Letters to Charleston - 7 Months Old

Dear Charleston,

You are 7 months old. The number blows my mind. I remember reading other people's blog and thinking how big their babies were at 7 months. And here you are, exactly 7 months old, and yet you're still so little and at the same time so grown. You've gone such a long way. I could never imagine myself as a mom to a 7 month old and yet in a blink of an eye, you are 7 {freaking} MONTHS OLD!

I am most likely repeating myself saying this month has been the most amazing one so far. When I day-dreamed about you, when you were in my belly, I couldn't imagine that we would  have times like this where every single day is unbearably precious and unfathomably fun. Writing these letters to you become more important with each passing month.

Your day ALWAYS starts the same. About 6 or 7 am. We hear you rolling around and giggling in your crib, patently waiting for one of us to come get you. When you realize daddy or I standing at your crib.. Its instantly a slew of babbles and laughs followed by the biggest smile, making it evident for anyone else in the house that the PRINCESS is awake.

So what's new this month? Well, you are 16 lbs. and about 26 inches tall. You are wearing 3-6 month clothes and a size 2 in diapers. But not for much longer, I think its almost time to move up to a size 3. You have truly become a water baby. You love bath time and playing in the water, always trying to grab it as it comes out the faucet. You still only have 2 teeth, but I believe you have another one trying to push through. You are such a fighter when it comes to falling asleep. I swear your afraid your going to miss something. But when you finally give up, you are out like a light. Still sleeping at least 9 hours a night. Which is great, now only if I could.

Your favorite foods are pumpkin, apples and pumpkin and you just started liking squash. Two weekends ago we gave you one of those puffs that dissolves in your mouth, I was a little nervous. I knew it dissolved right away, but was not sure how fast and if you would choke. I think I was more worried about if you knew how to chew it or swallow it....but you loved them. I know sure if it was more of a "solid" food then what your used to or what. It amazes me that even at a young age you still know what to do. You are so interested in regular food. No matter where you are, you try so hard to reach it and grab it. Soon baby girl.. soon!

You are using your fingers and hands like a pro. You grab on to anything and everything, from toys to things on the shelf at stores. Your always grabbing on to clothes that get close enough for you to reach.You love when were out shopping and prefer me to carry you as I push the cart, so you can grab on too and help! Your going to be the perfect little shopper with me and Grandma Terri.

You babble and coo all day long. Im pretty sure you will be a big talker here soon. I think you have said "hey" several times, but that is still up for debate. Regardless, I can pretty much make out the meaning of your noises. I love your smile and giggles. It just brightens up the room. You are such a ray of sunshine when your great granddaddy Jack sees you. He loves to play with you and is always looking forward to your little giggles.

You are not crawling yet, as you haven't quite figured out how to lift that belly up. But you are EVERYWHERE! You scoot and wiggle around on your back to move from place to place. I can put you on your back and turn away for 2 seconds and you will be on your stomach turned the other way. You are def going to give me a run for my money! Your daddy and I will be chasing you all over this house.

You are such a mommy's girl too. Your daddy likes to beg a differ but there is no denying it. He's determined to make you a Clemson girl, but he does not realize that the girls in this family are Carolina fans all the way. Im so looking forward to taking you on your first tailgating trip in the fall. You will love it!

You are growing so fast! I need you to slow down! Sweet girl you are such blessing and your daddy and I love you to pieces!

Letters to Charleston - 6 Months Old

Dear Charleston,

Today you turned 6 months old. SIX WHOLE MONTHS of baby. I can't believe it. In many ways the past 6 months have passed by at a scary speed. Sometimes I feel like I blink and you've changed right there in front of me. You're no longer the tiny little baby we brought home. You are solid, with chunky, strong thighs and a firm grip. I am amazed at how much you have grown and how we can't even remember what life was like before you made us a family. Seriously, how did we spend our evenings?

We saw Dr. Lewis today and your weighing in at 15.15 pounds and 26 inches long. I have a feeling your going to be short like mommy! As for your clothes, your still wearing 3 months for the most part, but can wear some 6 months depending on brand.
You have been teething since 2 months, but this month your first tooth finally broke through and just this week we noticed another one right beside it. Ahh 2 teeth!

At six months you're as eager as ever to move or just get up on your own two feet. One day I could leave you on your play mat on the floor and work around the house, and then the next day you were suddenly mobile. Now you can roll across the floor and lie on your back and wiggle backwards (it's hilarious), and I cant leave you unattended for 5 seconds because I don't know where you'll end up. But it's wonderful because now your world is starting to open up. You have gained a tiny bit of independence and there's a world of adventures ahead.
Did I mention you can sit up all by yourself? No? Well, you can. You're a bit wobbly at times but everyday you get stronger. And you love it. Just recently, you have started to lift your arms up when you want picked up and every once in a while you will reach for others if you want to go to them. Its super cute.

We started feeding you baby food.. you weren't sure about it at first and at times you still aren't. We have tried several brands but of course you prefer the beech nut over anything. It seems your favorites so far are pumpkin and honey crisp apples with pumpkin. Your going to be a pumpkin girl, just like the rest of us! You ate a whole jar of the apples and pumpkin the first time eating them. You just did not want to put them down. You were also covered from head to toe because you got excited every time you took a bite. You like your vegetables better then your fruit. Although the other day you tried pears and raspberries and you love it.

Recently, you have discovered our faces, and we keep getting poked and prodded by your adorable fingers. Especially when we are rocking you to sleep.
You have always been a good sleeper - you sleep 9-10 hours every night. Your napping is less predictable - most days you sleep a total of 3-4 hours, but occasionally you go on a nap strike and get a little irritable. But sleep eventually wins.
Your always a happy baby when you wake up. Its usually about 7:30am when I find you in your crib just a giggling and playing with your feet.

This month you have definitely come in to your own. Your personality has continued to grow and you are becoming more of a little person than an infant. This makes me slightly sad because your tiny baby days are ending, but I am so excited to see what the next month brings.
I just can't believe it's been 6 months already.
Your Daddy and I love you more than you could imagine!

6 Month photo shoot coming soon!

Letters to Charleston - 5 Months Old

Dear Charleston,

Yesterday you turned 5 months old. I can’t believe you’re already such a little lady. You’re still full of smiles but you’ve picked up many new skills in the past month. You can sit up (with a little support), reach your toes, hold your own bottle, blow bubbles, roll both ways and jump a ton in your bouncer. You even love to sit in your bumbo seat and watch Kate and Mim Mim. You have become more vocal in the last few weeks and sometimes I think you just like hearing your own voice. But I don't mind.. It's so cute!

We saw the pediatrician for an unscheduled visit this month bc of a little cough you had.. But luckily it went away as fast as it showed up! You weigh 15 pounds and probably somewhere around 25/25.5 inches. Most of your clothes are still 0-3 and 3 months, although you can wear a few 3-6 months depending on brand. Your hair is lightening up just a touch and has started falling out. Your eyes look like they will stay blue like Your daddy's and I.

Dr. Lewis suggested we start solids with you at 4 months, but I’ll admit it: I wasn’t ready. That is just another sign that you’re speeding away from baby status. My plan was to wait until 6 months, but every parent knows that a parenting plan never goes as you’d like. You have already started staring at solid foods and reaching for it. We decided to start you on avocados first. You didn't have much of a reaction to it. You hated the whole spoon feeding thing more then anything. We have also started sweet potatoes, squash and pears. Sweet potatoes you liked for a few days but when you got the spoon feeding figured out, you didn't care for sweet potatoes any more. Squash you kinda liked and pears you didn't like at all. I think we have apples next to try! I've been trying to extend your in between eating time but you want to go back wards. You were eating every 4hrs, your now eating every 3hrs. It averages somewhere between 3-5hrs. Depending on your days. Your such a chunky monkey!

You went on your first road trip this month. We went to Orlando to see Grandpa Hoey and your Great Grandparents Hoey and Carbonaro! You did so well in the car ride. Slept most of the time. Even when you were awake you were quiet as can be! You got to meet so many family members while we were in Orlando & of course you were the topic of all conversation!

You took your first trip to the Magic Kingdom while we were their as well!! You enjoyed seeing all the colors and characters. Cinderella's step sisters wanted to keep you! You can't help it - your just so cute! We did a Disney 3D orchestra show and you loved it. Well until u got sprinkled with water & then you were a little confused. But I think your first Disney trip was a success!

And sweet pea, you don’t know it, but you have a friend who watches over you from heaven. Her name is Payton and she would have been 17 months old tomorrow. She didn’t make it though, and that makes Mommy and daddy very sad. But we are lucky to have such a sweet little guardian angel to take care of you.

Mommy and Daddy are so glad that you found us. I never could’ve imagined that you would be so perfect! I LOVE your head full of brown hair, and you look just like Mommy! Your my mini me! 

You’re still a laid back, smiley girl and you know how to light up a room with your infectious smile. You’re still sleeping well at night, but you fight sleep during the day during nap times. Dad & I love you so much. We can't forget about Hera! She loves to protect you and her favorite thing is to lick all your drool off. You’re growing and changing so much. It’s what you’re supposed to do, but Mommy just wants to bottle your 5 month-old sweetness for now. Please don’t grow up too fast.

All my love,
Mommy

Letters to Charleston - 4 Months Old

Dear Charleston,

Though you're only four months old, I'm amazed by the personality you're already showing; we're learning more about who you are every day.

From the moment my labor begin, I knew you were someone very special. You were the ultimate partner and champion in your epidural-free birth. From the moment you were born, you seemed much older than a newborn. You have made life so easy for me. Instead of the restless, frantic life stage that I expected to be in with a newborn, I have spent the past four months in total bliss. I have felt nothing other than rested, calm, and totally in love.

Each morning, you wake me up with your little baby noises and greet me with a happy little dance. Even though at times it's earlier than I'd like, once you smile at me, I can't help but smile, too.

While you could care less about rolling over, you have hit the belly laugh milestone. There's not a sweeter sound in our lives right now. When we get you in a laughing fit, everything in the house stops and everyone comes over to see you. You never fail to put on a good show. I often wonder if I have a future performer on my hands. You already have the ability to light up the room and make people smile. You LOVE attention. (Just like mommy) ;)

The love your older cousins have for you is just amazing to me! Little Jonathan who is only a year and a half has so much love for you it melts my heart. When he see's you he lights up and just wants to play with you. I love watching him interact with you. I can already see it, you two will be the best of friends. Both boys are such a big help when we come to visit, and they love holding you!

For weeks now you have loved to stand up. You've loved working at this and getting better at it. Today you can stand up for a long time. Your leg muscles have gotten so strong. Your daddy even had you stand up and balance by your self, and you balanced pretty well for a good 30sec. We were amazed. When your legs get tired and  you go down, you always want to get right back up. I want you to remember this at every stage in your life: always get back up. Falling is part of life; falling is how we learn; falling means that we're stretching ourselves, pushing ourselves, growing and striving to be better. Falling is living life - getting back up is living life to its fullest.

You love watching TV, at first I think it was just for the colors. But we can across this show called Kate & Mim Mim and every time we put it on you get the biggest smile you can make. You could watch that show for hours. Thank goodness for Netflix, we can put it on anytime.

You know, you may be little, but you've already had a profound effect on my life. When I wake up now, the first thing I do is look at you. Some days your already wide awake; others I see your closed eyes and your little lips pouting as your body moves with the rhythm of your breathing, and I can't help but smile, and reminded that all is well.

I grow more in love with you every day. Just when I think there's no way I could love you any more, somehow, there's even more room in my heart and more love to give. I can't even remember what life was like without you. In just a few weeks we will be celebrating your first Christmas and we are so blessed beyond words to have you in our family.

We love you,
Mommy, Daddy & your puppy Hera!