Eight Months Old (Charlie's Monthly Photo)

Wowsa our little fourth is already 8 months old!



He's pulling up and crawling everywhere and interested in every choking hazard and toy he can find to put in his mouth.



He seems smaller than the other babies at this age.  I'm not sure if that's actually true.  I need to weigh him, I guess.  He gets between 2.5 to 3.75 ml of Ibuprofen.  That is the extent to which I know his weight.



Speaking of that, he's been getting some Ibuprofen lately.  I think he's teething.  Or maybe his throat hurts b/c he has a runny nose and probably postnasal drip.  I don't know.  He's been more fussy lately, but generally speaking he's still a happy-go-lucky, pleasant little baby.

He's finally seeming to find a rhythm with eating purees and solids.  At last he doesn't seem personally offended when I try to put mushy carrots in his mouth.  He seems to like it a little!  If he cries in the car, a cheese-it placed strategically inside his open mouth seems to do just the trick.  He works it all around in his mouth and stops crying!  Although, generally, he's a pretty good car traveler.



He's so smiley and fun.  The kids adore him.  He really is entertained by them now and loves it when they pay attention to him or drag him around by the feet.  Lucy loves picking him up and bringing him to me, saying, "Mommy!  Your baby needs you!"



He's a 2-a-day napper now.  He sleeps pretty well at night, still... though it does seem like lately he's been waking for midnight snacks more often.



Charlie, we love your adorable, sweet, smiley little self!  You are our sweet fourth baby, and we all are just delighted to know you and to be getting to know you more!

Sandy Beach at Little Elm

I know I don't have to give y'all my excuses for why it's been a long time since I blogged last.



I know that if you read my blog, you recognize that I have four littles... none of whom even potty completely by themselves, let alone get snacks or drinks, print coloring pages, find markers, sort fights, get into car seats, etc.

So I won't bother with excuses.  I'll just say it's nice to finally post these pictures!



We tried out the Sandy Beach at Little Elm a couple weeks ago.  My sister Heidi was here, and she helped me with the bags and bags of stuff you have to bring to the beach when your littles carry nothing and in fact need to be carried.



We had a nice time!  It was hot, of course. And the sun was intense, of course.  But overall I much preferred this experience to the actual ocean beach we visited last year.  The water was calmer, and I wasn't burdened with the constant concern about salty water burning their eyes.  The sand-in-the-eyes is a concern always.  But at least there wasn't the salt and the big waves.



One downside to the lake is that it's not clear.  When the kids go underwater, they are completely hidden.  That was unnerving.  But they didn't go underwater much, and they stayed together and relatively close to Heidi and me anyways.



Charlie really got into his own groove, crawling into the gentle waves and pausing to sit peacefully in waste-high water while he looked around.



All the kids seemed to really enjoy playing in the sand.  Building, scooping, and just feeling the grit between their fingers.



Lunch time came, and we got the kids showered off and piled into the car, thinking if we could just get them home we'd be able to actually get truly clean and dry before our next event for the day.  Unfortunately, I had no idea the funeral procession was underway for the 5 police officers killed by the sniper.  We spent a long time on the road getting home.  



There wasn't time to rest much at home before our next outing of the day.  But the kids did okay anyways.



It was really fun to be able to grant their request for a "trip to the beach" without actually driving 6 hours to the coast.  I definitely want to go to this beach again some time.  I'll just need to make sure I have a helper then, too!

Seven Months (Charlie's Monthly Photo)

Happy seven months, Charlie bear!

Charlie is quite the crawler now.



Very mobile, he can make his way from room to room in the house and definitely tries to follow me when I walk by him.



He is still very easy going.  He just cries when he's hungry or very tired, but otherwise he's happy.

He's babbling a lot now!  Lots of vowels, but some consonants every once in a while, too.  Developmentally right on track.



We're just starting to work on lie still on the changing table.  It's amazing how even at this young age, he definitely understands that I'm asking something of him when I say it, and he gets so sad if I just tap his bottom when he doesn't comply.



Solids are going a little bit better.  A little bit.  He does this funny thing where he puts his index finger into his mouth after every single bite.  I guess he's used to sucking on something to get food.  It's funny.  Makes his hand so messy after every meal.  The only thing he's seemed really interested in eating is avocado.



He still sleeps great.  About 10 hours at night and a couple of 1-2 hour naps during the day.



He loves to be tickled and kissed on the neck.



Charlie bear, we love you!!  You are adorable and fun and sweet and we love getting to be your family!

Twenty-Four Months (Oliver's Monthly Photo)

He's TWO!!



Oliver woke up this morning with no idea that it was his second birthday, but I bet he has the idea by now.  We've had lots of phone calls with happy birthday singing... mostly met with smiling silence.  Although, I have to say -- Oliver has made progress in the last few weeks!



He can kind of say more and juice and thank you (day-doo) and Papa (said in a whisper) and definitely Nah-nah (Nonnie) and a very high-pitched ch! (cheese!).  He still signs a lot.




Trains are Oliver's first love.  He got a brand new train set and some add-on pieces to a wooden one we already had.  He got some "choo-choo shirts," and even a new train book!  He's a pretty big fan of the Doc Mcstuffins pull-ups Lucy picked out for him, and he loves the rocket ship that Elliot picked for him.



He's also super pleased with his new toddler bed.  He's been able to crawl out of his crib for a while now, but this will be so much easier for him.  He's good about staying in bed when he's supposed to.

The fountain was a big hit.  We're going back tomorrow.





A couple times in the past few weeks, I've come around the corner to see Oliver holding Charlie and walking.  It is unsettling.  Charlie sports a huge toothless grin, without a care in the world of being dropped.




Oliver's favorite foods are sausage, chicken, scrambled eggs, and cinnamon rolls.  He likes cheese and pizza, too.  He's so-so on veggies and fruits but hasn't just flat refused much.  We don't make a big deal about it.

Oliver's favorite songs are "Choo-choo Train, Coming Down the Track" (a speech therapy song) and "Wheels on the Bus."  His favorite activities include being tickled, going out to get the mail, and watching for construction vehicles and/or trains when riding in the car.  He is going to absolutely adore gymnastics, and although it's going to complicate our morning having three in gymnastics classes--I can't wait :).



Oliver, our sweet two-year-old.  We love you so much and are so happy to be your parents and your family.  You are a joy and a delight, and so stinking fun.  You are a wonderful snuggler, kiss-giver, play-mate, and adventurer.  We are looking forward to another year of getting to know you and love you better!



Sleep well, dear one.

Tomorrow This Kid Turns Two

Get ready, Oliver--because tomorrow your crib gets converted to a toddler bed!!



We have great things planned.  Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, frozen yogurt and a splash pad for lunch.  A solid nap, and then dinner and mini-cheesecakes!



Lucy was super excited about her birthday present for Oliver -- some Doc Mcstuffins (pink) pull-ups.  And Elliot picked out an airplane for him.  We'll let him unwrap those gifts tomorrow and then save the rest for his birthday party this weekend.  I can't wait to see his face when he sees his new toddler bed!

Sleeping Charlie

Charlie is growing so quickly.



He's still so tiny, but he's getting bigger everyday.



He is moving around now -- inch-worming his way across the room to get whatever toy has caught his attention.



He is advancing along his own little life timeline at such a rapid pace.  



These moments when he's asleep are so precious and quiet.



Everything feels so still, like the time line has paused for just a few hours, and he's not changing.



He's just sleeping.



I hope when the kids are grown I can still see these pictures and remember the little noises they made when they slept as babies, and their sweet baby smell and their soft cheeks and fine hair.



You know what I wouldn't mind forgetting?  All the issues I've had with breastfeeding these kiddos!  Good grief.  I've been treating thrush... again.



The medicine (gentian violet) is dark purple and stains Charlie's mouth... and subsequently the index finger he sucks on while he sleeps.



But isn't he the cutest purple-mouthed baby you've seen?



Sleep well, sweet Charlie Bear.