Caroline Vance 4 Months!

I'm not sure when it happened sweet girl, I'm pretty sure it was in the blink of an eye but you're now four months old. You are so precious to us sweet girl. You had a big fourth month! You celebrated your first Christmas day, New Years Eve---you made it until 8:30---New Years Day, and Daddy's birthday! You had more baby BFF play dates, enjoyed unusually mild couple of days in the middle of January and enjoyed our extra time outside. You giggled for the first time this month, that melted your dad and I. You aren't doing it regularly but we got the first glimpse and can't wait for the giggles to come. You mastered rolling from your tummy to your back this month sweet girl, you're getting so big! You haven't quite got from back to tummy you get stuck on your side and get so mad. It's kind of funny too, sorry girlfriend.

Caroline's 4 Month Stats

Weight: 10lbs 1oz

Height: 23 inches

You were exclusively breastfed for the past month. Unfortunately mommy's milk just doesn't have enough calories in it (although I've been drinking a milkshake a day since your first doctors appointment) so it's back to formula for you. I'm proud of how far we've come with breastfeeding. It wasn't as easy as I would have hoped it to been. I'm going to continue to feed you in the morning and at night because I truly enjoy it and pump throughout the day.

You are so so strong and love standing. You'd rather stand than have us hold you sitting in our laps. Daddy's worried that means you'll take off walking quicker than he'd like. He doesn't believe mommy when she tells him that you've got to sit up, crawl, and all other tricks before you take off. You also love the TV I know I know no screens no screens. You break your neck if the screen isn't in your sight. 

You love your night time routine. Feeding, bath times, swaddle, snuggle, and story. You barely make it through the first couple of pages. You typically sleep in your crib from 8-10 we dream feed and then you normally sleep the whole night unless you lose your paci. Game. Over. 

You're by far the most precious gift we've ever been given. We love you so much sweet girl and are so thankful the Lord let us be your parents!

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

Five on Friday!

1) Well we did it! We purchased 35 cases of laminate flooring to install! I'm excited, we went for the lighter shade for those that saw my post last week! Thanks friends! :)

2)  Can we talk about the weather that North Carolina has had this week. Absolutely phenomenal. We went on multiple walks and stayed outside as much as possible. It was such a tease as it's now currently sleeting. Such is NC winters. 

3) This little girl has officially mastered rolling from tummy to back. Mommy's not quite sure how she feels about that, our girl is getting big!

4) Being a SAHM Netflix is your best friend, of that I'm convinced. We've watched a whole lot of One Tree Hill and have even roped the hubby into watching. Yes, taking us back to the years of hip huggers, belly showing, tiny purses, and flip phones. Ha. Well the first few seasons at least. 

5)  We're looking forward to a fun weekend ahead! We'll be heading to my parents at some point for a weekend with them, my sister, and her hubby! I have seen my sissy since Christmas, face time dates are great but just NOT enough! :)

Hope y'all have a great weekend! Hugs to y'all! :)

Caroline's First Christmas

Because why not do a Christmas recap post in the middle of January. This Christmas was obviously, a very special one.  I remember telling Derik at one point last Christmas, just think this time next year we could have a baby with us. At the time it was just something fun to think about. I could have never dreamed that we would indeed be celebrating our precious girl and her first Christmas. Although, we requested no gifts for our TC--tiny child--of course the girl got spoiled rotten. Poor child, didn't get a stitch of clothing for Christmas.--ha so so so so much sarcasm there--Not to mention the after Christmas sales this momma hit up.

We started our Christmas celebrations with a trip to Tanglewood Festival of Lights right outside of Winston on our way to Derik's parents in Hickory. Christmas Eve included A LOT of laying around in our Christmas pj's, making eating too many Christmas cookies, attending Christmas eve service and then enjoying an incredible dinner thanks to my mother in law. This time was also used as a mini photo shoot in our jammies (the star of the show sporting a reindeer footed ensemble) quite the fashionista. Christmas morning we woke up excited to see what Santa had brought and waited on our nephews to get there from Charlotte before the opening chaos began. After the chaos ceased my mother in law prepared yet another wonderful meal for lunch and then we headed to my parents house for the rest of Christmas day. There my cousin hosted our annual Christmas dinner and presents. It's changed a lot since the days of all 30 of us cramming into my grandmother's tiny living room. Now we're 30+ but less our matriarch and her baked steak, we have been since 2007 but we still miss her all the same.

Five on Friday!

Hi friends! It's Friday and y'all know what that means! :) Time for a link up with some awesome ladies!

1) Vanilla yogurt and peanut butter. My addiction to this tasty snack is at it's all time high. Yesterday was the first day I haven't had a bowl all week. I'm not a ashamed to admit that. It's delicious. 

2) GAS PRICES y'all. It's amazing. I filled up my 4runner for $40 on Monday

I've never done that. I remember a few summers ago it costing $75 to fill up my explorer. I'm LOVING it. I saw this floating around Facebook and couldn't help but laugh. Excuse the language.

3) This little girl's personality is starting to shine through and it is the absolute cutest. She's so happy and I love it! I don't do selfies but my goodness this girl. 

You may look like your daddy, but your facial expressions are 100% me. 

4) So we're finally getting around to doing some updating in our new home. We're putting hardwoods downstairs and new carpet upstairs (bedrooms and bonus room). Which color? We're having the hardest time choosing. We love the light because it's different but the dark is pretty generic and will appeal to everyone. We have white cabinets in the kitchen if that helps.  HELP! 

5)

Friends on Netflix, this SAHM's dream come true. Caroline's favorite song will be Smelly Cat. 

Leaving you with my new favorite song. I sing it multiple times a day. Caroline loves it too.

Happy Friday friends! 

Five on Friday and baby it's COLD Outside

Hi Friends! Due to our crazy December travels this is the first link up I've participated in a while!

1) Finally after almost a year of waiting Downton is BACK!!! It's probably one of my very favorite shows.

2) We started our new routine this week. Bath time, PJ's, feeding, swaddled, story, and crib. This momma may or may not have scooped that girl up and put her right back in the rock'n'play beside our bed a couple of nights. Not because she was fussing but because I missed her. I know I'm bad. I just couldn't help it. 

3) We had a play date with baby BFF Shelby on Monday! It was so fun to watch these two interact together. They were very interested in each other's ears. They are only a week and a day apart. Shelby's mom and I found out that we were pregnant the same week, it was very special to share pregnancy with such a great friend!

4) I think our tiny child needs these. I may have a couple of pairs in my shopping basket on Zulily I love love these little moccasins. I've also heard they are great from when she'll start walking. 

5) I got back on the yoga mat yesterday for the first time since pregnancy yoga. Y'all it wasn't pretty. But you've gotta start somewhere right. 

Hope y'all have a great weekend! :)

3 Months Old...

Just like that our dear girl you are 3 months old. You were very very busy this month. We went to Washington DC, West Virginia, your Uncle Lam and Aunt Beth's, MiMi and G-Pop's, Nana and Pap's. We celebrated your first Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and you turned 3 months old on Christmas Day. You are by far our greatest gift and we are so thankful that the Lord chose us to be your mommy and daddy!

Three Month Highlights:

You hit the big 10lbs this month! We've finally gotten you caught up and are no longer having to supplement with formula. Yay for momma's milk especially during flu season!

You eat still about every 3 hours. You're still sleeping great thru the night, let's keep that up Miss Priss.

You've found your hands and you like to gag yourself and freak your momma out. Not cool.

You've also found your tongue and you stick it out often.

You're very generous with your smiles, especially when daddy is around. Daddy's girl already. It's fine though, I love watching you two together you have quite the special relationship.

You're so close to rolling over. We think you're getting ready to and get our phones out to video and you get stuck on your shoulder. I'm in no means rushing you though, you're getting bigger, faster than I would like already, so take your time.

You love your play mat and looking at the cute baby in the mirror!

You've started holding my finger or side while nursing and I melt every.single.time.

You met your great-great-grandmother along with your other set of great grandparents. Pretty incredible girl, you'll treasure all the pictures we took one day!

Caroline's first Christmas and DC updates coming soon!

Sarah