I finally cleaned the car...

Charlie was very helpful.

He even volunteered to clean the seat belts with saliva. I politely declined.

In the end it was a family affair...

Family Moment

Little Bear

Do you remember the Little Bear book? Nanny Payne gave it to me when I was a baby, and it is a big part of my childhood memories. Now I have my own...

He's Learning!!

I took these pictures when I realized that Charlie was actually purposefully reaching for the textured spots in this book! I was amazed.

The bunny's tail is textured in the picture below, for those of you who care. ; )

Sunday Pic-nic

This passed Sunday Charlie was Drilling with the Air Force. So, little Charlie and I tagged along with Jamie and Arrika, who were out to enjoy the Fall outdoors. We had a wonderful time, and Charlie didn't seem to mind skipping his afternoon nap.

Our good friends Adam and Hannah Porcella joined us after a while. Most of the following pictures were taken by Hannah, as I'm sure will be obvious to you in the artistry.

The guys...

Our Favorite Walk

We are very fortunate to live surrounded by cemeteries and parks. We do a lot of walking. Our favorite walk is the hour-long trek through St. Vincent's Park.
This is how we roll...

Here we are at the entrance to the park.

Sofie is such a trooper. The last thing she wanted to do was sit for a picture.

In parts of the trail you have to remind yourself that you're in the city.

I love this grove. It brings me a feeling a serenity.

This is a little chapel and grave yard that we pass by.

The trail circles Normandy Nursing Center, which used to be a catholic insane asylum-creepy, mysterious and beautiful. Aren't the spires cool?

Leaving the park.

Tons of Tummy Time

I have recently made a mental shift regarding tummy time. I used to think of it as something both Charlie and I had to endure for developmental reasons and for a limited time each day. Now I have made it the default playing position, and I think it has helped both of us. See, he's smiling and he's on his tummy!

Incidentally, I shouldn't have used this setting on the camera. Although, I must say it blurs the clumps of dog hair on the floor admirably.

Two Front Teeth

Fall Moment

We've been sick the last several weeks. First Charlie (III), then me, then Charlie (III) again. We're surviving and recovering, but do not have many pictures to show for it. These I took awhile ago, and I know I tend to take pictures of him eating, and I know I tend to post them, but these are the times his development stands out to me. I love how he has started to wait with his mouth open, expecting it to be filled,

how he leans forward to meet the spoon,

how he concentrates on swallowing,

how he's only distracted from the job by his doggy,

how excited he gets when she's around,

and how cute he is in the process.

By the way, I think you can also see in these photos the bit of progress in the shape of his skull. He's still flat back there, but he definitely has more shape than he used to. Phew.