"February 12th"

Since Charlotte is almost 6 months now, that means it is the perfect time to write her 4-month update....right? Sigh, better late than never I guess. If it counts as any excuse, our computer has been on the fritz these past few months. Luckily, I managed to get it all backed up (I say luckily, because it would shut down every time I started the backup process...but it finally made it through) and hopefully we can get the bugs all worked out.

But enough about boring things like laptops, eh?

This "past" month, Charlotte has really started to develop more of a personality. It has been quite fun.

She has started to "get" peekaboo. Before she would just stare us down, but now we can get more of a reaction which usually includes smiles and maybe a laugh or two.

She found her feet! Initially, I had to show them to her--but it only took that first time or two, before she quickly realized they existed and started grabbing them on her own.

Before I had children, I always swore I would never use the alarm clock as a babysitter, but its just so hard not to when you have things to get done... do you think the American Academy of Pediatrics has any alarm-clock watching guidelines that I should be aware of?

Charlotte really loves playing with her Dad. *Warning: Bragging alert* He is such a good dad and really is a natural with babies. I often find myself taking mental notes from the way he plays and interacts with her. He is the best at getting her to talk, coo, and laugh. It sure is sweet to see them together.

And of course, he wouldn't be a dad if he didn't employ some kind of "Baby-loves-it-but-it-sorta-scares-Mom" playtime.

Check out that look of steely determination.

Charlotte had her first episode of stranger anxiety this month. A middle-aged lady came up to her at Walmart and started cooing in her face. Charlotte totally lost it and started crying loudly! I felt a bit bad for the lady because she rushed off hastily saying, "Oh no! I've never made my grandbabies cry!" But at the same time, it kind of made me chuckle inside.

The carseat also started becoming much more of an issue. Charlotte seemed to just hate it! She would cry the whole drive and then right when we pulled up to the driveway she'd calm down--almost like she knew we were home. Arrrgh, frustrating!

Notice the little tear?

One day, however, when she started really gearing up her crying, I climbed into the backseat with her, and guess what? Bingo! She automatically stopped crying and was happy as a clam. Apparently, this little girl just didn't like being all alone. It took only a few times of having company during the car-ride for her to get over her carseat-phobia. Phew!

We went for a walk and Charlotte rode in the stroller without the carseat attachment for the first time!

"Mom, I'm cold. Can we please go home?"

We took the jump and graduated Charlotte to her crib. After the bassinet, she looks so little in it!


We still swaddle this little girl. She breaks out of it easily, but it is still too difficult for her to fall asleep with free range of her hands and arms. Especially now that she's figured out how to use those little hands to pull out her paci! It is kind of funny to see the progression:

1. Happily sucking on her pacifier
2. Overriding urge to reach hands up to pacifier
3. MUST. PULL. PACI. OUT!
4. Waaaahh! Where's my pacifier?

Its a vicious cycle without the swaddle. So we still swaddle. Hopefully by the time she goes to college, Charlotte will have outgrown her arm-flailing. If not, we'll just hope she lucks out in the roommate department.

Speaking of sleeping, we've started trying to implement more of a bed-time routine (bath, lullabies, rocking, and white noise). It seems to be helping a bit, but she still has a hard time falling asleep and also doesn't sleep well during the day. So far, putting a blanket over my shoulder and the faucet running works as best sleep-time aid.

Charlotte also started drooling A LOT. I finally understand why bibs are necessary in the pre-food months. Without them, she would get totally soaked.

One day, Charlotte was laying on Mitch's lap and was in a very groggy state.

But even in her semi-comatose state, she was unable to resist the enticing allurement of synthetic material...

YUM!!!

We could not stop laughing at how far she was sticking her tongue out!

In addition to slobbering/licking/eating your knees if she is laying tummy down on your lap, Charlotte has also started to love chewing on toys, fingers, and anything else she can get to make it to her mouth.




She enjoys playing with her toys more. And toy-like objects...

I left her playing in her room one morning and came in to find this. Ha!

When you hold her in your lap, Charlotte will now push up with her legs a lot. She likes to push her little body up into the standing position.
So we decided to try out her jumpy-chair. She's already starting to get the hang of it.


She is still very serious at bath time, but now makes a lot more movement--kicking, splashing, and the like.

Charlotte has started to really belly-laugh. We absolutely love it--so much fun!

And, as is customary, for your final viewing pleasure: