Four months old

Carlton turned four months last week! At his four-month check-up, our doctor confirmed that he is one big, healthy boy: 16 lbs, 8 ozs, and 26 inches long. Still solidly in the 85th % for height and 80% for weight. He was such a champ with his immunizations, too - a brief yell, and then no problem....just purple band-aids to sport on his thighs.

His actual four-month birthday fell on St. Patrick's Day, and we celebrated by going to a St. Patty's Day dinner party at our friends' house. Here is his luck-of-the-Irish outfit for the occasion. (We're loving the Baby Legs leggings our friends here in Seattle have given us!)

He wasn't too amused by this photo shoot, and by the end, he was ready to be done. "Mama, I'm outta here!"

Carlton's become a bit more of a hand/finger sucker in recent days, but still not really the thumb. He prefers to stuff various parts in, often as much as will fit.

Being four months old brought another new experience over the weekend - riding facing frontwards in the Bjorn. Carlton loved it! He couldn't stop laughing on this walk. He didn't quite know what to make of the cool wind in his face, though, and his favorite part was when Mark would walk backwards.

Weekend Fun

Over the weekend our friends Lindsay and Nick were back in town with us, having completed their week of traveling around Washington and British Columbia. Mark took Friday off of work and we had a fun excursion to downtown Seattle. First, though, we got a shot of Carlton and his new piggy bank, an incredibly thoughtful gift from the Dentels! (a previous blog post had mentioned that Carlton didn't have a place yet for all his money, ha) His new pig even has his name inscribed across the rear. Thanks, Linds and Nick!

Carlton all suited up to go out. This hoodie is his fav, though it's still a little big, and helps him truly look the role of a Seattle native. The hoodie is an essential part of the Seattle wardrobe, I've learned. And the bib is a must these days, as his drooling has really increased. I think a few teeth are soon to push through...

During our excursion, we grabbed lunch at the Grand Central Station cafe in Pioneer Square, learned all about the Klondike Gold Rush and the history of Seattle at the Gold Rush museum, and explored a fantastic old bookstore called the Elliot Bay Book Co. Carlton did great riding (and napping) in the Bjorn on Mark's chest all day, and in this photo we were taking a play break at a cafe in the bookstore. The weather had turned threatening, so we thought an indoor moment was in order...and Carlton is always game for playtime with his lion buddy Mr. Crinkles, who you see does sometimes travel with us.

Lindsay and Nick had to head out on Friday night to fly home, but the following day we had some local friends over for dinner. We documented the occasion because it was Carlton's first time wearing a button-down shirt....our dapper little boy!

The Office

I wanted to post a few photos of Carlton and his latest pastime - working at his office. A friend of mine calls these exersaucers "offices" because there are so many contraptions to engage a baby's mind and keep him busy exploring with his hands. Carlton's also loving that he can kick off the ground and practice standing up, as he's always eager to use his legs. Mark and I laugh about him preparing to be "an office worker like his dad when he grows up," a phrase my brother coined in early elementary school, talking about his own dreams. Well done, Ricky! We'll see if Carlton achieves the same some day :)

Ahhh....a sunny weekend

We've learned that a sunny weekend in the winter here in Seattle is a real treat, and last weekend was just one of those. Carlton soaked in a few precious rays, both inside.....

....and outside! We enjoyed exploring Lincoln Park once again, with its gorgeous forested area and its sunny shoreline.

Our great friends Lindsay and Nick Dentel were in town visiting from North Carolina, so it made for the best of weekends.

New things

Carlton has decided he likes his Bumbo seat and getting to sit up like a big boy. It took some getting used to, but now he seems really delighted to experience this new upright sensation and perspective.

When my father was here, he gave Carlton a fun new friend - Sophie the giraffe. She is made of a kind of natural rubber that is supposedly great for teething.....we'll see! So far, Carlton is pleased.

And here's bit of playtime with Mama.....Carlton loves looking at those black-framed photos on the wall. I think the contrast and sharp edges are visually stimulating for him. Didn't plan that one, but it works out well :)