Charlotte's 4 month Update

Things are looking up!!

So Little Charlie Cakes isn't so little, her 4 month check up isn't for another few days but I would guess she's about 15-16 lbs. She's in 6-9 month clothes, and is seriously growing like a weed.  Her and Savannah are already opposites in every way! Savannah was always (and still is) a little peanut. Savannah just keeps getting taller, very tall and skinny that girl of ours. Charlotte's going to be a little chunkster. She smiles all the time, laughs when the mood strikes her, gnaws on her hands all day long, and sleeps through the night wonderfully.  She loves to swing in her swing and play on her little mat.  She started grabbing 2 weeks ago, and is still trying to master it.  Her hair is still dark and thick, although it is definitely lightening up, I have a feeling she will be blond or sandy blond like Savannah.  Her eyes are still piercing blue and beautiful.  She loves Savannah and smiles instantly when her sister starts talking to her. She had her first Halloween, where her and Savannah were a little old couple. She was the grandpa and an adorable one at that!

As for me? Things are great! With the changes in Charlotte, the entire dynamic of the household has changed for the better, therefore my mood is much better.  I started working again about 2 weeks ago.  I was at the country club for almost 3 years.  I started there when Savannah was 6 months old and then started my maternity leave with Charlotte this past May.  I decided not to go back for many reasons.  Although the money was very good, you have work every single holiday, late nights working banquets and weddings, and its almost an hour drive one way.  I made some great friends and really got to know the members well, but it was time for me to move on.  SOooo I started looking for something closer to home and something much more laid back.  I found a serving job at this little pizza place about 20 min away.  Must say I wasn't sure at first, but I am really enjoying it now.  Everything about it is different from working in a CC. The vibe is so laid back and easy going.  They are willing to give me nights only, so I can stay home with the kids and I wont have to work every weekend and none of the big holidays.  Ive literally worked every single holiday since Savannah was born but I wasn't willing to do that anymore. I need to be with my kiddos.  Taking care of my girls and being a wife is most important now, and this job will allow me to do that and make some extra cash on the side.

I will wrap it up with some pics from the past two months. Enjoy!


My sis came down from Michigan and got to meet Charlotte for the first time...

 Austins 3rd Birthday with my little party animal...

 Anthonys 4th Birthday..

 So tired and just won't sleep...

 One of my favorite pictures to date...

 Sick visit for Savannah.. she doesnt look very sick does she?

An Elsa doll from Gam made this little girl very happy...

 3 months old... couldn't get a smile...

 Savannah's Preschool pics (in love) She decided to bring her best buddy George...

 Play date with our peeps...

 It's our favorite time of the year...

 Cutest lil Granny ever...

 Sweet face....

 Time to carve our pumpkin...

 LOL (charlies face)...

 Grammy and Grampy.... turned out so good!

4 month old Charlie.

What doesn't kill you - Makes you stronger

Month 2
It seems like it has been 6 months since my last post. So much has happened and life has been crazy. It wasn't until Charlotte was 6 weeks old and had a urine test, we found out she had a UTI.  For four straight weeks she was miserable, terribly fussy, screaming constantly and not sleeping.  We were trying everything we (and google) could think of. Formula changes, reflux medicine, multiple doctor visits, all the little things at home we could do to try and make her comfortable. But nothing helped and life was honestly miserable.  I was almost ready to accept that we had a baby with full on colic until I asked the doctor to do some blood and urine tests to make sure there wasn't something we were missing. Thank god we did, because that's when he found that she had bacteria in her urine that caused a UTI. Ive had multiple bladder infections in my life and they are extremely painful.  I felt so bad for our little girl. But also so glad that we found it and that it was being treated.

Unfortunately things got worse before they got better. It has literally been like being on a roller coaster ride.  Some days we thought she was finally turning around then the next day she would be up for 10 hours straight, screaming.  OMG. The screaming.  If you have never dealt with a baby who screams 24/7. Don't. do. it. It is physiologically exhausting.  It just messes with your head.  I felt so helpless, hopeless, even homicidal (ok, I'm exaggerating) I will admit though, I had my break downs, I just couldn't take it anymore.  All you want is your baby to feel better and when you can't do that, you're just lost.

Onto happier news: For the last week or two, she has been much, much better. She still fights sleep like crazy but she is a much happier, more content, sleeping a lot more, baby.  And that makes mama (and daddy) happy.  I think it's just going to get better from here. 

On the Savannah front: She is doing great.  She started a new school on August 20th, and has been doing wonderful.  Shane and I are loving it.  We were so out of loop at her old school  This place seems to make it a priority to keep the parents involved.  She's a great big sister too.  She still does her own thing but also loves to help me and is always trying to get Charlotte to smile.  

Everything is so different with two little ones, so I'm learning as I go.  Patience is key and that is really something I need to work on. But I'll get there.  

Life in pictures for the past month..

Poor girl came down with pink eye

We did manage to get some sweet smiles

Big sis helping litte sis put her socks on.. so sweet

Please feel better baby girl

In the ER Ugh.

First day of school

Visit from GG

Back seat daddy-o hahaha

Morning snuggles

Still trying to meet up with my mommy group when I can:)

Photo session fail

Pretty girl at the doctors. Again.

That hair. No words.

2 months old. 11 lbs and getting happier by the day.
 Of course I couldnt get her to smile for this picture.
Nope, not having it.

Charlotte is here and Im WAY behind!

So not much is going on...just had my second baby girl and life has been completely insane since, that's all.

Charlotte arrived on July 4th at 12:25pm.   My labor started on the 3rd and we ended up going to the hospital around midnight. My labor and delivery was a breeze compared to what I went through the first time around.  After my edidural, they gave me a low dose of pitocin and I went from 5cm to 10 in 1 hour.  Yes 1 hour! I was shocked! I believe I pushed for about an hour and half and... boom.. we had our little girl, Shane got to cut the cord, i got to hold her and cry and stare at her for as long as I wanted.  It was nothing short of amazing.  Our little firecracker baby is a sweetie pie. That is, when she isnt screaming. She has a set of lungs on her and she isnt afraid to use them! I wouldn't consider it colic but probably not far from it.  She has good days and bad so we are definitely still adjusting.  I do think Im getting used to the lack of sleep though.  The first few weeks were pretty tough.

Savannah is doing great as a big sister. I think she finally realized that Charlotte is here to stay.  She is going to school 3 days a week now and doing much much better with it.  The school thing really worked out perfect.  Charlotte takes up so much of my time right now that Im glad Savannah gets to be at school with her friends to have fun and play (and hopefully learn a little too).

Life with 2 little ones is exhausting and takes up every free second we have but all it takes is one of those little smiles and you forget about all the stress in an instant.

Our first month with little sister Charlotte...

A LOT of time spent just like this
(top and bottom)
This is Charlottes Happy Place