hello caroline…5 months old!

hey there yall! just thought i would drop in and say a quick hello…i cannot lie, taking a bit of time off has beeen incredible…for me, for my family, and for what’s most important in life. we have been able to relax and spend our afternoons lounging around the house, taking little drives in and around nashville, and spending time with just the three of us, savoring these last few weeks of summer. i know i made the right decision to back away for awhile. alas, i wanted to update you on little bit and just how much she is growing…

dearest sweet caroline,
this month, things have gone crazy at our house…with you trying food, to say you’ve become messy would be a mild understatement. my little darling, you are a pig when it comes to eating. it’s all over your face, hands, and snug seat tray, yet i can’t help but laugh at how much you love new foods.
we started with rice cereal which you weren’t crazy about, then moved on to oatmeal…hold your horses because you went NUTS and haven’t stopped since. you beg like a dog for more once you clean your bowl and then i have to reassure you a small bottle is coming your way before you freak out and think i’m not going to feed you. i love that you are trying so many different foods…so far, we have tried green beans, carrots, and squash. {and yes, everyone has their opinions on baby food, but we are using the tried and true gerber brand for now. it worked for millions of other children…i bought some ella’s brand too so we’ll try that soon}
as far as activity, you are a girl on the move peanut. your exersaucer has become your our new best friend and can keep you entertained for quite awhile. you jump up and down like a monkey, making noises and giggling and you put on quite a show (even the ladies at our church’s nursery said they were impressed with how much you love to bounce)…i think i am in for one hyper child, but that’s ok because both mommy and daddy have loads of energy and we would expect nothing less from you caroline. let’s face it, a relaxed, easygoing kid most likely isn’t in the cards for us ;).
you still like to sit and watch tv (especially baby einstein, barney, yo gabba gabba, and mickey mouse) in your bouncy seat, but you’re getting so long that i doubt you’ll be able to “fit” comfortably much longer…sometimes you wiggle your way out and i have to keep an eye on you at all times. the activity mat is a total hit or miss…one day you love it and can’t get enough, whereas the next day you want nothing to do with it and roll over quickly to get your head up and peak to see what is going on around you.
with regards to your routine, you take about 3 naps throughout the day, napping for about an hour each time, although lately you’ve been fighting me on the afternoon nap, insisting you aren’t tired and screaming until i come pick you up and tote you around with me. on the other hand, you sleep between 9-10 hours every night. we have stopped swaddling you and now we opt for the aden + anais swaddling sacks which you seem to love…it’s like a pillowcase with arm holes!

 
you have developed quite a funny personality my sweet daughter. you laugh, want all toys and books in your mouth, and you arch your eyebrow when you’re investigating (pappy says this is an expression you totally got from me). this past month has also marked you reaching your arms out when you want someone/something…at times, all you want is momma and you will reach out and look at me with those pouty eyes and my heart just melts. on certain occasions, we’ll sit at home and i’ll just laugh all day at some of your actions…you’re entertaining caroline cate.
we don’t go to the doctor this month, but my guess is that you weigh around 16 pounds, which helps give me a great arm workout each and everyday since you LOVE to be held. you are still in size 2 diapers and are in 3-6 month clothes…yes, i had another meltdown as we finished putting away all the smaller size frocks. i want this time to slow down because i know deep down inside you’ll never be this tiny again and it breaks my heart. i want this to last forever! i am trying to document all your milestones as frequently as possible, and we have taken some wonderful videos and captured tons of sweet, sweet pictures so we can eventually show you just how precious you were at such a young age.

here are some other notes worth mentioning:
**first trip to the zoo on august 11th, first time to try baby food on july 23rd, first time in the church nursery on july 15th
**favorite toys: sophie the giraffe, mia the monkey (plays music), anything you can chew on (wubbanub pacifier, teething rings from the fridge, and your taggie blankets)
**favorite foods: oatmeal, green beans, and squash
**nicknames: peanut, sweet cc, baby c, monkey, tuttie, pumpkin

you are our world sweet cc…you are everything that is wonderful in life and i cherish each and everyday because i get to spend it with you. thank you for the smiles, the hugs, the laughter, and happiness! mommy and daddy love you oh so very much and thank the good lord above for such a wonderful daughter.
we love you the most, forever and always!