the butlers

Child vs. wild

2009-12-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

These are some pics from Helen over Thanksgiving weekend. We drove up for the day and "hiked" to Anna Ruby Falls. It was just the right level of difficulty for a 2-year-old: about 1 mile, paved the whole way (plus we had her stroller). Some dogs and alpacas showed up, so the experience kind of turned into a petting zoo, which made it all the better.

Downtown Helen is pretty tacky, so we skipped over it this time and stopped for a cheap and delicious lunch at North Georgia Barbeque Company. I would add it to the short list of "Helen's Best" alongside the Nora Mill grits and Nacoochee Grill.

Char is learning to accessorize on her own terms

2009-12-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

At Long Last: Char's Second

2009-11-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

Better late than never? Here are some pictures from Charlotte's second birthday party. We did a Noah's Ark theme: "Noah's friends came 2 by 2. Charlotte wants to party with you!"

We ended up with a great turnout. When the kids arrived, they got to pick an animal persona to take on for the party. Each kid colored a picture of his/her animal, then had the option of having his/her face painted. (Thanks to our artists, Uncle Travis and his friend Ashlyn the art major!) Shawn made balloon animals for everyone, though some of them ended up being used as swords.

When everyone was into the swing of things and filled up with barbecue, we headed outside to the playground area for the "Animal Roundup." We had egg-shaped plastic animals (Easter clearance!) filled with toddler goodies such as stickers, goldfish, candy ... The older kids scored most of the prizes, but the toddling 2-year-olds seemed oblivious to their loss, so it worked out.

Since it was also Shawn's 30th b-day, Char's cake--"Shawn's Ark"--sported the old guy on top and adorable pairs of animals around the sides. Char had a personal cupcake for the big song--and she actually blew out the candles! (No, I did not make the confections, but I did pay for them and enjoy them greatly.)

We decorated with lots of animals--stuffed and plastic--and giant signs made by Uncle Travis and Aunt Dana. Not as fancy as her first party (the Parisian soiree), but lots of fun for all.

And now it's time to start on party #3!

2009-08-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here are a few highlights from our Lubin family trip to OBX, Avon: jet skiing, parasailing, swimming, playing and lots of eating (not pictured) with family. Click to enlarge (because I'm sure everyone wants to see us life-size in our swimsuits)!

2009-08-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July in Peachtree City--the golf cart parade. Charlotte loved waving that flag and hanging out with her cousins.

2009-08-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and I went to Daytona Beach with the Butlers in June. Char loved playing in the sand, but the ocean was a little scary. I think these photos were from our first day on the beach, before she swore off the surf entirely!

Dancing Queen

2009-06-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we attended the Daddy-Daughter Dance at the church. Charlotte was the youngest daughter there. I was the oldest. My dad took both my sister Dana and me (the next oldest daughter at the party was 12!), and he even bought corsages for us. We had a blast dancing like dorks.
Charlotte had a fun time too, mostly at the food table. She would break away from the brownies only when she saw Shawn and me dancing; she didn't mind that I was stealing her date, but she was annoyed that Shawn was getting one-on-one mommy time.
The highlight of the evening was when Shawn and Char were named Prom King and Queen. They got crowns, but I'm still waiting to hear the speeches.

A nice afternoon

2009-05-31T10:19:00.000-07:00

We went up to Lake Lanier yesterday with our friends Jaclyn and Cameron and their tiny baby Raylynn. Charlotte was having a fussy day, but she still had fun. She refused to wear her bathing suit for the first couple hours, so she just walked around in her little red swim diaper, looking like the girl on the sunscreen bottle. She liked the water as long as I was holding her, and the sand was pretty fun. She really liked snuggling in our towels and relaxing on beach chairs.
We enjoyed hot dogs on the grill while Char went to town with the watermelon, dribbling juice and seeds down her belly. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

Cousins!

2009-05-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

Charlotte is absolutely enthralled with Savannah and Halle. She's seen them twice in the last couple weeks, and now she talks about them all the time. They represent all things girly and awesome. Sometimes Charlotte will get up in the morning and stand at the top of the stairs calling, "Savannah! Where are you?"

This idolatry is paying off in more than one way. I have a new persuasive tactic: "Savannah and Halle go pee-pee on the potty!" and "Savannah would never throw her food on the ground."

I thought Charlotte just had an incredible sense of family, but it turns out she may be a little confused. At the church the other day, she was running around with her friend Ryan Calloway and his cousin; she got really excited and shouted, "Cousins!" So maybe she thinks any fun little kids are her cousins. Or maybe she had some innate understanding that Ryan and this little girl were cousins, and she was just filling me in. The former explanation is very cute; the latter is rather eerie.

Anyway, while Shawn was working on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, Char and I had a fun Memorial Day weekend. Aunt Dana graduated from high school (Congratulations, Sis!) and we enjoyed the accompanying festivities. Our Monday was spent with the world's best cousins, going swimming in ice-cold water, playing with princess toys, and eating good grub. Thanks for letting us join your fam for the day, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Britt!

Desert Storm

2009-03-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and I took Arizona by storm last week. Best place ever! Several of my favorite people in the world live here, the weather is amazing, family-friendly restaurants and shopping abound, and some of my Utah faves have been transplanted here:

1. Cafe Rio

2. Jamba Juice

3. Shade Clothing & Down East Outfitters

4. In-N-Out (okay, not UT, but Vegas and Cali.)

Our stunning view.

The rising generation: Lucy & Charlotte have a dance party at Cafe Rio.

Perfect weather 24/7.

"Are you sisters?"

We [still] heart Nordstrom.

Roomies with babies! Steph with Lucy and Scarlett, Char and me, Jaime with Macy, and Laura with Braden. Where did we meet for the big reunion? Cafe Rio, of course.

Char's favorite part about the Four Seasons: golf cart rides.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The train was fun, and the carousel was fun to look at.

Laura!

Braden and Char in their PJs.

Char is introduced to Jamba.

Bathing beauties: Lucy & Char

Steph!

Celisse!

Happy (week after) Valentine's Day!

2009-02-18T20:12:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a romantic Valentine's Day dinner at Cinco's Mexican: Shawn, Mommy, and Baby Char. Yes, she identifies us Mommy and Shawn (she knows he's really just a big kid). There was a live musician, and Char would get up every 30 seconds to run across the restaurant and dance right next to his set-up. Such a cute little groupie.

And if you're wondering where we found her cute hair bow ... we pulled it off a Build-a-Bear. Mommy used to have time to make those doodads.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T13:53:00.000-08:00

Char is smiling only because she doesn't know that the scary bearded man has snuck up behind her. Thanks to Nancy Wilcox for taking us to see Santa at the Nesbit Lakes clubhouse- where Shawn and I had our wedding reception!

Charlotte's World

2008-11-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Charlotte's first day of nursery with Miss Sarah and Miss Traci. Sarah teaches 1st grade and Traci works at a preschool, so she's in good hands! Char has gone to nursery for the last month, and she loves it! According to her teachers, she enjoys going through ALL the books, dancing around during music time, eating snacks, coloring and riding the rocking horse.

That's my girl! Char enjoys going through her clothes every day and leaving them in a big pile for Mom to pick up (yes, she calls me "Mom"- with something of a Midwest accent). She asks for her tutu when she's feeling especially girly.

The joy of making a mess.

Char has some of her dad in her too: she has a strong penchant for technology. Here she critically analyzes her scanning options.

A Few Of My Favorite Things...

2008-11-11T19:25:00.001-08:00

This gem was first posted June 29, 2007. Check out the continuation for a current update on the likes and dislikes of S_____ Drive's favorite sweetheart.

In the last two months, Charlotte has formed some strong opinions. These are the things she decidedly enjoys:

5. Studying Ceiling Fans

4. Taking a Warm Bath

3. Having Her Feet Rubbed (Smart Girl!)

2. Sleeping With Her Hands Over Her Head & Her Mouth Wide Open

1. Eating Whenever Possible!

She takes a firm stand against a few things too:

5. Being Strapped Down In Her Carseat

4. Stopping at Red Lights

3. Popcorn

2. Going To The Doctor's Office

1. Having Her Nails Clipped (The Horror!)

She's still on the fence about listening to music, looking in the mirror, and going out to restaurants; we'll keep you posted!

2008-11-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

A few revisions have been made in the last 16 months. Here is Charlotte's updated list of favorite things:
10. Milk. And cookies. I'm surprised Char's hands don't cramp up from the sheer volume of milk and cookie signs she makes each day.
9. Her blanket. Charlotte's crafty mother made her a fleecy mermaid blanket to give her an attachment object, and it worked like a charm! Now I have to tear it away to launder it every few days. She's disappointed when the fringe comes back not tasting of milk or cheese, but she gets over it.
8. Technology: computers, cell phones, scanners, fax machines, TV's...
7. Music. The first thing Charlotte does in the morning is turn on her CD player. The sleepytime music is boring; she wants to hear dance music so she can jam out. "Nah-no! Nah-no!" (We only know this means "more" because she also makes the sign.)
6. Babies! Charlotte is a little mama to her baby dolls, rocking them, swaddling them, and pushing them in a stroller. She also loves to leaf through past issues of Pregnancy & Newborn and point out each and every baby.
5. Talking about animals and the noises they make. Charlotte and I literally spend about 50% of our conversation on animals. The rest is spent on babies.
4. Reading about animals. Charlotte has lots of books, and she likes them all, but all books are not created equal. She cried this morning when I had to throw out an animal book that she pooped on.
3. Looking through photos. Char LOVES to get into the photo albums. She has the uncanny ability to recognize family members even when they're years younger than they are now.
2. Sitting on her potty. She has utilized the potty for its intended purpose a few times (I could count the occasions on one hand), but she sees it as the ultimate Reading Throne for the girl with short legs. She will sometimes sit her dolls on it as well. (Hey, everyone needs some quiet reading time once in a while!)
1. Her family. Char truly loves people, and her family members are her favorites.

And a few things she doesn't love so much:
5. Finger foods with strange textures. She'll eat mushy/bendy/squishy foods at times, but only on the end of a fork.
4. Being ignored. It doesn't happen often, but when Charlotte sees that she's lost the center of attention, she's not pleased.
3. These negatives are hard to come up with! The girl is honestly very upbeat.
2. Being cooped up indoors.
1. Having her nails clipped. Sometimes even the "Little Piggies" aren't distraction enough.

A glimpse of things to come

2008-10-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Charlotte won the prize for Most Humorous Costume at the church Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday! She beat out 100-or-so kids to take the ribbon. The pics are cute, but the real hilarity came in when we saw her walk! Shawn says it's because they both wear diapers, but Charlotte really was hobbling around like an old lady.

Charlotte Takes Her Stroller For a Stroll

2008-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Observe what happens as Charlotte pushes her stroller down the Greenway, gets stuck in an anthill, and loses her patience.

Charlotte's Web of Deceit

2008-09-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Charlotte was snooping in a friend's video cabinet when she unwittingly discovered a disturbing truth... "My parents named me after a spider??"

Charlotte Walks the Redneck Riviera

2008-09-03T14:21:00.001-07:00

That's right- she walks! Charlotte finally gave in to the growing trend among babies age 9 months and up. She spent a couple hours with her friend Peter- 17 months old and an avid walker- on Thursday; that night, she voluntarily took 5-6 consecutive steps for the first time. We then spent Saturday and Sunday in Panama City Beach with our friends Lisa, Matt, and Baby Ryan. Baby Ryan is 5 months younger than Charlotte and he's already been walking for a month! Charlotte was so embarrassed by her own mobility deficiencies that she decided to just give up the game and get mobile. In a nutshell, Charlotte now walks like a champ as a direct result of peer pressure. *Remind me to lock her in a closet from ages 12-19.

We enjoyed a whirlwind weekend in the Redneck Riviera. Why do I say "whirlwind"?
1. We left at 6am on Saturday and returned at 2am Monday morning.
2. Hurricane Gustav sent some mighty gales our way, resulting in red flag warnings and many missing beach umbrellas.

Pictures to come when I have the patience to wait the 20 minutes it takes them to upload!

2008-08-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

More Cruise Pics

2008-08-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

Thus begins the longest ride of her life.

Haiti: Nature's Playground.

Mommy & Me.

El Morro was kind of like a giant crib... minus the bumper.

Sibling revelry- good food, good times.

Formal Night: Charlotte destroys the dining room for an hour... formally.

Defending the fort. Etymological note: "fort"= foreign + short?

"You win some, you lose some." -Dana

Charlotte & Chachi perusing the wine list.

Charlotte's 15 Minutes :)

2008-08-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Look for Baby Charlotte and her mom in this month's issue of Pregnancy & Newborn magazine! We had a blast doing the Baby's 1st Birthday photo shoot. The mag is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Babies R Us, and the spread starts on page 80. http://www.pnmag.com

Cruisin' Lubins 2008

2008-08-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Our Texan Visitors

2008-07-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our visit with Mom-mom and Pop-pop Becker, who came up from San Antonio for a few days. We wish we could see them more often! Charlotte was very comfortable with her great-grandparents and enjoyed showing them all her tricks.

Snuggles!

Blueberry Picking

Stepping up

2008-07-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

Loooong-anticipated news: Charlotte took her first steps today! In typical Charlotte fashion, she was lured into walking by Aunt Dana's ice cream, which was just out of reach. She was kind of mad at us for preying on her weakness for sweets, but she couldn't resist. I think she was feeling inadequate on the 4th when all the other babies at the party where walking around while Char was still crawling. It's embarrassing to be so old (14 months) and so big (think beer belly on a baby) but bound by inferior means of transportation. She's up to 4 consecutive steps at best, but we're working on it! We'll keep practicing so there's something to show Mom-mom and Pop-pop Becker when they arrive this weekend.

And happy 84th birthday to Pop-pop Lubin! I'm trying to teach Charlotte how to say "geezer" before the cruise!

Summertime!

2008-06-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Update from Charlotte's World: It's been hot and VERY humid here in Georgia, but Charlotte gets antsy being cooped up indoors all the time. By mid-day, it's too hot to do anything outside except go to the pool. Charlotte has become acclimated to the water, and she'll stay in until her fingers and toes are shriveled to raisin status. She can splash her hands and kick her feet, but not at the same time. We've got a lot of work to do if she's going to join the swim team by age 3.

Lubins on the World Wide Web

2008-06-19T13:11:00.001-07:00

A friend found a picture of me with my brothers and sister (taken last winter) posted on the photographer's web site! It's always fun to pop up in cyberspace. Check us out, we're image 3/3 on the rotating front page: Tanner Photography.

Birthday Party Take II

2008-06-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

We had the best time at Charlotte's Georgia birthday party with her family and friends. Here are some pics from Charlotte's Parisian "Birthday Soiree."

Charlotte with Uncle Travis & Uncle Jared.

Charlotte's new Care Bear puppet from her friend Peter.

Yay for presents! Thanks everyone!

Aunt Robyn and yummy cupcakes.

I love sugar!

Girl time with cousins Halle and JeAnn.

Mommy's friends Ash & Lisa w/ Charlotte's boyfriends Jax & Ryan.

Butlers, Butlers everywhere...

Becca & Uncle Mitch can't distract Char from her croissant.

LaRae's fabulous fondant recipe!

Mommy with Char's 1st-year gallery.

Au revoir!

Charlotte in Pictures

2008-05-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun shots of 1-year-old Charlotte at the park. They were taken by my friend Marchet, who is a very talented photographer! You can see more of her work on butlerfamilyphotography.blogspot.com.

Charlotte's Crepe Party

2008-05-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures from Charlotte's Crepe Party for her 1st Birthday in Paris. She was a little scared of the crowd and noise until she was comforted by whipped cream and new toys. Thanks for hosting, Leslie!

An American Baby in Paris

2008-05-02T01:11:00.000-07:00

I could have filled up a blog post every day since we arrived in Paris; however, my Internet access is limited and infrequent. I'll just have to catch up when we're back in the States. Meanwhile, here are a few shots of 1-Year-Old Charlotte at her Crepe Party, behind Notre Dame, and in the Jardin de Tuileries. Love to all!

My Easter Bunny

2008-03-23T20:18:00.001-07:00

You are looking at a girl who LOVES Easter! Charlotte had the time of her life shaking jelly-bean-filled plastic eggs. I also filled a few with Cheerios; although they don't rattle as well, she is actually allowed to eat them! After a couple hours of this, she enjoyed chasing Fritz (who turned out to be a lady cockatiel). Charbaby also tolerated her Easter dress very well, although it disturbed her crawling.
On a separate note, Shawn and I were discussing the interesting origin of our Easter customs. Because Easter is a combination-celebration of Christ's resurrection and the ancient pagan fertility rituals previously celebrated at this time of year, our Easter practices seem to have little in common with our professed reason for celebration. However, as I watched my own happy offspring enjoying the holiday, I realized that the tone is all-inclusive. Christ's resurrection makes rebirth worthwhile. There is a profound hope associated with the regeneration of life in spring, especially in light of God's mercy. It is a joy to perpetuate life with a sense of purpose and a hope for eternity.

We're Back

2008-03-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

Charlotte apologizes for her web-absence these last few weeks. Mommy has been busy with a new internship, a new calling as Relief Society Secretary, and a new baby accessories business with Aunt Britt! We are also getting excited for Paris in April! We will post more pictures soon.

Garota de Ipanema

2008-02-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

The Butlers are back after a wonderful 3 weeks in Rio de Janeiro. We stayed in a hotel a block from Ipanema beach, right in the heart of the hotel and shopping districts. Despite excessive rainfall, the beach was beautiful and the Cariocas (people of Rio) were very warm and welcoming. We enjoyed the popular juice bars- with their mile-long lists of fresh fruit juices- and steak-on-a-stick for about $0.60 US. Charlotte was a particular fan of the Globo biscuits made from ground manioc root. We reveled in music, dancing, and sun with a backdrop of gorgeous tropical vegetation and majestic mountains.

Charlotte is popular wherever she goes, but I'm afraid she will never again receive the rate of adoration bestowed on her by the Brazilians. These people LOVE babies! While most tourists are generally ignored, Charlotte acted like a magnet, allowing us to meet many locals. The people spoke directly to the baby, gushing praise. "Linda" was the first Portuguese word I learned to recognize. It means "pretty," and Charlotte heard it about 1000 times a day. They couldn't get over her blue eyes. One family at the Hippie Fair- a bohemian open-air market held every Sunday- hunted down a translator just to make sure we knew that Charlotte needed to be on the cover of a magazine. The Brazilians- especially the women- were also effulgent in their physical attention. They would hold Charlotte and play with her little fingers and toes while singing ditties in Portuguese.

A few people pointed out that it was strange for Charlotte to have unpierced ears at her age. "She's a girl, isn't she?" Baby girls in Brazil have their ears pierced within days of their birth, distinguishing gender early on. I tried to keep a bow on her head at all times to avoid expressions of gender confusion.

Here are a few friends Charlotte made in Brazil:

We met 9-year-old Munna on the flight from Atlanta; she made the time go by much faster for both of us!

Our friend on the beach hooked Charlotte up with some tasty Globos!

Corcovado, visiting O Cristo Redentor statue. This cute grandma played with Charlotte for a good 10 minutes.

The Hippie Fair: Charlotte likes the girl, but she's not so sure about the puppy.

And of course, Uncle Jaime, our awesome roommate.

TAG- I´m It!

2008-02-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

MY HUSBAND....

what is his name? Shawn Patrick Butler

how long have you been together? 5 years

how long did you date? About 10 months... before we were married. Wow, that sounds fast.

how old his he? 28

who eats more? It depends what´s being served. Pizza: Definitely Shawn. Fruit or Chocolate: Me.

who said i love you first? Shawn

who is taller? He is.

who can sing better? I can, but he plays the instruments.

who is smarter? This is a mean question. We each have our gifts. I´m probably the better student, but Shawn is very gifted in the creativity, verbal, and language arenas.

who does the laundry? Me, for sure.

who pays the bills? Both of us... I´m trying to take over. Thankfully, we don´t have many bills right now.

who sleeps on the right side? Shawn

who mows the lawn? Haha, what lawn? I think my brothers do it. Shawn mowed in Richmond, and it was no picnic with that rickety heap of mower we had.

who cooks dinner? Me... or my mom, lately... Shawn used to cook for us while I was in school.

who drives? Usually Shawn.

who is more stubborn? Me

who kissed who first? Shawn kissed me.

who asked who out first? Um, Heather? I´m not sure... I know Shawn asked when we actually went out, not just hung out.

who proposed? Shawn, of course. I mean, really... we´re southern.

who has more friends? Another mean question. I guess I have more close friends, but Shawn may have more sorta-friends/acquaintances.

who is more sensitive? Me. I´m sort of high maintenance.

who has more siblings? Same: We each have 3 brothers and 1 sister.

who wears the pants? It depends on the situation. But I am pretty bossy. Sorry, Hon.

TAG- YOU'RE IT!! Ginny M., Kendall, & Carly

Rio!

2008-01-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain): A cable car ride from mountain to mountain

A Flamengo futbol game at Maracanã Stadium

Some kind of Brazilian biscuit... She loved it!

Our Room

Playing with Daddy at the hotel

Christmas in Georgia

2007-12-31T08:51:00.000-08:00

This year, Christmas Eve was in Newnan with the Swensons and Butlers. Charlotte enjoyed playing with Cousin Halle and looking for new things to break. Robyn's family was looking good in matching pj's and Grandma Great came from Colorado to preside over the affair.
Christmas Day was here in Alpharetta with the Lubins, and Mom-mom and Pop-pop Becker, who came all the way from San Antonio! Travis was also in town on his break from BYU. We had family pictures taken, played lots of games, and ate our way through 6 fruitcakes and about 10 pounds of homemade kielbasa. Our Christmas was a lot like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Charlotte was our little Christmas angel. She received beautiful dresses, fun toys, and generous gift cards, but she especially enjoyed the wrappings this year. She played with a little turquoise box for about a half hour and shoved any paper she could find into her mouth. To Charlotte, Christmas means making a huge mess, so it was pretty much her favorite day ever.

It was a challenge trying to keep Charlotte away from the Christmas tree- the shiny toys and sparkling lights were just too attractive.

Charlotte wasn't sure what to think of Santa, but the big fluffy beard was definitely of interest. I think she was trying to expose him as a fraud...

I got what I wanted for Christmas... back in April!

The weekend after Christmas, we headed back south to Peachtree City as all of Shawn's siblings and their families arrived for the holidays. Charlotte loves being with her many little cousins. Family pictures with the Butlers were a wild occasion with twelve kids age 10 and under, including 3 babies. We enjoyed our first Murder Mystery party at Robyn's house; Shawn and I were pretty clueless, but we're ready for next time. After a second Christmas- with the Butler clan- Shawn and Charlotte were too exhausted to go on.

2007-12-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

Here are some really cute pictures that Brent Reese and his dad took over Thanksgiving Break. I just wanted to show them off.
Also, I must report how Charlotte has changed in the last month. She is so grown up! Charlotte now has two (2) teeth and loves to try new mushy foods. She has been crawling for a few weeks, getting into everything and tearing up the place. About two days after she learned to crawl, Charlotte learned how to pull herself to a standing position. Now she is not happy unless she's moving or standing. Sitting through church is nearly impossible. The three words that best describe Charlotte are as follows: active, cheerful, and curious.
Shawn is enjoying his (3 week!) Christmas Break. We are relaxing here in Georgia, getting ready for Charlotte's first Christmas and spending time with family.

The Butlers Are Thankful

2007-11-26T21:22:00.001-08:00

Shawn, Charlotte, and I genuinely enjoyed our trip to D.C. for Thanksgiving. Shawn had the entire week free from school, so we took our time driving there and back. (Thanks for the gas, Mom and Dad!) The drive was about 12 hours, but Charlotte was very good, considering...

We stayed at Pop-pop Lubin's place in Springfield along with the Georgia Lubins plus Travis who was visiting from the Y. (BYU, not the YMCA.) Uncle Neil, Aunt Missy, and D.C. came up from Richmond and Aunt Kathy came over each day with Erin and Kyle. Uncle Chris even flew in from Australia to join the fun, although he missed the turkey. Between meals, we enjoyed hours of entertainment with Travis' Nintendo Wii.

Shawn, Charlotte, and I got to visit Scott and Melisa- who we have not seen in Forever- and hang out with Atley and Nash. Nash went to bed early, but Atley stayed up with Charlotte to introduce his baby cousin to Matchbox® cars while the "adults" played with the Wii.

We were also delighted to see some of our best buds from Richmond who were up in Fairfax for the holiday: Brent, Elissa, Sara, Justin, and Baby Avery.

We Butlers are grateful for our wonderful and generous family and friends, for the nation in which we live, for the abundance all around us, and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This year we are also especially thankful for our new addition and the joy that she brings into each day. Life is good!

Erin (pre- pink-eye) and Charlotte.

We love Wii.

The oldest and youngest kids at the party.

Charlotte and Atley: I'm sure this will be very embarrassing one day. :)

Girl Time!

2007-11-09T17:41:00.001-08:00

While Shawn was in Washington, D. C. for school Wednesday through Friday, Charlotte and I had some fun girl bonding time with Aunt Britt and her girls. Uncle Jeff was also traveling- in Buenos Aires- so we had a good excuse for a sleepover! Charlotte loved playing with her little cousins: Savannah is 2 and Halle is only 3 weeks older than Charlotte. Britt and I weren't always in on the jokes, but the girls spent lots of time giggling and smiling at each other. They went to the park, played with toys, and got snuggly in their pj's. We took them shopping and over to Butlers' to visit. They looked hilarious crammed into the back seat of the Accord in 3 car seats. The weather is getting chilly, but the girls enjoyed taking warm baths at night before bed. Halle taught Charlotte how to splash; she has never had so much fun in the bath tub!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T05:38:00.000-07:00

Remember: Don't be negligent in your dental care after rapid candy consumption! The neglect could haunt you for years.

Learning & Growing

2007-10-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

Shawn is now in Week 2 of the International MBA program at GA State, but he's not the only Butler learning new tricks! Charlotte is learning and changing so rapidly now. She has turned into a wild child overnight, it seems. Maybe it's the change in diet? Is it the super-vitamin-infused sweet potatoes? She doesn't stay put very long when I put her down; this is both exciting and a little scary. She is constantly reaching and grabbing for toys, clothing, hair, plastic bags, animals... or whatever else is within reach.

Charlotte & Shawndaddy on his 1st day of school.

Reaching for the camera.

Charlotte was a real crowd-pleaser in Sunday School this week. She was too wiggly to stay in my lap, so I put her down to play. She then rolled under the pew and made friends with the woman sitting behind us! When we took her back, she kept glancing over her shoulder at the Sunday School teacher and breaking out in tears. He has a booming, dynamic voice that Charlotte finds rather scary. We then tried putting her in the side aisle so that we could see her but she couldn't see the teacher. However, Shawn finally had to take her out in the hall because she was making loud "Indian noises" by yelling and pulling her fist in and out of her mouth

Charlotte making "Indian noises," a skill acquired while hanging out with Aunt Dana.

Charlotte is getting ready to crawl soon. She can pull herself onto her hands and knees and rock, but she only scoots backwards when she tries to get somewhere. She also enjoys standing up while holding our hands for balance and support. Charlotte is happiest when she is moving, playing, and exploring.

Charlotte looks just like Shawn in this shot!

New Foods

2007-10-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Charlotte has substantially expanded her diet these last two weeks. She has now been introduced to sweet potatoes, peas, and bananas. (I figure that rice cereal (a.k.a. prison gruel) doesn't count as real food.) Sweet potatoes seem to be her favorite so far; unfortunately, they're also the least clothing-friendly. Watch the video below to see Charlotte's first experience with solid food. Note the audience's rapture with her antics and stay tuned until the end for an especially comic reaction.

From Virginia Lovers to Georgia Peaches

2007-10-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

We have now been in Georgia for a week. Shawndaddy is getting ready to start his MBA at Georgia State, and we're all getting settled in at the Lubins' house. It is certainly a challenge trying to fit a 3-bedroom house into a bedroom, but we're working on it... slowly. We're excited to be back in the awesome Webb Bridge Ward and reunite with some friends we've missed. The area is very family-friendly, so Charlotte and I will have lots of fun hanging out with other moms and babies, going for walks, and attending reading time at the library.

Charlotte's 1st Sunday in the Webb Bridge Ward

I think Charlotte is becoming acclimated to the sudden influx of faces in her life. Her world has expanded from just Mom and Dad to include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Charlotte was invited to her first party to celebrate Cousin Savannah's 2nd birthday. She looked pretty cute until she wet her pants. Very embarrassing.

Charlotte loves to give Grandma Lubin big slobbery kisses.

Out for pizza with the Butler Clan: Ann and Ken, Scott, Jeff and Britt, Savannah the Birthday Girl, and I think that's Halle's foot at the bottom of the picture

Saying Goodbye

2007-09-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Charlotte being cute on our last Sunday with the Glen Allen Ward

Our CTR 7 Primary class: Lily, Jacob, Anna, and Christopher

Sara and Avery, Charlotte and me, Tara and Daniel (and little bitty Hahn baby)

Charlotte and her buddy Avery

Today is Tuesday. In two days we'll have our moving truck, and in three days we'll be on the road to Georgia! We said goodbye to our primary class on Sunday; I'm not sure, but I think they will miss Charlotte more than they will miss Shawn or me. Sunday night our friends had an awesome "bon voyage dinner" for us with an international theme. Tara made Brazilian stroganoff, beans and rice, pico de gallo, and lime mousse. Sara made a delicious quiche to represent our upcoming time in France. Our friends are the best and we will sure miss them!

Little Miss Is 5 Months Old!

2007-09-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

Charlotte has suddenly departed newbornhood and entered a more mature stage in life. She seems so conscious of everything around her. She becomes more verbal and mobile all the time. She has new facial expressions that I've tried to capture on film because they're just so funny. She's also learning to sit on her own, roll both ways, and *almost* scoot around a bit. Much to my relief, Charlotte is also happier and more content than ever before! Here's our big girl:

Who Does Charlotte Look Like?

2007-09-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

City Sights

2007-09-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

Shawn, Charlotte, and I had a great time in New York City over Labor Day Weekend with Ann, Ken, Jeff, Britt, Savannah, and Halle. It was a great adventure attempting to figure out the subway and taking in the sights of that truly singular city. Richmond seems very quiet by comparison! Check out our slideshow and experience the parks, shops, eats, and sites of NYC Butler-style!

Charlotte Hangs Out With Billy Ray Cyrus

2007-09-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

While in New York last week, Shawn, Charlotte and I were lucky enough to attend a taping of Good Morning America in Times Square with Ann and Ken, Jeff and Britt, and little Savannah and Halle. We saw a brief cooking demonstration by Wolfgang Puck and a fun concert by Billy Ray Cyrus.

Charlotte captured Billy Ray's attention right from the beginning. When he greeted the audience, he said to Charlotte, "Hey! I saw you outside [the window]!" After he ran through his practice rehearsal of "Brown-Eyed Girl," he commented on how good Charlotte was. I agreed that she was a good girl and told him, "She's not your biggest fan, but she's your smallest fan."

B. R. C. saw us taking a picture and gave Shawn a "thumbs up" in the background, so look closely:

Robin and my mom saw the show and said that all of us appear a few times, but I haven't seen it yet! Meanwhile, they also taped an extension of the show for the internet, and you can see Britt and me with the babies just before 5 minutes into it:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3546038

Almost Sitting

2007-08-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Is Thriving!

2007-08-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

I took Charlotte in for her 4-month check-up this morning with Dr. Soltys. Her head circumference is 14.25"- in the 50th percentile, her weight is 14 lbs. and 9 oz.- in the 75th percentile, and her height is 25.75"- in the 95th percentile for babies her age! Dr. Soltys called her "long and lean." Charlotte has "full gums" where her bottom front teeth will be, meaning that she is in the pre-teething stage now, which accounts for the excessive drooling! Because Charlotte has been early with previous milestones, Dr. Soltys says she will be sitting up soon and may be an early crawler and walker, so we should start thinking about baby-proofing our house.

Charlotte enjoyed the praise and withstood the probing, all smiles and coos until the syringe came out. She got her second round of shots: HiB, IPV, DTaP, and Prevnar. Charlotte had a good cry until we got to the car, where she promptly fell asleep and stayed asleep for almost the entire afternoon.

Visit With the Larsons

2007-08-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Lisa (formerly Rosa) and Andrew came up from Wake Forest for the weekend and finally got to meet Baby Charlotte! She loved them right away- of course- and we had a fun weekend catching up, hanging out, eating and playing.

Charlotte's First Illness :(

2007-08-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

I'm sure the doctor could tell I am a first-time mom when I came running in Monday morning with a happy but spotted infant. Charlotte broke out in little red spots all over her body- even her palms and the soles of her feet- but the doctor said it looked like a basic viral infection. The spots went away after a few days, but then the coughing and sneezing started. I was a wreck Wednesday night when Charlotte had coughing/sneezing fits all through the night. I woke her up a few times to suction out her nose; she did not like that. I eventually put her in her swing to finish out the night so that her head would be elevated. Charlotte is still her sweet self, just sleeping more and eating a bit less. Nonetheless, I will be glad to see this go!

Atlanta Trip 8/1-8/7

2007-08-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

We are back from a fun-filled trip to Atlanta. We saw the new-and-improved World of Coke and checked out Shawn's new downtown campus (GA State) on Friday with my mom, Travis, and Jared.

On Saturday, Shawn and I enjoyed his ten-year high school reunion at Andrew's Upstairs in Buckhead with the folks from McIntosh High. Shawn's web-advertising and co-hosting were so successful that the informal committee put him in charge of the class reunion of 2017! At the reunion, I was more than a little out of my element, but it was fun to meet the people I have heard so much about and put together another piece of the puzzle that is Shawn's life pre-Ginny. We surmised that I was the only wife of an alumnus to attend; there were several husbands, but no other wives. It seems that Shawn got the jump on his friends in terms of settling down!

The rest of our trip was spent at the Butlers' place hanging out with Butlers and Donaldsons, playing in the pool, and showing off our baby. Charlotte enjoyed the pool only if we caught her in the right mood and the water wasn't too cold. At least she looked cute in her bathing suit! She had fun with her cousins JeAnn, Logan, Robby, Savannah, and Halle. It will be so much fun living near everyone come fall! A couple people asked Britt and me if the baby girls were twins, not because they look very much alike, but because they practically share a birthday!

Bermuda Cruise!

2007-07-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

Bath Time Play-By-Play

2007-07-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's Bath Time!

Washcloth Tug-of-War

Getting the Scrub-Down

Now For the Back Side...

Rinsing & Relaxing

All Done!

Daddy-Daughter Duet

2007-07-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Shawn and Charlotte sing a little guitar ditty. Below are the words:

Charlotte Baby, you're so sweet,

I look at you and you're good enough to eat.

My companion to sing along,

Feel free to join in the song.

Ready, go.

Ginny: Ready, go.

Sing your part.

And let's jam. Let it go.

Charlotte Baby, you're my little girl.
You're singing louder than I even can.
(spoken) Are you seeing this?
You can do it if you don't know the words.
But that's okay, nobody expects you to know the words.
Ginny: Nobody expects you to know the words.

They say before you walk, you've got to crawl.
Before you sing, you've got to learn to talk.
But you're doing just fine, And you don't even know how to rhyme.
But you're doing just fine.

Charlotte: Oooh. Ooh-whoo. Oooh. Ooh-whoo.
Oooh. Oh. Oooh. Ooh-whoo. Oooh. Ooh-whoo.

That's your words and that's your part.
They don't mean much, but they come from the heart.
I can tell you've got the music in you,
And that's just fine... (spoken) you're overpowering my part, too.

Happy Birthday, Pop-pop!

2007-07-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

We had fun with Pop-pop Lubin, Aunt Kathy, Erin, and Kyle on Pop-pop's 83rd birthday!

Melancholy Model

2007-07-03T19:56:00.001-07:00

We took Charlotte to have her picture taken. This was a second attempt, and I recruited Shawn to help me with the endeavor. Charlotte was happy as a clam, full and well-rested, until the photographer stepped in front of her. The woman was sure that goofy noises, tickling, and waving toys would win our baby over, but we know our girl better than that. She did not care for the photographer, and no number of gimmicks would produce a good shot. As soon as I calmed her down, Charlotte would see the photographer's face or hear her voice, begging and prodding, and burst out in screams.

Below are the few half-way decent pictures we could salvage. You will notice that I had to hold her for three of the four; as evidenced by the red nails, I had not planned on this. The other picture was supposed to be Charlotte sitting against a floral background, but you will see Shawn's hand propping her up. The photographer wouldn't believe that a 2-month-old can't sit up on her own!

So we'll be going for session number 3- with a different photographer- sometime soon.

Sleeping Beauty

2007-07-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

We thought it was a lucky fluke when Charlotte slept for 8 hours- 12 to 8am- Saturday night. Then we put her down to sleep last night at 9pm and I actually had to wake her up at 7:30 this morning!! Of course, I still woke up every few hours to check on her, but this may be the bright beginning of a positive trend!

Way to go, Charlotte Baby!!

A Few Of My Favorite Things...

2007-06-29T12:58:00.001-07:00

In the last two months, Charlotte has formed some strong opinions. These are the things she decidedly enjoys:

5. Studying Ceiling Fans

4. Taking a Warm Bath

3. Having Her Feet Rubbed (Smart Girl!)

2. Sleeping With Her Hands Over Her Head & Her Mouth Wide Open

1. Eating Whenever Possible!

She takes a firm stand against a few things too:

5. Being Strapped Down In Her Carseat

4. Stopping at Red Lights

3. Popcorn

2. Going To The Doctor's Office

1. Having Her Nails Clipped (The Horror!)

She's still on the fence about listening to music, looking in the mirror, and going out to restaurants; we'll keep you posted!

The Places You'll Go...

2007-06-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

Baby Charlotte experiences Cinco de Mayo in its truest fashion-- by taking a siesta!

Little Tiny Baby Charlotte Nora is 10 weeks old today. And we would venture to say that she is THE most well-travelled 10-week-old that we know. Below we have compiled a list of places that Baby Charlotte has been and how old she was when she went there.

Atlanta....................................................5 Weeks
Fredericksburg........................................7 Weeks
San Antonio............................................8 Weeks

And now, a short list of the First Things that Charlotte has already done in her brief but action-packed life:

Went to the Mall.....................................8 Days
Shopped at Kroger..................................9 Days
Attended Church (All 3 Meetings)............11 Days
Walked in the Park.................................11 Days
Went Out for Mexican.............................3 Weeks ¡Cinco De Mayo!
Went to Play Group................................7 Weeks
Watched a Parade..................................8 Weeks
Saw the Movie Waitress..........................8 Weeks
Went to a Pool Party...............................Day Before Yesterday
Slept 8 Hours..........................................Not Yet!!!

Splish'n and a Splash'n

2007-06-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is a few weeks ago when we were in Atlanta for Charlotte's Baby Blessing. Here we are in the Lubins' downstairs bathroom giving Charlotte a baby bath. Like many new parents, we have had several bath-related adventures, but I think we are getting better at it.

Highlights: at about :59 she gives the most adorable sneezes you'll ever hear/see. At :40-something, Shawn comments YET AGAIN about how wiggly this baby is. At :22 Ginny calls her by one of her many sobriquets, "Charlotte Baby." Well, it's not so much the name, but the way she says it. Also, there is plenty of Baby drinking the bath water and trying to swim around throughout. ENJOY!!!

Charlotte Loves Her Family

2007-06-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Charlotte has been lucky enough to meet many members of her family already. Grandma Lubin was there at her birth, and she met Grandma and Grandpa Butler two weeks later. Mom-mom and Pop-pop Becker came to visit when Charlotte was four weeks old. At five weeks, we took Charlotte on her first road trip to Atlanta where she met Grandpa Lubin, Uncles Travis, Jared, Mike, and Jeff, Aunts Dana, Robyn, and Britt, and Cousins JeAnn, Logan, Robby, Savannah, and Halle. We enjoyed getting together for Charlotte's first Braves game and to celebrate her blessing on May 27th.
Charlotte met Aunt Cindy, Uncle Michael, and Cousins Alison and Phillip on a fun day trip to Fredericksburg.
Charlotte enjoyed her first air travel when I took her to San Antonio to see Mom-mom and Pop-pop Becker again. She saw her first movie in the theater, watched her first parade- complete with John Deere tractors and fire engines from five counties- and met her Uncle Mitch!
On Thursday, we had a great time getting together with the Virginia Lubins- and Gundersons- here in Richmond. Charlotte saw her Aunt Missy, Uncle Neil, and Cousin D.C. and met Aunt Kathy, Cousins Erin and Kyle, and her Pop-pop Lubin. Pop-pop enjoyed meeting his first great-granddaughter although she decided to fuss all evening!

Stats & Shots

2007-06-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Charlotte had her 2-month check-up yesterday with Dr. Soltys. She is "healthy and thriving," ahead of the curve on all measurements. Charlotte is now 23 1/2" long- in the 90th percentile- and 11 pounds, 11 ounces, in the 75th percentile for weight. Evidently, the 12-meals-a-day diet is paying off! She received four shots, and my eyes filled with tears as I watched my little sweetheart scream until she turned purple. We'll be back for our next round of vaccinations at 4 months, but for now we've got the green light to take her out of the country on her Bermuda cruise next month!