Charlotte Grace

I feel bad sometimes because I don't have many pictures of Charlotte from our outings. Usually she is in the stroller, or I am wearing her and how exciting are pictures of that? Maddie is the one on the go and gives me the most opportunities to get some fun shots. But I do take lots of pictures of Charlotte while we are at home when its easier to prop her up and work with her.

She is such a big girl. We've passed the 5 month mark and she has mastered some new tricks. She is sitting up without being propped and without folding in half, but she is still a little bit tipsy. I can not leave her sitting up and walk out of the room because she is likely to fall to the side. But she is getting so much better at sitting each day that goes by. She has also learned how to roll over. She mastered that one while my parents were here and EVERY time we put her on her back she would roll over onto her tummy. Then she would start fussing or crying because she was mad that she was on her tummy. I would flip her over onto her back (she doesn't know how to go from her tummy to her back yet) and within seconds she would be back on her tummy and fussing again. It actually got quite irritating!! lol She handles being on her tummy for longer periods of time now so I don't have to flip her over nearly as often. Now all she needs to do is figure out how to get from her tummy back to her back and we'll be all set!

We are still giving her apple juice and water during the day, and 1/2 tsp. of mylanta in her bottle before bed and things are a lot better! I can't believe that she went 11 days without pooping.....thats just too long. She's currently going about every other day. I haven't tried to reintroduce solids but I have been giving her those cool mesh thingy-dos with peaches in them so that she can suck on some peaches. She really likes it and when she is super fussy it keeps her occupied and helps at least 10 minutes pass by. I think that I'm going to wait until she is at least 6 months old or even older before we try solids again. It's just not necessary at this age, and for Charlotte it adds another possible digestional complication....and who needs that?!?!

Charlotte has currently been down for a nap for over 2 hours which is why I am able to blog. Her nap schedule is all over the place, sometimes she will only sleep for 40 minutes at a time, and sometimes like today she sleeps forever. She still gets 2-3 naps a day and things always run smoother when we stay at home, but we've been out and about and pretty busy the past few weeks, which may explain the days when she naps poorly. Night sleeping is still good, she usually gets between 12 and 13 hours at night.

She is starting to be more into toys and has better control of her hands which means that everything ends up in her mouth. If something is close enough to her face, including my arms, shirt, face etc. she will move so that she can get her mouth on it. Its actually really comical to watch. She likes having raspberries blown on her tummy and thighs which always gets a giggle, and she is currently really into hair....or more acurately grabbing hair and yanking as hard as she can! lol She likes being outdoors most of all and I'm sure its because there is so much to see outside. She likes the baby swing outside on the swing set, but I don't push her very high. She likes taking walks in the stroller, but the stroller needs to be moving. When it stops she lets you know that she doesn't approve. Her most favorite thing ever, and this is above even me, is her big sister Maddie. She ADORES Maddie. Even if she is in a foul mood, if Maddie is in the room, everything is a-ok. She watches Maddie's every move and just totally lights up when she can see Maddie. In turn, Maddie is getting better with the baby. She piles toys up around Charlotte so that she has something to play with, and she helps put her paci in when she is upset and when Maddie thinks that no one is watching she is very loving towards Charlotte, she gently pats her head and holds her hands. Its really cute. I think they are going to grow up and be good friends! Well, my time is officially up.....after 2 hours and 20 minutes the little one has awaken. Enjoy the pics!