Look Who's Crawling, Charlie Maybe

Showing the natural athletic prowess that is his birthright, Charlie has begun to slowly start moving under his own power.  Here he is on the first day he was really crawling, last Saturday, and his much improved form three days later on Tuesday.  Charlie really hates it when he goes through all the effort of crawling towards you and then you move back.  It's really funny.  Charlie is also learning to use his new found mobility as a weapon.  He crawled to the front door and sat there crying until Nilda took him outside, like he wanted.   

Where Did All That Hair Come From?

Charlie is 8 months old and we have a crawler.  He's not very good at it, but, today, I am told he performed what can technically be called an act of crawling by somehow moving towards his nasal spray bottle a toy.  If he's anything like his father, he'll take a while before he takes the next step.  But he's not.  He's all his mother.  God dammit.   

• Charlie likes me.  We're buddies. 
• Charlie is finally teething, which he does NOT like.  The worst part about teething is having your parents constantly open and stick their fingers in your mouth. 
• At night, I walk in on Charlie when he's sleeping to make sure he's ok, using an ipod as light.  For some reason, I'm always surprised to see that he's still there.
• Charlie is much cuter sleeping than when he's awake and kicking his feet while I'm trying to change his diaper that's full of shit.
• People tell us how lucky we are that Charlie sleeps from 7:00 pm to about 6:15 am, and we are.  The downside of that is that Charlie can only sleep under very specific conditions.  Charlie demands that (1) he be in his crib and (2) no one else be in or near the room and (3) there be a very specific white noise being played.  Failure to follow these specific guidelines will cause Charlie to revoke sleeping privileges. 
• Charlie has begun fighting naps.  He assumes the defensive position of putting his hands and feet out and then dares you to try to put him down on his stomach.
• Charlie loved the Olympics.  They have motivated him to excel in the Diving for the Floor competition.
• Things are getting a little easier as we've settled into our routine.  I'm even going to start running again, following the same strict regimen as always: light light run, cool down, fast walk, then usually, but not always, sprint home because I have to poop.
• We went to Philadelphia and Charlie loved it, especially the fact that you can leave the house full of someone else's toys to go outside and pull the grass. 
• Being in Philadelphia means two houses with lots of activity, kids and loud tvs.  Like it was for his mother before him, it can be a little overwhelming for Charlie.  
• Charlie's three-month older cousin, Serena, however, has four older sisters and a house that's constantly moving.  She should go into crisis management, since nothing will ever phase her. 

I really hope we can get Charlie crawling on video.  I have been trying to get him to talk on video, but seeing the camera makes him clam up.  Here are my three valiant efforts:

I did manage to get him doing the "Go Charlie," however. 

P.S. -- Congratulations to Beeker for being selected as the Republican Vice President Nominee.  Finally, a Republican who respects science.