I really can't believe how badly I have neglected our blog over the past 6 months! I feel terrible for not capturing all of Charlie's cute little "firsts" and words like I did for Henry. But truth be told, it has been quite a hectic and emotional few monts filled with more changes than I truly know what to do with so I need to give myself a little break and just start from here and move forward.
*big deep breath...*
So Henry has been very busy starting his 4's year at preschool. He has a new teacher this year, Miss Betsy, who he really likes. He also has really turned into a social butterfly this Fall, playing with all the kids on the playground and wanting to go to every kid's birthday party we receive and invitation for. It is really nice to see him reaching out and connecting with other kids, especially since he would only sit on the steps during recess waiting for us to pick him up almost all of last school year. It is truly amazing the difference a year makes. I no longer feel sad dropping him off, wondering if he is having fun and interacting with the group which is nice.
He still loves his LEGOS, of which we are starting to collect quite a massive amount of. If it is a LEGO with wheels, chances are we have it! He loves to make his own creations and use his imagination to come up with new ways to build things which is really cool to see. He started riding his bike a lot over the summer and we almost got his training wheels off before the wet weather set in, but not quite. Man was he motivated though! I think once we can really get back outside in the Spring he will be on 2 wheels in no time!
Then there is our littl Charlie bubba. wow, talk about changes! I can't believe how quickly our little guy is growing up! He sure does keep us on our toes that one! Very adventurous and a little on the dare-devil side. If one we could put him a crash helmet all day... He is sweet and funny and a wee bit of a stinker too. When you aren't looking he can climb up and stand on the ottoman, then just stand there grinning, waiting for you to turn around and catch him being naughty. Little stinker boy!
I started taking Charlie to The Little Gym in Lake Oswego on Wednesday mornings while Henry is at school which he LOVES!!! It is a great facility that has structured instructor-led sessions for all ages of kids where they can explore a gymnastics type setting safely. And Charlie has taken to it from day one! I really wanted to get him into a structured group and to be around kids his age early to try and avoid the difficulties we had with Henry starting school, and boy did he prove they are night-and-day in some regards. And he loves dropping Henry off at school, which I think some days he secretly wishes he could stay and play with all the kids! Charlie has no problem wandering away from where I am and exploring on his own, and letting our sweet Teacher Angela use him for all kinds of demonstrations. We have such a great time each week and it is really nice to do something just he and I, too.
Charlie's vocabulary is outstanding too. He knows about 15 animal sounds, which are adorable. He has words for most of his people: mama, dada, nunu (Nani), mamama (grandma), Pa (papi), and something for Henry that I can't really figure out how to spell but sounds the same every time he says it. He has words for all kinds of foods and TV shows. He is also quickly picking up on some signs I have been showing him, and he has learned at Little Gym. Watching him put his little fingers together and sign for more is just too cute! He sure has a set of lungs too and isn't afraid to use them at all. Strong-willed is a mild way to describe him at times. Must have something to do with being born as a Gemini in May. that should prove interesting as the toddler years approach...
He has been napping so much better over the last 6 months, pretty regularly from about 1-3 pm which is a nice time for Henry and I to play together. And we have lucked out that he is that 1% of babies who can actually be put into his bed awake at night and fall asleep on his own, majority of the time without fussing at all. Sweet! He sleeps for about 12 hours at night which is awesome too. He sure gave us a run for our money with sleep in the first year but since then it has been pretty smooth sailing (knock on wood).
I guess that is a bit of an overload of information for one post -- just felt like I had to get caught up a little bit! I will do separate posts for pictures soon. These boys are growing and changing so fast, I've got to get these pictures up before they get into college!!!
