Finally an Update

Things are going well here... Fall is here and life is busy. Our little girl is growing so fast! She's now into oatmeal (think extra-fine-baby-kind not instant-maple-and-brown-sugar), and as you can see, it's going pretty well (when it actually stays in her mouth). We tried rice cereal for awhile first, but she prefers the oatmeal.
Donald had his first football game last night (little league), and they won 22 - 0. Yay!
Over the last few weeks, I have been very passionate about several things. 1. Politics. I have discovered that Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham get me too fired up for my own good. I love listening to them, but I seriously want to go pick a fight with someone once I'm through. And that's exhausting. Not that I actually pick a fight, it's just exhausting being fired up enough to want to pick a fight 2. Football. Need I say more?? 3. My faith and my time...how those two things should be united, but somehow end up being worlds apart sometimes. Okay, so this is completely random in regards to this post, but I just have to share with you the following excerpt from a sermon by Matt Chandler. I love it.

"Christians are no better than non Christians. In fact, the believer in Christ who's actually been converted and understands the scriptures, doesn't see himself as morally fit for God at all. In fact, he sees himself as so desperately broken that unless God sends Jesus to become a wrath-absorbing sacrifice for our lives, that we have no chance at ever being restored. ...Christians continually show that they don't understand the Gospel by pretending they are more moral and more devoted than everyone else...That's not the Gospel. In fact, it's the enemy of the Gospel. The Gospel's not for the "more" moral and the "more" devoted...the Gospel of Jesus saves. Saves us from what? From us. Our inability to be as devoted as we need to be, Our inability to be as moral as he's commanded us to be."

4-Months-Old!

Charley with my sister, Stephanie, and her family

Charley turned four-months-old on Saturday, Aug 30th. Wow. Time flies. We went to the doctor today and she is 26.25 inches long and 14 lbs 4 oz. Here is what's going on in her sweet little life...

During her third month she...

• Started looking at the pictures while we read to her.
• Started smiling on demand.
• Started giggling...kinda.
• Rolled over twice... unintentionally.
• Mastered the bottle after three months of trying nearly every day. Finally! Yay for Charley!
• Began sucking on her bottom lip if she is tired and doesn't have a paci.
  

Recent developments...

• One of my favorite things to do with her has been to put her in my lap facing me, with her back propped up against my knees and read, sing, or have a "conversation" with her. She doesn't like this anymore. She'd prefer to be sitting up, so when I lay her back on my knees, she strains her neck forward as to say, "let me sit up!!"
• She now will look at me from across the room and smile if I acknowledge her. I love this! Previously, she really had no awareness of what was going on in the room. She still doesn't really notice Sadie much.
  
• Charley used to go down for naps pretty easily... She has very clear "I'm tired" signs, and when they turn on, I put her down in her crib and she normally falls asleep after about 5 - 10 min of fighting it by flailing her arms around, grabbing her face, and pulling her hair. Well, starting last week or so, she started propping herself up on her arms and looking around the room as soon as I put her down. Like so: She will then proceed to grunt and drool for about 10 minutes until her neck gets tired and then face-plant into her paci, onto the now wet-with-drool mattress. She then whines for her paci, which at this point, is jammed up under her neck. Yeah, this pretty much drives me crazy. I usually will dislodge the paci, give it to her, and then she's usually out.
• We lowered her crib Monday night because of the above head-bobbing ritual. We're afraid she would tumble out one day. Anyways, the bumper and mobile actually fit right now, which is great, but now it's harder to lean in and kiss her at night, which is a bummer.
  
• Charley started using her hands recently. She will play with the toys on her [borrowed] exersaucer as well as the toucan and monkey that hang on her bouncy seat.
• She found her feet Labor Day Weekend! She now will grab her toes and play with her feet. They haven't made it to her mouth yet, although I'm sure that will happen soon.
• Charley now likes to talk to herself....loudly. Very loudly. I know this is a normal baby thing, but I usually don't need earplugs around other babies. Here's a clip from a car ride (sorry it's sideways).
  

Goooooo Cocks!!

Charley's inaugural Carolina game was last night, and I'm so happy that it was a shut out! (USC 34 NC State 0). I'm pretty sure she likes being a Gamecock! (don't worry all you haters...we have her Clemson gear ready for Saturday).

Meeting Jrew!

We are in Nashville this weekend, meeting a very special new member of the family! Thomas Jerome Rose, IV, (Jrew) was born three weeks ago today! We are so excited that Charley and Jrew will grow up together (they are cousins)! I'm sure we will cherish these pictures in 18 years when they are going off to college!

Baby Dedication

This past Saturday, we had a special celebration for Charley and two of her friends, Brady and Daniel. It was a time to praise God for the gift of these babies and to promise in front of friends and family to raise them in a godly way and point them to Christ during the time that we have with them. My parents and Donald's family came into town....it was awesome to have our families and friends there to pray with us. Words cannot describe the joy we have in our hearts for our little girl...for her to know the Lord and serve Him one day is our biggest hope.

Charley fell asleep while we were praying for her.

Kinda Giggling

Charley has started "kinda giggling." It's not an out-right giggle, but it's definitely a sweet little noise that's preceded by a big smile. I couldn't resist putting this almost-giggle on here for our families to see, so stay tuned for the real deal.
She has also started butt-scooting. She will dig her heels into the ground, lift her booty and then move (not very far). It's similar to the "crab walk" that we learned in elementary school P.E. class, although I don't believe she'll win any races anytime soon. Maybe I'll catch it on video one day.

Mini Melons

Before I get to the melons...
Exciting news!! Charley's cousin, Jrew, was born on Friday!! Yay!!!! He is such a cutie. They are only three months apart, so we're excited that they will grow up together!! Jrew is in the hospital this evening b/c of jaundice, so please lift him up in your prayers.

So, Donald planted mini watermelons and normal size cantaloupes in our garden this year. Their vines have taken over not only the garden, but the patio as well, but, thanks to the bees, we have lots of melons! We finally cut one of the watermelons open this weekend, and it was pretty good! It was so cute b/c it was so small!!

I haven't posted any pictures of Charley recently (other than the one of her body double in my last post). She is getting so big, and her personality is starting to come out. She's such a sweet girl. Here are a few pictures that I took today... She's like, "Mama, what are doing with that THING in my face again??! (the camera). The second picture is an "almost-smile" while daddy is zerberting her neck.