Tifton, GA

Craig, the girls and I have made it to Tifton, GA! We really like it here so far, and are taking it one day at a time in the hotel! We've been searching for a house, and meeting new friends.

Thursday, Sept. 8 I took Charlotte and Olivia to "Wilders World." It's an emporium of inflatables where the kids can jump, climb and slide. Charlotte played non stop for 2 hours (and still fought nap-time)!

We are going to head back to Sebring, FL tomorrow to empty out Craig's storage unit. He left a lot of chemicals since the movers aren't qualified to handle them. We're also looking forward to seeing all the friends we've made there in the past year. We've been so blessed to have met so many great people and I know this isn't going to be the last of many of these friendships!

Olivia is growing in leaps and bounds! She's 12 weeks old finally and doing really well in the bumbo! Because we're in the car so much I feel like I haven't had a lot of time to work with her on tummy time, so she hasn't rolled over yet or anything, but I'm not going to worry yet, we've just been on the move so much and our whole worlds have been turned upside down. She's such a happy girl and absolutely loves it when I "get" her - it makes her squeal with laughter!

There are so many things coming up that we're excited for! Charlotte will be turning 2 in just a couple weeks and this will start the holiday cycle with Halloween just around the corner and then we'll be coming home to Arkansas for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I can not wait to get my sweet Charlotte around her cousins! She's been talking so much and developing so many relationships, I hate to think we live states away and she's missing out on the valuable familial relationships she could be forming if we lived in Arkansas! We will get back there one day!

But for today, we will just have to find a place to live and get familiar with Georgia! It is a beautiful state and we've already met many great people I know we'll become fast friends with! We're so blessed for our family, with Craig's job and all the opportunities we've been given! I've never been happier in all my life!

Updates for June, 2011

     Olivia is finally one month old. She's not completely sleeping through the night, but I'm definitely not sleep deprived throughout the day. As far as my ability to cope with two children as opposed to one goes: I thought I'd have more patience with Charlotte. As it turns out, I feel like I'm getting on to her for absolutely every little thing that she does instead of letting her be the wild child she just naturally is. I've decided I'm going to lay off a bit, if not for her own self esteem, but for my sanity, too. Not too much has happened in the past month. We're all still trying to find a routine that we can all fit in, which will be difficult since Olivia's schedule has already changed a lot.

     While my in-law's were here, we did a lot of fun stuff. We went to Sam's Club and bought a lot of good stuff that you can't get at walmart! We also bought some flowers from Grandma Ray, which we let Charlotte pick out. She loves the color purple! We also went to the Eagle Ridge Mall a couple hours from my house which has a carousal that Charlotte went on with her papa. She wasn't too sure about it! They also had a few other little toys she played on, but she wasn't real happy to be on them, until the very end! Oma and papa had a swimming pool at their condo that Charlotte got to swim at, and she loved that!

     In Sebring, there is a great children's museum that Oma and Papa took Charlotte to one day. They had different stations set up so she could experience different facets of life, i.e. she got to pretend she was a doctor. At another station she got to drive a race car and a truck and at another station she got to pretend to go shopping, ring up her groceries and make change. It inspired me to open her piggy bank and start working on our different types of currency and the importance of saving change. So far she has loved finding change and putting it in her piggy bank, hopefully this is a behavior we can get to stick!

     Olivia is still such a peaceful baby. She's happy 99% of the time and really doesn't complain if I have to put her down. She still sleeps quite a lot and doesn't seem to have any night/day confusion. I feel extremely fortunate for my situation, I know it could be a lot worse! Though it is still very stressful to balance the needs of two different children, I think this is something I'll be able to manage and grow from. Friday, June 10, Daddy and papa went deep sea fishing, so Debbie and I got to spend a little time together. We did plenty of relaxing and got some ice cream! As it turns out, while they were deep sea fishing, Craig caught a hogfish which is a rare rod and reel catch and became the spot light of the fishing trip.

     Craig and Charlotte have gotten to spend more time together lately which is great because they're so much alike. I always knew they would be buddies: Charlotte is such a daddy's girl and Craig loves the age that she's at. Other than the tantrums, fits and strong willed nature of her, she is at an age that's so much fun since she's starting to think outside the box and outside of what we're telling her. She's so smart and I'm so impressed with how much she knows without me telling her. Craig and Charlotte love to go four wheeler riding, and their newest game time is playing with the water hose outside:

     Not much has been happening with us with all our changes, but we're missing a lot back home. Our niece Kayla has been going to camps and learning and growing, and Uncle Ross has gotten back home from his mission. My little sister is about to turn 9 (And can you believe my older brother just turned 27?). My cousin Matt just married a beautiful woman, Ashley and we missed their wedding. We love that we are able to grow together as a family as we're forced to face daily situations without the influence of our families, but we're missing out on so much, too. We're definitely looking forward to Thanksgiving when we can get everybody together again, Charlotte needs to know her cousins and we're looking forward to seeing our families again!

One Week Later

     We're officially out one week from having Olivia and the adjustments have been cake! Olivia is a sweet little spirit who LOVES to sleep. She's already almost sleeping through the night, and when she wakes up hungry, I'd never know it if I didn't randomly wake up to find her with mouth open wide like a baby bird looking for mothers milk! She will get a little squeeky of she goes too long, but generally she is a very 'at peace' baby.

     Charlotte has absolutely loved having a little sister. She won't say "Olivia" but instead just calls her "sister". She loves to get real close to her and give her all kinds of love! Olivia will be very strong one day!

     Craig and I have absolutely loved having a second girl and you can see what a proud daddy he is in these pictures. Sunday, May 29, 2011 was Craig's 27th birthday. While he took Charlotte (and the whole family across the street), I stayed at home with Olivia and "rested". And by "rested" I mean, Olivia and I went shopping while Daddy was finally away and bought the stuff to make his favorite meal: Enchiladas, rice and birthday cake! Of course the number 2 candle had to break while I was removing it from its packaging, but that didn't stop the cake from being so delicious. Craig got a Yoohoo, and a package of Oreo cookies for his brithday from the girls and myself, but he got a lot more than that from getting to spend the rest of the day with his girls!



Daddy and the girls blow out the candle!





Proud Daddy on his birthday

     We've gotten to spend a lot of time together this past week as a family. One thing everybody loves to do, is snuggle with daddy on the couch. The girls really love it, especially Charlotte, she is such a daddy's girl!

Daddy and his girls snuggle on the couch

Pretty Olivia sleeping next to her daddy

     Charlotte, Olivia and I are still working on getting into a routine, but I think we're getting pretty close. We've even started a morning walk like Charlotte and I used to do. If we can just keep it up, I know we'll all get in sync before we know it! I know Shiner really appreciated being walked! Our poor dog has felt so left out since we brought Charlotte home, and now we have Olivia so I think he's really depressed!

Family Walk!

Olivia Rose Shelton

Sweet Olivia weighing in at 8.1

     Friday, May 20, 2011 Olivia Rose Shelton was born into the world via planned c-section at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring, FL. She was 20 inches tall and weighed 8 lbs. and 1 oz just like her big sister, Charlotte Frances Shelton.

39 Weeks, The Night Before the c-section

     The night before Olivia's arrival, my mom, Gail, flew in from Arkansas to help out with Charlotte, so I let Charlotte stay up super late! We had a lot of fun, but the fun didn't start until Gramma walked in the door bearing gifts! She gave Charlotte the cutest little bed time Dora doll which Charlotte loves along with Dora fruit snacks - which Gramma let her eat before bed and after she brushed her teeth! Oh, Gramma! I was extremely nervous about going in for the c-section, but I tried to keep things light, and Gramma definitely helped make that happen.

I'm Faking It!

     After a fairly sleepless night, Craig and I took off for the hospital. We arrived at 6:00am sharp and checked in through the emergency room. We were shown to the room I would spend the remainder of the weekend in and they started all the questions and the IV's. It was at this point that we discovered I was already in labor and my contractions were 6 minutes apart! I didn't even know it! I was okay at first, but I started to get really anxious by 7:30, when they were getting ready to wheel me into surgery. Craig wasn't allowed to be by my side while they gave me the spinal block, which was hard, but we got through it. The whole process took about 30 minutes and Olivia was delivered at 8:40am on Friday. She sounded so sweet when she finally started to cry and Craig was able to get a good picture of them lifting her from my belly [omitted].

My First Kiss with my Sweet Olivia

     When they got her wiped off a little bit, they let me get some skin to skin contact with her. She was scared at first, but when I started talking to her she started to calm down. Her little cries were so sweet then and they filled my body with pure elation. Her little breath was so sweet already and she even gave me some kisses! (Okay, she was probably trying to nurse on my chin, but at the time I was totally getting some kisses).

Sweet Charlotte Loving on her Baby Sister

     Later on Friday, Gramma and Charlotte came to visit us and made sure we were all doing okay. Charlotte at first wasn't interested at all in Olivia - just interested in getting into everything in the hospital room! Crazy girl! But when she realized Olivia was her sister, she loved her! She got really close to her face and kept saying "hi!" which was so sweet! So far Charlotte has been an amazing big sister. She's so helpful when I ask her to do things and she loves to play with Olivia. I know they're going to be best friends! As for now, she won't call her Olivia, just "sister!"

Olivia's First Family Photo!

     Friday night I was doing so well they took out my catheter and let me walk around! I was very weak at first, but was so happy to be able to stand so soon. Saturday, Gramma and Charlotte came to see us after lunch and we were able to take our first family photo. Charlotte and daddy went swimming and Gramma, Olivia and I got to relax together and watch a little tv. Olivia did a lot of sleeping!

Mama and Baby, doing so well

Proud Gramma Holding her Newest Granddaughter

Olivia Dressed Up!

     Olivia has been the best little girl I could have hoped for to follow Charlotte. She is loving, sweet, and so very quiet. She is content doing almost anything and almost never cries unless she's cold during bath time. Even at night when I wake up to nurse her, she never cries, I just happen to wake up and see her squirming with an open mouth like a baby bird! It's so sweet to see and I just hope she speaks up when she needs something or I might never know! It has been so great having my mom around to help me out with this transition. While it has been easy with Olivia, I know it's also because my mom and my amazing husband have been so helpful every step of the way. Charlotte has really been transitioning well with all the new changes and has seemed to grow up so much over the past couple days! Craig even decided he was going to buy her size 5 diapers instead of the 4's, since she's such a big girl now! lol

Easter 2011

     Easter started for us on Friday, April 22! Craig and his youth had a temple trip, so we packed up Charlotte's Easter dress for pictures I'd hoped would be beautiful. I am no photographer, however; so out of about 50 photo's, I only got a few good ones. It was a really nice, albeit hot, day at the temple and Craig and his youth had a really great experience. Afterwards, Craig took me by the big outlet malls. The shopping wasn't so great, but walking around with my sweet husband and our beautiful daughter was wonderful. Earlier on Friday, Charlotte got a couple shots they didn't have when we got her last round. She did so well at the Dr. office where we discovered she is in the 95% for height, and the 25% for weight! She'll be tall like her daddy and skinny like her mama (so everybody has been saying!).





Charlotte and Daddy in front of the Temple

     Saturday, April 23, Charlotte and I went over to our good friend's house: Holly and Aubrey Ard to dye eggs! We had such a great time! Holly was genius enough to lay down a plastic table cloth and good thing too, because Charlotte's favorite part was flinging the dye EVERYWHERE!  After we dyed eggs, Charlotte and Aubrey got to help decorate a lamb cake with coconut. Holly was so great with the girls and they looked like they were having the best time (and probably were since she let them stick their fingers in the cake and eat the icing!). Then we all had some cup cakes to celebrate her son, Lincoln's, 10th birthday! Charlotte and Aubrey really enjoyed that and really weren't TOO messy!

Charlotte is so happy to dye eggs

Dyed Eggs

Charlotte eats a cupcake

So beautiful!

Charlotte LOVES the camera!

Decorating the Lamb Cake

Decorating the Lamb Cake

     Saturday night, Charlotte and I finished putting her Easter basket together for the easter bunny. We put the grass in the basket and Charlotte chose an egg for the easter bunny. Really she tried to choose them all, but cracked them all in the process. Then we put her down to bed and the real fun began!

Charlotte kisses her bunny basket

Baby Powder Bunny Tracks

     Sunday, April 24, 2011 was Easter Sunday! Charlotte woke up excited that the easter bunny came and hid her basket. She was able to follow the tracks and had so much fun looking for her basket! She had even more fun after she found it and got to eat a couple jelly beans while daddy made us a yummy Easter Breakfast!

Following the Tracks

Charlotte hands me her sippy cup so she can retrieve her basket

Charlotte eats her first jelly bean

  

Charlotte is SO HAPPY

Ready for Church

     After church we went over to Holly and Aubrey's for a delicious roast dinner and Charlotte and her friends (and the big kids) got to hunt easter eggs. Then, they hid the easter eggs and we had to find them! It was a fun tradition of Holly's family and we are so grateful to have friends we can spend our holiday's with while we are so far from home.