Charlotte Frances, you are SIX MONTHS OLD!
Weight/Height: 14 lbs, 15 oz, and right at about 24 inches long as of your six month check-up on Friday, July 7. We're going to start tracking your height in the nursery to see how fast you're growing.
Nicknames: Lovey, Little Love, Bubs, Sug/Sugars, Tootie. I'm still pushing back hard when people try to shorten your name to Charlie, Char, etc. - you're my sweet Charlotte and if your name gets shortened and you prefer a nickname as you grow older, that is certainly fine by me (coming from a Katherine/Katie, Mama gets it!) but I'm holding firm to your full name for as long as I can!
Clothes: You're wearing all 3-6 month sizes from Baby Gap, Old Navy, Janie and Jack, Cat & Jack and Carters, and 6 month sizing in the majority of these as well. There are a couple of 6 month outfits that are still a little loose, but I'm not rushing it! All of the Halloween and Christmas preorders are starting and I have no clue how to estimate how big you'll be in 3-5 months.
Sleep: All the praise hands for you starting to sleep 95% through the night! You go down around 8:30pm, wake up once around 1am, and stay sleeping until 5:30am when I feed you before I leave for work. There have been a few times where you fuss a bit but your Daddy is making me wait it out to see if you can settle yourself back to sleep, and most of the time you can. If you get really worked up, I'll pick you up, give you your Wub while we rock/bounce for a few minutes to settle you back down, and you fall instantly back to sleep.
You're still sleeping in the Pack n Play in our bedroom, but we're going to start working on the transition to your crib in the next week or so. It's been so, so humid and warm here the last few days but we're buying a window unit for your bedroom and can then make the move. My mama heart is truthfully a little sad, but I know you're getting big and that it's close to time.
You're still sleeping in the Pack n Play in our bedroom, but we're going to start working on the transition to your crib in the next week or so. It's been so, so humid and warm here the last few days but we're buying a window unit for your bedroom and can then make the move. My mama heart is truthfully a little sad, but I know you're getting big and that it's close to time.
Schedule: You're on a pretty good schedule but I'm happy to say that you're also very go-with-the-flow, so if we're out running errands or we get thrown off our own schedule for whatever reason, you're happy to go along for the ride and nap wherever, whenever.
5:30-6a - Wake up/nurse
6-6:20a - Daddy gets ready and we have our few minutes together. I change your diaper and get your dressed for the day while we wave to the baby in the mirror (surprise! it's you.) and sing songs (current favorites include I Love You in the Morning, This Little Light of Mine and You Are My Sunshine)
6:20a - Mama leaves for work and Daddy does the hand-off with Ms. Lorraine
7:30-10a - You typically are ready for a nap between 7/7:30, and sleep for a good hour and a half to two hours in the mornings.
10-10:30a - 4 oz bottle
10:30a-11:30a - Play time with Ms. Lorraine. She tells me that you read books, listen to music, play with your activity mat, etc. I miss this time so so much but know you're in good hands.
11:30a/12p - You tend to doze off for a quick cat nap after playing for a bit.
12-12:30p - 4oz bottle
12:30-1:30p - You typically nap for an hour or so around this time. If you wake up early, you
5:30-6a - Wake up/nurse
6-6:20a - Daddy gets ready and we have our few minutes together. I change your diaper and get your dressed for the day while we wave to the baby in the mirror (surprise! it's you.) and sing songs (current favorites include I Love You in the Morning, This Little Light of Mine and You Are My Sunshine)
6:20a - Mama leaves for work and Daddy does the hand-off with Ms. Lorraine
7:30-10a - You typically are ready for a nap between 7/7:30, and sleep for a good hour and a half to two hours in the mornings.
10-10:30a - 4 oz bottle
10:30a-11:30a - Play time with Ms. Lorraine. She tells me that you read books, listen to music, play with your activity mat, etc. I miss this time so so much but know you're in good hands.
11:30a/12p - You tend to doze off for a quick cat nap after playing for a bit.
12-12:30p - 4oz bottle
12:30-1:30p - You typically nap for an hour or so around this time. If you wake up early, you
1:30-3:30p - Depending on the day, you're either awake and playing or napping when I get home for the day around 3:30pm.
3:30-4pm - Nurse (depending on when you last had your bottle, this can range anywhere from a snack-y nursing session to a solid 20-30 minutes)
4-5pm - Mama Time! We snuggle, go on walks, sit in the shade outside with Molly if it's cool enough, read books, practice sitting with your Boppy while we play with toys, listen to music, hang in your highchair in the kitchen while I prep our dinner - I basically try to fit in as much as I can because you're in great spirits at this time.
5-5:30/6ish - You still take a little nap here, and I love the extra snuggle time with you because I can promise you that I hold you for this entire rest time.
6p - Daddy's home! You have time with Daddy while I finish up dinner, wash bottles from that day and prep your bottles for the following day.
6:30-7:30p - Dinner time. Since we've started BLW and purees, we've been eating dinner at the kitchen table with you in your highchair, so we can all eat together. It's silly but I've looked forward to this since before you were here, and it makes my heart so full and happy to have our little family at the kitchen table.
7:30p - Tubby Time for you! You LOVE your baths and have started splashing and kicking water all over the place with the biggest giggles and grins while you do it. So sweet.
8p - Our bedtime routine - your nighttime nursing session, along with books, songs and prayers before you fall asleep.
3:30-4pm - Nurse (depending on when you last had your bottle, this can range anywhere from a snack-y nursing session to a solid 20-30 minutes)
4-5pm - Mama Time! We snuggle, go on walks, sit in the shade outside with Molly if it's cool enough, read books, practice sitting with your Boppy while we play with toys, listen to music, hang in your highchair in the kitchen while I prep our dinner - I basically try to fit in as much as I can because you're in great spirits at this time.
5-5:30/6ish - You still take a little nap here, and I love the extra snuggle time with you because I can promise you that I hold you for this entire rest time.
6p - Daddy's home! You have time with Daddy while I finish up dinner, wash bottles from that day and prep your bottles for the following day.
6:30-7:30p - Dinner time. Since we've started BLW and purees, we've been eating dinner at the kitchen table with you in your highchair, so we can all eat together. It's silly but I've looked forward to this since before you were here, and it makes my heart so full and happy to have our little family at the kitchen table.
7:30p - Tubby Time for you! You LOVE your baths and have started splashing and kicking water all over the place with the biggest giggles and grins while you do it. So sweet.
8p - Our bedtime routine - your nighttime nursing session, along with books, songs and prayers before you fall asleep.
Health: You're in perfect health and we couldn't be more thankful! You get a bit of heat rash every now and then but this month we've been in the clear otherwise.
Crying: You only cry when you're overtired or frustrated, like if we aren't feeding you fast enough or roll over and get stuck. You've also had a few episodes of what I'm chalking up to teething crying which breaks my heart.
Feeding: Still nursing like a champ. I nurse you before I leave for work in the morning, you have two 4oz bottles during the day, I nurse you when I get home around 3:30pm, and typically nurse on demand through the evening (which is really only once or twice, max). We've started stretching more time between feedings in the evenings, so if I feed you around 4 or 5pm, we try to keep you entertained and happy until 8pm, so you'll eat a bigger meal before going to bed. You're loving oatmeal, which we aim to do with dinner time 3-4 nights per week, and on Wednesday, June 28, we started Baby-Led Weaning! It was a few days before you officially reached 6 months, but all signs pointed to it being OK for us to give it a shot, so Mama prepped cucumber sticks and avocado chunks and placed them on your highchair try. After lots of hype and excitement... you couldn't have cared less. You gummed the cucumber once, gagged yourself, dropped it, and banged your hands on the tray. You mushed the avocado around a bit, then pretty quickly made it clear that you were DONE with the highchair.
Likes: Your Wubby (still rotating between the Fox and the Lamb), snuggling with your Lovey, walks in your stroller, Molly, listening to Adele, your Baby Einstein turtle, holding your Bun-Bun (little Jellycat bunny), your Daddy's made-up songs (they're usually to the tune of "Oh Canada" or Christmas songs), Facetiming with Gigi and Papa, Tubby Time, and your Mama!
Dislikes: Being cold, overtired and/or hungry.
Milestones: You've started blowing raspberries, which is the cutest thing on earth. You also snuggle with me, which is my favorite thing in the world - when I hold you near my shoulder, you lay your head down and hug your arm around my neck. You're rolling over like crazy and will sit up if you're supported against us. You've also started doing this crazy walk up the front of us when we're holding you, and you're getting up on your knees and doing downward dog when you're in your pack n play or on the floor - I feel like you're getting ready to go places, my girl!
Faces and Places: We had kind of a big month for both good and bad reasons. Your great-grandpa (my Grandpa Fox) passed away, so you and I spent a lot of time in Connecticut with family. You met lots of my cousins, whom we'll call your aunts and uncles, and your second cousins! Your Gigi and Papa then came to stay with us for a week to celebrate your baptism on Sunday, June 25. It was the best day and you had so many family members there to celebrate you. You went to the beach for the first time on Monday, June 26, to your first farmers market in Hingham on Saturday, July 1, and took your first dip in the swimming pool on Tuesday, July 4 (you didn't love it, but it was overcast that day and I think a little cool for you).
Postpartum: I'm feeling great and finally feel like I'm looking more like myself. I'm close to my pre-pregnancy weight and am full steam ahead to continue losing. I charged my Fitbit for the first time in months and am excited to get back into the practice of step step stepping my days away.
Molly: You are LOVING your fur-sister. If she's in the room, you're constantly following her with your eyes, and when she gets close to us, you want to touch her fur. She's so gentle with you and doesn't mind the occasional kick or swat from your little hands and feet - she's just happy to be back in the snuggle club.
Things I Want to Remember: When it's time to eat, you do this adorable little pant, like you're so excited... you just can't hide it (sorry sister - Mama's lame humor is something you'll have to deal with for all of forever)! I don't ever want to forget it. You light up when you see me in the morning. We've started reading "Wherever You Go, My Love Will Find You" before I leave for work each morning, which basically means I cry on my drive to the office, but I like the thought of sending you off to start your day with that sweet Mama/Charlotte time. You take a few minutes to wake up and I love that snuggle time with you - you like to sit on my lap with your Wubby and a blanket and I soak up those moments.
Charlotte King, you are the light of our lives and we feel SO blessed to be your parents. Your little personality is starting to emerge and we can't wait to watch as you grow and continue to learn. It's the best feeling to see your little face focus and concentrate as you try to figure out how things work - you can practically see the wheels turning! You're constantly moving and watching and following everything going on around you, and we're so excited to watch as you take on this big world.
To the moon and back, sweet baby girl.
Love, Mama
(now prepare for a deluge of photos)
Meeting your Aunt Shan, Aunt Erica and cousins Carter and Charlie in Connecticut
Uncle Nick in Greenwich
You are the apple of your Papa's eye!
I love love love how you hold your hands when you sleep.
Mama Multitasking at its finest! I had to finish up a bit of work before we left town for the weekend, so I stopped in with you to get things done!
You love your Bun-Bun (and your Daddy).
Maybe 3 minutes after meeting Gigi and Papa at the hotel in Greenwich - you didn't leave their sight for the next 3 days!
Charlotte and Gigi - down for the count on the drive home from CT.
Your baptism day!
Your godparents, Aunt Meg and Uncle Ryan.
All of the grandparents! Your Gigi and Papa, Poppy and Katka.
Had to have the cross cake!
Mama and her best girl.
Walking Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury with Gigi and Papa.
Your first trip to the ocean!
Dipping your toes for the first time!
Trying a bit of avocado and cucumber.
Breakfast at Stars in Hingham after the farmers market on 4th of July weekend
Our little firecracker on your first Fourth of July!
First time going for a walk in the stroller without your carseat!
Your monthly photo shoots are becoming more interesting...
You'll let Mama arrange you, your pillow and Lamby...
... but you're constantly moving and kicking your little legs...
... and when did those little legs get so long?
Lots of high kicks - your right leg is always going and extended out (Aunt Amanda thinks you're destined to be a dancer; Auntie Mal thinks you're heading for the Rockettes!)
But you always give Mama lots of smiles and coos.
Now that we're rolling, the floor portion of our shoot gave Mama a bit of a workout...
After a couple of good pictures and a bit of wrangling...
... you decided you were very busy...
and were all done with that portion of the day.
We love you so much, sweet girl!
