17 months old, Charlie

Charlie barley, 17 months old.

I love this age, You're so cute sometimes I can't stand it. You still have hardly any hair but that doesn't mean you're not adorable, I've started loving your short hair.

Your wobbly walk has straightened over the last month, but you still have cute bow legs.

You begun the month talking more but then stopped again. There are words you know, and words you've used mutable times but if I asked you to say something on demand I doubt it would happen. You can make lots of different animal noises. You understand everything and communication isn't a problem.

On Monday we took you out for breakfast, then to a play center,  Aunty Kerryn came. You love the times Harper's at kinder and you're the center of attention for the day.

You love shoes, and have an interest in clothes. You help me undress you.

While You and Harper enjoy each other, lately you've been playing more by yourself, you hate it if Harper sits on my knee and push him off. You're still clingy and just when I think I've weaned you during the day you decide you want to feed again, nonstop.

 You love looking at books more than sitting still while I read them. You flick the pages pointing to the words and repeat A or E because you've seen me do it with Harper. Your favourite animal is a cow and you want to read any book you can find about cows.

A week ago I changed your routine, you instantly begun having a day sleep of 2 to 3 hours. That's the longest you've ever slept. Nights are still hard but I'm going to work on those soon.

Happy 17 months Barley Bird. Love you Mummy xoxo

16 months old

Charlie

I remember the day I met you, you struggled with the contractions, they came strong one on top of another, you were posterior and with each contraction your heartbeat dropped, each time it dropped my heartbeat went up. I remember wishing I hadn't had an epidural, that way I wouldn't be as focused on what was going on around me.

The drip was turned off, and with help you managed to turn, you improved and we were able to go ahead with a natural delivery.

When you came out you were so little, you had the skinniest legs I'd ever seen and really long toes. Your eyes didn't like the light, you kept them shut a long time.
You didn't want to feed right away, instead you nested into my arm and we stayed that way for a long time.

It seems like such a long time ago, longer than 16 months. And yet you've grown so quickly.

This month, I've started letting you climb on the table and the couch. You've fallen off a few times but pretty much have the hang of it, and I'm so glad not to be telling you "no" and pulling you off all day.

You walk really fast now, maybe I could call it a run. It looks like you'll fall over with each step, as you stick out you tummy and wobble along, but you don't.

You can clearly say, Mama, mummy, mum, daddy, dada, duck, hi, stop, and ta. You've used other words but rarely. You mostly get what you want by pointing, shaking your head, and nodding, you sign for breastfeeding and all done.

You are incredibly jealous of Harper, you get angry and pull his hand away if he touches me. You hate, hate, hate, getting dressed and having your nappy changed.

You still wake up several times during the night to BF and I've stopped bothering trying to place you back in the cot, so from your first wake up we co-sleep.

We got your first pair of real shoes, although your still getting use to walking with them on, you love them, you also love wearing dresses.

One of the highlights this month I have to say is when you learnt how to dance the robot.

Charlie I love you!!!! Happy 16 months.

xoxo Mama

9 months old.

Charlie Barley Marley Bird! Your nine months old.

This month has been action packed with you mastering many skills.

You wave and say hello (if we say it first), you crawl, fast. You sit up without falling (often), you pull up to standing and fall (very often). In the last month you've grown 4 top teeth, of course you were sad, I mean four teeth that's a lot to get at one time.

You have started to copy words, but still don't say mama, mummy, mum, mother, or any word that vaguely resembles me, ha! You do say dad, dada, daddy, dad, DAD, you love your dad and often push off me with your legs to get to him, you also kick you legs and wave your arms with excitement when he gets home. The relationship you have with your brother has changed since your able to get to any of the toys, Harper has become increasingly jealous of you over the last few weeks, and you've copped a few sly (or not so sly) knocks. Of course he still loves you masses, as you do him.

Feeding: breastfeeding has become increasingly harder during the day, on average you BF 4 times during the day, nights are unpredictable and could differ as much as 3 to 6 feeds.

Solids: BLW is going great, you're eating what we eat 90% of the time and the highchair is hosed down daily.

Sleep: You usually have 3 naps a day all about 30 min. In the last month there has been a few morning sleeps that lasted over an hour! This is big progress for us! Another change has been you have started sleeping in the pram if I go for a walk, great news, for you, and my body after having you.

We are still co sleeping at night but are in the process of making small changes to get you into the cot at night, mostly because I'm scared you'll crawl off our very high bed.

Happy nine months Bird, forgive me for posting this late... I did write it last week but we went away for the weekend before I had a chance to take photos. Love you to the moon.

8 Month update.

Food: three meals a day, which started about a week ago. You love food, you get so excited when I put you into the highchair and start grabbing food before I even have a chance to put your bib on. You are yet to reject a single food.

Breast-feeding: you're so interested in whats going on around you that day feeding has become hard, most days you have a few drinks here and there but your main milk intake is at night.

Talking: you can say Dada, sometimes you say mummy, or hello.

Activity: your still commando crawling but have picked up the pace and can move around well, you can get up on all fours and have started moving your knees and hands to crawl but haven't taken off yet. Your into everything Harper has and never seem content with baby toys, fights are starting.

Sleep: your down to two catnaps a day and most days your tired. You have started rolling onto your tummy and trying to crawl in the cot during the day, you bash your head on the sides and cry. It's a nightmare, i've tried strapping you down but your to strong and get out of the blanket. You still wake up to feed 3 to 4 times a night. I'm just hanging in there hoping soon you'll sleep better.

The funniest thing you are doing lately is stealing Harper's morning bottle, you watch him the whole time he has it and as soon as he puts it down your off, I video taped it the other day. Sometimes I let you have a sip and you scull it as if you were never breastfeed! So funny... I think it was around this age I was trying to get Harper to take a bottle, so I had the option to leave him for a few hours, ha. The power of an older sibling.
You're getting much slimmer than you were, partly from being sick, but mostly from moving around and not drinking as much. We had you 8 month check last week and your super tall, average weight with a big head.

You are so in love with Harper, he makes you laugh more than anyone, sometimes he just runs past and you laugh. Most days you cry if I walk out of the room especially if it's getting later in the day. You get excited when daddy gets home you love to feel his whiskers and pull on his nose, I like to watch you do this.
Charlie I find you perfectly adorable and you steal my heart each day, I love you bird brain.

Bird.

This little lady is pulling herself along backwards, she just started getting her knees up,  Harper didn't crawl till he was much older, maybe around 9 months... to me this feels young, knowing this little lady she will be crawling soon. She is such a sassy pants, when she is trying to lift her body up she gets really frustrated and mad, she pretty much looks at me and screams. Adorable.