once a southern belle, always a southern belle: Charlotte Frances {9 months}

Charlotte Frances, you are NINE months old!

Weight/Height: You had your 9 month well-visit on Monday, October 9, and you're a healthy, growing girl! 16lbs, 7oz, and a little over 2 feet, 4 inches long.

Nicknames: Lovebug, Peanut, Tootie, Lovey, CC

Clothes: You're at the end of fitting into your 3-6 month and 6 month clothes, and we're moving into 6-9/6-12/9 month sizes! You fit into the length more than anything, so I'm picking and choosing where we transition (no baggie pajamas but a little wiggle room during the day is okay). I've ordered all of your fall clothes in 9 months and so far that sizing seems to be working well.

Mama is VERY excited that fall is here - I've waited years and years to dress a baby for Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas and you are at the most fun age right now and just look so darn cute with your pumpkins and kittens! Your Halloween costume is TBD - I've picked up a pumpkin costume, am debating between an elephant or a sheep for your "official" costume, and really want to DIY something for you - maybe a mama rite of passage?

Sleep: You've given us a run for our money in the sleep department this month. It breaks my heart because I know you're struggling with teething and have been battling this stuffy nose from your cold - on the days that you're feeling good, you sleep relatively well. Still waking up at least once a night (usually around 1:30 a.m.) and around 5 a.m. but you nurse very briefly (definitely just for comfort) and go back to sleep. The 5 a.m. wake-up is new and has thrown us for a little bit of a loop, because you fall back into a deep sleep and we have to wake you up to get ready for the day around 6:30 a.m. I'm looking at different sleep-training solutions but I feel very strongly against "cry it out" - I know a little crying is okay, but I still struggle.

We're moving you to your crib this month - I've (selfishly) insisted that you stay in our room in the pack n play, but I think that it's time, so we're spending afternoons in your room getting you comfortable with the space, and are starting to push naps to your crib as well. We'll get there! In the meantime, I'm going to be there to offer whatever late night snuggles that you need from me, sweet girl.

Schedule: You're on a pretty good schedule, but this is one of those areas where I wish there was a parenting manual to tell us when to do what. When do you lose a nap and have playtime increase? Do we keep bedtime/your bedtime routine the same as it's always been? We're figuring it out as we go and mainly just doing whatever works best for you.

Up at 6:30 a.m. Diaper change, nurse, and get dressed for the day

6:30-8:30 a.m. Play

8:30 a.m. Breakfast (oatmeal + fruit puree during the week with the nanny; scrambled egg yolk, YoBaby yogurt, applesauce, pancakes, french toast on the weekends with Mama and Daddy)

9 -10:30 a.m. - Nap

10:30 a.m. 4 oz bottle

11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Play

12-12:30 p.m. Lunch (HappyBaby or Plum Organics vegetable pouch + fruit puree for now)

12:30-2:00 p.m. Nap

2:00 p.m. 4 oz bottle

3:00 p.m. Mama's home! Diaper change, play (go for a walk, play outside, play on your mat/in your room), nurse (usually just briefly, for comfort)

3:30-5 p.m. Busy time! We play or run errands. Depending on your day, you sometimes nap but I make sure you're awake by 5 p.m. or we're in trouble with bedtime.

5:00-6:00 p.m. Play in your highchair/on a blanket in the kitchen while I start dinner. We talk, listen to music, play with spoons/pots and pans/Tupperware, FaceTime Gigi and Papa - I love this time with you!

6:00 p.m. Daddy's home!

6:30 p.m. Dinner (A mix of purees and solids - trying to hit all of our food groups every night)

7 p.m. Tubby time

7:30 p.m. Nurse, books, sing songs, say prayers and bed time

Health: You had a good little cold this month, which was inevitable - Daddy had it, then Mama had it, and then you unfortunately came down with it. You ran fever for two days and while it was very low grade, it was scary for us - you were so worked up and uncomfortable that you wouldn't keep any Tylenol down, so I sat up holding you for two nights. You were miserable and it just broke my heart. Around 2 a.m. one morning you finally let me get a dose of infant Motrin in you and after a good sleep you seemed better by the morning. Aside from that, you've been healthy and happy.

Crying: You're definitely in a phase of crying whenever I'm out of your sight... and I don't hate it. You've also definitely learned how to make your little voice heard if you're unhappy about something - a diaper change, being strapped into your carseat, etc. but you can be easily distracted with your Wubby or a toy and are right as rain again. This has been the first month where we've ever heard you cry in pain (teething and when you were sick) and it was awful.

Feeding: We're still breastfeeding - one month closer to my goal of one year! It admittedly makes me so sad to think of this little journey ending soon (I'm teary just thinking about it), and while I know it's just a part of growing up and a great milestone that we'll reach together when the time comes and you move on to the next stage, I can't help but overwhelmingly feel that this has been such an amazing connection for just the two of us... and I'm afraid I'm going to lose that and it will be irreplaceable. Gah, tears.

On the bright side, you're making the transition somewhat less painful but showing a robust appetite and love of food, girlfriend! You eat oatmeal and purees with the nanny but we're very much into more solid options for dinner and on the weekends! Some recent favorites include smashed carrots, homemade applesauce (I simmer apples with cinnamon), black beans, mozzarella, cubed avocado, mashed butternut squash, bagel (the soft insides) with a taste of pumpkin cream cheese, scrambled egg yolk, diced homemade chicken noodle soup (you loved the chicken, carrots and "noo-noos" - we used ditalini and they were the perfect size, cut in half), bites of grilled cheese on Shirley's birthday, white rice, yogurt, a taste or two of pizza, nectarine (in your mesh teether), broccoli crowns (you hold the stalk and bite the "leaves")... you're loving it all. We've also tried HappyBaby teething wafers (purple carrot + blueberry), Superfood Puffs (purple carrot + blueberry), and Greek yogis (strawberry banana) - you love them all, and they're so convenient to have on hand for when we're out and on the go and you need something to hold you over until meal time.

You're not a fan of peas or beets, or anything too chunky. So far we've had zero real allergy reactions, although I think your tummy is a bit sensitive to mango and bell pepper.

Likes: Snuggles with Mama, Daniel Tiger's theme song, playing with your tiny Cabbage Patch doll and the bigger babydoll we bought before you were born (even though it's basically the same size as you), your pretend remote control, going for walks, sitting in the "big girl" seat in your stroller, holding a Lovey when you get sleepy, playing with your Noah's Ark toy from Auntie Kay and Uncle Jay

Dislikes: Being overtired, sitting in your carseat for too long if we're not moving, when I don't give you more food fast enough

Milestones: You are CRAWLING, sweet girl! You made a few hesitant moves before we went to Texas on Thursday, September 14, and you were officially crawling at Gigi and Papa's house by Sunday, September 17. Now you're constantly on the move and we've had to start babyproofing. You also love to pull-up and stand, especially in your Pack n Play. You have a little sense of humor! You laugh at particular things all of the time - Molly gets lots of laughs, and also Peek-a-Boo with Mama. On Monday, September 25, you started waving "Bye Bye" up and down to Gigi and Papa on FaceTime. You sat in a big high chair while out at lunch on Saturday, September 23 - your cousin Shirley's first birthday! On Thursday, October 5, I celebrated a super special day with you - you had been out of my tummy for as long as you were in, 38 weeks, 6 days.

Faces and Places: You had a busy month! We went to Family Day at DeeDee's with lots of family - you, me, and Daddy; Auntie Candice and Shirley; Aunt Janet and Uncle Richard; Poppy and Katka; and DeeDee and Bob! The little old ladies just loved you, with your pumpkin shirt and bow. You and I went on our second solo trip to Texas, and you were a rockstar - you slept through the majority of our direct flight and were all smiles when we landed (I can't blame you - Austin just does that to people!). Gigi and Aunt Linda picked us up and we went straight to Chick-fil-A where you had a tiny taste of your first waffle fry - a girl after her mama's heart. That night, Gigi, Papa and I took you to your first Wildcat football game (mama's alma mater). It may have been the pre-game wine, but Mama felt a little teary having you there where I spent so many Friday nights cheering in the stands and dancing on the field! We had lots of family over that Sunday for Papa's brisket, and finally got to meet your Uncle Joe, Brandon and Jack; Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Bubba; and lots of Gigi's friends! It was hard to say goodbye, but we'll see Gigi and Papa for two whole weeks in December! You were perfect on the evening flight back - you slept the whole way. On Saturday, September 23, we went into Boston with Aunt Candice and Shirley to meet Aunt Janet and Maggie, and we all went to the New England Aquarium to celebrate Shirley's first birthday! You loved watching the fish swim and kept swatting at the glass to catch them. We came home with your first souvenir - a stuffed baby seal. The next weekend was Shirley's First Fiesta and you were loving life with all of the new faces to see in your cute little fiesta dress.

Molly: Now that you're on the move, you are ALL ABOUT Molly and her stuff - her toys, her bed, her fur and ears. We take your hand and gently stroke Molly while saying "Gentle" to try and get you in the habit early on of being gentle. But she's so sweet she really doesn't mind your semi-aggressive showing of love.

Things I Want to Remember: On Sunday, September 10, Daddy left for a business trip and you, Molly and I held down the fort! Your teeth have been giving you a run for your money, but we still don't have any that have broken through - a mesh teether with frozen nectarine or grapes seems to give your poor baby gums a little relief. One night, I was holding you while you were holding the teether and you looked at me with the biggest smile and offered me the teether. I pretended to taste it, you threw your head back and laughed with your big, gummy grin, and tasted it yourself. We repeated this two more times and it made my heart so full to see your little sense of humor. You do the cutest little pant when you get excited - it sometimes sounds like a hiss, which I love. You're very attached to Mama. When the breeze blows, you gasp and squeal while laughing.

You are just the light of our world, Charlotte Frances. Your Daddy and I fall a little more in love with you every single day and we can't remember what life was like without you in it. Mama struggles with the fact that you're growing so fast, but God had sentimental mamas in mind when he decided that for each stage that you grow out of, something fun, new and exciting takes its place. Over the weekend, Daddy and I were looking at pictures of you from early in the summer and we couldn't believe how much you'd changed and how much more BUSY and engaged you are now. You're constantly looking around and taking everything in, and I just love seeing that. It's like we get to see everything all over again through your eyes, and that makes it so much more special and exciting. We stop and slow down more often to soak up every moment with you because every single day brings something new!

We're so grateful for such a happy, healthy baby girl and for the privilege of being your parents.

To the moon and back, sweet Charlotte.

Love, Mama

These sweet Hanna Andersson lemon jammies have been some of my favorites of yours.

Snuggles on the night of your 8 month birthday.

Kicking off the Pats season in your gear! An example of how different sizing is - the red pants are 3-6m Old Navy, and the Patriots onesie is 0-3m. You wore that on Superbowl Sunday!