$1.2 Million

I was away last week on a trial in New Haven, Connecticut.  It was a case about a surgical technologist who complained about sexual harassment and was retaliated against after she complained.  Matt and I were the two young guys going up against two senior attorneys (one reminded us five times that he had 40 years of experience) who were very confident they would appropriately handle two pipsqueaks like us.  Right up until the jury awarded our client $200,000 in emotional distress and $1 million in punitive damages.  Booyah.  

I have to be careful not to spend too much time away from Charlie, otherwise this happens.

At least Charlie was able to get in touch with his Russian heritage.

Charlie has started walking like crazy.  It's his new hobby, even though he often times ends up face planting on the ground. 

It was a good week.

First Steps

January has been as crazy as expected.  I had one trial out in Central Islip earlier this month and am starting another one in New Haven tomorrow.  One thing I did not miss as an absentee father were Charlie's first steps!  Here he was walking last week, completely out of the blue and a total surprise to us. 

He's taken steps here and since, but hasn't improved much.  The funny thing is that Charlie only walks when it's easier than sitting down and crawling only to have to stand back up again.  Charlie's desire to walk comes from laziness.  That's how I know he's my son.  That, and how he loves spicy pickles. 

Speaking of food, Charlie has learned that he's not supposed to drop food on the floor when he's in his high chair.  Therefore, he will keep the food in his closed fist, hang it over the open air, look at you and time it so that he releases the food the moment you say, "Don't you drop that!"  It's harder than expected to stay mad at a one year old.

We're starting some bad habits with Charlie.  For example, he reaches when he wants something and keeps reaching until he gets what he wants.  He twists his hand when he really means it.  The bad part of this is that I need him to keep doing this so I know what he wants.  Sometimes I actually tell him to point, so that I can be led by the 13-month old.  

Here's another example of Charlie being in complete control over my life.  He pushes the truck Mommom and Poppop gave him for his birthday into a wall, then turns to me, saying, "Fix it."  And I do.  That is my shame. 

On two separate occasions, Charlie blew kisses, which is some kind of milestone or something.  In a valiant effort to get him to repeat this amazing feat, we kept blowing kisses at him.  He never did it again, but he did mimic the sound, going "mmm-AHH!"  This was adorable, so I tried to get it on video, except Charlie gets so engrossed by the phone that he stops.  Here is an example of one of my many failures in getting this on video:

Charlie also started  putting his hand up to his ear when he hears the phone ring, but he refuses to do this on command. 

It's both surprising and completely expected that a 1-year-old would like Skittles.  It was probably not the best idea to introduce him to candy, but it works like magic to get him to stop crying when he inevitably hurts himself.  We have even started a dental hygiene program for him.  Mommom, this is all you.

P.S. - To get Charlie to sit still during a diaper change these days, we have to distract him with something.  Today, it was the camera, which we did not know was recording a movie.  I present to you Charlie's view of getting his diaper changed and put into his pajamas.