It's all about having fun

Vroom Vroom!

Hey baby, want to go for a ride?

Don't worry, it's a clean diaper.

What? Can you really do this?
(How do you child-proof this kind of drawer? I'll try putting all the heaviest items in it.)

Charlie, what are you up to?

... up to?

We love this baby so much! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grandparents' visits in October

 We had some fun times! Here's the evidence:

At the beach

Sweet Aunt Esther

This is Charles' camera flash expression

This is Charles' There's Mom! expression

From Left to Right: Aaron, Charles, Corinne

Love

 See you soon!

It Bounces

Up next: pictures of Charles with grandparents! We love visitors!

Halfling

Charles turned 6 months! Time flies like bananas, as the saying goes. Or peas, in this picture, but I don't think there are flies in these peas.

It's exciting to see each stage of infancy develop into the next; I usually focus so much on what is happening in the moment and what is coming ahead that I don't think about the sweet tiny baby that Charles was at first and is gradually growing out of. I would grieve the time passing if I wasn't planning on having more children, because having a tiny cuddly darling of our own has been one of my most joyous experiences and a few months would be far too short to enjoy it. We'll just keep having children until I can't anymore, and then we'll adopt. Then we'll keep adopting children until we have grandchildren. :) Or maybe we'll get tired of it at some point, who knows. All I know right now is that I love it.

He now weighs 16 lb 5 oz (26th %tile) and is 27 inches long (69th %tile).

Charles pulls himself around like a regular little caterpillar, and can go all kinds of places if I'm not watching carefully. Is it ok for babies to bonk their heads against walls and furniture? Do you line everything with foam? It always makes me so sad.

Sit back and relax for some adventure! I wanted to put hobbit music in the background, but didn't, so you can imagine it.

Same videos in higher quality for those who have a youtube account:

Just Belittling Around

Oh dear, my last post now says "one month ago". That is much too long! (and that was when I started writing this...it has been a draft for almost a week...) I know you have been breathlessly waiting for more pictures and videos of Charles. Here is what we have been doing:

1. Getting colds. Aaron had one first, and it has just been cycling around. Charles had a hard time sleeping at night when his nose was congested but otherwise he did fine and we're better now. He's growing and learning and generally happy.
2. Playing. Charles' favorite things to do are suck on cloth edges, reach for Rosie, look in the mirror, and welcome Daddy home with his biggest smiles and squeals. Last week we went to a "baby and me" event at the library with songs and toys--Charles was still a bit young for it but it was fun anyway.  
         
3. Making noise. Charles babbles and makes the funniest facial expressions.                               
   
   
4. Trying new foods! Charles will be 6 months soon, and so far we've tried giving him carrots and pears (our pediatrician specifically recommended pears to reduce constipation from formula supplementing to help Charles grow faster) in small amounts to see how he does. He loves it! Soon we will try grains and greens. It's fun to get a little messy!  
   

   

   Genes from the Fletcher side: brown hair, red beard.

   

   He looks so tiny in that high chair!

5.  Helping with church things. Aaron helped the cub scouts decorate bikes and go in a little community parade. We are enjoying nursery and will soon start teaching a transition-to-sunbeams mini class. I have been asked to help decorate for a couple upcoming ward events, which is fun. 
6. Hanging out with Corinne Drollette the 1st at the beginning of September. She has more pictures on her facebook but here are a few...

Sizing each other up... both very small.

Aaron's fortress starting to get washed away.

Crawling by Noon Tomorrow?

This is where I put Charles:

Then this is where he was a few minutes later...

...and a few minutes later...

 he tipped it over!

This video is especially fun :)

I'm Scooting (in first person)

Dad carried me yesterday when we went for a walk. The berries aren't quite ripe. In this picture I'm fast asleep under Mom's hat.

 I'm going to show you how I play with toys!

 First I have to reach them. Sometimes I need help with that.

 Then I cuddle them! Of course, the mouth is the final goal.

I've been seeing more interesting things these days. Sometimes Mom and Dad put colorful things in their mouths to chew and swallow--I'm working on getting some of that stuff but so far they've been too quick. We go on walks outside and I have felt nice wind, leaves, grass, and cedar and fir sprigs. I like to grab the hair on the little friend who runs around, or on Daddy's arm. I also like grabbing Mom's nose. Toys are fun. Sometimes they are too far away so I'm working on moving myself to get to them. It's hard. Video time!

Sherwood Forest

A few weeks ago we went to visit the Fletchers in Oregon! Here are some older cousins: Jaydon, Marie, and Celeste playing with funny jewelry. 

Here are two more cousins: Juliana and Clara (we all came to see Clara's blessing) with their moms. This is out in the forest behind Grandma and Grandpa's house, where we made a fire.

Here is cousin Will.

Here are most of them together looking sweet after Church. Little does Charles know he has another cousin, Kaeli, who we get to see in September! 

Someone smaller than me?! Is it possible?

 She's pretty sweet.

 Later we celebrated Grandpa and Celeste's birthday, which is on the same day.

Charles in pajamas, with a hat to keep the sun off and keep warm as it got late. 

 Roasting Marshmallows! 

Charles making a funny face while cuddling with uncle Nathan. He had been happy... He got lots of cuddles from aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.

It was so much fun!