Charlie is TEN months

Happy 10 months Charlie!  How is it that you are already 10 months old!?  I love seeing your personality come out more and more!  You are still Mr. Go with the Flow, but you know what you love and know how to get it!  Example: your mama's new robot vacuum!  You love pushing the buttons and is the first "toy" you always crawl to.  It is now being replaced, thank you warranty!

A few fun facts:

-You are still crawling like a little inch worm!  We can't take our eyes off of you!  You love the bathroom and your mama's toys.

-You are a bottomless pit!  We are going to take a loan out to keep you fed!  Between your designer label formal and the amount of blueberries, sweet potatoes, and bananas that you eat!

-You got your first hair cut!  Oh, the number of times I have dreamed about a little blonde bowl cut baby boy!  AND YOU EXIST!

-We had you dedicated to the Lord this month!  It almost got snowed out!

-Speaking of snow, you loved sledding!

-You have the cutest little wave!

-Lucy still loves you! Praise the Lord for y'alls sweet relationship.  She does to read you books and you like to eat her books.

-There is really not anything you hate.  Only being hungry.

Happy doubt digit months Charlie!

WARNING: cuteness overload!  LOOK AT THIS WAVE!

Charlie is NINE months

How can you not LOVE this little boy!? Look at that sweet smile, oh I could literally eat you up Charlie Rouse!  I am complete denial that you are NINE months old.  I wish I could bottle you up you never got any bigger!  Such a fun month!

Monthly fun facts:

-You have 2 teeth!  Your 2 bottom teeth are your first!

-You are perfecting your inch worm crawl.  You can get place to place really quick!

-You love your mama!  I hope you don't ever get tired of me holding you!

-You light up when your dad walks into the room.

-You would follow your sister anywhere

-You still LOVE your paci and lovey!  Specifically your little Lion.

-You love to eat!  You would eat anything out of a spoon

-You celebrated your first Christmas!  Santa brought you a choo choo train that we sat you on and you fell off of!  Oops!

-Lucy is still head over heels for you!

-You are in need of a hair cut.  You have been mistaken for a girl in public already, sorry buddy!

Oh, I love you in some overalls!

Look at those little hands! :)

Charlie is EIGHT months

Happy 8 months of life Charlie!  Charlie, you are the definition of a go with the flow baby!  You will eat anything, sleep anywhere, you love to play, you have zero separation anxiety!  Let's just say we put our blood and sweat in the first 4 months of your life to get to this point buddy!

A few fun facts:

-You still don't have any teeth!  I am going to miss this gummy smile one day!  But, goodness you are a drooling machine!

-You love alllllll fruits and veggies!  You favorites are sweet potatoes, peaches, and puffs!

-You are attempting to do an inch worm crawl

-You are perfectly content to sit still and chew on your Sophie giraffe.

-You sleep 11 hours a night and take a 2 hour morning and afternoon nap!

-You do a happy little bounce when anyone starts singing to you.

-You love your daddy!  He makes you smile the biggest.

-You already are attached at the hip to your paci and to your loveys.  You love your "moo moo" and your "Lion"

-Your second home is your Johnny Jump Up.

Lucy loves you SO much "little buddy." As soon as you start crying she rushes to you to make sure you have your paci and says, "It's okay big boy, I am right here!"  If we are in the car and you start crying Lucy will say, "It's ok big boy, we are almost there!"

Charlie is SEVEN months!

So, this is the age when I start saying, "Clint, I want another one!" Because, this IS THE AGE!  THE AGE they are sleeping through the night, they aren't moving yet, they know their mama and daddy's faces, they are SO squishy!  So, if you are wondering... I am not pregnant.  But, I might be taking back my vow to never have another baby.

HAPPY 7 MONTHS OF LIFE CHARLIE!  Oh, sweet Charlie!  You are pure sugar.  You love to snuggle.  You love to be rocked to sleep.  You are Mr. Go-With-The-Flow these days, PRAISE!  I could literally eat you up!

A few fun facts:

-You LOVE to eat!  You have loved sweet potatoes, bananas, butternut squash, and carrots.  You are unsure about yellow squash, but so is your daddy!

-You are finally on the best little schedule!

8AM: wake up and eat (6oz bottle)

play, play, play

10AM: morning nap

11:30AM: eat (6oz bottle)

12:30PM: eat lunch (2-3 tablespoons food)

1:30PM: eat (6 oz bottle)

2PM: afternoon nap <-Mama's sacred hour

4:30PM: wake up (6ox bottle)

6:00PM: eat supper (2-3 tablespoons food)

7:00PM: eat night night bottle (6oz bottle)

7:30PM: night night

Charlie is SIX months!

How has half a year already come and gone?!  It has been the fastest and the slowest six months at the same time.... Oh, this is the BEST age!  Happy half Birthday Charlie!

New this month:

-You hold your own bottle!  This is nice that you can feed yourself, so Lucy doesn't get in too much trouble... Bless your heart with such a wild sister!
-You are starting to sit up, but not 100% yet.  You have face planted a few times... sorry Charlie!
-Nothing is safe around you!  You reach for everything in sight!  But, I love this because you reach for your mama's face and give the BEST kisses!
-You can role all over, but still choose to just hang out on your back!
-You are still swaddled!
-You are getting more and more content between eatings.  For the most part you only cry when you are hungry or sleepy.
-You are on a great little schedule of Eat, Play, Sleep (we live by Baby Wise in our house).  You are eating 7 bottles a day with a nap between each bottle.  You are eating around 42oz a day, which your big sister never ate more than 25oz.  You are quite the piggy!
-You tried sweet potatoes for the first time and LOVED them!
-You are still Mr. Drooly, but no teeth!
-You can clear a room with your toots and poops.
-Your poops smell like nursing home mixed with bad breath and well... poop. IT IS SO BAD.

 We really don't think you can get any more handsome!  You are in a size 3 diaper and a 6-9 month outfit.

 You LOVE your toes

Goodness I am smitten over you!

Here are your stats:

Charlie is FIVE months!

Charlie!  Goodness you are 5 months old! You are one little bundle of JOY!  

New this month:

-You love to eat!  We have fully switched to formula and let's just say, you have VERY expensive taste.  But, thank the good LORD for Becky at our Doctor's Office who gives us the hook up!

-We are so thankful for gas drops, zantac, and prevacid. (<-All reflux meds) SO thankful these help you get comfortable!  It is the worse feeling to know there is nothing we can do to help your tummy.

-You still make the cutest little grunts and raspy noises because of your floppy cartilage in your larynx.

-YOU ARE SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!

-You are more and more predictable which is making it easier to run errands around town!

-You love your Jonny Jump up and activity center.  We have banished the activity center because your big sister broke her leg in it this month

-You drool more than any creature.  But, still no teeth! 

-There is always something coming out of your mouth, either drool or spit up!  Bless....

Happy 5 months of life little buddy!  You are so loved by your mama, your daddy, and your big sister!  We pray that you come to know Jesus in a real way at a young age!  Praying for comfort for your little tummy!  LOVE YOU Chuck!

Charlie is FOUR months!

4 months down! Goodness you are getting so grown Charlie! You are the hungriest little human with your long eye lashes and long hair, let's just say you already have me wrapped around your little slobbery finger! Yes, slobber! A lot of it! No teeth yet, but I think you are definitely working on them! So, I don't know if it's the tummy ache or the teeth... but buddy you don't like to sleep long! This mama of yours is ready for those beloved 12 hour stretches at night! Right now you are still eating every 2 hours and sleeping maybe a 7 hour stretch at night! 

You love:

-standing up!

-your paci

-being swaddled

-gas drops

-laying on your back and looking at your activity center 

-snuggling your daddy

-looking at your mama

-eating!

Your big sister is smitten over you! I am so thankful Little Lucy hasn't been jealous of all the extra love and attention you get! She loves bouncing her babies along with us as we bounce you! She loves singing "ballgame" and "happy birthday" when you are sad! She will say, "Charlie needs paci" or "Charlie needs bottle!" Lucy, you are such a sweet little mama!

You are fascinated by your toes little buddy! You haven't quite figured out how to put them in your mouth!

Charlie is TWO months!

Happy 2 months of life Charlie! Oh we love this gummy smile with your raspy voice! This month has been a fun month of this smile, we definitely prefer it to you crying when you or hungry/sleepy/tummy ache! Charlie, you are so precious with your big blue eyes and trendy hair style! Your mama loves kissing you! Your daddy loves going on walks with you! Your sister loves making sure you have your paci or every toy in the house in your swing! Speaking of swing... we don't know what we would do with out the beloved swing!

Fun Charlie facts:

-He has started to smile!

-He sleeps through the night every other night... let's make that a habit!

-In 8 weeks Charlie has been to the beach twice and to the mountains once!

-He is growing out of 3 month clothes!

-Lucy loves giving him his paci, blanket, or any toy! She really is the best big sister!

-He still has blonde hair and blue eyes 

Letter to Charlie: 

Dear Charlie,

I still can't believe you are mine!! Oh what a privilege it is to be your mama! I love holding you and thinking that one day a long time from now I will be looking up to you! It is an honor that I get to be the one to feed, rock, and kiss your little tears goodbye! I love you oh so much Charlie! 

Charlie is ONE month old!

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!  You are so precious!  You are so loved, but oh buddy you cry a lot!  I hate it for you little man.  Reflux is real... I am sorry your tummy hurts all the time, I wish I could take it away from you!  So, I have taken all dairy away from myself to help your little belly aches and thank goodness it has helped!  So, I can legitimately say "I love you more than Ranch dressing, ice-cream and queso." <-- and that is A LOT!  

Fun Facts about you Charlie:

You love:

-your paci!

-to eat

-your swing

-your swaddle

-to be snuggled on your side

-your big sister loves you

You hate:

-to be hungry

-to have an upset stomach

-spitting up

-being on your belly

-being sleepy

  

It is fun to see how you and your big sister are starting to look alike!  Here is a side by side comparison of Lucy and Charlie!

Charlie is here!

One of the last pictures of BIG MAMA!

Charlie is here!  It's a BOY!  I thought it was a boy, but I knew it was a girl... haha!  I still can't believe we won't have all girls!  So fun we have a SON!

Charlie's story of coming into this world.

Long story short: I was induced at 40 weeks and 4 days.  I had pretty bad anxiety leading up to his birth while pregnant and wasn't progressing, so my kind kind kind midwife allowed for me to be induced.  You hear horror stories of people being induced, but I kind of loved it.  It felt like checking into a hotel.  Going to sleep on Sunday, March 26th we knew that we were going to wake up and have a baby.... it was great!

So, the alarm goes off at 4:30am on March 27th... we load the card and head to Greenville!  Clint called on the way to the hospital to make sure there was still a bed available for us to be induced and they let us know that we were all set and we were on "Side A," this means you have the BIG birthing rooms that you labor, give birth, and recover in!  Everyone wants to be on this side!  So, I started doing jumping jacks I was so excited!

Look at this HUGE room!  Getting all settled!

We checked in, got all unpacked into our room, started the IV (side note: I passed out during this and for the rest of our stay I was red-flagged as someone who might pass out...).  At about 8AM they started me on the beloved drug Pitocin to get things moving, it succeeded at it's job!  Then about 11AM they broke my water, and things REALLY got moving.  I'm asking everyone for the epidural at this point.... Thank you Dr. Jones for working your magic!  This was about 12PM and I was 6cm.  From there on out I was able to "labor down."  Little did I know how soon Charlie was going to be born!  Around 2:30pm I was calling in the midwife because I felt it coming if you know what I mean!  They brought the crew in, at 2:39pm I started pushing and then BOOM Charlie was born at 2:42pm!  He came out like a rocket!  When he was born Clint was the first to say to the room if it were a boy or girl and when he said, "It's a BOY!" I just started crying and kept saying "It's a Boy, It's a Boy, It's a BOY!"  Charles Clinton Rouse III weighted 7lbs 11oz and was 19 inches long.

Here HE is!

Sweet little boy!

First time Clint holding him!

Since he came out like a rocket, he didn't get a good "squeeze" on his lungs, so he had to go to the NICU for a couple of hours to get all of the liquid out of his lungs.  This was scary and sad that he had to be taken right away, but gosh SO SO SO thankful he was only there for such a short time.  My heart aches for all of those mamas and daddys that have their babys in the NICU.  Bless y'all!

Charlie also was born with a breathing conditions called laryngomalacia.  This is a big word for floppy cartilages  over his larynx that make him a noisy breather, eater, and sleeper.  He will grow out of this hopefully by the age of 1.  From here on out he will be known as our "recessive baby" with his BLONDE hair and BLUE eyes!

Oh Charlie!  I am so thankful to be your mama! I love that you will grow up and be bigger than me one day and I will look up to you, but until then I will rock you and kiss you and snuggle you!

You are SO loved Charlie!

All 3 Charles Clinton Rouses!

Waiting room filled with family!

Headed home!

Lucy is becoming a BIG sister!

The news is public!  It feels like Clint and I have been keeping the biggest secret of our life (for the second time...same feelings and emotions to when we were pregnant with Lucy).

YES!  We are pregnant AGAIN!  Praise the Lord! We can't wait to continue to grow the Rouse House.  It is such a privilege and joy to be carrying another life inside of me.  People ask several questions, was this an accident?  Does this pregnancy feel different?  Have you been sick?  Are you freaking out about having a newborn and a "terrible two" year old. 

And YES.  To almost all of those except this pregnancy was no accident. 

Clint and I both want to have a large family and to have our children close in age.  So, Lord willing we were able to become pregnant again.  Our hope and prayer is for Lucy and this new child to be CLOSE.  Not only close in age, but close friends.

YES...This pregnancy does feel different.  That have been several days early on that I forgot I was pregnant.  I had to stop myself from grabbing the cookie dough, deli meat, and sushi.  But, I have been more emotional time this time around (may be the hormones), but I am pretty confident it is because I know what is it come and IT IS SO SWEET... and so so so exhausting.

And YES, I have felt sick! yuck!  I have only thrown up once (sorry TMI).  But, boy have I been nauseated and have had zero appetite which made the sick to my stomach worse... Just nothing sounded tasty from week 6 to week 11.  But, now... BRING ON ALL THE FOOD.  

YES, YES, YES... I know we will have our hands full.  We will have 2 under the age of 2 for almost 3 months.  Pray for me.  The Lord is good.  I am confident in HIS timing and HIS goodness.  May this season draw me closer to Jesus and that I can depend on him all the more for all energy and patience.

I have been reminded over and over again in pregnancy and raising a child that Jesus has given me this opportunity to nurture, guide, and disciple these babies that they may come to know Him ultimately.  I have been reading Missional Motherhood (shamless plug: everyone needs to read this book) and it has been so refreshing to my soul.  A few little experts that have changed my mindset on motherhood:
"Christ created motherhood for himself.  Since God is the creator and we are the created, God is the one who gets to design motherhood."
"He created human life in his image; so smile, mom.  Because God is profound, his design for your motherhood is profound."
"Being a disciple maker (aka a mom) means that the gospel is our one, main message...Making disciples is the priority of missional motherhood... The gospel is not good advice for moms; it is life-giving news."
AND THIS RIGHT HERE KICKED ME IN THE GUT>>>
" No maternal glory, missional ministry, or nurturing accomplishment can bear the burden of cleansing your sin...It feels like our biggest need is a car that runs better, or a child who obeys fully, or a friend we can confide in, or a husband who appreciates us, or a church that values our gifting, or a ministry that fulfills us, or a body we ar proud of, or a bank account that doesn't worry us.  Any one of those things may feel like the biggest, most pressing need we have.  But they all pale in comparison to our need to stand in the presence of God, to whom all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority belong forever."
(Ok... so have I sold you on this book?)

So, I will leave you with these simple prayers through scripture.  Jesus is so good.  He knows our desires.  He knows the hair on your head.  He is the creator and giver of NEW LIFE.  Not only new lungs being formed in my inner most parts, but He is the giver of NEW LIFE IN HIM!  Jesus is the giver and author of FULL life found in him.

Lamentations 3:21-24
" But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (The Message)
"God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something HOLY and BEAUTIFUL-as beautiful on the inside as the outside."

Oh, and here are some fun sweet pictures to announce this fun NEW FULL season.

(Photo creds go to the very talented Lindsay Corrigan!)

Lucy is 1 year old!

I can't believe this!  When did this happen?  Lucy is 1 year old!  12 months!  This has been such a great year!  I love this sweet little girl some kinda crazy.

Things I want to remember about her 12th month of life:
-She loves her daddy so much and she lights up the most when he comes into the room
-She is getting the best tan.  I especially love her tan lines around her wrists and arm roles.  At her 1 year doctors apt. her doctor said, "There's nothing wrong with a bronzed baby!"
-She is still rocking her curly rat tail.  I am hoping that it will grow out to meet the rest of her hair
-She LOVES the bath tub!  That is the first place she will crawl in the house.
-She LOVES the beach.  The sand and water doesn't bother her at all!  She is like a little sea turtle making her way from the sand to the water on the beach.
-If you say, "Lucy clap/splash!" She does it on que.
-She DEMOLISHED her smash cake at her birthday party.  She LOVED her cake and ate so much of it.

 How precious is this little girl?  I know right!?  Just about 2 seconds after I took this picture she face planted into the grass... #momfail