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Charles is 9 months! We went to his pediatrician today and he is in the 50th %tile for weight, 85th for height (almost 30 inches--we will be getting a new car seat soon!), and 98th for head circumference. He is healthy and well. And cute.

He is a climber; he holds onto a table or counter edge with his hands and pulls himself up while trying to use a chair leg or the inset of a cupboard door for footholds. I've told him he needs gear to do that but they don't seem to make it his size.

He is also starting to show more interest in music and dancing. I was dancing to pandora and he watched me for a minute and started bouncing along :)

He is gradually sleeping better (yay!) and enjoying new foods.

The grown ups:
We are looking at houses around the Lake Stevens area. I am teaching a few violin students, which is fun though I don't feel very professional.

Holidays with Family!

Charles enjoyed his first Thanksgiving in Oregon with the Fletchers and his first Christmas in Wyoming with the Drollettes! He still travels pretty well, sleeping most of the way and just fussing a little, though he is getting too long for his car seat.

In Oregon, we trod the trails through the forest and saw mushrooms, gnomes and fairies. We had a birthday party for Esther, cut snowflakes, and Aaron played the mandolin, which he is still enjoying a lot. Charles started pulling himself up on things and even climbing stairs. He was cuddled and played with by grandparents and aunts. I took some pictures there but I have yet to figure out how to get them from that camera onto the iphone where we can blog without internet on our computer... Here is a picture my mom took of us.

In Wyoming we played games together, exchanged gifts, enjoyed the sparkling snow, and played with cousin Kaeli and three funny doggies. Charles enjoyed watching Kaeli blow bubbles, crawling around to get into everything, playing peekaboo (especially with Grandma), and standing unsupported for a second a few times! We also stopped in Idaho on the way to and from and visited Trevor, Jessica, and Corinne.

Thanks to all for the hospitality, food and fun times! Oh, and presents! I am still working on my present to the Fletchers, I'm having fun putting together books of family history stories for kids. The Drollette one was fun to make and arrived on the 27th :)

Charles also had a frightening experience with Santa.

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.