Happy Easter!

Last Sunday was the Easter Egg hunt at church. Carli had a blast. She understood the collecting of the eggs, but she couldn't quite grasp the idea of puttin gthem in her basket. She was content to just run with them. We tried to put her on the slide, but she did not like it. So off she went. Carli also had fun with her friends, Rory and Cora, who also came to the hunt.




On Easter Sunday, Carli went straight for her basket. She got a collection of toys for the sandbox she will have this summer, two new books, and some crayons. Of course, she went straight for the book. She also got a new dress from Grandma and a basket of goodies (and two more books) from her Aunt Joann.

After church, the family went to Grandma's for lunch. Carli enjoyed prancing around in the backyard in her new dress. She thought it was fun to run away from Daddy. She was fussy for a bit because she really needed a nap! And of course, she fell right asleep on the way home.

Click the link below to see a quick video of Easter pics.

Easter 2011

Carli is walking!!!

On January 29th, Carli took her first step! Kyle, Nancy, Meredith and Hunter were over at the house for dinner. After eating, we were all in the living room, when Carli just let go of the TV table and took one step. Needless to say, I screamed-scaring Joe. Nancy saw it too. Carli just laughed and laughed before dropping to the floor and crawling. Over the next few weeks, Carli would still only take one or two steps and only when prompted. She didn't really let go and just take one. Then around Valentine's Day, she began to get a little braver. She would come to the end of a table or chair or the wall and take a step or two-but not over 4. Last night, February 17th, Joe put Carli down to put Lucy out. As he walked away from her, Carli began to cry. Joe stopped across the room and looked at her and asked, "What is it?" Carli walked over to him-about 16 steps! For the rest of the night, Carli would continue to get up and use her new found confidence to walk. Over and over she would let go and take steps. Won't be long until she is really moving!

Carli turns 1

It is hard to believe that our little girl turned 1 on January 8, 2011. It has been a whirl wind year with so many changes!

Family and friends helped us to celebrate Carli's birthday by sharing in cake and ice cream. I must say that Carli seemed to really enjoy her first experience with sugar. She even tried to share it with others. Here are just a few pictures from the day.

Our Christmas Card

Snowflake Band Black Christmas

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Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Saturday, was a big day for the Laws family! First we got notification from DSS that Carli's adoption was indexed in the state. We will be able to petition the state of Arizona soon for a new birth certificate with her name on it. Then we can get her SS card and other things that we couldn't do until we had the BC.

Later that evening, we went to Belews Blast at the lake. For those that don't know, this is a large fireworks show at the lake. Before the show, Carli played on the blanket with her ball and her buddy from church, Michael. It was so funny to watch them play with each other. I had never seen her do this before.

We were a little nervous about how Carli would take to the noise of the fireworks going off. We knew she would love to watch them because she loves everything that moves. We were not disappointed. Carli didn't care about the noise at all. She sat in Joe's lap and watched every pop and color of the fireworks. Finally they were over and Carli fell asleep on the ride home.

A Month of Firsts!!!

The month of June brought many firsts to Carli's life.

First, Carli began to eat real food. First came the sweet potato. The first few bites were not easy. Joe neglected to tell me that Carli had not had a nap. She would eat a bite, then cry, eat a bite, then cry. After a few bites, I put her down to sleep. When she woke up, she finished all of the potato happily!

Next came butternut squash. Carli liked this one too. We added rice cereal to a few servings and she ate with gusto.

Next...banana. The first bite-what is this!!!??? The second bite-Carli spit out. Then she refused to open her mouth at all. We thought she would not like it, but decided to give it another try the next day. She ate every bite!

Avocado...again the first day, Carli would eat it but make very bad faces. The next serving was mixed with banana...Carli gobbled it up. Finally, she ate some just mixed with formula, and enjoyed it. Now we have a variety of foods to enjoy. Apples and pears are next.

Carli also began to sleep in the big girl bed this month. Prior to this, Carli was sleeping in a Moses bed in our room. I enjoyed being able to hear her breath and move since she was so close. I also enjoyed being able to get to her quickly when she awoke at night wanting to eat. One night last week, I was staying up to read. Carli didn't want to go to sleep. She would lay there playing with her foot hiked up on the side of the basket. Then she began to look at me and eat at the side. I told her that she had to sleep so she was going to the big girl bed. Within minutes, Carli was asleep. She has been sleeping there every night since. But she will NOT take a nap in there. She will just cry and cry. What is the difference???

Finally, we bought Carli her very own little wading pool. At first, Carli didn't know what to think of the big tub of water. After just a few minutes, she began to laugh and play while trying to splash around. She even tried to sit up alone while in the water. At one point though, she fell over onto her side. After just a second of "what have I done" Carli began to play yet again. I believe we have a little dolphin here. Can't wait to get her into a big pool and see what she does.

What will the month of July bring??! Can't wait to find out.

Jeff & Nancy Laws...50 years!!!

Jeff & Nancy Laws

June 4, 1960

On June 5th, the whole Laws clan gathered together at Outwest Steakhouse in Kernersville to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Jeff & Nancy. Afterwards, everyone returned to their house to enjoy wedding cake and champagne.

Jeff & Nancy

June 5, 2010

Jeff & Nancy were married on June 4th, 1960 in Unicoi, Tennessee. They have two sons, Joe and Kyle, and 5 grandchildren: Nicholas, Austin, Hunter, Meredith, and Carli. Jeff and Nancy moved to Walkertown in the spring of 1962 where they have lived ever since. Both are active members of Loves United Methodist Church and are retired from the WS/FC School system.

Congratulations Grandma & PawPaw!!!