Poor, Pitiful little Sweet Thing

This is all you have wanted to do for the past two days. Snuggle, watch Nick Jr. and dose into sleep. You are thirsty all the time. Coughing so bad that you are throwing up. Clammy. Stuffy nose, red puffy eyes. You have it bad. It is so pitiful. Today was a little better than yesterday. So maybe tomorrow we will be in the clear.

We will get you feeling better soon my Sweet Little One. 

Love, your momma

Nine Month Doctors Visit

Dr. Clifford and you had a date today. You have a cold/cough/feverish temp sort of bug (probably from your sore mouth). You are also cutting your top k-9 teeth. This will make a whopping 10 teeth in your little mouth. And soon to follow will be you bottom k-9 as I can see them in your gum. The doc mentioned that you are a really early teether, but we already knew that. I am so sorry you have such a hard time with teething, but we will get through it with lots of ice cubes, Motrin, Tylenol, and mommy and daddy kisses...;)

You weighed in at 24.8 pounds, a little over 30 inches in height, and your head circumference is 18 3/4 inches. You are 99th % in each measurement. Once again, we were told how you were a really big baby BUT even though you are high on the charts for your age. You are totally in proportion for your weight to height ratio and head ratio. Basically for your height you are perfect in weight. Its just that you are big healthy for your age. No worries kiddo, both of your parents were big babies. I love it!

Thank you for being such a sweet little girl. Now one favor to ask of you my darling...Will you sleep all the way through the night for mommy! I would be so excited...like "I will give you chocolate ice cream" excited. xoxo my sweet thing.

"Sleep through the night!! Come on mom! I need my midnight snack!"

Beach Trip Part II

My Cheeky little one sitting in her own Purple Hippo beach chair.

Sweet Cheeks.

Family photo at the NC Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores.

Sitting on the giant froggy.

Daddy showing you the eels.

Lobster Baby.

Me and you...solving the worlds problems.

Grandaddy wanted to introduce you to this fish before he put it on his hook to catch another fish (hopefully a drum), but what we did not expect was for the fish to get a bolt of energy and jump out of his hands and into our faces. 

*Picture taken a Milli-second before the fish flipped and flopped in our face.

Don't get any ideas little missy.

After a HOT and HUMID day in the ocean and on the sand. Coolin' down on the couch. Look at all the sunscreen in your hair.

Your Grandaddy Bland and Grammy B. They love you. A lot. And I mean a lot, a lot.

I kept talking about how I did not get you any "My first beach trip" souvenirs. Then on our last night Grammy came home from date night with grandaddy and had a little pink bag. Inside was this Princess tent that I had had my eye on all week. Our beach neighbors had one on the beach every day for their little girl.

So, not to spoil you or anything, now you have your own princess tent and I set it up in the playroom. You and I filled it with toys a snugly quilt and your puffy chair. Here you are crawling out after some morning playtime and book reading. Every girl needs her own little cubby hole. Even at nine months...right. How do you turn down pink castles?

I am waiting for you to take your first steps any day now. If you are not crawling around the house, you are doing some sort of ostrich like stance. (head on the ground, tush in the air) You stand up put your arms out like a windmill and wave them as you try to balance your 24 pound body. Yesterday you crawled onto a baby chair and tried to climb up the book shelf...let the child proofing begin.

Favorite Books: "Love You Forever"

I'll love you forever,

I'll like for you always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

Robert Munsch

9 months old

It is official. You have been outside my belly for as long as you were inside my belly. It feels like you are gaining more and more independence each day. I thought I would be sad, but honestly, I enjoy seeing you accomplish new adventures and become more steady on your feet...literally.  Speaking of feet. You can stand up with ease now and stand on your own for a few seconds here and there. Because of your new mobility confidence you have had a few crash and falls.

I am so proud to watch you crawl up the two little stairs and then all the way up and down the hallway in our beach condo. It feels like you are starting to truly learn and comprehend. You can clap and say YAY!! You can say the words doggie and giggle. Sully and Matti are your BEST friends and you have recently learned how to pull up on them and use them as your jungle gym. They have been very patient.

About a week ago, I began teaching you how to give kisses. Now you want to kiss everything!! Your stuffed animals, the dogs, the pages in your books...everything. It is very funny!

When we get back from the beach we will go to the doctor for your 9 month appointment. No shots, so this will be an easy trip!

We spent your "I'm nine months old day" driving to Emerald Isle. You did such a great job in the car and, so far, are coping with the sand, heat, humidity, etc. pretty well. You are not so sure about the ocean, but we took you out to the sand bar and you liked it once we got past the crashing waves. Here are some pictures from the day.

First steps in the ocean.

Watching the waves.

Walking into the water.

Look mommy!

Charlotte's first sand experience. You were intrigued to say the least.

Daddy and you.

Daddy and Grammy's Birthday Weekend

We went back to the mountains this weekend. Your daddy had to look after his garden, and you got to ride on the tractor for the first time. We celebrated your daddy's 28th birthday and your Grammy's Birthday. It was SO hot and humid that we could not keep clothes on you. We had big thunderstorms that you slept right through. I can't believe you are going to be nine months old next week. One word to describe you right now is WILD. You are into everything, standing up and cruising around the room, trying to climb out of your crib, trying to leap off of the couch, bed, and any other heightened surface. You have unfortunately been successful at the whole falling off the bed thing. All I can say is when you read this, ask your daddy about that ;)

It makes me proud that you are a dare devil (because I am such a chicken) and it makes me scared that you are a dare devil (because your daddy has the scars and hospital records to prove the dangers of wild-child syndrome).

When I was pregnant, I prayed and prayed for a free spirited child who wore her heart on her sleeve and did not have a worry in the world. One that jumped at the chance to ride roller coasters and would run off the diving board into the deep end of the pool. It looks like God decided to fill my hands full with you ;)

You really enjoy drinking out of water bottles. Part of your Big Girl routine.

Pretty Girl.

Riding on the big Tractor, trying to drive yourself.

A proud Grandaddy and happy baby.

Special.

Sweet Moment.

This is the second picture with your Grammy Bebe. She does not like get in pictures, but I made her. Y'all are extremely close and I am so lucky to have such a good mom that has taught me so many things. The bond you two share is forever special.

Edible cheeks. Pouty lips. How will I ever say no to that face! (Don't get any ideas)

New Obsession: Sippy Cups. You drink all the time. Your new trick is to take a big mouthful of water in and then spit it out like a fountain. You think skills, we think you big mess.

More Memorial Day Fun

Pool time with Alice and Daddy.

Favorite Books: "The Giving Tree"

...and the tree was happy.

~Shel Silverstein

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent Memorial Day weekend sitting out in the sunshine, playing in the water, and relaxing on the porch. We watched your daddy, grandaddy and Tommy plant a garden. It was a nice peaceful weekend.

You sat in your pool. I am so glad you love water as much as you do. We took you to the big pool when we got home from the mountains and you stuck your whole head under water. You kick your legs like a frog and squeal with excitement. I have never been a good swimmer and I am relieved that you enjoy it.

Your grandaddy took some pictures of your swimming adventures at the Busted W!