Just a Tuesday Morning

Hello there!

 Behold, my left hand.

 Does anyone need help cleaning their nose?

 I may not be able to keep this little Lesotho hat on, ...

 ...but I can hold my head up great!

While we're at it, here's a video of today's 11 lb 4ish oz Charliebabe:

Won't you play with me?

While Aaron and I ate dinner, Rosie had to look for someone else to throw her bone.

Charles got his 2 month check-up and immunizations. He is healthy and developing well! 

I wrote some little poems about thoughts I have had recently. I am trying to put them into meter and rhyme because that's fun :) but here are the outlines.

Mobile

Something swings above your head: bright and clear, full of colorful beads.
Your gaze, which you have only been able to direct at will for a few weeks, falls on it and watches the gentle motion.

Life and eternity spread before you, bright and clear, full of opportunities.
But is it enough to only watch them,
Or is there something in you that wants to sway their course?

Humankind has more than reflexes; we determine our actions, and our actions have influence. Learn, teach, conquer, build, that is our glory, might and privilege.

And our might is not only that of Ozymandias;
What you accomplish, learn, teach, conquer, or build in this life, great though they may be,
Are nothing compared to who you become in the process.Whether this toy swings right or left matters little;

But if you pushed it the conscious motion of your hand would thrill me.

The cities and monuments of the world may crumble,
But your spirit, with its independence, is everlasting and ever-learning, powerful.

You will move worlds.

For now you are small, and you only stare--
I gasp in wonder, little one, as you smile and reach up to tap the surface.


Rocking

In a hand-me-down rocking chair late, only baby and I awake
Cuddled close, sharing his little smiles.
My legs push back and forth in a rhythm,
As if swayed by something outside me.
We are alone in this moment.

But I wonder how many other mothers and fathers are up rocking their babies tonight,
Each alone but all as one,
One night out of the years.
All people were babies once, and rocked to sleep.

My mother rocked me,
Her mother rocked her.
Mary held the Christ child
Under angel light.
Eve rocked her babies when the world was new,
And loved them,
Both Cain and Abel.
When she first saw the stars in Eden,
Was she lulled to sleep by arms that span the heavens?

In this moment we are not alone.

Sleep, my own darling baby;
We are cradled in generations,
And rocked in the arms of God.

See This Face

As promised, some pictures of his joyful countenance.

Aaron has been getting involved in his new calling, cub scouts, and I am cherishing the baby and working on keeping home organized. We had a great time last weekend with family members who came for Charles' blessing!

Charles holds his head up himself a lot of the time, has started reaching for things (it seems, or he might just be wiggling and accidentally hitting the toys I dangle in front of him, but he likes that game) and is interested in looking around. We are having a fun time :) We love you!

Get the Cameras Rolling!

I have been planning to go through these earlier videos, select the cutest parts and compile one cute video, but I realized if I wait until I have time to do that you will never see them. So! Here is some genuine baby footage, uncut, no special effects, no stunt doubles, just Charles.

This was taken when he was 2 weeks old. Don't fall overboard there, pirate!

In the next one he is 4 weeks old, enjoying a father-son moment and practicing head-ups.

Here he is 5 weeks old on the floor, spitting up and looking cute. You may not be able to see the spit-up in this small version of the video--see if you can spot it.

Next, a little smile amid general baby faces from just last week. I love that smile! Today he gave me some huge smiles that I will keep trying to catch on camera.

Last but definitely not least, Charles' first gymnastics.

Stay tuned!