Happy 1st Birthday, Charlie!

 
My baby little boy is one now! Can it be? One year ago today we were bringing him home from the hospital and learning to take care of a newborn. Scary and sweet times. I can't believe this baby...

   ...is the same as this one...

  

Here is a little about Charlie, the one year old:

  

• He is all of a sudden the happiest little boy ever! I am overjoyed at his contentedness & ability to entertain himself for hours playing with toys and reading books.
• He weighs in at over 22 pounds (a 4 pound weight gain in a little over a month!) and measures about 29 inches tall. I love his potbelly and short, stubby legs. 
• He is incredibly cuddly. He is always hugging his teddy bear, and now every time he sees pictures of cats or dogs he lays his head on the picture to "hug" it :) He does this to us, too. So sweet!
• He loves books... he even giggles when I reach for one to read before bedtime or naptime, and points to the ones he wants. His favorite one is about babies and every time I read the line that says, "Babies love to be hugged and cuddled and loved" he smiles, cocks his head and shrugs a shoulder. Adorable.
• He now crawls normally most of the time, unless he needs to get somewhere quick. Then he reverts back to the army crawl. 
• He also stands without assistance for a few seconds at a time, but only when he doesn't realize it. He gets so frightened when he does and sits right down! He is still cruising around quickly while holding on to furniture.
• He now says, "Bye bye" and "all gone/done" (with the sign language) and waves when people leave through our front door.
• He naps twice a day for a total of 3-4 hours and sleeps uninterrupted for 12 hours at night, praise the Lord! 
• He eats a lot of our "adult" food now and enjoys all the new flavors and tastes. He loves chili!
• He drinks goat's milk out of a sippy cup with a straw.
• He turns everything into a "walker"...his high chair, his music toy on 4 legs, & his new rocking chair all get pushed around by Charlie while walking :) 

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy. We love you and are so thankful to God for you!