Dear Charlotte,

Happy 8 months sweet baby girl! This letter is a day late because your brother is back in the hospital, and I was with him for most of the past two days. I missed you so much, and have been soaking up extra snuggles this morning with you. I’m sorry your schedule and routine have been so disrupted; I can tell it bothers you because you are clingy and fussy- totally unlike your usual happy-go-lucky self. You’ve also been a little under the weather the past few days with some throwing up and congestion. You seem to be on the mend though.

Two thirds through your first year, you weigh 16 pounds, 14 ounces and are continuing to climb in the weight percentile (now 35%). You still love nursing as well as formula, and are continuing to enthusiastically sample any food I give you. You love cheese and yogurt (just like your Uncle Peter!)but will happily munch on things like broccoli, jicama, and pears as well. You wear size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. You still have zero teeth, although you’ve sporadically had all the teething symptoms; who knows, maybe one is getting ready to pop through.

The biggest change in your world right now is you are now mobile! You are crawling everywhere, but you still prefer army crawling over regular crawling on the hard woods and tile. You are a very busy and curious little girl, know what you want and are determined to get to it. You still adore your brother and we’ve really had to watch your curious fingers as you poke them in his eyes and mouth and grab his hair. I know he loves you too and usually looks at you with an expression of half amusement and half annoyance.

You are learning to pull up to standing as well, which is both thrilling and scary to me! Last week I started bathing you in the regular tub, and the second night, you totally pulled up to standing in the tub- yikes!

I love to hear you babble, especially since you have started saying “Ma ma ma ma ma” throughout the day. You are too cute. I can’t wait until “Ma ma ma ma ma” actually means “Mama”.

You started school this month, and your daily report always says you are “Super Happy” and never cry. You also do great in the church nursery on Sundays and Tuesdays. We are also taking two music classes, and you love to bounce to the beats and play the bells and the drums. You hold tight to your bell and never want to put it back in the instrument box!

You are my sunshine and my joy. I love watching you grow and change every day into the most amazing little person. I love you, sweet Charlotte.

Love,
Mommy