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| Linkup with Jess & Ashley |
Last Friday, Charlotte turned 15 months. I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by. It sounds so cliche, but really, if you want to see magic and see time fly, have a baby. It’s unreal how fast these little miracles grow. I was so good at getting her picture taken each month up until she turned one. Then for some reason I fell off the metaphorical horse. But since 15 months is a milestone according to the insurance people, I decided it was absolutely necessary to have a little photoshoot. It was a beautiful afternoon that evening, so instead of the usual glider picture with her bear in her nursery, we decided to go with the backyard backdrop. However, she did not like sitting on the grass. Sometimes it doesn’t bother her, sometimes it does. Why? Because she is my daughter. We girls in my family are not particularly the outdoorsy kind (unless it’s under a cabana with a Piña Colada in hand). So why would I think anything different about my baby girl? Since she was not a happy camper about the grass situation, I had to be in a couple of the pictures. Without further ado, here are a few of my favorites (photos courtesy of Daddy of course).
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| Not liking the grass. |
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| “I’ve got the whole world in my hands.” |
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| Chapman finally made it to the blog. (And I clearly have been slacking with the Jergens tanning lotion.) |
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| My favorite. |
The amount of growth this child has done between 12 months to now has been incredible. She is talking up a storm and is so smart. She says: mama, dada, hello, bye bye, bath, ba, milk, what’s that, aww, hey, I wuv euww, uh oh, moo, baa, rawr, and nana. She knows her animals in her Little People Zoo and Farm. She’ll even make some of the noises they make. She’ll clap when she’s happy or after seeing a performance on TV. She just started “blowing kisses” when we make the kissy face to her; she just makes it back. She kisses the back of her wooden puzzle pieces before she puts them down onto the board. She loves steak and mushrooms (seriously, she is my daughter to the max). She knows where her toes, tummy, and head are. She loves closing the refrigerator doors. She tries to put her clothes on, and by putting them on, I mean putting them on top of her head. She tilts her head back and makes a funny sigh noise when she wants to be funny. She loves grabbing my shoes and putting them at my feet. She loves brushing her hair and taking her temperature with her thermal scan thermometer. And she loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. All of that is going on, lighting up our life. It really is the little things.
But then her 15 month well-visit happened. On Monday, Charlotte had her check-up and my little love received two shots. Here we were just having a ball in the doctor’s office. I think she is the queen of the selfie.
And then the doctor came in. Of course, Charlotte does not like doctors (except for Doc McStuffins…she loves her), so out came the water works from my Charliebear. Before I go any further, let me just say that at this appointment, we saw a new doctor since our primary pediatrician was out. So with a crying baby in my arms, I began to talk to this new doctor. This doctor was great, but when going over all the necessary things you talk about at well-visits, I had to bring up Charlotte not standing on her own or walking on her own. She’ll pull herself up, cruise along the furniture, walk with her push toy walker, but she will not stand by herself or walk without support. No biggie, I thought. All babies walk and stand at their own rate according to the world of friends and the internet. But when I mentioned it, the expression on the doctor’s face was the one with the furrowed forehead and raised eyebrow. She asked if I had brought this up at Charlotte’s last appointment with her regular doctor, and I assured new doctor that I did and was told it was no big deal. Nope. New doctor thought it was a big deal. She wanted us to give ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) specialists a call. Hearing those words, “I think you need to get a second opinion” and “I’m referring you to a specialist” are not the phrases a parent wants to hear at their baby’s well-visit. Those phrases came toppling over me, crushing my spirit. Here I was, with my beautiful, thriving, healthy baby girl, but I was told that she needed to be seen by someone else just to make sure things are on track with her growth. Now I know that some mamas have it way worse than this. And oh, how the mamas of special needs babies and babies with health issues are ALWAYS in my prayers. But again, the thought of anything being wrong with your child tugs at your heart. I cried on the way home thinking of all the worst-case scenarios. Then later that day, when I had time to process what had gone on at the doctor’s office and after talking it over with the hubs, I thanked God for giving me this (small) trial. It’s when we’re at our weakest that he shows His true power. “My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). I don’t know what the ECI evaluation outcome will be for my baby, and I don’t know when she’ll start walking, but I do know this. I know that Jesus already has her in His arms. And He has me in His arms, too. He is a wonderful Heavenly Father, and I am just so honored that MJ and myself get to be her earthly parents. I’m telling you, the love is unreal. Just like His love is. So whatever He has in store for her is in His perfect plan.
In the meantime, we’re now battling some sort of virus, the kind where the doctor runs all sorts of tests that come back negative kind of virus. If you follow me on Instagram, this is not news to you. Just a recap if you don’t: I thought Charlotte was having a reaction to her shots, because Tuesday morning (the day after shots), she started running a fever. Not a low-grade temp either, a real, full-blown fever at 102.4. Long story short, Wednesday morning came and another trip to the doctor was necessary because of a 103.6 fever. This was our first bout of such a high temp. The only time she has ever been sick before this was with an upper-respiratory infection around Christmastime, but her temp has never been over 100. There have been lots of tears, lots of snuggles, and lots of praying (both for Charlotte and myself…even for her Dada). Needless to say, this week so far has been a doozy for our household. To see my spunky, full of life, always smiling baby girl so completely miserable has been heartbreaking. But again, all I can do is pray for my little love. And I’m reminded that she belongs to God, the healer of all.
You see, as parents, it’s the little things that we cherish, and it’s the little things that we worry about. But it’s the little things that remind us that God is always in control. I’m thankful for the little things. I’m thankful for prayer and all the praying hands that have prayed for my family, especially this week. Even if it is a little thing, no prayer goes unheard. I am so appreciative for it all.
Happy 15 months, my love muffin. Mama loves you more than you’ll ever know.
