3 months

Charlie was three months old on Thursday, and I think this was a really fun month. A lot of people had warned me that the first 8 weeks with a new baby can be pretty tough, but that it got a lot more fun after that, and they were right. Granted, I still think our first 8 weeks went really well, but we have had so much fun during this third month. He's really come alive.

Charlie is getting a lot more interactive. There are quite a few times when he gets fussy that he just needs someone to talk to. And he does love to chat. He makes the cutest, sweetest noises. I've been reading to him a lot more, and he will sit and look closely at the book. He's all smiles and is giggling more often, too. I've been playing peek-a-boo with him and that can really get him going.

He's been sleeping 11 hours straight in his crib at night consistently for the last month. What a blessing! I still enjoy our nighttime routine. I think it's pretty relaxing for both of us. Feeding continues to go well and we've maintained a good eating schedule. We're making progress on nap time; I can really read his signals now so I know when to try to put him down before he gets too fussy. This past week we've had a lot of luck putting him in his crib for naps.

He's getting really close to rolling over. He can get himself on his side from his back, but hasn't quite made it all the way over yet. I'll admit, I'm not as diligent with tummy time as I'm sure I should be, but I guess I'm enjoying him not being mobile yet, so I'm not exactly doing anything to encourage him to crawl sooner. :) He keeps getting bigger and bigger, and he's already wearing some of his 9 month clothes.

This month we started getting pretty active. He does really well in the nursery at church. I'm glad he's getting some good interaction with other people and other babies (well, as much interaction as a 3 month old can do). We've been getting out and about with a lot of friends and taking him to some fun events. It's fun to live life with him and show him the world around us.

We've been having a fun time with my friend Sara visiting. I'll have some pictures of the State Fair and the TCU game to post after we get back from Nashville (wish us luck with another flight with Charlie).

Stroller Skating

We went stroller skating again today. We met up with Leslie and Cody, and Kim and Kenny. I guess I could say Charlie likes it, but he pretty much slept through the whole thing.

Take me out to the ballgame

Today we took Charlie to his first sporting event. We went to the Rangers last home game of the season. He did really well, and we all had a lot of fun. He even made it on TV. Jim Knox, the Rangers sideline reporter whom Dave works with, also had a son born a few days after Charlie, so he asked us a few brief questions about Charlie on air.

The game was just the start of a busy week for Charlie. Tomorrow we're going stroller skating again and have a lunchtime playdate. Then my best friend, Sara, flies in from Denver tomorrow night. We're taking her to the State Fair of Texas on Friday and then the TCU/CSU football game on Saturday.

Yes, Charlie, baseball can be a little boring.

P.S. Doesn't Charlie look precious (and all grown up!) in that hat? :)

me & my daddy

Chatty Charlie

So this is my first time subjecting friends and family to a video of my baby doing nothing and me making silly noises. :) He was lying on his playmat just chatting away, but of course he stopped as soon as I put the camera on him. But hey, it's a chance for me to try posting video for the first time. I promise more engaging content in the future. :)

Happy Boy

I was able to capture a couple smiles on camera this morning. I still haven't been able to get a picture of his wide-mouth, gummy smile, but these are still pretty cute. Every night as I'm changing him to get him ready for bed, he'll look at me and give me a big smile as if to say, "Thanks, Mom for everything you did today."

He and I have had a busy week. On Tuesday I started a women's Bible study at church, so we had our first experience leaving him at the nursery. The ladies there said he did really well. Then on Wednesday morning he and I visited a "Baby Boot Camp" exercise class. I really enjoyed being able to exercise with him right there with me, but boy am I sore today. And perhaps the most fun of all, today we went "Stroller Skating" with my friend Leslie and her 7-week-old Cody. I hadn't skated in years, but after a couple laps I got the hang of it again.

And now he's actually resting in his crib as we speak, which is a big victory. He's been consistently sleeping about 11 hours at night (woohoo!!!!), but the naps have still been inconsistent, so I'm thrilled that he's spending some quiet time in his crib. Previous attempts at this have only resulted in crying.

Go Frogs!

TCU plays Texas tonight for the first time in 12 years, so I have Charlie all decked out in Horned Frog Purple. We're teaching him early where his loyalties are. Doesn't he look all grown up in his T-shirt and jeans?

P.S. I never got a chance to post about his latest check up: he weighed in at 16 lbs, which was actually a little less than either Dave or I guessed, and he is 26 in long. Also this week he has slept 11 hours straight for 3 straight nights. He has since reverted back to waking for a mid-morning feeding and then going back to bed, so while he spoiled me with 11 hours, I'm trying not to complain that he went back down to 9. (I know, poor me.) ;)

Wimpy Wesley

Today one of our smoke detectors started beeping because the battery is running out, and it has caused Wesley to flip out. He started trembling and wouldn't leave my side. And he keeps trying to crawl into my lap. I always have to laugh at our big, "tough" pit bull whose tail goes between his legs when a smoke detector goes off. Poor dog! :) That's why he's earned the nickname Wuss-ley. The smoke detector is no longer beeping, but he's still acting all fragile.

Charlie's first trip!

Last weekend (Aug. 24-29), Charlie made his first trip, both by air and by car. We flew to Iowa where we met up with my parents and drove 4 hours to Worthington, Minn., for my cousin Stephanie's wedding. Charlie traveled pretty well. He ate on take off and descent, which helped keep him happy. Dave handled our first in-plane diaper change. You could hear Charlie crying from the bathroom, but I think Dave set a record for fastest diaper change ever. Charlie slept the entire drive to Minnesota; literally from the parking lot of the airport to the parking lot of the hotel. He did great all weekend, napping in his car seat as we went from event to event, and he made it through most of the wedding and reception. While there, Charlie was introduced to the whole Hurley side of the family. Growing up, we spent a lot of weekends in Worthington, so I really enjoyed being back there and seeing family. Charlie slept most of the drive back to Iowa, except for the last 20 minutes. Dave had to come back to Dallas on Monday, but Charlie and I stayed with Mom and Dad in Perry until Wednesday. I was really nervous about flying alone with him, but we did good, especially since I was starting to come down with something and was pretty sick by the time we got home. Fortunately, I was able to pump enough milk the couple days before so I could feed him bottles on the plane home so I didn't have to try to breastfeed next to a complete stranger on the super-small regional jet we were on.

I'm glad Charlie took to traveling well, because it won't be long before he's on a plane again. We're going to Nashville the first week of October to see some of Dave's family, and Charlie and I will be going to KC for Halloween. Traveling with him at this age is relatively easy since he doesn't need much; I'm sure it will only get tougher as he starts getting more active and needs more entertainment.

Me, Charlie and Sue in Worthington

Veterans Memorial on lake in Worthington. My grandparents used to live on the lake, and my grandpa's name was recently added to the memorial.

games in Perry


an improvised bath in Perry (much better than when I crammed him in the sink at the hotel in Worthington)

Charlie slept on Mom's lap like this for about 30 minutes

with the bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner

Jenna, Charlie, Mom

four generartions

the Hochhalters


Dave and Calvin (Uncle Dave! Uncle Dave!)

Charlie with Great Grandma Hurley

Uncle Carlo, Aunt Jane, Mom, Uncle Ed