Charlie- 3 months old

Because months and weeks don't always match up (especially with a long month like March involved), Charlie didn't turn 3 months old until his 13th week of life. To celebrate his 3rd month birthday (the 25th) I decided Charlie needed some new toys. Chelsea and I loaded the babies up in my little Nissan and headed to IKEA. The trip was not without its challenges. First, neither baby is really that fond of riding in the car. James and Charlie took turns crying on the 40 minute drive, culminating in an all out scream fest the last ten minutes of the drive. We had to just laugh or we'd cry! Chelsea, bless her heart, tried everything to soothe the babies, contorting her body to reach back to replace binkies and even holding their tiny little hands. I resorted to singing the Utah fight song at the top of my lungs the last five minutes, which sometimes calms Charlie down. Nothing worked.

We finally made it to our destination and soothed the babes by holding them (James in Chelsea's arms and Charlie in the Baby Bjorn strapped to my chest.) Navigating IKEA with our diaper bags, babies, and purchases was a little challenging! Just picking something up to put it in the cart took both of us. We made it out to the car where we nursed the babies in the front seats (Charlie and I barely fit behind the steering wheel!) Even with food in their bellies, our darling children still cried most of the way home- they kept startling each other! Charlie finally fell asleep from exhaustion. I'm hope Chelsea and James took a great big nap that afternoon, that's what Charlie and I did to recover!

The trial that was the IKEA trip was worth it for Charlie in the end- he loves his new toy!




A few notes about Charlie at 3 months old:

*Wears mostly 6-9 month size clothing
*Fits in size 2/3 diapers
*LOVES to suck on his hands
*Has really started laughing! It's the cutest thing. I really have to work hard to get it out of him, but it's worth the effort!
*Has rolled over a couple more times since he first did it.
*Getting better at grabbing and holding onto his toys.



*His hair is starting to grow in on top and his newborn hair is rubbing off in the back.
*We're practicing taking naps in his big crib in the nursery so that soon he can sleep in it!
*Doesn't sleep through the night regularly but is still an excellent sleeper. A "bad" night is when he gets up twice!
*Will sleep in with mom and dad in the mornings if I feed him and bring him into our bed.
*Has figured out the pacifier and now likes it.
*Still needs to be swaddled TIGHTLY to go to sleep.
*Grandma T figured out that he likes to have his head and face lightly tickled when he's having a hard time going to sleep.
*Still loves to "talk" and coo at almost everyone!
*Loves music in all forms! He loves the music on his bouncer, swing and giraffe and loves it when Mommy sings to him. He smiles and "sings" along. Our favorites recently are, "When Grandpa Comes", "Daddy's Homecoming", "My Dad", "A Happy Family", and of course, "Utah Man". (Click on that link and you'll see the goal!)

I love my little guy!

Charlie- 13 weeks

I love these weekly shots of Charlie so I'm going to keep doing them, but I'm sorry if they bore you all! I did decide to just take his photo with his giraffe from now on, instead of both stuffies.



Charlie is learning to smile for the camera! He starts to grin when I bring out the big Nikon D40- he knows that I usually make silly faces at him when I have that big, black box in my hand!




A behind-the-scenes shot- Charlie is pretty strong and solid, so he can be propped up for a few minutes to make it look like he's sitting up. Here's what usually happens after a while, though!

Johnny and Charlie on Father's Day

Morning ritual

We love mornings here at our house. John and I aren't usually morning people- we love to sleep in. For most of our marriage, we haven't gotten up together in the mornings, even though we know from the few months that we have done it that we love that time together. Now that Charlie has joined the Team, we have a little squirmy alarm clock that gets us up and we love it. Charlie is so cute in the mornings. He always gives the biggest grins and coos and s-t-r-e-c-h-e-s, which are the best incentive to actually get up! (It doesn't hurt at all that Charlie wakes up early but will nurse and go right back to sleep- so we can all sleep in a little.)

Johnny has started taking piano lessons again and he usually does his practicing in the morning with Charlie on his lap. It is so cute to see them spend that time together! (John calls it "Daddy-Che time"). Charlie is fascinated by the sound and by watching John's hands on the keys. (I'm convinced it will make him a prodigy!)

Tin Foil Dinners

We headed up Millcreek canyon last Monday for a family (and one friend) activity of tin foil dinners. It was so fun to be in the beautiful mountains with our loved ones and to eat our delicious meals. John and I went up early to save the campsite and start the fire while Charlie napped at Grandma T's house. Grandma, Grandpa and Anne brought him with them when they joined us a little later.



It was Charlie's first time being outside in the mountains. We had been to the cabin already but on a rainy day. This time the weather was beautiful and he LOVED being outside!



Baby James slept peacefully for most of the night!



This was Charlie's expression all night. He had the widest eyes! He was trying to take it all in!



Staring up at the trees with Grandma.




This was the funniest thing that Charlie did. Whenever anyone was holding him he would arch his back like that to get a view of the trees and the sky. It was hilarious!




The view that had him so entranced...



Grandma and Grandpa T with their bundled grandbabies...



We are excited to do more outside with Charlie now that he's a little older and the weather is (HOPEFULLY) clearing up.

Happy (Grand)Father's Day, Grandpas!

We celebrated Grandpa T's birthday and his first (Grand)father's day last Sunday.



Chelsea made those cute cards and we stamped Charlie and James' handprints on them. We also gave him some framed photos of the grandsons to go in his office. The era of receiving a gift from a store is over, I'm afraid! It's handmade cards and macaroni necklaces once you are a grandparent!



Since we couldn't be with my dad on Father's Day, we gathered his grandchildren for a photo of all three of them together to send to him.



Lily and Sam loved holding Charlie and fought over who got to hold him. It was pretty cute even if Charlie was a little concerned.

Happy 1st Father's Day, Johnny!

John is a wonderful father and partner in parenting. He is patient, gentle, and sweet with Charlie and supportive, thoughtful, and generous with me. I am so grateful for the sacrifices he makes for our little family and I feel truly lucky to have him. Right now he's in the nursery changing Charlie's diaper and it's so fun to hear him talking to Charlie, narrating what he's doing. The first thing he does every day when he gets home from work is wash his hands so he can come hold Charlie. He talks to him and asks him how his day was and patiently listens as Charlie tells him in his own little way.

I love these two. Happy Father's Day!

I sure love my...

wind-up giraffe that my Aunt Anne gave me. I love to look at it and listen to its little tune and recently, I love to grab it and taste it!

Guess who's like BFFs with TAMN?

I'm Seriously So Famous!! TAMN chose my "smilefrown" face for her blog. Check it out!

Baby Spencer

Guess who we met yesterday? Charlie's second cousin, Spencer! His mom is my cousin, Christine (Spencer). He is SO cute and tiny! Charlie looked gigantic in comparison! It was so fun to meet him and see Christine and Ben as parents.

Charlie Rolls Over

Charlie- 12 weeks old

Charlie is getting more fun every day and yesterday on his 12-week-birthday, he rolled over for the very first time! And very fortuitously, I caught the moment on camera (video coming soon).

He's also started laughing and today was the first day that I have been able to get him to laugh for me! (Last night he laughed for Grandma Sue). It's so cute and kind of sounds like a baby donkey. :) That will be our next video goal- to catch the elusive laugh on camera!