Sping Is Almost Here

There will be several days this week in the 70's and we're very excited to be able to take some long walks around our neighborhood. Charlie loves activities. She loves Gymboree, she loves to help vacuum, do laundry, cook dinner... and LOVES being outside.

We can't wait to take her on a stroll though the nature preserve so she can see the birds and trees. I can only imagine the faces she'll make and the little squeals and shrieks she'll make.

Beyond even what you've seen on the videos on the site so far, Charlotte is talking with such a personality now. No words of course, but between the pauses she takes and her intonation, she really IS trying to have conversation now! So much fun!

Babies and Their Power

I remember years ago (around 1993) when a buddy of mine made a comment to me that I heard but didn't really hear...

I lived in Maine at the time, and my buddy (who was also my boss) and his wife had just had a baby boy. Steve and I were driving back to his place from the video store one night and he said, "This is the closest Julie and I have been to the movies in almost a year... we don't do anything now that doesn't involve Justin in some way." He continued, "There's nothing we do that isn't about him now."

Let me explain that this conversation was mostly one-sided... Me listening and Steve absolutely brimming with pride and love about his 4 month old boy. He and Julie had made this incredible transformation into parents (and adulthood) and while I was impressed, I really didn't get it.

I think back to that conversation a lot. I think back to watching my buddy and his wife totally become different people upon the arrival of their son. It was a great "transformation."

The funny thing to me now, is that I'm realizing it's not really a transformation at all. I feel everyday like I was born to be a Dad. Like this has always been inside of me. I'm not going to go off on a tangent here about fate and destiny or anything, but I really believe this is the perfect "gig" for me... and Beck too. We have so much fun being Charlie's parents.

Honestly... I have ZERO desire to do anything these days without thinking of my daughter first. Funny. As I write this blog, Charlie is just now waking from a nap, yawning across the room from me... I've never smiled like this in my life.

Charlie now likes to go cheek to cheek with me when I hold her. She presses her face against mine and will just stay there for 10 minutes! All that chubby cheek power combined. The world better watch out!

By the way... remind me to tell the story sometime of how I agreed to actually FILM the birth of Steve and Julie's baby boy Justin! What an experience!

Reminiscing

Charlie is now 4 months old. What a big girl she's grown in to... literally. She's now 14 lbs. and 12 ozs. Surely now she is my "Chunky Monkey." She has developed into this beautiful, smiling, talkative little princess... and it seems just like yesterday we brought her home.

Speaking of which, our neighbors, Jeff and Lori, had their son Andrew on Saturday morning; a whopping 8 lbs, 1 oz. He is the cutest little guy, and although he's a big boy, he makes Charlotte feel like she is a 50 lb. sack of potatoes!

We're so happy for their new family. Over the last few weeks, we felt like WE were having a baby too, since we kept calling to see if it was "go time," as Jeff called it.

It was amazing to see them in the hospital, with their baby boy, completely exhausted, but totally in love.

Jeff and I had lots of talks over the last few months, and I kept telling him, "Jeff, I can't explain it, but you'll know exactly what I mean when you hold Andrew for the first time."

It's just an incredible feeling that first few hours, knowing you are now a DAD, and your little one is completely dependent on you (and Mom) for EVERYTHING.

I'm so happy to see Jeff finally feel that. We shared that "look" when he opened the hospital room door. The look that carries all the emotion and experience that only a Dad could feel.

They come home on Tuesday. I'm excited to hear THEIR story about the ride home from the hospital! When it starts to really sink in...

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa D

Charlotte had a great weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Davis (3/4 and 3/5). It has been a little over 2 months since they had seen her last, and her development was even surprising to Grandma D, who has always believed Charlie to be advanced. :-)

Charlie has been a little hesitant lately to be held by anyone other than Mom or Dad. It usually takes a few minutes for her to warm up... but she was quite quick to do so for Grandma D. Of course, she didn't really have much choice, since she had 2 months worth of snuggling to make up for!

Grandma thinks Charlie waited until her visit to reveal to us that she knows how to grasp her toys with BOTH hands and pull them to her mouth. Mommy and Daddy had never seen that before this weekend, and Charlie also grabbed several rattles that she never had interest in.

Grandpa D had to bide his time, but he got to join Charlie in one of her favorite activities: reading her books. Grandpa read "Brown Bear" and "Barnyard Dance" to Charlie, both several times, and his sweet little girl was just mesmerized. Of course Grandma helped them turn the pages.

It was a great weekend, and never long enough, nor often enough.

We're very fortunate to have Beck's parents right up the street so Charlie gets to see Pop and G Rose pretty frequently, and she always loves it.

Beck and I are very thankful that Grandma and Grandpa D have visited Little Charlotte so many times in her short life. That 9-hour drive can be a bear, especially in winter, and we really appreciate how much effort they make to get up to see her. After all, Charlotte is their FIFTH grand-daughter (sixth overall grandkid).

Daddy keeps taking pictures and videos so they can keep up with her on the internet. One of these days though, he'll get just the right combination of pictures and music to tug their hearts strings enough to get them to sell their house and move closer to Maryland!