Update 13-15 Weeks

I wrote this post at 16 weeks but haven't had a chance to add pictures and post it until now. Please pretend it is week 16. since that is the perspective from which it was written.

Charlotte is now over 13 pounds. She seems so big to us. She has done a ton in these 3 weeks:

• Holding her head all the way up while on her tummy
• Rolling over
• Being ticklish
• Teething
• Grabbing toys, blankets, and dresses and putting them in her mouth
• Making consonant sounds, specifically the “Mmmmm” sound. She sounds like she says Mom sometimes, which is cool even though I know she doesn’t know what she is saying.
• Standing on her legs, which she loves doing. She gets the biggest grin on her face—a sort of “Dude! Do you see what I can do???”

Some fun things we did during these 3 weeks:

• Saw fireworks on the 4^th of July
• Helped Uncle Brian and Aunt Sarah announce their pregnancy
• Enjoyed a second visit from Grandma and Grandpa
• Met Paw-Paw

We also sent Daddy to the Dominican Republic and Mommy to work. It was quite a busy 3 weeks.

**Most of the 13 and 14 weeks pictures are in the Dear Daddy posts.

13 Weeks  

First Bath by Daddy

(“You aren’t doing this the way Mommy does.” Haha. Actually, Chris did an amazing job.)

 

Ticklish

 

 

14 Weeks

Holding Our Head Up

 

Daddy’s Homecoming

 

 

Winnie & Lottie

 

 

 

Amber & Lottie

 

(Notice that Amber is holding Lottie’s leg down. Lottie kept kicking Amber in the face while playing, so Amber gently put her paw on Lottie’s leg to hold it down.)

 

 

15 Weeks

Funny Faces

 

 

 

Grabbing Daddy’s Glasses

 

In Daddy’s Hat

 

Teething

 

Standing

 

Our Beautiful Angel Goose

As I said before, I don't have time to write a bunch of posts, but I have to share a couple smile-y  baby pictures. I hope they brighten up your day like they do ours.

 

 

Please forgive this working mom

So I know I have neglected the blog lately. And trust me, it makes me sad. I enjoy posting as much as I hope y'all enjoy reading. I especially love the thought that this blog documents our life in med school and as new parents, which I am sure will amuse us 20 or so years from now. However, nothing could prepare me for being a working mother. Let me just say It Is Freaking Hard, and I am blessed to be working part time. A big shout out to all you full time working mothers because I don't know how you do it.

The first couple of weeks were ok, but then fall busy season hit. It has been crazy. After working and commuting all day, all I want to do is snuggle my baby, but there is still dinner to be made, dishes (and bottles and more bottles) to be washed, house to be cleaned, and often some more work to be done. Needless to say, the blog has been put on the back burner. Hopefully, I will get caught up soon.

 

 

Please be praying for us as we adjust to all this and try to make the best decisions for our family. It has been a very exhausting transition emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Visit with Paw-Paw Hardegree - Part II

On Saturday, we went the RJ Rockers.

After RJ Rockers, we walked next door to Cribbs Kitchen for an early dinner.

 

And what is a father-son visit without a trip to Cabela's? Chris tried to convince me that Lottie was ready for her first bow. I must admit she looks like a natural with it.

 

 

We decided to head to Charlotte on Sunday to visit the Raptor Center.

 

  

 

 

We watched the Vulture feeding, which was incredibly interesting. Vultures are very cool birds. God definitely made them unique. Fun facts:

 

- Vultures poo on their legs to keep them cool, which also kills bacteria from carrion.

- Vultures don't have feathers on their head to prevent bacteria from growing.

- By eating carrion, vultures prevent the spread of disease (their stomach acid kills bacteria). Rabies and other diseases have increased in areas like India as the population of vultures has decreased due to the drugs they give their livestock (which vultures ingest when they eat the livestock when it dies).

 

 

We followed the raptor center with the Aviation Museum. We put Lottie in a Cessna and the cockpit of a fighter jet and a commercial airplane.

 

 

They also had the plane that emergency landed on the Hudson River recently. It was so interesting. God is amazing.

 

 

Sadly, Paw-Paw had to leave Monday. We had a great visit and enjoyed all of our time together. Thank you for coming Paw-Paw!!!

 



First Time Swimming

Chris and I took Lottie to the pool for the first time today. We had a blast. She seemed to like it--though she seemed a little overwhelmed at first. Towards the end, she started relaxing and smiling. I think her daddy's shenanigans helped. The pool brings out the little boy in Chris. Lottie will love going to the pool with her daddy when she gets a little older.

 

 

 

(The Lion King--anyone?)

 

 

 (Note the boy noises--boys think engine noises make everything better whether that be when pushing a stroller or just playing in the pool)

 

 

(This one makes my momma heart melt)

Visit with Paw-Paw Hardegree - Part I

This post is long over due. July has been a very crazy month with me starting back at work, Chris spending a week in the DR, my parents visiting, Greg visiting, Dana & Ganny visiting, Lottie going to day care, and finally, Chris starting school again. The blog got a little lost in the shuffle.

That being said--we definitely have to write about Paw-Paw's visit because we had a ton of fun. We were so thankful Paw-Paw even made it Thursday. Not only was he 3 hours delayed (he was delayed at every aspect of his 2 flights), but every flight out of Dallas to GSP after his was cancelled due to weather. His luggage actually got stuck in Dallas and wasn't dropped off until the next afternoon. Needless to say, we were thrilled he made it in Thursday.

It was Lottie's first time to meet her Paw-Paw. Lottie, of course, adored her Paw-Paw from the very first.

 

After we picked up Paw-Paw, we took him to Greenville to eat at Smoke on the Water. It is a great place to compare the various types of BBQ. They make delicious pulled pork and bring 4 types of BBQ sauce: sweet (Kansas City), tomato (TX), vinegar (NC), and mustard (SC).

 

 

 Afterwards, we walked to the Park on the Reedy to show Paw-Paw the falls and the Liberty Bridge.

 

 

On Friday, we headed to the Cowpens National Battlefield. It was overcast and drizzle-y, but the weather was supposed to hold off until the afternoon, so we decided to chance it. It worked out well because we arrived in time to catch a talk on Revolutionary War weapons, which of course is right up the Hardegree boys' alley. It was very interesting. After the talk and video on the battle, we walked the battlefield loop.

 

 

Since it was overcast, the weather was nice and cool.

 

 

And to top it all off, we saw 6 turkeys.

 

It rained on us at the end of our walk--perfect timing. We got to see everything we wanted. Back in the visitor's center, Chris met an old man who had served in WWII under General Patton and was in the Battle of the Bulge. Chris was in heaven. A weapons talk, battlefield hike, turkey sighting, and meeting a WWII veteran? Best. Chris. Day. Ever.

 

We headed back to the house to let Paw-Paw and Lottie hang out some. They had a grand old time. They had a sweet grandpa-granddaughter dance.

 

And snuggled after bath time (I think this is the sweetest picture of them).

 

Needless to say, Paw-Paw was a big hit.