4th of July

A little late for this post, but the pictures were on the good camera and not my phone and sometimes it just takes too much effort to plug the camera into the computer.  That's my excuse anyway ;)

We didn't do much for the 4th.  My parents came up for the day to help with some projects around the house and Andrew grilled.
Miss Charlee Bear did dress up for the occasion and looked quite adorable :)

8 months

STATS
Weigh: 21.5 lbs!!
Height: 28.5 inches

EAT
Still taking 4-5 bottles a day.  One at 5:30am, one at 9am, one before afternoon nap, one before bed

Breakfasts:
pancakes, smoothies, and eggs

Lunches:
lentil and cheese wedges, turkey deli meat, watermelon, avocados, tomatoes, string cheese, part of mama's sandwiches, bread, omelets

Dinners:
Green Curried Chicken

 Fish and broccoli

 Moroccan Chicken

 Grilled Ahi Tuna with grilled veggies and watermelon for dessert

 Salmon Bake

 Steak and Broccoli

 Chicken Tacos with beans

Lamb Taginne

Dumplings from the Dumpling Haus

SLEEP
You are getting to be such a good sleeper, Charlee bear!  Although we do nap at least once a day in the car.
Bedtime is still at 7pm with a bath then a bottle. You are out like a light by 8pm at the latest.
First wake up is at 5:30am for a diaper change and a bottle then back to bed until 7:30am.
Morning nap is at about 10:30am (this is usually our car nap while we sit in the Target parking lot or in the garage).
Afternoon nap happens around 2-3pm, but sometimes you fight it and stay up longer and go to sleep at 4pm.  If you take a late nap, you wake up just in time to play a little and eat dinner, then it's back to bed!

PLAY/FAVORITES
Music class ended and we started our sign language class.  You like the music class better :)
You love going to Hyvee and Target with mama.  Hyvee is one of your favorites because kids get a free banana and you will eat the entire thing!

You love to play with wooden spoons and pots.

Your cloth diapers are also a favorite.  You love to "help fold" them.

You also like the "help" in the kitchen.
You big sisters continue to be a favorite of yours.  You love to pet them and grab their toys.

You love to hoot like an owl. (I have yet to get a good video clip of this)
You and Daddy play "bull fights"

However, you are NOT a fan of the pool.  We need to try again.

OUTINGS
We go to Stroller Strides three times a week and you love seeing your friends!
Every Saturday, you and Daddy go get coffee together.  I'm not allowed to go with.
We met our friends from play group at the zoo and saw all the animals.  You liked the monkeys the best :)

We went to the Koskas' for dinner with the Bukowys'.  You liked playing with the kitties!

 We went to the park with BFF Aubrey to swing and then back to her house to play.

We went on a few walks with Brittany and Jameson.  He is definitely on the move and scooting all over the place, but you prefer to just sit back and watch.  We stopped at the Monona Terrace for a break.

Not really an outing, but an stay in.  We sat in the basement a few times over the past month and a half with the tornado warnings and then our A/C broke before the hottest day of the year!

We took Daddy to the doctor and entertained ourselves by taking selfies.  You love that baby in my phone!

We went to Daddy's company picnic at Epic.  You got to see the pigs in the petting zoo and eat lobster and steak!

MILESTONES
1st EPICnic: July 19th
hooting like an owl: July 20th
pulling knees up under you (but still no crawling): mid-July

LETTER TO CHARLEE

My dear sweet, funny little girl,

How is it possible that another month has passed and you're 8 months old?  I don't even remember when you were a tiny baby.  It seems so long ago.

As you can tell by the abundance of pictures, we have had a pretty fun month!  Your silly personality is definitely coming through and you love to laugh and make others laugh too!   Your smile is infectious and lights up the room.  People always comment on how happy and beautiful you are.

Your curls are starting to come in now that your hair is longer which makes me smile.  You won't have bright blonde hair like me or Daddy, but I'll just have to get over that.  And who knows what the color of those big eyes are going to be!

You love love love bath time, but the one time we tried to pool, you were not feeling it.  This summer hasn't been super hot like in years past, so your pool hasn't had a chance to warm up.  You do like to go on walks and runs with your mama and your puppies though!  You also love to go to Stroller Strides to watch the mommies workout and to see your friends.

You are starting to understand some phrases and signs.  You get very excited when I sign and say to "turn off the light."  And you walk to me in your walker when I ask you to "come here."  It's so much watching you learn.  At the beginning of music class 5 months ago, you wouldn't touch the instruments and didn't really get it.  Now you love to play the drums and tap the beat.

You're still not crawling yet, but that's ok.  Some of your friends are already moving, but you prefer to sit and watch.  However you can really get going in your walker!  You are very good at running around corners and backing up!  And sneaking up on me in the kitchen.

I count my blessings every single day.  A year ago when I was pregnant with you, I never could have imagined that you would be such a a fun, bubbly, energetic, beautiful little person.  You love to snuggle and give kisses.  And just like when you were in my belly, you still love to kick and move those little (big!) feet!  You are constantly moving: twirling your hands, kicking your feet.  You crack me up!

I love you so so much!  I can't wait to see what the next month brings! (And hopefully Daddy will write the next letter)

Love you baby,
Mama

Out Takes: