Time for another weekly apology to those who I have neglected to call back, write back, message back, and those (i.e. my mom and sisters) who have not forgiven me for not posting pictures of little Charlotte daily. All I can say in my defense is that I'm lucky to sleep three uninterrupted hours at night anymore, which leaves me on the border of legal insanity most of the daytime, and that I have been the victim of high-pressure projectile pooping more than once this past week, culminating in Charlotte liberally splattering my face yesterday. (Fortunately, my mouth was closed!) The craziest part is that I think I love her even more every time she spits up on my clean shirt, every time she wakes up right after I put her in bed, every time I put a brand new diaper on her and she immediately fills it up again. There is something beautiful and innocent about her every act; she lives according to what she feels, what she wants, what she needs in the moment without worrying about what other people think she should do.
I'm also discovering a lot about myself here in Babyville. I don't respond to her like I would to other people; I find myself apologizing when she pees all over herself instead of getting mad that I have to change all of her clothes again. I have discovered there are few things better than when she is crying and I pick her up and she stops right away because it comforts her to be close to me. And I actually love those 3 a.m. moments when I have just fed her and she looks up at me with all of the wonder of the world in her eyes. I am sure then that she loves me, even if she forgets as her eyes drift shut and she has to relearn it as I change diaper after diaper, feed her and feed her, and rock her back to sleep all over again.
Well, enough waxing sentimental. Time for another bonanza of Charlotte pictures!
While my mom was in town, we drove out to the Raleigh LDS Temple to take some pictures of the baby. Charlotte, however, was not really into it and wouldn't wake up for a single shot.
We made another attempt to catch Charlotte awake on Sunday morning outside of Duke Chapel and the Divinity School. (These worked out a little better even though the crazy wind totally ruined my hair.)
Enjoying some bathtime with Grammy, who knows much better than Mom or Dad about how to get the job done at this point.
Giving up on "tummy time".
Trying on the wrist wrattles for the first time. This picture reminded me of another one ...
Charlotte's mama, August 1976. Now we know where she gets her chubby cheeks from!
So there's our house. Isn't she a beauty? Carpet and wood floors are in, counters and cupboards installed , crown molding and even the front landscaping is done. Just one problem ... THERE'S NO ELECTRICITY. Although we were originally scheduled to close on October 3, it looks like we're not going to be able to get into it until at least the end of October due to the immense power outages across Houston from Hurricane Ike. They aren't going to put our electricity meter on until everyone has their power back, which is perfectly understandable, but it doesn't change the fact that we are going to be homeless vagabonds for the next month since Adam's job starts in Houston next Monday. Big thanks to our cousins Shelly and Kendall who have offered to take us in for a few weeks. We hope that you aren't going to live to regret your very big-hearted offer to take us in!
Our big, fat, as-of-yet unlandscaped backyard.
Carpet is in and ready to be walked on.
Even the hardwood floors are anxiously awaiting our feet ... Hope to walk all over you soon!
