Luau Weekend in Vermont

August 22, 2009

We traveled up to Vermont for the Luau - Charlotte's first trip! She slept the whole way up there and we were happy to know she could do it and will need to get used to the road trips. It was a great weekend up there with the family and everyone at the party was excited to get to meet and hold Charlie. She was a very good girl with all of the action going on around her and being passed around to cuddle!

She got to meet Great Grandpa Bowler -

She met and was fed by Great Grandma Allard -

Four generations -

Here is the update pic to the ones from the last two Easters (see the April Easter post) -

And she did get some Mommy time at the party! -

While in Vermont, she spent the two nights in the bassinet that Grandpa Bowler slept in as a baby. She's small, but it was a tight fit compared to the spacious cradle she sleeps in now. Very cute though.

She must have been exhausted from the weekend and she slept the whole way back to NH as well! This was my view from the front seat when I turned around to check on her:

We hope to get up to Vermont some more through the fall - she's looking forward to it!

Our Growing Girl

Sorry for not posting some newer pictures of Charlotte, but with the move, we've been living in chaos and still don't have our modem set up (so stealing some poor signals from the neighborhood doesn't give us much juice to get on here much).

Here are some of our favorite photos of our little nugget over the past couple of weeks. She still seems tiny to everyone who sees her, but seems so big to us already.

This was her, fast asleep on our new bed in the house, which was covered in plastic. She slept through the hardwood floor installation downstairs - with the loud nail gun, and the compressor and saw going outside of the open window! This was just too cute!

Spending time with Daddy after work

Our little Maggie Simpson with that pacifier (though she doesn't like it anymore now that she's a pro at nursing!)

She looks way older than 2 1/2 weeks old here!

First cold morning - poor bugger woke up with cold hands so we put her in her favorite spot, our bed with us!

House Updates

August 14, 2009

Well, the house is STILL coming along, though time is tickin' away.

Aaron's dad came up from TX last week to help get some projects done and they were able to start and finish the hardwood floor in the living room. Uncle Pete came down for the day on Saturday to help out with the floor as well, and Aunt Chris was able to spend some time with Mom, Charlotte and me. We also had Colleen and Dave Saturday and Sunday and let me tell you, those two are some painting machines!! It was a busy weekend and great to have so much help again, especially with the baby having joined the crew.

Here are some pictures of the progress:

Living Room before -


Living Room current (will be doing trim next and fireplace project after move-in) -


Dining Room before -


Dining Room current (swapped their one red wall to three red walls of our red; white primed wall to be painted neutral color) -

Master Suite before -

Master Suite current (still to do headboard project, set up awesome new bed that's sitting in plastic in the middle of the room!) -

We're still learning as we go, and will be doing some projects and touch-ups after we move in. Our lease is up in a week and a half, so we have to begin moving this weekend. Should be interesting!!

Charlotte MacKenna Lewis

August 4, 2009
7:40pm
8 lbs. 6 oz., 20 inches

After waking up early in the morning to sure signs of labor, we knew that Charlotte was on her way into the world!!! It was a long day, but well worth it all - "Charlie" was healthy and perfect in every way. She looks like Daddy, but has Mommy's dark hair!

Sorry for the delay in getting these up, but here are some pictures from the hospital. I will put more up as I find the time and as our little Nugget grows!

The very last Charlotte bump pic

Our big girl!

Proud Daddy

A very happy Mommy

She has some very kissable cheeks!

Snug as a bug in a rug

39 Weeks!!!!!!

July 31, 2009

Well, here we are at 39 weeks and so far, it looks like we will be having this baby in August (Mom is happy about this ... finally someone to hand her birthstone jewelry down to!) The humidity and heat have arrived, my belly can't possibly stretch any more, the house is coming along, and we just want to meet her soon!!

I've taken these "bump pics" every two weeks since 17 weeks, and I hope this is the last one ... the next picture better be of our little girl!


And here is the side-by-side of two weeks ago and today:

Movin' on Up

July 28, 2009

Well, we closed on the house on Friday and a lot has happened since then. Shawn and Kristy came down to help out on Friday night and Dad came down on Saturday and things got rolling! They concentrated on the Nursery and the Guest Room while they were here and I'm amazed at how much they got done before heading back home. Here are some progress pics of their hard work:

The Nursery

Done: carpet out, old molding off, holes spackled and sanded, trim painted and all paint on walls.

Still to do: add white molding between colors, have carpeted, add furniture and baby!

Guest Room

Done: carpet out, old molding off, holes spackled and sanded, trim painted and all paint on walls.

Still to do: have carpeted, and decorate!

We are so happy we had family here to help out in getting started. The Smiths are now in town for a visit and Tyler has volunteered his painting skills (and 18-inch roller!) to help out. After tomorrow, we're on our own until the 4th, when Aaron's Dad comes to work on some projects for a week. This is going to be a long road, but well worth it for the house AND getting to see lots of friends and family!

37 Weeks - Full Term!!!!

July 17, 2009

Today marks being 37 weeks along, which means our baby is now full term! This is a big milestone, knowing that she is fully developed, her lungs are mature and would be able to survive out in "the real world" if she comes early. (And God knows with this closing for the house only being a week away and everything we're trying to take care of for that, it could happen from the stress of it all!)

Here is a new picture of the belly, which is getting tougher to lug around - she is getting big quickly and is still a VERY active baby!

And here is the side-by-side of two weeks ago and today: