happy 4 months, charlotte!

Dear Charlotte,
This month we are celebrating your 4 month birthday in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. It has been a week full of firsts for you… your first road trip (370 miles!), your first trip to the beach (you loved the feel of the sand on your toes and the sound of the ocean but hated the bright sun), your first time swimming (you were apathetic towards the pool but sure looked cute in your little pink bathing suit), and your first wedding (outside of my belly, that is. You attended more weddings inside my belly than most people have in their entire lives). We’re loving our first family vacation.

Most of the time you are a mellow and content baby. You seem to have your daddy’s easygoing attitude (and you get cranky when tired or hungry like him too!). This month has brought more frequent smiles and laughs, and you’ve also started what can only be described as growling. It’s often a cute little growl but sometimes it’ll come from deep in your throat and sound like a demon baby. I know you’re just finding your voice. When we talk to you these days, you make sounds back and your daddy loves your sweet little conversations. I heard your first real giggle on April 6 as you and I were singing and dancing at night in my office. Before that you were doing this little baby squeal and a combo cough/laugh. But you only let out that big laugh once and have since reverted to the baby laugh. You have discovered your hands, in all their yummy deliciousness. It seems that you can’t keep them out of your mouth these days. It took quite awhile for me to get photos of you this month where you weren’t chomping on your fingers. This month, you rolled over for the first time! You rolled from belly to back for the first time on April 14 as you and your daddy were playing on the living room floor. I’m not expecting you to roll from back to belly anytime soon since you still hate tummy time. You’ve developed an unhealthy obsession with the tv… Though you’re not really ‘allowed’ to watch, if it happens to be on you will twist and turn and contort yourself to get a glimpse of those pretty, moving lights. You’re grabbing more and more, and it isn’t limited to just your toys. You love to grab your mama’s hair, clothes, and necklaces. And when you’re nursing, you curl your arm up around your head and grab ahold of a little tuft of your hair. It’s so dang cute. You’re getting much better about holding up your head and are starting to sit, assisted, in our laps. I know it won’t be long until you’re sitting on your own. I get excited with each new thing that you learn, but also a bit sad as you need us less and less.

You’ve grown to about 12.5lbs. We go to the doctor for your 4 month appt next week and mama’s looking forward to seeing how much you’ve officially grown but dreading the shots that you’ll be getting. It breaks my heart to see you cry… I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that feeling.

Even after 4 months, I still can’t believe you’re all mine. Nothing makes me happier than that gummy little smile of yours and I don’t expect that that will ever change. I feel lucky every single day…

Love,

Your mama.