The Princess turns TWO!!

I cannot believe it has been two years since Miss Carly entered our lives. I heard a song recently with the words, "My missing puzzle oiece, my life's complete." That sums up how I feel about our precious, precious Carly. She was the missing puzzle piece that completed our family...There's so muxh more in my heart that I want to write, but that will have to come later...

Fifteen Months Already???

Dear Carly,

You recently turned 15 whole months old!! You are getting to be an old woman...LOL!!

You are still tiny...you only weigh about 18lbs, and I would say that you are maybe 27-28inches tall or so. You wear 12 month clothes. I tried something that was 18months on you the other day and it just swallowed you up! Every time someone sees you walking around, they always ask how old you are because you look so small, but you just walk perfectly, and pretty much run! It looks so darn cute when you walk around!

You still nurse, but only at night...I am planning on weaning you completely for the new year. You love to eat mandarin oranges, waffles, cereal bars, and, of course, because you are my daughter, you love chocolate!

You sleep through the night now! Woo hoo!! I would say that you really don't wake up at all once you go to bed! You only take one nap a day, but it is about 2-2 1/2 hours or so!

Here are a couple of your "new" tricks...we have a string on the light in the boys bathroom so Ryan can reach. Well, you can now reach it and you LOVE, love, love to "sneak" attack and turn the light off when someone is in the bathroom! You also have very recently started to lie down when I tell you it's time to change your diaper! Such a smart girl! (I have to say that you are pretty mellow when it comes to diaper changes...you lie there nicely, and don't try to squirm and wiggle like most toddlers do.) The other day, you were whining about something and when I followed you, you ran in the kitchen and opened the pantry, and it seemed like you said "these" as you pointed to the crackers!! Other than that, you really don't say any words.

You had your second Thanksgiving...lots of relatives came to our house to eat. And we have a new dog, Suzie. You go up to her and open your mouth wide and let her lick your mouth...GROSS!! But you love it and you laugh and laugh when she does it. Well...we are looking forward to your second Christmas and all the gifts you will get!!

I love you very, very much, little Princess

Love, Mommy

Fourteen Months Old!!

Wow...it seems like I only write when it's Carly's "month birthday"...I am too busy!

Dearest Carly,

You are now fourteen months old!! You are such a ham, you crack me up all the time!!

I put you on the scale the other day and you weighed 19 1/2 lbs...you're moving on up!!

You do not say any words, but you sure do babble! You like to "talk" on the phone...wish I knew what you were saying! You call out "Ai-ya" when you are calling for Susie (the dog) or your brothers...like YOU know what you are saying!

You love to cuddle all the time and are such a sweetie!

We went to the neighbors house the other day and you started crawl/walking up the stairs...I didn't know you knew how to do that??!!

You still nurse once at night, but I think that is going to the wayside. You are able to go to sleep on your own (and have slept through the night the last week!!), so I think our days of nursing are coming to a close. Makes me a little sad...you are growing up too fast...

You and your brothers were baptized at the beginning of November. You did so well, and before the service, you were walking all around, looking so cute, and getting oohs and aahs from the crowd.

You like to play with your toys, but you like to play with mine even more!! You always get into my bathroom drawers and pull out all my hair stuff...I can't child proof enough!

We had everyone over for Thanksgiving, and you sure did enjoy your food...you ate turkey, corn, green bean casserole and even some pumpkin pie! You are such a sweets girl and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE brownies!!

Nothing else is really new...just same old, same old.

I love you so much, cuddle bug!!

Love,
Mommy

Has it really been THIRTEEEN months???

Dear Carly,

You are now thirteen months old. Wow! You are still so little, that it looks funny when you walk around...like you shouldn't be walking yet because you are still a baby!

I think you are so smart because of all the things that you know how to do without being "taught". When I give you a brush and tell you to brush your hair, you mimic the brushing motion. Same with a toothbrush! When you pick up my cell phone, you hold it to your ear and "talk". You know how to turn around and scoot yourself off the couch. You color on paper with crayons. I told you the other day to "get your drink" and you turned around, picked up your drink and drank it! I'm sure that this is normal behavior for 13 month olds, but I don't remember and to me, you seem so smart!

No, you don't really says words yet. You say Mama and have for a while. You wave bye-bye with your fingers. But as far as real words...nothing. Maybe you are one who is taking it all in and one day will just blurt out a full, recognizable sentence?! You do babble that cute little baby babble. But no words...sigh. Angela said that the other day, Halie came home and you said her name several times and that even Ryan knew what you were saying, but I haven't heard it.

You have a cold right now, replete with all the sniffles, runny nose and watery eyes that accompany colds. Poor baby. You fight, fight, fight it when I try to use the nose goblin on you (our word for snot sucker, doesn't nose goblin sound so much nicer??)

You have eight teeth...four on bottom and four on top. You still don't have a lot of hair, but they all tell me it'll come some day! You wear size 12 months clothing and size 3 diapers! You are bottle free!! Only a sippy cup for you! You still nurse a couple of times a day! And you SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT two days ago! WOO HOO!..You are starting to get a little picky with food. You like salmon, chicken and meat, all fruits, but you are starting to turn your nose up at some veggies. And, of course, you wouldn't be my child if you didn't like sweets!! You are a brownie fiend...LOL!

This Halloween you will be a flower! I can't wait until my computer is fixed so I can upload pics!!

I love you, flower girl!
Mommy

Happy FIRST Birthday, Sweet Baby Girl!!

Dear Rita-Carlita,


I know I am a day late in posting this, but yesterday was all about you, and I didn't quite feel like writing a blog...

Let's see...what's new?

You are walking!!!

You still nurse, but only twice a day at this point. You love to eat regular people food...cereal bars, fruit and brownies are your favorites!!

You still wake up a couple of times a night, but that's ok because you go right back to sleep! You take a nap in mid morning and then a nap in the afternoon.

You love to play peek-a-boo, patty cake, and wave bye-bye!

It has been such a fun year with you! I can't believe how fast time has gone...you went from 7lbs, 5 oz to 17lbs, 14oz. From 20 inches to 27 inches. You are just growing like a weed. I love you soooooo much...and am sooooo grateful you blessed us with your presence! It is such a joy to watch all the new things you do and to experience life with you. Everywhere we go, people just fall in love with you because of your infectious grin and your beautiful spirit! I hope you continue to smile all the time and shine with love and happiness!

I believe that a woman who says she loves all her children the same is lying. A mother loves each of her children differently and for different reasons. It doesn't mean that she loves one MORE than the other; it just means that each child holds a unique spot in her heart, each child fulfills a different role in her life. I love you more than I ever thought I could love a baby girl. I know that sounds weird, but I thought, after three boys, that there was no real inherent difference between boys and girls. After all, a child is a child no matter what. You would just be another child in my house. But I am already finding that you are NOT the same as your brothers. That pink is so much fun!

Anyway, I love you my sweet, sweet Princess,
Mommy

Been a While....

Life seems so hectic right now...in reality it's not any more hectic than usual, it just FEELS so.

Landon started first grade. They grow so much in Kindergarten--that's a given. But I never knew how much they would grow academically in just the first month of first grade. Landon's penmanship is improving by leaps and bounds. And he is a bona fide reader now! There are some words that I am in awe that he knows, and then there are others that he won't sound out and it's frustrating. He has homework every night, Monday through Thursday. It is just a math worksheet, a writing/words worksheet, and to read/be read to for fifteen minutes. And it falls on me to be the taskmaster. He gets so upset with me when I come home from work and tell him we have to do homework. So I have now instituted a reward policy...if he does his homework without complaining each night, then he can buy his lunch at school one day the next week. Seems to be working nicely so far...

I have decided I DO NOT like the age three. I didn't like it with Austin or Landon. I do not like it with Ryan. And I will not like it with Carly. (I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I am.) Ryan is sooooo mean. He is constantly "beating up" on Carly, and even Landon. Whatever happened to my sweet little blondie?? But, as he grows up, he cracks me up with the things he says and does. He LOVES Mylie Cyrus...so last night he has boppin his head and singing along with her on TV.

Carly...Carly...Carly. There is so much going on in the world of Carly. Her seventh tooth started poking through this past week (the day Patrick Swayze died). She is drinking milk from a sippy cup all by herself! But the big news is she is walking!! She started taking steps here and there the last couple of weeks. Then it turned in to six or seven steps at a time the last couple of days. Then it turned in to her walking everywhere last night. It's too cute. She walk really slow to keep her balance. And she's so little that it looks funny for her to be walking around! Go, Carly!!

I have been crazy busy at work. Some days were crazy due to patient load...we had forty-some deliveries in the first five days of September. That kinda capped off a hellish three weeks of every room full and more coming in every time you answered the phone or the door. Right now I am trying to finish a big project...one more thing (and it's just a class!) and I am D-O-N-E!!! This has been something I have worked on since January, and it feels soooo good to be pretty much finished! Being the overachiever I am, I feel like I have gone over and above what was asked of me, but at least I can say I truly earned my bonus and the level III RN title!

I start back to college in November. I am bridging to get my bachelors in nursing. It is an online program, and it should only take me a year or so. Baylor pays for it, so I am psyched!

There's way more going to in the Caro household, but I just do not have the energy to put it out there for all to see. Plus I have to get dressed for church--such a bright spot each week!!

Almost a Year!! You're Eleven Months Old Now!!!

My dear, dear Carly-bug:

In one month you will be ONE!! I cannot believe how long you have already been on this earth, delighting me with your silly antics and melting my heart with your sweet, innocent baby love!

Let's see:
Eating--You still nurse. We're down to about four times a day, but I am wondering if you will ever stop?! You LOVE to eat big people food. There is nothing that you won't eat, or at least try. You seem to gravitate towards the fruits and breads before you eat anything else. And you love to drink from your sippy cup. So far, you will only drink ice water from it. I have tried formula and just today whole milk, but you will take one sip and then shake your head "no" as you throw the cup. You are making your preferences known.

You also make your wishes known VERY loudly and precise. You throw all sorts of screaming fits when we take something away from you. Or in the case of ice cream, fail to give you something you want SO BADLY.

You stood up today on your very own from sitting without holding on to anything! You were in the middle of the room without anything around and Landon said, "look mama" very excitedly and you were standing all on your own!! That means you will be walking soon!!! And I am ready!

You "talk" to us quite a bit, but no real words yet. You say mama and dada indiscriminately, but I'm sure you don't know what it means. I know you know NO. You shake your little head when you don't want something...tht's very obvious.

You sleep pretty well at night now, not really getting up but maybe once or so. I have started rocking you and putting you in your crib. You will sleep for 2-4 hours before you wake up screaming. So I will get you and bring you into my room, and then you'll sleep the rest of the night!

You still smile your cheesy grin when you see hte light from the camera. Silly, silly girl!

You busted your lip this morning...I don't know what you fell on, but you creamed and cried and couldn't be comforted with being held. When I looked down at my shirt, there was blood all over it, so you busted it good. I let you suck cool water from a washcloth and you were fine. It had a blood blister, but it popped at some point in the morning, and now you just look like you've had silicone implants on one part of your upper lip. Poor baby. I know it is the first of many, many more owies and boo boos.

You wave, give high-fives, play peek-a-boo, and play patty cake. You also pat me on my arm when I am holding you...you crack me up.

Your brothers bug you all the time. Ryan sits on you, crawls on you, pushes you and is just a big bully to you. One day you will have enough and tear into him. I look forward to it ...LOL. Landon thinks he is your appointed cry stopper...whenever you cry, he always brings you to me. And just plops you in my lap.

I can't think of anything else right now except that it is a joy and honor to be your mommy. You bring me happiness every day!

Until next month, my sweet baby girl,
I love you
Mommy