't Handle Me by Flo Rida (I know, good song for a baby...) and will 'raise the roof' with her arms . She knows how to turn on dad's I-phone and loves to play the baby apps he has on it for her. This has us worried a bit, that she is already obsessed with a cell phone... She will tell us when she wants food by saying num num num num. She loves to read books and likes to turn the pages herself. She loves the mirror and her baby doll and gives it kisses. She has three teeth which she likes to rub her lips against. She is just like her daddy and can pull a kazillion different faces. Seriously, a Kazillion faces! She loves to play peek-a-boo, but has to be the one to hide. She loves bath time and having her head washed. She loves to sit on mom's lap and help her do homework... well she calls it helping. She is amazing and we truly feel so blessed to have her in our lives. I have a million pictures of her and because I think my kiddo is adorable, here are some of just Charley:

Tay had her baby for school the same week I had mine. :)

She had a photo shoot when she was just a little over a week old. They turned out amazing and I am so glad we decided to get them done.

One of her hilarious faces

Our little Bronco!

Chasing the laser pointer with Luna.