Charlotte Ann is six months old!

Our little girl is half a year old as of today!  She has made it halfway around the sun.  I can't believe how quickly the last six months have gone yet it's hard to remember what life was like before she made her grand entrance to the world.  This past month has seen a lot of movement and activity on Charlotte's end.  She likes to sit in our laps, facing outward or toward us, holding on to our hands, and then enjoys rocking herself back and forth.  Who needs a rocking chair when she is willing and wanting to rock herself??!  She seems to have grown by at least a few inches since her last appointment and is stronger each day.  We will find out in a few weeks when we return to the pediatrician for her six month check-up!

She also likes to play with her ball from Aunt Liz.  Whether she is grasping it with her tiny fingers or sticking her tongue in the holes, she entertains herself with this lightweight ball for several minutes at a time.

The many faces of our sweet Charlotte Ann: The top left was her response to my sticking my tongue out at her followed by her reaction when Dusty and Hershey were yapping at each other. The bottom left was the look on her face after I sang her a song. My personal favorite is the bottom right when she heard Daddy talking on a work call. She sure loves him (as does her Mama)!!

We have continued to be really blessed by Charlotte's sleeping habits.  With the exception of three or four nights this past month when the teething was really strong, her sleeping has been wonderful.  She tends to go down in her crib between 8:30 and 9:30pm each night and doesn't wake until 8 or 9am unless it is a work day and she needs to be awakened.  When we have company, she sleeps in her bassinette but we're not sure how much longer she will fit in there as she is growing each day!  She has given up naps on some days but a few times a week might take an afternoon nap for about an hour or so.  If she has an early morning, she may fall asleep for a late morning nap here and there.  I have noticed lately that she tends to suck her thumb more.  During a particularly challenging stretch of teething pain, she sucked it so hard she got blisters.  I think it hurt her Dad and me more than her looking at her poor thumb!

Napping buddies

Charlotte also enjoys sticking out her tongue, something she discovered she could do toward the end of being 4 months old, and pressing her lips together.  Her jaw is getting quite the workout from all the action her mouth and tongue are doing. Charlotte also kind of sort of rolled over for the first time this month.  One week after turning five months old, Charlotte rolled over while playing on her activity mat!  It was hard work and there were times I thought she was going to stop and cry but she kept trying and persisted until she did it!  Once she did roll over, she looked at me as if to say, "Well, now what?!"  I hope she continues to be a little fighter and to not give up when things are tough and can't wait to see what she does next...!

Helping Marita to play cards!

Charlotte began eating rice cereal halfway through this month.  At first, she seemed to like it but now not so much.  She seems to enjoy watching the spoon go from the bowl to her mouth more and also has shown an appreciation of her new vantage point from the high chair as she constantly watches the pups circling around the kitchen and chasing one another from one room to the next.  She also likes to throw her toys to the floor, something I remember well from my babysitting in NC days of my niece and nephews..hehe.

Rise and shine sleepyhead!

I love walking in after a nap or in the morning to this smiling face.  The excited squeals are just icing on the cake!

She also enjoys playing with her burp cloth twisting it over and over in her hands.  Forget toys, just give her a burp cloth, and it will keep her entertained!

Charlotte continued to accompany me to Zumba, Belly Dancing, Beat Boxing, and Hip Hop dance classes all while wearing  protective ear gear.  She is right up there with Boomer Phelps and one of the Rams' player's baby in sporting the stylish ear protection!

Maybe if I'm good, I will get a cookie!

Who knew there were so many ways to wear a headband??!

Charlotte has definitely begun to study everything in sight earnestly and with lots of curiosity.  She continues to be interested in whatever Daddy or I are doing, especially when we are eating.  Speaking of which, her feedings in the high chair can last anywhere from fifteen minutes to nearly an hour depending on her mood and how distracted she gets between bites.  When she's feeling particularly playful, she likes to blow raspberries with her food still in her mouth allowing her to spray food all over the poor soul who happens to be trying to feed her.  ; )

A fun project this past month with Aunt Marie involved turning the onesie Charlotte wore home from the hospital into a stuffed toy bear for her!

 

I was so thankful for a beautiful last Sunday of the summer that involved a walk in the sunshine, seeing sweet neighbors and friends at the church picnic that afternoon, and quality time with the pups, Adam, & this sweetie pie! This is the day indeed!!

 

Helping Mommy put pictures in her photo album...

Getting ready for the school year by packing some toys to take to the babysitter's house!

We packed the "painting" bag to leave at the babysitter's house as Charlotte is our "masterpiece"!  :)

These were the items that were included.  Any veteran mamas have any suggestions of anything else that should be included?

Charlotte loves holding her bottle these days!

She is also always watching her furry brothers!

Multitasking!

Tummy time still counts even when sleeping right??

Trying to show off the bottom two teeth didn't go so well...

Helping Mommy get ready for the first day of teaching as the school year got under way.

She has been getting stronger and sitting up, almost by herself, for longer periods of time.

To the left, to the left...

Recently, Charlotte has been falling asleep as we cuddle...I had been waiting for this!  Any other baby I babysat or held loved to cuddle but Charlotte waited until close to being six months old to start doing this and I LOVE it!!

She is getting better with eating the food.  It is definitely true what they say about eating solids being for practice rather than for nutrition in the beginning!

She loves dropping her toy over and over from the high chair during a feeding. 

She also loves playing with her clothes, grabbing on to rings or watches, and of course, my hair or Daddy's beard.

More sleepy snuggles!!!  LOVE!

She is our little explorer...constantly discovering and finding new things like the bow that was on my dress...!

Those shoes lasted all of two seconds!

Playing footsie with Dusty Shamrock

Naptime for everyone!

It was great having some of the family here for our cousin's Baptism.  We took advantage of the time to make an Art Snack of acorns!

While here, the boys enjoyed going to a rugby game and meeting the mascot from my school!

Charlotte is exactly two months younger than her cousin, AJ, and they enjoyed being with each other as we celebrated AJ's Baptism!

Last free Sunday afternoon of summer before maternity leave ended and work started back up for me.  It was so hard to go back as I have spent 2/3 of my life as a babysitter/nanny (among many other roles) and it is still unusual for me to be on the other side of that relationship when sweet Charlotte gets to go play with her friends at our incredible childcare provider's home.  Adam and I were so fortunate to have all this time with me at home and I miss Charlotte tremendously when at work.  However, I know that I am called to serve God as Charlotte's mom AND, for now, via my role as professor.  Having a really awesome place to work at with super supportive colleagues and other mamas, both at work and in the community, makes all the difference! During my return, I kept thinking about how different all this would be if school weren't so family-oriented and supportive. We're only a few weeks into the semester at this point but the transition has been a smooth one (praise God!).  It was SO hard driving to work on that first day.  Letting someone else provide for her needs and tend to her in my absence is so difficult.  The thought of her being independent and letting go physically hurts right now but as a close friend reminded me, Charlotte will be working on social skills and growing in other areas...these things are definitely happening as she experiences different places and people. On that first day as I reentered the workforce, more than a few tears fell in the car, but thankfully I was able to keep it together at work. Knowing we had the beginning of the year reception that evening at which both Adam and Charlotte would be there helped me to get through the day.  My Mom also reminded me of all that was waiting for me at work which helped me to get outside of focusing on only what I would be missing which was helpful.  If only I could be in two places at once!  ; )  On the actual first day, I only teared up during the mass in the morning when a colleague asked how I was holding up but was fine the rest of the day. Both Adam and Rebecca said all went well so that put my mind at ease when I checked in throughout the day. Yes, praise God, indeed, for a smooth transition!!

Mason and Charlotte enjoyed cousin Sadie's pony!

Fresh from the bath!  She loves bathtime!

This past week was extremely challenging/exhausting as I dealt with unexpected computer issues and have been scrambling to make up for lost time.  Yesterday, on the official six month day, I kept reliving the events of March 7th, and that glorious moment of meeting Charlotte Ann face to face!  What a beautiful and tender moment that was. Then, as nightfall approached, as with most Monday evenings, the darkness started to press in...and flashbacks of the bleeding/surgeries/the news of the hysterectomy hit me like a ton of bricks.  In those moments, I'm usually cuddling Charlotte or rocking with her as I try to get her down for the night which helps.  However, I know she won't be this age forever, and I already miss that warm spot where her little head tucks away under my neck and miss hearing the little sighs as she breathes deeply for a few times before succumbing to peaceful serene slumber.  I love seeing how she is changing and growing before our eyes but mourn the newborn baby she was knowing that we won't experience that sweet tender moment of bringing a new life into the world and meeting that precious new face again.  The other day, the thought crossed my mind of how deep down inside, I had always hoped for twins (or other multiples).  I had figured if I got pregnant often enough (being a twin myself) and being married to someone who has twin uncles, that eventually we would probably have twins ourselves.  It's still bittersweet, even now after six months, to think we won't be having more children even as we revel in this beautiful gift from God and each other through Charlotte's sweet presence in our lives.  This past week, I was also reminded of my younger self, as I read responses from my students about their hopes and dreams for having "lots and lots of kids" when I asked them to share their future plans for themselves.  It just reminded me once again how we don't know what the future holds and we need to embrace God's will, whatever it may be, for each of us.

Anyhow, as of two days ago, this newly turned six month old discovered her toes and feet and likes grabbing on to them and/or putting them in her mouth!!  She turns and twists her body and head in all different directions especially when she wants to see who is talking and the person is out of her line of vision.  She is currently eating rice cereal in the morning and is phasing out of her 3-6 month old clothing and moving into the six month size.  We're about to bump up to a size 3 diaper and she continues to work on her vocal cords through imitating speech in differing tones and patterns.  She can get quite vocal at times!  She also transfers objects from one hand to the other and seems to be showing more of a bilateral approach rather than preferring her left hand as we noticed last month.  She also starts each day or wakes from a nap with a beautiful, and in the words of Grammy, prize-winning smile.  She spreads joy wherever she goes and sets our hearts a flutter!