Charlotte: 8 Months

Waaahhh!!! My baby is growing up so, so quickly! As much as it makes me sad, I'm also happy because she is just so fun! She smiles, laughs, tries to talk to us and Macey Jane and she lets us know when she is happy and when she is not. She is still snuggly, but for maybe 5-10 seconds, then she pops her little head up and just smiles. She sometimes will fall asleep with me holding her, but she really prefers rolling around her crib and getting comfortable.

She loves to eat and has to have something too if we are eating. Mum Mum crackers have become our new best friend, especially when we go out to dinner. We get a good 5 minutes of peace when she has these. She loves being able to pick things up with her hands and she is getting quite coordinated with putting them in her mouth!

She loves bath time and anything that involves water! We just bought her plastic pool today and we spent almost 2 hours just splashing around. So fun!

Pulling up on everything!

Naptime at the beach!

My sweet angel!

Relaxing in her chair

Looking at her sissy, Macey Jane!

Weight:  I keep forgetting to weigh her! 

Diaper Size:  graduated to 4s, tear!
Clothing Size: Still 9-12 months. She can't wear some things because the leg openings are too tight! Her little chunky thighs!
Eye Color: Blue Blue Blue
Hair: I added this in this month because she is finally getting some hair! It's definitely blonde and it has a little tiny curl to it in the back!!
Teeth: Her bottom tooth is about to pop! It's been right there for a while, but I think it is going to make its presence in the next couple of days.
Sleeping Habits: Rejoicing because we are finally getting sleep! It changes your life to go to sleep at night and not be up multiple times. I still get up once or twice to go to the bathroom and of course I check on her, but she is out! She also has been waking up in the morning and sitting up in her crib. I let her "play" and she just sits there and talks and plays with her multiple binkies. I think she is perplexed how she can have one in her hand and one in her mouth. If she wakes up around 5/5:30, I usually go in and feed her and then she goes back down until about 7:30/8:00. It is much easier to get ready for work with her still sleeping!
Adventures this Month:  We have been to the beach at least once a week. Charlotte loves being outside and loves the water! I had my big event the first week of March and Kyle had weekend duty last weekend, so our weekends have been a little limited.
Visitors: Kyle's parents come next week! 

Milestones: Crawling, pulling up, eating her puffs, avocado and banana pieces on her own
Favorite Toy: Anything that lights up, her ball that rolls and moves and the ottoman (pulling up on it)She loves when I sing to her. I usually put on Pandora during bath time and we have music time (Glee/Pitch Perfect type music) and she just smiles at me and laughs!
Looking forward to: her Grampy and Grammy coming to visit, Daddy's promotion and our trip to the Big Island over Memorial Day Weekend! 

Family Pics

I think pictures are probably in my top 10 favorite things. They are so special. They capture moments that we may never get back, or ones that we forget about as time goes on. Like the cheesy quote says, "A picture is worth a thousand words".

I love pictures, however I don't love the effort that goes in to taking them, (coordinating outfits, hair/makeup, getting the kids to smile and behave) but the outcome is really special.

I've been sending Christmas cards for a while now, actually I think the first year that Kyle and I started dating in 2008, I sent a "joint" Christmas card. I start thinking about my Christmas cards early, usually in July. What will my theme be? What will we wear? I know this is silly to some, but it is so important to me. Every year, I save one card. I have a card for the past 6 years and they contain such wonderful memories and they really tell the story of our life thus far! I should also note that I love receiving Christmas cards and I proudly display them on "Pinterest-inspired" ribbons on my kitchen cabinets. I meant to take a picture of them this year, but I forgot. It looks something like this.

Christmas Card Display Idea

This past week, we took photos with my family visiting from Florida. Last year, around March, we took a similar photo but we were minus two family members, Charlotte and Kate.

Oh what a difference a year makes! 

This year's photo at Ko'Olina 

A few of my favorites! 

Gaga and her angels!

Sister and our twin cousins!

The center of all our attention, Robby aka Boopy

Thornburg Family

This says it all! Kyle you actually got Robby to smile! 

I have to brag on Kyle and my awesome camera! We didn't have a photog this year, so these are straight from my Canon Rebel, unedited! As you will see, the pics of everyone else turned out really well! Kyle is an awesome photographer! Ok, enough bragging on him!

Charlotte: 7 Months

Charlotte is 7 months old and I am loving this age! She is so interactive and sweet and we are finally on a good schedule and she is actually predictable of when she might be hungry or sleepy! A schedule has been my goal since day 1! When I told this to my pediatrician at the pre-birth interview, she laughed. I think that is one of the hard parts about being a mom, especially when you are a type-A person like me! I thrive on routine, schedule, being organized and having everything, well, pretty perfect. Having a baby throws everything out of whack.

Like I said, right now things are pretty predictable and we are on a good schedule. But, I realize this is going to change any day now as Charlotte is now on the move! She doesn't make it far but she is scooting and rolling. Long story short, gone are the days of running outside to take the trash out or going into the bathroom while she is roaming free!

Pretty happy for being in a lifejacket!

My water baby in the lazy river!

My family just left after a 12 day visit and we had such a blast. We also discovered that Charlotte loves the water! We spent some time at the Aulani Disney Resort and she became quite the water baby!

I'm 7 months old! 

Starting to pull up on everything! 

Weight:  According to our scale at home, 17 lbs. 8 oz. 

Diaper Size:  graduated to 4s, tear!
Clothing Size: 9 months and some 12. I need to go through her closet, some of the sizes are definitely not accurate to the size listed! She has so many cute clothes that she is growing out of!
Eye Color: Blue and beautiful!
Sleeping Habits: Daddy was gone for 12 days and during that time we got into a really good routine and she started sleeping through the night!!
Adventures this Month:  Riding solo without dad for the longest time since she was born! We survived! :) Then, while my family was here, we did lots of adventuring! We went on a pontoon boat on Kaneohe Bay, a dairy farm in Waianae, the Dole Plantation and the Disney Resort! Charlotte loves going places. We went to Costco today and she is just in awe of everything around her!
Visitors: Gaga (my mom), Aunt Ashley, Uncle Bob and Cousins Robby and Kate! Kyle's parents come at the end of this month! 

Milestones: Rolling, scooting, going from sitting to all fours, planking, rocking back and forth on all fours and talking, talking, talking.
Favorite Toy: She loves anything that lights up and makes noise! She also loves her stuffed animals and giving them kisses!
Looking forward to: her Grampy and Grammy coming to visit! 

Charlotte's Baptism

We were able to baptize Charlotte while we were in Florida over Christmas! We knew that it would be super challenging to have all of our family here at the same time in Hawaii, so we reached out to Winter Park United Methodist Church to see if they would baptize Charlotte as Kyle's grandmother is a member there. Pastor Bob was very welcoming to us and through a couple of phone conversations and two meetings while in Florida, he was willing to baptize Charlotte in his church.

It was very special as Charlotte wore the same christening gown that I wore about 25 years ago! It was in great condition! My mom had to remove my monogram and we decided to keep it blank should other children come along! :)

It was such a sweet morning for our little Charlotte. She was definitely exhausted before the day was even over. She fell asleep during pictures after the service! I requested the hymn "Seek Ye First the Kindgom of God" to be played while Pastor Bob walked Charlotte throughout the church. I love this hymn and I think it has such a special meaning and is especially important for us to teach to our children.

We were so grateful to have all of our family and a few friends at Charlotte's baptism. We decided the  more godparents, the merrier, so we chose my sister and brother in law and also Courtney and Rob. Courtney is a close friend from college and was a bridesmaid in our wedding and Rob was Kyle's best friend growing up and best man in our wedding! Courtney lives in Boston and Rob in L.A, so they couldn't make it, but they were there in spirit! We know that Charlotte will receive lots of love from these four people throughout her life, in addition to her grandparents and all of her loving family members!

After the service, we had a brunch at Cocina 214. The room was beautifully decorated with poinsettias from our family friend, Monty, who owns a nursery! :) Thanks again Monty for the beautiful arrangements!

Charlotte: 6 Months

Wow, it's been a while since I have posted. I missed Charlotte's 5 month post and honestly it will be hard to go back and try and re-create it! I have lots of updating to do including our trip to Florida, Christmas, Charlotte's baptism, our summer time move to Jacksonville and the list continues. But first, our baby girl is 6 months old! Where did the time go?

Like usual, Charlotte's many faces!

So happy.. I don't see any teeth yet!

Not so sure about MJ taking over her chair!

Just kidding, they are BFF!

Weight: 16lbs 6oz and 28 inches 
Diaper Size: size 3, next purchase will be size 4!
Clothing Size: 6-9, some 12 month! :( 
Eye Color: Blue and beautiful!
Sleeping Habits: We still aren't sleeping through the night completely, but we are making great progress (knock on wood). I think it will be almost perfect and then she will start teething and everything will go out the window. She moves all over her crib at night and looks really cute doing so! She loves sticking her butt up in air with her knees underneath her chest! She has 2 pacis in her crib to allow for easy access! Her evening routine starts with a run or walk around the neighborhood (sometimes she takes a snooze), then dinner then bath time! By the time I am lotioning her up, she is rubbing her eyes and fussy because she is tired! So, we have been skipping the books and going straight to the boob or bottle! :) Hopefully she will be more willing to read in the coming months! 
Adventures this Month:  We did two hikes, the Lanikai Pillboxes and Makapu'u. We also went to the beach a few times! A lot of the same here in Hawaii, but we aren't complaining! I wouldn't want to be shoveling snow right now!
Visitors: We were in Florida in December/January and my family comes next week!

Milestones: Rolling everywhere and trying so, so hard to crawl! You can stay put for now Charlotte! Picking up toys and passing them from hand to hand, putting her own paci in, kissing mommy, daddy and her toys, tracking me as I walk around, sitting in the cart like a big girl and laughing! Right now she seems to do something new every day!
Favorite Toy: iPod toy, Ellie the elephant, balls, crinkly books, interactive dog toy and she loves playing peek a boo with blankets! She is so fun right now!
Looking forward to: having family visit and getting to play with her cousins!!

Our Little Girl over the past 6 months!

Charlotte: 4 Months

I know I say this every month, but this month has FLOWN by!! Charlotte is changing every day and getting bigger and stronger so quickly!! One morning I was making breakfast and she was on the playmat. The next thing I knew she was on her belly and had used her toys in her play gym to help pull her over! I was so sad I missed her first rolling over, but it was ok, because she has continued to do it again and again! 

Charlotte was a Strawberry for Halloween and we had fun passing out candy to all the children in our neighborhood! 

She loves to be outside and go on walks or runs! She has even taken a ride in the BOB without her car seat! Such a big girl! 

At her 2 month checkup, she was diagnosed with torticollis, which is a tilt of her neck. She has been receiving physical therapy three times a week and has made great improvement! The PTs come to the house and are so great with her! They are both military spouses and are so sweet! I'm so proud of her progress! She is looking so straight and has a great range of motion! 

Having fun by the pool!

So happy!

Weight: 14 lbs. 2 oz., 26.5 inches
Diaper Size: still size 2, size 3 overnight diapers
Clothing Size: 3-6 months
Eye Color: soo Blue!
Sleeping Habits: Sleeping has definitely improved for our little one! She has been going down about an hour after she wakes up for a long nap (1.5-2 hours) if she gets a good nap in the morning, the rest of our day goes well. If she doesn't, we are in trouble and she is fussy. Her afternoon naps are always a little more challenging. Her bedtime routine starts at 6:00 and we do her bath, massage, sleep suit and then nurse. We need to get better about music and reading, but by 6:30 she is so ready to sleep!
Adventures this Month:  The month has flown by! We haven't done too many new things, just our normal routine! Charlotte celebrated her first Halloween and dressed up as a strawberry!  Daddy had a few weekend trips, so it was just us girls for a couple of nights. We missed him, but we managed just fine! We have also made it to the beach a couple of times, which is getting easier and easier as she gets older. 
Visitors: No visitors this month!

Milestones: Grabbing and holding onto to toys, rolling from back to stomach and stomach to back, sitting in her Bumbo, grabbing your face and giving kisses (very slobbery ones), drooling a ton (I think I see the beginnings of a tooth coming through), babbling and talking and repeating our sounds. 
Favorite Toy: Still loving music, rattle, alligator with ribbons and the toy that attaches to her carseat. She is constantly playing with the toys in the car. She has gotten really good at grabbing them!
Looking forward to: her first Thanksgiving and heading to Florida, again, a month from now fro Christmas!