Milestones

[marleysmama]

With Charlie, every milestone matters, it is the tell tale sign of how much or little he will be effected cognitively by DiGeorge Syndrome.  At this stage the simple milestones are the only way to gauge his cognitive progression.  That is why, when Charlie held his head up this high, I was more than thrilled.  I had been worried about his head and neck control during tummy time.  He does okay when I am holding him in the sitting up position, but he never much cared for tummy time.  My BabyCenter update said he should be holding his head up, when placed on his tummy, pushing up on his forearms.  Today was the first day he got this far off of the ground and it was encouraging to me.  His other new trick is holding onto his feet.  He discovered his hands quite awhile ago, but in the last few weeks he has been playing with his toes and feet.  He's very much interested in grabbing any toy or rattle you put in front of his face, and he is starting to really talk.  He's been pretty vocal all along, but I'm starting to hear "words" in his babbles.  He says "mama" when he is crying and upset, and I've heard "no."  He hasn't actually started saying any words other than the sounds of them now and then, so they don't really count as first words yet.  Marley's first word was "mama" in her fourth month.  She just started saying it one day, clearly, out of the blue.  That was a good day.  Charlie loves the word mama, and baby boy, and monkey.  All of those words produce a giggle out of him.  He is very laughable.  He has been smiling since he was a little over a month old, and has been giggling for awhile now.  Last night I had a rough time getting Marley to sleep and just when I got her all settled in and asleep, Charlie started giggling.  The lights were out and we were all almost asleep and apparently he thought that was funny.  He laughed for a few minutes until he fell asleep himself.  He's also very ticklish.  I can hardly change his diaper without him laughing.  And the last time we went for the RSV shot, the nurse rubbed the area on his thigh with alcohol first to disinfect it and he thought she was tickling him and started laughing, until the shot came next, right into the thigh muscle, and then he screamed.  It was heartbreaking.  So far though, I think Charlie is doing pretty well cognitively.  He seems like a very happy and aware baby.

[iluvmyboys2008]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 1:08 AM

He is so cute!  It sounds like he is doing wonderful!

[bretsnag]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 1:22 AM

Wow, look at him grow!  Way to go Charlie!

[KatieLo]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 1:51 AM

WOW! way to go Charlie! Very impressive and Im so glad hes coming along. He truly looks like a happy baby and you're doing a wonderful job momma!

[MelissaScoville]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 7:13 AM

he is just so precious... that is so awesome megan!

[aleah.michelle]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 8:24 AM

He is getting so big!  I love the spikey hair

[samps97]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 8:28 AM

That's great!  He is just doing so good.  And what a cutie pie!!!

[erin2kiddos]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 8:43 AM

aw i love those pics!!  :)  He is coming along ways!

[goodpairofshoes]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 11:49 AM

I love that he laughed himself to sleep.  How precious.

[Wendy74]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 11:50 AM

I love his giggles!!!  He's doing great Megan and love the new pics of him ;)

[momofGus]

Apr. 9, 2009 at 6:14 PM

Oh, those photos are amazing!  I feel bad that it's been so long since I've spent time online that I had no idea about Charlie. That must have been a heavy day when you found out. I'm grateful for you that you are blessed with such a happy boy. I'm off to see your home page now.