Charlie: 10 Months

We have reached double digits!!! He's such a big boy and it is seriously hard to believe that he will be one in two months! He has really developed a lot as far as motor skills this past month and is still growing faster than I can get clothes for him. 

Here's a little bit about Charlie this month:

• We visited the dermatologist this past month to look at the birthmark on his arm. The doctor wasn't concerned but said if there were any changes to bring him back in to be seen. We also have to come back in a year for a follow-up. 
• He is wearing size 3 diapers and12 month, 12-18 month, 18 month and 24 month clothes
• He still has ZERO teeth.....so we are still doing lots of ibuprofen, teething toys
• He prefers to be crawling, standing or moving along furniture versus you holding him the majority of the time--and he is FAST! He does have his snuggly moments every now and then though....especially with his mama
• He loves to play with Mellany in the morning when he wakes up before I come and get him out of his bed. 
• Playing with Mellany and Johnny is the highlight of his day.....you can just see in his face how happy he is that they are playing with him
• On our trip to KC, he basically screamed the entire way there and the majority of the way back.....until we turned him facing forward.....after that he was happy as could be! 
• He has found the kitchen cabinets and loves to open them and pull everything out
• The refrigerator magnets are one of his favorite toys. Some of his other favorite toys are Johnny's toys--tractors, trucks, cars, etc....and Johnny isn't really a fan of that
• Bath time is one of his favorite times and. he is so loving the big boy baths
• He loves to be the center of attention

Sleeping:
We have turned the corner in the sleeping department!!!!!! After two "sleeps" of the good old fashioned "crying it out method", Charlie is sleeping great at nap time and through the night. He's taking only one nap-in the afternoon and then will go to bed around 7:30/8:00. We've waited 9 loooooong months for this and are enjoying every single bit of sleep!! (And yes, I'm knocking on wood and praying it continues!)


Eating Habits/New Foods:
Bottles: 4 ounces every 3 hours with 2T of oatmeal....6 ounces still come back up.....There are several feedings where he doesn't even really seem that interested in the bottle, that he would rather be playing

New Foods!!: Green Beans, Waffles, Bread, Carrots. I'm slowly but surely getting better at introducing foods quicker, but I'm just still traumatized from the food issue he had and all the gas and spitting up that happens with new foods. The gas and spitting up are definitely minimal so I'm gradually coming out of the fear.....I even plan on trying yogurt in the next month! Mum-Mums and puffs are still his absolute favorite thing to eat and he would prefer to feed himself versus me feeding him.

.....the reflux continues but isn't as bad as it has been in the past.

New Discoveries:
Stairs! He has found the stairs but he actually does really well if he is at the top of the stairs. He puts his hand at the edge and then actually backs up! BUT if he is at the bottom of the stairs he will try to climb them and he even had a falling incident.....so that's where you really have to watch him.

Accomplishments:
*Saying "hi" (while waving most of the time)
*"How big is Charlie?" "So big!"....He loves this game!
*Pulling himself up and walking along furniture

Places:
Church, Dogs N Suds, the park, Meijer, Kids Club at the gym, the bank, Johnny & Mellany's soccer practice, swim lessons, daddy's office, Kansas City, Dermatologist in Indianapolis

Special Memories:
Spending time in KC over the 4th of July. Charlie did so well on the trip (minus the actual driving part) going to everyone's house, staying up late, getting up early, changing feeding schedules, etc....we really couldn't have asked for a better stay. Going back home is always a memorable moment for us!

10 Month Photo Shoot
From this month forward I think I'm going to have to recruit John for help with the pictures because Charlie was ALL. OVER.!!!! Then, to try and get the pictures of all 3.....I don't know how I got the images I did lol!!! There are a lot of pictures, so you'll definitely see why it was so difficult.

 

 

Charlie: 9 Month Professional Images

Annie Hill Photography is seriously the best!! She always captures the personalities of our babies!! It also helps that she's soooo sweet and truly loves our kiddos .....which means our kiddos love her too! It's pretty hard to believe that the next time we see her will be for Charlie's one year session!!!!!! 

{{Somewhat}} Wordless Tuesday!!

Johnny helping out the neighbors by watering their plants and checking the mail. I sent them these pictures to let them know they shouldn't worry about a thing, that Johnny was taking care of everything! :)

Wearing a butterfly net and a beautiful new dress

Soccer practice

Big boy with a spoon and a banana

Father's Day gift wrapping....Father's Day went great this year! John was super surprised by the gifts we picked out for him and has already used each of them. The kids loved wrapping the gifts and giving them to John, making cards and telling him "Happy Father's Day all day long. We also took him to lunch at the place of his choice and relaxed for most of the day. The kids and I are so blessed to have John as the "man of the house". He's such an amazing father--patient, loving, fun, thoughtful, caring....and he means the WORLD to us! 

Mellany's photography

Father's Day lunch at Olive Garden. I buckled Charlie in the correct way and he somehow "Houdini'd" his way completely backwards....with the seat still buckled!! 

Johnny's photography....at Meijer

Big Kid Selfies....

...and then Johnny said his tummy hurt so it was time for snuggles and pictures of puppy

Soccer practice

First day of cheer camp!