Seven and Eight Months

Dear Caroline,

December 31 was the last time I posted. I've been trying to write this post for over two weeks now. Stop, start, stop, start. I'm worn out. So grateful that today is Friday. The Friday before Spring Break. Such hope for feeling refreshed is upon me. After Christmas, Mommy feels like winter needs to take a hike and I just sorta meld into exhaustion, cold, more cold, no sunshine, rinse and repeat. On top of all that, we seriously have had a time with the sickies lately. Daddy, Mommy and you have all experience tummy bug a couple of times on top of teething. This week you've had a cold and double pink eye. I'm really ready for sunshine. I know you like to be outside, too. The good news is I saw the pear trees and redbud trees beginning their blooms as I drove to work this morning. Spring is just around the corner.

You had your six month well check in January. You were days away from seven months, but due to the Christmas holidays your six month numbers are more of a reflection of your seven month status. Thus, your percentage indicate you are larger than you really are. You were weighing 16.9 pounds putting you in the 50th percentile. Your height was 26.6 inches putting you in the 75th percentile. Your first word was Dada. You said it the weekend of the Biggs/Couts wedding in Pampa, TX, in church, too. Your second word sounds like Dodger so we are going with it. Now you are saying Momma. I cannot get enough. No teeth yet. You've been drooling like crazy since three months. Everything you see goes in your mouth. I thought I'd spy something by now...nope. I tried stage three crawling food, but you gagged on it since you have not a tooth yet so I just load you up on stage 2's. You burn off lots of calories with all of your crawling and grazing furniture so I'm not too worried that you'll get too plump. You continue to wear 6 month clothing for the most part. I just switched you to size three diapers. They are a little big for you, but I thought the size two wasn't long enough. They need to make 2.5 diaper. Maybe, that's my ticket for riches!

A few pictures from the last couple of months:

Off to visit family for Christmas. Packed what was most important.

Waiting for Santa to come visit...


Decided to explore my wild side...


The sit to stand progression

Trying to get a picture on the lying on the lamb mat is a bit more difficult with Miss Active

Continues to be fascinated with herself in the mirror


Another day in pink


Checking out Daddy's toys


Eating at the Coney Island in Mommy's hometown of Pampa, TX


Attending her first TTU basketball game out of utero


Taking a walk on the the wild side at Gido's work


Driving with Dodger

Know that you are loved.

Love,

Mommy

6 Months

Dear Caroline,

How did one half of a year go by? I should say...fly by! Since you made quite the haul in the clothing department for Christmas, I cleaned out her drawers to make room for the new threads. I picked up the tiny newborn and 0-3 month sizes and stored them away. I also have perused through some of your first moments captured...how quickly it goes by. I need to stop. Stop now before I get the fever. On the other hand, I just want to enjoy you and all of your special moments for the next little while. Pure joy.

Highlights from this month...

--Taking lots and lots of pictures getting ready for Christmas cards...which seriously, I didn't order enough...I even mailed out to groups...lesson learned and I humbly apologize.

--Eating! She is a great eater! It took a few tries learning to use a spoon, but once she got the hang of it she has thoroughly enjoyed expanding her pallet! We eat oatmeal mixed with either pears or apples late in the morning and for dinner we eat rice mixed with either squash, carrots, or sweet potatoes. Yummy! I also ended up buying a Chicco highchair...loving it. Thanks, Brandi for the suggestion!

--Sitting up. We started out the month sitting in the tripod position with an arm out front. The arms are too busy reaching for toys now and we are sitting really well.

--Pulling up. Yes, I said, pulling up. Daddy has caught her trying to pull up in her crib. Tonight during her bath she was trying to maneuver herself to standing position using her infant tub. When I'm changing her diaper, she will grab hold of the towel rack, too. Folks, we have a mover and shaker.

--Babbling. My favorite. In the morning, she babbles when we wakes up. It warms my heart. Morning continues to be her best time of the day. We get the most talking in this time of day, too.

--Longer sleeping. Woo hoo! She generally is only waking up once in the middle of the night now and I've noticed it is because of a very, very wet diaper. I don't believe the claim of a 12 hour diaper. I'm here to dispute that it holds 12 hours of tinkle.

--Caroline is becoming more interested in Dodger. She tries to pet him. Dodger still is not interested in her. Dodger still does not believe he's a dog. He still rules the house.

--Fits best in size 3-6 month clothing. Wearing size 2 diapers, or size 1 when Daddy accidentally bought the wrong box. We simply referred to them as a bikini style diaper and laugh.

Pictures from this month








Thanks be to God for my wonderful Christmas gift. Caroline, know you are loved.

Love,

Mommy

Christmas Activities for a Family of Three

We are enjoying the thought of Caroline's first Christmas. Here are a few moments from December so far...

Just one of the Christmas outfits.



Caroline's 1st Carol of Lights. She loves music and lights so this was a perfect event for her to attend. It was a beautiful evening!




Nursery school Christmas story with Caroline as an angel. It was precious. I love the voice of a little child and they were just so, so sweet.






Merry Christmas.

Much love,

Five Months

Dear Caroline,

Pardon me while I back track a little bit to November 23. You turned five months. Your personality is beginning to shine through. We would do just about anything for a smile and giggle and we do plenty of ridiculous songs and dances to see just one more! You are beginning to sit up unassisted for a bit before you topple to the side. You need a variety of toys to keep you entertained as your attention will divert. Mostly, you just like being with people. You like seeing faces and being held and cuddled. We tried rice cereal and you hated it. You still really, really love your bottle which you are holding. You wear 3-6 months size and size two diapers. I recently bought some three to six month size shoes and they were too big. I'm curious what percentage you are in now as far as weight and height. Maybe I should take you to the produce aisle and weigh you. Nevermind, too many germs. I would end up hosing you down with sanitizer! Know that you are loved.


Love,

Mommy

Posting in my Robe

I've been chastised for my non-posting ways lately. I cannot think in coherent paragraphs this time of evening so here goes.

a. I never have loved my robe so much in all my life. This goes for sleep, pillows, my bed. Do you see a theme? My dream present would be 48 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I would also have meals in bed, too. Yep. This is the stuff fantasies are made of.

b. Caroline slept in her bed for the first time all night last night 9:30 PM to 6:00 AM. I woke up and nearly skipped to work with the extra energy!

c. Dora the Explorer is in the shop for majorly loud, squeaky noises. They are going to try to keep her going as long as possible.

d. Guilt. I could write a whole blog everyday on how guilty I feel about everything in my life. Guilty for working. Guilty for the laundry not being done each day. Guilty for my lack of cooking. Guilty for not getting the baby weight off sooner. Guilty for being so tired. Guilty for not being better at socializing. Guilty for not having found a church. Guilty for not being more fun. Guilty at work in many ways. Guilty for the way I look. I look rough some days. And, because of these deep seeds of guilt, I take criticism to heart--constructive or not. Motherhood is hard. Being a wife is hard. Being a teacher is hard. Being a friend that anyone would want to be around right now, hard. To have a friend, you have to be a friend. And really, I want to sleep and catch up on all the things I'm behind on. Laundry, bottles, cleaning, grading, planning, and sleeeeeeeeeeep. Being Dodger Malouf's owner...hard, too.

e. Thanksgiving is almost 2 weeks away. Gobble, gobble. I am so thankful for many blessings. That needs to be a whole new post. I really am so grateful. Right now, I don't sound that way.

There you go. Not my most glamorous post.

Much love,

Four Months

Dear Caroline,

You turned four months last weekend. I apologize for not being Johnny on the Spot with a post, but life is sorta like a hamster and a wheel and right now I'm the hamster and I cannot figure out how to jump off the wheel, but that's for another post. It's fun to think back to last year this time we were learning that we would be parents. We were overjoyed. I wondered who you'd be and at this point it was still a secret that Daddy and I kept to ourselves. I think I talked about you nonstop every night in bed to him.

Papaw and Mimi celebrated with us your 4 months of life! They enjoyed their time playing with you! At the doctor's office last week, you are weighing 14 lbs and around 24 inches long. This puts you in the 75th percentile for both. Funny, but you still fit in 3 month size clothing. You continue to love bath time. You are really getting the hang of your playmat and wacking the jingly-jangling toys above. You love to suck on your fingers and thumb as you are a drool machine! I'm looking for teeth, but so far I don't spy any. You are a snuggle bunny and love laying on top of me. You roll, roll, roll from back to tummy. However, you definitely don't like being on your tummy and wake yourself up often. That means you have been sleeping atop Mommy at night. We need to learn to tuck that arm to get back to your back ASAP! You love to walk assisted. Your personality is beginning to shine through with giggles and smiles. Your favorite is when Mommy sings silly, silly songs with goofy movements to further the entertainment...good thing God gave you a very silly Mommy. I thank God for allowing me to be your Mommy. I count it a privilege. Know you are loved.


Four Month Pictures




Love,

Mommy