8 Months Old

Eight Months Old

So I'm a little late due to an increasingly busy schedule…. but just like that we hit the eight month mark. One year ago, we had finally decided on a name for our baby girl. She was finally starting to move and kick and we were in awe that she was growing so quickly. How time flies. 

and now we have this beautiful eight month old healthy baby girl.

These monthly pictures are getting difficult to take… in a fun way. 

Caroline's personality is just as bubbly as ever. She is content most of the time but gets bored VERY easily. She moves from one thing to the next in a matter of minutes. She will be laughing one minute and pouting the next. So. Much. Girl. She loves her daddy and flashes him a smile every time she looks at him. She wants her mama at night, though. She is eating fruits and vegetables every day and snacks all the time. She loves Ritz crackers and puffs. She takes around three bottles a day. She has ZERO teeth but still gnaws on everything. Nana bought us a walker and it has been the best thing ever. She will stay in it for an hour at a time and follow me around the kitchen and living room while I try to get house work done. 

She still isn't crawling yet although she gets up on her all fours a lot… and usually scoots right back to her bottom sitting up. Kyle and I aren't complaining though… we know the time is coming where we have to get her out of everything!  She either sleeps from 8-3:30 and eats and goes back to sleep.. or sleeps from 8 or 9 until 5:30 and is up for the day. We have a few really bad nights thrown in the mix. Either way- I will take it. She starts out in her crib and usually ends up in bed with me. My official opinion is… I'm a hard working mother who needs sleep so if she will sleep better with me then I'm all about it. Time goes by so fast that I will miss these days soon. She is taking around two naps a day. Kyle and I have came to love Sundays because the nursery wears this girl out. She will come home after church, take a bottle, and be OUT like a light. This past Sunday  we got home and she slept for two and a half hours. It was glorious.

Caroline loves books and I try to read to her a little every day. We have so many books already that I can't wait for daddy to finish her bookshelf one day. (Sigh.) She also loves cords, plug ins, pulling the garbage can down in her walker, and picking up anything and eating it. So even though she isn't crawling, I'm already keeping a close eye on her. Caroline also LOVES Libby. That's probably an understatement.. that dog is her true love. Libby stands no chance when she starts crawling. Libby loves her just as much. Those two will be forever best friends. 

Her BFF is Polly Hood and I hope it always stays that way. :) Anna Beth and I have gotten to hang out on Tuesdays since I am off and we have had a blast (with the exception of today- they are sick. Boo.)  We all got together last Tuesday night and threw the girls in the tub together… it was pretty fun. Ignore my triple chin down there… these pictures are for us to look back on in twenty years. 

Just as fast as Caroline is growing as a baby, I am growing just as fast as a Christian mother. I have learned and am learning how to continually trust God to pull me through the good and the bad days. I have delved into leading a work bible study, being active in going to and hosting small group bible study on Sunday nights, and taking on a few side projects to help me grow in my faith. All of that with a husband who works 24 hour shifts and a full time job has been pretty tiring but exciting at the same time. 

So I will end this thrown together eight month post by saying how continually BLESSED we are. I have never been more thankful for a loving home, a job, a healthy child and spouse, a supportive family, and an amazing church family. We are so, so fortunate beyond belief. At month eight we have found true happiness in being Caroline's parents. 

Saturday

I have been on a blogging hiatus for a few weeks and I regret it, but it seems to be getting harder to sit down and write. The main reason that I have been absent from the blogging world would probably be sheer exhaustion. Caroline is just one of those babies who is wired not to sleep through the night. And it's about to kill me. I just keep telling myself every day that one day she is going to sleep. One day I will feel rested again. A few nights ago, the first time that she woke up I tried to let her cry it out for over an hour solid without going in there and she was still going strong, to the point of losing her breath she was crying so hard. I ended up losing it after an hour and getting her out of the crib. The next morning, I noticed that her left eye had a busted blood vessel from crying so hard. So no, I don't think crying it out will be for us. I don't care what studies show what, she will be fine. I am still trying to be present on social media, but as for blogging time I have been  little preoccupied. 

I am so incredibly thankful that fall is here. Mainly because we can stroll around the neighborhood without sweating! I got out our fall/Halloween decorations this week and we bought some beautiful mums at a local nursery and they are beautiful. As I posted earlier this week on social media, our house is perfect for us. Kyle and I got engaged on this porch and we spend lots of time with Caroline on this porch. 

And of course here are all of my iPhone snaps of Caroline throughout this month. 

More than just being busy with Caroline, I have also replaced a lot of computer time with studying my Bible. I felt the calling from God to start a bible study at work and finally got the courage to start it and we have now met twice for women's Bible Study at work. Last week I taught bible study for the first time in my life to someone besides children and it went well. Thanks to my co-workers for the encouragement! So far the study is going great and I know that the Lord is speaking to people in my workplace. I have had to make many life changes and personal changes that aren't exactly comfortable, but Christianity is not about staying comfortable so I am getting used to it. 

With that said, we have to get ready for our meeting tonight, we have our first small group meeting tonight at our pastor's house and I'm somewhat anxious and excited! I hope everyone has a wonderful October!