Charlie's Changes

Charlie has changed a lot in the last few months (as all babies do).  He still loves life as much as he always has!

This was at four months old.  His hair was just barely coming back in!  He was sleeping through the night and loving the attention from everyone.

This was around five months old.  He still looks pretty much the same.  Blue eyes, fuzzy head, squishable, kissable, mooshable cheeks.

At six months old, Charlie started thinning out.  He actually lost weight between four and six months, even though he grew taller.  The doctors aren't too concerned but we are keeping an eye on him.  

This is Charlie these days at almost eight months.  He is a bundle of fun!

Charlie laughs at everything.  He loves cooing at everyone and is always happy, although he has a suspicious instinct for when I am unavailable and he is left with Joel.  I am serving in young women's now and Charlie is almost unfailingly fussy on the nights I am gone.  He is really never fussy otherwise.  Coincidence?

Charlie laughs when he sees me.  It is so adorable and makes me want to come grab him for more kisses every time he does it.  He just looks so genuinely thrilled that I have come into his sight.  I can't help but lather attention on him for it and of course that perpetuates the delightful cycle.

He loves to lift his torso off the ground.  When he lays on his back and sees me coming, he arches his back so much that only his heels and head are touching the ground.  Then he flaps his arms like mad while he giggles for me.

Charlie started scooting last week.  He dug his toes in the ground and moved forward, inch by excruciating inch.  It almost made me tired just watching him.  

The balancing act he'd go through to get to what he wanted was hysterical.

And the concentration on his face. . .priceless.

Such determination.  It has to be so frustrating.

Charlie would take a small break here and there to express that frustration.

And with renewed effort, 

And more leg acrobatics, 

He'd finally get it!

Now, only a week after I took those pictures, Charlie is a champion scooter and even gets up on all fours.  When he does, he pushes himself forward enough to face plant into the ground and gets up to do it all again.  He loves being able to explore on his own, I think.  This has made for some interesting surprises in his diapers.

Charlie also has discovered table food.  He whines and shrieks at dinner until we bring him onto our laps.  Then he whines and shrieks until we give him a bite.  The second he swallows, he whines and shrieks for more!  We cannot feed him fast enough.  I don't think the doctors will be concerned about his weight for long.

I love this little guy.  I love when he grabs me tight around the neck and slobbers on my cheek.  

I think everyone else loves him too--he is hardly left alone all day!