Oh, Charlie

Little Charlie.
Only, he isn't quite so little anymore.

He was, though, the day before we brought his baby sister into the world. I remember carrying him down the stairs on my right hip, that morning, and then in the days following- Christopher and I repeating "hes just so big now", to each other 10 times a day.

He grew a foot taller, learned 100 new words, and gained an entirely new (and very disliked) sense of independence.



He loves trucks.

No, I mean- really loves trucks.

We're not sure where this infatuation comes from, since we don't have a truck (we rock the mini van), and his interest for trucks seemed to blossom before he had even layed eyes on a toy truck. One day a truck drove by, and that was it.

Our neighbor across the street, they have a truck. A big, loud, mud truck. When Charlie hears it coming down the street, he throws his Lovey off to the side, yanks his binky out of his mouth (because you can't run with a binky in your mouth, right?), throws that too, and hauls little toddler butt to the front window, hoping to get the best seat in the house for the truck show.

He drives his toy trucks along the window sil, sometimes taking a detour over to the couch where Mommy and Evelyn sit for a midday nursing sessions. He drives his trucks up and down the Boppy pillow, over little fingers and toes, and eventually they end up in his mouth, where he'll chew on them until he remembers the ejected binky from earlier, that lay all by itself in the middle of a pile of duplo blocks on the other side of the house.



And oh my little boy, you are so tired.

It used to be, that he couldn't sleep anywhere other than his crib. Sometimes, if we were lucky, he'd fall asleep in his car seat while we were out and about, but almost always- he had to be in his crib.

These days, he'll literally fall asleep standing up. He did it twice yesterday.

Wherever he is, whether it be while eating dinner in his high chair while still holding a fork full of potatoes- or while laying on the floor reading a book... we simply cover him up, and hope that he drifts off into a sweet sweet dream long enough to recharge and awake with a smile
.


Look at that ridiculous happy smile.

In between tantrums and refusing to eat his broccoli, he sure does melt our hearts.

And of course, he goes straight for Daddy's work boots, the minute that Christopher walks through the door. His boots, his belt, his wallet. Give all of it to me Dad, I want to be just like you!

They'll play together for hours (or, usually until dinner is ready). Christopher will get down on the play mat, build a great big block tower, and then plow toy ambulances and dump trucks through it as fast as he can, causing Charlie to erupt in giggles. And just when you'd think that Charlie couldn't possibly laugh any harder, Daddy swoops him up and tosses him into the air, making jet and helicopter sounds.

Mister Charlie, how fast you're growing.