11 and 12 weeks old

Getting a little behind...

11 weeks old
Wearing the same sleeper her sister did at 9 MONTHS old

I forgot to take a 12 week shot...there was a holiday or something :)
Thanks for the shirts Julia!

Cousins

December 25th
Olivia was very intent on getting some part of Charlotte into her mouth.

December 28th

First Laughs

I don't care to post videos much because a) they can't go in the annual blogbook we print and b) they take forever to upload.  But the first laughs- and caught on camera?  Totally worth a blogpost.  A baby's first laughs are like hearing the joy of heaven spill out on your life for a few precious moments. Feel free to bookmark the page and play the video whenever you need a little pick-me-up.  And just TRY to watch without smiling!

This is why...

A) she usually refuses to sleep with a blanket

B) I've reserved the right to pick out her clothes when we go to church

Because there are just too many PJ's to choose from...and why stop at one set when you can clearly fit two or three on at the same time?

Waiting...

 

This morning, in an effort to keep Sam occupied while I checked my packing* and got ready for the day, I allowed Sam to take a picture of her artwork.

 

She says it's a cheeta.  I totally see it.

But of course I can't let her have the camera and expect her to take just one picture...

He's not into taking pictures so...

...this one is extra sweet because he "posed" for her.

*1) purse
2) small side purse for phone and participation points to hand out during the day
3) backpack with laptop and grading that I never get to at home anymore
4) Diaper bag
5) lunch bag
6) carseat with bundled up baby (preferribly sleeping)
7) Coffee
8) water
9) Sam's lunch
10) Sam's backpack
11) pump
12) milk in portable "fridge"

Sisters at 10 weeks

Samantha

Charlotte- she was refusing to look at me.  Notice her big sister's choice in socks.  Aunt Amanda taught her that unmatched is cool.  I've learned to let it go. 

I'd forgotten how they change so much every week!  She's discovered her tongue and looks like a snake tasting the air a lot of the time. Hyunseok was worried something was wrong!  Last night I watched as she discovered how to put something (other than her empty fist) into her mouth.  She did it in slow motion. She managed to grab a pair of pants off a laundry pile and s.l.o.w.l.y. pulled it to meet her snake tongue. 

She's also so close to cooing! I say close because she doesn't like to interrupt.  She'll answer you if you talk to her, but you have to wait a good 10 seconds.  Then she'll give you a one syllable response.  Like today.  I asked her what she wanted for Christmas.  After a good 7 seconds she managed to utter "boob". 

 

Speaking of which, last week's egg trial was a bust (her face rash re-surfaced) but this weekend's wheat trial was a success!!!  Hurray for bread and tortillas again!!  It makes my lunch-packing SO much easier...

Plugged

So Sam's ears have been plugged.  And I've known this because it's been driving me INSANE having to talk to her like I did my grandpa when his hearing aid is off. This morning she woke up with RED eyes and since they weren't filled with gunk I just figured it was morning redness.  After school, though, one was still really red.  Luckily the doctor was able to see her.  She has pick-eye, but not the contagious kind.  She checked her ears and, as it has been since she was a baby, Sam had a lot of wax.  But this time, the doctor couldn't get the wax to move.  She said it was rock hard.  After trying several tricks to get the wax to at least soften up they finally decided to have us put some stuff in her ears tonight, tomorrow morning and have her come back again to see if it was possible to see in her ear yet. 
At one point the nurse was so impressed with how good Samantha was handling all of the flushing that she asked her,
"I'm going to go get you a sucker, what color do you want, red?"
Sam looked from the nurse to me and answered, "Red...?" with just a hind of a question.
The nurse left and Sam quietly asked, "What is she getting me?"

Like I said, her ears are PLUGGED.

It also doesn't help that she wants to wear one of her 100 winter hats ALL day long.

New and Improved Tricks

The new- playing with toys

Improved- taking silly pictures of herself

Cousins

December 8th, power napping before Kahlan's party

These two were having quite the discussion about the cake.

Kahlan was very excited to join the 4-year-old club

The aunt and the cousins

Daddy

Charlotte will finally smile at Jer

Or anyone now, really.  As long as it's morning.

Samantha loves the faces he makes too.

She also smothers her clone with kisses whenever she can.

Sisters at 9 weeks

Sam 9 weeks

Charlotte 9 weeks

 Because I returned to work I wasn't able to take her picture in the morning, which is her happy time.  The above was the least "offended" picture I could get.  The others all resembled this:

This chunk is almost into 3-6 mo clothing already!  Pumpin 10 oz from 8am-3:30pm just barely keeps up with her.  MOOOO.  That's all I have to say to that.

What does it take...

 ...to put the angel on top of the tree?



One Korean, one 4-year-old....

One Grandad...

...a chair



 a handsome husband...

And a cute little elf.

8 Weeks/ 2 months

She had her 2 months appt.  She is juuuuust under 12 lbs, wearing some 0-3 mo and some 3-6 mo clothing.  I'm pretty sure she's starting to teeth already, as she's started to drool and always wants something in her mouth.  An amber teething necklace was on the list for a stocking stuffer, but it looks like we'll be getting that sooner (like tomorrow).  I had 4 teeth at four months and Sam had her first at 5 months, so it would not surprise me if we lost her gummy smile here in the next couple of months....*sigh*...I love the gummy smiles!

Also, I have to document her night-time routine.  Jeremy will have her and she will fight and fight and fight.  He'll hand her off to me, she'll nurse for .05 seconds, pull off and demand her binky in the nursing position, grab my shirt and pass out.  Then I quietly hand her back to Jeremy and we both chuckle.

Every. Night.

 

Speaking of night-time.  The past two nights she's gone from 1-2 hour stretches to giving me a 5-6 hour stretch.  Just like that!  AND she'll let me put her in her rock 'n play!  Just in time for me to go back to work (thank GOODness).

Charlotte 8 weeks





Samantha 8 weeks