8 months

Miss Cassie Lou you are 8 months old today!  Full of smiles and giggles you are sweet as can be, wee one!  Your sisters adore you and so do your parents.  You are strong, lively and excited to be a part of things, unless it's nap time - then, you love snuggling down with your special blanket and nuk in your crib.  Exploring different foods intrigues you and yet you still consistently dislike all fruits and prefer olives, corn, pickles, rice cakes, crackers and all meats.  I've learned to skip purees with you - who needs those anyway!?  :)  You are showing signs of movement, although no real excitement to push yourself along.  You enjoy sliding around in circles on your belly or moving yourself backwards...and often getting stuck under chairs.  So from your perspective, it seems inconvenient to move  - that's okay with us, take your time, little one. :)  Each day is a gift with you - we're thankful you've made our family five.

 Play time at the garden with a wee friend!  I'd love to have these two regularly play together, but sadly we are a few states apart.  

We had a fun visit in June at a garden picnic.

 Cassie's smile overflows into a little wiggle and hugging herself.  Just can't contain the joy!

Yummy spinach - fresh from the garden!

7 months!

Cassie Lou is 7 months old!  On the 27th (her birth date) we spent a lovely morning and afternoon along the Wissahickon creek.  We hiked and played in the water, enjoyed a picnic lunch and had a lovely visit for a family of ducks.  Cassie Lou loved it all - watching her sisters, sticking her toes in the water and cuddling up with Mama for a nap in the woods.  What a joy you are, sweet wee one!  

reading :)

Reading is really starting to click for Meredith.  It's been such a fun year to see her work at it and for the elements to begin to make sense.  Lately she's been making leaps and bounds in her progress!

I love this moment! I suggested we take a stack of books outside to read during our afternoon quiet time.  While I put some groceries away, Meredith got all the supplies, and settled down with her sisters to begin....and they added some extra snuggles and giggles for good measure. :)

snuggling

Cassie Lou was gifted this beautifully handmade blanket when she was 3 months old.  Erik and I are thrilled that she has a special blanket like her older sisters, and we're glad she's starting to get attached to it...just like they did at this age.  We are big fans of the "lovey" around here. :)

first foods

Since Cassie Lou is 6 months old now, we've started some foods.  So far she's had sweet potatoes and pears.  She's a fan of both!

6 months old!

Our Cassie Lou is 6 months old!  What a sweet, giggling, happy girl she is!

She loves tummy-time and sitting up...as well as being held by Mama.  She's got some great chubby thighs and weighs in at 18 lbs....already very much into 12 month size clothing and inching towards 18 month size.  Slow down kiddo - let us savor your babyhood! :)  Her older sisters continue to adore her, and she loves watching their antics all day long.  Mama is quite pleased that she takes two long naps each day, so everyone is happy. :)  

We love you girlie and we are so thrilled you are part of our family!

love those blue eyes!

and....oh yes, she chews on EVERYTHING!!

chomper

This little missy has been teething for weeks now....still nothing has popped through, but she's been drooling and chomping like a champ.  A few weeks ago at dinner Daddy gave her a carrot stick to gnaw on.  She was "happy as a clam" as her sisters like to say. :)

Cassie Lou - 5 months old!

Cassie Lou past the 5 month mark yesterday (March 27th).  She continues to be such a sweet, happy and content baby.  So smiley and cheerful - I love seeing her smile so much it overflows into a little wiggle through her whole body.  So cute!  We are hearing a lot of babbling and she's often found chewing on her fists (or mama's scarves) and drooling.  Her hair is growing a little bit and is still brown, so far. Watching her big sisters playing is her favorite entertainment, as well as being outside - yay!  What a joy you are, Cassie Lou!!

Cassie Lou is 4 months old!

Our sweet Cassie Lou is 4 months old!  We are all loving her bright smiles and have a lot of fun getting her to giggle these days.  I caught these photos of her laughing at Eliza Wren punching a helium balloon around the room. :)

Bumbo

Cassie Lou has now mastered the art of sitting in her bumbo quite well.  

She loves watching her sisters play

And...she loves to sing!  Next time I'll get a video :)

first snow

Last Sunday we had a dusting of snow.  It got us all excited, and out in it immediately.

Eliza Wren was the first one to explore.

Cassie Lou wasn't sure what to think....so she soon snuggled down for a nap.

Meredith made a wee snow blob, which became her snow cone!

Then we all set off for a neighborhood walk!

The Frosted Fox

We have a new local favorite - the Frosted Fox!  It's an excellent bakery near us that just opened a few months ago.  We popped in for a date in mid-November, when Cassie Lou was still in her sleepy newborn days, and while Grandparents entertained the older girls.

I absolutely love how they decorate, so it's a feast for the eyes too!