How Big Is Charlie?

It's getting harder to get time at the computer.  Charlie has started going to sleep later (after 8:00 pm!) and Charlie does not allow Nilda and I to use the computer around him.  To Charlie, the computer must look like this magical device that plays Elmo all the time, because any time we use it, he walks over to us and demands to use it, which generally means banging it, pulling off the space bar and pushing the lit-up, irresistible power button.   Here's what else has been going on:

• Charlie has been changing and becoming more aware, so it's harder and harder to distract him.  The remote isn't the draw that it used to be, but my belt is still fascinating.
• Charlie stacks his blocks now, instead of just knocking over the towers I would make.
• He claps and does "so big," but you already knew that.
• Charlie now luuuves his Elmo and Big Bird dolls.  He gives them hugs when he sees them, something he didn't do before, and it's disgustingly adorable.
• Nilda and Stella were convinced that Charlie said "Gracias," and since he babbled two syllables, who's to say they're wrong.  
• Charlie, who generally eats healthy and often organic foods, had his first chicken mcnugget yesterday and I don't think I've ever seen him happier.  
• Charlie has learned how to pout, and it's quite effective.
• Nilda picked a boogie from Charlie's nose that was so remarkable, she's going to put it in his scrap book.
• When I put Charlie in the bath, I (1) run the water, (2) take off his clothes and diaper in front of the tub and then (3) put him in the bath.  As Charlie started peeing on the floor in front of the tub, I realized that the time between steps 2 and 3 has shortened dramatically.
• The other night, I saw Charlie starting to play with a cord plugged into the wall near the dining room table. I sternly told him "No!" and then looked away without smiling, so he would know I was serious.  I looked back at him to make sure he wasn't going for the plug again and he smiled, but I didn't respond because I wanted him to know this was serious.  When I looked back again, he looked at me, smiled and then hid his face behind a chair.  My efforts to reprimand Charlie had turned into a game of peek-a-boo. 

Then there was the snow storm!  There was more snow than Charlie had ever seen and we were able to use the inflatable pull sled that Charlie got for his birthday.  We took him out the night before, when it just started snowing, and the day after, when it was covered and all the neighborhood kids were sledding in the park.  He loved it, until he fell over and his face went right into the snow.  But then he was ok again. (Julie - video alert):

Charlie is still a professional-caliber sleeper, which is all his mother.  Here he is in the car, with me desperately trying to keep him awake until he gets home, otherwise he'll sleep for 5 minutes in the car, be unable to nap at home and be crabby.  Just like Mommy.  The little guy can't do it:

And will you check out that hair?  Nilda still refuses to let me get his hair cut even though he's starting to resemble more than a passing similarity to Lion-O of the Thundercats.  My mom found the pictures Andrew and I had from our first haircuts, which was when we were about 18 months.  This picture is of Andrew, but really, can you tell the difference?  I didn't think so.

And did I mention the walking?  This kid is now a full-blown walker.  Here are two videos that my sister Julie took last time we were in Philly, even though Julie reminds me every time I post that she can't see the vidoes on the emails she gets when I post.  

On the pizza front, we went to Roberta's and, to our utter surprise, did not have to wait.  It was excellent and the top pie was a mashed potato pie, which I said I wouldn't have but which was great, with crispy speck and an egg on it.  

Did I show you the pictures from Frank Pepe's in New Haven?  Clam pie and a half-peperoni half-broccoli pie.  Different style pizza (they call it "apizza"), but still great.  Wow, aren't you glad you read all the way down here?