Taking a moment.

Today while you climbed on top of Sully and preceded to use him as a stage while you bounced and danced to Yo Gabba Gabba noise; I stared at you. Watching your legs learn to work and take steps while your feet grasp the floor. Your voice create some sort of language that you are determined to teach the world through squeals and babble. Those big, round sweet eyes, that are constantly changing colors. Your little dainty profile and sweet chubby cheeks. The little blonde strands that grow in more and more each day and the way you let me decorate you with bows. I am so grateful for you. My healthy baby girl, teaching me about faith, and grace and all in a simple smile.

My sweet, sweet Charley Girl

Laughing.

Scrunchy nose smile. (I call it the daddy smile.)

The, "I am about to do something I am not supposed to, so let me look back at mommy first to see if she is watching face."

Playing with your baby dolls.

Almost there.

Sitting in your princess tent.

Reading your book. Upside down.

10 Months

You are officially into the double digits. You don't just look older, but when I say it out loud...She's is ten months old. It sounds old. 

I have noticed some specific changes in the past week:

Instead of me reading you a book once, you push the book back into your lap and want me to read it over and over. Also, you like to turn the pages. 

When I am not looking you crawl into the playroom and sit with my thick "Week by Week Baby" book and flip the pages and giggle.

There is absolutely no more sitting down or taking my eyes off of you. Zero.

Your toy cell phones have become real over night, and you have complete conversations with...well yourself.

No more baby food. You gave it up about two weeks ago. Random foods you like include salmon, couscous, cheez-its, mommies cereal.

You dance when music starts. Even when Lucy played Justin Beiber for you!

Most of all, I am noticing your interaction with the world. Your imagination is busy. 

Picking grass.

Playing with your sunglasses.

Such a ham.

Look at those teeth!

Standing with bunny.

Your attempts at walking.

A little nervous to take a step.

But so close to trying!

xoxo, momma

A girl and her Tutu.

Mommy, who is this little girl?

Fun.

Giving kisses.

Muah.

Adorable.

Hands.

Silly girl.

My world.

More kisses.

Buh Bye.

Independence Day

We drove up to the mountains for the day. It was a nice break to the 100 degree heat at home.

Mischievous little one.

Family picture with the Triplett's on the dock.

Your favorite place to be...in the water.

Chewing on anything and everything.

Auntie Patti teaching you how to swim. You are a complete water bug.

In the pond.

Tuckered out with Patti on the hammock.

Attempt at a Group Pic.

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.