CeCe Rose is 8-months-old TODAY!!!

Just a girl, eating a mum-mum.

Climbing in the kitchen.

She is all over the place!

Is it just me, or is timing really flying by? I cannot believe CeCe is 8-months-old already! Where has the time gone?!? Happy 8-month "birthday" to my sweet CeCe Rose!

There is no 8-month well check, so here are some unofficial stats:

Height: about 28 inches (she's a petite little thing!)

Weight: about 18 pounds (she can still squeeze into 3-6 month clothing!)

Sleeping Pattern: Sleep is for the weak! Teething has wrecked havoc on CeCe's sleeping and she is waking up at least once a night. She naps like a champ though and enjoys two naps a day. Thank goodness she's so adorable...

Eating Pattern: So these teeth have caused both of us a lot of pain. CeCe is a biter, so we've scaled back on nursing in favor of bottles of expressed breast milk. She eats every 3-4 hours and drinks about 4-5 ounces. CeCe is also eating solids three times a day! We have tried pretty much every food, except for tomatoes (due to big sister's allergy) and meat. There's just something about pureed meat that grosses me out.

Milestones: CeCe is a mover and a shaker! She is an avid crawler and can get around PDQ! Sometimes I'll leave her in one room and find her in another just moments later. She has also started pulling up and likes to pull up on her activity table and the couch. She has two teeth (bottom teeth) and appears to have a few more popping through. CeCe now says "da-da" and "Belllllll-a" (maybe one of these days she will say mommy?) She is such an active baby and really giving me a run for my money!

Friends: We've been spending lots of time with Kaylee, Evan, Avery and of course, Connor Thomas. Lots of lunch dates at Red Robin... yum!

Current Events: Kate Middleton (the future queen of England) is expecting! We're still waiting for the NHL lockout to be resolved so we can go to some TB Lightning games this season. The Ravens lost in OT to both the Steelers AND the Redskins. 

Happy 8-Month Birthday, Cecilia Rose!

Love always,

Ian, Kim, Bella & Cecilia

A lesson learned

Prior to Thanksgiving, I was completely stressed, as anyone who plans a big meal for 15+ people would be. I found myself feeling "put out" by family members who didn't respond to invitations and who thought they had a say in the time dinner would be served. I mean, who the heck do they think they are? Meanwhile, I was the one who would be taught a very valuable lesson. About a week after Thanksgiving, while I was driving Bella to school, I noticed a quote on a marquee outside a church. The quote was, "Offer hospitality without grumbling."

I had been stressing over my own grumbling! Who invites family and friends to their house and then grumbles about accommodating different schedules?!? That is NOT being hospitable and that is NOT okay! My only regret is that I grumbled and did not see that marquee sooner. A very valuable lesson indeed. So family and friends, I apologize for offering hospitality while grumbling.