Charlotte Ann is nine months old!

This past month was filled with many new firsts including a trip to the ER...twice!

Within a week of each other, in two different states, Charlotte found herself in the ER.  The first time was due to Daddy having a gallbladder attack (he is feeling much better now and we plan to make some changes in what we eat to try to prevent this from happening again) and the second time was on the night of Thanksgiving when we spent three hours in the ER from 1:30 - 4:30am having Charlotte examined by the doctor due to difficulty breathing and coughing.  Thankfully she didn't have strep throat, pneumonia, flu, or RSV according to the culture tests and X-rays.  The doctor diagnosed our baby with an upper respiratory infection (URI) and sent us home after giving her some Tylenol (it was her first time having medicine) and she didn't take too kindly to having her X-rays taken but fortunately, was still smiling and sweet in spite of being sick, as you can see in this photo as we continued into our third hour of waiting in the ER.  I gotta hand it to my Dad, however, as he spent the whole three hours sitting out in the waiting room wondering what was happening.  I guess it's true that no matter how old I get, I will still need my dad there.  <3

Mustering a smile in spite of being so sick!

Charlotte continues to be fascinated by tags, finding them on every toy, burp cloth, bib, changing table liner, and anywhere else she spies the amazing tag.

Something new she started doing this month in the area of communication is to imitate blowing raspberries and panting and to pull herself up to a sitting position when laying flat on her back!  She also likes to move toys, burp cloths, or anything else she can get her hands on, from side to side....it is quite a workout for her!  Charlotte also enjoys "waving" to others by flapping her arm when she sees someone new or you enter the room.

Voting ~ Charlotte's facial expression about sums up how I felt over the options (Clinton or Trump).

She seemed to feel better after we got home though.  ; )

I'm so thankful for the help from Ministry to Moms!  My helper spent a couple hours folding and sorting clothes Charlotte has outgrown.  This was a task I had put off for mooooonths but she got it done in a few hours.  What a huge help it is to have this off my to-do list.  It was bittersweet seeing the itty bitty clothes she wore a newborn and at three months being packed away into boxes.

In early November I flew to Kentucky for work.  This was the morning I left for the airport.  It was so hard saying goodbye to our sweet girl even though she was more interested in what the pups were doing at the moment.

She is best of friends with the pups.

Love love love when she falls asleep on me.  I know these moments won't last forever and I already miss them!

 

 

We (Adam) planted Charlotte's flowers in the backyard! The yellow ones were from the Ohio baby shower in January and the pink/purple ones were brought to the hospital by our friend, Katy, when Charlotte was born.  I can't wait to see them bloom next spring!!

Charlotte went to a couple meetings with me this past month.  She especially loves the Wellness Committee people (as do I)!

A favorite pasttime these days is for the three babies (fur and human) to take naps together.  I promise that Dusty was not about to fall off the top of the couch onto Charlotte although it looks like he is about to do just that in this picture!

Strike a pose!

Representin' Mommy's homestate!

LOL!!!

She is always playing with her taggie even when at the ER the first time this past month.

First snowfall!!

Serious look

Falling asleep as she feeds herself

What do I do with these things called mittens?!

 

 

This owl hat is too big but I couldn't resist putting it on her now to see what she would look like as an owl!

I think she liked it!

Playing with cousin Sadie's and AJ's toys at Aunt Marie's and Uncle Bill's house

 

Charlotte went to Mommy's old house for the first time this past month.  The last time Mommy was there was for the Ohio Baby Shower!

These are the pajamas two of my former students gave me as a gift last Christmas due to being so excited about the baby!  :) 

Driving to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving

 

We made a pit stop in York to see a dear friend and join her family and her for some yummy tacos at their house.  Thanks Lauren and Trevor!!!

I hadn't been home since May so it was great going home for Thanksgiving.  We look forward to going to Adam's home in California in less than two weeks!!

While home, we were able to steal away to the Poconos for an afternoon and vising a resort off Lake Wallenpaupack with my Mom and Dad.

Sorry kiddo, this dessert is for the grownups!

That hair!  That smile!  This child!!!

 

Gobble gobble!

My nephew, Thomas, greeted us as we pulled in for Thanksgiving festivities!

Mason gave Uncle Adam advice about school on the way home from Uncle Mark's and Aunt Liz's house.  ; )

Our little turkey!

 

Something else Charlotte has started doing this past month is to bend all the way over and put her face in her lap...lol!

Getting ready to go back to Ohio

Looks like everyone is here and we're all set!

Backseat nappers

Trying fruit for the first time thanks to Monika's yummy homemade apple sauce!

Helping Mommy grade papers

So blessed to work at a place with future teachers who have such a strong faith!

So busy with her books and toys!

Charlotte supervised as I put up the Christmas decorations.

Feast Day of St. Nicholas

Charlotte doesn't wear her shoes (can never keep them on her!) but she still received a little treat in one of her shoes anyhow!

In deep thought amidst playing

Some common scenes around the house after one of our helpers came to play with Charlotte one recent evening.  ; )

Love the quiet prayerful moments around the Advent Wreath at the end of the day...

 Here are some other random moments from this past month:

Charlotte's ornament from the Feast Day of St. Nicholas was the final addition to our tree this year!

Forget the milk, I want the turkey!

  

 

 Some of my favorite moments from this past month were: 

Thanksgiving 2016 that was spent at my parents' home and at my twin's house.

The two biggest pieces of my heart right there....

She adores bath time!

Playing with Mommy's folder that has schoolwork in it!

November's Good Godly Grub at my old house on the Feast Day of Christ the King

Things I want to remember...

+ how you love to find the tag on anything and how intent you are on playing with it between your fingers

+ you love greeting your Dad and me when we enter the room even if we just saw you a minute or two ago

+ how your Daddy sings you a song to wake up in the mornings and watching you stretch out your little body from your hands above your head down to your toes as you sleepily smile then open your eyes to greet us peering down at you in the crib

+ how you look at your Dad and me - you are so cute.  I hope you know how much we love you and then some!

+ rocking and snuggling you ... this is my absolute favorite especially as you gently collapse and fall asleep on my chest with your little head tucked under my chin.  It doesn't happen all that often but when it does, I'm in heaven cradling you in my arms.

+ how you love books 

+ how the little dimple to the left of your mouth appears when you smile some times

+ the joy you feel during bath time

+ the way you watch the pups run circles in the living room 

+ how you like making eye contact with people and contribute to conversations with your, "Ahhhhs", and squawks

Thankfully Charlotte still sleeps throughout the night and sometimes will take a late morning nap.  She still tends to go down for the night between 8 and 8:30pm and will talk herself to sleep some times.  I love hearing the "conversations" she has with herself as she self soothes.

I'm not so sure about this standing business Mommy!

Thank you for a beautiful nine months Charlotte Annie!  You are SO loved and can't wait to introduce you to more of your West Coast family in the upcoming weeks!!!