A Note to Charlie on his Three-Month Anniversary

Hey kid, it's Dad. You are three months old now. That's a nice part about you being born right at the beginning of summer--I know three months have gone as we enter the fall. Autumn is a time of some of my favorite traditions--football, flannel shirts, brisk weather, powerful foliage, displaying a beautifully dying fall.

And you, son, have changed with the season. You have gone from passive life to active existence. You have personality, you have a reason to laugh, you are fussy not just because your stomach is growling but because you have conceived of something to fuss about. You have dreams that have led to real tears and actual laughter. You try to converse with me. You get excited when Mom talks with you. You play, you grow, you are more than real: you have humanity.

Happy fall, Jason Charles. I love you.

Laughter!

Charlie was laughing this evening! He has moved from simple smiling to show his enjoyment of a situation or a person to real laughter. We were completely dying tonight as he chortled and chuckled. For the older members of the audience, you'll know what I mean when I say he sounded a bit like Beavis. I may remember the first laugh more than the first words: how perfect for someone so young to be passionate enough to express his joy. May this be the first of an infinite number of laughs he has in his life.

Charliepics: Smiling!

Charlie's First Football Game!

We were at Manning Field in Lynn tonight to watch Charlie's brother Stephan play in his first football game. Our Lynn Classical Rams defeated St. Mary's 41-6--in your face, Catholic boys! Anyway, Stephan kicked all the extra points and got some running back time. Apparently Classical hasn't had a kicker in 40 years or something, so the crowd was completely abuzz about his work.

Charlie, as usual, was a star through the entire thing--awake, aware, and having a good time. The child is as chill as it gets.

Some pics:

Who Got the Camera?

Where was my camera in the wee hours of this morning, when I looked down on Charlie this morning and, in his sleep, had his left hand making a secret symbol and his right arm up in a black power salute? I think I've got a young Marcus Garvey in the works here!

Happy September!

Among news since I last wrote:

• Great friends Mike and Amy sent up a Ramones onesie. It has quickly become the favorite article of clothing among thousands Charlie has.
  
• In addition to punching and kicking, he has added head-butting to his array of bodily weapons.
  
• Uncle Todd is officially coming! Charlie will finally get a good night's sleep knowing his uncle will finally get up to see him.
  
• Dija starts school this week, putting her into instant depression that she won't get to see her brother every day, all day.
  
• Auntie Lu keeps coming down to the house for surprise visits. Trust me, they have nothing to do with the rest of us.
  
• I have sung at least half of the Beatles archive to him. Not well, but I've done it.
  
• My nephew Michael has decided to call him Jason Junior. And Gigi (my grandmother) has decided she needs a new name for him because her friend Barbara just named her cat Charlie.
  
• Uncle Mikey checks in every single day from Trinidad to make sure his best buddy is happy and content and doing great.

I leave you with a couple of pics of my super-hero.