Baby, Schmaby!! The Wonderful World of Charlie Rose Lernout

Charlie here! 

I am eating grown-up food over here! Well, at least something that resembles grown-up food. My mom made me her own baby-version of spaghetti bolognese. She claims it is some sort of Super Protein food, as the sauce mainly consists of kidney beans and ground beef. 

Want! I am gonna build me some muscles!




The only thing is that, because this pasta dish is so tasty, I have to deal with the vultures that are my parents. They are eyeing my dinner! If I don't wolf down my food like a maniac, they will start making excuses for me like "Ah, I think she's had enough" and proceed to eat my pasta themselves.

Stealing food from their own child! For God's sake, what is the world coming to?

Very truly yours,
C.R.L.

Charlie is busy cutting her 2 lower incisors and taking her sweet time to do so (like she does with a lot of things). We saw the first white rim emerge towards the end of May and right now the teeth are still only halfway out, if that! 

I get to brush her tooth stumps every day with banana flavoured baby toothpaste to which she is quickly becoming addicted. I have to move fast making sure that I have brushed her teeth before she sucks off the toothpaste from the brush, because once the toothpaste is gone, there is no way she will allow that brush back into her mouth.

I often hear from other moms that their child's first tooth was just there all of a sudden, almost as if it grew in overnight. So, I guess we're taking an alternative other route over here: Charlie sure likes to drag out the teething fun. 


Luckily for us, she doesn't seem bothered by the whole process. No loss of sleep, appetite issues or crying over these little white fellas. She's as happy as ever, only now she is flashing us the cutest semi-toothed grins!

Some photos of Mik and I when we were babies. First 2 pics of Charlie to compare:





Now, let's see if you can match the photo to the correct parent!
 
(Grandparents need not participate in this survey as they have unfair advantage)

In the series Funny Things Charlie does...this is how she plays when she lies on her back:




She'll squeeze a toy (any toy!) in between her little feet to hold it steady. That way she has both her hands free to explore the toy in question. She does this with everything: teethers, stuffed animals, diapers, clothes, rattles...

I make a habit of giving her a toy while I change her diaper - to keep her quiet while I do what needs to be done and also to keep her hands occupied and out-of-the-mess. So this monkey business of hers is not only funny, but also super efficient!

Sometimes I think I would give my left arm to be able to look inside my daughter's mind, because there is definitely some funky stuff going on there.

For one, she refuses to pick up a foodstuff and put it into her mouth. She'll pick up a piece of food all right, but instead of eating it, she will squish it, throw it or sing at it. Why? She's hungry enough, because she readily opens her mouth when I bring on a piece of food. Is she lazy? Does she not understand what she is supposed to do, despite my eating a gazillion pieces of toast and cheerios to teach her? She's never really been mouthing her toys either so it seems she has decided to skip the oral phase altogether. On the up side, dinner time is not really messy with her. Still though, try introducing finger foods to a person who does not wish to eat with their hands. As you can see below, this funny habit of hers makes for some unforgettable photo moments.

Charlie here. 

Today was father's day. Celebrate, we must! Celebrate, we did! Yes, my friends, there was joy, laughter and well wishing. Also, there were pancakes, cards and presents. 

The object of these festivities -obviously- my father. The one and only legendary Mik Lernout! He is a teller of stories, a singer of songs, a bearer of hugs and kisses and love.

My mom and I had a talk the other day and we have concluded that he is the most awesome dad ever to have existed on this earth and we love him so very, very much! 

Happy Father's Day, papa! 

Big kisses and lots of hugs from your little girl, 
Charlie Rose Lernout

Yesterday I had a nightmare about not-even-remotely-cool things happening to Charlie. I can report that it was truly one of those nightmares that you see on TV. You know, where a person suddenly springs up from their bed in the middle of the night, soaking wet and screaming, then looking around the room with a bewildered face and even more bewildered hair. Yup, that was me all right.

Unfortunately for Mik, I was upset enough to wake him up and have him go check on Charlie with me. Needless to say all this nightly commotion had left our baby daughter entirely unfazed. She was sleeping peacefully on her tummy with her legs and arms spread wide like a starfish. 

The next time I got up was a lot more enjoyable: I woke up to Charlie's singing in the early morning hours. 

Charlie here! 

My people, I am now of the ripe age of 8 months old! And you know how it goes: another month, another brag list! Check out my latest, most awesome skills. 

• I can eat chunky foods like Cheerios and pieces of fruit or vegetables. I can't however move pieces of food from my hand into my mouth. Let's rephrase that: I do not wish to move pieces of food from my hand into my mouth. Rather I will open my mouth and stick out my tongue, a clear cue for my mom to insert food items into my mouth. 
• I can make the hand sign for "milk". This is the only sign I that can execute right now. One has to have priorities in life.
• I can shake a rattle and bang my hands on the table. Sure, these actions may seem mundane for some, but it took me a while to get a hang of them.
• I can turn the pages of small cardboard books (Also, I can eat cardboard books!!!)
• I can sit up all by myself

Look at that list! Indeed, I am very pleased with myself.


Godspeed!

C.R.L.

Charlie here! Greetings!

If you ask me, there is a disproportionally large amount of balloons in my life. Don't get me wrong, I loooove balloons so I am not complaining. Still though, everywhere I look there is a balloon. 

Red balloons on my bedroom wall. Large, scary orange balloons on our patio (these have been taken down in the meantime, thank God!). A heart-shaped balloon on the art print my aunt gave me. Big balloons in the sky yesterday. And, of course...awesome shiny balloons in the supermarket!

Is the Universe trying to tell me something here?

Season's Blessings!!
C.R.L.

Charlie here! Good morning!

Another grandparent came to visit this week and good times were had by all. Oma L brought me an entirely new, pink (woohoo!) wardrobe, a few new toys and magazines for the parents. 

The gift giving however continued while she was here! Yours truly scored some grade A Gap outfits! Also, a wooden picnic table and a beautiful passion flower plant are now our new patio bling. The parents seem quite excited about this.

Thanks for everything Oma L!!

Next on the list is Gramps, who will be flying in from Belgium in only a few days. Gosh, I am such a social butterfly.

Best wishes,

C.R.L.