growth spurts and goings on

We've been so busy the last couple of weeks. And I'm happy to report that we haven't just been busy keeping the baby alive. Although, rest assured, Charlie is alive and well.

I've been getting better each day at being more brave about what we do and where we go. This past month, we've been to play dates, game nights, dinner parties, a Super Bowl party, lunches with friends, mommy and me pilates classes, Bible study, the library, and Target...just to name a few.  I even left Charlie with Dad for a few hours while I got my hair cut.

The first time I took Charlie anywhere by myself, it took 3 hours from start to finish to get us both ready and out the door. The second time we left the house, I was halfway down the street before I realized the diaper bag was still at home. The third time we ventured out, I came back to the car a couple hours later and saw that I had left the passenger door wide open. Oops. I'm not saying it's always a breeze, but we have certainly come a long way since then.

Mommy & Me Pilates - he loves going to class with me. 

A cute baby AND the cleaning aisle at Target. Be still my heart. 

looking spiffy for church

Valentine's day...and sitting up for several seconds unassisted (well, the couch assisted, but you know what I mean)

How can you deny this face? I don't.

...but that brings me to yesterday. It was a long day. A really long day. Charlie had two modes: eating and crying. I was lucky I had time to brush my teeth. Actually, come to think of it, I'm not sure I did. Eww. I figured he was going through a growth spurt, and I desperately hoped it was one that wouldn't last too long. It was like someone had taken my chill baby and replaced him with a super high-maintenance one.

Well, sure enough, we woke up today to an entirely new baby. Turns out someone had replaced my baby. In roughly 24 hours, he was a completely new tiny human. These growth spurts are no joke. Instantly, over night, he is making new sounds and new faces. He is smiling more (yay!) and spitting up more (boo!). He is grasping anything that touches his hands...when his hands aren't in his mouth, that is. And suddenly his clothes are all too small. I'd be more sad about this, but he is incredibly happy. You can tell he loves all of his newfound skills - especially the biggest new skill of them all, he rolled over from his stomach to his back!

I was on the phone with my mom the other day and she was asking me if he still propped himself up on his arms during tummy time. I was embarrassed to admit it had been a while since we'd really done official tummy time. I must be a horrible mother. He spends time on his tummy, I'm just not very good about doing it religiously. I guess I never felt the urgent need since he's been so strong since the beginning. And now I have further proof that this kid laughs in the face of tummy time.

As soon as I laid him on his stomach today, he propped up on his arms, kicked his legs and BOOM, he rolled over onto his back. I'm not sure which one of us was more surprised. I mean, good grief, if we did tummy time all the time like we are supposed to, this kid might be crawling already. Just kidding. I think????

Anyway, I didn't catch the big moment on video, but here is his second attempt. He didn't quite make it over, which made him pretty mad. Then he spit up all over the rug so thus ended tummy time for the day.