Family and Friends!

Here's our new toy from Lily Kate and Price, the Backyardigans' Circus playhouse. It's a great toy!

Lily Kate loves to come play with her cousin, Charlie. (I think Charlie loves it, too!)

Charlie also loves playing with his "Bubba." "Bubba" is also his favorite word besides, "da-da-da-da-" and "ah-ah-ah-ah!" Adam and I are amazed at how his verbal nature is coming about each day. (Again, I wonder where he gets his gift of gab?)

Charlie's Uncle Blake came by one night for dinner and for a visit. He's wearing his Kentucky Blue for Blake's sake!

Teething, Teething!

Charlie now has 4 teeth popping through. Little Man, you have not liked how they have made you feel, but those teeth are here. In this first picture, you can see his 'chicklets' coming through on the top. They popped through this week (January 26th). The bottom two teeth poked their way out last week. So officially, Charlie, you cut your first teeth at 7 months.

Say, "Cheese!"

"Mmmm, this tag sure does taste good!"

"...so does the remote control."

Plenty of Playtime!

Charlie loves his Johnny-Jump up! What a great invention for this mama. He looks like a little elf dancing around our kitchen doorway.

Rock on, my little maestro! Charlie loves to play the piano and sing along. Thanks, Valerie, for letting us borrow this wonderful toy!

Charlie loves to play with his friends. Here is he with his buddy, Nathan. Nathan doesn't know what do think of his friend who keeps tapping him on his feet....I think this was Round #2 of watching "Praise Baby" that day.

As you all can see, Charlie is sitting up, but sometimes he loses his balance; therefore, we prop pillows all around.

Cheerios and Crackers...Our New Food/Toy Groups!

 

 

 

 

Happy 8 Months, Charlie!

As you can see, Charlie is growing by leaps and bounds. On January 26th, he hit the 8 month mark, and he is such a joy to all of us. He is busy, busy, busy,...but who could blame him with his mama and his daddy? We both love to "go, go, go," so I'm sure that is where he gets it. We'll write more in upcoming posts, but here are a few recent pictures.

"I didn't do anything, Mom!"

A sneaky smirk!

Precious feet...

Charlie could have a future career in the circus. He loves to suck on his big toes. I don't have that talent...does any other family member claim this one?

Baby Boot Camp: Days 3-6

Saturday: I didn't remember to write anything down here.

Sunday:
am: slept for about 20-30 minutes on Mrs. Minnie's lap at church
1:00-1:40: slept
1:40-2:00: cried
2:00-2:40: napped for a little while...I found him on his tummy
4:30-5:00: napped great

Monday:
9-10: morning nap...slept great
1-2:15: afternoon nap...slept great
4:30-5:30: 3rd nap...great sleeper
Night: got up once at 4:15...hungry; went back to bed until 7:15.

Tuesday:
9:10-10:00: no nap...cried the whole time
1:00-1:30: nap
1:30-2:00: cried

We're up now watching the weather. James Spann is keeping us company. For those of you who aren't in B'ham, he is our local weather man. He is the best in the business around here, right Emily? Hopefully, we won't be stuck in the hallway soon with a tornado. Charlie is entertained right now in his high chair...while we play peekaboo.

A New Year's Prayer

New Year's Prayer: I found this prayer in a book on January 1, 2007, but I think it should be our prayer each year and every day.

"Make Me a Blessing"
Text: Ira B. Wilson
Music: George S. Schuler

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Chorus:
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive.
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, every moment you live.

Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Happy New Year 2008!

Baby Boot Camp: Days 1 and 2

What is this about, you might ask? If you read a few posts ago, our little Charlie does not like to take naps. He has always been a great night sleeper, but his daytime snoozes sometimes just don't exist. This post and other ones like it will probably be just a journal for me to keep up with his success. I've asked lots of other moms their opinion, and here are some of the tips they gave me.

--put him down at the same time each day
--have a routine for nap times
--get him up at the same time every day in the mornings
--get to bed around the same time each night
--let him cry

Taking those tips into consideration, here is what we've been doing for the last few days.

--nap times: 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day (sometimes a late afternoon snooze around 4:30 p.m.)
--routine: We're working on this. Sometimes it is reading a book or eating. Then we get his blue lamb and his pacifier. Lay him down in his bed.
--Wake up time: 7:00-7:30 a.m.
--Bedtime: 8:00 each night
--Crying time: see summary below.

Day 1: Thursday, 1/1/09: We put him down for a nap around 9, and he cried for 30 minutes. I fed him, put him down, and he cried for 30 more minutes. At 1:00, we put him down again, and he cried for 40 more minutes. Around 3:30, he ate, and we both finally fell asleep on the couch until 4:45 p.m. He went to bed at 8:00...then woke up around 9:15. We fed him, and he slept until 7:15 this morning.

Day 2: Friday, 1/2/09:
--9:08 a.m.: down for morning nap; cried for 45 minutes
--1:00 p.m.: down for afternoon nap: slept for 30 minutes; cried himself back to sleep; got up at 2:10. (I am so glad that he slept for this long! :) Yea, little Charlie!)

Thanks, Valerie, Peggy, Jessica, April, and Mom for giving me advice/listening to me today. Also, thanks, Adam, for watching him this morning and trying to keep me disciplined in this process. As most of you know, I'm very laid back, so a schedule is hard for me; however, Charlie needs his rest (and his mama does t00). I also think teething is not helping any situations! After writing this post, I am realizing that I am so thankful for all of the time that I have with him...sleeping or fighting sleep. He is such a joy!