6 months!

Charlotte Ann,

How are you already halfway through your first year?!

Our little extrovert, you are such a social butterfly!  In the past month, you have blossomed into the most engaging and interactive baby.  People who have recently held you have said things like, "I feel like she's looking into my soul with those eyes!" and "She is literally just going to start talking...It's like she knows exactly what I'm saying." You are a big fan of getting to know people by touching their face, looking right into their eyes, and examining them up close when they hold you.  You are energized by a room full of people, which makes your energetic cousins, church, and our Wednesday night Lifegroup your favorites. We host a house full of people each week, and it's not unusual for you to protest bedtime and beg to stay up so that you can socialize. Then, you are content to fall asleep to the sounds of conversation and worship music playing in the background. Where there are people and music, you are a happy girl.

Our bedtime routine is pretty well established by now, and you squeal with delight as I fill your bathtub with water. Then, you sing, kick, and splash, loving every moment surrounded by your yellow rubber duckies. After a baby massage and story time, you are ready for lights out...but not always for long. You are still waking up at night and begging Momma to come in and rock you.  Although this makes for some very late nights and long days at work the next day, I am cherishing this quickly fleeting season. Some of our sweetest moments have been during sleepy 2am nursing sessions, as you gently play with my hair and stroke my face with your tiny hands, the moonlight streaming through your window in the stillness of the night.  Breastfeeding you is one of my greatest joys as a Momma, and we have some of our best conversations and bonding moments through this relationship!

To say you are a good eater is an understatement.  We introduced your first solid foods - avocados, bananas, and rice cereal - this month. After the first bite, you simply wrinkled up your nose and then opened your mouth in anticipation of the next spoonful. You are becoming more of a regular presence at our breakfast and dinner table, and we love introducing you to our own love of food. Yes, my child, you fit perfectly into this family!

Though you are small for your age, you are mighty! You are a girl on the move, and you roll/scoot/crawl happily around the house...besides, who says you have to sit up on your own before you can crawl?! You smart little stinker - you've already learned how to unplug your baby monitor from inside your crib, so we've had to make some minor furniture rearrangements in your nursery.

You still love spending the days with your Mimi, and you also now have a part time nanny, Miss Tiffany.  You've adjusted pretty well to the changes in schedule, and we are so fortunate that your caretakers love you so well!

It's been another month of laughter and adventure, and we can't wait to see what new things you'll learn during the next month. Although your first year is halfway over, we can't ask for time to slow down - each new month brings more joy than the one before.

Love,
Momma and Daddy