once a southern belle, always a southern belle: June 2017

[I've had this drafted for almost a month but life got in the way and I'm just now posting for my own sake.]

Charlotte Frances, you are FIVE MONTHS OLD!

Weight: We went to the doctor last Monday (6/12) to have a heat rash on your neck checked out, and you weighed in at 14 lbs, 8 oz. You're our healthy growing girl!

Nicknames: Lovey, Little Love, Tootie Butt, Sunshine

Clothes: You are in all 3-6mos and 6mos clothing at this point. It made my mama heart a little weepy when you outgrew the 3 month sleepers that you started wearing in your newborn days, but buying cute new outfits for you has helped! Your wardrobe is without a doubt better than mine, and picking your outfit each day is one of my favorite things to do. Old Navy fits you well, but Gap, Janie and Jack, and Carters are a little roomy.

Sleep: We're still working on finding a rhythm with our sleep, my girl. After tubby time, nursing and books around 8:30, you hang out in bed with me and Daddy while we watch a show, read, etc. You typically doze off (I'm 99% sure this is our downfall) and you're so darn cute we'd rather snuggle with you than move you. So you sleep for a couple of hours with me, and then when Daddy heads to bed (around 11:30), he'll move you to the pack n play. You usually wake up, I nurse you, you fall back asleep. Then you wake up around 1am or 3am, depending on the night, and sleep until 5:30ish when I feed you before I leave for work.

I know that I'm selfishly probably making choices that are impeding on you developing good sleeping skills, but I miss you so much during the day that it's hard for me to not snuggle you as much as possible at night. Add to that the article that I recently read that said babies of working moms tend to wake up because they want to spend more time with mom, because they miss them during the day, and you have an emotional, hormonal first time mom who just wants to make you feel happy and safe. Ugh, #workingmomguilt over here.

Schedule: You have a pretty good routine down during the day, thank goodness. Your activity/awake times are definitely stretching out - you're interested in seeing and taking in everything going on around you! You fuss a tiny bit you're ready for a nap, but for the most part you are just the easiest baby and can nap great on the go if we need to be out and about running errands.

Health: You've developed a little heat rash under your neck from these icky warm, humid days, but aside from that you're in perfect health - we're so grateful for this.

Crying: You only cry if you're hungry, if you're overtired, or if you're done with something - being in the carseat, over an activity, etc. Even when you do cry it's the sweetest little sound and you're comforted very quickly. You've started to exhibit a bit of stranger awareness and have given a big pouty lip a few times when someone new has held you, but as long as I'm in sight, you're good.

Feeding: Still exclusively breastfeeding with the introduction of oatmeal with dinner a few times a week. You nurse before I leave in the morning around 5:30am, take two 4oz bottles during the day, nurse when I get home at 3:30pm, nurse between 6-7pm (around the time Daddy and I eat dinner), nurse after tubby time/before bed, and wake up at least once during the night to eat again.

You've always nursed like a champ and I find myself struggling to be at that point of introducing solids because I've so loved the bond that we've formed from breastfeeding that I'm afraid you'll start to wean yourself early. I know that's silly and sounds crazy but it is what it is and my mama heart feels a little weepy. We'll start baby led weaning in just a couple of weeks, and you're showing all of the signs of being ready, so I think it's just one of those times where I have to do what's best for you even if it's hard for me.

Likes: Your Wubby (lamb Wubbanub), snuggling your Aden + Anais loveys, music (Adele and Jack Johnson are two favorites), tubby time, going for walks, the Solly for snuggles when I'm trying to get things done around the house/cook, being outside, Facetiming Gigi and Papa, snuggling with Mama, mama's singing (You Are My Sunshine, I Love You Charlotte, Skinnamarink, Somewhere Over the Rainbow)

Dislikes: Being in your carseat for too long, staying in one position/doing one activity for too long, being cold

Milestones: On Tuesday, June 6, your 5 month birthday, you rolled over from back to tummy for the first time! Your little face looked totally surprised at first, and then once you got the hang of it, you were SO proud! You've also really focused in on grabbing/reaching for things, and once you have something in your grip, it's a challenge to get it away. You and I celebrated our first Mother's Day together - the first of many! You tried oatmeal this month and on our last attempt, you got the hang of it and Daddy couldn't spoon it to you fast enough! You also found your toes and your tongue this month and love to constantly grab onto your feet.

Faces and Places: You continue to be the best baby as we make our way across the South Shore for shopping and visiting restaurants! You're perfectly content to hang out with Mama at girls night, family get togethers and while being a lady who lunches.

This month you made lots of new friends! You joined Mama, Aunt Katie and Aunt Jeannette for dinner at The Fours - we can't wait for your BFF Rose to join our little girls club next month! You also met great aunts, uncles and second cousins PLUS your other great grandmother (Nana) on Daddy's side of the family. You're a lucky little girl to have two great grandmothers alive and active in your life, sweet girl! And you met your sweet cousin Addy over Memorial Day weekend - we can't wait to watch you girls (and Shirley, very soon!) grow up together!

Postpartum: Down 10 pounds on WW, and I finally recharged my Fitbit to actually get to stepping again. We're looking into either a treadmill or Peloton bike for the basement because let's face it - with my work schedule, getting to the gym before work is impossible, and walking in the neighborhood after work can only do so much!

Molly: You and Molly have really taken an interest in each other these last few weeks and it's the sweetest thing. You constantly follow her with your eyes and when she sits next to us, you immediately reach out to touch her fur. She's been so wonderful and gentle with you - we're so lucky that the two of you have done so well together!

Things I Want to Remember: You always want a lovey or a blanket by your cheek when you sleep. You love to watch yourself in the mirror and immediately smile and bounce in my arms when you see your reflection. You light up when Daddy walks in the room. You've started squealing and look so pleased with yourself when you hear the sound of your voice. You've also started a little fake cough to get my attention - as soon as I turn to you, you grin the biggest, sweetest grin. You love hearing me sing to you and pay such close attention when we read books - these are my favorite times with you, when we're snuggling and you seem so happy and content. We sing "I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon..." song every day before I leave for work - in my mind, that files away somewhere in your sweet little head to know that Mama will be back for snuggles so soon. As you fall asleep for both naps and nighttime, you always reach out for me and as soon as you land on my finger or shirt or whatever is closest to you, you immediately relax and drift off.

Sweet Charlotte, you are the happiest, sweetest baby girl and we feel so lucky to have been chosen as your Mama and Daddy. You change and grow and do something new every single day and while it's always a little difficult for Mama to see you changing and growing away from the newborn days, I also can't wait to see your personality continue to develop and to know the amazing little person that you're going to be. I tell you every morning that I hope you're always as happy as you are right now - your smiles are my world!

Hugs and kisses to the moon and back!

Love, Mama