Charlie, 10 Months Old

Ten months has been such a big month development-wise. I'd say the biggest thing is how much talking Charlie has been doing! His first official word was "mama," but since then he's been saying all sorts of things- up, night-night, hi, bye-bye, more, Dada, doggie, ball, and waving and clapping a lot. It's been so neat to say something and have him repeat it, one of the funniest things he's said a few times is "Batman." He obviously doesn't know what it means but he has it down pretty well!

This month has been so great. Like I've said in earlier posts it took us awhile to get into our nighttime sleeping groove but now that he's got it I am the one who needs to focus on getting some sleep! I stay up way too late most nights and even though he's sleeping 12 hours, I'm not taking advantage of it at all! So I've been working on that. I'll share his current schedule below too- and I should also add that we adhere to it whenever we're at home, and if we're traveling I still stick to the same time for naps, whether it's in a pack 'n play or on me in the Ergo if we're out and about.

6am- wakeup and nurse
7am- eat breakfast, usually oatmeal and mashed up fruit
8:30am- nurse and take his morning nap
10:30am- wake up from nap, nurse
12pm- lunch, lately we've been doing veggies and then some sort of protein like meat, cheese or beans
1pm- nurse and take his afternoon nap
3pm- wake up from nap, nurse
5pm- dinner, same kind of food we give him for lunch
6pm- bath
6:30pm- nurse and sleep

Henry slept the same amount at this age and I remember thinking it seemed SO weird that he was sleeping so much, but Charlie is the same way so I feel a little better about it. ;) The naps are crucial for his happiness though, and it's such a testament to how much he likes having this schedule that even if we are out grocery shopping or driving during his normal nap time he will fall right asleep, on the dot. Babies are such creatures of habit- I'm really curious to see if our future kids are the same way, because so far Henry and Charlie have been identical in this sense. It's also really funny to me to think back just a couple months when I felt like I was dying from sleep deprivation when he was waking up so much during the night. And then just when I felt like I couldn't take another up and down night, he starts sleeping through it. Thank you universe!

Nursing-wise he is still going strong. At this point Henry was down to just three feedings but even though some days I do feel like Charlie is slowing down a bit, the next day he'll be back at it. He does only eat before/after sleeping though, and if I don't nurse him when he wakes up he doesn't get upset. Henry actually weaned himself at 12 months and although I can't imagine Charlie will be ready then, it does seem like somewhere around then it could happen. We'll see!

This month Charlie:

is about to walk any day
cruises quickly around the couch and furniture
is starting to stand up without holding onto anything for longer and longer periods of time
very vocal- loves to repeat sounds and words
his favorite toy is still a ball
loves Madeline
Henry is his best buddy
raises arms when we say "up!"
loves to read and point to pictures
has six teeth with those slow-moving seventh and eighth finally making their way down on top
loves to "dance" aka bounce up and down
is just starting to really move quickly in his walker
is all about shredded cheese!
yells "Dada" until Hank comes into the room
will hug and kiss his stuffed animals/us

Charlie's birthday is August 16th so I'm playing catch up a bit- I'll be posting his 11 month update in a couple of weeks but even so, I really can't believe that we're already about to reach the one year mark.

Happy 10 months, Charlie babe!

Charlie's adorable romper was gifted from Little Hip Squeaks

Chambray shoes from Baby Gap

Charlie, 9 Months Old

Nine months! We're getting so, so close to his birthday and I can't even believe it. This little guy has been growing like a weed and making us all fall in love with him more and more every single day. His personality is the best- so sweet and funny, and one of the most smiley guys I know (I think I say that every month). This stage is so fun too because he's just starting to talk and show his preferences for things. He's eating a lot- still breastfeeding- but also really loving "real" food. He definitely likes fruits more than veggies, but has also been into shredded chicken and cheese. Yogurt is always a hit too, and he gets super excited about those little yogurt melts. Sleeping is going much better than it was. He's been teething so it's been hit or miss depending on how he's feeling, but when he's doing okay he'll sleep 6:30pm-5:30am, then take two naps during the day. I can't even explain how happy I feel that he's finally sleeping well at night- there was a point when I was starting to go crazy when he was waking 2-3x, but I'm so excited to say that he has sleeping through the night down.

This month Charlie:

loves to clap
has waved a couple of times
says mama, dada, and ball
has six teeth with two more still working their way down on top
cruises all around the couch and ottoman and is starting to want to stand unassisted
is a fast, fast crawler
his favorite toy is a ball- he loves rolling it back and forth
loves music and when Daddy plays his guitar
will "sing" along to music in the car
loves to squeal and scream, then laugh and smile
berries and mangoes are his favorite food
drinks water out of a sippy cup

Charlie, it's been so neat watching you become so much more mobile and communicative with us. Just the other day Henry said "it's so fun that Charlie can PLAY with me now!" and it really is- you guys are able to "talk" and play, and it's so neat to watch. It's funny, earlier this week we had to have a talk with Henry and ask him not to go in your room first thing in the morning to wake you up! He just can't wait to see you. You are so loved, and it's really fun to know this is just the beginning of lots and lots of great times to come.

Happy 9 months, Charlie!

Charlie, 8 Months Old

I really think this month has been the biggest so far, at least development wise. In this 8th month everything has changed! We've gone from kind of crawling to totally crawling (and crawling fast!), just trying real food to eating it 3x a day, starting to talk, and so many other fun changes. It's also been so interesting comparing the two boys as far as personality. I have a couple of events on the calendar that are kid-free things, and by this age I was leaving Henry overnight with my Mom or Hank...but with Charlie that seems crazy! He is not at the stage where I'm even able to leave him for more than a few hours, and it's just such a testament to how different two kids can be (see Henry's 8 month update here)! And really, I'll soak up these baby days as long as possible- I know they're over in the blink of an eye. I say, let this little guy stay attached to my hip for as long as he wants to be, you know?

This month:

officially a crawler
lots of babbling- my Dad and I could swear he said "ball" the other day, and he's definitely saying "mama" and "dada"
pulling up on everything- not to standing yet, but pulls up to his knees
loves to eat- fruits are his favorite
started drinking a tiny bit of water out of a sippy cup a few times
loves to clap his hands (starting doing this just last week)
napping 2x a day, waking up 1-2x per night usually
will put his arms up to be picked up, or when I say "up, up, up!"
is starting to hug on his favorite stuffed animals and toys
gets upset when his favorite people leave the room 
has 6 teeth- four on top and two on the bottom (at this point Henry didn't have any yet!)

This little guy is such a love. He smiles and laughs easily, and I often wonder if he'll be this way forever! Right now I'd say our biggest challenge is sleeping through the night but I regularly remind myself that he's doing the best he can, and eventually he will, when he's ready. And on the flip side, the biggest joy with this sweetie would have to be his joy. His smiley, babbling, cooing, giggling self is a daymaker for all of us.

Happy 8 months, Charlie. You are so loved.

Charlie, 7 Months Old

Watching a baby grow and change is so much fun, and especially once they hit about half a year old and you start to really see their personality shine through. Charlie at 7 months is pure sunshine. He's one of the most smiley babies I've ever known, and if you were to be around him, I'm sure you'd feel the pure joy he radiates. It will be interesting to watch him grow, and to see if his perpetual smile sticks around. I'm pretty sure it will!

This month:

Charlie has four teeth- the top and bottom two- and is working on the ones on both side of those top two. His teething symptom is a runny nose, and we can tell right away when it's going to be a rough, teething day based on that.
He is napping like a champ on a schedule. His naps are 9-11am and 1-3pm. Nighttime sleeping is still spotty, but getting better. Some nights he will wake up just once, although those always seem to be the nights I stay up way too late so I never get to catch up anyway. Of course!
He is fully sitting up on his own but still likes to roll around on his back and tummy.
Crawling. Kind of. He's great at going backwards and army crawling anywhere he needs to go, but true crawling hasn't happened yet. He'll get up on all fours and rock back and forth, but hasn't yet made the connection.
Food is going well. He's been eating "real food" 2-3x a day and loving it. His favorite so far has been a carrot and broccoli puree.
No binky and no thumb sucking. No lovie either! 
Still nursing and showing no signs of slowing down. Henry stopped right on his first birthday so I'm curious to see what Charlie is like.
Loves to be worn all of the time.
Laughs and smiles all day long. I know Moms probably say that about their kids often but seriously, this kid is ALL smiles, it's adorable.
Loves to be tickled and sang to.
Enjoys bouncing in his bouncer and "walking" in his walker.
His favorite thing is playing with the O-Ball and rolling in back and forth with Henry. So much laughter!

7 months old is the best. Nothing beats going into Charlie's room in the morning and being greeted by those big green eyes and that smile. His all day babbling leaves us laughing all day long, and I can't wait to watch Henry and Charlie begin to play more and more. I'm already getting to see little glimpses of it, and it's pretty amazing. This time has truly flown by, and it's hard to believe we're getting close to the summer, which means we're getting closer to his first birthday. What!

Love you so much, Charlie boy. And like I say in every post, you are our sunshine!

Charlie, 6 Months Old

6 months old. Half a year! Charlie officially turned 6 months old on the 16th and this past month has been so much fun. He's starting to do all of those things that build on each other everyday, and before you know it, the little baby that was once just kind of laying there is rolling and sitting...and almost crawling! 6 months has brought about a lot of fun milestones. The biggest would be rolling and sitting. Charlie is rolling EVERYWHERE and is just starting to push himself up to all fours. And then you know what comes next- crawling. He's also sitting on his own, but will topple over after a few moments without support. He's almost there though!

Charlie at 6 months:

has two teeth- the bottom middle, and working on more
is rolling everywhere. If I set him down in one place within a minute he can be on the other side of the room
is still exclusively breastfed, but is very interested in food so we will be starting any day
has been back to waking up 2-3 times a night...usually 12 or 1 and always right at 4am. I'm tired. haha.
although his nighttime sleeping has regressed he's napping like a champ 2x a day
laughs and squeals and giggles and babbles all of the time
his "babble" of choice is "mama" and we think he really said it and meant it for the first time last weekend (Saturday, March 8th around 5:30am). He was in bed with us and was reaching for me saying "mama, mama, mama!" I don't know if it's his official first word but maybe?
went from being a side sleeper to a full blown tummy sleeper
is almost crawling and kind of pulling himself around
sitting on his own, a little more everyday. Not quite there yet 100%
in the thick of teething right now, and like Henry his main symptom is a very runny nose and rosy cheeks
Madeline and Henry are his favorite- he lights up whenever they're by him
his eyes have settled into what I think is his final eye color- a greenish brownish, sometimes blue-tinged color that changes with whatever he's wearing. Similar to my green but darker.

6 months has flown by and it's equal parts crazy that he's been here for so long and also that he hasn't always been here. I feel very grateful to be able to watch this little boy grow up and this second time around it's very neat to be a bit more relaxed about all of it. I'm not reading things online and stressing out about this or that. Charlie is such a sweet, lovable babe and he makes it easy...or as easy as it can be  as we navigate through teething, night wakings and all. That sweet smile though, makes the tired mornings so, so worth it.

Happy 6 months, Charlie! We love you.

Charlie, Five Months Old

How could I have forgotten how much I LOVE 5 months? I feel like I cannot get enough of this little guy, and seeing him look around for me, reach for me, nestle in when I hug him...nothing's better. Charlie is really the sweetest little guy in the world. He's very mild-mannered and go-with-the-flow, which he must get from Hank! haha. But really, he's what people call (and I seriously cringe writing this) an easy baby. Now I am certain our next one will probably be the opposite, so I'm soaking it all in now.

Charlie at 5 months:

He can almost sit up on his own.
Loves to make sounds, especially "dadada."
Has started to sleep so much better, with one wake-up around 5am, then he'll go back to sleep until 7:30.
Naps have finally clicked and he's taking two on the DOT; 9am until about 10:30 and 1pm until about 3pm. Bedtime is at 6.
Puts everything in his mouth, but still doesn't do a thumb and isn't interested in a pacifier. He does love his Sophie Giraffe and a particular baby toy in the shape of a football though.
Loves to watch us eat and is so interested in food.
Loves music and "The Wheels on the Bus" will always calm him down when he's upset.
Is a roly-poly little ball and rolls every which way whenever he's on the floor.
He's starting to scoot a little on his back and on his front.
Laughs and smiles all day long.

Our boy is so inquisitive, and could watch his big brother play all day long. No one can make him smile like Henry, and just the sound of his voice from the other side of the house makes him light up. More than anything, I'm looking forward to watching their bond develop over the coming months and years. Charlie laughs at anything and everything, and is so ticklish. He's just such a lovable little goofball that you can't help but be enamored by his big grin and twinkling eyes.

Five months has of course been the best yet, and it's been really fun watching Charlie's personality develop. It's so exciting to think of what's next.

Happy five months, C.

Charlie, Four Months Old

To me, four months has always been a favorite stage. With Henry I felt like once he hit four months he really started interacting and showing such glimpses into the little boy he'd grow up to be, and it's so fun to look back at photos and videos and see that same twinkle in his eye. In Charlie's case, he's showing the sweet, gentle, and very happy boy his baby self is turning into. He is truly all smiles, and as Henry says, "the sunshine part of our day." In a word, Charlie is easy-going. He goes with the flow, and is rarely upset. This reminds me a lot more of his Dad than myself, so it will be interesting to see if he is more like Hank or me as he grows.

Charlie at 4 months:

officially rolling over, back to stomach and stomach to back

very vocal- lots of high pitched squeals and imitating sounds

laughs and smiles constantly

exclusively breastfeeding

napping 2x per day, around 9am and again around 1pm

goes to sleep at 6pm, and wakes up 1-2 times depending on the night

always has his hands in his mouth but isn't a thumb sucker like Henry and won't take a pacifier

scoots back/forward when on his back

Charlie babe, it's hard to convey the joy you bring us, without feeling like I'm repeating myself everytime I talk about it. The way you light up when you see a familiar face, those dimples and that smile- every bit of you makes my day, everyday. You are the sweetest thing in the world. I think my favorite part of this stage though, is the way you look at Henry. You can just see how much you love him already, and it's amazing to watch your bond develop a little more everyday. Your Dad and I are constantly laughing at your funny sounds and expressive face, and I can't wait to see what next month holds. If this month is any indication, I'm sure it will be amazing.

Happy four months, sweet boy!

striped onesie c/o Goatmilk NYC