Half Birthday

Charlotte is 6 months old today.  I know this is so predictable, but I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown by since that sweet angel entered our family.  It really is the joy and honor of my life to raise her and her big brother.  The last thing I say to Hunter every night when I put him to bed is "I'm so glad you are a part of our family, and I'm so glad that God let me be your mommy."  I am overwhelmed with gratitude to our holy, sovereign Lord for letting me be Charlotte and Hunter's mommy.  I can't think of anything else I'd rather be known as than James's wife and H and C's mother. 

For those two dedicated readers who are still reading after that sappiness, here's some more in the form of some of the things I love about Charlotte at 6 months...

--She still loves to eat and already watches every move we make with great intensity when we are eating.  And if you let her get too close, she will quickly grab whatever food or drink you have in your hands.  For that reason, I didn't bake the half-cake that so many moms make for the half birthday.  I wanted to spare her of the sadness of not getting to eat any, so we put on party hats, sang Happy (half) Birthday to You, and fed her Gerber bananas.  I got the cutest pictures of her in her party hat and Hunter singing next to her in his party hat - and they were even smiling, so it's like photography gold - but when I uploaded them onto my computer, these appeared in my January pictures file in place of them...

What?!  No clue what that's about.  I did not take those pictures, and my camera hasn't been in a Wolf store since it was repaired months ago.  I'm trying really hard not to FREAK OUT about losing the sweetest half birthday pictures anyone has EVER seen.

--Her beautiful blue eyes.  We constantly get compliments on Char's eyes, and although I almost can't believe I'm admitting this publicly, I really think she is so beautiful.  I know everyone thinks their kid is beautiful, but I always tell James that I think Charlotte is universally beautiful.  Now that I've made all of you hate me and vow to never read this blog place-to-shamelessly-brag-on-my-kids-and-rant-about-how-perfect-they-are again, I'll move on.

--Her hugs.  I'm so blessed to have 2 super cuddly kiddos.  Char grabs on so tight and sweetly squeezes your neck whenever you pick her up.

--The way she starts this precious cry/whimper/grunt combo the minute she sees me or hears me when I get home from work every day.

--And even more than that, the way she smiles with glee the minute I pick her up after I see her crying/whimpering/grunting when I get home every day.

--Her sweet nature.  She's so happy and smiley (most of the time).

--That she lets me put big bows and party hats on her head without one ounce of fussiness or refusal:)

I love you Charlotte!  And since the pictures from our humble little family half birthday celebration are lost in some alternate universe, I'll just post these pictures of you in the big birthday chair at Cousin Zack's birthday party this weekend...

Even though you're not smiley in those, you are still so dang cute!