Caitlin: 7 Months Old

(OK - I wrote this post a month ago, but never got around to posting it since I had not uploaded the photo to go with it!  So, while Caitlin is technically 8 months now - here is her 7 month update.  8 month update to come soon!)

Caitlin - you are 7 months old now!  

I am sad to say that this is the first time I have managed to actually write down a monthly update for you!  What they say is true... being the second child is always harder!

I literally feel like it was just yesterday when we brought you home from the hospital and here we are... more than half the year is already under our belts.  I know I would say this with James as well, but where has the time gone?

Caitlin - you are such a sweet girl!  You definitely have your moments, but overall most people tend to comment on what a happy baby you are!  You have the cutest smile and your eyes can just light up when you are happy!

And speaking of eyes... you eyes are the prettiest blue with just a tiny few specs of green in the center.  I think your eyes will stay blue, while Daddy thinks they will eventually turn green like his did.  I guess only time will tell!

Your hair is still fairly blonde at this stage.  When you were younger, there were some light where it looked like it had some brown in it - but I think it has actually gotten lighter since then!  You are pretty much our blonde hair, blue eyed beauty!  (I like to think you take after my mommy and its quite fitting that your middle name is also her name!)

You are our BIG girl!  At your six month checkup - you weighed in at 18 pounds, 6 ounces - right at the 94%.  For height, you were a whopping 27.5 inches (98%) and your head size was at 93%.  I had to take you in to the doctor right before you turned 7 months (more on that later) and you were already up to 19 pounds, 4 ounces!  Luckily, the way you are built - we are still able to get you in 6-9 month sized clothes.  Your torso is short and you have long legs (like mommy) - so all your onesies and shirts and dresses fit no problem, your pants always tend to be a little on the short side!

You just recently got your first tooth!  And boy... was that NOT a fun experience!  It all started on a Friday night (May 17 to be exact).  We went to bed like normal and you just kept waking up and crying.  Normally, I just feed you when you wake up, but you did not want to eat, you did not want to sleep, you just kept crying!  I looked to see if you had a tooth but did not see anything, so I thought maybe you were just being cranky.  After a few more hours of fighting sleep and eating, I put my finger in your mouth and sure enough... I felt that your first tooth had popped through!  The only thing that finally got you to sleep that night was some Baby Orajel.

The following week at school you were just "off" and had a mild fever a few times as well.  I just thought it was because of teething, but after a full week we decided to take you to the doctor to check.  Sure enough, you poor sweet thing had TWO ear infections and a sinus infection!  Your right ear had even gotten so bad you had a burst ear drum!  After a few days of antibiotics and ear drops - you were back to your self!

Right before you turned 7 months, you got to go on your first plane ride!  Your Auntie and I took you to California for a quick weekend trip to go to a good friends Baby Shower.  I was SO nervous of how you would do on the plane - but you did GREAT!  I nursed you on take off and landing and in the air, you slept for a little and the rest of the time, you just wanted to play and look around.  On the flight home, you did cry for about 15 minutes when I tried to get you to sleep... but for the most part it was a good trip!

You are getting THIS.CLOSE to crawling!  You love to be on your tummy and roll onto your back and all over the floor.  You have started the rocking when on your tummy and can get your legs under you and your arms up... just not all at the same time!  I give it a few weeks and then you will be off...

You are still being breastfed and you have only had formula a small amount of time - and that was mainly due to the fact that I had to go on a few business trips and Daddy needed some way to feed you!  (That is since you do not like to drink milk that has been previously frozen... have I mentioned your high-maintenance ways?) 

We have given you some solids, but we are taking it slow.  You have had baby oatmeal, some sweet peas and some carrots.  We plan to give you some more veggies, before we introduce you to fruit.  Although I am not sure how much you are actually eating - you definitely like the process of eating!  You love to grab the spoon and shove it in your mouth.  You also like to make a mess and feel the food with your hands.

You are still NOT sleeping through the night.  I think you just like to eat too much.  You still wake up every 3-4 hours at night wanting to eat.  You are not the best at getting to sleep, we have recently started letting you cry it out and let you sleep on your stomach and it seems to help a little.  You are still sleeping in our room, mainly because since I still get up with you a few times a night it makes it easier on me. 

You and your brother.  Oh - it just melts my heart when I see you two together.  James just ADORES you and I know that you ADORE him too.  He gets SO happy to see you.  In the morning, he will sometimes go and give you kisses and hugs before I even get them.  And you... you just light up when you see him.  Lately when I try to feed you, you are always distracted by brother and trying to find him in the room.  Your brother can make you happy and can make you smile at times when no one else can.  I am so excited to see what a special relationship you guys will have as you get older.  I am SO thankful that James has taken so well to being your big brother!

We love you SO much Caitlin (or sissy, munchkin, muffin, poppet or any of the other names we call you!) and are so blessed by all the joy and happiness you bring to our lives! 

Love,
Mommy