Feeding Cha-Choo!

Happy 6 Months, Charlie Bear!

My sweet little brother is 6 months old now! Here are his stats:



Height: 28.25"
Weight: 20.0 pounds

He weighs 3 1/2 pounds more than I did when I was 6 months old. Wow! His little rolls are so adorable. We thought for sure that Charlie would love baby food, but he wants nothing to do with rice cereal or oatmeal. By the way he looks at us when we eat dinner, my guess is that he wants to go right to steak!



Charlie is getting to be so much fun! He jumps so high in his jumper!


Mama and his mini-me

Halloween!

Halloween is everyone's favorite holiday in Michigan. There are so many Halloween-themed activities and traditions to look forward to. Now that I am almost 3, I understood what was going on and got the hang of trick-or-treating really quickly!

A week before Halloween, we went trick-or-treating along a trail at a park in Clawson. We went with some friends who helped make the 45-minute long line more bearable! Here I am with Abby, Aiden and Carson.


I was a giraffe and Charlie was Tigger!!!


Our house was"Ghosted". Someone left a "ghost" sign for us to hang on our door, along with a pumpkin filled with goodies like candy, a book, and toys. We had to "Ghost" two more families in return!


I had two Halloween parties to go to. Here I am with all my favorite friends Aiden, Abby, Carson, Kyle, Colin, and Avery.


Burton Elementary puts on an annual Halloween Parade. It was so neat to see all the big kids dressed in their costumes, along with the fire truck and police cars!


Kristy and he twins Alex and Hannah let us watch the parade from their yard. The twins are turning 2 this week! They are soooo cute!


Patrick and his Mom came too!


A few days before Halloween, we went to the Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo. I got lots of candy, and good practice saying "trick or treat!" It was pretty cold outside, so Charlie was dressed appropriately as a polar bear!!!!

Mama and I went through a straw maze. I made a wrong turn and came face to face with the Grim Reaper! I looked at him and said "BOO!". He said "Boo" back. Then I blew him a kiss...and I think melted his little heart ;-)


On Halloween Eve, our neighbors had everyone over for pizza. Charlie and I were spoiled once again by Gian, Francesca and Allie!




Finally....TRICK OR TREATING! Papa took me and we went with Francesca and Allie and their Dad. Joe came over and kept Mama and Charlie company while they sat outside and passed out candy.


I got sooooo much candy, and cried as I left each house because I wanted more.


Mama and Charlie


Mama feeding the giraffe some candy!


POLAR BEAR!


Charlie in the cow costume I wore on my first Halloween!


Here I was - just 10 months old. Charlie filled out this costume more than me and he's only 6 month old!!!!

Charlie's Baptism

Last weekend was very special. My sweet little brother was Baptized! My Grandma, Mamie, Papi, Tatie Val, and cousin Talia all flew into town to be there for Charlie's big day. It was such a fabulous weekend!!!! I'll warn you now....this is a loooong blog to cover just two short days!






It was a very nice service, and I guess funny too cuz Charlie was giggling.


Aaaah...Papa was making Charlie giggle in church! Shouldn't former altar boys know better?


Talia was so good throughout the service. I wasn't quite so angelic - it is way hard for me to sit still for an hour straight!


Charlie even wore my Baptismal gown! We were both Baptized at 5 months old!


Mamie snuggling up with my Cha-choo.




Family photo!


Sans moi....


The whole gang. I guess all of us kids are wiggle worms!




Isn't Charlie so handsome! And of course I an jumping around in the background with Faith.


Charlie and Tatie Val


Mama, Tatie Val, and the kiddos!


Papi and his Grandson


With my little cousin in town, I had to let her experience a Michigan tradition by taking her to one of my favorite places: the apple orchard! We stayed there for hours and both Talia and I skipped our naps, but it was worth it! First, we bounced on the Jumping Pillow with Papa!


Then we climbed to the top of Straw Hill. The rest of the gang went back to the playyard, but I climbed up and down for half an hour.


Talia and I both rode ponies! I was a natural!



Talia was a little scared but hung in there to ride like a pro!




Papi and Talia rode down the 40' slide!!!! They are sooooo brave!


Finally we took the tractor ride out to the orchard and picked some apples!






Talia was loving it as much as I do!!!


Papa and I always bond over food.....


Mama stayed behind with Charlie and they soaked up some sun.


It was a stunning fall day in Michigan!


As always, eating is the common theme of any family visit. We took everyone to Cafe Muse for brunch on Saturday. It was soooo yummy!

Grandma and Mamie giving Charlie some love.


Papa and Tatie Val


A preview of me and Charlie in 30 years!


I enjoyed having a playmate at lunch - I read Maisy books to Talia!


Ick! I may love apples but I'm not digging apple juice!


The high life!




After the Baptism, we headed to Pronto's to celebrate. Me and Talia (okay, mainly me) were super exhausted from all the fun, so we ended up eating the cake at home.








So on top of all that, Charlie and I were showered with gifts from everyone!


Talia and I got to splash in the tub together. HOORAY!