a full heart

caroline --

i have such a full heart today.  i just can't get enough of you! you are doing so many precious things that i know i'll never forget...but then, i know you're only getting more adorable...and giving me more things to remember!

your personality is really blossoming - and it is so much fun.  i've always loved you, but i am learning that i really do like you, too!

these are a few of my favorite things you're doing these days:

- reaching up to be held (how could i ever say no?)
- when i nurse you, you hold on to my shirt with your front hand, and reach your back hand around my waist and hug tight.
- you grab the spoon with your teeth, breath out like a rabbit, scrunch your nose and giggle -- you are silly!
- you've got a great salute/wave....you reach up with your hand...i think you're waving, but it's a very firm, still hand
- you are SOOOO loving!! this melts my heart like no other.  you hold things you love to your chest and pat it. babies, phone, remotes....ha....but what gets me like no other is when you take my hand and love it to your chest.....oh wow!!!
- we've been talking a lot about The Bible and how much we love it...the other day we were sitting on your bed with your little pink New Testament and you took it to your chest and loved it :) -- i wanted to squeal with joy!
- you stand at the back door with bertie and look outside. precious! you are very interested in what she does out there!
- we've had a few warm days to enjoy outside -- you love blowing bubbles. i love to watch you discover new things.
- the dishwasher and dryer probably top off your favorite things! we're to the point that i can only load/unload the dishwasher when dad's home or you're sleeping -- as soon as you hear the door open you do the "ursula-crawl" to the kitchen and climb up on the door.
- the "ursula-crawl?" -- laura named it! it's great -- your arms are bent, your crawl comes from the shoulders...much like ursula in the little mermaid (though much prettier!!)...and your back end has a nice swag....and it's super fast!! you are definitely on a mission!
- your toothy grin! you have such a different look now-- so grown up! you now have EIGHT teeth!!
- the "cecil" named by grandma -- though usually saved for grandpa.  you squint your eyes -- you use this one to get attention -- whether flirty, bashful, embarrassed or fake sad...you usually get what you're looking for!...especially from grandma and grandpa -- they love this one!
- you've noticed your "bows!" -- you are starting to wear more and more bows...as you're getting more hair.  when you are wearing one and you see yourself in the mirror, you smile SO big... i love that you think you're pretty!  and i love to see your femininity shine....just as God made you :)...lately you have grabbed a bow and rubbed it against your head (putting it on!)...or try to put it in my hair. i can't wait for the day when we play dress up! i remember wearing my mom's wedding dress around the house -- and i can't wait to see you in mind. ok, i can wait -- i'll wait a long time if you'll stop growing so fast...but, i am excited for fun days ahead with my girl! :)
- you are usually stoic toward strangers and when i get the camera out -- which is funny - b/c you are such a ham when you're in your normal setting.
- we're seeing tints of strawberry in your dark blonde/light brown hair-- it's so pretty!! your hair is fine, straight and so sweet - it's getting longer by the day....your dad can't wait for pig-tail days...but i think we're still many months away :)
- you sit straight up in the middle of the night -- pretty funny, kinda scary -- i hope you're not a sleep walker! that makes me nervous :) -- but i love how you cuddle into me after your startled mid-night sit ups!

i could go on and on -- seriously - forever and ever --

i am so crazy about you, sarah caroline!

but, we have stuff to do -- and i think your nap will come to an end soon -- so i am jumping into fast forward to accomplish much in the last minutes.

i can't tell you how loved you are. i hope you always know how wanted and truly loved you are! you make me and your dad SO proud! you are pure joy, sweet babe!

i love you!!
mom

swinging with caroline

oh, sarah caroline, my heart is so full! i see many park days ahead ;)

i can't wait.

these pictures speak for themselves.

 

{2.15.11 la fortune park. tulsa, oklahoma}

i love you, caroline

mom :)

thanks aunt laura for my hot pink all-stars. i love them, and you! :) - caroline

month nine!

sweet babe,

we are half way through your nine month. what a month it has been! such a month...we just made it to your nine month well visit today!

you received four vaccinations...getting you caught up to the recommended schedule for your age.  as if the shots weren't enough, you are cutting three teeth! needless to say, you haven't felt the best today. but, you were still sweet as could be.  truly, you are t h e  b e s t  baby. i count my blessings ;)

what are you up to these days?

you are still somewhere between 22 & 23 pounds...i forgot to jot down your weight at the dr. today!  you are moving around all. the. time...i don't know how you could ever gain any weight at the speed you are going :)

today you were in the 90something percentile for all weight, height and head...very proportionate, very big...couldn't ask for more!


you're still wearing a size 4 diaper

sleep...we're still all cuddled in bed together...thanks to grammy, we're enjoying a new king bed which gives us room to spread out a bit...if we want :)

you've been enjoying naps in your lounger, which makes me happy! it's much prettier than the big swing...and portable.  you actually fell in love with napping in the lounger during our recent snow days when we'd move you close to the fire...you loved it!

you now have 5 big teeth...2 top, 3 bottom....and are cutting 2 more on top and one more on bottom. you have one toothy smile...so precious! this is making our breastfeeding more "exciting!"

you're sleeping well at night. you do still wake up, some nights more than others...but nothing that we can't handle. you fall easily back asleep.

food? we've been sneaking more and more table food. i'm excited to introduce protein in the coming days. i know you'll love it! you're still eating 2 meals a day. in the morning you have oatmeal and fruit...in the evening you have multi grain cereal with vegetables and sometimes fruit.  you usually snack on a banana during the day, and an occasional cracker or two.

you are on the go! i've been saying for days that you'll be walking tomorrow...maybe so :)

your grandparents will be in town this weekend for your dedication (i can't wait for everyone to be here...i'm  just busting at the seams!!) and grandma has claimed that you're waiting until she is here to walk.  maybe so :)

you're still in love with stripes. and georgia. and you do like brown haired baby, too! grandpa brought a tent to you a few weeks ago and it has turned into your baby house.  you spend so much time there.  you love it :).  i love to see you play independently. you love your babies and interact with them. i honestly can't believe the slippery little newborn i held is now taking care of her own babies! crazy :)

you spend much of your days singing, clapping, loving your babies and following bertie-girl.

you make my heart melt.  i am so thankful for your health and your development. but, more than anything my heart beats so fast when i see your joyful and loving heart...i know God is going to use you in mighty ways.  i am so blessed to get to watch you!

sarah caroline you are pure joy -- i couldn't love you more! thank you for being you and for loving me so.

happy nine months!

i love you,
mom

...and for the pictures...we spent 1.30.11, your actual 9 month at church, then on the road to grandma & grandpas.  "our" plan was to drop off bertie-girl...and head home less than 48 hours later, so we could head to denver with dad.  we'd see uncle bill while we were there, then head to the mountains with grammy & grampy for brock's wedding. well that didn't happen.  instead...it snowed. BIG SNOW. which kept us from tulsa and/or denver.  we loved spending unplanned time with the texas crew, but missed our time away in colorado!

these 9 month pictures were taken a day late while you visited mama, nonnie and some of your cousins in crandall...

 {love that sweet neckline!}

 {smiling at nonnie through the window}

 {i have so many sweet memories in that house}

 {how could i love this more? you adore her. she adores you.}

 { :) }

 {haha}

 {we have you wedged, so you can't escape!}

{sam, lucas, caroline, jake & oak}