11 month update

My little baby girl is about to turn ONE! 11 months has this bittersweet feeling.  She has "grown up" so much recently! Her big little personality has been shining! Life has been pretty spectacular with her in it.  Isn't it wild how you can never imagine what this new baby will be like - their personality, the way they look, their smell (mmm, baby smells)? Then, this little baby enters your life and it's just so unbelievably perfect.  

At 11 months, E is hilarious.  She has the biggest two tooth grin, has developed a deep gutteral laugh (akin to a smoker, hah!), and cruises all over the house with astounding speed.  She's a bit dramatic and erupts into hysterics with the slightest bump, constantly grasps at her sister's toys and eats more than anyone else in the entire house (dad included).  She sleeps like a dream.  She buries her face into her bear-bear, plays a little and then drifts off to sleep.  Every single nap and every single night.  It's crazy amazing! She loves outside so very much.  No matter how tired or how hungry she will feel the wind in her hair over food or sleep.  She loves pushing the little grocery cart on the playground and loves pointing and grunting when she wants something (the only sign she has picked up is "milk" - girls got her tummy on her mind!).  She is still nursing 4 times a day and gets a bottle of formula before bed.  I have finished pumping and am bittersweet about that.  I pumped once a day for just shy of an entire year.  I'm patting my own self on the back! She has made it easy but gosh darnit, it's hard! 

I love you so much, E!!! Life is infinitely more amazing with you in it.  

Elf NOT on the Shelf

We love, love Christmas! Charlotte is almost three and we were ready to introduce her imaginative little mind to Elf on the Shelf.  We read the book last night, talked about how he is one of Santa's helpers and will fly to our house to watch over us before Christmas.  This morning, she walked downstairs and opened the front door.  "Nope, mama, he didn't come last night.  Maybe he'll come today?"  Sweet girl thought he was going to walk right on through the front door.  I looked up at our lights where Elf was perched and said "I see him!" Charlotte looked up, stared and then I saw the tiniest little quiver of her lip.  She repeated "I'm ok, mama, I'm ok" and then broke out into sobs.  I could see her thoughts - this elf flew into our house?! Is he alive?! He's watching me?! I think there's only so much 'magic' we can introduce at a time...

 I whisked her upstairs and Elf "flew" back to the closet, err, North Pole.  Maybe next year, Elf, maybe next year.

7 month update!

HOW is she 7 months?! I'm in serious denial that my squishy newborn that kept us awake for nights on end and shook us to our emotional core is 7 months.  She's such an angel here on earth. I can't even put into words the happiness and joy she brings to our life.  Her personality is really starting to shine and I love that she is so different than her big sis - it's just so fun learning all about you, our sweet girl.

• You are sitting up like a boss lady! You only wobble here and there (enough for a few head bumps to have happened :/) but overall you just LOVE this new freedom and vantage point!
• You are starting to try rolling from your back to your tummy.  You skipped this and went straight to sitting! But I think we're only a few days away from rolling!
• As of a few days ago - you are swaddle free! We've been swaddling one arm for about a month now and just ripped off the swaddle bandaid for good.  You've done brilliantly (you even slept until 8am this morning...whhhat?!)
• You are now enjoying purees and have quite an addiction to butternut squash and sweet potatoes.  I think you'd eat both for every single meal.  You also love avocado, apple, oranges and broccoli but aren't a fan of peas or anything sweet in a puree form.  You tried eggs for the first time this morning and were a bit skeptical.
• You LOVE your bath and especially love the snuggles after.  You give us approximately three minutes before you erupt in the cutest little tears for your bottle.  You snuggle in deep with dad and are starting to try and hold your own bottle!
• You don't like to be put down.  You love, love being held in our arms or in the carrier and you also love being in the stroller.  I don't think I've ever heard you fuss once when in your stroller.  Being outside is your absolute favorite!
• You're still exclusively nursing and I'm pretty proud of that! I wasn't sure we'd make it past week 2 and here we are :)

I just want to bottle up these days and never let them go.  We love watching you grow, watching you begin to interact with your sister (Emma takes Charlotte's 'order' when playing restaurant and then eats all of her stickers...hehe) and watching your personality shine.  We have so many hopes and dreams for you, little one. You are so very loved!