Eight Months

Baby Charlie,

You got your first two teeth! Although your Dad said this isn't anything to be proud of or congratulate since you had nothing to with the natural process of your teeth coming through (except endure many painful sleepy nights), I was excited nonetheless. Now I don't feel as guilty feeding you much of the food from our dinner (which you love!) instead of strictly pureed food most mothers feed gummy babies.

Earlier this month Grandma Ashton and Aunt Christyn came to Texas to visit. You were thrilled to have some new faces around the house to play and sing songs with (not as entirely thrilled to be sleeping in our closet however). One day in response to something funny my mom said you made this hilarious stink face scrunching up your nose and squinting your eyes. We immediately responded with enthusiastic laughter and you haven't stopped making the face since. You will now make the face on demand, mimicking your Dad and I whenever we make the face.

Figuring out your stink face was the mark of a whole new level of social interaction. You are now so anxious to communicate and play with us and love being able to make us laugh. We now spend our days playing hide and seek throughout the house, reading Helen Oxenbury's baby board books hundreds of times(you really will only read books with babies in them), and listening to your endless babbling while you scoot around following me like a puppy dog from room to room.

My favorite time of the day is going to pick you in the morning or after your nap. We recently put your crib bumpers back on, (having taken them off when your first started rolling around in your sleep) and you have found that when you pull down on the bumper you can see when I am coming to get you. I love seeing your little dimply hands pulling down on the fabric and your bright eyes peeking above. Makes me smile every time.

Love Always

Mama

Stink face with your favorite books.

Impossible to change your wiggly bum.

First time in the ocean

Still obcessed with propping your feet on on everything

P.S. You got your first taste of the ocean this month when we went to Galveston with some friends for the weekend. You were a big fan.

Seven Months

Baby Boy,
I knew you would be moving soon and sure enough the day after you turned six months you started crawling! A stomach dragging, worm-like army crawl with just your arms, but a crawl! Whatever you call it, you have become quite proficient and fly around our little apartment finding all sorts of baby hazards I wasn't aware of like internet cables, extension cords, and wobbly furniture. Dont worry, we haven't had any major disasters with long term damage, but only time will tell :) The first few days you ventured only as far as the kitchen and would stop to slap your hands on the tile but there is nothing holding you back now and you are thrilled to be exploring so much unchartered territory.Your dirty, stretched out shirts serve as my daily reminder of what a bad housekeeper I am. I thought I kept my floors relatively clean but you continually prove me wrong :)


 Since you went straight from rolling to crawling, you kind of skipped sitting up altogether. Why sit still in front of toys when you can move wherever you want?


This was a big month of firsts. Not only did you begin crawling, you experienced your first swim, your first hike (Lake Georgetown), your first camping trip (Lake Georgetown), and your first road trip (7 1/2 hours to Tulsa to meet aunt Maren). Following in your parents footsteps, you remain a big fan of the outdoors. Water, grass, leaves, trees, sun, bugs, you love it all. It is a delight to watch you explore new surroundings.

I guess now would be good time to break the bad news to you. Charlie, you are good at many things but you are not a good sleeper :) Since you were about 4 months old, you have consistently woken up 2-3 times to a night to eat, say hello to mom,  tell us about your nightmare, remind us you have a healthy set of lungs....we are not sure why.  We tried the whole "cry it out" thing but either you are much too stubborn or your Dad and I are too weak to make it work. After a couple of weeks of listening to you scream for hours, we decided to ride it out hoping you were just going on through a phase. Three months later and you are still going through a phase. You have teased us a few times by sleeping though the night but your nightly antics always return. I think you like to remind us who is really in charge around here.

Upon further discussion with your Dad, we decided you're worth keeping around depsite your bad sleeping habits.

Love Always

Mama

Easter Morning

Ready for Church Easter Sunday

Someone found his tongue!

Camping at Lake Georgetown

First swim 

When we are too lazy to put swimsuits on

Six Months

Darling Baby,

Happy half birthday to my little stomach sleeping(sadly you still wake up a couple of times a night), thumb sucking, rollie pollie! You don't leave your stomach much these days. Trying to change your diaper or get you into your car seat has turned into a daily wrestling match for the second I set you you down you flip your entire body over, ready to roll. Rather than sitting in my lap you would prefer to lie superman style across my knees, arms outstretched and legs kicking. I imagine you will be crawling in no time!

Since you were born, everyone has thought (myself included) you looked exactly like your dad. Its been fun watching other little traits you have picked up from your dad. One of the silliest little quirks is your obsession with fiddling with your feet.  You will roll across the room just you can kick your feet up on the couch, console, table or wall.  Putting your feet up and through the crib slats is your personal favorite. Even when I am leaning over you changing your clothes or playing a game with you, you like to put your feet in the air and wrap your legs around my arm. 

I was beginning to wonder what part of me you inherited. Looks like you cashed in big time and were lucky enough to get my terrible skin. A trip to the doctor tells us you have eczema and are very sensitive to any irritants. We have changed your diapers and detergent and lather you multiple times daily with thick skin cream but we still find you scratching your belly and legs. Itching has become such a habit that whenever you find my skin, you immediately begin scratching that too. So sorry little one! Luckily, besides scratching, it doesn't seem to bother you.

Your current loves: spending time outside, and playing with Dad. At the end of the day when you have become bored of your toys and I have exhausted all my songs and games ( I guess I should probably work on increasing my repertoire of 3) the only fool proof way to put  a smile on your face is take a trip outside.  We sit on the porch where you curiously soak in the scenery and passerbys, waiting anxiously for your Dad to come home. Once Dad is home, there is no separating you two. If I try and take you into another room, you head is constantly whipping back and forth, trying to figure out where Dad is and how you can go play with him. I don't blame you. He's a pretty entertaining guy and I can't wait to see what adventures you two will have together!

Love Always, 

Mama

Five Months

Little Man,

Oh how much fun you are! I thought I knew and loved you when you were teeny tiny but I didn't even know what a hilarious, fun, little boy you would become! You have recently started experimenting with different sounds your voice can make and your current favorites are a fake cough and a wheeze that sounds like you are choking. You look so pleased with yourself at your recent discovery. A few nights ago, we were having dinner with friends when you made your choking sound and Allison immediately jumped in alarm at what might be wrong. We all had a good laugh as you gave her the biggest grin and smirk that said "Tricked you!"

Your current loves include sucking on your toes and your recent discovery of your thumb when you sleep (much to your Dad's dismay. I think its pretty cute :) You have officially become bored of staring at the walls all day long and I am frantically trying to find new toys that can keep you entertained. In a desperate attempt to reach toys out of reach, you developed a mini scoot. You stick your bum in the air bury your face in the ground and manage to slide forward like a slug. Unfortunately you found the mere couple of centimeters you moved not worth the effort and you quit trying after a couple of days.

I love when I get you to smile, you give me a big grin and then turn away in bashful embarrassment. It makes me feel like feel so loved. I hope you know how much I love you!

Mama

Mini Scoot in Action

Four Months

Little One,

You really aren't THAT little anymore. 14 pounds, 6 ounces at your last doctor visit; nearly double your birth weight. I'm willing to bet at least of couple of those pounds are found in your cheeks alone. They are the most delicious, round things that I could just eat them up. And I do. You receive lots and lots of kisses and every time I go to plant another big one on your cheek, you turn your little mouth towards me so I get a big, slobbery, open mouth, baby kiss. Nothing better.

You're rolling all around these days. The first time you rolled onto your stomach, you literally beamed with pride. You then spent the rest of the afternoon practicing to do it again. Oh how I beamed with pride to watch your baby determination to roll over again. Now we can't keep you on your back. Sometimes you get stuck on your stomach, forgetting that you can't roll back onto you back, and you bury your face into the ground with frustration. I cant help but laugh at the mess you make for yourself.

We were able to take your first airplane trip to visit all your family in Utah. Grandma and Grandpa Cragun and Grandma Ashton were able to come visit when you were born, but this was the first time all your aunts, uncles and cousins got to meet you. I had fun showing you off to my family and friends but I can't say you were all that thrilled to be away from home. You were awesome the first few days ( Except for the fact that you woke up every hour of the night the whole trip) smiling, showing off all your tricks, but then the lack of routine and poor sleep caught up to you and you let me know you were done. When we arrived home, I put your car seat in the middle of the room while I pulled in the rest of the luggage and you giggled in delight to be back at home. When your Dad came home shortly thereafter, you gave him the greatest welcome home a four month old is capable of. That night you didn't wake up once. Clearly you love your quiet little life.

I love my quiet little life with you too.

Love always,

Mama

Baby Blessing

We waited for Charlie's baby blessing until he was 4 months old because we wanted Blakely's dad to be able to come if he could . Crawford, Charlie's middle name namesake, was able to come in for the weekend, participate in the Priesthood circle and share this special time with us. Blakely gave a beautiful blessing and it was a wonderful meeting.

Even though we missed having most of our family to celebrate this sweet baby in our lives, we were blessed the have the company of so many great friends. About a dozen of Blakely's coworkers came to support. They are all in the FDP (Financial Development Program) and started Dell at the same as Blakely. After the blessing during sacrament, we returned to our humble little apartment (stripped after being robbed the week prior) for a simple meal of pulled pork sandwiches, salads, fruit, and a few cookies and desserts.

Tom and Scott

Lisa and Laura

Courtney, Ashley, Casey, and Jaclyn

                                                                  Trenton and Jay

We were also blessed to have many of our neighbors and ward friends come over once the church meetings were over.

Allison and Baby Addy, Kasee, and Andrea

James, Bart, Jason, Blakely and Charlie

Stephanie and little Andy

Charlie was such a sweet baby the whole time and performed right on cue for the large audience gathered in his favor. Everyone commented on his good nature and sweet demeanor. Of course he is the best baby :) It was such a wonderful afternoon to celebrate this sweet baby and wonderful spirit he has brought into our lives. We feel so blessed.

Charlie and Grandpa Crawford 

My favorite family photo.

Three Months

Dearest Baby

You are moving from a little lump into a little man! And as you lose your lumpiness, you are gaining more and more personality every day. We are long past using an alarm clock, but instead we rely on your happy chattering to wake us up every morning. (I'm sure that will be to our detriment one morning) Your Dad and I just lay in bed laughing, listening to you try out new sounds and noises. You are content to lay in your crib for 20+ minutes before we come in get you but the second you see my face, no matter how happy you are, you mean business. You want food immediately. None of this holding off to change your diaper stuff. You want your breakfast and you make sure to let me know!

Besides your daily morning chatter, you don't talk nearly as much as you used to. You are way too curious about your surroundings to be bothered by making noises. You're most definitely a happy baby, but when you are in new places and see new faces it is difficult to get a smile out of you because you are too busy checking out the new territory.

You love all things hands. Your hands or mine. You're not picky, they all taste good. And they taste even better if you can manage to eat both hands at the same time. You also LOVE your pink pacifier. We received a bunch of pacifiers that our friends had gotten for their little girl that they didn't like but there is one in particular that you can't get enough of. Sadly your mom is too cheap to go buy you a similar pacifier in a more boy appropriate color, but I think you are man enough to handle the pink :)

Love Always

Mama