Charlie's first haircut

In December, I finally scheduled Charlie's first haircut. His beautiful curls took a long time to come in (he was practically bald until he was 18 months old) but once they did, they were tight ringlets. However, Charlie's lifestyle isn't really conducive to keeping long hair. He's a rough and tumble boy! Right around the time I had George, I kind of fell behind on caring for Charlie's hair and ended up having to cut out a few dreadlocks that had formed. Whoops! After that little trim, I stayed on top of the detangling and conditioning but it was still time for a trim. 

A pretty good before picture- look how long his hair is!

For his first haircut, we took him to Cookie Cutters which was worth every penny. He got to sit in a race car chair and watch a movie during the cut and then afterwards got a balloon, a sucker and to go down the in-lobby slide a few times.

He looks concerned because he's trying to concentrate on the TV, he actually loves having his head touched

Again, a little scowly but not really upset

And here's a good "after" shot of Charlie's haircut (and showing off his beatboxing skills and toolbelt accessories.)

At first, I felt like I was Delilah taking away his Sampson super power by cutting his hair. It was a little shorter than I wanted. But now that's it's grown out a little, the trademark Charlie ringlets are back.

Charlie-not quite 3

Here's an update on our not quite 3 year old. He's smart and fun and vivacious and sweet and challenging and high-energy and strong-willed and focused and funny. Life is never boring with Charlie around.

His talking is improving every day. He's started paying attention to conversations around him and chiming in on them, which is definitely a new phase to adjust to for mom and dad! My favorite Charlie phrases recently include:
"Over a couch! Wash a show!" (translation- over to the couch, watch a show) he requests this first thing when he gets up in the morning or from his nap
"Put down me!" (put me down)
"Hmmm" (while tapping his forehead or chin thoughtfully)
"What happened?"
"Yeah" and "uh-HUH" or sometimes, "Uh-huh, yes."
"Oh my goodness" (he got this one from me)
"Bah-roken" (broken)
"Hey, not nice" (this is exactly what we say to him if he's misbehaving and now he says it to us if we do something he doesn't like)
"Stop it!" (Lovely. Again, I know where he got this one! We're all trying to learn "Stop, please" instead.)
"Check out" (check it out- straight from Johnny)
"Watch this"
"It's Sunday!" (To Charlie, the opposite of nighttime is sun-day. Makes perfect sense to me! When he wants to get up from his nap, he points to the sun shining through the window and says "it's Sun-day!")
He's getting the hang of pronouncing his own name and it sounds like Char-ree (which an improvement on  the previous Cha-ee).

His dad, some sticks, the park and Mount Olympus- what else does a boy need?

He's picking up mannerisms that make him seem so grown-up and clever, like coughing into his little fist
or shaking his sippy cup before drinking to check if there's any milk left in it.

He's delighted with his Mater and Lightning McQueen toys from Grandma Bev and Grandma Barb.
He's discovered chocolate milk and asks for it all the time.

He loves all things dinosaurs, cars, TOOLS, Kung Fu Panda, volcanoes and waterfalls, robots, ghosts, giants, and monsters. He often wants me to pretend I'm a big monster and chase him around the house.

loves his accessories

He has surprised me by knowing lots of words to songs and singing along in nursery or in the car. Some of his latest ones are I Love to See the Temple, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old MacDonald Had a Farm and If You're Happy and You Know it complete with actions.

The other night my dad was outside in the backyard playing with Charlie and Lily. It was getting dark and Grandpa was pulling them around in the wagon while they both sang Twinkle Twinkle at the top of their lungs as stars began appearing in the sky.

Charlie requests (demands?) a back tickle at bedtime and a song, usually I am a Child of God or "Charlie's song" (which is Mother, I Love You with the words changed to Charlie, I Love You) but sometimes they make him feel tenderhearted and he cries. What a sweet little soul. So I'll choose a more upbeat, playful song which seems to help.

He still hasn't tried to climb out of his crib, though I know he's tall and strong enough to do it. I'm grateful he's still willing to sleep in the crib, I think it makes everyone's lives a little easier for the time being. He can get out of the pack and play in a hot second, so naps and sleeping places other than at home are non-existent. He now practices headstands in his crib when he's going to sleep and when he wakes up- I know he's awake when I hear the thump... thump... thump... over and over again.

He loves building forts with blankets and hiding in them with flashlights. Lately, he wants us to all "go a-seep a-gevver" (translation: go to sleep together) in the fort. John and Charlie and I (and sometimes George) will lie down on a big pillow under his semi-permanent fort in his room and Charlie covers us all up with one blanket.

Charlie created this road all on his own

He's working on doing chores- putting his dishes in the sink, brushing teeth, being still for diaper changes, getting dressed, putting his boots and coat away.

Still a very sensitive and reluctant eater of new foods. We've been trying my friend's kiss it, lick it, bite it method with some success (lots of choosing to "kiss"the new food and sometimes we only can get him to smell it.)

Likes to perform songs on his musical instruments, clap for himself while saying "Bravo!" then bows and says, "Thank you, thank you!"

painting a picture

more painting

playing at the park

Charlie and I made cupcakes together for the first time and he was such a great little helper!

Gotta love the thrift store

I picked up this treasure a few months before Christmas- a whole knit outfit- sweater, pants and hat- for only 2 bucks. I had Charlie wear it for our post-Christmas friends get together and he was the height of fashion. He's also sporting a black eye that he got on Christmas Day from being amped on sugar and excitement and no nap.

 

Watch out, Mama!

The other day I was driving with Charlie and George in the car when a cat ran across the road. I had to break very abruptly to avoiding hitting it. I looked back at a startled Charlie and explained to him why I stopped so sharply. I think I said something like, "A cat ran into the road and I had to stop the car quickly so I wouldn't hit him. But he ran away and he's okay now." We talked about it for a minute or two more then I changed the subject.

The several hours later, we were back in the car to go pick John up from work (we only have one car). Charlie kept saying something over and over and I was struggling to understand him. Suddenly, it clicked for me that he was saying, "Watch out, mama! Big cat in the street!" I told him that there wasn't a cat any more and that I would watch out and be careful. The rest of the evening and at least once a day since then he tells me to watch out, mama! Sometimes he tells me there are two cats in the street, sometimes it's dogs, but it's definitely a concept he has latched on to!

I love these conversations we have in the car together!

Our cute Charlie lately

I introduced you to the movie Cars and you ask for it daily. You laugh at the funny parts and tell me what's happening during the other parts. You even try to say "Ka-chow!", which is Lightning McQueen's catch phrase. I'm excited that you like this movie since the sequel is coming out in a few weeks- I think it will be your first movie in a theatre!

You love all things with wheels- the drive to take Dad to work is filled with your commentary of everything you see, including cranes, diggers, trucks, trains, buses and culminating at the water feature outside Dad's work, "Water!"

You are becoming more and more boyish every day and less of my baby.

If I tell you something is hot, like the shower, or the slide at the park, you stand there and try to blow on it to cool it down.

You love to toast drinks, which I'm trying to teach you is called "Cheers!" but you just call it "Boom!"

You know all your colors now and use them to describe the things you see. Up until recently when I asked you what color something was, you always answered "Blue!" Somehow in your mind, that was the only answer to that question. But now you've figured it out. As we drive around town, you love to tell me the things you see. Now you've started describing them, too. "That's a big bus!" or "Big white crane!" Sometimes you just shorten it to "big white". It's pretty cute.

Here you are watching Dino Dan so intently. The Zoo has a dinosaur exhibit right now and there's banners all over town advertising it. Whenever you see one you yell out, "four!" (which is how you say dinosaur, of course.)

Cuddled up with dad before church

So busy in the backyard.

We love this little fella!

Charlie is 2!

Time just flies when you're having fun! Charlie, you are the light of our lives. You dominate our thoughts, conversations, and days and that's just how we like it. You are such a special individual and we're so blessed to have you in our family. It's so fun to watch more and more of your personality unfold. You crack us up, you make us cry with gratitude, and you teach us how to truly love. Happy birthday, Little Man, Big Guy, Cheby, Char-Char, Chucky Ricky, our little Charlie. We love you.


One week old...





One year old...

Charlie is 1!

I can't believe I've already had one whole year of being this little guy's mom. I am so lucky.

John and I turn to each other EVERY DAY and say how blessed we are to have Charlie in our lives, how wonderful he is, and how much we love him. I'm so grateful to have a co-parent because I have another person who gets it- who understands how completely I am enamored with this child. That guy- we love him!

(He looks SO much like my dad in this picture!)

Happy Birthday, baby Charlie! We love you!

Charlie- 11 months

Whoopsie! I just realized that I never posted an 11 month update for the little Cheby.



Here's part of a letter I wrote recently to his Uncle Sam, currently serving a mission for our church in Louisiana.

Little Charlie is becoming more independent and curious! He's been really interested in opening cupboards and drawers and exploring this big house. He just found the sewing cupboard, for example and thinks it's so fun to open and shut that little door (just his size!) He's also tall enough to reach things on the kitchen table, so I need to be more careful about what I leave sitting out!

He's a fast crawler still and his standing is getting much better! He can sit down now without falling- he just slowly lowers his little bum down. Darling. And he's a champ on stairs. Especially at Chelsea's house where they are in plain view- he and James have little races climbing up the stairs. (Still learning how to go down, that's trickier).

Yesterday I went to pick him up from Grandma T's house where he had been while I was at school. As soon as he saw me, he dropped what he was doing and started crawling for me and said, "Mom." It was the first time he's said Mama without crying! It was so purposeful! He's also getting better at "talking"- he babbles in conversational tones. Yesterday, Grandpa T was playing with him and then left the room. Charlie stood up against the couch and started "calling" out to Grandpa in little baby babbles. It was so cute!

He loves to play the drums, have someone chase him, playing ball, and taking baths and showers. He's very interested in watching the cars outside and unloading the dishwasher, too. He's decided that baby food is gross and will only eat "real" food now- toast, cottage cheese, cooked veggies, crackers, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, etc.- and he especially loves eating off of our plates.

We so enjoyed having my dad come visit, and now Catherine and Richard are here, too. We're enjoying the warmer weather and have been working in the yard a little bit here and there. Charlie loves to be outside but has forgotten about grass, and is a little apprehensive about it!

We had a pretty good month without sickness (until this week) which was such a relief! Charlie has become absolutely smitten with other children and babies- he loves them so much (maybe even a little too enthusiastically!)


Here's some more pictures and highlights!

-Enjoying every second of Grandpa's visit! By the end of dad's week-long visit, Charlie even said "Papa" once!






-Figuring out through trial and error that his hamper is not a tunnel...



-His teeth finally broke through- now he has two top and two bottom! We affectionately call him our little Snaggletooth!


-Eating his latest food conquest- small veggies! He loves to pick the lima beans out of the mixed vegetables- just like his Aunt Catherine did as a baby!



We love our little guy! I can't believe he's almost one! Where has the time gone??

Little Buddies

James and Charlie are becoming quite the pals. Chelsea tends Charlie one day a week while I'm in school at her house and when we arrive, James is usually asleep. Chelsea says that Charlie is usually a little reserved and nervous until James is awake from his nap and then he comes alive! They (of course) take each others' toys, food, blankets and love to grab faces and clothes. It's going to be a process of teaching them how to be gentle with each other. James is still a little smaller than Charlie, so he gets the worst of the mauling. He's always quick to forgive, however.

They love each other!!