Two months old

Charlie is two months old!

Actually she has been two months for a while but I am a slacker and haven't found time to blog about her 2nd month yet.

Charlie, when you read this someday, please don't think that the lack of blog posts has any reflection on my love for you or interest in you! Honestly, I spend most of my days holding you and don't have a free hand for typing!

Miss Charlie continues to be a sweet, peaceful baby. She rarely makes a fuss unless she is really hungry and even then it's not too bad.

She is still a loudmouth though - always grunting, cooing, and just making her presence known!

At her two month check up she weighed 11lbs. 

She got several shots that day, but took them like a champ with very little tears.

Sleeping continues to be a bit of an issue, because she just doesn't like napping or sleeping anywhere but her swing or our arms. I know I need to get her used to her crib at some point, but to be totally honest, I like sleeping with her. And I know that when it is done, it is done  - so I am in no hurry to give that up.

She started smiling this month and it is about as cute as can be. She doesn't smile as much as Emily did at this age, but when she does - oh my, she lights up the room! She smiles alot at her big sister whenever she catches sight of her. She especially likes it when you "get" her nose and she will chuckle and give you a big cheesy grin.

We went on several fun family outings this month.

We took the girls to the Williamson County Fair, and to the zoo for their first visit.

Charlie spent both outings in a carrier on my chest, so she didn't see much of either one. And it was pretty hot on both occasions, so I am guessing that she didn't find them very pleasant.

But they were fun!

The girls and I also went to Atlanta to visit Aunt Katie and Uncle Tyler, while Mikey went on a Tunica weekend with his friends. I was very nervous about driving down with both girls by myself but it went smoothly. Charlie slept almost the whole way, and Emily was a little angel - she read books, ate snacks, and talked her head off the entire way.

It was a relaxed weekend but always fun to see Titi and Tyty!

Big Sister at 20 months old:

Emily is at an awesome / frustrating age. She is so funny and talkative and its just amazing to watch her grow and learn. On the other hand - she is growing and learning and testing her independence and that leads to some bratty behavior. She knows what she wants, but she doesn't always have the words to tell us, or the maturity and patience to wait for us to figure it out and get it for her. She whines ALOT.

But, I know this is a phase and we will survive it. And she is SO fun the rest of the time that it is really hard to stay mad about the whining!

Emily and Daddy took a few "swimming lessons" recently. It wasn't really geared towards teaching them to swim, more of just familiarity with being in the water. She did OK at it - she could do all the things the instructors said, if she was in the mood too. They actually left the last class early because she was not wanting to do anything and acting up. It was really cute to watch all those kids kicking around and blowing bubbles. The Y has a big slide in the shape of a whale and I think she liked going down that most of all!

She still likes her little sister but I think the novelty is wearing off.

She has hit Charlie a few times and will whine if Charlie is sitting in the bouncy chair and Emily wants to sit there. Mostly she is kind to her though  - she brings her the paci (and shoves it in her mouth) and she always gives her blankets back (after she steals them).

She has been asking to "hode her" lately. We always let her, but as soon as we put Charlie in her lap, she starts saying No No No. I think it is just her attempt to get us to put Charlie down!

I only have the rest of this week and then next week until I go back to work. I am nervous and excited and sad all at once. Nervous about what our days will be like and if I will be really stressed all the time, Excited to get in to some sort of real life routine and to begin finding our rhythm, and Sad because I will never have these days at home with a newborn baby again. Once Charlie goes to daycare, I know the days will start racing by and she will seem to grow even faster.

Even though we are very sure that we are happy with two kids and don't need more, I am still very aware of all the "lasts" and sometimes that makes me sad. I want to recognize and savor the moments as they come and go, and try not to always be looking forward to the girls growing up.